40. Ga na da ra
[가나다라
"How about a solo? With vocals like this, our company can debut you."
"Solo?"
"Yeah. This guy is the president of a pretty famous agency. Have you heard of H.A.D? Oh, there's Woo Yongdam from DUNKISS among your survival judges, right? DUNKISS is also an idol under our company. Seo Se-im and Ruma are also under our company."
As the head of an entertainment agency, Won Ha-shin was quite envious of the talent who had walked in front of him on his own two feet.
Although there was another person who was the largest shareholder of H.A.D Entertainment and the real owner who actually held power, his business card as president was only superficial....
But he's not completely powerless.
Just looking at his face, he thought he was as good as actors, but since his vocals are also good, he could probably beat singers three or four times.
Although Won Hashin is the president on the surface, he is not without an eye for talent.
"Would you like to come and do a camera test? Huh?"
Won Hashin's eyes sparkled and he tried to recruit Neoul.
Neoul thought of Woo Yongdam, the second of the three who came as judges and trainers.
He also knew the name Seo Se-im. The first stage that Neoul performed in his life and the song that he covered in the first team competition was Seo Se-im's
He was curious about the company that Won Ha-shin worked for. However, Neoul shook his head.
"Solo means that I have to stand on stage alone without my teammates, right?"
"Hmm? Right? Solo isn't a team in the first place. No teammates."
"But I want to stand together on stage with other humans."
Neoul emphasized the word 'together' especially.
The days spent in the Dragon Palace were enough to spend time alone. In the Dragon Palace, I isolated myself because I didn't want to disturb my busy family and subjects, but on land, there was no need to do that.
The experience of dancing and practicing songs together until my limbs were shaking, preparing for the stage, performing what I prepared perfectly on stage, and jumping around and hugging each other saying, "You did a good job, you worked hard"... was a bit special.
It was quite enjoyable to suffer and be happy together, but I thought it would be sad and lonely if I were alone.
"Ah! Then! How about this!"
"...?"
"There are some good kids among our company's trainees. We're preparing a 4-member group to debut in the next year or so, and they're all good and dance well! It's all good, but ha~ This is not good! They don't have a sense of humor, huh?!"
Won Ha-shin, who had changed his words abruptly, slammed the floor as if he was going to die from frustration.
"Of course, the songs are all above average. But when I listen to them, I don't see any color! If you're the one who's right there! Yeah? If you just go in as the main character! Kyaa~!"
Game over, game over! It's over! Yeah? You're just chewing on the idol world, just like that!
Won Hashin pretended to cut his throat and acted cute.
"If you're okay with it, I'll just join you and debut you as a 5-member group! I have a lot of money! I'll support you without holding back and push you forward! Huh? What do you think?"
It was a desperate attempt to recruit Neoul. Won Hashin looked at Neoul with eyes full of anticipation. How is it, isn't it tempting? Are you tempted? His eyes were filled with confidence that he wouldn't be rejected this time.
However, Neoul refused the offer without hesitation this time either.
"No."
"Ah, why! Why! No, whyyyyyy?!"
Pushing away the angry Won Hashin who was yelling as he didn't understand, Neoul thought about the people he had met so far.
In the short time that passed by in an instant, he had met many and various people.
"While filming the survival show in Jeju Island... I've found a few people I want to cheer on. I'll watch our progress and reach my goal together."
"Just watch and cheer as a fan!"
"I think it'll be more fun if I debut with them. I have that feeling."
It was a firm tone filled with confidence. A smile spread across Neoul's face as he continued speaking.
"So I'll continue filming 'Idol Travel'. Until the end."
"Aish! Humph! Don't you even pretend to think about it once!"
Won Hashin couldn't hide his regret as he clicked his tongue for the first time.
'This fish. I thought you'd be really sociable, but you've already made friends? And so many?'
Oh my!
I thought you didn't ate properly since you came to land, so I tried to grill some beef for you, but you didn't like it, so I'll tell you to eat eggs.
Childish thoughts welled up inside.
'I don't have any friends either, but you're a half-human, half-fish, and you're popular. Huh.'
Won Hashin grumbled loudly inside and asked Neoul if he was hungry.
Neoul nodded, since he had been sleeping for a long time and had come in the car on an empty stomach. He was already hungry. It was almost dinner time.
"Fish! Is there anything you can't eat?"
"Spicy food is hard to eat."
"What, you don't have any allergies?"
"What is that?"
"Hey, what am I supposed to do to someone who doesn't even know what an allergy is? Okay. Just wait."
He rummaged through the fridge, took out some ingredients, and quickly made three plates of omelet rice with fried rice and eggs.
Neoul who was watching Won Hashin's cooking with wonder murmured in admiration from the side.
"I saw fire once in Jeju last time, and it's still amazing to see it again. Is this fire coming from here?"
"Yes."
