Free Web NovelI was dazed, but I knew better than anyone what I had to do.
Swoosh.
When I subtly lowered my clapping hands, I could hear the other singers standing nearby chuckle.
“.......”
I walked on with a calm face.
The two MCs standing dead center on the stage forced a smile when they saw me strolling toward them as if nothing had happened.
While I walked alone across the stage, the announcer’s introduction floated through the speakers.
– NewBlack’s Uju made his name known this year through a variety of activities. With K-pop, drama OSTs, film OSTs, and more, he left a strong impression on the public, and furthermore, on a global scale...
I felt a little embarrassed at the kind of line that would fit in a biography and approached the presenters.
I took the glass ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) trophy they handed me.
Amid the thunder of applause and the Souffles’ cheers that made my ears ring, they called out loudly as if in unison.
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you!”
I glanced down at the inscription on the glass trophy: “Songwriter of the Year: Uju.”
A smile involuntarily curved my lips.
“Hello. I’m Uju of NewBlack.”
The single sentence I let out at the standing mic reverberated through the stadium’s booming speakers.
“As you just saw, I had absolutely no idea I was going to win this award.”
When an embarrassed smile crossed my face, laughter rippled simultaneously from the artist seats and the audience.
I cradled the trophy carefully and continued.
“First of all, thank you so much for giving me this award. I know that usually these awards go to senior composers with a lot of industry experience... I don’t know if I deserve this.”
Someone in the crowd shouted “Nooo!” and everyone laughed.
“So I think this award isn’t given to me to receive alone, but rather to accept on behalf of ‘Team NewBlack.’ On behalf of everyone who participated in the song’s production.”
I turned my gaze to the artist seats where my younger members were sitting.
I smiled at the kids clapping like seals with wide, bright eyes.
“Lately I’ve felt there aren’t many things I can do entirely by myself. Especially when it comes to composing. Every day I feel, ‘I’m lacking here.’”
I almost laughed when I saw Viju place his hand over his chest like a proud parent, looking touched.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked with me so far. Thanks to my brothers for staying up and working through the night.”
The youngest, who on the scoreboard looked more wistful than anyone, had a look that made me smile.
Then I brought the microphone to my mouth.
“Jiho sleeps a lot, though.”
A big laugh erupted.
The youngest shivered, and Ri-hyuk sat beside him grinning at how pleased he was.
I followed the laughter by looking toward the camera.
“I want to say thank you to our Lemon Ent family who might be watching TV right now. Thank you, everyone.”
I said it with a bright smile.
“Let’s keep working together for the rest of our lives. Us.”
The warm closing line drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.
At the same time.
A certain pub in Gangnam, Seoul.
“.......”
The part-timer carrying beer blinked at the tables full of an odd silence.
What on earth was this atmosphere?
They looked like retail investors who had just heard about a market crash: stunned, hollow faces.
A group of people were staring at the big TV with watery eyes. The part-timer turned his head.
“Mango Chart Awards?”
The annual award show where singers receive trophies was being broadcast.
NewBlack’s Uju finished his acceptance speech and was walking off the stage showing off that refined beauty.
Slurp—
Beer ran down the mouth of a man who had been gulping like his insides were going to burst.
“Sir, it’s all over your clothes—”
“Kraah!”
The man slammed his glass down and, eyes gleaming, said, “One more... one more, please.”
“Uh, yes.”
While the part-timer took a few involuntary steps back and went to fetch another beer, groans came from the table.
“Aigo...”
“He’s in trouble. If Uju says ‘for life,’ he really means forever. He’s a person with no timetable.”
“Uju, why would he say ‘for life’ to us... ‘for life’...?”
They were A&R and producing staff mourning. Deputy Manager Seo Pil-geun, his face flushed with drink, patted his chest.
“No, I want him to get a little full of himself!”
“That’s right!”
“He should live with a mindset like, ‘I’m a genius! I’m the best!’ Why be unnecessarily humble?”
“He’s genuinely humble! It’s annoying!”
The drunks’ shouts rose up.
If it were just lip service it would be one thing, but the NewBlack leader genuinely saying, “I’m so lacking” every time boiled their blood.
They howled “Uwaaah!” and then, tearing at chicken legs, sobbed.
“Do him alone. Just him... alone.”
“Why is he always saying in interviews and everywhere that he’s lacking and that it has to be together?”
“He’s making a trillion won, but it feels like he’s taking allowance from me...”
It would be different if his ability were lacking, but the leader kept pulling people in, saying he couldn’t do it alone.
On the screen, NewBlack hummed along to the point choreography from Girls on Top’s stage.
“Still, whenever I see him I feel proud and he’s cute....”
“Uju, my baby....”
“Our Doolie, let’s only walk the hoiyhoi path.”
As everyone displayed their affection with moist eyes—
“Hello?”
The A&R chief, sobered, stepped out to take a call. He mouthed “the CEO” as he left.
When he came back, he said, “Second spot decided.”
“Where?”
“A beef restaurant. The CEO said a few hundred (won) is fine, so eat to your heart’s content.”
“......!”
“They said Uju told the CEO over and over that this year’s good results were thanks to the A&R and producing teams.”
