Chapter 118. Lunas, Open (2)

“Hahahahaha!”

Lee HyunJi laughed out loud. Her laugh was loud enough to ring inside the entire hall.

“Well, if you think about it. It’s a fight with a foregone conclusion. I like it.”

KangYoon shrugged his shoulders since this was obvious.

“We don’t have any urgency. It’s not like we have any debt, and we have other sources of income as well.”

“You’re right. There’s no reason for us to participate in their chicken fight at all. Though, it is a pity that getting this place going will take a longer time.”

Although they were fully booked for September, October had many free slots. Lee HyunJi was sad to see this. However, she decided to let it go since many greater things will happen afterward.

After talking, the two turned their gaze to the stage. Lee HyunAh didn’t seem to have any intentions of coming down the stage due to all the excitement. She even picked up a mic stand that was at the wall and put it here and there to see what it was like. Kim JinDae also had a look at where the Drums will be, and even Lee ChaHee, who usually seemed unaffected by mundane things, was having a look at the bass amp with a flushed expression.

“They seemed to be excited too.”

“You’re right.”

Lee HyunJi and KangYoon made a smile of satisfaction while looking at the musicians walking around.

***

“…Sheesh. I told them to clean up the shoes.”

Christie An grumbled as she tidied the numerous shoes that were littered around. As all of the members lived in one place, two pairs of shoes for each of them meant a dozen.

“Hm? Unni, you’re back.”

Seo HanYu, who was in training clothes met her as she came in.

“Yeah. Where are you going?”

“I was going to just take a jog in the park. I was about to tidy up the shoes myself.”

“Forget it. You aren’t the only one here.”

Christie went inside after tidying up the shoes.

After helping her out, Seo HanYu left the dorms for her normal jogging routine.

When she entered the living room, Ailee Jung, who was eating potato chips on the ground, waved her hand.

“You’re here.”

“You’re eating chips again? You’ll only get fatter.”

“Hmph, I’m fine like this. We don’t have anything scheduled anyway.”

Ailee was very YOLO right now. Although she would usually manage her diet as she was the type to gain weight easily, her recent actions seemed far from doing such a thing.

Christie sighed while looking at Ailee’s YOLO attitude.

“Fine, you do you girl.”

Leaving behind Ailee, who was rolling on the floor, Christie went to her room.

In her room was Jung MinAh doing yoga on a mat, while Lee SamSoon was on the internet.

“…You’re here.”

“…You’re such a contrast to a certain someone outside.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nah, nothing.”

Christie shrugged her shoulders when MinAh greeted her with her legs stretched out.

Although the dorms were shared between them, it wasn’t that spacious. It was very different from when they were in Korea and had separate rooms for each member. They thought about moving out, but it wasn’t so easy getting a house here. There was also the fact that their life was very hard here, and they wouldn’t be able to last without the support of other members.

“…Whew, it’s all about DiaTeen in Korea now.”

Turning around on her chair, Lee SamSoon shook her head.

“Well, it’s no wonder if you look at what they’re doing. They aren’t easy girls either.”

MinAh replied while stretching her legs out forward. However, Lee SamSoon denied her saying that it wasn’t just that.

“You can’t say that. Look here. Enjoy Music, Music Land, Music Camp. They’re taking first place on all of those places, and on Music Countdown, they even have their own special stage. They are getting 1st place everywhere since they made a comeback. What’s different now, is that everyone is saying that DiaTeen has taken Eddios’s place now. It’s completely different from before.”

Although the two were viewed as rivals before, no one blatantly mentioned that one replaced the other or the like. However, the trend seemed to be completely taken away by DiaTeen. Even Lee SamSoon, who was usually optimistic about most things, became serious.

When she said that, Christie, who was about to leave the room, had a look at the screen as well. Her face stiffened after seeing the news article.

“I knew it. A different composer makes a different outcome.”

“The composer?”

Lee SamSoon asked when Christie muttered that. Christie answered with a smile that was not a smile.

“Do you know who made their songs?”

“What do you mean who? It’s that Muse that’s all the rage recently.”

“And I’ve come back from meeting that very same Muse right now.”

Lee SamSoon widened her eyes when Christie said that.

“Reaaally? How? Who is it?”

“Muse is a team, a brother and sister combination. You know what’s even more baffling?”

“What is?”

Lee SamSoon asked with a flushed expression. Jung MinAh also perked her ears up in her yoga position. Muse was all the rage recently. Moreover, they were the ones that made DiaTeen rise up like that, so she couldn’t help but get curious.

“The team, Muse, is made up of the composer Lee HeeYoon, and Team Leader Lee KangYoon.”

“…Wh, whoa…. what?”

Lee SamSoon exhaled out loud due to the sudden revelation. MinAh, who was doing Yoga, even fell over.

“MinAh, you okay?”

“Oh… I’m fi… fine. Wait, what was that about? What did KangYoon-ahjussi do?”

Jung MinAh’s eyes were frightening. Christie An flinched back when she saw the predator-like eyes.

“Uhm… that’s….”

“Can you elaborate?”

Jung MinAh’s eyes were on fire.

***

After much consideration, Kim JaeHoon finished selecting his songs.

