[VERSE 1]
‘Should I try adding the sound of water to the intro? But then it might feel too much like a seasonal song.’
The idea that came to mind while watching water pour over the white sink was quickly deleted.
The fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about songs—whether eating, lying down, or soaking my hands in cold water until my fingertips turned red—meant that my work had hit a complete wall. Months of diligently showing up at the studio had been completely fruitless.
Wiping the moisture on my jeans and sighing deeply enough to sink into the ground, someone might offer comfort by saying:
‘You’re not in a hurry, are you?’
That’s exactly the problem.
When album preparations weren’t right around the corner and I wasn’t in a situation where my bank balance had hit rock bottom requiring me to write something immediately, working was as sluggish as a well-fed hippo taking a stroll.
Actually, there’s a flaw in that assumption. Bank balance hitting rock bottom, really?
Baek Hanje.
The maknae of yACE, the group representing K-pop, and the producing member who holds all copyrights for both title tracks and B-sides.
That’s why my bank balance had been overflowing ever since the group’s massive hit.
Nine years ago.
When everyone, even the yACE members themselves, were losing hope in group activities.
Whether my desperate desire to survive reached the heavens, a mysterious semi-transparent window appeared before my eyes.
Wish ‘yACE at the most splendid position on stage’ has been registered.
Establishing quests to achieve the goal…
Quest Scenario <The Idol Who Walks a Flower Path> will now begin.
Rewards will be given for each quest success, and penalties will be imposed for failures.
To complete the ruthlessly pouring quests, I would tap out beats and scribble lyrics on my phone even in cars heading to schedules and in waiting rooms.
During that one year, there were more days I passed out in front of the MIDI wearing headphones than days I slept on my bed.
The more I succeeded in the quests, the more I could feel hope dawning for yACE’s future on my skin, making me even more desperate.
In the end, yACE achieved success.
Even after the Quest window disappeared, the group leaped forward using that first success as a springboard.
The following year’s album shattered Korea’s first-week sales record. Even during our break period, we maintained the top of the charts, completely capturing mainstream appeal.
It was truly a spectacular underdog reversal story.
From the next year onward, we pulled off the feat of charting not only in Korea but on global charts with every album release.
As the overseas fandom grew, the small-to-medium company was flustered but ran around frantically to schedule tours.
Three years as flop idols, one year of leaping forward, then eight years remaining at the top. In total, yACE with 12 years of experience.
It had already been over two years since they released an album.
The reason was understandable enough.
‘A new album would be nice. But, it’s a bit scary.’
‘What is?’
‘Because now we have more depth to fall from than height to rise to.’
With modifiers like “K-pop legends” attached, we could no longer release albums with just the spirit of challenge like before.
Moreover.
‘Yeban is a ten-million actor, Bangwon has established himself in the hip-hop scene, and the other guys are doing things they couldn’t do for the past 10 years.’
Beyond just achievements as idols, the members were each opening new paths and being active in different fields.
The more that happened, the less easy it became for all six to gather and be active together.
Because we’d all more than fulfilled our roles—enough that ‘sacrifice for the group’ like before was no longer necessary.
To be blunt, for a 13-year group, I should be grateful that not a single one of the six had caused scandals involving alcohol, drugs, fraud, or entertainment establishments, and that everyone was working hard in their respective positions.
That’s probably why yACE remained an even more solid legend.
I know it’s a smooth life, but.
“…Don’t leave just the producer behind…”
My mind still craved the ecstasy of grinding bone and flesh to complete a song. That kind of sensation expressed as starving artist spirit, or something like that.
To raise creative motivation without deprivation, a muse really needs to appear. A lovable subject that ignites the passion to create a perfect song.
Like yACE used to be.
‘Won’t one just drop from somewhere? A rookie working so pitifully hard that I’d want to pour out every song I have and don’t have for them. The kind I wouldn’t regret producing for even if I stayed up for days…’
I think that semi-transparent window I met 10 years ago was a kind of miracle.
A miracle that manifested before my eyes as the producing member, gathering the desperation of all members including myself.
“If you have any wishes left, please send me a muse this time.”
…I say this, but if something actually came offering to grant my wish, I might refuse the miracle, telling it to go to someone more desperate.
That’s how much it was just the wish of someone in a well-fed position.
Just then, an unfamiliar voice echoed from the end of the empty corridor.
“Grandmother. Please don’t worry about the heating bill. You said Sua has signs of a cold. ……If you try to save on that, the hospital bills will be even more. No. I’m fine, so don’t scold Suhyeon for calling me. Uh…”
A low sigh followed.
“If I work hard here, I can pay off all the debt. Please turn on the boiler and turn up the electric blanket too. You know I got into a good company, right? Okay?”
Ah, geez.
Even if it was by chance, this wasn’t appropriate content to eavesdrop on.
Tap. Tap.
