Chapter 287: It'll Be Okay (2)
Amid all the chaos, the performance came to an end.
“Thank you for your hard work, Stardust!”
“Yes, thank you.”
“This way, please!”
Our first collaboration stage with James Linden.
The event was much larger than expected, and it was apparently being broadcast live on American NBN Broadcasting as well.
In other words, it had been a successful collaboration debut stage.
As we walked off the stage, breathing heavily, the on-site staff welcomed us with smiling faces.
The blonde staff member who had introduced himself as a huge K-pop fan even before we went on stage grinned brightly and gave us a thumbs-up.
“Wooooo!”
“It was so good. It was absolutely worth looking forward to.”
“The song is completely my style. I guarantee this is going to be a huge success.”
He kept showering us with praise, saying it had been a flawless performance.
There seemed to be a bit of bias born from his love of K-pop, but compliments always felt good to hear.
James Linden, who was gathering up his microphone cable, burst into hearty laughter and joined the conversation.
“So? We looked like one group, didn't we?”
“Musically, it was perfect. Ah! Though visually, don't you think Mr. Linden would need to become about ten years younger?”
“Really? My heart's still in its twenties. My face is... pretty close too, isn't it?”
“Excuse me?”
The two exchanged fluent English.
James Linden shrugged and added shamelessly,
“Let's just say my conscience hasn't been born yet.”
“You're surprisingly self-aware.”
“Haha!”
Right now, though, their joking conversation barely registered in my ears.
Taking a short breath, I turned my gaze away.
“......”
The monitor was replaying the collaboration stage from moments ago.
Pretending nothing was wrong, I fixed my eyes on the screen.
I rubbed my face with both hands to clear my head.
Sometimes, life became complicated.
There were countless moments when unsolvable problems piled up until it felt like I was about to lose my mind.
Based on my admittedly shallow life experience....
At times like these, it was better to focus on work.
It was better to immerse myself in something completely and forget everything else.
“Let's review the performance.”
Calmly, I replayed the stage in my mind.
It was something we always did after coming off stage.
There was always a subtle difference between how the performance felt on stage and how it actually looked on screen.
To make sure I hadn't missed anything, I always reviewed the recording one more time.
“Mmm. No mistakes.”
It was fortunate there hadn't been any obvious mistakes....
“The expressions are a little disappointing.”
“It was our first time really performing together on stage, so it couldn't be helped if it felt a little awkward.”
The parts between our members, who had been together for years, looked natural, but the sections with James Linden felt slightly awkward.
Maybe because it was our first official collaboration stage, but I noticed our expressions stiffening slightly during the harmony sections.
It would probably be better to polish that for the next performance....
“Ah, and the part where you sing together with Mr. Linden.”
Pointing at the monitor, I continued,
“It already sounds natural enough as it is, but what if we added a vibrato to the last line?”
“As an ad-lib?”
“Yes. I think it would be nice if we made it a little different from the recorded version.”
“Ah. You mean this part?”
James Linden hummed the melody with a serious expression.
Come to think of it, he was surprisingly similar to Cha Seongbin.
Someone born a genius, yet who still worked hard because he was completely devoted to music.
“Mmm. That sounds good.”
There couldn't have been a better partner to work with.
“Let's pay more attention to our expressions next time.”
“Siwoo, was the movement over here okay?”
“Yes. We didn't bump into each other.”
“Then let's keep it as it is~.”
My hyungs also pointed at the monitor, each adding their own thoughts.
As I mentally organized the revisions, I smiled faintly.
“...Other than that, I think everything was fine.”
“Yes! The response was incredible too!”
“That turned into an amazing first performance.”
We shook hands with James Linden and exchanged polite compliments.
From the performance to the monitoring session.
Contrary to our worries, everything had wrapped up smoothly.
Now all that remained was to head back to the hotel and get some proper rest....
“......”
But the back of my head had been prickling for a while now.
Gulp.
Swallowing, I slowly turned around.
It was Kang Siwoo.
Standing there silently without saying a word somehow made him look even more intimidating.
I awkwardly smiled and looked away, but Kang Siwoo finally parted his lips.
His voice trembled ever so slightly.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes.”
The answer to that question...
had already been decided.
[Today's Stardust Airport Departure Photos]
Looks like they're officially leaving for the overseas tour now.
I got so sad thinking I wouldn't get to see them in Korea for a while, so I ended up going to the airport to see them off. ㅠㅠ
(Photo)
(Photo)
Is it even possible for someone to look that handsome when people are blocking half of them?
The aura coming through the cap and mask is insane.
The ones below are press photos lol.
Not a shred of humiliation.
An idol who boosts fans' confidence just by existing.
Junseo's bag has keychains hanging all over it lol. Didn't he say he bought a bunch of stuff during the Japan schedule last time? So that's what it was? lol
└He already looks like a soft teddy bear, but his personality is even softer.
└Even softer than genuine softie Tofu Ian lol.
└Turns out I really like handsome men who carry keychains....
Our boys are glowing even this early in the morning. Hehe.
└Whose sons are they? They're ridiculously handsome.
└But they do look tired.
└More than tired, they seem a little sensitive.
└2222 Is it just me? Their expressions look worse than usual.
└There were way too many people at the airport;;; It's probably because of that.
