Free Web NovelHonestly, I’m not sure this time.
At the last Mango Chart Awards, we were the only rookie nominees in attendance, so it felt like we were guaranteed to win, but I doubted the momentum would carry all the way to the HBS Music Awards.
Objectively, the numbers were overwhelming. Everyone would ask who else but us. Among this year’s rookies, we topped album sales. Our digital scores were off the charts. Masquerade still hovered in the top ten of the daily charts, and Something showed no sign of dropping. I’d even heard Fireworks would rank within the top 100 annual chart.
By any objective measure, New Black was the clear number one among today’s newcomers. But life doesn’t follow logic. With the three major broadcast networks wielding influence, it wouldn’t be strange if another group took it.
I’d feel really... no, extremely angry.
Either way, for various reasons I wasn’t optimistic. Street Boys had topped the online vote yet lost at the last Hong Kong Awards.
Maybe because of that, as we headed down after the dry rehearsal, Hanjo spoke softly.
“I really hope New Black wins.”
“Excuse me?”
“The award should go to whoever deserves it.”
Street Boys whispered loudly as if begging for our win.
“Please win Rookie of the Year.”
“We need to create a cringe moment for the danjang.”
“This must be New Black’s award.”
Their gaze then flared competitively toward the Blink tent some distance away. I remembered Blink beating us for Rookie last time. They looked like people pleading for vengeance on our behalf, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was strange—they believed even more firmly than we did that we’d win.
Despite the grand name, today’s awards felt basically like a music show—just different set pieces and a larger audience. Like any broadcast, it was a cycle of waiting, waiting, and more waiting. We ate lunch, grabbed a quick dinner box, and before long the tent area buzzed. Senior acts were arriving.
“Shall we go say hi?”
We started with the nearby Teen Spirit tent. They leaned into a handsome-boy concept but always cursed like sailors, so they were first on our list—a smart tactic to get the hardest greeting over with.
Sure enough, before we even entered, loud bickering drifted out.
“Shut up! Get out!”
“Just one bite! One bite! Do you want to die?”
“I hate it! I won’t eat it!”
All the insults had been muted, yet it still sounded harsh. We exchanged warm grins.
“Everyone’s in a good mood today.”
“Yeah, the chat’s unusually gentle.”
“Ugh... I still can’t get used to it. Junghyeon hyung, stand behind me like last time so I know you’re there. Don’t dodge sideways so I can’t see your face.”
“Okay, got it.”
“You scaredy-cat. You scared?”
“Yeah. I froze when facing Teen Spirit seniors.”
Leaving the growling behind, I parted the tent flap and stepped in.
“Um, excuse us...”
Inside were the Teen Spirit members. Some sat on phones; others argued. One sat with lips sealed, shaking his head as two or three held chopsticks armed with tonkatsu in front of him.
...What was happening?
“Just eat it! Please!”
“I told you no! I’m on a diet!”
“You wanna die? You dieting to death? You gonna go like this?”
“Yeah, I’m dying.”
“Go on then. You’ve sinned enough to land in hell.”
Leader Hwiyeon glared, trying to force-feed dieting member Yeonhu. I took the chance to greet.
“Hello! We’re New Black!”
They all looked at us. Yeonhu motioned.
“If you’re giving it away, you might as well give it to New Black!”
“What a psycho.”
Then Hwiyeon the leader offered politely,
“Would you like some?”
“No thank you. We’re fine.”
“See! He won’t eat it!”
They resumed tormenting him loudly, so we quietly backed out. Rihyuk and Jiho slipped behind me.
Their managers nearby gave resigned smiles and rubbed their necks. As I exited, Hwiyeon called after us.
“By the way, I think you’ll win Rookie.” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
“Excuse me? It hasn’t been announced yet...”
“If not New Black, then who? Congratulations.”
He’d congratulated us out of the blue, so we thanked him and left. Jiho smoothed his hair.
“Phew. That went well.”
“Really. That was okay.”
Even Rihyuk, usually mocking, smiled wryly. One of them must’ve grabbed my jacket from behind. These scaredy-cats.
I wiped cold sweat from my palms onto my pants.
