NOVEL NEXT Chapter 35
One week since entering middle school.
During break time.
Middle school seniors entered our classroom.
“Hello! We are the Dance Club!”
Ah.
It’s a club promotion.
Middle school students had to engage in creative experiential activities for three hours each month under the pretense of club activities.
“If you love dancing or want to get better at it, everyone is welcome! Please support the Dance Club!”
“And there will be a Dance Club performance on the outdoor stage during lunch, so please come and watch!”
So-hee’s eyes sparkled as she watched the Dance Club promotion.
She turned to me and asked.
“Do-hee, which club are you going to join?”
I don’t really care about any club with no people in it, but the library club seems the best, right?
But if I say library club, timid So-hee would probably not speak up and would quietly follow me there.
“Well… where do you want to go?”
“I’d love to join the Dance Club… or maybe the Band Club?”
Timid So-hee wanting to join a popular club…?
“You?”
“Yeah… actually, my mom told me to join an outgoing club…”
“Oh.”
I guess So-hee’s parents were worried about her personality too.
“And actually, I wanted to try it too. Hehe…”
“Alright, fighting! I’m going to the library club.”
Instantly, So-hee looked like she was about to cry.
“Ugh… then I’ll join the library club too…”
Sigh.
“Should we go watch the Band Club and Dance Club performances during lunch?”
“Yeah!”
It’s annoying, but it’s cute, so I’ll allow it.
.
.
.
Lunch time.
Today’s lunch menu.
Stir-fried cod and squid stew.
Lunch police are here.
Damn.
Reminds me of the army.
“So-hee, is it good?”
Unlike me and Su-jin, who haven’t taken a bite, So-hee was stuffing her face with the lunch.
“No…”
“Then why are you eating it?”
“My mom said to eat it all…”
Sigh… Is she innocent or just plain stupid?
“Enough already, stop eating.”
“But… my mom…”
“Let’s go to the snack shop; I’ll buy you something.”
I got So-hee up and headed to the snack shop.
When I entered the snack shop, it was packed with students.
The nutritionists who put stir-fried cod and squid stew in the lunch must have made some sort of deal with the snack shop.
‘So, what should I eat?’
I looked around the shop.
‘Ooh, they have cheese korokke at the school snack shop these days.’
“I think I’ll have cheese korokke. What about you, So-hee?”
“I want to eat the same thing as Do-hee. Hehe.”
I turned to Su-jin and said.
“How about you, Su-jin?”
“Huh? You’ll buy me too?”
“If you don’t want it, then don’t.”
“Then I’ll have pizza bread!”
“Okay.”
I lined up to place my order.
I lined up.
While in line, someone pokes me from the side.
Who is it?
When I turned my head, Baek-hwi was standing there, smiling.
“Oh, Baek-hwi, long time no see?”
Feels like it’s been about 3 years?
“Yeah, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Well, there’s not much to struggle with. But hey, did you grow taller?”
Baek-hwi seemed to be over 170 cm tall now.
Now I’m looking up at him…
I must be over 170 too, right?
“Yeah. I’ve grown a bit.”
“You couldn’t even speak properly and just peeked at me 3 years ago, and now you’re chatting away.”
“What are you talking about? That never happened!”
“Do you still have a crush on me?”
Baek-hwi’s face turned red, and he couldn’t answer.
Just then, it was my turn.
I told the lady at the snack bar.
“Auntie, one pizza bread and two cheese croquettes, please.”
After getting the bread and paying, I said to Baek-hwi.
“Better focus on your studies. I’m leaving.”
Baek-hwi seemed like he wanted to say more, but I quickly walked away.
Ah, this guy still looks like he’s into me.
Hah, this guy’s popularity.
I mean, I can’t help but be enchanted by my own charm when I look in the mirror every day, so what about you, a guy?
Looks like my charm is spilling everywhere.
Breaking free from the crowd, I opened the microwave and heated the bread.
Heating up bread is a universal rule, right?
I took out the bread and handed it to So-hee and Su-jin.
“Thanks~” “Thanks, I’ll eat well!”
“Sure. By the way, So-hee, you said earlier you wanted to see the Dance Club and Band Club performances.”
“Oh, yeah!”
“Then let’s eat while we go.”
We headed towards the outdoor stage while munching on the bread.
On the way, Su-jin asked me.
“But Do-hee, I saw you talking to Baek-hwi earlier. Do you know him?”
Oh right, Su-jin and Baek-hwi are in the same class.
“Yep.”
“Really? How do you know him?”
“Just through our moms who know each other. Why?”
“He’s super handsome. The girls in our class have already created a commotion!”
Ugh,
As if they’re not middle schoolers.
“Just focus on your studies.”
“Why? You don’t like him?”
“Like or not, who cares.”
“Well… since Do-hee is a trainee, you probably shouldn’t date.”
So-hee, who was quietly listening to our conversation, chimed in.
“A trainee…?”
“Yeah, a trainee. Did you not know Do-hee is an idol trainee?”
So-hee’s expression turned into one of surprise.
“Re…really?”
“Yep, so I guess you don’t know much else, huh?”
“Oh my! Jeong Su-jin! Since you’re embarrassed, stop it already!”
Just give me a bit more time.