As HeeYoon’s songs were very good, it wasn’t easy to select 4 out of the 7 songs. As such, he took several days to choose them when it would usually take around a few hours.

“Are you going with these?”

“Yes.”

The recording studio at the company.

KangYoon had a look at the scores that Kim JaeHoon gave him. He flipped through the pages and nodded his head.

“Okay. What’s the song you want to arrange yourself?”

“This one.”

He picked out one of the scores. It was a song titled ‘Today I Send You Off’.

“You even made the lyrics already?”

“Not completely. I need to look through it some more.”

“It’s good that you’re having progress already.”

KangYoon couldn’t tell Kim JaeHoon what to do since he was already doing everything. Kim JaeHoon said that it was easier to work at the house rather than at the studio. KangYoon permitted it with a nod.

“Do you need anything?”

“It’s fine. Well, I do want some alcohol.”

“I’ll get some beer on my way home.”

Kim JaeHoon put his right thumb up.

After Kim JaeHoon went back, KangYoon headed towards where Kim JiMin was practicing along with Professor Choi ChanYang. They were long past the basic vocal lessons now and were starting to sing proper songs.

“Can we still love — but who cares –”

A bright melody with a cheerful set of lyrics could be heard in the studio. KangYoon’s eyes saw white notes.

Professor Choi ChanYang adjusted her posture and voice while listening to her voice.

“Do it more naturally.”

“Can we still love — but who cares –”

“Do it again. You got a little tense again, didn’t you? It’s because this part here is tensing up. Don’t stress your vocal cords and do it more naturally.”

Professor Choi ChanYang taught Kim JiMin while lightly pressing his own neck to show her.

Since they were so absorbed in their lesson, they didn’t realize that KangYoon had arrived. KangYoon did not disturb them and watched for a while.

“Good. That should do for now.”

When Professor Choi ChanYang gave his approval, Kim JiMin sighed in relief. Only then did they realize that there was a guest here.

“Sir?”

Hearing her words, Professor Choi ChanYang turned around as well.

“KangYoon-ssi. You’re here.”

“Yes. JiMin, is everything going okay?”

“No, it’s difficult….”

As always, Kim JiMin was having a hard time. Although she was starting to get used to the SLS method now, she couldn’t concentrate properly when she was playing the guitar simultaneously. Her mind couldn’t focus on both the guitar tab and her voice at the same time.

KangYoon spoke in understanding.

“It’s not easy to sing and play at the same time. But if you keep practicing, you’ll get used to it.”

“Yes.”

“Then, can I watch you play one?”

Kim JiMin picked up her guitar at KangYoon’s words. She corrected her posture and did a few coughs to get her vocal cords ready, and she started singing.

“When I open my eyes — the sweet sunshine flows through –”

KangYoon’s eyes lit up when he saw that her voice had become a lot different from before. He turned around to Professor Choi ChanYang unintentionally. He smiled back at him.

‘Her skills have risen dramatically! The SLS method is surely taking effect.’

It was worth it to have practiced the vocal method and not sing any actual songs for the past. The light from Kim JiMin’s songs and the guitar was a strong white. Although the light did get dimmer when she messed up the guitar, the white light still went strong.

After the 1st verse, Kim JiMin paused.

“Should I… continue?”

She asked carefully and KangYoon shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. You’ve improved a lot.”

“Thank you.”

“You really got better at singing. Your voice has become stronger and even when it goes high, it doesn’t feel forced. I think you’ve practiced the basic vocal method a lot. Splendid work there.”

Kim JiMin blushed in happiness when KangYoon complimented him. Although KangYoon wasn’t a stern guy, he was very stingy with his compliments. She felt very happy to have received compliments from such a person. Professor Choi ChanYang also became happy as well.

KangYoon judged that he didn’t have to touch on Kim JiMin anymore. Both Park SoYoung and the professor were with her so she should be fine on her own. KangYoon thought that it was a type of skill to ask for help from others.

‘There’s nothing left for me to do here.’

KangYoon exited the studio satisfied.

***

After Lunas was finished being constructed, time flew.

Whtie Moonlight had to prepare for the opening event for Lunas before the remnant excitement from the Rock Festival had even washed away

Lee HyunJi focused on advertising Lunas to potential audiences, and KangYoon also gathered some strategies on how to use this venue and make a profit. He also had to prepare just in case the nightclubs around did something fishy.

Spending their time busily, it soon became D-day.

One Friday in September.

Today was Lunas’s opening day.

The members of White Moonlight were busy checking the equipment and rehearsing at the hall, while manager Kim DaeHyun also nervously tuned the sounds from the gigantic mixer he had never seen before in his life. Though, there was a specially-invited sound engineer with him for today.

Everyone became busy with the opening event from the morning, and time quickly passed. Both KangYoon and White Moonlight didn’t even have time to eat lunch.

It was now 4 in the afternoon, time for the final dress rehearsal.

“JiMin! How’s your in-ear monitor?”

Kim DaeHyun asked Kim JiMin, as this was the first time she wore such a thing. She was wearing a white one-piece dress and not her usual school uniform, and she shook her head as she was very uncomfortable with wires hanging off her head.

