32. Prelude (2)
"It's been a while. Do you remember me?"
"Hello, senior. Of course I remember you."
I bowed my head, shaking the hand of the person who was asking for a handshake. A sharp gaze was fixed on the back of my head. I ignored it and smiled.
"I didn't think you would remember me, senior."
"Really? You're so handsome that I don't think I'll ever forget you."
Nine whined and gently raised the corners of his lips. As I looked at his gentle face, I remembered the memory of meeting him in the hallway of Lime Entertainment at Bing's elementary school.
As soon as we let go of each other's hands, Hwang Bo-kyun whispered to me.
"You knew Nine senior?"
"Not really, but we met by chance before and said hello."
"Wow, this is awesome."
After leading Hwang Bo-kyun and the other members to greet the radio staff, we sat down in our assigned seats.
Nine looked back at us as he sat down, perhaps trying to ease our tension.
"Did you all get some sleep last night?"
"Oh, I couldn't sleep properly because I was so nervous about meeting you, senior."
"Why are you going that far? Even if you make it like that, you won't get anything in return~"
I happened to sit between Nine and Hwang Bo-kyun and leaned back on the chair.
I wonder why they split up the seats like this. I wish these two could talk about it without me.
"...."
I changed my posture, leaning in just enough to be polite. I saw Ahn Jung-woo sitting across from me, blinking. He looked at me and smiled.
'Would you like me to change seats?'
I shook my head and straightened my body, and the on-air sign came on. I put on my earphones, and the song started playing along with the screen transmission. The microphone wasn't turned on yet.
"Then please take care of me~"
"Yes, please take care of us, senior."
After a moment of silence, the moment the song finished playing, Nine took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
"It's the night the nine moon rises. They say that a genius can't beat someone who works hard, and someone who works hard can't beat someone who enjoys it. Today's guest is a talented new idol who enjoys being on stage, and we're here with Intro."
As Nine took his mouth off the condenser microphone, the opening melody took its place. In the meantime, Lee Aram and Ryu Hyunseung took a sip of water and took a deep breath.
I checked the script, but that was just to check the questions, and since there were hardly any set lines other than those of the host, I think it was nerve-racking.
The melody faded away, and Nine spoke again.
"Yes, welcome, Intro people~"
"Put in love! Hello, this is Intro!"
As we exchanged familiar greetings and finished our personal introductions, the surroundings became quiet. Nine nodded, looking at us with a pleased expression.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you. This is our first time meeting you as a group. Although we have separate labels, we are still part of the same agency."
"Yes, senior."
"Hey, it's too stiff. So, what do you think? When you see me in person?"
Nine laughed like a mischievous child. Seol Yi-soo laughed along, replacing Hwang Bo-kyun, who was rarely nervous. He leaned his upper body forward and spoke into the microphone with his eyes fixed on Nine.
"When I met you in person, you were so cool, it felt like I was seeing a celebrity."
"A celebrity. Mr. Yi-soo is a celebrity too, now."
"Yes, but it's only been two weeks since debut, so it doesn't feel real."
"Really? It's refreshing and nice to see. Don't be too nervous and make yourself comfortable~. It's still awkward since it's our first time meeting, but we can get closer while hosting the radio show."
"Oh, yes. Okay!"
The members seemed relieved by Nine's smooth hosting. After a while, Nine looked over the members and turned his gaze to me.
"Now that I think about it, Mr. Yoo Young, you've met me before your debut, right?"
Nine glanced at the monitor. I couldn't see the monitor from my seat, but I guessed that the real-time chat window must have gotten noisy.
I wasn't flustered. Since it was a question that had already been planned, I laughed it off gently.
"Yes, I ran into senior on the day I auditioned at Lime Entertainment, and thankfully, he was the first one to talk to me."
"That's right. I remember that too. At that time, I was going to work at my agency. I think I got there a little early? So I was walking down the hallway for a moment, and there was a handsome guy I'd never seen before standing there."
"Ah."
"So I wondered who it was and approached him. That was a year ago, right? Actually, even back then, I thought Mr. Yoo Young would be able to debut soon."
The first impression Nane gave of Yoo Young was new because it was the first time we'd heard it. Maybe it was because we are on the radio, but his evaluation was more generous than I thought.
'What did I do then?'
I thought about it carefully, but the only thing that came to mind was the past when I almost got fxcked up and the memories of being touched by Nine. ... Well, I can't say that. I blushed and started to reconstruct the situation at that time to my liking.
"Thank you for your kind words. I never expected to meet you there, so I was frozen for a moment. When I saw you, my respected senior, right in front of me... I thought I was dreaming."
"You were somehow flustered. It's a new feeling. You moved to another label later, but we ended up meeting again like this. Let's be friends in the future."
"Similarly, you're welcome."
A warm atmosphere was created as I bowed my head toward Nine. It was just the right distance.
'Anyway, it's not wrong, right? It's true that I was frozen for a moment because I was surprised, and it's also true that it didn't feel real.'
I straightened my posture with a proud face, praising my past self, who never spoke carelessly. Since it was a story that only I knew anyway, wouldn't it be okay to brazenly go out and say it?
'It's not bad to have a connection with Nine.'
In Woobin's case, there were many negative reactions because they were from different agencies and had never met before, but Nine was different.
If it was a direct relationship, the junior would get criticized for spending all the money the senior earned, but we don't even have that. Since the labels are different, at best we'll hear people say that we suck up to our seniors and connections.
"Yes, Toktok-nim said, 'It's nice to see the warm appearance of our seniors and juniors.' Thank you. I'm also happy that pretty juniors are coming out on the radio like this."
Nine took a deep breath after wrapping up the conversation. It was a move to change the subject. He continued the conversation as usual without even looking at the cue sheet.
