Second Try Idol

Chapter 318: Break (14)

Jin-Sung suddenly sprang up from his embrace with Su-Hwan. “Are we really gonna have a concert?"

“Yes, you are. There is still plenty of time left, but it will take considerable time and effort to prepare."

“What? Did Joo-Han hyung and Suh Hyun-Woo know about this?" Goh Yoo-Joon nudged my arm.

“They did indeed know."

Thump.

Joo-Han emphasized his point by slamming his palm on the table. “That's exactly why this vacation isn't just any break. It's a chance for us to recharge and also start gearing up for the concert. We are calling it a vacation, but it’s really a prep session for the upcoming show."

I glanced around at the members because I was curious about their reactions to Joo-Han's revelation. Would they be excited, or disappointed that our supposed break wasn’t actually a break? I was genuinely curious about their spontaneous reactions.

“Ah, you should have told us earlier~"

To my surprise, the members seemed more amused than anything.

“We are having a concert? Ha! Is this for real?"

“Are we going on an international tour too? Oh, seriously. Did only the managers and leaders know?"

“No, it's a domestic concert," Su-Hwan clarified with a calm and definitive tone, promptly crushing Jin-Sung's dreams of an international tour before summarizing the uncertain concert dates.

Goh Yoo-Joon stood up. “I am all for it. A week of real vacation combined with some concert prep sounds perfect to me. Above all—" With a cheeky wink and a nod toward Su-Hwan, Goh Yoo-Joon’s grin spread across his face. “—now, Su-Hwan hyung is officially ours to keep, right? Yay!"

He spoke with an exaggerated cheerfulness and strolled off toward the bathroom while humming a tune.

“...Shall we get back to work?"

“Yes."

Everyone dismissed Goh Yoo-Joon’s antics and stood up from the table to start their individual tasks. Goh Yoo-Joon was probably in the bathroom dancing around.

Back in my room, I popped in my earbuds and listened to a song sent over by Reina. As I hummed along, I reflected on the tasks ahead. “Phantom Spirit” schedules had been wrapped up, the recording with Callia Lawrence was complete, and now the only things left before the concert were the dreaded Newbie Crew and collaboration with Reina. Both of them posed a significant challenge.

Reina had sent over a track typical of her style, a medieval fantasy vibe, and had specified exactly how she wanted me to sing it. She wanted the same vocal tone I’d used in the opening of “Once Again” or during my performance of “Moon Sea” at the Pick We Up competition.

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Whether it was “Once Again” or “Moon Sea,” recreating the specific tone wasn’t the hard part since I was familiar with both pieces. The challenge was maintaining the strength of my voice while also capturing the unique emotional essence Reina’s song demanded.

No matter if I had been a trainer or not, mastering this was definitely tough. Reina had far more experience and skill than I could have had as a trainer.

I remember what Reina told me. “I will give you a separate lesson. Just come to the studio relaxed. If we have to sing all day to get it right, so be it.” Her calmness had been slightly intimidating, but also reassured me that this was what professionalism looked like.

“This is tough, really tough."

“What's tough?"

I jumped. “Whoa! Oh my—"

Goh Yoo-Joon had suddenly appeared, pushing his face into mine. “Hmm? Were you about to swear?”

Startled by his unexpected appearance, I chuckled nervously as he rummaged through my wardrobe.

He said, “I definitely made a noise. You just didn't hear it."

“...My heart's racing now. Wow..."

“I am borrowing your zip-up. What’s so difficult, anyway? The song?"

Goh Yoo-Joon slung my zip-up hoodie over one shoulder and plopped down beside me.

“It's not that it’s particularly hard, but I need to nail the emotions and really pour my soul into it. So I expect the recording session to drag on. Ah."

I was about to hand him the zip-up and send him on his way when I reconsidered. Goh Yoo-Joon wasn't just our group's top vocalist. He was known for his profound depth and expressiveness. If I was praised for my acting during performances and facial expressions, Goh Yoo-Joon was lauded for his vocal prowess.

His songs were immensely popular especially abroad. In our currently airing series Again After Rainfall, Goh Yoo-Joon’s solo songs consistently pulled in higher views while my performances and fan-cams had higher views than his.

Given that, I was eager to tap into his expertise.

“How do you manage to evoke emotions when you sing?"

“Emotions? Well... um..." Goh Yoo-Joon furrowed his brow and looked as if he was diving deep into thoughts he hadn't explored before. There was a mix of natural talent and hard-earned skills shaped by experience in his method.

