chapter 6
Arin was delighted even though it was an insignificant compliment after yesterday.
I took a closer look at the paper he was showing.
There were quite a few songs written. With traces full of worries.
“Arin. Looking at the songs you wrote down, they seem to be the ones you sang here. that’s right?”
“that’s right. I think the songs I’ve sang the most lately will be comfortable.”
It was a good idea. As it is your first busking performance, selecting the songs you are most familiar with.
but.
“In this busking performance, even if we sing these songs, let’s sing them by MR without a guitar.”
“yes? Without a guitar?”
“okay.”
This time, I was thinking of replacing the accompaniment with MR without a guitar.
The current Arin seems to have overcome all of her trauma, but she doesn’t know it yet.
Because the wounds in the heart don’t disappear in an instant like that.
“As it is the first performance. I want you to be able to focus on the song rather than playing the guitar and singing.”
“Ah… I didn’t think of that. If I really stand in front of people and my mind goes blank… I could have been in big trouble.”
Arin’s face went pale as if he imagined himself frozen in front of many people for a moment.
There is a saying that the beginning is important. What if Arin, who went on stage after overcoming the wounds of the past, couldn’t concentrate on playing the guitar?
Couldn’t get any worse than that. And it’s my job to block those variables in advance.
“Don’t worry too much. Just like you’ve done so far, you’ll just have to think about calling in front of me.”
“Is that my fan number 1?”
When Arin asked if he liked the word fan number 1, he replied with a smile.
“okay. Because your number one fan will always be with you.”
Arin’s confidence was so high.
As soon as the preparations for the performance came to an end, it disappeared at the same time.
*
“CEO. Will I be able to do well today?”
setting is over.
The stage for the busking performance was completed.
But like a nail stuck in the seat, Arin didn’t move.
He only looks at the stage he has to go to with his eyes shaking endlessly.
“Arin.”
“…”
A moment of silence passes.
Arin’s voice filled with hesitation was heard.
“CEO. I’m sorry… I can’t.”
prepared stage. And the curious eyes of passers-by.
It’s just a curious glance. Did those eyes remind me of the painful scars from my trainee days?
Arin’s eyes are out of focus.
“I guess it was still too much for me. I’m really… I’m really sorry, but let’s go back, CEO.”
Arin’s eyes are clearly watching the busking stage. What was reflected in his eyes was not what was right in front of his eyes.
What Arin is looking at now is the stage of the past.
It was the stage of those days when everyone was blaming and criticizing Arin.
Should I go back like Arin said?
no.
There was something I hadn’t missed.
The words that Arin unconsciously brought out are us.
“Arin.”
“yes?”
Arin’s eyes still couldn’t focus. Looking at it, I made up my mind.
If you leave like this, you will never be able to do it.
Obviously, if you fold your wings like this, the singer named Arin in front of you will never be able to fly.
“Who did I say I was?”
“…the number one fan.”
thank god.
Thank you for remembering and telling me that question more than anything else. Because it was said that there was a breakthrough to overcome this situation.
“There was more before the word that you were the No. 1 fan, right?”
“yes. I am the number one fan of a singer named Arin.”
In the past, Arin was alone. When everyone turns around and points fingers and blames.
No one held out a hand to Arin. In the end, Arin, who was only full of wounds, ran away.
but.
Arin now is not alone like in the past.
“that’s right. Now you are not alone like before. At that time, there was no one by your side. Right now, the number 1 fan who will protect singer Arin is by her side.”
“ah···”
Little by little, the color returns to Arin’s blurry focus.
I slowly fill up in Arin’s eyes, who were staring blankly at the past.
“Look Carefully. And remember. The stage on which you will rise at this moment. And the fact that the number 1 fan is always by his side.”
I stopped talking for a moment.
When Arin’s head turned towards me.
“Arin, you are not alone anymore.”
“…”
A moment of silence passes.
Arin stood up from his seat.
“I’ll try… once.”
“okay. And as I said, close your eyes when calling.”
“yes. Okay.”
Arin steps onto the stage.
one foot.
two feet.
gradually.
slowly.
Looking at Arin like that, I took out my cell phone and started filming a video.
Arin went on stage but still hesitated to hold the microphone.
Even the few passers-by who stopped walking with curiosity at the appearance of a face they had never seen before.
Those images are captured on the screen of a small cell phone.
“?”
I nodded to Arin, who raised a question mark, not to worry.
I must have been embarrassed because I didn’t tell you in advance that I was filming.
After looking at me for a while, Arin immediately focuses her attention on the microphone in her hand.
Arin’s image can be seen inside the small cell phone.
I wanted to keep it.
And I wanted to show you.
The image of Arin holding the microphone trembling in front of passers-by for the first time.
