part 45

In a quiet village in Thailand.

A place where outsiders rarely come.

The streets were crowded with people. 

Most people were young women.

It was all because Seung-rok from the top K-pop idol band, The ZERO, was holding a fan meeting. 

Just having a concert in Bangkok was already a big deal.

But it was a small, personal fan meeting for cry out loud.

Fans couldn't help but come.

After a fan meeting filled with tears and cheers, all the events finally ended. 

Seung-rok hugged each fan goodbye.

Then he slowly walked out of the hall. 

He collapsed into the car, lying flat.

"Sit up straight. If there's an accident, you'll get hurt badly," Eui-jin, who was driving, glanced at him and said.

"You just need to drive well then," Seung-rok grumbled as he sat up properly. 

He took out an eye mask, ready to rest. 

But soon, he put it back in his pocket. 

Fans who were heading home saw him in the car and started cheering.

All of a sudden, Seung-rok quickly changed his attitude. 

He sat up straight and smiled kindly. 

He waved at the fans walking along the road until they were out of sight. 

Eui-jin, watching from the driver's seat, smirked.

"You're working harder than usual, huh?"

"I have to do my best. They're our fans," Seung-rok replied, getting comfortable again.

No, it's not just because of that, Eui-jin thought. 

Seung-rok was always good at fan service. 

But lately, it felt different. 

He had turned down a North American tour.

Instead, he chose to hold fan meetings in Southeast Asia while the other members went to North America. 

He even held small fan meetings in school auditoriums. 

And it wasn't just meeting fans; he sang over ten songs. 

It was like a cheaper mini-concert.

It was unexpected for someone as big as him, who could fill up stadiums, to be touring around small school venues in Southeast Asia.

Especially in countries where fans were known to have less purchasing power. 

Why would he choose to meet fans in areas where even concerts don't often happen?

There was only one reason.

"You really don't want to do the America tour, do you?"

"…"

Seung-rok didn't deny it.

Eui-jin had a rough idea why Seung-rok didn't want to do the America tour. 

Family meant everything to him. 

It's safe to say he pursued his K-pop career because of them.

So, Seung-rok couldn't fully commit to North America or Europe. 

He wouldn't see his family for months. 

Instead, he hinted to the company that he would work hard on Asian concerts, where he could see his family on weekends.

But that wasn't Eui-jin's concern. 

It was the company's problem, not his. 

He was already successful enough, thanks to Seung-rok.

So, he didn't want to push Seung-rok further just to be loyal to the company. 

But there was something else he was really curious about.

"Well, you can work hard anywhere. But what's up with your singing nowadays?"

"My singing? What about it?"

"Your singing has suddenly improved a lot."

"My singing improved? Now, all of sudden?"

Seung-rok tsked. 

A singer known worldwide for his incredible voice, who debuted seven years ago, suddenly got even better? 

That's not something you hear every day.

But Eui-jin didn't seem to be lying. 

He shook his head and said again.

"No, now it's more emotional. Before, it felt like you were acting, but now it feels like you're one in the lyrics. Especially when you sing ballads like 'Bloody Snow.'"

"Oh, really?"

Seung-rok quietly pondered Eui-jin's words. 

Eui-jin knew his songs better than anyone. 

Maybe even better than himself. 

To him, his singing was his own, so he was attached to them. 

But Eui-jin could always see his singing more objectively, like an observer. 

That's why Eui-jin's words were convincing.

Could it be that his emotions in his songs had deepened now? 

Come to think of it, it had become easier for him to immerse himself in love songs. 

Before, he sang while recalling the past with Hayeon's mom. 

But now, it was different. 

Just lightly mouthing the lyrics made them stick. 

He started to empathize with the speaker in the lyrics naturally.

"Before, you were good at singing sad songs, but you couldn't really capture the longing feeling. Now, it's like you're singing your own story. Your emotions feel so genuine. It's amazing. Did you have a breakthrough or something when it comes to singing?"

"…"

Seung-rok didn't say anything. 

But he had a rough idea why. 

If his singing had improved, it wasn't because his technique had gotten better. 

It was probably because of that woman.

While thinking about that, Eui-jin continued talking.

"How about recording a new song? I have a good track I sketched recently."

Normally, Seung-rok would never refuse such an offer, but today was different. 

He shook his head.

"No, I have plans already."

Eui-jin's eyes widened.