Su-jin started to brag about everything about me.
Piano competitions, being first in the class, and even how I received confessions from boys and even girls in elementary school, and so on.
Back in school, the guys, and even the girls, received confessions, and so on.
As Su-jin finished talking, So-hee stared at me with her mouth agape.
I playfully pulled So-hee’s cheeks and said,
“Why? Is your older sister just too cool?”
So-hee repeatedly nodded her head.
I know.
When we arrived at the outdoor performance hall, it was packed with kids there to watch the show.
Thankfully, there were a few seats left.
“Let’s sit here.”
Just as we took our seats, the Dance Club started their performance at the perfect moment.
The first performance was by our seniors, Pastel Love, singing ‘To You,’ which has been topping the charts lately.
During my trainee days, I practiced songs from boy groups and girl groups without discrimination, but among them, I practiced Pastel Love’s songs until I felt sick of them.
‘To You’ is a song I’ve been practicing recently as well.
Let’s see how it goes.
…
Hmm… they’re really putting in the effort.
I intentionally muttered to myself loud enough for So-hee to hear.
“Ugh, that’s not how you dance it.”
So-hee looked at me with starry eyes upon hearing my words.
Gah.
After Pastel Love’s ‘To You’ ended, the subsequent stages were songs I had practiced.
As expected, I felt like I could do better.
It’s only natural since I’d trained under a professional choreographer for over three years.
Once the Dance Club finished their performance, the members came up to the stage to bow.
“Thank you for watching! Please support the Dance Club!”
Still, it was nice to see their hard work.
I held So-hee’s hand and clapped.
“Alright, give them a round of applause!”
As soon as the Dance Club’s performance concluded, the band club’s performance began with the accompaniment rolling in.
Oh, it’s a male vocalist.
Huh? This song?
‘Drain,’ a rock song famous for its high notes, is one I like and practiced several times.
This is really hard to sing.
Are they really singing this?
“Ugh… that’s not how you sing it.”
“…”
“That’s the way to do it.”
Damn, talent is key in singing.
And why does their voice sound so good?
Did they train too?
So-hee now looked at me with cold, narrowed eyes.
“What are you staring at?”
So-hee turned her head back to watch the performance after my words.
Today, I’m only practicing vocals during our individual training.
No kidding.
…
A few days later, I reluctantly arrived at the music room for the Band Club interview, to join it as So-hee wanted.
A 2nd-year Band Club member handed me the interview questionnaire.
“Please fill this out.”
“Sure.”
I filled out the questionnaire and handed it back.
Sigh…
I can’t believe I’m being interviewed by middle school kids.
My pride is hurt.
When I looked at So-hee, the source of all my troubles, she was trembling with nerves.
“Ugh… are you nervous?”
“Yeah…”
“Then why did you say you wanted to join the Band Club?”
” I wanted to see Do-hee sing… ”
Sigh… You’re so cute, I can’t help but let it slide.
” Next time, just say it honestly. We can go to a karaoke together. ”
” Yeah… I’m sorry… ”
So-hee is like a cat; if she weren’t cute, she would’ve been extinct.
” Next person, please come in. ”
It’s my turn.
As I stepped into the music room, the head of the band club spoke.
” Please introduce yourself. ”
Ha-ah…
” Hello… I’m Do-hee Lee from Class 1-1. ”
” What’s your motivation for joining? ”
It’s written on the survey.
” I love music and wanted to get on stage. ”
” Which part are you applying for? ”
Come on, it’s on the survey!
” Keyboard and vocals. ”
” So which one will you perform on stage? ”
” I’ll just do both at the same time. ”
I sat down at the piano.
Huh. Let’s just think of it as busking.
What song should I do?
I asked the interviewers, ” Do you have any song requests? Anything is fine. ”
One of the interviewers, a student who had sung “Drain” at the last performance, replied.
” Seriously, anything is fine? ”
” Yes. I know just about every song. ”
” Then please sing ‘Drain.’ ”
Alright, you talent-monger.
I’ll show you the hierarchy since I’ve had professional training.
I started playing the piano and singing.
” – On the day of joy, on the day of sadness, slowly passing by – ”
” – Trying to hold you, but you vanished before me; you’re just an illusion – ”
” – When I wake up, the tears dry in the sand of sleep – ”
” – I am in the desert of rose petals! – ”
.
.
The song ended.
” Wow… ”
” Jackpot… ”
Sure, I may not have the skills of top singers, but I can hold my own among trainees as a main vocalist.
I got to this point by having Teacher Kwon drag me to sing while holding a plank position all day… Tears are welling up, seriously.
” Thank you. ”
” Hey, I sing better than you! ”
” Insane. ”
” Can you sing one more song? ”
” Then I’ll just play a piano piece. ”
I played the first movement of Brahms’ Sonata No. 2 that I performed at last year’s competition.
When I finished, the interviewers were left open-mouthed, merely gasping in awe.
” Thank you. ”
Oh, that felt electrifying.
Do-hee Lee is so cool.
.
.
.
I’m shaking So-hee’s head.
So-hee, caught in my grip, said, ” Do-hee, I’m so sorry! ”
” Ah! ”
So-hee didn’t get into the band club.
Reluctantly, I withdrew my application and went to the library club with So-hee.