As if it were only yesterday that the school year began, now half of the semester had slipped away unnoticed. Starting next week, midterm exams will consume our days. May, often hailed as the "queen of seasons," would be spent immersed in textbooks and scribbled notes.
Inside the soundproof studio, Oh Cheol-gyu, a senior announcer, read the broadcast script with calm precision and unshakeable confidence. His appearance was immaculate; his hair cropped short in compliance with school regulations, silver-rimmed glasses perched on his face, and his simple yet clean outfit gave off the impression of a model student. Oh Cheol-gyu was the type who was diligent and dedicated, much like Kim Seok-min. Even though he was striving hard to get into a prestigious university, he never neglected his juniors in the broadcasting club, even if his role there was not very active.
"Come to think of it, this broadcasting club really is filled with extraordinary people."
Sinpogo High School was known for its high acceptance rate into SKY universities Korea's top three most prestigious universities. It was no surprise that many of the school's alumni had gone on to become prominent public figures. These alumni supported their alma mater, offering various assistance, including funding for the school's broadcasting studio, which boasted facilities that could rival those of a university radio station. The luxurious setup often drew attention, prompting frequent inspections by the vice-principal and the head of student affairs to ensure equipment was not misused.
"They're just looking for trouble, trying to enforce strict discipline on the broadcasting club," muttered a club member.
Most of the teachers were tolerant towards the broadcasting club, but the vice-principal and the head of student affairs seemed to have their own agenda to suppress the club. Random inspections often turned up prohibited items like cigarettes, tapes of banned songs, or illegal records. Even third-year students, busy preparing for their college entrance exams, weren't spared from punishment. However, the confiscated items would mysteriously reappear in less than a month. Ryu Ji-ho, one of the club members, noticed that this pattern repeated every year.
Amid the pressure from the school administration, the senior members of the broadcasting club often encouraged their peers to see the club as a symbol of resistance. Despite many of them being model students, a rebellious spirit always simmered beneath the surface. Meanwhile, the lunchtime broadcast, led by Oh Cheol-gyu, continued with the latest pop songs floating through the air.
In front of the broadcasting studio, there was a box labeled "song request box." Students would write down the songs they wanted to hear on a piece of paper and drop it into the box. If there happened to be a member of the broadcasting club in their class, they could make a direct request, which would then be played during the lunchtime broadcast. However, sometimes the requested songs were hard to find in music stores. In such cases, club members would record the latest pop songs from radio shows like Kim Kwang-han's "Pop's Dial" or "Starry Night," and play them during their broadcast.
As Ryu Ji-ho was lost in his thoughts, the second-year students began exchanging meaningful glances. Han Su-ho, a student notorious for his mischief, eyed Ryu Ji-ho with a sly smile.
"Ji-ho, lock the studio door," he said, grinning mischievously.
"What?" Ji-ho asked, confused.
"Lock the studio door now, you idiot," Su-ho urged, his tone pressing.
Without a second thought, Ryu Ji-ho dashed to the studio door and quickly locked it.
"It's locked," he reported, after making sure the door was securely shut.
At that moment, Ji-ho had no idea what was going on or that something strange might be about to unfold.
Han Su-ho carefully pulled out a limited-edition vinyl record that was still sealed, his face lighting up as if he'd just uncovered a treasure trove.
"I found something really cool last night at the underground market," he said, his voice brimming with excitement.
The Dongincheon underground market was a haven for music lovers, boasting more than ten record stores of various sizes lining its corridors. Wandering through its aisles was like taking a free tour of the world's musical landscape—ranging from K-pop and international hits to jazz and classical music. There was no need to travel all the way to Seoul just to hunt for vinyl; everything you could ever want was right there, within arm's reach.
Su-ho's smile widened, a smile that was all too familiar to those who knew him well. It was the same smile he wore whenever he was cooking up one of his slightly mad ideas. That grin had a way of making anyone who recognized it feel a little wary.
'If senior's smiling like that, something's definitely up…' Ryu Jiho thought, his heart starting to beat faster with a sense of impending doom. In the blink of an eye, the plastic wrap around the album that Su-ho had deemed "cool" was torn away. With the precision of a seasoned collector, Su-ho placed the record on the turntable, carefully adjusting the position of the needle. The soft pop music that had been playing in the background began to fade as Su-ho's fingers deftly turned the knobs on the mixer.
[Today, we're going to listen to some pop music. Friends, are you feeling a bit sleepy after lunch?]
Oh Cheol-Gyu's voice came over the speakers, sounding both enthusiastic and playfully teasing.
[Well, I'm going to shake off your drowsiness with something unexpected!]
'Oh no…' Jiho thought, a sense of unease growing stronger within him. From his spot in front of the mixer, Su-ho gave Oh Cheol-Gyu a thumbs up, signaling that everything was set according to their plan.
[Get ready, everyone. The next track is really going to blow your minds!]
With a dramatic countdown, Su-ho pointed at Oh Cheol-Gyu.
"Three, two, one..."
Boom-boom-boom!
In an instant, the thunderous sound of heavy metal exploded from the speakers, reverberating through the entire room and filling every corner of the classroom with a pulse-pounding beat.