"Plans? We're on tour. What plans?"

Instead of answering his question, Seung-rok asked his own.

"Can you do me a favor? Can you make some time this Saturday?"

***

"Teacher! Are you coming to the show today?"

Just before the first performance, Hayeon suddenly ran up to me, hugging my thigh. 

How could I possibly not love her? 

She had a knack for charming people. 

It had been a week since Hayeon got sick. 

Thankfully, she recovered in just three days. 

She only missed one day of practice. 

Even then, I read the script with her carefully, so there was no problem. 

In fact, I got to see her acting up close.

Reading the script together, I was honestly amazed by her acting. 

She played Sim Chong so vividly. 

Through Hayeon, Sim Chong felt real, like a kid from next door. 

No, she even felt like me. 

Working hard to pay off my parents' debt, I felt like Sim Chong.

It brought tears to my eyes. 

To think a child's acting could make me relate to a character from a folktale. 

It was astonishing.

I had already planned to see the play. 

I wanted to see it even more after helping Hayeon practice. 

Her acting was amazing, and being part of the practice made me more attached to it.

I patted Hayeon's head and answered, "Yes, we shall go see it. But not today."

"Then when?"

"I'll come to see the last performance on Saturday."

"Okay..."

Hayeon's eyes showed a hint of disappointment. 

She must have hoped I'd come from the first day. 

I quickly added, "That's when you'll do your best, right?"

Hayeon hesitated for a moment, then nodded. 

"Yeah, right!!"

The last performance would surely be the best. 

By then, she'd have performed on stage several times. 

In theater, the audience's reactions come in real-time. 

Hayeon would quickly adjust her acting based on that. 

I felt that even a day or two would make her performance stronger.

As Hayeon was putting on her shoes to go out, I suggested, "Hayeon, I'll drive you to school."

"No, it's okay."

"Then who will drive you?"

"Manager Cha said he would."

"Manager Cha? Really?"

I was surprised. 

Hayeon usually feared Manager Cha. 

It was amazing that she had asked him directly. 

What had made them so close?

Hayeon quickly added, "Oppa is coming to the airport tonight. You can give him a drive!"

"Oppa? Really?"

I was even more surprised. 

Seung-rok had said he was too busy to come home this weekend. 

He had even told us he couldn't see Hayeon's performance. 

That's why I had been upset with him. 

But it seemed he had changed his mind.

"...Okay, then I'll pick up Oppa."

"Thanks, teacher!"

Hayeon gave a sly smile. 

It always gave me chills when she did that. 

Sometimes, she seemed like a mind reader. 

She had an amazing ability to understand my feelings. 

For example, when I felt cold, she'd bring me a coat. 

When I was thirsty, she'd bring me water. 

It was both surprising and a little scary.

And now, she was smiling as if she knew my thoughts. 

I knew it was silly to think that. 

How could she know my feelings when I didn't even know them myself? 

But sometimes, I felt like Hayeon knew about my relationship with Seung-rok.

While I was lost in these complicated emotions, Manager Cha arrived. 

Hayeon waved and went out to the car.

"Goodbye!"

"Do well, Hayeon~."

Watching Hayeon walk briskly, I naturally thought of Seung-rok. 

Her way of heading to the stage was just like her father's.

Anyway, nothing happened with Seung-rok after that day. 

After almost doing something embarrassing with him last time, we didn't contact each other at all. 

No, it's more accurate to say we couldn't. 

I didn't know what to say. 

Just looking at his profile picture made me blush, so I couldn't reach out first and message him. 

Seung-rok didn't contact me either. 

Usually, he would at least confirm golf lessons, but recently, he didn't even send those formal messages.

When I asked manager Cha about him, he said Seung-rok was busy with fan meetings that weren't even planned before. 

I wondered if he was avoiding me by making his schedule so tight. 

I shouldn't think like that.

But negative thoughts kept coming. 

Maybe he got tired of me after that day.

But then, he suddenly visited Jeju Island without any notice. 

I was confused. 

While I was thinking about what was going on, my phone vibrated. 

It was a message from Seung-rok, asking me to come to the airport because he had just arrived.

-Come see me, please.

That short, almost bland message made me smile. 

I felt angry at myself for getting swayed by a single message like a fool, but it didn't matter. 

My heart started to flutter again. 

I found myself humming 'Bloody Snow' as I headed to my Mini Cooper.