HANEUL first took his guitar out of its case, then walked to the center, in front of the mic stand. He then connected his guitar to the PA system. There were other participants who performed with musical instruments, which is why there was a PA system ready to amplify the sound of the instruments. The staff even ensured there was a mic stand for those who would sing while playing.
He was about to wait until the judges told him to start, but he quickly remembered that he was still wearing a mask. So, he immediately removed it.
But as soon as he did, and his full face appeared so clearly on the huge screen, the people around seemed to gasp unanimously. It took a lot of control for Haneul not to show any reaction and just maintain the serene smile on his lips.
The urge to curse Yeomra surfaced once again. But he managed to push it down. That annoying guy was still the reason he could be with his family now. So, he shouldn't get used to cursing the other. Turning this black magic like curse to a gift would be hard, but he should still try to do it. And always cursing Yeomra whenever he's in this kind of situation was never the answer.
The judge, who was supposed to speak at this time, finally came back to his senses. He cleared his throat and said;
"You can start."
Haneul took a deep breath and then strummed the guitar. The soft, mellow notes filled the room as he began to sing the first verse of [Every Day].
Every day I wake up, and the world feels colder
Memories of us, like a weight on my shoulder
Time goes by, but it doesn't heal the pain
Every time I see your face, it's like the rain
His voice was clear and steady, blending perfectly with the gentle acoustic sound. Each word he sang carried a hint of sadness, reflecting the longing in the lyrics. Haneul's fingers moved smoothly over the strings, his emotions pouring out through the melody.
I'm walking down these empty streets alone
Searching for the love we've always known
But now you're gone, and all that's left is me
Trapped inside this endless reverie
As he moved into the pre-chorus, his voice grew richer and more resonant. The notes flowed effortlessly, revealing the depth and beauty of his vocal range. His eyes closed in concentration, he poured his heart into each line, making the pain and yearning in the lyrics palpable.
I'm walking down these empty streets alone
Searching for the love we've always known
But now you're gone, and all that's left is me
Trapped inside this endless reverie
The guitar's gentle strumming provided a perfect backdrop, highlighting the purity of his voice. The audience could feel the emotion building, each word drawing them deeper into the story. By the time he reached the chorus, Haneul's voice soared, clear and powerful, filling the room with a raw, haunting beauty that left everyone almost spellbound.
Every day, I think of you and cry
Wondering if our love was just a lie
Every night, I wish upon a star
Hoping that you'll come back from afar
The clarity and power of his voice shone through, each note perfectly pitched and filled with emotion. As he sang, the audience could feel the depth of his longing and the sincerity in his every word.
The simple acoustic arrangement allowed his voice to be the star. It shone so brightly that it even overshadowed the overly charming atmosphere surrounding him. In that moment, everyone was captivated not by his appearance, but by his voice and the song he had truly made his own.
As Haneul strummed the last note, a wide smile spread across his face. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, not from fear or any negative emotion, but from the sheer satisfaction of completing his first performance before a large crowd.
Even if the crowd here was full of fellow competitors, it didn't matter. He was just so happy to be able to perform like this. For him, the experience alone was a significant victory.
As someone who had only been dreaming of performing like this for years, standing on this stage was a surreal moment for him. After the initial joy and excitement, his eyes began to glisten, and he blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears. His throat tightened, and he took a deep breath, his smile trembling as he looked out at the judges and the other participants.
Before he really started crying here, Haneul immediately bowed his head to the judges. He was so immersed in his own emotions that he didn't even notice the loud applause of the people around.