RCSSS Chapter 18

༺ Requesting Cloud Support from a Shooting Star – 18 ༻

 

  Hee-wook always radiated light. Kyung Seo thought that the source of this light lay in Hee-wook’s ‘certainty.’

 

  Hee-wook, the team’s main vocalist, sang the chorus of every track on the album. When looking at the part distribution chart, Hee-wook’s portion was always the largest. Although there were some fans who complained, most were satisfied.

 

  Well, Sung Hee-wook did a good job. He managed both low and high notes effortlessly, and despite having a strong vocal color, it was never annoying or overly conspicuous among the members.

 

  Hee-wook knew this fact very well. He always had confidence in his ability, and in his profession as an idol.

 

  While fascinated by his sparkling eyes, Kyung Seo of the past constantly felt an inexplicable shadow cast over part of his heart. It felt happy at times, but also occasionally melancholy.

 

  The identity of this gloomy shade was realized one day when Kyung Seo asked Hee-wook a question at a fan signing event.

 

  “Do you have any questions for me?”

 

  It was a question thrown without much thought. Kyung Seo was curious about what Hee-wook thought of him. After finishing the signing quickly, Hee-wook lifted his head as if in good timing.

 

  “I do! What’s your dream, Yu-kyung?”

 

  “My dream?”

 

  At the returning question, Kyung Seo was taken aback and swallowed. It would have been a question a typical student attending school would be tired of hearing, but Kyung Seo, who was homeschooling, had no immunity to such meaningful queries.

 

  A dream. He muttered the heavy single word to himself. A small amount of trapped air inside his mouth seemed to press down heavily on each tooth.

 

  “I don’t really have one.”

 

  “Really?”

 

  His throat was parched. The more he cheered and liked Hee-wook, the more he understood the nature of the shadow that was settling in his heart.

 

  It was envy. Standing firmly on a chosen path and running towards that dream, the ‘adult’ Hee-wook was entirely different from himself. Sung Hee-wook under the sun, Yu-kyung Seo in the shade. A distant object of longing that could never be reached, no matter how far he stretched his arms.

 

  Kyung Seo clenched and unclenched his fist under the desk. Hee-wook tilted his head, puzzled, looking at the troubled Kyung Seo.

 

  “I think Yu-kyung could do well in the entertainment industry.”

 

  At those words, casually dropped, Kyung Seo’s head snapped up in surprise.

 

  “A celebrity? Me?”

 

  “Yeah, like a model or something.”

 

  Kyung Seo blinked his eyes slowly. For a moment, he had the illusion of flashes popping in front of his eyes. Hee-wook wouldn’t know anything about his past, but it felt as if his memories had been read.

 

  “When I was young, people told me to try modeling. I did it a few times… actually tried it. Like commercial shoots.”

 

  “Oh, really? You’re still young, so when you were even younger?”

 

  “Yes.”

 

  “Amazing! A kids’ model.”

 

  Hee-wook exclaimed in genuine admiration. Kyung Seo felt the urge to leap up and run away from the spot. He could not face him and instead lowered his gaze to the road.

 

  “But I decided not to do it because I wasn’t confident.”

 

  Kyung Seo’s eyes widened as he recalled. His mother’s eyes, his father’s eyes, the cameraman’s eyes, the editor’s eyes, the marketer’s eyes.

 

  All eyes were smiling. People cheering for a better Kyung Seo than the one he knew himself to be. As usual, he looked into the camera lens, but suddenly his legs went weak. He felt nauseated, his pupils shaking uncontrollably. He thought that he never wanted to stand in this place again.

 

  “If you don’t meet adults’ expectations, it’s… no, it’s embarrassing.”

 

  Kyung Seo unwittingly began to say “it’s shameful,” but quickly changed his expression. He regretted everything after he finished speaking. He regretted ruining the mood, and even telling a story he didn’t have to. While he was fumbling with his fingers, feeling defeated, Hee-wook, who had been quiet all along, opened his mouth.

 

  “That’s not what’s important. What’s important is whether it’s something that makes Yu-kyung happy and proud.”

 

  When their eyes met, Hee-wook smiled broadly.

 

  “And you don’t have to worry about what others think. Even if people are disappointed, you can make up for it next time. Before my debut, I disappointed many people around me, but after debuting safely, they all patted me on the back.”

 

  His slightly furrowed brows and awkwardly raised lips looked sheepish. Hee-wook opened the pen cap and scribbled something more on the signed page.

 

  “I think our Yu-kyung can do well? There’s no need to back down for no reason. Don’t give up, and try it once.”

 

  Hee-wook handed the album back to Kyung Seo. Kyung Seo blankly stared at Hee-wook’s face. He showed his white teeth and smiled brightly.

 

  “I’ll support you.”

 

  When he returned to his seat and checked the page, he saw four big characters written: “You can do it!”

 

  He felt nauseous. He didn’t feel like throwing up, but something seemed to be sprouting inside him, tickling him here and there in his chest.

 

  Indeed, that seed finally sprouted and grew, keeping Kyung Seo in that place. Hee-wook might have forgotten that conversation, but Kyung Seo remembered it clearly. Hee-wook’s tender words were always with him at the beginning of every step he took.

 

  ＊＊＊

 

  It was so nice to hear Hee-wook’s song after a while, and not just an old song played over and over, but a newly updated one, that it almost brought tears to his eyes.

