When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 9

#9

Full-fledged debut surprise replacement (3)

#Full debut surprise replacement (3)

“It hasn’t been long since I joined, but I think my dancing is as good as Jo Jung-min. No, I actually do it better. He is truly an outstanding dancer. The child is also sincere and kind. “I’m young, so I have more potential for development.”

“Possibility? “It’s important, but debuts are made by professionals.”

There was silence again. Since he was debuting right away, Taehyung Park still had some shortcomings other than dancing. In terms of skill, Jo Jung-min had the upper hand. However, Taehyung Park also had a natural feel that could not be found in Jo Jungmin.

‘It definitely has a freshness that catches the eye. But wouldn’t it be a hasty decision to change the designated members now, right before debut?

Im Seong-an’s worries deepened. As in the case of Kang Do-wook, it may be that he was brought in because there was an empty seat, but it was definitely an adventure to have a beginner trainee as a debut member instead of a trainee who had been practicing for several years.

Seongan Lim tapped his fingers on the desk several times.

About ten minutes passed like that. The question of whether to continue as Jo Jung-min or replace him with a new character named Park Tae-hyung was constantly going through the minds of the team members.

Im Seong-an’s thoughts were drifting as he looked at the expressions on the team members’ faces.

‘Nevertheless, the problem is that there are no members of our team who want to go with Jo Jung-min. The team members are also people, but I guess it means that Jo Jung-min hasn’t been able to win people’s hearts even for four years.’

The point was that Jo Jung-min’s skills and personality, which he had built up over the past few years, ended here.

“What do you think if I go to Park Taehyung? “In terms of composition and harmony of members.”

“I think if Taehyung joins, we will become a slightly younger team.”

“I’m the same age as Kang Do-wook, so I think it would be okay to push for a pair of the same age.”

The assistant manager added his opinion to what the employee said. Seongan Lim nodded.

Suddenly, the phrase from the fortune cookie he read on Monday appeared like a flash in Lim Seong-an’s mind.

‘A new relationship…! That’s right, it’s about taking a gamble on a new path rather than a path that is too familiar.’

***

A new notice was posted on the bulletin board in the hallway on the 4th floor, where the practice room is located inside the HIT Entertainment building. It was a meeting schedule that trainees often had. Unusually, this interview was a many-to-one interview rather than a one-on-one interview. Moreover, the people in charge are Lim Seong-an, head of the new development team, and Kwon Heung-jo, production director.

Unless you were an idiot, you could tell just by looking at the name of the person in charge. Those on the interview schedule list are the debut group.

The trainees gathered in front of the wall and made a fuss. Among the six names on the list were Taehyung Park and Kang Dowook.

***

Through the final meeting, team leader Lim Seong-an and production director Kwon Heung-jo confirmed the debut members. Team leader Lim Seong-an spoke to the six people sitting in front of him.

“You will be preparing a group aiming to debut next year. “The group name is KK.”

“K-K….”

“Oh debut!”

Those sitting there were agitated as Team Leader Lim Seong-an spoke. With flushed expressions, everyone recalled their debut and muttered exclamations to themselves. Although I had some expectations, it was hard to hide my joy when it was confirmed. When I heard the group name ‘K.K.’, I clearly felt as if their debut was tomorrow.

In particular, Taehyung Park looked the most confused among them all. On the other hand, Kang Do-wook maintained his composure. However, his eyes became a little darker.

‘This is where the real beginning begins.’

Kang Do-wook, whose eyes were shining seriously, and Team Leader Lim Seong-an’s eyes met. Im Seong-an thought as he looked at Kang Do-wook’s face.

‘After all, it is a thing. There is a serious aura that is not typical of an 18-year-old.’

Lim Seong-an was not the only one who felt that way. Director Kwon Heung-jo, who had seen Kang Do-wook in the final audition, also had no choice but to nod his head when looking at Kang Do-wook while looking at those who would become the future of Hit Entertainment. Kang Do-wook was a very suitable person to become the face of Hit Entertainment.

