“Great work everyone!”
“Yes, great work.”
After finishing the stage, Lea Purple excitedly chatted away, glancing at the camera now and then.
“The audience reaction was really amazing just now! Thank you!!”
“Keuuu!! Bluetooth is the best, the best!”
It seemed that the tension had lessened, and their usual way of speaking was slipping out.
Before we scattered to our respective vans backstage, everyone exchanged bows, bending at a 90-degree angle with impeccable manners.
After changing clothes, touching up makeup, and returning to our designated spots, our eyes did not meet even by one degree.
It was intentional, considering that international fans, despite having no ill intentions and because of the lack of guidance, might unknowingly edit and circulate the footage on YouTube.
Therefore, it was best not to get entangled in such things.
It’s going to get even hotter for them.
I was certain of it, given their perfect professionalism and skill.
Lea Purple was going to do much better in the future as long as their agency didn’t screw it up.
[Quest Complete!
Successfully complete the collab stage with Lea Purple!
You have elicited an overwhelming response from the audience with your quality performance.
You have been awarded 5,000 points.]
One hurdle crossed.
As I uncapped a water bottle on the table and took a drink, the members seemed not tired at all but instead appeared eager for the next stage.
“Man, it’s really the best to finish up early and wait.”
“When are the Black Call-sunbae coming out?”
“Probably last? They’ll go in after a collab with White Cherry-sunbae.”
A year-end stage in full view of all the viewers~ and with an ex-girlfriend~.
Can this really be happening?
Thinking about my own situation made me shiver, but I wasn’t particularly worried since this was all Joo Woosung’s karma.
“…The entertainment industry is really cruel.”
“Hmm?”
Seong Jiwon turned his head toward me, but I just waved my hand and shifted my gaze to the stage. Since it wasn’t my concern, I decided to just enjoy the wait.
The stages after us were for idol groups with a few years under their belt, so most of them were of decent quality.
How popular would you have to be to perform at that point in the schedule? While I was recalling the currently active groups, a system window popped up before my eyes.
Ding!
[Special! Flash Sale!
Real-time Monitoring Service Offered!!
Would you like to activate it for 486 points?]
“…What’s this?”
“Huh? Hoyun, what were you saying?”
“Ah, no… never mind.”
What’s with the 486 points? How come you have features that seemed perfect for my generation…?
I wished I had known about this feature earlier. Remembering the “Narcissism” article they showed me before the drama shooting, I pressed approve.
[Real-time Monitoring Service has started.]
Then, reactions popped up in front of me like a live chat window.
[Guys, it’s just over, it’s over, we don’t even need to watch the next stage]
[Honestly, the next stage doesn’t even catch my eye ㅜㅜ Ah, has a (rookie) newcomer ever been this good~]
[Honestly, The Dawn should be treated as newcomers, it’s such a shame they can’t get the Rookie of the Year awardㅜ
└Discovery of the Year Awardㅎ
└Actually, I’ve been drinking kimchi soup]
[Congratulations to The Dawn for winning Discovery of the Year♡ I thought it would be tough since there were strong contenders this year, but it was really amazing. The other nominees also did great!!
└What’s that?
└Seo’s winning tactic technique #Let’sGo
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I thought for a moment they won itㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Everyone thinks the same.
Discovery of the Year Award.
It was an award that could be given to a group that, even if not a rookie within the year, had garnered the most attention as a new act. I turned to look at the members who were linking arms and cheerfully bouncing around without any expectations of winning.
“…”
They didn’t seem to anticipate winning the award at all.
Well, whatever…
Let them get flustered so they would end up crying on camera.
Just then, cheers erupted.
Waaaaah!
Right before the end of the first part, the next presenter took the stage. I knew who it was from the lineup, but it left a sour taste in my mouth to see them again.
“Really…”
It’s like they’re blatantly saying, “We’re from the same company that organized this event.”
“Hello, I’m Yu Jia.”