 

  He first listened with his mouth tightly shut, in case his breathing would disturb the sound, then turned up the volume and listened again, and finally, on the third listen, came to his senses and pressed the heart.

 

  He had never properly listened to the ballad songs that stayed in the upper ranks of the music charts since they were all not to his taste, but when appreciated in Hee-wook’s voice, there was no song that wasn’t a masterpiece.

 

  Kyung Seo, who had barely calmed his mind, accessed the blue new icon’s SNS. When he refreshed the timeline, a welcome nickname appeared.

 

  Cinnamon @woogieloversclub

 

  Ballad Remix _ Cover by. Seong Hee-wook mp3 file sharing

 

  Cover O Lyrics O

 

#HeeWook #SungHeeWook

 

  9 retweets 13 likes

 

  First, Kyung Seo clicked on the link to start downloading the song and then carefully replied. The girl using the nickname “Cinnamon” was someone who became a fan on Two Planet around the time Kyung Seo stopped his offline fan activities, and she was still one of the few fans supporting Hee-wook.

 

  Seo-Yu @HW_YK00

 

  @woogieloversclub Cinnamon, long time no seeㅠㅠ Thank you for sharing.. I’ll take it well♥♥♥

 

  Kyung Seo’s dear comrade replied with a gif of Hee-wook giving a thumbs-up. After clicking a heart on the reply, Kyung Seo set the shared song from Cinnamon to repeat play.

 

  While listening to the song, he went back to Hee-wook’s feed intending to leave a comment, but a new post had appeared in the meantime. Kyung Seo gasped, covering his mouth with his hand.

 

  hhwoogie_

 

  The people I think of when something good happens

 

  That’s my fans

 

  #MissYou #LoveMyFans

 

  It was familiar clothing. It was what Hee-wook had worn when he followed Eun-Seong to the audition venue. It seemed like it was taken inside the car on the way home.

 

  Perhaps feeling that it was premature to announce his appearance in a drama, he had vaguely referred to it as “something good,” which was adorable. However, it was clear that he was bursting to tell.

 

  At the same time as understanding his feelings, I was going crazy with my mouth twitching. I wanted to spread the rumor around the neighborhood. When I returned to the blue SNS, sure enough, Cinnamon was in a frenzy.

 

  Cinnamon @woogieloversclub

 

  Gasp??? Hee-wook’s good news???? What is it?ㅠㅠ I’m so curiousㅠㅠ

 

  Cinnamon @woogieloversclub

 

  Is it something we’ll see again, my son?

 

  Cinnamon @woogieloversclub

 

  Someone wake me up when the good news that can knock anyone out is revealedㅠ

 

  Seo-Yu @HW_YK00

 

  I’m really curious what the good news is…

 

  Kyung Seo momentarily stopped his hands and cleared his throat unnecessarily, as if someone was watching.

 

  Seo-Yu @HW_YK00

 

  I heard that there was a big drama audition recently… perhaps?

 

  ⤷ Cinnamon @woogieloversclub

 

  @HW_YK00 Ah; surely it’s not actingㅠ

 

  Kyung Seo’s heart sank at Cinnamon’s immediate reply. It was the reaction he had expected. After all, the news that the fans, including himself, had been waiting for was not related to acting. Kyung Seo hesitated before replying.

 

  Seo-Yu @HW_YK00

 

  @woogieloversclub ㅠㅠI’m not sure;; But I think I’d be happy to see anything at this pointㅠ It doesn’t seem like he’s giving up on music considering he uploaded a song. Whatever he does, I plan to support himㅠ

 

  ⤷ Cinnamon @woogieloversclub

 

  @HW_YK00 ㅠ True, that’s how it is.. I miss him so much… Let Hee-Wook do everything he wants to do.. including music, everything…

 

  It seemed that she felt the same way as he did. Kyung Seo closed the SNS window with a sigh of relief. Hee-wook’s song was still playing. He closed his eyes, leaving the screen off.

 

  “Are you going to keep listening to that?”

 

  Manager Woo-Jin asked in a disgruntled tone. Kyung Seo nodded firmly.

 

  “I will.”

 

  “Yeah……”

 

  Though Woo-Jin’s voice sounded somehow tired, Kyung Seo paid no attention. He listened to it in the car, and he kept playing it even after he got home. He listened to Hee-wook’s song endlessly until he had memorized every single word of the lyrics.

 

  The next day, Kyung Seo headed to the script reading for “Dive into you.” It was a meeting attended by the main and supporting actors.

 

  The first script reading, conducted with only the main and supporting actors, was more about getting familiar with each other’s faces and exchanging greetings rather than reading lines. Kyung Seo appeared right on time as promised. The other actors had already arrived, so he was the last one.

 

  “The protagonist makes his appearance last, huh?”

 

  Everyone stood up to greet Kyung Seo. There was Hye-jin, who played the female lead Sae-byul; Dong-hoon and Eun-sung, who were appearing as members of the idol group ‘Paint’ alongside Kyung Seo; and Hyung-Kyun, a musical actor affiliated with JM Entertainment, involved in the drama production. A few middle-aged actors were also present.

 

  “Hello.”

 

  After looking around at the familiar faces, Kyung Seo gave a slight nod and plumped down next to the director. Everyone seemed to regard him with a certain trepidation, as there was nothing humble about him, but Kyung Seo did not care.

 

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