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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: This is really bothering me.
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This is really bothering me.
I glanced at Ryu Bo-ra.
She seemed really strong-willed, but was I mistaken?
Well, you never know what's truly inside a person.
"Yun Cheong trainee."
"Yes."
"We'll go straight in. From beginning to end, based on your own interpretation."
This is a lot of pressure.
I could feel the other trainees staring intently at me.
Since I chose this song, I had to at least show some skill.
To prove why I picked such a difficult song.
I cleared my throat.
Even after singing for over ten years, I still got nervous every time.
The intro was my part.
And it was also the part I wanted.
My love,
On this night when even the full moon mocks,
Where are you headed?
Oh, fallen leaves,
My love who chose to wither rather than become a flower,
How far have you come?
***
Producers: When Yun Cheong trainee first chose "Fingertips," how did you feel?
[Gyeong-a: Is she crazy? Is she really crazy...?]
[Hui-on: She was always a bit quirky, but *this*? Here?]
[Bo-ra: I figured she must have had something in mind.]
Producers: The other trainees weren't fond of "Fingertips," so why did you specifically choose it?
[Cheong: Haha.]
[Cheong: Honestly, if I were singing it alone, I might have chosen something else. But I picked this because I thought it was the song that could most clearly showcase everyone's skills.]
Producers: Skills?
[Cheong: Yes. I think I've shown my vocal ability and skills to some extent so far. While vocal ability is certainly important, I believe that a true singer should be able to convey a 'story.' In that sense, "Fingertips" was the song with the deepest narrative.]
Producers: That's what she says?
[Bo-ra: That Unnie definitely... has ambition.]
[Hui-on: No, I understand what she means, but it's just such a difficult song.]
[Gyeong-a: She wasn't originally the type to take on challenges like that. She completely changed after 'Make a New Color' started.]
Producers: Did she change for the better?
[Gyeong-a: For the better, yes. Cheong used to be very timid, the kind of person you'd wonder if she could really get on stage.]
[Hui-on: None of us thought Cheong would make it into the top 5. But she's already at number 2. Ah, number 1 if you include the benefits.]
[Bo-ra: No matter what, if you work hard, it's good. It means you have passion.]
Producers: So, how was it in the recording studio? Ryu Bo-ra trainee seemed to struggle.
[Gyeong-a: She had a really tough time. She got scolded so much that we felt awkward just watching.]
[Hui-on: Honestly, I wondered if Bo-ra really did that badly? To my ears, she sounded really good. I thought, 'Wow, she's incredible,' but clearly, the producers' ears heard things on a different level.]
[Cheong: But I thought it was just a matter of time.]
Producers: A matter of time?
[Cheong: Yes. Actually, it was almost as if I chose this song specifically for Bo-ra.]
Producers: Why?
[Cheong: I was confident Bo-ra would do really well, as long as she adapted.]
Producers: What do you think of Yun Cheong trainee's words?
[Bo-ra: Cheong Unnie is a good person. I'm just grateful she evaluates me so highly. Haha. But I'm definitely not that kind of person.]
Producers: In that case, how was Yun Cheong trainee's recording?
[Gyeong-a: ...Haha.]
[Hui-on: Honestly, there was nothing to say.]
[Bo-ra: That was the first time I realized producers could smile so brightly.]
Caption: Bo-ra, don't sulk...!
[Gyeong-a: She's truly... incredible. The moment she sang it, I just knew. I understood what she had wanted.]
[Hui-on: The problem is, I'm not confident I can do as well as Cheong. I mean, if she does too well all by herself, it's unfair, isn't it? This is a team project.]
[Bo-ra: ...I felt motivated. Seeing it, my heart swelled too.]
Producers: What did the two producers think?
[Jae-yi: Honestly, it exceeded my expectations. I thought, 'Wow, if I'm not careful, my juniors will catch up to me too easily.']
[Danha: ...The way she reinterpreted the song was good.]
Producers: Was there anything you didn't like?
[Jae-yi: Could there be anything like that? The other trainees would definitely improve a lot with a bit more practice. And Yun Cheong trainee, I was truly proud of her.]
Producers: What made you proud?
[Jae-yi: Well, to aim for the Main Vocal position at Colors, you have to do at least that much. Haha.]
[Danha: You do better.]
[Jae-yi: Seriously, lie with a straight face, you. I've never seen Danha give an 'okay' sign that quickly. He never did it for me, not once!]
[Danha: ...I did that because I felt if that trainee did it multiple times, the feeling wouldn't be the same. I thought an unfinished emotional line would be even better for the listeners.]
[Jae-yi: See? Have you ever seen him talk this much? I haven't, I tell you.]
***
"You worked hard."
"Thank you! You worked hard!"
The recording finally ended, and we stepped outside to get into the van returning to the dorm.
But the recording wasn't completely finished.