“Are you struggling with how to convey emotions?” I asked. “You always seem to nail it."

“Well..."

“It seems like Reina wants something different than usual. She wants the listener to feel not just sad, but devastatingly lonely."

“When the song starts, I just immerse myself fully into the lyrics and melody. What else is there to do?"

“Ah, you are more of a genius than I give you credit for,” I teased him. “You’re actually kind of annoying."

Goh Yoo-Joon let out a chuckle before he got serious again. “Before I start singing, I read through the lyrics and set up a scenario in my mind."

“A scenario?"

“Yeah, like imagining getting dumped by a first love that never existed, or being cheated on by a fictional lover. Or, when it comes to pop songs, picturing myself hanging out in some fancy club bar with friends helps. Like places I will probably never visit. That’s how I prepare myself."

“...That sounds like a smart approach."

Goh Yoo-Joon nodded. “Relying solely on the lyrics and melody to bring out emotions has its limits, you know."

“Yeah, I can see that." I was about to thank him for his insights, but I didn't get the chance as his lips twitched into a playful grin again.

“I just thought of something. I have this secret weapon I use when I can't quite grasp the feeling of the song. No kidding, it actually works wonders, and I find myself using it every now and then."

He always had a flair for lightening the mood.

“Ugh... what is it?"

“It’s all in the facial expression. Like this." Goh Yoo-Joon’s eyebrows twisted into a perfect 八 shape. His eyebrows arched comically and lips twitched in amusement.

Wow.

“You can't be serious right now. You look ridiculous."

“No, really, I’ve sung like this before. It sounds funny, but it's true. Remember ‘Passed By?’ I sang it with that face, and it’s the song that won me first place during our trainee monthly evaluations."

“Passed By” was a song that he had sung back when we were trainees. He had clinched first place for the first time in our monthly evaluations with this song. The idea that such a story lay behind that performance was astounding...

“...Got it. Thanks for the tip."

“Alright. I am taking the zip-up. I am off to meet a friend from our high school days. Pick up if I call."

“Sure."

Goh Yoo-Joon exited the room and left me to ponder his advice. I lay down again with my earbuds plugged in.

‘I should start off by coming up with a scenario.’

***

“Umm, perfect. Your voice is just wonderful, Hyun-Woo. Let's try that again."

Praise followed swiftly by the command for another take.

My morale dipped slightly. Two hours had passed since I started recording with Reina, and it had been a constant loop of 'again, again, again.' I had lost count of the number of takes.

“You can maybe get a bit sadder? Try singing it more like a chant. You are still too cheerful."

“Oh, still too cheerful?"

Despite repeated efforts, all I kept hearing was that my voice was too soft or too cheerful, suggesting I needed to pour even more intensity into my performance.

“Let the emotions pour out. So sad it makes you want to swear. Like, 'Damn it! It’s so fucking sad! I feel like dying! It's all because of you!' Really push it to that level."

Reina's directive made Kun-Ho, who was nearby, jitter and sneak a glance at her.

“So, imagine going berserk, throwing things around the room, and then realizing it’s already night when you look out the window. The house is a mess, you are a mess. Climb into bed, lie still for a while until your breathing eases, then stare out the window and think, 'But I still want to see you.’"

“Okay..."

“Like you’ve given up. Recite it in a weary, powerless voice."

Reina was so detailed in her explanation, even swearing. But honestly, I still couldn’t grasp the depth of the emotion she required. Could more emotion even come out from me? Was it possible to sing with such nuanced feelings?

Even more unbelievable was that we were still only recording the beginning of the song. Her earlier remark about holding me all day wasn't just a threat, but a stark reality.

“Let’s... try one more time."

“Good. If this take doesn’t work, come out and we will do some scenario making. I will help you."

I took a deep breath as I was acutely aware of my limitations. In a field where only music could advocate for me, there was no room for compromising on skill. This had to work.

'I was dumped. And not just dumped, but utterly betrayed. I cried and raged, threw a fit. But I still miss you so much that I want to meet you just once more to talk it over.’

“I will start the song.”

“Okay.”

As the song started playing again, I internalized all the theoretical emotions I had memorized and began singing with furrowed eyebrows.

? What dreams do you have?

The darkness settles in so coldly

When I open my eyes, it's night

When I close them, I see you

My heart aches unbearably

I tried my best to recreate the sadness.