translation by mourningmoor
Park Juhee’s heart is racing?
The one who joined the Graphstar fandom the latest but fell the hardest, Park Juhee was so devastated by their disbandment that she suffered from severe panic disorder.
Watching her live an emotionally drained life after that, Kang Mina had offered her a piece of advice—more like non-advice.
[You forget love with love. Start a new fandom.]
But Park Juhee couldn’t accept it.
No, she had said that no idol could make her heart race anymore.
In other words, she had developed a so-called "idol immunity."
But now, Park Juhee’s heart was racing? That much at least deserved to be checked out.
Entering the public hall, Kang Mina quietly took her seat in the press section.
Judging by the schedule in hand, it seemed she wasn’t late.
Right now, the rookie girl group ‘Romance Share’ was dancing dazzlingly and singing a sweet song.
The group Park Juhee had mentioned, L.I.T, was next in line.
As Kang Mina rustled through the pages of the program, she glanced at the broadcast staff seating in the front row.
"Huh? Writer Jeong?"
She reached out and tapped the person sitting a row ahead of her.
A short-haired woman wearing sharp horn-rimmed glasses turned around.
"Reporter Kang, you're here?"
Writer Jeong Haeseong.
Currently on a break, but every show she launched had been a massive hit, earning her the nickname "Midas's Touch" in the broadcast industry.
She always included one or two idols in her programs, and those idols inevitably experienced meteoric rises thanks to her influence.
For Kang Mina, who specialized as an idol-exclusive editor, writer Jeong Haeseong was as much a livelihood as the idols themselves.
She had built rapport under the guise of her connection to Graphstar.
And now, Jeong Haeseong has shown up at the M-Start recording site?
"Out hunting?"
"Yeah."
"For the next season of Sigor Boutique?"
Sigor Boutique.
A show created by writer Jeong Haeseong in collaboration with PD Yeon Hojin, it’s a survival reality entertainment program where celebrities tackle all sorts of miscellaneous activities in the countryside.
The name may sound fancy, but it’s essentially a rural corner store where celebrities cook meals together and exchange witty banter.
However, after passing through Jeong Haeseong's hands, it truly exuded the charm of a French boutique.
That subtle disparity struck a massive chord with viewers, and now everyone was eagerly awaiting Season 4.
Since idol singers have always appeared, I figured she must be here to scout one again.
But the response she received was somewhat vague.
"Not exactly... it’s not just for that."
Writer Jeong Haeseong trailed off, narrowing her eyes and scratching lightly at her eyebrow with her fingertip. It seemed like she was about to say something slightly embarrassing.
"There’s someone who inspires me, so I came to see them."
How unexpected.
An idol who inspires Writer Jeong Haeseong?
"Really?"
This might turn into a nice, juicy article if played right.
"Who is it...?"
Before Kang Mina could finish her sentence, Writer Jeong Haeseong suddenly turned forward, motioning with a small flick of her finger.
It was a clear sign to pay attention from this point onward.
'Who could it be for her to act like that?'
Wait, could it be... L.I.T?
* * *
On the M-Start stage, where the pre-recording was taking place, a giant planet appeared, hovering above. Its radiant blue lights gleamed brilliantly, seemingly symbolizing Earth.
Other than that, the stage setup was relatively simple.
It seemed they didn’t have much time to prepare, considering how hurriedly the schedule had been arranged.
Finally, the lights dimmed, and the sound of a guitar filled the air.
It was the intro to <Promise>.
As the lights were projected from behind the stage, the shadows of five men, arranged in an irregular formation, stretched across the otherwise dark stage.
The acoustic guitar sound was joined by electronic guitar and drum beats, and the lighting gradually grew brighter in sync.
Then, the five men appeared, moving to the trendy melody with restrained shoulder movements.
They wore gray suits reminiscent of school uniforms, but they weren't over the top or outdated. On the contrary, they exuded a refined, almost aristocratic image.
And to top it off, each one was a flower boy.
The audience in the stands nodded.
It was a sign that, at the very least, their appearance was being positively evaluated.
But idols of this caliber were a dime a dozen outside this stage, in the waiting room alone—there was a truckload of them.
If they weren’t a little more special, they wouldn’t survive.
This was the harsh reality of the idol world.
Was today just for temporary admiration, something to be discarded afterward? Or would they be something more enduring, something the audience would keep coming back to? Or, would they transcend everything and shine like the stars in the sky?
The people sitting in the stands brought sharper standards to judge these five men.
At that moment, the ones who had only been lightly swaying their shoulders suddenly scattered and formed a line. The main vocalist, now at the center, began the first verse.
As soon as I saw you, I knew. I recognized you at once.
That I’ll wander beside you like fate.
The fate that came to me like a joke, now feels a little scary. (Jaewon)
He still looks young, but his voice was no joke.