“...Okay, that’s over. Let’s keep greeting.”
Next we visited Scarlet’s tent—seniors from our agency. Giggling and singing spilled out. Jiho peeked in and shook his head.
“They’ve arranged a heater in the center and are dancing Ganggangsullae around it.”
“...Let’s come back later.”
Memories of the awards flooded back. I snapped to and found myself caught up in their pace. We also stopped by Girls On Top to exchange awkward greetings.
We hurriedly greeted the senior ballad singers and others joining us today. But every reply was similar.
“I feel something good happening today. Congrats.”
They sounded like well-wishes, but so certain. At first I wondered why—they weren’t even sure yet. Then I realized everyone believed that if not us, there’d be no other Rookie winner. I finally felt the conviction we’d only half-believed.
“...We really hit it big this year, huh?”
Maybe overtaking TNT for first place in the final week mattered. The atmosphere was entirely different from the Mango Chart Awards. These artists here seemed to genuinely acknowledge us.
It felt good—and weirdly ticklish.
Just then, we met Street Boys exiting the TNT tent. But the mood was odd. They avoided my gaze as though I’d done something wrong.
I asked,
“What were they saying in the TNT waiting room?”
“Oh, about that...”
Hanjo looked embarrassed.
“Sorry. We had no choice.”
“Pardon?”
“Sorry!”
“What are you apologizing for, guys!”
They all shouted “Sorry!” and bolted, leaving me blinking in bewilderment. I looked at my juniors, but they shrugged cluelessly. Entering the TNT tent, I immediately understood why they were sorry.
I parted the flap and stepped inside. Eight pairs of eyes fixated on me, then smiles flickered at the opposing members’ mouths.
“...?”
I tilted my head and opened my lips to greet, when Hantaehyun leapt up and smiled kindly.
“Welcome, danjang.”
“.... ”
“Puhahahaha!”
TNT members burst into laughter, pointing fingers at me.
“Puhahaha!”
“It’s Mint Choco-danjang. The danjang!”
“Danjang-nim, please come in!”
...What sin did I commit in a past life? I muttered under my breath, and Junghyeon beside me blinked.
“For loving mint chocolate so much?”
“Puhahaha! Come on in! Jangwon Finals prize for you, friend!”
“Can I come too?”
“Please do!”
“Kya kyak yak!”
Damn it. Really, I hope I never make friends with anyone but you all.
8:45 PM.
COEX Hall D’s massive stage was packed like a can of beans with thousands of fans. The camera swept over masked and lightstick-waving faces.
Finally, the 2014 HBS Music Awards began. After a special performance by the three MCs, they took their places.
“Hello! TNT’s charismatic dancer Tanhyeon!”
“Teen Spirit’s cutie Hwiyeon!”
“I’m actor Han Yeoreum, hosting Part 1. Nice to meet you.”
After their greetings and sponsor app events, the real show kicked off with indie band Easy Jihun & the Goons heating up the crowd with a folk-rock set.
“Here are this year’s hottest rookies!”
“Before the Rookie Award, enjoy the super rookies’ stages!”
The nominees performed in sequence. First up, Blink.
[BLINK]
Their group name flashed on the LED screen as the doors opened. Four members in black leather rode up on lifts. A fierce hip-hop routine played, then after a 90-second snippet they lined up left of the stage.
Next, Street Boys.
[Street Boys’]
Their name appeared against a gray brick backdrop. Clad in gold chains and smoky makeup, they strolled on with swagger. Rappers Hanjo and LB fired rapid verses while main vocal Giwon’s high notes punctuated. After their 90-second Western-style hip-hop track ‘Deeper,’ they formed center stage.
Then came Serenity.
“We’re Serenity”
In whispery voices, the nine-member group debuted a dance piece driven by strong vocals and clean choreography. Their long-limbed moves stood out. The audience murmured approval between acts.
Suddenly a shout rang out.
‘What’s that?’
I realized it was New Black’s fans scattered around. The screen flashed.
[The New Black]
“Seems they have more fans than I thought.”
“Listen to that!”
