Chapter 207
“And, to my family, who have always supported and cheered me on!”
My family, still waving that handmade banner.
Mom and Dad, who had supported the ridiculous dream of their second child, a kid who couldn’t even study worth a damn.
And my older sister Bomi, who had set me straight with her no-nonsense words when I needed to keep going.
My little sister Nari, who bantered and traded silly jokes with me and made everyday life bearable.
Because of me, they had sacrificed, struggled, endured so much. I didn’t know how to properly express my gratitude, but one thing was certain…
“…I love you.”
In this moment, I absolutely had to say those words.
WAAAAAAH!
The camera covering the audience section swung toward my family, and Nari made a gagging gesture, drawing a ripple of laughter through the venue.
Even so, the bright smile on her face made it perfectly clear that her reaction was nothing but a joke.
I went on to list much of what the other debut members before me had mentioned.
The Targeting Star production team, the hair and makeup staff.
The mentors who had kept guiding us, and going further back, even the team manager at Quince who had helped me get on this program in the first place.
After naming everyone, only one thing remained.
I took a deep breath and slowly opened my mouth again.
Lastly…
“…I’d like to say a few words to all the Targeting Star trainees who were with me on this journey.”
As I said this, I let my eyes rest on each of the trainees who would be leaving after today.
The fact that my gaze lingered a little longer on my multinational flatmates: the ones I’d slept, chatted, shared snacks, and played card games with, was something I saw no need to hide.
Because I had already seen every single day when you all shone brighter than me.
“…I’ll be waiting for you.”
See you again.
“…And with that moving speech from trainee Kim Chunyong as our finale! As of today! Targeting Star’s long journey has come to an end! We would like to extend our deepest thanks to all the Star Shooters and everyone who participated!”
Alongside the final remarks signaling the end of the live broadcast finale, a rearranged version of our original song Aiming began to play.
To that familiar beat, I turned around and walked toward the people who had been waiting for me.
Jae Ha, Yu Chan. Hwa Sung, Si Woo. And Logan.
“Whoa, so we’re actually a team now? Wow, I never really imagined debuting, so I’m shaking….”
“Do you need to imagine it? It’s already real.”
“…R-right. Now, we’re on the same team.”
“Mate, let’s hug! I was taught you absolutely must hug at a time like this! Huh, Chunyong?!”
“…Chunyong must have had it really tough. Me too.”
With Jae Ha’s gentle voice, I held my new yet familiar members as tightly as I could and slowly closed my eyes.
At last, my train of atonement had reached its first stop.
* * *
Despite no small amount of noise along the way, the night after the program had successfully wrapped up.
Where the crew goes after a long shoot was, of course, already decided.
A day when they could swipe the corporate card without a care in the world.
“Grill’s coming in, watch out.”
As if people in the broadcast industry who went crazy for booze could possibly skip an after-party.
“Table 8, one more green onion salad please!”
“Only order beef. Not American. Korean hanwoo[1]. Tonight, our table is going all-in on one expensive cut before we head home.”
“Booze! It’s booze time! Mix me some somaek[2]! Who cares about a hangover! Drink till we drop!”
The Targeting Star camera crew, editing team, directing team, production team.
Seated together without regard for rank, their eyes blazed with the determination to clean out every last cut of meat in the restaurant.
“Oh, Jun Min. There’s an empty seat here, want to just sit down?”
“Hey, punk. Use your head. This is PD Joo’s table. He doesn’t eat side dishes, he just drinks. We came here to eat meat.”
“I know that, but still… if we leave this spot empty, it looks weird. Let’s play rock-paper-scissors and the loser sits here.”
“Yeah, how about you sit. Tonight, I’m eating enough meat to last me three days of fasting.”
WHACK!
“Gah!”
“Jun Min, you’re just asking to get smacked. Seriously, dude, try thinking once in a while.”
One of the people who had worked hardest to make this after-party happen…
Joo Cheol Yeong smacked Jun Min on the head, the senior editor with his perpetually loose lips, and clicked his tongue.
“I don’t want you lot eating at my table either. Get far away, you punks.”
“Oh, uh, thanks, but then… who are you going to eat with, PD?”
“Unfortunately, me.”
Lee Hyeon Jeong appeared, her expression complicated, and shoved Jun Min and the editing team’s youngest out.
“Hurry up and go sit at another table. There are people who need to sit here.”
“So who’s sitting h— …oh.”
Jun Min, rubbing the back of the head Joo Cheol Yeong had walloped, caught sight of the restaurant’s lowered blinds and raised an eyebrow.
There was no reason to lower the blinds in a place with only civilians.
Which meant someone who wasn’t a civilian was coming.
“…Are the debut kids coming too?”
“Well, I told them any adults are welcome… but none of them showed. Only the mentors are coming.”
“Ugh, then count me out. I don’t want to drink with Director Moon Yun Ha.”
“Fine, fine. Get lost. Your face gives me heartburn too, dude.”
“Tch!”
Watching the editing team scurry off, Lee Hyeon Jeong murmured quietly.
“…Those kids don’t need alcohol right now. They’ll be having sweet dreams without it.”
Because that’s what debuting is, isn’t it?
Sure, they don’t know the song yet, or the concept, or anything else, but….
The grueling survival show was finally over. They had to be happy.
“Hmm, well….”
Facing Lee Hyeon Jeong, Joo Cheol Yeong wore his usual smile and shrugged.
“Whether that’s really the case, I’m not so sure.”
“More cloud-gazing nonsense from you, PD?”
“No, hear me out, Writer Lee. This isn’t cloud-gazing. On the night my very first project was publicly broadcast… I had…”
A nightmare.
Translation Notes
[1] ↩
[2] ↩
Discussion
3 Commentstoastiewoahstie
kcyfan1000
Sylver