I deliberately stepped loudly on the white marble floor as I walked. At the presence I created, the phone conversation hurriedly moved away.
A new employee, perhaps.
‘Right, people like that need miracles.’
I turned back around and caught the elevator in the central corridor.
The finger that had been hovering over the panel pressed the 3rd floor instead of the 7th floor where my studio was. Before returning to the pitch-black studio, I thought I’d at least air out my head.
<K-dom CAFE>
K-dum Entertainment had grown into one of the top three entertainment powerhouses in Korea based on yACE’s success.
Thus, the company that had rented space in a shabby commercial building had grown enough to build a separate headquarters.
Inside the new headquarters, a company cafe was created that took up half of an entire floor. Thinking of the past when water dripped from the practice room ceiling, it was an earth-shattering change.
To reach the cafe entrance, you had to pass through a long corridor. On the corridor walls hung debut album jacket posters of all the idols who had debuted under K-dum.
The outermost one was the boy group ‘Newton’ that debuted the year before last, and next to it was the girl group ‘Ieum’ that debuted 5 years ago.
As you passed each poster, the outfits and hairstyles became tackier, and the image quality got grainier.
And when you reached the cafe door.
“Ugh.”
Six men appeared with avant-garde hairstyles, ahead-of-their-time white cyberpunk uniforms, and angel wings attached to their backs.
Even 12 years later, the impression that it was ahead of its time remained the same, so it was clear that the era when that concept would be reevaluated would never come.
“So young, so young.”
But it had long since become pointless to feel embarrassed about the self in that album that made such a risky move.
“Baek Hanje. You’re still plenty young even now.”
Oh.
I turned around happily at the voice from behind me.
The person with a solid, tall physique wearing a suit gestured with his chin toward the cafe door instead of greeting, indicating we should go in.
I trotted after him and rested my chin on his shoulder as he stood in front of the counter.
“Hyung, I’m pitiful.”
Kwon Taeyoung answered without even turning his head.
“These days they say copyright holders are above building owners, and you have no conscience.”
“But hyung, you’re a director.”
Then the face—too young and handsome to be a company executive—smiled faintly.
“The salary of an honorary director position from an idol background still can’t catch up to the money Young ACE brings in.”
“Hey, that’s too much. We built this building for you, and you’re secretly pocketing bribes too.”
“I can’t do that, which is why I’ve been running around all this time. Hello. Could you add one iced vanilla latte to the phone order I placed?”
“Wow, our hyung is so cool. Right?”
“Huh? Yes! Wow, Young ACE…”
“Don’t mind him.”
Even though the cafe staff must have seen celebrities until they were sick of them, meeting people who were like the company’s founding dinosaurs seemed to be something new.
Even after receiving the buzzer and retreating to a corner, people’s gazes in the cafe kept glancing this way.
It wasn’t just because of yACE’s name value—people who had stood before the public for over 10 years as their job had the power to draw attention without even being conscious of it. Whether it was a desired situation or not.
And both Kwon Taeyoung and I had developed thick enough nerves to continue our conversation leisurely under that attention.
“Hanje, if you’re going to hole up in your studio, write your solo songs. You still have a long lifespan ahead to only work as a composer.”
“Hey, hyung. We’re 13 years in. After we’ve made it this far, would we be petty enough to squeeze ourselves between juniors and push in my schedule?”
“Even with high seniority, you’re only twenty-six. I’m serious when I say it’s a waste.”
“Then not a solo. I want to dance on stage.”
“Dance. But you’ll practice hard, and I’ll attach a lot of backup dancers.”
“…Never mind. You mean you want us to make a comeback together, not that anyone was upset about getting few backup dancers.”
“Why wouldn’t you know? You’re deflecting because you have nothing to say.”
“……”
I pretended to be hurt and rubbed my forehead firmly against Kwon Taeyoung’s shoulder.
“But what brings you all the way here, hyung?”
“Ah… there’s a meeting because a song for a trainee who was preparing to debut is about to get scrapped.”
“Why? Did they cause a scandal?”
“The person in question didn’t cause it, but this situation is…, hmm.”
Kwon Taeyoung looked at me with an expression like something had occurred to him.
“Since we met, come sit in on the meeting too.”
“Director-nim, goodbye and have a vigorous day today!”
I jumped up and bent at a 90-degree angle.
As expected, sibling relationships are most affectionate when kept at an appropriate distance. I shouldn’t interfere with such intimate matters.
But in the end, I was dragged to the meeting room with an iced vanilla latte forcibly placed in my hand.
“Ah, I had a hunch! This is definitely going to be annoying!”
***
When I opened the meeting room door, a gloomy atmosphere rushed in from the entrance.
‘All familiar faces.’
When Kwon Taeyoung rose to a management position in Division 5, most of the people who had worked with yACE also moved with him.
As we exchanged greetings appropriately due to our familiarity, there was one person who alone stood up abruptly and bowed deeply.
