Free Web NovelRi-hyuk raised both hands amid our murmurs.
“Okay, okay! First, calm down.”
“You seem the most excited.”
“...No, that’s not it? It’s just hot in Jeju.”
He brushed his hair and hid his flushed ears as he spoke.
“Let’s sort out the situation. So what you’re saying is you want to drive, right? Junghyun?”
“That’s right.”
“No way.”
His tone was resolute, as if his life depended on it.
Poor Junghyun looked crestfallen, but this time we couldn’t budge.
Ri-hyuk said, “Junghyun, do you know one of the top causes of traffic accidents in Jeju?”
“What is it...?”
“Rookie drivers rent a car just to try driving, then crash.”
“I’m not a rookie.”
We widened our eyes.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Junghyun scratched his sideburns and stared up at the car ceiling.
“If anything, I’d call myself an apprentice.”
“Ugh.”
I didn’t mean to sound harsh, and my siblings clapped and laughed. The filming crew giggled among themselves before addressing us with smiles.
“Are you that worried about Junghyun driving?”
“Yes.”
We answered in unison.
“We’re not doing this for no reason. Our hyung has a colorful track record.”
“He breaks everything he touches.”
“Really.”
At my words, Ri-hyuk nodded.
“Later, when you use this footage, please add the caption: ‘Why NewBlack members panic at Junghyun’s wish’.”
“Right. We have to show it to viewers.”
K-Net upcoming broadcast, “NewBlack’s Travel Diary Season 1,” Episode 1 edited clip.
Inside the car (D)
The moment Junghyun revealed his wish to drive, chaos erupted inside the car.
NewBlack howling like kindergarteners headed for injections.
Below Junghyun’s awkwardly seated face, a horror-special caption appeared.
[Why are the members terrified of Junghyun driving..?]
The next clip rolled in.
Provided by MeTube NewBlackTV, everyday scenes of Junghyun played with calm classical BGM.
Junghyun humming while watering a potted plant.
Junghyun shaking a frying pan over a gas stove in a cramped lodging to stir-fry vegetables.
Junghyun inserting coins into a drink vending machine.
-#@^#^!
With a tape-jam sound effect, the classical music shattered into ominous tones.
The pot slide off the table as the water’s force pushed it to the edge and it fell onto the floor.
Soil exploded everywhere, and our faces were splattered brown as we’d just entered the house.
-Oh no! My Soviet Communist History book! That’s out of print—I can’t even get it at grad school!
-Oh dear, comrade. Ri-hyuk comrade, snap out of it.
The scene ended with Ri-hyuk and Jiho howling over the book in a ridiculous gag.
Next, in the kitchen scene, the frying pan handle snapped off with a crack!
Rice flew everywhere like confetti.
-It reminds me of that movie I saw recently.
-What if food fell from the sky?
We heard Jiho and Wooju calmly discussing fishing rice grains out of the morning coffee.
Finally, the vending machine scene. Junghyun inserted a coin, nothing happened, so he knocked and listened, then pressed the buttons repeatedly.
Crrrk.
All the buttons lit up with X’s under the machine’s response, and Junghyun panicked.
-K-Kim Viju! Where are you?
Viju rushed over, assessed the situation, and fished out her wallet.
A caption appeared.
[We didn’t realize it was this bad — The Production Team]
Even viewers watching would be like “Oh dear” at how disastrously he performed.
While we refused to budge inside the car, the K-Net crew showed us a laptop.
“We actually predicted Junghyun would face this level of backlash.”
“You went ahead despite expecting resistance? That’s even worse.”
“...Please watch this video, everyone.”
On the laptop played a clip from our pre-meeting interviews—Junghyun sipping a pine-needle drink in the K-Net conference room.
Jiho muttered, “The drink already kills the mood.”
“You’re such a foodie hater, Kim Junghyun.”
Viju cracked a slang joke, then high-fived him.
In the background, the crew played a stirring movie OST from a phone.
-Junghyun, why did you write driving as your must-do wish for the trip?
-Since I was little, I envied relatives who drove tractors. As a kid, I helped with farm work, did everything. Even planting rice.
