The Second Melody - Season 1, Episode 11
[SCENE START]
INT. ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HALLWAY - DAY
Hyun-woo stands in the polished, modern hallway of the entertainment company. Everything is the same as he remembers. The sleek walls, the posters of famous idols, the echo of music from practice rooms. He sees trainees, young and full of hope, and he feels like an old man among them.
He checks his watch. He's early. He forces himself to walk with a slight hesitation, trying to act like a typical nervous newcomer. He passes by the dance studio where he spent countless hours, and he sees a group of trainees practicing. He knows the routine, every step, every beat. It's hard to watch without jumping in.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
INT. ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Hyun-woo sits across from MANAGER PARK. The manager is looking at him with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
MANAGER PARK You're a bit of an anomaly, Hyun-woo. Most trainees your age have already been with a company for years. You have a raw talent, but you're a bit... unpolished.
Hyun-woo nods, playing his part.
HYUN-WOO I know, sir. I'll work hard to catch up.
Manager Park smiles, a flicker of something in his eyes. He introduces Hyun-woo to his new groupmates: SEUNG-HO, a kind-eyed vocalist, and MIN-SU, a loud, confident rapper. The three exchange brief introductions.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
INT. PRACTICE ROOM - LATER
The three new groupmates are in a practice room. Seung-ho and Min-su are a bit skeptical of Hyun-woo.
MIN-SU (To Hyun-woo) So, you just showed up one day and got a contract? Sounds like a drama.
Hyun-woo smiles faintly, an irony only he understands.
HYUN-WOO Something like that.
They begin to practice a song. Hyun-woo forces himself to make small, deliberate mistakes, to stumble on a dance move, to get a lyric wrong. He knows the routine perfectly, but he can't show it.
Suddenly, Min-su's phone buzzes. He looks at it, and his face goes pale.
MIN-SU (Muttering to himself) No way. They already...
He shows Seung-ho the phone. A news article is open, with a picture of a new boy group. The headline reads: "NOVA ENTERTAINMENT'S NEW GROUP, 'CHRONOS,' TO DEBUT NEXT MONTH." The leader of the group is Jung Min-jun.
The two look at Hyun-woo, their faces a mix of surprise and concern. The rivalry has begun.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
INT. PRACTICE ROOM - NIGHT
Hyun-woo is alone in the practice room. He's tired, but the news about Min-jun has given him a new sense of urgency. He sits on the floor, takes out his old guitar, and begins to strum a familiar melody. It's a song he wrote in his past life. He sings quietly, the raw emotion of the lyrics filling the silent room.
HYUN-WOO (Singing) The lights went out, a silent fall...
He is so focused he doesn't hear the door open. A senior idol, a soloist named EUN-JIN, stands in the doorway, a thoughtful expression on her face. She recognizes the song, a song that was never released. She knows who wrote it.
Hyun-woo finishes the song, his eyes closed. When he opens them, he sees Eun-jin looking at him, a deep, knowing look in her eyes. The episode ends on this cliffhanger, hinting at the connection she has to his past life.
[SCENE END]