"I watched all the Intro stages because the juniors were coming out. But they did so well on stage, unlike rookies, and I was amazed. Just now, Ice-T-nim said, 'My kids are great stage craftsmen.'"
"Ah, thank you! Every time the fans look at our stage nicely, I feel that all the hard work we've put in has been worth it."
"That's right. After all, it's natural to gain strength when you see fans cheering you on."
The members nodded and cheered. Then, Nine spoke as if he had been waiting.
"Toktok-nim said, 'I'm looking forward to today's live.' Yes, I heard that the intro members prepared a live for our Moon Rising Night radio. Can you briefly introduce the album and the songs for the viewers who haven't heard the songs yet?"
"Of course. We can!"
"Haha, I like energetic answers. Then, let's listen to the live introduction of the album and the song 'Repeat'."
***
After about an hour, when the radio ended, Nine stretched.
I and the members all got up from our seats and bowed.
"You worked hard today."
"No. Thanks to you, senior, we had a comfortable time."
"We need to take a guest certification shot, so everyone gather together!"
Following the staff's instructions, we took a certification shot and even a challenge. That will be posted on the radio account in a few minutes.
'We're done quickly. Well, since the Jacon filming started today, we'll go straight to the dorm.'
We can just turn on the live in the van.
After finishing our greetings and going back, Nine came back smiling brightly. He was accompanied by his manager, and that manager was someone I knew. Of course, because I've encountered Terang often.
"I'll contact you next time."
"Yes, senior. I'll see you again."
After exchanging numbers, it was really close to the end of the workday.
As I went out to the broadcasting station lobby, the fans who had been waiting came running towards me. Camera flashes went off beyond the security door.
As I raised one arm and waved my hand, the shutter sound rang out incessantly.
"We have to go right away......"
"I know."
After greeting Ji Young-heon appropriately, I came down to the parking lot after taking care of the members. Ji Young-heon, who confirmed that everyone was in the car, puts on his seat belt. The tires move smoothly forward.
"It's crowded outside today, so please don't roll down the window."
"Yes."
At the same time, we came out of the dark parking lot. It was evening, but the outside of the window was brightened by the numerous camera flashes.
It definitely seemed like there were more people waiting than usual.
Unable to open the window and say hello, we prepared to turn on the live broadcast. Everyone was familiar with operating their phones because they had done it a few times before.
The moment we were about to press the live broadcast button.
Jiiikk! The floor rubbed against each other, and our upper bodies were thrown forward.
"Ack!"
"...Ugh."
A groan echoed inside the car. We were surprised, but the van rocked so hard that everyone seemed to bump into each other here and there.
I, who was in the passenger seat, also hit the back of my head against the headrest.
"What is this......."
"Are you okay?! Someone suddenly jumped out. Ah."
Ji Young-heon, who had been holding the steering wheel tightly with both hands, looked back with a pale face. Fortunately, he barely avoided an accident by stepping on the brakes in time.
After a brief silence, he regained his composure and rubbed his mouth and chin.
"Haa, this is intentional."
"...I think so too."
"Huh."
Baek Han-gyul, who had come to his senses, looked ahead and gasped in surprise.
Beyond the windshield, the person who had just jumped into our van had opened eyes wide and was looking inside the van from the hood.
"...Please lock the doors for now."
"Yes, I've locked them. Please stay out."
"Is anyone hurt? Your muscles may have been shocked, so move carefully."
I took a deep breath and matched with Ji Young-heon. While Ji Young-heon called the company and explained the situation, I took care of the members. Hwang Bo-kyun was still dizzy and was trying to come to his senses.
When no one came out of the van, the person in front started to get bolder. Now, banging the windshield.
"Hey! You're not coming out? Damn it, if you hit someone, shouldn't you apologize?!"
There were people around, but it didn't seem to be visible. Bloodshot eyes were shiny.
"Come out! Call the police? I'm hurt. Can you see my head? Can you see me, you punks! No, I'm sorry for getting mad. Can you come out for a second? Let's talk about it face to face, okay? I miss you, guys."
None of the members opened their mouths at the near-madness.
I held back a sigh and rubbed the back of my neck. It felt like it was just beginning.
'Well, I guess it's fortunate that there were many witnesses.'
If this had happened when no one was around, false rumors could have spread that we had hit and run. A person who jumped into a car that was driving on the road.
"The agency is sending the police and staff. Just wait a little...."
"You fucking idiot, are you ignoring people?!"
The windshield shook even harder than before. Baek Han-gyul and Ryu Hyun-seung were shaking more and more, worried that the glass might break.
Lee A-ram crouched down in a panic, and Seol Yi-soo held him in his arms.
"...This is bad."
Ahn Jung-woo, who had been quiet until now, even said something.
The standoff lasted for about ten minutes. It felt like an hour. I thought the screaming had died down and disappeared, but this time, the person came back with something in hand.
'Isn't that a rock?'
Walking with a fist-sized stone was like a scene in a horror movie.
"Huh? Huh?!"
"Wait, back of the car, back of the car!"
Ji Young-heon, flustered, flinched. The person was about to come right up to his nose and hit the windshield.
A police car arrived.
"Catch that person!"
The rock was thrown away carelessly and tried to run away but was caught. Then, an employee from our agency came running in a hurry and knocked on the driver's window.
"We'll take care of the cleanup. You can go now."
"You're a rookie, but you're selling it so expensively. I'm your fan. But you can't even show me your face?! Aah! F**k, let go of this! I'll walk on my own feet!"
"Thank you, thank you for your hard work."
Ji Young-heon bowed his head in great relief, and I wiped my eyes and shook my hair. I felt like there was a ringing in my ears.
"But it's fortunate that nothing serious happened."
"That's right."
If the police had been even a little late, it could have been a big problem. The inside of the car felt somehow cold.
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