Although some paused. The appearance of passers-by who soon turn off their attention and take a step.
This is when Arin’s song is over. about how to change.
That it wasn’t your fault that everyone blamed you.
That he forgot his own value in dirty tricks.
how bright you can shine.
I wanted to show you.
“hello. My name is Arin. Singing… I will start singing.”
A soft prelude begins to play.
Arin closes his eyes.
*
Hyeong-cheol desperately thought about drinking. It was because I received a great shock at the Five Girls concert that I had been looking forward to the most.
It was such a shock that I couldn’t even tell if this was a concert hall or a local tone-deaf brag.
“Yaya! Why do you always ask me to come to the crowded Hongdae? Just drink around the house.”
Hyung-cheol was in a gloomy mood, so he didn’t like the words of his friend in the neighborhood who was babbling as usual today.
“Look. I told you not to hear it live as I threw away my money. Do you know why a star is a star?”
However, as if he didn’t care about Hyeong-cheol’s feelings, he was full of laughter at what was so enjoyable.
Even though Hyeong-cheol didn’t answer because he didn’t want to hear it, he didn’t care.
Words that scratch the inside.
“It’s a star because it only shines when you see it from afar. Stars are actually lumps of stone.”
I let my friend’s giggly words go through one ear and quickly moved on.
This grunt feeling seemed to be relieved only if I quickly drank a glass.
“hello. My name is Arin. Singing… I will start singing.”
It was the charming voice he heard by chance that caught Hyung-cheol’s footsteps.
“Hey. Stop for a moment.”
“why? because let’s go fast He said he felt good too. Let’s go quickly and have a drink. Don’t waste your time on useless things.”
Could it be because of Five Girls’ shocking live performance?
Hyung-cheol couldn’t ignore the busker’s voice, which he would normally have heard with one ear.
“It’s a busker I haven’t seen before, but it looks like he’s starting a new busking. Let’s listen and go.”
“under. It’s started again. Because I regret it again. It’s okay, I won’t even listen to it anyway. So, if you want to listen to just one line, then go right away?”
“Okay ma’am. Don’t worry, I’ll decide right away whether or not to go as soon as it starts without you needing to hear more.”
“It’s a joke anyway. Have you tried it once or twice? uhh,”
Hyung-cheol knew it well.
That most buskers end in disappointment.
If I really had the skills, I would prepare for my debut as a singer right away rather than busking.
But today, that busker’s voice strangely made me unable to take my steps.
Is it because you’re pretty
no.
Is your appearance also a trainee? It was a look that made me think like this, but more than anything, it caught Hyung-cheol’s attention.
“hey. Are you talking about that busker? I must have been very nervous.”
It may be because of the appearance of a mixture of many emotions, such as hesitation, fear, trembling, and tension.
“Let’s just go. Seeing you tremble anyway, you would know without listening. Boom, Boom,”
“Shut up and wait.”
I made my friend, who kept talking, to shut up.
Was the first busking so scary?
If you’re so afraid, why would you want to busk?
With such useless thoughts, I shut my mouth to focus on the song that I will start soon.
Hyeong-cheol’s mouth opened again. It was when the busker, who introduced himself as Arin, calmed his tremors and started singing.
There was something Hyung-cheol always emphasized to his friend.
It is said that ordinary people and true singers have different feelings as soon as they hear the first note.
Just like now.
[I walked the road I walked with you…]
As the busker named Arin sang the first line, the grumbling friend next to him also became quiet.
And the exclamation that follows.
“and. Crazy.”
“Look. Did you listen well to me? What would have happened if I had missed this and just passed by?”
“Be quiet. Don’t bother listening.”
Even my friend who asked why I wasted my time watching this. And passers-by who tried to pass by.
The more the song of a busker named Arin continues, the more people stop walking.
Like a man playing the flute.
People started pouring in.
They also showed the same reaction as Hyeong-cheol.
“who is this?”
“I don’t know. Be quiet. It’s getting in the way of hearing.”
“It’s really great. Are you a singer?”
Hearing the words of passers-by, Hyeong-cheol thought.
That’s it.
this is the singer’s song
I quickly took out my phone and entered the name Arin into the search bar, but no results came up.
Streaming sites, Youtube, and other internet broadcasting platforms.
I looked everywhere and couldn’t find it.
As if it had just fallen from the sky.
*
I was so trembling.
Does your voice come out right? To the point where I can’t even figure out if the pitch is right.
However, the tightly closed eyes did not open.
Woohyuk Choi.
Because he had asked himself to close his eyes while he sang the song.
It definitely had an effect.
before going on stage. And even before I grabbed the mic and sang, it seemed like people would point fingers at me.