“And I’m Min Jiheon.”
They were cast members from Please Take the Camera.
The main investor of the awards show was one of the investors of Please Take the Camera. It was one thing to be involved, but they had plastered drama-related personnel all over the ceremony.
Moreover, because of the drama’s immense popularity, they seemed to have coordinated the outfits of Yu Jia and Min Jiheon to some degree in order to push them as the representative couple.
[The cast of Please Take the Camera seems to be really popular.]
Amidst appropriate jokes, they occasionally exchanged shy smiles and soft gazes, engaging in brief talks. Indeed, they exuded a professional demeanor.
[Yu Jia is a god.]
[Min Jiheon’s halo;; He’s really euaaaaaak]
[Ttaaaaaak, God]
[Euaaaaaak, our precious bunny!!!!!!]
…Me?
“Oh~, you’re on the screen, hyung.”
At Kang Ichae’s words, I looked up and sure enough, my face was on the screen.
Umm…
Although I still couldn’t quite accept the nickname “bunny,” I still waved with a smile on my face. Then, from somewhere marked by glaring blue triangles, cheers erupted.
I could see Min Jiheon, who had been producing a hopeless romance at the stage, sneak a smile in this direction.
“Now, we will announce the Discovery of the Year award.”
“Yes.”
The camera panned over to us and a few other nominees. Min Jiheon, who had been holding the envelope the entire time, opened it to reveal the card inside and slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.
“It seems the award is going to someone with deep ties to us.”
“…!”
[Euaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]
[No way, no way, no way, no way]
Drama enthusiast Jeong Dajun was startled and looked at me.
“The Discovery of the Year award goes to…”
Stop it.
Keep your expression in check. Don’t look this way.
“—The Dawn! Congratulations!”
[Euaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
[The Seo Hoyun tactic worked, shit!!!!!!!!!!]
Messages flooded in so fast, I could no longer see. Then, as if by some graciousness of the system, all the pop-up windows disappeared, clearing my view to the stage.
“Us? Is it really us?!?”
“Yeah! Us!! It’s us!”
It was an unexpected yet not entirely certain outcome.
As I internally thanked the fans who voted, I patted my members on the back and stood up.
“Hey, we should go.”
“It can’t be real…”
No, it’s real enough.
I muttered in my head in response to Jeong Dajun’s murmur, while earnestly bowing to the congratulations around me as I made my way up to the stage.
“Congratulations!”
“Congratulations to The Dawn, you truly deserve it~!!”
The dazzling lights shining on us contrasted with the people mechanically clapping in the darkness.
About half were genuinely happy for us, the other half offered smooth smiles just for show.
Ah.
Even for a relatively minor award, it was clear. The burning curiosity and competitive gazes on how a nobody from a small agency had suddenly risen to fame were palpable.
This is it.
That’s why it felt even better.
I climbed onto the stage with a fresh smile.
Yu Jia was the first to approach and handed me flowers with a bright smile. Next to her, Min Jiheon was just smiling sweetly.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
We exchanged calm greetings and lined up side-by-side. Then, taking the microphone from Min Jiheon, Kim Seonghyeon examined the trophy in his hands before slowly starting his speech.
“Uh, yeah…”
[Is Water Dumpling starting again?]
[Still, it’s great. Kim Seonghyeon doesn’t cry now. I actually wish he would cry every time.]
Seemingly still dazed by the award, Kim Seonghyeon couldn’t take his eyes off the trophy.
“Hello, we are The Dawn. I was very happy to attend the year-end stage for the first time… I had no idea we’d receive such a meaningful award.”
The acceptance speech began as usual, listing everyone from the not-so-grateful CEO to the staff in the order that they’re usually thanked.
Of course, I had to acknowledge the contributions of the recently hard-working manager and the planning team led by Lee Jihyeon.
“…and the Noeuls.”
Shouts filled the air.
