bookandnovel Chapter 157: End-of-Year Stage (27)
Chapter 157: End-of-Year Stage (27)
Chapter 157: End-of-Year Stage (27)
“He was caught in a whirl of embarrassment and was at a loss." Tucked away behind the stage, I was watching Goh Yoo-Joon light up the musical scene with the other group members.
“Is Yoo-Joon usually shy?” asked a staff member with a camera in hand. I simply gave her a light smile and a nod in response. “We've honed our skills in singing and dancing extensively, yet venturing into this new realm is a first for us. At first, Yoo-Joon was quite sheepish, but look at him now, excelling on stage."
As I reflected on our days as trainees, where friendship was entwined with competition, such a surge of pride for a group member was new to me. Yet now, witnessing Yoo-Joon embrace a more significant role with such finesse filled me with pride.
“Doesn't Yoo-Joon's voice have a way of captivating the listener?" I mused, and the camera seemed to nod in agreement, bobbing up and down.
“Yoo-Joon is nailing it."
“Absolutely, he's got it down." Joo-Han's voice, laced with admiration, reached my ears from behind. I turned around and saw him making his way over with his attention riveted on Yoo-Joon's performance.
“What brings you here, hyung? Are you concerned about him?"
“Yes, I just wanted to see how he's doing. And Hyun-Woo, you are impressive as always. You indeed make hyung proud."
Feeling the warmth of Joo-Han's pat on my back, I realized that he shared the same sense of pride in both me and Yoo-Joon. His words brought a flush of modesty to my cheeks.
As Yoo-Joon moved to take center stage, he vanished from our view. Joo-Han and I instinctively shifted our focus to the monitor, catching glimpses of Yoo-Joon.
“He seems more at ease now. You both seemed a bit awkward when you did the duo performance."
“Oh, really? Did it show that much?"
“Only to the observant eye."
Our conversation continued as we kept our eyes on the broadcast, which soon switched to a different view. The camera now focused on various artists near the audience seat, each cheering on their group members. Among them were the youngest of our Chronos group, their enthusiasm surpassing even Joo-Han's and mine.
“...Who came up with that idea?"
“Not sure. I arrived after they did. Maybe the manager hyung?"
They clenched some mysterious banners in their hands.
[Goh Yoo-Joon... How does one not love you...]
[Ah... Suh Hyun-Woo... Can I even imagine a life without you...?]
Could anyone in YMM be this overt in their adoration? A laugh escaped me at the thought, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of their fanfare.
As I enjoyed the various aspects of the performance, a staff member approached me with a timely reminder. “Hyun-Woo, it's time for you to get ready for your entrance."
“Ah, right!" As I headed behind the blackout curtain, Joo-Han was right there, offering a reassuring shoulder rub.
“Knock 'em dead out there!"
“Will do." ent felt akin to a nurturing pep talk, and I suddenly felt like a young child bolstered by a parent's support before a big moment. I then made my way onto the stage by being guided by the staff.
Initially, our plan was for a subtle entrance, wherein I would seamlessly return to the stage as if I had never left, concluding the performance with the final song. However, the widespread news of my injury led the nineteen-year-old team to go the extra mile, crafting a special part for my entrance.
May the years ahead, one by one, unfold,
With days unchanging and a self that holds.♪
The stylist caught on to my casual remark and confirmed with a laugh, “Spot on! But we've tailored it specifically for you given the grandeur of the chair you will be using."
“You are really outdoing yourself, noona. Didn’t you prepare dozens of outfits for today?" I asked, genuinely impressed by her effort.
“Thanks, it's nice to be appreciated. But try not to eat anything until after your performance; we need you to look sharp. This look won't come together quite the same way twice.”
“Got it," I replied, my mind already racing ahead to the performance.
“Are we all set? I'm thinking of heading to the stage first," our manager proposed, prompting us to rise from our seats.
“Let's do this!" We rallied, our spirits high despite the looming challenge of the performance.
“I've heard about the physical toll of the year-end stages," Yoo-Joon remarked, stretching his limbs in preparation. “But feeling it firsthand is something else entirely."
Manager led the way, graciously opening the doors and offering apologies for any inconvenience. "Just a little further to go," he assured us, providing reassurance along the way.
“As for after the year-end stage, are we diving straight back into album prep?" asked Goh Yoo-Joon.
Hearing Goh Yoo-Joon's question, the manager cast a swift glance at his wristwatch and hastened his steps. “There's talk at the company about ramping up individual schedules for you all. We aim to align these with the theme of the upcoming album, and I'll provide you with more details during our meeting next week."
After the survival competition and our whirlwind debut, we adopted a cautious approach, reminiscent of Allure's early days, choosing to limit our appearances on variety shows. After all, navigating through the aftermath of our debut with only Chronos History and Flying Man under our belt was quite challenging. This left us intrigued about what the next album cycle might bring.
The moment we stepped backstage, Joo-Han promptly gathered us and said, “Today, let's aim for a zero-injury performance!"
“Okay!” We all nodded in agreement.
“Stick to the plan we perfected during rehearsals. Let's not get carried away by the crowd's energy."
“Understood!"
With Joo-Han leading the charge, we piled up our hands, this time joined by the dedicated staff who'd been with us every step of the way.
“Let’s... make this shine!”
“Yay!” I instantly moved to a different section beneath the stage along with a behind-the-scenes camera, just as a Chronos-specific VTR started to play.
I was directed to a lift where a colorful, Hollywood-esque chair awaited, which was a stark contrast to the simplicity we were accustomed to.
“Is this my spot?"
“Yes. This is one hundred percent safe, so just focus on delivering a powerful performance from the waist up," reassured the stage staff.
“Wow... This is...” Settling into the extravagant chair, I couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and slight embarrassment at its grandeur. As I took my seat and offered a word of thanks to the nearby staff, three individuals approached me to put the finishing touches on the setup.
Thump, thump. Clang, clang!
The dancers' footsteps on stage signaled the imminent start of our final stage. Taking a moment to focus, I infused a bit of spirit within me with a quiet scream and casually crossed my legs.
A concerned staff member gasped. “Is it okay to sit like that? What about your waist?"
I offered a reassuring smile, indicating to them that I felt well. The discomfort was fleeting, barely a thought during the adrenaline rush of the performance.
An air of supreme confidence directly overcame me, as I draped an arm over the chair's armrest, my chin resting thoughtfully on my hand.
“Time to ascend!" As the VTR concluded and the cheers swelled, the lift bearing me ascended, marking the beginning of "Parade.” This performance had undergone a remarkable transformation through extensive choreography and the collective effort of the members. It was a spectacle we were determined to make a resounding success.