The staff smiled.
Along with overseas tours, NewBlack had recorded the highest sales among Lemon Ent’s artists this year.
Thanks to them, the company recorded the highest sales in its history.
With this growth, people joked internally that next year NewBlack’s sales might surpass all of Lemon Ent’s top actors and Scarlet combined.
Because of that, even the members’ words now carried weight.
Where they once were promising rookies, they were now pillars supporting the company.
Everyone knew Park Gyu-ho’s decisions were influenced by remarks from artists like them.
Uju’s line asking to take good care of the staff who participated in songwriting—
“He wanted to come by and congratulate everyone personally, but his schedule doesn’t allow it. So he asked me to relay his thanks for the hard work this year.” frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
I could almost hear Chairman Park’s benevolent smile and voice saying, “You worked hard.”
“And also—”
“......?”
“We’ll probably get a huge year-end bonus.”
At that moment, office workers, eyes the size of lamps, turned to one another.
“.......”
Seo Pil-geun, who had drunk the most, and PD Na Sang-yun from the producing team stumbled to their feet.
Then, raising a hand toward Uju on the TV, they saluted.
“Loyalty.”
Everyone at the table burst into laughter.
After handing the trophy back to the stage staff.
I returned to my seat and kept clenching and unclenching my fists. The afterglow of the songwriter award still lingered.
“Congratulations, hyung.”
Jiho whispered with a smile.
“But if I say that, people will think I always went to sleep.”
“You did always go to sleep.”
“......hmph.”
I patted the youngest’s back as he seemed to run out of words and snorted through his nose. Then I said thanks.
Viju covered his mouth and said, “You did well, hyung. Let’s come back next year and get this again.”
“Yeah. Let’s do it.”
Junghyun and Ri-hyuk also wore proud smiles, showing they were happy that I’d won the composer’s award.
I smiled at my brothers who were excited as if it were their own triumph, and caught Taehyun’s congratulatory look from the next seat.
He tapped his chest and made a “you know” face.
Somewhere, there might be a fancam recording, so I bowed in thanks to return the favor.
Then I enjoyed the continuing stages.
There were performances by Enoti and HighColor, winners of the rookie awards, and Serenity performed as the special award recipient.
“Yoo-you-you~”
“I’ll finish you off~”
Because I kept following the point choreography and humming along, the scoreboard kept catching shots of me.
“.......”
When we were caught on the big screen doing the cute ‘chu-chu’ move and immediately turning serious, people nearby laughed.
Our youngest, who had been rapping into a bottled water as if it were a mic, nonchalantly opened another bottle and the rest of us burst out laughing.
We enjoyed the first and second parts of the show that way.
“Congratulations! NewBlack!”
When the second part began, we were named among this year’s Top 10 singers and went up to receive an award.
“Souffles!”
The Souffles screamed “Waaah!” as I delivered a short acceptance speech.
Every time one of our words spread through the quiet gymnasium, fans cheered like a wave.
The lights shone so brightly on us that I couldn’t see everyone’s faces, but I imagined they must feel as moved as we did.
“Last year, seeing the Top 10 seniors at the awards, we thought, ‘We want to be like that,’ and our dream has come true.”
I was genuinely moved.
Today felt dreamlike in a way it usually didn’t.
The songwriter award and the Top 10.
Our name had been on the candidate VCRs for music video awards, dance group categories, popularity awards, and more.
“.......”
I felt proud and happy.
I couldn’t shake the thought, This really happened, and it kept spinning in my head like a burst of endorphins.
And then—
“NewBlack—!”
“Yes.”
“Come down and get ready.”
It was time for our stage in part two.
The stage went dark.
Only the faint sounds of stage equipment being set up could be heard, and the audience turned curious eyes forward.
It was NewBlack’s turn.
Silhouettes that looked like NewBlack shifted in the darkness.
“Waaah!”
Even though it hadn’t properly started, a roar broke out that made everyone widen their eyes.
What the—
Are their mobilization numbers insane, or are they really this big?
The extraordinary volume of cheers made me pause for a moment.
Every time NewBlack appeared on the scoreboard, the cheers swelled.
And even in the dim light, the glowsticks that somehow seemed to sting the eyes were not just a few.
Image dissonance—
They weren’t the NewBlack I remembered, so my mental image kept clashing.
Before, NewBlack had been “an idol with broad appeal,” I thought.
I’d heard they’d gotten big, but feeling that power at an awards show was strange.
It made sense, though.
They weren’t from a huge agency; a rookie from a small company had risen this far in a year.
Admiration slipped out of me unintentionally.
“Waaah!”
With another ear-splitting scream the stage began to brighten.
The set looked expensive at a glance.
Like sculptures covered with cloth in a museum after an exhibition, dancers weaved between them.
The first cloth was pulled away.
NewBlack’s Uju appeared in a solo shot that filled the screen.
A gentle intro played.
He moved as lead vocal, singing a line from “Baramkkot” that everyone in the audience knew.
“Wow......”
The flashy makeup grabbed attention.
Glitter under his gray hair shimmered around his eyes, drawing people’s gaze while he moved.