“The love I receive… still feels like a dream. I will continue to work hard to become someone worthy of the expectations you all have for me.”
As expected of God Seonghyeon.
“Thank you!”
Watching the long-awaited Light Seonghyeon, God Seonghyeon moment, I nodded with satisfaction. As expected, Seonghyeon’s eyes were brimming with tears. Next to him, a bird was trying its best not to laugh, and soon the microphone passed to Kang Ichae.
“Hi, we would like to thank all of you….”
[Wow]
It seemed the speech was repeated in English because of the many international fans watching the ceremony.
Indeed, every group should have at least one member who could speak English well.
[OMG I knew Kang Ichae can speak well, but to hear it like this… damn… the low tone and the slow pace is so sexyㅜ]
[What the fuck, Kang Ichae is killing it]
[What? Ichae, why so good?
└Heard he studied abroad but no one really knows where… could be self-taught…
└That pronunciation can’t be from being self-taught; it’s native-level]
They said he studied abroad at an early age, but even I didn’t know where.
Even the company had no clue.
While half-listening to Kang Ichae’s speech, Jeong Dajun was staring blankly ahead, slightly out of focus.
“Especially Noeul, who always support us….”
“…”
[Ah, in the middle of this, Jeong Dajunㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ already given up
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ so cute for realㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ the more Ichae speaks the more he zones out
└└Hey, you need to be a world star, just set your mind to it]
Anyway, as the speech was coming to an end, other reactions started to come in. They were general impressions of the Discovery of the Year Award.
[Huhu ㅠㅠ I’m tearing up ㅠㅠ]
[I’m not jealous of the Grand Prize, no
Actually, I am
Actually, I’m not, The Dawn is the best!!!!!]
[Me too… I suddenly feel like crying ㅠㅠ They’re just like professional idols, so proud… and they really struggled since their debut… this award is so meaningful ㅠ Geez, I’m not their mom but I’m so emotional….]
It’s okay.
I managed to put on a public face and responded as sincerely as possible. Just then, I felt a sudden poke at my side.
Turning my head absent-mindedly with a scrunched nose, I was met with the emotional faces of the members, half overwhelmed, half moved, including a sobbing Kim Seonghyeon. Among them, Kang Ichae was extending the microphone towards me.
It seemed like everything had been said, what more did they want me to say?
Hey, it’s not my turn yet.
Clearly, everyone was out of their minds.
…Well, maybe. Just a brief thanks to the Noeuls…
I accepted the microphone. Since all the thanks to the staff and company had been said upfront, I was thinking of expressing my gratitude to the Noeuls, even if briefly, when…
Ding!
The ominous alarm went off.
Frozen for a moment, I glanced at the system window.
[- Aigo, this is an award worthy of Hoyunieㅎ
-What a beautiful night. To the Noeuls, cheers.
-Our Noeuls, baby bunny Hoohoohoo loves you very much♡]
Fuck!
Fuck!
So that’s why it didn’t show up. And here I thought this bastard was considerate enough to not do any forced dialogue based on TPO, but no, this motherfucker![1]
My hand holding the mic trembled with rage. I could see Seong Jiwon tilting his head slightly with a puzzled look. I felt I couldn’t delay any longer. Though it had been less than 3 seconds, it felt like an eternity.
Eventually, I failed to choose the dialogue, and my mouth moved on its own.
“…Our Noeuls.”
Baby bunny my ass!!
Even without looking in a mirror, I could feel the blood drain from my face.
As my mouth tried to spit out the next line against my will…
“Baby b… urk.”
I bit my tongue hard.
Ouch!!
Barely!
I barely stopped it!!
This was a formal occasion. The thought that if I finished this line, it wouldn’t just be cringe-worthy but a colossal disaster, allowed me, with a desperate will, to stop myself from speaking further.
“Hoob… erm, gulp, I’m so, so sorry, no, thank you. Being able to receive this award today is all thanks to the Noeuls.”
