Chapter 84
He was really someone who never deviated from expectations.
“But the CEO just told us to show our full potential.”
Seo Baek-young calmly spoke up first.
“Do you know that the CEO only comes to the company once every two or three months?”
Director Kim said with a blatant sneer.
“This time, she took special care of you, but once you debut, that won’t happen again. It’s not just one or two groups that need care. She’s more focused on her own music and business, so she doesn’t really care about artist management. She paid attention this time because it generated more buzz than expected, but once the debut team is decided, she won’t care about you at all.”
Director Kim spoke triumphantly.
“Ah, unless one of you causes a big scandal, then maybe things will change.”
In short, unless something significant happens, they won’t care about us.
“So just say and do what the company tells you. Oh, don’t worry. On the program, it will still look like you planned everything. That’s what the company is for. Be grateful. We’ll promote you as a genius self-producing group, even though you did nothing.”
Just listening to it was suffocating.
…Well.
In my past life, CEO Hong wasn’t someone who put much effort into artist management either.
She was always busy with some strange business or her own album.
It was a miracle she took such an active role this time.
Director Kim could wield power in Colors because of CEO Hong’s peculiar nature.
…This is very troublesome.
Not having anyone in the company to support us meant the road ahead would be thorny.
Especially for kids like them—
“I can’t do that.”
Especially for those who don’t think things through.
“…What?”
Every time I looked at Kim Geum, I felt it.
She really didn’t hold back.
“It’s not that I lack ability. I can compose, write lyrics, and produce. So why should I leave everything to the company?”
Kim Geum spoke clearly.
…That was her way of being polite.
“No matter how good you are, do you think you can do better than people who have been in this field for decades?”
Director Kim spoke in a low voice.
“Do you really think you’re a genius because the media calls you one? We created that label for you. You didn’t get into the hip-hop survival program on your own; we put you there. Do you really think all the praise you’ve received is your own ability?”
“Yes. It feels like my own ability.”
Kim Geum genuinely seemed to believe that.
Her eyes were so innocent.
“If I didn’t have the potential, would the company have invested money in me? In this capitalist world? Why did you choose me and place me there? It wasn’t volunteer work, was it?”
Wow.
Next to me, Yeon Juhong let out a very small sigh of admiration.
…Even though it was small, everyone must have heard it.
Director Kim’s eyes started to fill with blood.
I hope he doesn’t collapse.
“Yes. We saw potential in you, so we invested. We spent money on you because we expected you’d bring in more than that.”
Director Kim pretended to agree readily.
Now he was getting to the main point.
“But you’re still just ‘potential.’ What have you proven? Getting into the debut team is all. Do you know how many rookie idols debut each year? At best, you’re just one of those hundreds. You’re still nothing.”
Director Kim said this and stood up.
“If you want to insist that you’re an ‘artist,’ prove your ability. Then maybe the company will listen to you.”
“Then give me the opportunity.”
Kim Geum, who said this, looked like a huge rock.
An immovable rock.
“I want to prove myself. So give me the chance to prove it. I’ll do it myself—”
“Geum-ah.”
Director Kim sighed and shook his head, as if he had no choice.
“Prove it with something other than the debut album. Not something important, start with something small, step by step. Okay?”
“Then—”
“Enough.”
Director Kim raised his hand to stop Kim Geum from speaking.
“Don’t try to bargain with me. I have no reason to listen to you. Get out.”
***
We were driven back to the dormitory.
…The dormitory mentioned here was the one we used during the Make a New Color shoot.
We were going to stay here for a while.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!”
Kim Geum was screaming in rage like a madwoman.
…She was so loud that she screamed into her fist to avoid causing a disturbance.
She’s just living recklessly, so why does she seem funny?
“I’m so pissed.”
“…Of course, you are.”
“What pisses me off more is that I couldn’t say anything back.”
Kim Geum slumped her shoulders as if she was very dejected.
“Because I’m still a newbie….”
“That is true….”
“So let’s hurry up. Let’s grow. Let’s become veterans in K-pop.”
Although the conclusion was strange, at least she had regained her spirit.
We needed to regain our spirits, as we were heading back to a place that wasn’t conducive to feeling energized.
As expected.
The dormitory was in a very depressing atmosphere.
“Unnie….”
No one in our room had packed, but the other rooms were different.
Everyone else was packing.
We gathered in Jo Hee-on’s room.
Jo Hee-on’s eyes were red, and she was diligently packing.
“Oh, you all came?”
She usually didn’t stutter.
She tried to smile brightly but it was clear she had been crying.
“Do you really have to pack today?”
Kim Geum asked in a somber voice.
“Ah, no. They gave us two days, but… I just want to go home quickly.”
“…Two days? That’s so tight.”
Seo Baek-young said, feeling sorry.
“…It can’t be helped.”
“Still, you’re staying with Colors, right, unnie?”
