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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Eun Hae-sol's Memory (2)
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With a dull thud, the rooftop door slammed shut. It was the moment my foot stepped onto the dust-covered stairs.
[Sub Quest Success!]
As expected, a quest completion reward window popped up before my eyes.
[Item Issued]
- Acquired Eun Hae-sol's Memory Chapter 2
Once again, the reward item was a piece of Eun Hae-sol's memory.
"Phew…."
Relief from clearing the sub quest washed over me, and I found myself hanging my head without realizing it.
Of course, I had no idea what kind of bullshit quest might be waiting for me next….
'At least the music video shoot should go off without a hitch now.'
Just then, Eun Hae-sol, who had been descending the stairs, turned around.
"Aren't you coming?"
"Oh, yeah, let's hurry."
I quickly hurried down the stairs after him.
It had been quite a while since we'd slipped away from the set, so the staff might be looking for us by now.
I hurriedly turned on my smartphone and checked the group chat.
[Cha Jae-hyun]
Where are you guys?
[Baek Si-woo]
Hey, where tf are you? Why aren't you here?
[Cha Jae-hyun]
The director's looking for you. Hurry up.
[Song Yu-bin]
I'm done shooting! Hurry back, hyungs!
[Cha Jae-hyun]
Since you guys weren't here, they shot Yu-bin and Si-woo first. You and Hae-sol are the only ones left, so come straight to the art room as soon as you see this!
'…Shit, we're screwed.'
I grabbed Eun Hae-sol's shoulder as he walked ahead and rushed down the stairs.
"They're waiting for us. Let's get to the art room quick."
We hurried our steps.
* * *
Inside the art room.
"Sorry we're late."
The moment we opened the door and stepped in, all eyes turned to us.
I could feel the annoyed glares from a few staff members. Amid them stood the director, arms crossed.
"What kept you?"
"Oh, well…."
I was about to recite my prepared excuse.
"Sorry."
An unexpected voice made me turn my head. The speaker was none other than Eun Hae-sol.
"I had a panic attack for a moment, so I left the set and went up to the rooftop. Eun-ho hyung helped me out."
Eun Hae-sol promptly bowed.
"Sorry for being late."
It was so unlike him.
'Did he actually take my advice to get his shit together?'
At Eun Hae-sol's attitude, the director's expression softened a bit.
"A panic attack? You okay now?"
"Yes."
"Good, then. But next time, let someone know before you step away. Got it?"
We answered in unison.
"Yes. Understood."
"Alright! Eun Hae-sol, we need to shoot, so take your spot."
At the director's instruction, Eun Hae-sol sat down in front of the easel with the canvas. It depicted a school courtyard landscape.
"Now, get into the emotion! Just light brush strokes."
Eun Hae-sol gripped the brush tightly.
"Ready, action!" With the director's call, Eun Hae-sol began brushing over the painting.
The empty art room. Crumpled paint tubes and stained tissues littered the floor.
In the midst of it all sat Eun Hae-sol, painting with lonely eyes.
'He's nailing the emotion pretty well.'
Soon, Eun Hae-sol leaned back against the chair, tilting his head as he gazed at the painting.
"Okay!"
The moment the director's okay sign dropped, Eun Hae-sol stood up with a tired expression.
Our eyes met, and he pouted his lips before turning away.
Once shooting wrapped, the members started chattering excitedly.
"Man, our MV's gonna be a hit."
"Right? Why are we all so good at acting?"
Then the behind-the-scenes camera approached Eun Hae-sol.
"Do you draw well?"
Eun Hae-sol shook his head with a laugh.
"Nah, I suck at drawing."
"Really? Looked pretty pro during the shoot."
Eun Hae-sol gave an awkward smile. The BTS staff asked casually.
"Just one last shoot left, right?"
"Yeah. The final scene's Eun-ho hyung's…."
At those words, everyone looked at me.
'My turn soon.'
I felt tension coil in my body without thinking.
The MV shoot had only the long-awaited piano performance scene left.
Inside the music room. Amid the filming crew busily setting up equipment, I stood lost in thought.
'Can I pull this off?'
The scene I had was the MV's highlight. It required maxing out the emotion, so the pressure was immense.
Wind from the window made the red velvet curtains billow.
Turning my head, I spotted a large fan in the corner of the music room.
The director approached then.
"Jeong Eun-ho, you ready?"
"…Yes. I'm good."
The director gripped my shoulder and pointed to the music room corner.
"See that? The big fan. They'll turn it on my cue. Sheets of music will fly everywhere…."
"Got it."
"If we get an NG, we'll have to clean up all the scattered sheets and reshoot, so try to nail it in one take. Please?"
"Yes."
My shoulders already felt heavy.
'This is what they meant by the pressure….'
Other scenes could afford NGs, but this one involved scattering sheet music all over the room, so one perfect take was crucial.
I steadied my breath and sat at the piano.
"Ready—"
The keyboard stretched out in a straight line before me. I clenched my fist staring at it.
"Action!"
I slowly placed my hands on the keys. Then, as practiced, I began pressing them.
Eyes closed, I swayed side to side like a pianist, playing the piano.
The pressure of nailing it in one take crushed me, but I hid it as best I could and kept playing.