As Masquerade’s familiar melody played, even casual onlookers perked up. New Black, dressed in tailored suits, took the stage. Their approach was more contained—moving in a circle rather than roaming. Each member performed a solo snippet, the others frozen like statues. After all five revealed their moves, they flowed together in a smooth chorus.
Not a fierce routine but graceful, fluid dance—hands and legs painting shapes in midair, drawing the crowd’s gaze. ‘They’re good,’ everyone watching thought simultaneously. They were talented, yes, but not overwhelmingly beyond the other rookies. It was just that their expressions and gestures somehow captivated. Veterans recognized the polish from multiple music shows.
It happens—you go to see your favorite act but lock eyes with another member during someone else’s stage. With New Black, all five drew attention.
In the ensuing joint stage of over twenty idols, New Black still shone. One member danced effortlessly; two others held expressive faces that grabbed every eye. Online reactions mirrored this.
– I wish every camera except the center one would break
– Are they lip-syncing right now??
– Wow. They look fresh no matter the camera angle
– Rookie line-up is insane this year
– They had little time to sync, yet they nailed it
– I keep noticing New Black more... is it just me?
– Maybe it’s their expressions? They draw your eyes
They’d practiced facial expression for nearly five hours, but unaware viewers saw a standout stage. Their harmony also helped—they never tried to outshine but blended seamlessly with others. That uplifted the whole joint performance.
No wonder when the lights dimmed on a shot of New Black’s leader brushing sweat off his head and Serenity’s main vocal smoothing her hair, the announcement came without surprise. Model Han Sora and actor Lee Kangjin revealed the Rookie Award winner.
“Congratulations, New Black!”
Tears glistened as New Black walked up. The camera cut between them and smiling artists in the audience. They must have expected it, but somehow New Black themselves looked the most shocked.
The leader grasped the standing mic with utmost seriousness—then static startled him.
“Ouch!”
The blunt cry had the nearby MCs pursing lips or hiding behind cue cards. Clearing his throat, Woo-ju gave the first lines with a confident grin, as if this was nothing.
“Hello. We’re New Black. Uh, watch out for static, everyone.”
Laughter erupted in the hall.
It was the second Rookie Award for us, but the joy matched the first.
“Congrats!”
“Congrats!”
After the Part 2 finale, congratulations came from every corner. As we left the waiting room, Junghyeon tucked the ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) trophy inside his puffer jacket like a puppy and everyone burst into laughter. We snickered.
“Aww, how can something look this pretty?”
“Seriously. Look at that glow.”
“It’s shining. It really is.”
We fondled the trophy like a golden nugget. I felt so happy. Even nasty words from anyone today could be brushed off with a laugh. My cheeks burned—whether from the afterglow of the stage or excitement over the award, I wasn’t sure.
What should I do with this happiness? I’d call Grandma Kim Deok-soon later and brag for an hour. I’d send selfies by the trophy and type a thoughtful message. This should melt her heart, right?
I hit send with a satisfied smile.
“Hyung! Hurry over!”
“Okay, I’m coming!” freewebnσvel.cѳm
I grinned and followed my juniors.
Meanwhile, in Gunsan.
Grandma Kim Deok-soon watched the TV from her elbow-chair as her phone buzzed nonstop.
[Family Group Chat: A Bumper Crop of Children]
Junghyeon’s Dad: Best day ever,,
Junghyeon’s Dad: Our kids won another award!!
Bijoo’s Mom: Oh my
Bijoo’s Mom: Look at the message my kid sent: ‘Mom I love you..!’
Bijoo’s Mom: (screenshot)
Chairman Wang Hyuntak: I got a cute text too hehe
Chairman Wang Hyuntak: My precious son hehe
They shared screenshots of their child’s “Thank you” or “Love you♡” messages.
‘Why haven’t I gotten anything?’
Send me one, hurry!
Just then, the long-awaited message from her grandson arrived—37 photos attached.
Woo-ju: Kim Deok-soon acrostic poem~~!!
Woo-ju: Kim, I won’t talk down to you
Woo-ju: Deok-soon
Woo-ju: Please look at my selfies~♡
“.... ”
Suddenly, a rage boiled up inside her.
