HANEUL sang the final note as he struck the last guitar chord. He looked at his younger sister to ask her opinion. "What do you think?"
Haeun didn't speak immediately. Instead, she had a blank expression, as if she was in utter shock and just didn't know what to say. And in a way, that was indeed the case.
She knew that her brother had a good voice. The other would sing in his room while playing the guitar, or whenever the two of them were the only ones at home. She would sometimes watch and listen to him singing.
She had always felt that it's such a waste that other people weren't able to hear her brother's wonderful voice. Because of the other's personality, he was satisfied with just singing in his room or with just her as an audience. Their own parents probably had no idea that their son had this amazing talent.
"It's good... no- it's the best!" she said, answering her brother's question belatedly. "What song was that? It's the first time I heard of it. Did you compose it?"
"No, I'm not that talented. I just rearranged it acoustically," he said with a chuckle. "It's a song released 15 years ago by Supernova."
"Supernova? Aren't they an idol group? Wow! I thought it was a song by a solo singer or something," Haeun said, fully impressed.
"You might have actually heard of the song since it's quite popular. But since the original is a hip-hop, R&B song, the acoustic version I just sang might be unfamiliar to you," Haneul explained.
Haeun was once again amazed. 'Crazy, Oppa turned a hip-hop song into that?'
Then Haneul asked. "So, you really think it's good?"
"Oppa, since you asked for my honest opinion, I won't just say nice things to make you feel better. But what can I do when your voice, the song, and your guitar playing were all wonderful? So, everything I said earlier was nothing but the truth."
Haneul let out a sigh of relief. He knew Haeun wouldn't lie to him, but he still had to make sure. Hearing his sister's praise gave him confidence that he could do well in this public audition.
"But Oppa, why don't you make a YouTube channel?" It was something Haeun had been wanting to suggest since long ago. "You can just cover your face if you don't want to be seen. I mean, it's not completely unheard of, so you wouldn't appear weird even if you do that. It's just that I don't want you to waste your talent like this. More people should hear you sing."
Haneul didn't expect his sister to say that. Maybe that's why it felt even more emotional hearing it.
In his last life, he never had a chance to let others hear his voice. It's not like he never thought of making a living by singing. But even if he somehow managed to get signed by an agency, with how cutthroat the entertainment industry was, it would take years for him to make real money. And he was not in a position to wait.
Making a YouTube channel, like what Haeun suggested just now, also crossed his mind. But since the only content he could do was to cover existing songs, even if he monetized the channel, the money would go to the song's copyright holder. And yes, he could probably get famous through YouTube and someday earn a recording deal. But again, how long would that take?
Back then, he lacked the time and courage to follow the path his heart desired. But now, things are different. He now had both the time and the courage to pursue his dreams.
"I also want others to listen to my voice."
Haeun's eyes widened when she heard that. "Then--"
"No, I'm not planning to make a YouTube channel." Haneul smiled brightly. "I plan to join a public audition."
Haeun tilted her head. Did she hear that right? Was she having an auditory hallucination? "...Oppa, did you really just say you're going to a public audition?"
Haneul nodded. "Vnet is holding a public audition next week, and I plan to participate. The song you heard just now is my audition piece."
Haeun suddenly felt dizzy. Her brain was trying to make sense of what her brother said, but no matter how much she tried, it just didn't make sense. "No, wait, wait--! Oppa! What kind of public audition...? Shouldn't you at least take your time? Like do things slowly but surely? Why are you suddenly going to a public audition? And it's next week!"
"Haeun-ah, calm down," Haneul tried to calm down his sister, who was obviously shocked by his announcement. "Since I decided to do this, I want to go all out. To do it on the biggest stage I could. That way, even if I failed, I won't have any regrets. Because I know that I did my best."
Haeun had a lot of things she wanted to say in response to that. About him being a newly manifested Omega, how it could be dangerous for him to be in such a crowded place. And what if he passed? Which she had no doubt he would. Then that would be another set of problem.
Despite her numerous complaints, she found herself unable to voice any of them. Especially since her brother was looking at her with those big puppy eyes.
"Can you support this brother, Haeun-ah?"
And that was the last straw. How could she possibly say 'no' to that?
"Of course I will support you! Who am I? I'm Kang Haeun, Kang Haneul's biggest fan!"
Haneul finally couldn't stop the joyful laughter that escaped his lips.