The two producers had sent Ryu Bo-ra and Jo Hui-on back, saying they needed more practice.
So the two of them had to come back and record again two days later.
Somehow, I felt bad for making them suffer.
The recording was better than expected.
Lee Gyeong-a, true to a trainee aiming for the Main Vocal position, was certainly skilled.
She was good enough to immediately become the Main Vocal without question at any other agency.
Jo Hui-on worked hard, but her pitch was unstable.
I'd have to help her practice.
"Ah, I'm so tired."
Jo Hui-on said, completely exhausted.
I glanced at Ryu Bo-ra.
Ryu Bo-ra maintained her usual expressionless face.
A cold demeanor, utterly devoid of human warmth.
All she did was smile sweetly when the cameras were rolling.
She might be able to fool the public now, but once she debuts, all of that will be revealed.
She'll have to promote for a very long time, and as a human being, it's impossible for such a facade not to break.
Was she always like that? I thought she was quite bright during her child actor days.
"Bo-ra."
"Yes."
Ryu Bo-ra answered, slowly taking out her earphones.
She was always listening to music or looking at her phone; I wondered what she was listening to.
I thought about asking but decided against it, feeling we weren't close enough yet.
"I'll help you practice later. Let's practice together."
"Ah..."
Ryu Bo-ra checked the camera briefly, then smiled.
"Thank you, Unnie. But you must be tired too. I'll try my best."
"No, I'm not tired. I want to help. Just let me help you."
"...If Unnie really wants to... Yes. Please help me. Thank you. I'll work hard."
She really looked like she didn't want help.
But since it was in front of the camera, she was just going along with it, I guess.
"We're roommates, aren't we? And teammates."
"Yes."
"Doesn't that mean... it's fate?"
"…?"
"Or not..."
I was so embarrassed by the chilly atmosphere I felt like dying.
I had tried to lighten the mood, but... it must have been a stretch.
I should just shut up and help.
"You seem to have gotten close with Geum."
"That's right."
"I think I know why you two got close."
"…?!"
That's not an insult, is it?
"It seems like... you're both good people. That's why you care for someone like me too. You must have been very disappointed earlier."
Oh, it's not. That's a relief.
"But Unnie,"
Ryu Bo-ra smiled with the prettiest face in the world.
"I'm fine. Really."
But she didn't look okay.
***
At the dorm, Ryu Bo-ra just lay there, eyes closed, with her earphones in.
She did nothing but occasionally look at her phone.
Thanks to being allowed phones for the team mission, she seemed to be openly using it.
I felt like I should say something, but it was really hard to strike up a conversation.
'If only I'd had experience with group living...!'
At times like this, I resented myself for not having many celebrity friends.
Damn my lack of social skills.
Eventually, I couldn't bear the silence and went outside.
"Oh, Geum-kim."
"Unnie, are you going to call me that too? Yeon Ju-hong's enough already."
"...Sorry. It just slipped out."
It's oddly addictive...
"You came early."
"Yep. Because our song is practically being remade. We haven't even recorded it yet, you know."
"Because you have to do the rap making, right?"
"Yep. We decided to completely overhaul everything except the chorus. The concept will probably stay the same. And we'll keep some of the lyrics."
They must be having a really tough time too.
I patted Kim Geum's shoulder.
It was a gesture of comfort.
"We decided to record in two days. I feel like I'm going crazy."
"How's Ha-eun? Do you two work well together?"
"Ha-eun? She works hard."
She definitely didn't say 'well'.
"How about Bo-ra? I bet she's completely lost and digging herself into a hole."
How are you so accurate?
Is this... the power of friendship?
I checked my surroundings, just in case the cameras were rolling.
But thankfully, the camera light was off.
To respect privacy, they didn't film unless it was a pre-announced segment.
"But Bo-ra... didn't she act well? I thought she'd be strong with emotionally complex songs because of that."
"Hmm."
Kim Geum moved her mouth around.
Her mouth was itching to speak, but she seemed unsure if she should open it.
"She's been acting for a really, really long time. In fact, that's what's holding her back-"
Click.
The moment we heard the door open, both of us clamped our mouths shut.
Ryu Bo-ra was staring intently at the two of us in the kitchen.
"You two there."
"Uh, huh?"
"Don't talk behind my back, talk to my face."
Ryu Bo-ra said that and approached us as if nothing had happened.
And she drank a glass of water like it was a scene from a commercial.
Beautiful things are beautiful no matter what they do...
"Kim Geum."
Then,
"Huh?"
Ryu Bo-ra handed Kim Geum the cup she was holding.
Kim Geum took the cup in surprise.
"Get a clue."
"A cl-clue?"
"Go on, spill it. I've got plenty to spill too."
"Gasp."
Mom...
"You do the dishes."
I'm scared of her...
Me... can I debut with her...?
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