The only person in here I didn’t know.
The moment he raised his head, I let out an inward exclamation.
‘Oh…?’
A high schooler? Or had he just become an adult?
He was a guy with a pretty face that fit perfectly into the recent idol market.
Among the facial features that filled his small face, his large eyes with upturned corners were impressive.
In contrast to his fist-sized head, his shoulders inside the crew neck tee were broad and his height was considerably taller than the others.
A talent with both face and physique. Whether his position was vocal or rap, I could be certain his role would be center.
But the fact that this promising trainee was summoned to a ‘damage control’ meeting room meant…
‘Is it you, punk? The one who made our hyung struggle.’
Changing my admiration to displeasure, I entered the meeting room, and Team Leader Shin Namwon, who had been occupying a seat at the table, waved his hand.
“Henzel, hi.”
“Long time no see, hyung.”
Planning Team Leader Shin Namwon had a habit of continuing to call singers who debuted with stage names by those stage names. While it was true that a name I’d been called for 12 years felt like a second name, considering that close people generally called me by my real name, it was peculiar.
I pulled out the chair next to Team Leader Shin and sat down. Meanwhile, Kwon Taeyoung went to the front and seated the problematic kid who had been standing.
And he himself remained standing, bending at the waist to lean on the table.
“I assume everyone has grasped the situation to some degree before coming.”
“No? I was just dragged here.”
I answered confidently with the truth.
“Team Leader Shin, please explain to him.”
Ey, as expected, escaping with this level of aggro was impossible.
At Kwon Taeyoung’s words, Team Leader Shin pulled his chair closer. Then he pointed at the problematic kid.
“Do you know who he is?”
“No? Is he a famous trainee?”
Standout trainees often become talked about even before debut. He certainly had the looks for it.
“Didn’t you watch Debut Chart?”
“I’m weak-hearted so I can’t watch survival shows.”
“…You could just say it’s not your taste, why are you…”
“Huh? Why me?”
“Don’t make that face, you bastard. It doesn’t work on me after seeing you for over 10 years.”
“Ah, too bad.”
But I did know about the program Team Leader Shin was talking about, <Debut Chart! 100>, because I’d heard so much about it.
It was famous for its unexpectedly explosive ratings during broadcast, and also… because after the broadcast, the facts of vote manipulation and large-scale budget embezzlement were discovered, turning the entire nation upside down.
I heard that due to the aftermath of the incident, even the debut of the participants who made it to the final members was scrapped.
“Anyway. He’s the kid who got first place there.”
“…Our company sent a trainee to an audition program?”
And with that level of visuals?
I suspected early-onset dementia had come to the new talent development team leader, but soon Team Leader Shin corrected me.
“No. He appeared on DC as an independent trainee, and the company snatched him up. I know Director Kwon pushed strongly for it.”
“Oh, Taeyoung hyung did?”
“Yeah. Division 5 persuaded them for quite a while saying they’d take responsibility and produce results, so it probably passed. Even I can see he’s a talented kid.”
K-dum, having grown into a major entertainment company, debuted idols by selecting trainees through their own auditions and casting, so bringing someone in like this was a rare case.
Kwon Taeyoung probably faced much greater opposition than the explanation I just heard.
Yet for approval to finally come through meant there was potential beyond his spectacular looks.
“Oh right, he got first place fair and square without manipulation.”
“An independent trainee in that situation? How?”
“Even when they shaved off votes, he was so overwhelming that the PD had no choice but to give him first place. Rumor has it the value of the prizes offered as voting encouragement events could have funded the first-place prize dozens of times over.”
“Wow, then the fans must be going crazy right now.”
“Right. So we were also going to release him as a digital single with a short preparation period while the firepower was good.”
Team Leader Shin pushed the tablet that had been in front of him toward me.
20-something Male Idol Crashes Into Middle School Gate While Driving Drunk
“Whoa.”
Which crazy bastard shoved a liquor bottle into their frontal lobe this time?
20-something Male Idol Crashes Into Middle School Gate While Driving Drunk
Meanwhile, Choi Songhyeon (20) was a participant popular enough to rank 8th on the program <Debut Chart! 100>. After the project group fell through, he was scheduled to debut in a boy group under Maybe Entertainment along with 2nd place Kim Eumyul (18) and 11th place Shin Seobin (19), but…
‘…Ah, they were peers from the same program.’
“I get that DC had overlapping bad luck, but is this something that requires an emergency meeting?”
Holding people jointly responsible just because they appeared on the same program is absurd nonsense.
It’s not like there were casualties since it was late at night, so wouldn’t it be enough to just bury the guy who steered his life in the wrong direction?
“If we avoid all this stuff, when will we release the album? This kid didn’t cause a scandal and prepared sincerely to meet the fans—we can just go with that image.”
“Our kid’s title track was called <DRIFT>.”
“Ah.”
We’re thoroughly fucked.
