Second Try Idol

The stage was buzzing with anticipation as Goh Yoo-Joon and I kicked off with our unit performance, quickly followed by a vibrant show from Joo-Han, Yoon-Chan, and Jin-Sung. Producer Do had crafted two songs for us and left the choice entirely in our hands.

Joo-Han brimmed with excitement and shared his strategy. "For the latter half of the show, we should go with something bright and cute. Plus, we've got the advantage with Yoon-Chan on our team!"

It was clear he was proud to have Yoon-Chan on his team, so he used the presence of our youngest members as a pretext. However, his real motive seemed to be his personal preference for lively tunes.

Thus, Joo-Han's unit "I Want Pork Belly" picked the cheerful track "Village," while my unit with Goh Yoo-Joon known as "I Want Jajangmyeon[1]," took on the starkly contrasting concept with "WAR."

The song "WAR" was a dramatic piece that centered on visuals and performance while portraying Goh Yoo-Joon and me as if we were clashing from opposing forces.

Producer Do commented on our choice, noting that the complex lyrics and intense music might not even register with the audience amid the visual spectacle. To me, the lyrics seemed a bit all over the place and made it challenging to grasp. Also, the song was as potent as its name suggested.

I was decked out in a black leather jacket and matching pants, while Goh Yoo-Joon contrasted sharply in a refined suit. Though it felt like an unusual pairing, everything just clicked once we hit the stage.

The audience's cheers peaked when Goh Yoo-Joon and I, each leading our group of dancers, got to the center of the stage to enact a mock battle. It was an experimental performance that even Producer Do acknowledged, and the reaction from the crowd was fiery. It seemed the Rings were more enthusiastic than usual.

Indeed, it appeared that songs with a clear story or concept were successful. It was the first unit stage where I realized that the songs popular with the general public and those that fans raved about could be different.

After the intense performance of the ‘I Want Jajangmyeon’ team, the stage seamlessly transitioned to the ‘I Want Pork Belly’ team.

"Everyone, we’ve kept you waiting for a looooong time!" Jin-Sung burst onto the stage and waved a light stick as if it were a magic wand, reminiscent of a previous fan meeting. Yoon-Chan and Joo-Han showed up.

My team had appeared separately, far from the other. But we entered the stage with dancers in a lively rush, which set a dynamic tone from the start.

Yoon-Chan was usually a bit reserved on stage, but he seemed much more at ease and expressive. He was likely comforted by the sea of familiar faces. The set was whimsically decorated like a toy village, enhancing the charm of their performance.

After "Village" wrapped up, we remained in our costumes for a collective stage performance. A conversational session consisting of me, Joo-Han, and Yoon-Chan followed.

"Alright. Now, while the stars of the next stage are getting ready, how about we have a cozy chat?" Joo-Han suggested, prompting a loud "Yes!!" from the audience.

I briefly removed my in-ear monitors and was taken aback by the sheer volume of the cheers. "Are you all having a good time?" I asked.

"That’s the most important thing! We should make sure you, the Rings, are enjoying yourselves."

The loud responses assured us they were indeed having a blast. Even though the voices were mixed, the enthusiastic tone was unmistakable.

I grinned at the Rings closest to us and picked up the microphone. "This combination is almost a first, isn't it? I don't think the three of us have ever had a talk session just by ourselves before."

"No, I don’t think we have."

"Right? Isn't it surprising? Rings even have a special name for us three when we form a group."

"A special name? What is that?" Joo-Han feigned confusion by tilting his head to the side.

I laughed and pointed at him. "The Kang Joo-Han line," I said at the same time as Yoon-Chan.

"The Kang Joo-Han line…"

Joo-Han might have been pretending not to know, but the nickname was well-known enough that even Yoon-Chan, not the most social media-savvy, was aware of it. ɌἈΝỔβЕ§

"Oh, really? The Rings call us the Kang Joo-Han line? Is that true, everyone?"

"Yes!!!" the Rings shouted back, their enthusiasm palpable in the air.

"Why?" Joo-Han asked with a playful note in his voice.

"..."

While the audience buzzed with explanations, Yoon-Chan and I exchanged an amused glance. We stayed quiet because we were confused if Joo-Han actually did not know, or if he was just playing the clueless card. It seemed unbelievable that he was unaware.

"Joo-Han hyung, pretending you don’t know about this nickname just isn’t right. That’s so shameless," I pointed out with a smirk.

"Then, did you know about this, Hyun-Woo?"

"Could it be because you show a little extra love for us two?" I honestly didn’t know the details about the reason behind this name, but the Rings tended to call us ‘Kang Joo-Han Line’ whenever Joo-Han showed favoritism toward us.

"That’s what I thought, too." Yoon-Chan nodded earnestly and twinkled his eyes at Joo-Han.

"Maybe it’s time for some clarification, hyung?"

"Clarification? Well, if you insist," Joo-Han responded, scratching his chin thoughtfully as our mics turned toward him again. "Let me set the record straight. There’s been a misunderstanding. I had no idea that a Kang Joo-Han Line even existed. I cherish all members equally."

However, the murmurs from the audience hinted at skepticism. They didn’t seem convinced by Joo-Han's claim of equal affection.

"Joo-Han, they don’t seem to believe you. Maybe it's time we schedule another Chronos meeting to sort this out?" I joked, lightening the mood as the audience chuckled.

"Alright, since we’re here, let's be completely honest," Joo-Han declared and adopted a more serious tone.

"Sure. Please go ahead."