“The company will do its best to make KK debut successfully. You may have worked hard so far to become a debut member, but your future competitors will not be other trainees, but professionals who have already debuted. It will be a hundred to a thousand times more difficult than it is now. Can everyone do it?”

Director Kwon Heung-jo asked about his pledge.

“I will do my best. i look forward to.”

Dowook answered without wavering. An adult-like greeting was added to ask for the best care.

“I will do my best!”

“me too…!”

One after another, other trainees shouted as if they were making a promise to themselves. Proud smiles appeared on the faces of Im Seong-an and Kwon Heung-jo.

After receiving the approximate debut schedule, the six trainees bowed and left the conference room.

In the conference room where the trainees and Director Kwon Heung-jo were seated, the following memo was written on the paper of Team Leader Lim Seong-an of the Rookie Development Team.

Ahn Hyeong-seo (19) – Vocal part voice has a lot of unique talent..entertainment?

Jeong Yoon-gi (21) – Rap part audition from …

Kim Won (20) – Rap/dance part A genius with an IQ of 138 who studied abroad in Canada! For media promotion..?

Seok Ji-hoon (17), vocal part, experience as a child actor in children’s dramas, aspiring to act…

Kang Do-wook (18) – vocal part, will be promoted as a representative member.

Taehyung Park (18) – Watch and check the use of vocal/dance part images more.

***

Less than a week after the members were confirmed, the six members began living in the dorm.

After telling his parents, Dowook also packed his bags and left the house. It was also decided that students would go to and from school from their lodgings. If the school you originally attended was far from your accommodation, you were scheduled to be transferred to a nearby arts high school.

The accommodation was a newly built two-room villa of 18 pyeong near the company.

It was cramped for six men, but most of their living took place in the company’s practice room, so the dorms were only for resting or sleeping after returning at night. Also, compared to the shabby accommodations that senior groups Monster and Milky Way used before their debut, the newly built villa was more of an advanced form.

“If our first album is successful, the CEO will immediately send us to a better place…”

said Ahn Young-mi, the youngest member of the development team, on the day the members came in with their luggage. I said this because I thought the members would be disappointed by the small accommodation. However, instead of being disappointed or excited about the fact that the members were leaving home and living in a dormitory on their own, they were excited and busy looking around the small dormitory.

“My sister said it was heaven compared to the gosiwon I used to live in.”

Jeong Yoon-gi, who had come from the countryside and had a hard time living alone in a gosiwon, shouted to Ahn Young-mi.

After moving all the luggage, the six of us sat around the living room and assigned rooms with Ahn Young-mi.

The two rooms each had a bunk bed and a single bed. Contrary to Ahn Young-mi’s concerns that there would be a war of words over bed space, the room and bed assignment went smoothly.

It was thanks to Ahn Hyeong-seo volunteering to sit on the top of the bunk bed, which was obviously the most uncomfortable, saying that her dream was to sleep on the bunk bed. Kang Do-wook also gave up the choice to the members, saying that any position was okay.

Afterwards, the room configuration took place naturally as the younger members gave up their single beds to the older members. It was nothing special, but it was a good start. It was Ahn Young-mi who watched the trainees closest. Ahn Young-mi was satisfied because it seemed like only people who not only had good skills but also good personality had gathered together.

On the other hand, I was relieved that Jo Jung-min was missing. I’m sorry, but if Jo Jung-min was there, it would have been difficult to create such a warm atmosphere.

“Then, please take care of your luggage… Your aunt will come once a week to clean and cook for you… You all set your own duties and clean so that you don’t get pushed around too much…” “

Yes!”

“Yoongi, because you are the best hyung…”

“Yes yes! “I understand!”

Under the leadership of Jeong Yoon-gi, who was both the oldest and the most energetic, the six people also divided up responsibility for household chores.