Even among the dancers his lines were eye-catching.
With neat yet relaxed moves, Uju approached the sculptures scattered around the stage.
“Wow.”
“If they mess that up, it’ll get really solemn...”
The solo looked like a simple dance that could easily slip into awkwardness, but the lead vocal made it feel right.
Each time he tapped as if breathing life into them, the cloths gracefully drifted away and members emerged.
Soon NewBlack was whole and launched fully into “Baramkkot.”
No need to look up
No need to turn away
The main vocal’s clear voice seemed to paint the arena air a pale blue.
“Hearing it live is amazing.”
“They’re good live.”
Their sleeves had ribbons, and every time they moved lightly, the cloth fluttered.
It looked as though flowers were flying about NewBlack in the air.
Even after the dancers peeled away like a wave, the five of them never felt lacking.
Whenever they shifted across the stage, it felt as though some wave of energy was being emitted.
So that’s why they rose.
It made perfect sense.
When watching music shows front on, you didn’t feel this pace and vitality.
Even a gentle song like “Baramkkot” had constant stage movement.
It felt almost like flying.
A member in the back would rush up like full speed, sing, and move on.
But what truly impressed people was something else.
“I know all the lyrics.”
“Oh, this was their song.”
Everyone knew the words to “Baramkkot.”
It had sat at the top of the charts throughout the first half of the year, the kind of song that randomly played in the morning top-100 shuffle.
When people suddenly remembered which artist sang that song—
“Waaah!”
“Baramkkot” ended and a new stage followed.
After a brief blackout.
As soon as the gentle, trendy intro of “Baramkkot” finished, the new song started.
It’s nine nine nine—
It was nine o’clock.
The timing of the song’s intro was perfect, and cheers erupted.
It was the hottest song currently on the charts.
“Nine.”
The crowd instantly turned into a club vibe, jumping and cheering.
On stage, a giant lift carrying NewBlack rose into the air.
“Okay, everyone, together!”
Various glowsticks waved in the audience as the members hyped up the crowd, and shots of other artists in the artist seats shaking their shoulders appeared on the scoreboard.
Everyone was enjoying it.
Even if you didn’t know other idol songs, this one was familiar and people were having fun.
In the festival-like atmosphere, the lift slowly descended.
As the main dancer led the synchronized choreography, stage flames shot up each time they struck a pose.
Burn brighter
Shine today too—
At the highlight, confetti and pyrotechnics exploded with a “paang,” drawing another massive cheer.
It felt as if the artist of the year had stepped onto the stage.
After the stage ended, my tension finally eased.
“Phew...”
We sat in the artist seats and the brothers quietly gulped bottled water.
I was still breathless but happy.
Before, the applause was encouragement for “your stage was good,” but this time it had a different meaning.
The crowd response was overwhelmingly different from last year.
Maybe because it was a song everyone knew, and because other idol fans cheered for us, our condition stayed at its peak throughout the performance.
“To the ends of the sky~”
“We won’t let go of our hands~”
Because of that, when TeenSpirit and TNT performed afterwards, we could cheer them on enthusiastically.
When TNT closed with a twenty-minute set like the year’s winners.
Finally, the grand prize presentation began.
– Now, it’s time to present the prestigious grand prize given only to artists with the best results this year.
Actor Yoo Baek-han, who was hosting, introduced the presenters.
– The awards will be presented by trot singer Baek Sang-gyo and model Han Sora.
A dress-clad actress and a suit-clad middle-aged singer walked through the door.
After the two presenters gave their greetings—
– The first of the prestigious grand prizes to be presented is the Song of the Year.
– There were truly many fierce contenders this year, weren’t there?
– I’m really excited to see which artist will win this award today...
Baek Sang-gyo said with a smile.
– Then, shall we meet the nominees?
– Let’s play!
Matching the hosts’ cue, the scoreboard displayed the nominees.
– Cha Woo-hyun’s “Left by the Wind”
The familiar MV and ballad filled the gymnasium.
Small cheers.
Other familiar faces and MVs followed.
– TNT’s “Glory”
An enormous roar swept the stadium.
TNT’s song had done very well in the latter half of the year, maybe number one on the monthly chart.
And—
– NewBlack’s “Baramkkot.”
Our song played along with a shot of Viju staring blankly into space in the MV.
The Souffles’ cheers rose, and we swallowed.
The grand prize.
Song of the Year.
My palms went damp with sweat. We looked at each other and took a deep breath.
I rubbed my palms on my pants.
During that short ten seconds I must have swallowed dozens of times.
“.......”
My heart pounded in my ears, and a strange chill ran through me as I felt my breath tremble with every inhale.
– The 2015 Mango Chart Awards. The recipient of the prestigious Song of the Year is?
Everything seemed to go slow-motion.
Baek Sang-gyo gingerly tore open the envelope and pulled out the contents, smiling.
– Yes. Congratulations.
I could see his lips moving slowly.
– NewBlack’s “Baramkkot”!
At that exact moment.
All the tension in my body seemed to release, and my brothers and I leapt to our feet at once.
With the Souffles’ delayed roar ringing in my ears,
we hugged each other and broke into tears.