Yeon Juhong asked anxiously.
“Well, I’m not sure.”
“Why? Are you transferring to another company?”
To Kim Geum’s question, Jo Hee-on just gave a faint smile.
“I don’t know yet… I need to hear what the company has to say. A company staff came while you were away. They asked if anyone wanted to move to another company that’s looking for a debut team. They said they’d help find a place and arrange a transfer.”
The conversation was already over.
Well.
Colors didn’t debut new groups very often.
Besides, since they just debuted a new girl group, they wouldn’t release another girl group right away.
Even if they debuted another group, it would probably be a boy group.
In that case, transferring to another company would give a higher chance of debuting.
Timing and age are important for idols.
“For now, I’m going to say goodbye to the fans… and take some time to rest and sort out my thoughts.”
“You’re not giving up on being an idol, are you?”
Yeon Juhong cautiously asked.
…It was a question we all had in our hearts.
During Make a New Color, Jo Hee-on got very exhausted.
“I’m not giving up. I don’t think anyone here will give up.”
Jo Hee-on cheerfully zipped her suitcase.
“Still, I want to take a break. We’ve all… really worked hard. Of course, you guys… your long journey is just beginning.”
Jo Hee-on got up from her seat.
“I don’t know why, but even though I’m really tired right now, I’m envious of you and the older members who have to keep running.”
***
The next morning.
We saw off the other trainees.
As if they had made a promise, everyone left the dorm immediately.
“Why are they leaving in such a hurry? Isn’t it obvious? I’m so sick of this dorm. It reminds me of all the nights I stayed up and how hard it was.”
Lee Kyunga laughed heartily as she loaded her luggage onto the bus.
“Fortunately, I have offers from companies that contacted me during Make a New Color. I’ll probably move to one of them.”
“That’s a relief. Unnie, you’ll do well wherever you go.”
Lee Kyunga looked much happier than when she gave her impressions yesterday.
Maybe because she felt relieved.
“Cheong-ah.”
“Yes?”
“I feel a little sorry now that we’re here.”
I stood there blankly, and Lee Kyunga awkwardly patted my shoulder.
“When you first joined Colors. You struggled a bit.”
Oh, she was talking about the time before I entered Yoon Cheong’s body.
“At that time, I didn’t like you much either. Well, everyone kind of distanced themselves from you. Back then, I justified it by thinking I was too tired to care about others.”
“Is that so….”
“But now, looking back, Cheong, you never ignored others even when you were having a hard time. You always pulled through for Juhong and the others.”
Lee Kyunga reached out to shake my hand.
“I learned a lot from watching you. Let’s meet again on another stage.”
“I learned a lot from you too, unnie. Let’s meet again as idol seniors and juniors. Of course, I’ll be the senior.”
“You’re already showing seniority….”
Lee Kyunga laughed and got on the bus.
I also saw off Jo Hee-on and the others.
I wonder if Yoon Cheong heard that apology.
…I hope she did.
The one who deserved the apology wasn’t me, it was Yoon Cheong.
***
“Good morning~”
While everyone was feeling down after sending off the others.
PD Oh walked into the dorm, sipping an iced latte.
“Oh, it’s convenient that the cameras are already set up here.”
The cameras used during the Make a New Color shoot were still there.
The location was the same.
The production crew was the same.
…It felt like we were filming Make a New Color Season 2.
“So, I talked to the company. You guys still don’t have a leader, right?”
While we were feeling uneasy about seeing PD Oh again, he brought up a new topic.
“Yep.”
“Then shouldn’t you pick a leader?”
….
At the mention of choosing a leader, everyone fell silent as if it were a lie.
Why is everyone hesitating?
Of course, the leader should be…
“I recommend Baek-young unnie.”
Then, Kim Geum quickly raised her hand and said.
I agreed wholeheartedly.
“I agree too.”
Seo Baek-young was perfect for this.
She had been in Colors the longest, and she was the eldest.
…Although I’m actually the oldest, that’s not important.
I had no intention of becoming the leader.
I had no leadership skills whatsoever.
During the Make a New Color shoot, I never took on the role of leader.
No one ever asked me to be the leader.
Originally, Yoon Cheong didn’t have that dependable image.
It was more like it was fortunate if she wasn’t trolling, especially at first.
So, were the other members suitable?
No.
Sorry, but no.
First, Kim Geum?
She’s too straightforward.
She lacks patience.
Her straightforwardness is a strength, but in a frustrating situation, she might just blow up the team.
Ryu Bo-ra?
She’s calm.
But she can’t even take care of herself, let alone others.
She often skips meals because she’s too lazy, so I had to feed her every morning.
Yeon Juhong?
Juhong is… not yet….
Maybe in ten years, she could be.
But now, she’s too much of a typical youngest member to be a leader.
Seo Baek-young was perfect—
“I decline.”
“?!”
“Instead, I recommend Cheong.”
What?