Junghyun said,
-Sometimes my uncle secretly gave me a sip of makgeolli, and I lived almost exactly like the adults. But...
-But?
-They all said I absolutely couldn’t drive. They said driving was an adult’s job.
We were stunned.
“Wait, how old were you then?”
“In elementary school, I think.”
“Of course you couldn’t! Why would an elementary student try to drive?”
“Ha.”
Junghyun laughed sheepishly and scratched his nape.
Meanwhile, the on-screen Junghyun wriggled his large hand.
-It may sound a bit foolish, but to me, driving symbolized becoming an adult.
-I get it.
-So I got my license as soon as I turned nineteen, but never had a chance to use it.
Junghyun smiled at the crew.
-You asked what theme I hoped for this trip. I want it to be ‘challenge.’
-Challenge?
-Yes. I want to try something I’ve never done before. A new challenge.
The video ended.
The crew and Junghyun looked at us expectantly, but we all wore blank expressions.
“Junghyun.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“No...”
I calmed my excitement and said, “Why drag us into your coming-of-age story? Do your growing and challenges alone.”
“Yeah, we just want to cheer from afar.”
“You can drive, hyung. But do it alone.”
“Are you sure you won’t pull the steering wheel out?”
Just then, Junghyun, who had been listening intently, slapped his hand and said, “Oh!”
“Did you think we were worried you couldn’t drive?”
“No! Why are you only realizing that now?!”
As we raged, Junghyun motioned to the crew. The laptop came nearer again.
The PD said, “We were concerned about safety, so he practiced thoroughly.”
“Practice?”
“Manager Wonseok recorded Junghyun’s driving lessons. Give us a moment.”
A second video played. A camera inside the car showed nervous Wonseok in the passenger seat while Junghyun buckled in calmly.
“Watch closely, everyone.”
Junghyun said, “I drive really well.”
“......”
“I swear. I’m not lying...”
He adjusted the seat and headrest, glanced at the rearview mirror, and said,
-Hyung.
-Yes?
-How do I start it? There’s no key.
-Press the button.
We heard that exchange from the video.
At the turn-signal clicking, Junghyun laughed heartily, and Wonseok’s eyes welled.
-...Ahh. Mom.
The sight of the tall, muscular Wonseok burying his face in his hands was shocking.
We had been laughing, but suddenly sobered—it was about us.
Meanwhile, Junghyun started the engine and rolled out of the parking lot safely.
-Junghyun, at the intersection up ahead, make sure to—
Screech!
-Aaagh!
Wonseok leaped in alarm, and Junghyun beamed, gripping the wheel, when suddenly we heard:
Ding! “Low power. Shutting down.”
The crew panicked and pressed the laptop’s power button, but it was completely drained.
The PD stammered, “Uh... that’s not right.”
“I... uh... there’s footage of me driving well later, surprising Wonseok-hyung.”
He called Wonseok, but our manager had already left in a separate reality-show vehicle. Junghyun hurriedly dialed again.
-Hello, Junghyun.
“Wonseok-hyung, the members don’t trust my driving... please say something.”
-Your driving?
A faint wind blew through the call.
-Hmm...
“Hello?”
-Hold on, it’s too noisy here. I’ll call later.
The call cut off. Junghyun asked, “So? Have I reassured you?”
“......”
Not at all. After thirty minutes of persuasion, we agreed to get in his car. Filming schedules were tight, and we figured we wouldn’t die.
We set one condition: “Before we ride with Junghyun driving, give us time to call our families.”
The crew burst into laughter.
Using our break, we phoned home to say we arrived safely. Then we gathered at the rental car.
The crew, camera rolling, smiled at our pitiful expressions.
I looked around and asked, “PD-nim, aren’t you riding with us?”
“No. I need to coordinate filming.”
“How about the writers?”
“This is NewBlack’s healing-style travel reality. If we appear in the car camera, it ruins the feel.”
I turned to the camera directors.
“Director.”
Camera 1 shook side to side, refusing. Camera 2’s director made an X with his finger.
“Ah...”
I sighed at the tinted windows and handles.
Meanwhile, Junghyun arrived with the keys, waving enthusiastically.
“Let’s go!”
“......”