"The sea priestess said that fire is very hot and dangerous, so how can you use it so carelessly to cook food? Humans seem so brave."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. They're so brave, they keep coming out to the sea even though they can't breathe in it. I don't understand. Do humans have no fear?"
"Why wouldn't we? But the adventurous spirit that wants to jump in is greater."
"...!"
After hearing the answer of Won Hashin, Neoul realized.
The reckless challenge of a human that he thought he couldn't understand was not so different from what he was doing now.
Neoul also didn't find the land all that fun and interesting. Somewhere deep inside his heart, there was definitely worry and fear about the unfamiliar world.
However, the desire to jump into this unfamiliarity and newness and see, hear, know, and feel everything was much greater, so he was able to act boldly.
'It's the same.'
He thought that humans and mermaids were completely different, but maybe they weren't as different as he thought.
The happy Neoul sat down at the table and praised Won Hashin.
"CEO Won Hashin seems to be a better cook than our main cook [*Historical word]."
Won Hasin's shoulders, which had been grumbling the whole time, rose.
"Dongdong is stupid and doesn't recognize my talents at all, but the fish know something."
Won Hashin felt proud and hummed a tune, thinking that he should show mercy to these sea squirts tomorrow and cook them beef instead of eggs.
Then Dongdong started complaining about the food.
"Your Highness. How can you compare a dish made by a mere land fish to the cooking of the best chefs of the sea, the captains? A dish that doesn't even contain a single crustacean! How can you live not eating such a nutritious food?"
"Huh! Do you know how good eggs are for your health? On land, they call it a complete food. A complete. food.! I put potatoes, onions, carrots, and broccoli in the fried rice! It's so nutritious!"
Won Ha-shin snorted and neatly wrote 'Dongdongi' and 'Sea Fish' with ketchup. He drew a heart on his portion of omelet rice.
"Fish, eat more if you're hungry. There's some fried rice left."
He pushed the plate in front of Neoul and told Dongdong to sit down, then he placed the plate on the table without saying a word.
"Eat it or not, cheeky Dongdongi."
Then he finished his portion neatly and repeatedly, "Mmm, it's delicious. It's really delicious."
Dongdong, who had been holding back her hunger for a while because of her pride, finally gave in and picked up her spoon when even Neoul ate the omelet rice deliciously and ate the rest.
"Puwa..."
"Ack! Hey! Don't spit it out!"
"It's not tasty... Ugh..."
"Ugh! I understand! I'll buy you some crustaceans! Ack! What kind of kid eats only fish and crustaceans for over a month!"
When Dongdong spat it out, Won Hashin, looking completely fed up, raised both hands and feet and ordered some crabs and shrimp.
"Eat and clean up!"
Won Ha-shin ran away to his room, saying he had a crustacean allergy.
Neoul ate all the fried rice, and when the delivery food arrived, he picked up a few more plump shrimps and ate them next to Dong-dong.
***
After eating, Neoul followed Dong-dong into a room.
In the middle of the room was a very large desk. A stranger sitting in front of the desk greeted them with a big smile. She was a woman wearing glasses and had her hair tied neatly.
Dong-dong looked tired, as if she already knew her.
After a brief introduction, the woman handed Neoul a thin textbook and began the lesson.
And then the hellish Korean language study began.
"Okay. Read it out loud and write it ten times~"
"Giyeo-eok, nieueun. Digeueum...."
"You're doing well~! Just try a little harder and finish it!"
With the pencil he was holding for the first time, he wrote the consonants and vowels ten times, and after learning the principles of Hangul, he wrote 'ga, na, da, ra...' out loud ten times again.
Then he moved on to 'ga-gya-geo-gyeo-go-gyu-geu-gi, na-nya-neonyeo-eo-jjae-jjae-jjae-go.'
While Neoul was learning the basics of Hangul, Dong-dong was writing sentences. She was entrusted to Won Ha-shin before Neoul, so she started studying Hangul right away and was forced to take private lessons every day, so she progressed a little faster than Neoul.
Neoul, who was repeatedly writing the same letters as if practicing, wiggled one hand and asked his tutor.
"If I learn this, will I be able to read 'comments'?"
"Comments? Internet comments? Of course you can. You can read anything written in Korean. You can read and write letters, exchange messages with friends, watch movie subtitles. You'll be able to do anything."
"Oh...…."
"If you just memorize what you learned today, you'll be able to read most sentences. Korean is hard, but Hangul is the easiest syllable in the world."
The expression on Neoul's face brightened as he struggled to write and memorize the letters.
There were more than a few times when I felt frustrated because I couldn't read the text. But I was excited that I could read the comments written by the audience members who watched the stage on my own.
When Baek Gi-yeom showed me the comments last night, I was a little upset because I couldn't understand the content without asking for help from others… Even though I didn't say anything, I was a little upset.
'I'll study hard and read it all.'
When I started studying the final consonants, I felt a little confused, but I opened my eyes wide and made up my mind.
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