“It feels uncomfortable here.”

“I’m asking about the sound.”

“I’m not sure about the sound, but it hurts my ears.”

“Ah….”

In the end, Manager Kim DaeHyun re-did Kim JiMin’s in-ear monitor. Kim JiMin thanked him and went back to her place.

When they finished their dress rehearsal, it was already time for the opening. Jung HyeJin, who was guarding the entrance, hurried down with news.

“There are a lot of people waiting outside. Can I tell them to come in now?”

She asked KangYoon while panting. When KangYoon turned around to the stage, the dress rehearsal was just finishing off with Kim JiMin’s last part. The staff had already prepared for other things as well.

“Yes. Please let them in now.”

On KangYoon’s orders, she went to the entrance and let the people enter.

Today’s performance was a standing performance with no seats for the audience. As White Moonlight was originally an indie band, the lighting for the venue was set to give off a nightclub vibe, and all external sources of light were cut off with dark curtains.

30 minutes before the event started, half of the audience was filled.

10 minutes before the event, almost all the audience was filled.

5 minutes before, it was starting to get cramped. The effect of the Rock Festival combined with Lee HyunJi’s work was showing its light.

“There are a lot of people.”

“That’s good. I was worried that not even half would fill.”

“Who do you think did the PR for this…. That will not happen.”

Lee HyunJi smiled in confidence.

The orange lights became darker and the stage lights turned on. At the same time. White Moonlight showed up.

“Hello!”

“Waaaaa!”

Lee HyunAh’s powerful voice made the audience cheer out loud. She was very proficient in handling the audience now.

White Moonlight wasn’t known for its long introductory comments, and they started performing straight away.

The audience put their arms around their neighbor’s shoulders regardless of their acquaintances and started jumping from the beginning. They sang along to the lyrics they already knew and tried to follow the lyrics they didn’t know to enjoy themselves.

Time flew by in a flash when everyone was enjoying themselves. Kim JiMin’s time had arrived as well.

‘Urgh, I’m so nervous…’

Kim JiMin, who was calming herself down behind the stage, stroked down on her chest to relax with a guitar in her other hand. However, she couldn’t quite calm down when she saw the excitedly jumping audience. Would they do the same for her? was the question on her mind.

Regardless, it was now time for Lee HyunAh to introduce her.

“…It’s a mistake if you think we’re covering for our cute little junior. Let me introduce you, the famous-to-be singer, Kim. Ji. Min~!”

“Uooooh!”

Lee HyunAh introduced her very exaggeratedly. As the audience was already mesmerized by her, they greeted Kim JiMin with thunderous applause.

‘Hiccup.’

Looking down at the audience from the stage, Kim JiMin almost had a hiccup. Watching from behind the stage and actually standing on the stage were completely different. Moreover, those people had come here to watch Lee HyunAh’s performance. But she, who wasn’t even a proper musician yet, satisfying that audience? She wondered if that was possible.

However, the die was already cast. Her heart pounding from nervousness, she sat down at the seat prepared for her at the center of the stage and picked up her guitar. When she played a simple chord to adjust herself, the people started cheering.

She sat down and started singing.

“I open my eyes – to the sweet sunshine –”

A cheerful dance-style song played on an acoustic guitar was very different from normal. Moreover, the pre-recorded bass line flowed out from the guitar. To top it off, there was her voice. Her voluminous, yet husky voice conquered the ears of the audience.

To the audience, her song was a breath of fresh air after jumping around a lot with White Moonlight. The analog-like song sung by a girl presented them with a joy that was different from others. Listening to a girl group song played like this was very refreshing for them.

‘Good.’

KangYoon, who was watching the reactions of the audience from the broadcasting room, was satisfied to see white light created from the acoustic guitar, JiMin’s voice, as well as the pre-recorded bass line from the speakers.

‘I should think about getting her to debut soon.’

The Kim JiMin that grumbled every day was no longer present. KangYoon, in his mind, scheduled for her debut while looking at her who had taken over the audience.

The song continued to the chorus of the first verse.

“My heart — and your heart- are conn-.”

Ting!

An unexpected noise occurred on the stage. The audience blocked their ears due to the sudden snapping sound.

“What was that?”

“What was it?”

“Huh, the guitar string.”

The audience started pointing at Kim JiMin’s guitar string. Kim JiMin, on the other hand, was at a loss of what to do since the guitar string suddenly snapped.

“Oh….”

Due to the sudden incident, Kim JiMin stood there blankly while looking at her own guitar.

Her guitar’s 3rd string had coiled up on each side. Although she could just play the remaining strings, guitars went out of tune once even a single string broke. With the remaining five strings going out of tune, she wouldn’t be able to play it anymore.

The music suddenly cut off.

The audience started whispering among themselves. Kim JiMin panicked while looking at the audience. It wasn’t like she hadn’t checked up on her guitar beforehand, and this still happened. She never imagined that such a thing could happen.

It felt as though it was all her fault.

-JiMin, calm down.

At that moment, she heard KangYoon’s voice through her earset.

-It’s a common occurrence on stage. It’s fine. Calm down.

A ray of light shone on the dark stage.