We lacked the courage, so I offered my hand to my siblings.
“Hands.”
“Here.”
Viju, then Ri-hyuk, then Jiho clasped hands with me, and the maknae climbed in first. Viju lost at rock-paper-scissors and took the front seat. We all trembled as...
Vroom—
The car shuddered.
“Aaaah!”
“It’s just the engine. Embarrassing.”
“Save us!”
The maknae, window down, wailed, and the crew around the car laughed.
When Junghyun raised the window with the automatic button, Jiho pouted.
“Mom... sis...”
“Jiho, call Dad too. He’s always upset he’s left out.”
“Dad...”
“That’s right.”
Then Junghyun picked up the Bluetooth mic in the car.
-Ah, hello, passengers. Welcome aboard the Happy Rental Car driven by Kim Junghyun.
“Ye-eah...”
-Have you fastened your seatbelts?
“If I could, I’d buckle twice. Really.”
-Are you all happy?
Without warning, he asked if we were happy. We shouted, “Nooo!”
“Great,” he laughed like a tour-bus driver, flipping his snapback backwards.
“Rider mode on.”
“Driver, hyung.”
“Driver mode on.”
He placed his foot on the accelerator, and we all squeezed our eyes shut, anticipating screeching {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} tires.
Eyes closed, hands clasped, then—
Whoosh—
“Uh...?”
It felt so smooth we wondered if we’d actually moved. Ri-hyuk and I opened our eyes and looked at each other.
“Huh?”
“Whoa?”
We let go of each other’s hands and stared around with wide eyes. The scenery outside was moving. Wiping cold sweat from my palm, I looked forward: the rental car was following the reality-show vehicle. In the rearview mirror, I saw Junghyun’s curved eyes beaming.
“Wha...?!”
I gasped.
“Hey! Why are you so good?!”
“No. Hyung. Why are you asking why I’m good....”
He feigned hurt. Our siblings, who had laughed and clapped, relaxed in relief.
“This is amazing. Junghyun-hyung drives well.”
“Yeah. Great.”
He smiled proudly at the wheel.
“I never forget what I learn physically. Like how Wooju remembers things.”
“As I expected. See? People have many sides.”
Ri-hyuk, who had been overreacting moments ago, switched to smug satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the car headed west from Jeju Airport. Cool breeze flowed through the open windows, and under the wide sky, the blue sea welcomed us.
“Waaaa!”
Junghyun, driving smoothly like a ten-year veteran, looked back and smiled. We smiled too. Then Viju, after pondering, spoke.
“Junghyun.”
“I drive well, right?”
“Yeah. But... you said you never forget what you learn physically.”
“Right. Anything learned by muscle memory.”
“Then.”
Viju gave him a gentle smile.
“What about the dance you said you forgot?”
“......”
Junghyun’s shoulders tensed. Even with the breeze, sweat gathered on his nose. We burst out laughing. As Viju chuckled, Jiho said:
“Hyungs! Let’s listen to music on our drive!”
“Shall we?”
We searched for the perfect driving-song playlist to set the travel mood.
K-Net upcoming broadcast, “NewBlack’s Travel Diary Season 1,” Episode 1 edited clip.
Inside Junghyun’s car (D)
We sang “On the green hill~” and air-strummed guitar happily. Viju played songs from his phone. After the first track ended...
We blinked as the car slowed against the bright sky. “Winter Trip,” from NewBlack’s January special album, began. Though it evokes travel excitement, our faces darkened.
-It’s good. Our song.
-We’re on a trip, so please no work talk.
As Wooju laughed, a cute caption appeared.
[Note: Because NewBlack self-produces, they listen to each song hundreds of times.]
[Good song = work talk]
Ri-hyuk asked Viju in the passenger seat.
-What is this, hyung?
-It’s a Mango mix titled “Songs to hear while driving at travel destinations.”
-Skip to the next track.
He skipped ahead to “Platform” and “Companion” from the special album—perfect winter-trip songs. The members’ pained expressions prompted Viju to urgently find another mix.
-Found one! A springtime thrill playlist.
-No, not that either.
-Not it? Why... ah.
He played “Wind Flower,” last year’s annual chart-topper.