“Let’s do our best.”

Jeong Yoon-gi said playfully before dividing up responsibilities and scattering in the living room. The tone of speech was playful, but everyone knew the sincerity contained within it.

Dowook nodded silently. Just because they were grouped into ‘one team’, a certain sense of camaraderie seemed to emerge between the six of them. It was an amazing thing.

“And Park Taehyung…!”

Everyone was surprised when Jung Yoon-gi suddenly pointed out Park Tae-hyung. Taehyung Park, who was still very shy and followed him without saying anything all day, looked at Jeong Yoongi with the greatest surprise.

“It’s late, but I’m sorry. I should have stopped Jeongmin when she did that. “Just by looking.”

Although Jung Yoon-gi was not in Jo Jung-min’s group, they maintained a good relationship. Although he did not join in harassing Taehyung Park, he also did not stop him. Because of this, I always felt uncomfortable and also felt sorry for Taehyung Park.

At that time, Kang Do-wook came forward and gave Jo Jeong-min a warning. And Park Tae-hyung defeated Jo Jung-min with skill.

After the debut member was confirmed, Jung Yoon-gi looked for Kang Do-wook, who behaved better than himself as an adult. Kang Do-wook said in response to Jeong Yoon-gi’s words that he had no face to see Park Tae-hyung.

“Please apologize. Just one word of sorry would be enough. “For Taehyung Park.”

I really wondered if that would be enough, but Kang Do-wook was firm. And seeing the opportunity, Jung Yoongi decided to apologize today.

After Jung Yoon-gi spoke, the other members also expressed their apologies. Because it was never the right thing to do. Kang Do-wook silently watched the scene.

“It’s okay. really.”

Taehyung Park’s face was filled with embarrassment, but soon he turned into a crying face. I was both embarrassed and grateful that he apologized even though none of the members had ever directly harassed him. I felt like the sadness over what happened to Jo Jung-min was washed away.

The first day of living in the dorm was coming to an end.

As they dispersed to their respective rooms, Ahn Hyeong-seo approached Do-wook and quietly asked.

“Do-wook, you. “Did you hear about Jeongmin?”

Ahn Hyeong-seo seemed to be worried about where Jo Jung-min went after leaving the agency.

***

December was a busy month for awards ceremonies in the entertainment industry.

After returning from practice, the KK members gathered at their dorm and watched the music awards ceremony stage held on a cable channel.

“Wow, when are we going to go out to a place like that?”

Hyungseo Ahn watched the Milky Way stage with his mouth open. Hyungseo Ahn was actually a fan of Milky Way. Normally, Do-wook would have been watching the Milky Way with his mouth open, but Do-wook was immersed in other thoughts.

‘Is it today…!’

Ara Entertainment was a large entertainment company that produced many outstanding stars.

Thanks to this, Seo Kang-jun’s group Man to Man had an extraordinary scale right from their debut stage. The debut stage was held right after the performance of Ara Entertainment’s singer at the year-end awards ceremony.

The repercussions were enormous as the rookie ‘Saeng’ debuted on a stage that was difficult for other established groups to perform on. Fans of small and medium-sized groups that did not have a stage at the awards ceremony, or even if they did, could only sing the first verse, rose up, accusing the large entertainment companies of tyranny.

Antis arose as soon as they debuted. However, compared to the positive effects that attracted explosive attention, some negative voices were at a level that could be tolerated. Man to Man began to establish itself as a huge star by dominating real-time search terms from the day of its debut.

And that incredible debut performance was scheduled to take place today.

As soon as one stage was over, the actress who was to be the MC for the awards ceremony came out wearing a red dress that revealed her shoulders and took the microphone. This actress also belonged to Ara Entertainment.

“The heat on set is really hot! Hot rookies who will continue this excitement are waiting for the next stage. man to man!”

As the actress shouted, the stage darkened again and the intro began to play.