89 – Two Geniuses with Strong Pride (6) Performance practicum class—lessons held in advance for the upcoming event, meant to get students accustomed to the stage.
Among the first-year students attending the class for the first time, a subtle tension had formed.
At the center of it were two students: Jeong Jinhoo and Yoon Suyeon.
Jeong Jinhoo, striking poses here and there in front of the camera set up onstage, looked down at Yoon Suyeon below.
She's only the runner-up at best.
He didn't like her.
Of course, he was the one who had been in the wrong first. He had insulted her family right in front of her. But in the pride fight that followed, what Yoon Suyeon said was unforgivable.
That his singing was better?
If that were true, she would have entered as first place.
Well, as the runner-up, it wasn't like she was untalented. Still, he hated people who didn't know their place. If she was second, then she should act like second—either scramble desperately and pathetically to catch up to first.
"Tsk."
Jeong Jinhoo clicked his tongue loudly, clearly intending for someone to hear it. At the sound, students turned to Yoon Suyeon with expectant looks.
So—how would Yoon Suyeon react?
Among the first-year practical music students, there wasn't anyone who didn't know about Jeong Jinhoo and Yoon Suyeon's argument. A pride fight between first place and second place was irresistible gossip. Some students had even bet chicken, pizza, or drinks on who would win.
But unlike what they expected, Yoon Suyeon showed no reaction at all.
She was staring intently at the phone in her hand.
At that, Im Yeonji, standing beside her, tapped her shoulder.
"Suyeon."
"Ah."
At Im Yeonji's voice, Yoon Suyeon snapped back to her senses and slid her phone into her pocket. Even if it was performance practicum, it was still a class—one led by teachers. Staring blankly at her phone would earn her a scolding.
After putting it away, Yoon Suyeon looked toward the stage. Though the phone was gone, her thoughts were still caught on the KakaoTalk message she had been reading moments earlier.
[What kind of song do you want to sing?]
A message from her older brother, Yoon Hajun.
Remembering it, Yoon Suyeon lightly rubbed her chin.
What kind of song do I want to sing?
She didn't need to think hard about why he had asked. He was probably making the song she would sing at the event. He always did—songs tailored to her, so her talent could shine as brightly as possible.
And she had always thought that was only natural.
"Hoo…"
Yoon Suyeon let out a long breath.
But not anymore.
She wouldn't cling to her brother anymore.
She pulled out her phone and quickly typed a reply.
—A song you can make best, oppa.
Now it was her turn to bring out her brother's talent.
She also wanted to hear a song he made without being bound by anything.
Could she do it?
For an instant, anxiety flickered. Could she—the one who had always only received help—actually help her brother?
Yoon Suyeon shook her head and erased the thought.
No. I can definitely do it.
Ever since she started singing, she had never doubted that she was a genius.
Because her brother had said so.
The brother with talent greater than anyone else had called her a genius—so she was a genius.
And if that was true, then no matter what kind of song he made, she would be able to bring it to life.
And—
Yoon Suyeon lifted her head and looked at Jeong Jinhoo onstage.
She wouldn't lose to him either.
To begin with, she didn't seriously consider Jeong Jinhoo her rival. Call it arrogance. Call it impudence. She didn't care.
Because for Yoon Suyeon, a rival already existed—someone decided long before Jeong Jinhoo.
A rival named Han Goyo.
§ § §
A song I can make best.
I frowned at Suyeon's reply.
What was the song I could make best?
I asked myself, but the answer didn't come easily. There were styles I made often, sure, but—
"This is hard."
Hard—no, way too hard.
Considering the event date, I needed to start soon. There was still time, but I also had to work with Kim Hanol in parallel.
"What's so hard? Don't tell me you're studying for a written exam."
"Have you ever seen me study for that?"
"Uh… um. Hm."
At my answer, Kim Taeyoung trailed off, then laughed.
"Sorry. I said some bullshit."
Don't put it like that. Sure, I barely studied for written tests, but it wasn't like I didn't study at all. I did enough to scrape minimum scores.
"So what's hard?"
"It's nothing big. I need to make the song Suyeon will sing at the event."
"You still haven't made it? You said you'd been preparing for a while."
"I did make one, but I'm saving it for later."
"Ah. So you can step on Jeong Jinhoo at the event?"
"Step on" sounded weird, but the meaning was close enough, so I nodded.
There was also Singer Star. Even back on Star Kingdom, I'd felt it—audition programs had one huge problem: time pressure. Songs didn't appear instantly, and in such short windows, keeping up was brutal.
So I planned to make songs in advance and revise them later. That was why I'd been stockpiling different genres.
"Anyway, I asked Suyeon what kind of song she wants, and she said she wants a song I can make best."
"Then make that."
"You think it's that easy? I don't even know what kind of song I make best."
"How do you not know? If it's the kind you make best, then—"
Kim Taeyoung stopped. After thinking, he said carefully, "Hard."
"Right?"
"If you ask me what your strength is, I'd say storytelling—making songs that carry someone's story. But if you ask what genre that is, that's hard."
"Exactly. I tailor songs to people. I hear their story and make what they can sing best."
Making someone fit a song I made…
Ah. Right.
There was 『Main』—but that came from inspiration.
"Can't you just do it the way you always do—tailored to your sister?"
"I can, but…"
If she was asking for the song I can make best, I felt like I couldn't do it that way. And I couldn't shake what Lee Jiyeon had said before.
"Hoo…"
When I sighed, Kim Taeyoung muttered, "Hard."
"Right?"
After that, I kept agonizing—after classes, in the practice room, at home, on the way back to school.
What is the song I can make best?
No answer.
Should I just make something tailored to Suyeon and call that my best?
It might work.
"What are you stressing over so much?"
A familiar voice cut in. I looked up.
"Ah."
"It's been a while."
Standing there was someone I was genuinely happy to see—Jin Sohyang.
It was the first time since we'd run into each other during Star Kingdom filming.
"Yeah. It's been a while. Are your promotions done?"
"The first round is. We start promoting again next week with our second title track."
She laughed and scratched her cheek.
Right—this album had two title tracks.
"More importantly, I watched Star Kingdom. You were seriously cool. Even my friends keep asking me to introduce them to you."
Exaggeration—at best one or two people. Still, talking with her felt easy. Funny how recognition aside, she was the easiest to talk to.
"So what are you worrying about?"
"If it's okay, yeah."
If she'd worked with me before, she might know my strengths better than I did.
During lunch break, instead of eating, we went to the convenience store. The stares were intense—no surprise. Hwayangyeonhwa was top-tier now.
I had her wait out of sight, bought food, and came back.
"Can an idol eat something like this?"
"The calories and sodium are high, but it's a rest week. Even if my face puffs up, it's fine."
She took a bite, nodded, satisfied.
"I missed this kind of stimulating taste. During promotions it's only salads, sandwiches, or fan lunch boxes."
"So what's your worry?"
"What kind of song I can make best."
"Hm. Do you have a song you're most confident showing anyone?"
"I've got a few."
『Fault』, 『Come Home』, 『Dacapo』…
"Then wouldn't that be it?"
"Is it that simple?"
"That's usually how it works."
She paused, then added, "Or—make a song about yourself."
"A song about me?"
"You haven't really done that."
Almost never.
"So try it. What you can express best isn't someone else's story—it's your own."
"Oh."
That sounded plausible.
"Well, just try. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work."
She smiled. I nodded.
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Then she exhaled lightly and said, "And now I have a concern too. Will you listen?"
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