"How does it feel to stand on the top of the world?" Jessy, a Kpop journalist, asked Han Ryeowook in an interview when Times World Magazine released their annual Top 100 Most Influential Men in the World, 2 years ago.
Han Ryeowook still remembered that he could not answer her immediately. He was looking at his other members. Kim Yoonjae was smiling, Son Kangyu and Lee Changhyuk were looking at him with sparkling eyes and woochan nodded in excitement. It was like all of them cheering for him in their mind : 'Say it, hyung!'
And in the end he only gave her a cliché answer.
"It feels amazing."
He had never given a serious thought about being on the top of the world. But after that interview, every now and then, he would reflect back. Thousands of exclusive offers, hundreds of glamorous parties, millions of eyes, dozens of sold out concerts, flood of cash. They came a long way, and the journey to the top was not easy.
Han Ryeowook could not take off his eyes of the Times World magazine that was framed and put on the center of the living room. They had won 183 awards throughout their entire career but only brought that one particular cover magazine wherever they go. It was like a sweet reminder that no matter what people said about them and no matter what happened, the 5 of them would always matter.
He pulled his hair back then nodded before answering truthfully to her question, 2 years later, in an empty living room.
"It feels lonely and..."
Someone opened the door to the living room and threw a can of beer to him. It was Kim Yoonjae.
The leader collected himself back then caught the beer.
"Thanks."
It was not easy to be the leader of GreenEast, with all the fame and power that they had- came haters, critics, hoax, gossips and also greed... that came from the king maker itself, StarLord Entertainment.
StarLord Entertainment was known as the king maker. It was a dream for everyone to get accepted as a trainee in StarLord Entertainment, as all of the talents they trained and managed automatically went to the top spot in Korea. But GreenEast managed to top everyone and went beyond. They stormed all charts and became the new king maker. Every brands that showed their face would have the highest sales. Every words that come out of their mouth was absolute, it could even destroy a big brand.
Overwhelmed by the global success of GreenEast, Starlord Entertainment got afraid of its own artists and started restraining them.
"Do you like this one? I could not find our favorite beers. Good thing Changhyuk was not the one who went buying. He would definitely not bother to find other beers and go straight to the soda section to buy coke for all of us." Kim Yoonjae giggled while removing his mask and beanie that he always used to hide his identity when going out alone.
"That rude kid." Han Ryeowook laughed with him then toasted his beer to Kim Yoonjae's.
*GreenEast members' age:
Han Ryeowook & Kim Yoonjae 24 yo
Son Kangyu & Baek Woochan 23 yo
Lee Changhyuk 21 yo*
Even though Han Ryeowook took the Leader position he was not the first one to join StarLord Entertainment as a trainee. It was Kim Yoonjae.
And the leader was always grateful to have Kim Yoonjae as his team mate. The looker had always been the wisest one among GreenEast and the first one he ran to whenever he faced difficulty.
Kim Yoonjae opened the door to the balcony to enjoy the evening breeze of Seoul, after a few moment, Han Ryeowook joined him. They were staying in the highest penthouse in the city. They did not say anything to each other and were drowning in their own thoughts. The nighttime beauty was enough to comfort them.
Someone opened the sliding door and joined them while carrying a box of chicken feet, it was Son Kangyu, followed by Baek Woochan who carried a box of fried chicken.
"Good job guys." Kim Yoonjae helped the two of them unboxing the food.