Yoon-Chan and I handed the microphone back to Joo-Han, who started speaking with a cheeky grin. "I truly adore Yoo-Joon and Jin-Sung. They are the kind of younger brothers you'd want to protect, seriously. But…" he paused, drawing the crowd in with his suspenseful silence.

"But what?"

"It's just that Hyun-Woo and Yoon-Chan are exceptionally beautiful."

"What?" The crowd erupted in laughter at his exaggerated tone.

"Yes, Yoo-Joon and Jin-Sung are definitely handsome. But Hyun-Woo and Yoon-Chan have that extra sparkle." Joo-Han, ever the provocateur, openly admitted his bias within Chronos. This caused an uproar of cheers from the Rings. Yoon-Chan and I were momentarily speechless, not expecting such candid favoritism.

"Alright. Let’s move on to the next topic." I said quickly as I tried to wrap up before the teasing went too far. I swiftly shifted the conversation to lighter topics, focusing on the recent unit stages and the exciting setlist that followed.

"Hey, Kang Joo-Han Line."

"We heard everything you said from backstage! You really let us down, hyung!"

Goh Yoo-Joon and Jin-Sung had freshly changed into their new costumes, and playfully stormed the stage to confront Joo-Han.

"Guys, it's just a misunderstanding." Joo-Han tried to explain. His voice was calm, but his eyes twinkled with humor, which only seemed to rile them up more.

Goh Yoo-Joon glared mockingly at Joo-Han and pulled Jin-Sung closer by the shoulder. "We were so taken aback by what we heard that we decided to form our own line too."

"What did you guys come up with?" I

"Right! We’ve started our own faction." Goh Yoo-Joon announced proudly. "The Goh Yoo-Joon Line. From now on, I am officially favoring Jin-Sung."

"How childish." Joo-Han chuckled, clearly entertained by their mock rivalry.

"Alright, enough now." I intervened by separating them before the playful bickering could escalate. "We need to start getting ready for the next performance."

"Ah..." The audience voiced their disappointment, clearly enjoying the banter.

Despite their playful protests, I led Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan backstage with a promise. "The Kang Joo-Han Line will return soon. Goh Yoo-Joon Line, it’s your turn to keep the talk lively."

This quick transition was necessary as the staff signaled us to clear the stage promptly, setting the stage for the next sequence of performances. The two group stages were followed by individual solo performances.

***

"Here, grab some water and an oxygen tank!"

"Hyun-Woo and Jin-Sung, come over here quickly."

The area behind the stage was a frenzy of activity. Jin-Sung and I had barely stepped off before we were whisked away by the staff to get ready for what was next.

"Gasp... Huff..." I panted, feeling the exhaustion as I let the staff work. A mask was placed over my mouth, hands busily wiped sweat from my face and touched up my makeup, and a hairdryer furiously styled my hair. I surrendered to the flurry of activity, allowing our team to manage the details as I focused on catching my breath.

Next up were the solo stages for each member. Joo-Han was the first to go, which meant my performance wasn’t far off.

"Look up." The stylist instructed as she busily adjusted my makeup. My face was completely redone, and my hair was styled with glittering accents reminiscent of our special video shoots.

I was dressed in an ivory-colored shirt that completely hid my hands and decked out in a myriad of accessories. After a brief moment to myself, I was ready to head backstage again.

Despite the breather, I felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Watching the others perform on the monitor was both inspiring and nerve-wracking.

Joo-Han’s first solo performance unfolded on a dramatically dark and eerie set. Thick fog swirled around him as he sat on a wooden chair. His face was painted in unusually strong makeup, and he began performing his song.

The music started slow and sticky, building up to a powerful dance routine toward the end. Joo-Han, who had initially doubted his ability to pull off such a performance alone, was deeply immersive and led the stage smoothly.

After the sequence of group songs, it was clear he was running on fumes. His movements had lost some of their usual sharpness. However, the clever use of lighting and stage direction skillfully masked any signs of fatigue and made everything appear seamless.

"Hyung, you got this."

A reassuring hand briefly touched my shoulder while I was monitoring the performances, and then it was gone. When I turned around, Yoon-Chan was now dressed in his "Forest" costume. He gave me a supportive nod and a thumbs-up before he briskly moved toward the opposite stage.

Joo-Han's consistency was one of his strengths because he always delivered a stable performance. Yoon-Chan seemed relaxed and confident in front of an audience of devoted Rings, and he didn't seem nervous at all, which put me at ease.

I switched my attention back to the monitor and addressed the "Sirens" dancers who were prepping in the wings.

"Let's make this one count as well," I said.

"Will do!" came the chirpy response from the eldest among the dancers. His reply sparked a wave of laughter and camaraderie among the group and lifted everyone's spirits.

As the concert progressed, the energy backstage was electric. Everyone fed off the crowd's enthusiasm. I expressed my thanks to the dancers with a grateful nod and followed the staff’s lead to the central stage beneath.

The "Sirens" piece was known for its intense, almost acrobatic dance moves. Completing it always felt like clearing a major obstacle, so it was a real test of endurance and skill that gave a significant boost of accomplishment and relief.

1. 짜장면 is a popular Korean dish with thick noodles covered in a savory black bean sauce. This sauce is made from a fermented black bean paste called chunjang, mixed with pork and veggies like onions and zucchini. It's a hearty, slightly sweet meal that's a go-to comfort food in Korea, perfect for quick eats or special occasions. I actually had this an hour ago for dinner :) ☜

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