-Something’s on here too, right?
-Yes.
Soon NewBlack members were humming along to their own lyrics with fond smiles.
-Yay~
-Oh~ wind flow-oat~
Below them, a boldfont caption read:
[Rich in masterpieces’ sorrow.avi]
No matter which mix you chose, these idols couldn’t avoid their own songs.
After a simple drive in the morning, we completed day 1 of our four-day, three-night itinerary.
“One, two, three!”
“Pen-an haw-gwa? This is NewBlack!”
“At the special album fansign, please visit! Jeju is truly wonderful. The air is clear!”
Using Jeju dialect we’d practiced, we greeted fans, who burst into laughter. When they asked what we’d said, we replied,
-“Mushin geoyen goram sindi molreokuge?” (You don’t know what I said, right?)
“Wha?!”
Some fans said even elders don’t speak dialect anymore. In any case, we held the fansign we’d missed in January. In the evening, we booked a small theater and completed the mini-tour perfectly.
Among the audience was veteran singer Noh Jaehyun, whom we’d befriended through a “Hit Song Society.”
“Teacher, you look so healthy!”
“Do I? Ahahaha!”
He walked easily now, only lightly leaning on his cane. His complexion was rosy, and his caretaker said he’d improved greatly. After the show, at dinner, Noh Jaehyun said,
“Sanggyo told me. You’ve caught a Japanese singer.”
“Caught, sir?”
“Oh dear. Why does everyone want to jump into that fire....”
We protested his harsh words, but he shook his head. After dinner, we checked into our lodging—a high-security facility usually used for corporate retreats. The PD told us it was nearly impossible to book, but our reputation and image made it possible.
Having wrapped up day 1, we arrived at the beach for day 2. The PD spoke:
“Everyone.”
“Yes!”
“This ‘NewBlack’s Travel Diary’ is a healing concept. We want you to simply enjoy traveling in a natural atmosphere.”
He smiled. “This is your rest after all your hard work—please enjoy the broadcast comfortably.”
He didn’t expect forced humor; just natural behavior. We smiled brightly and nodded. A free atmosphere with no pressure to be funny felt like ideal relaxation.
The crew followed us with the 6mm camera. As each wave receded, we linked arms and ran, then dashed from the next wave. We laughed:
“Hahaha!”
We picked up shells from the sand, wrote “Soufflé, NewBlack loves Jeju like Hallasan” on the beach, and posed for friendship photos. The PD and writers marveled:
“They look great doing anything.”
“Really.”
Even standing still, our contemplative looks and wind-blown hair were picture-perfect. We left footprints as we walked, and pop songs and healing tunes floated to mind. Then:
“Kyaaha!”
The maknae fell face-first onto the sand. We laughed at him. The PD thought,
‘Good shots never last more than ten seconds....’
He rose without help, pouted, and ran to catch up with us. As filming continued in the beach’s peaceful atmosphere, the maknae munched on snacks. Suddenly, a seagull swooped and snatched his snack. He clenched his hand.
“Aah!”
He cried, and the rest of us recoiled at the blood on his finger, looking like an angry mob of kids.
“What happened? Did someone bump into you?”
“Jiho, what’s wrong?”
“Who was it? What person?”
Fuming, we looked for the culprit as the crew laughed. Jiho pointed:
“That one! That seagull!”
“Junghyun, identify it. Which bird was it?”
“It had a black stripe on its chest.”
We readied the camera to film our scolding of the seagull—
“Wait.”
While members tended to the maknae’s hand, the leader picked up stray snack crumbs from the sand. The crumbs lured seagulls like bait, and each time one approached, Wooju deftly avoided them. After one minute of persistent baiting:
‘No way....’
Just as the wild seagull swooped in again, it landed right in Wooju’s hand. The camera director and bystanders gaped as NewBlack cast a shadow over the bird. The startled seagull froze, wings still, blinking.
“You there. You’re the one who made our maknae bleed?”
“Mind your manners, seagull.”
As onlookers laughed, the PD and writers blinked in disbelief.
‘Who ever catches a seagull on an idol reality show...?’ ƒгeewёbnovel.com
A healing variety show—was it impossible from the start? The crew wondered.