The lyrical melody swirled in my ears. I had no idea what expression I wore or how my fingers moved….
But one thing was certain: I was playing our debut song right now.
That instant, the director's cue came.
'Now.'
My fingers, which had been wandering slowly over the keys, sped up.
A fierce gust hit, sending countless sheets of music swirling into the air. They fluttered down over my head, one by one.
Then sunlight poured through the window onto the piano. Soon, radiant light slowly illuminated my face.
The sheets on the floor rustled in the breeze.
'Final cut.'
I counted the timing in my head.
One, two, three.
'Now.'
I slammed both hands down on the keys.
"Okay!"
With the mangled piano note, the director's okay rang out. Tension drained from my body, and my arms slowly slid off the keys.
'Done.'
No NG. Just that fact made me grin proudly.
Looking around the music room, sheet music blanketed the floor. And there I stood in the center.
Faces of those watching me passed by one by one. They all looked stunned.
'What's with them?'
As I glanced around in confusion, the director approached.
"You nailed it. The footage looks amazing."
"Thank you."
I mumbled a reply to the sudden praise, flustered but with a smile creeping onto my lips.
"That's a wrap on shooting!"
"Good work!"
Only then, as tension released, did the members approach me. They looked deeply impressed.
"Jeong Eun-ho, you're actually good at acting."
"Timing was perfect too. Sunlight hitting right then? Thought it was a movie. Hell, I'd believe it even if it was. Epic, anyway."
The members buzzed with chatter. Their praise tugged my lips upward.
"Wow! Shooting's finally over!"
And with that, the MV shoot ended.
When I first got the sub quest [Suffocating Space], I'd been anxious alone, wondering if the whole shoot would flop….
But now the MV was done successfully, Eun Hae-sol seemed to have pulled himself together somewhat, and I….
My thoughts suddenly halted.
What about me?
'Am I okay?'
So much had happened. Not content with nearly dying by falling off the rooftop right before debut, I was running through this endless stream of unknown quests.
Come to think of it, had I ever asked myself if I was okay?
"...."
No clue.
But one thing I knew for sure.
'Debut's right around the corner.'
Recalling the seven years I'd poured into chasing that dream, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Good work, everyone."
* * *
Back at the dorm after shooting.
It had been a long day, and my body was utterly spent. I dragged my heavy frame to bed.
'Wonder if the footage turned out well.'
Then I remembered the quest reward from today.
"Eun Hae-sol's Memory Chapter 2."
I opened the inventory window.
[Eun Hae-sol's Memory Chapter 2]
A capsule containing Eun Hae-sol's past memory. Use to view Eun Hae-sol's memory.
The last one I saw had been downright shocking. Truth be told, I didn't want to relive those emotions again. But….
'I want to understand that guy.'
I'd promised to stick by him until he got his head straight, so I had to keep my word. For that, I needed his memories.
"Use item."
The moment I spoke, my body felt like it was floating lightly. Soon my vision flooded with white light.
* * *
Inside a classroom.
Alone amid clusters of chattering kids, I sharpened my pencil.
Scritch-scratch—
Glancing up suddenly, I caught my reflection in the wall mirror opposite.
Black horn-rimmed glasses, timid face. Utterly ordinary, just like any other kid my age.
So why was I always outside the realm of ordinary?
Thwack—
A ball suddenly flew and smacked my head before dropping.
Looking up, I saw ??? looming over me.
"Eun Hae-sol. Having a good time?"
"..."
"Having a good time, huh? Why so quiet?"
Silence stretched.
As I opened my mouth to say something, ???'s fist flew toward my face. Pain hadn't even registered before my body hit the floor.
Thud—
I looked up at ???.
??? was still grinning, teeth bared. Who knew a laugh could feel so vile? Clutching my fist tight, I averted my gaze.
Thwack— Thwack—
Fists rained down relentlessly.
It all happened in an instant. Even now, someone's having a happy time, someone a miserable one, someone meeting death.
So there must be someone else getting beaten like me. Do they feel the same?
No way to know. Not even why I'm the one getting hit.
* * *
I opened my eyes in my room.
In the silent room's center, I slowly cupped my face.
"Ha. The memory's vividly shitty."
I collapsed limply onto the bed. It was just experiencing the memory, but my face throbbed like I'd been punched myself.
'Eun Hae-sol got bullied in high school? Was today's panic attack because of that?'
The Eun Hae-sol in the memory looked like a completely different person.
The quiet, invisible kid in every class. The type who couldn't even get mad. Exactly that vibe.
'What the hell happened to turn a kid like that into this?'
The bully's face was blacked out in silhouette, unidentifiable, and the name tag on his uniform was a blurry mess.
I had no idea why the guy was censored like that, but it was clear I'd need the next chapter to ID who tormented Eun Hae-sol.
'What kind of life has he lived?'
Just then, a message alert pinged. Tapping the popup.
[Manager]
About time to move dorms, right?
With debut right on our doorstep, yeah, it was time.
The current dorm was rundown and shabby overall.
'Once we leave, other trainees will move in.'
I'd grown a bit attached, so it was a shame….
'Finally feels like we're debuting.'
My heart fluttered with excitement.
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