└Stop making assumptions based on facial expressions. It's probably just how the photos came out.
Didn't they coordinate matching outfits this time? I was hoping for Animal Pajamas 2....
Universe Dust has to become famous overseas... No, don't become famous... No, actually become famous....
└I hope Seo Ian only ever reveals his abs in Korea.
└They always turn the charm all the way up whenever they go overseas. ㅠㅠ Their hair and makeup are legendary too. Hehe.
└My baby is too amazing. I need to hide him. ㅠㅠㅠ
The airport photos showed all seven members standing together.
Most of the comments below were the usual admiration, but some fans noticed subtle changes in the photos.
Perhaps because he couldn't completely hide his emotions even through the camera lens, worried comments soon began appearing.
But is Do Seohan sick?
└??? Why?
└His face is completely pale.
└I thought the same thing.
Is our baby having trouble with Jet Lag Adjustment? ㅠㅠ He doesn't look well.
└He still hasn't sent a Private Message.... He's the type who always sends one whenever he leaves the country. If it were another boy group, maybe not, but since it's Seohan, I'm seriously worried.
└They haven't even been in America for a full day yet lol.
A fansite master made a post saying Seohan didn't look well.
└Is that true??
└It's just speculation.
└None of the members said anything, but his face really was pale.
└Did he eat something that upset his stomach? ㅠㅠㅠ Our Do Hamjji, don't get sick.
Jin Sehyun's expression darkened as he read the community comments.
Apparently, it had been obvious enough for even sharp-eyed fans to notice.
The festival had ended safely.
All that remained now was the overseas tour.
It wasn't something they could hide forever.
With a worried expression, Jin Sehyun quietly muttered,
“Once the articles come out, everything's going to explode. I think it's only a matter of time.”
“Yeah.”
Doubles....
Looks like they're going to get cursed out enough to last a lifetime.
It wasn't something he particularly wanted to defend.
They deserved the criticism.
The only thing he was worried about was that Seohan himself kept insisting on going on stage no matter what.
From Jin Sehyun's perspective, Seohan didn't look like someone who would change his mind easily.
There was no point dwelling endlessly on something they couldn't solve.
Instead, he changed the subject and asked Kang Siwoo,
“What happened to that woman?”
The insane woman who had tried to stab Seohan with the awl.
Kang Siwoo had heard the general details directly from Manager Lee Jaeyoon.
“They said the investigation concluded she has schizophrenia and delusional symptoms....”
Just by looking at her, she clearly hadn't been thinking like a normal person.
I just hope she doesn't get a reduced sentence because of diminished responsibility.
Jin Sehyun let out a short sigh as he clenched his fist tightly.
“We still don't know the sentence, right?”
“But she really did stab him, so it'll probably be attempted murder. Either way, she won't be walking free anytime soon. The company also said they'll respond as aggressively as possible....”
“After failing to stop something that basic, I don't exactly trust them.”
When we got back to Korea, he was determined to turn the company upside down if necessary.
Biting down hard on his lower lip, Jin Sehyun absentmindedly stirred an innocent glass of milk.
Kang Siwoo nodded, saying he understood that feeling completely.
Meanwhile, Ha Junseo had been busily moving around the small kitchen.
He planned to make Seohan something to eat after everything he'd gone through.
“The kid's face has gotten so thin.”
“He's practically half the size he used to be.”
“I figured maybe he'd feel better if he ate something. We're in America, so I bought a pancake mix.”
Although Seohan had completed the schedule without issue, none of them believed that meant his heart was fine too.
When your mind was in turmoil, something sweet was always the best remedy.
Ha Junseo enthusiastically began mixing the batter in broad daylight.
Kang Siwoo helped him.
“As for the coffee... Hold on. I'll make it weak.”
They poured the prepared batter onto a lightly oiled frying pan.
The pancakes sizzled as they slowly cooked.
A sweet, buttery aroma soon filled the kitchen.
Right then, as if perfectly timed, Seohan came out of his room.
Apparently, he had just woken up, brushing through his messy hair with one hand.
Ha Junseo smiled warmly and beckoned him over.
“Oh, want some?”
“What is it?”
“Pancakes.”
Seohan swallowed unconsciously and nodded.
Ha Junseo also placed a lightly brewed cup of coffee on the table.
“Take your time eating. I'll make another one.”
“You should eat too, hyung.”
“I prefer bitter things over sweet ones.”
Jin Sehyun smiled as he sat down beside him.
Seohan didn't seem to notice, but the eyes of all six people sitting between the kitchen and the living room...
were focused on a single person.
The entire world was watching the youngest.
“He's... eating well, right?”
“Okay. His appetite's normal.”
“He slept enough too.”
“His physical condition seems fine.”
Jin Sehyun and Cha Seongbin quietly exchanged words only they could hear.
Just then, Seohan, who had been busily chewing his pancakes, looked up.
He suddenly remembered someone he hadn't seen all morning.
“Ah. Where's Manager?”
“Manager-hyung went down to the hotel lobby to make a phone call.”
“To who?”
Without thinking much, Cha Seongbin answered,
“To our PD.”
“Our PD?”
Slowly processing those unexpected words, Seohan's eyes widened.
Wait.
“...My hyung?”