However, I couldn’t stop the first word from coming out, and the camera having captured my visible pain, I had to continue my speech with my head bowed down.
Ding!
[ㅋㅋㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠOuch, that must hurt ah ㅠㅠㅠ]
[He actually stopped his dialogue! ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Epic!]
[Ah, sorry but it’s hilariousㅜ Kudos to that willpowerㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
For the record, these were not reactions from the monitoring service.
[Ah, taking deep breaths]
“…”
[Ahㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Thanks to you, I’m laughing again today. I feel a bit sorry for the pain, hope your tongue heals fast ㅎㅎ]
[Embarrassing History Log +1♡]
You, I swear one day I’m going to give you a taste of your own medicine….
Even as I ground my teeth, I was hit with a sudden realization, pleased that I managed to intercept the baby rabbit’s lines.
What if I had actually said it just now, right here?
I would’ve definitely tossed the script and everything aside, instantly lighting up an entire pack of those cigarettes I had given up.
Suppressing my frustration, I quickly passed the mic and turned to leave the stage, only to meet Min Jiheon’s gaze, who was staring back in silent surprise.
“…Ah, yes. Congratulations. Uh….”
“—Really, congratulations, The Dawn! I look forward to your future endeavors.”
Unable to continue beyond “congratulations,” Min Jiheon was cut off by Yu Jia, who quickly snatched the moment to finish the sentiment.
Meanwhile, I quickly bowed my head again and moved away. Beside me, Kim Seonghyeon, who had been sniffing, noticed something. He put his hand on my shoulder and whispered quietly,
“There’s no way you were nervous. Did you make some sort of bet with Kang Ichae? Your ears are burning up.”
“Is there blood coming from my tongue?”
“…? No??”
I stuck out my tongue to show him and, despite frowning, Kim Seonghyeon shook his head side to side.
It didn’t taste like blood, but it hurt so much I had to ask, just in case.
“Did you bite it…? Why on earth…?”
Kim Seonghyeon, unable to grasp why I was putting on a solo act, tilted his head. Kang Ichae, who would have usually teased me with glee, looked at me with wonder.
“Hyung, um… sometimes, I really don’t get you.”
“Ichae, sometimes life is just hard for hyung.”
“Yeah…”
And with that warm consideration, he patted my back.
“Let’s just say it was a bet I made… I’ll do that for you.”
Hearing Kang Ichae’s words, Kim Seonghyeon’s eyes wavered. He muttered something about why I would bite my tongue if there was no bet made.
Somehow, I managed to get off the stage without making eye contact with anyone, while Jeong Dajun was ecstatically placing the trophy that Kim Seonghyeon handed him on top of his head and running down like a puppy.
[Wowㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I’m seeing Seo Hoyun stutter for the first time. Must’ve been flustered to get the award suddenly, our bunny ㅜ]
I was flustered, alright.
Afraid I might lose my human dignity…
[Looks like he bit his tongueㅋㅋ Tell us the end, I’m curious. Are our Noeuls babies?? Do you cherish them??
└No way, there’s no chance Hoyun would say something like that in such a situation
└└That’s true.]
[I was moved just a moment ago, but now the tears are gone. It’s natural, such a rare moment of fluster is making me cry out right now
└Seeing a flustered Min Jiheon is almost a first tooㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Seo Hoyun really gets flustered…. ㅠ We’ll make sure you get more awards ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
“Ha……”
Maybe it was time to ask the system to turn off this service….
It seemed to be the first time I was taking a hit from the real-time reactions.
I hugged the trophy Jeong Dajun handed me and trudged back to my seat. But not long after my butt hit the chair, I had to stand up again.
“Best OST of the Year!”
Not me, of course.
“Please Take the Camera’s OST, ‘Humble Confession’ by Seong Jiwon! Congratulations!”
It was Seong Jiwon.
[1] TPO – Time, Place, Occasion