His enunciation was clear, and his emotions were overflowing.
But, since he's the main vocalist, it's expected. To earn the title of main vocalist, you have to show this level of ability.
He delivered on the expectations, and people all around were nodding in approval.
For now, it's a pass.
Next, it's the lead vocalist's turn.
The one with graceful dance moves, who had caught the eye, began to sing.
It feels just like that.
A mere satellite orbiting your planet.
Yeah, maybe I'm such a being to you. (Roa)
His dance moves were as graceful as his voice, drawing attention once again.
His face was small, and his body slender.
Overall, he exuded a refined charm.
Then, the rap part suddenly dropped.
How did a wandering star meet you?
The remnants of a soul drifting through the far reaches of the universe.
Meeting you, finally a masterpiece created by the gods. (Siu)
Wow, just by looking at his face, he could probably be an actor.
So I didn't expect much, thinking he was just the team's visual. But I was wrong.
He’s not only handsome but also has an aristocratic vibe, an image that seems better suited for classical music, which was my first shock.
Then came the second shock: the rap he delivered with a soft, flowing voice that was surprisingly rebellious.
Perhaps that contrast turned into an unexpected charm, because somehow, I found myself drawn to him.
And then came the chorus and bridge.
I promise. I’ll stay by your side forever.
I promise. I’ll become your star.
So please, remember too.
That the star called me is watching over you.
You, distant like a star. You, shining from afar.
I can’t reach you. I can’t be with you.
But remember. The promise from that day.
The promise from the day when I was you, and you were me.
Breaking through the hazy dawn,
I’ll come find you. I’ll definitely reach you. I promise.
Promise. (Chorus)
They claimed to be a performance group, but as the choreography became more elaborate, the much-anticipated precision dance moves finally emerged.
Wow.
How much did they practice? The angles of their shoulder movements, the strides they take, all were perfectly synchronized. Even though their heights varied, they managed to jump to the same height.
Is that why the sense of unity in their dance was so impressive that it gave me goosebumps?
This was the moment when the uniqueness of this group, setting them apart from others, finally became apparent.
And finally, it was time for the next act.
In fact, I might have even canceled my leave just to cover this moment.
A figure stretched their arm long and swiftly moved to the center spot.
It was Kang Ichan.
The moment I saw him, I knew. I recognized him at first glance.
You’ll capture everything about me.
Everything I am exists for you. So, you take me too.
Don’t be afraid. (Ichan)
Gasps and exclamations of awe erupted from all around.
Yeah, this is it. This is the one.
His voice is stable enough to be the main vocal.
Moreover, there's a subtle charm that draws people in, deeply infused into his entire voice. It's not just his voice.
He’s only nineteen, but he already has this strange, captivating aura about him. The confidence in his expression, the sensuality in his gaze.
All of this combined makes Kang Ichan stand out in an undeniable way.
And his ability to execute the choreography is excellent.
When it comes to skills, the main dancer stands out much more, but when considering the overall vibe, this one is far more captivating.
But that doesn’t mean he stands out alone.
In a strange way, he fits perfectly into the group, harmonizing with the ensemble.
And then, the final rapper appeared.
We’re all tangled up in each other.
The gravitational pull is no joke.
So don’t drift away. The further you go, the more I’ll have to come closer. (Hanjoon)
The only adult in the team.
Maybe that's why he’s the most visually attractive member.
He’s the tallest, the fittest.
His voice is husky, and his rough rap is top-notch.
While Kang Ichan exudes a sultry, sexy vibe, this one gives off a wild kind of sexiness.
Anyway, he shares the role of maintaining the team’s balance and weight with Kang Ichan, taking charge of the wings in the choreography.
Then, the chorus and synchronized dance came again.
You, distant like a star. You, shining from afar.
I can’t reach you. I can’t be with you.
But remember. The promise from that day.
The promise from the day when I was you, and you were me.
Breaking through the hazy dawn,
I'll find you. I’ll reach you. I promise.
Promise. (Chorus)
The flashy laser lights and synchronized dance came to an end, and the stage darkened once more.
As if returning to the beginning, an acoustic guitar riff played, and only the lights at the back of the stage remained.
The five men became shadows again, fading into the darkness.
And then, cheers erupted from all corners of the stage.
The shadows, which had remained still until the music ended, finally began to move as the lights turned back on.
The five men gathered in the center of the stage.
The moment when the charisma they exuded just moments ago turned into something unexpectedly cute.
Unlike the others, who were already in position, Kang Ichan, who joined last, glanced at the members to his left. Could it be that Kang Ichan is the leader?
It seemed that was the signal.
"Two, three. Hello."
As if they had been waiting for it, the five men raised their right hands and formed a gun shape, bringing it to their left chests.
"We are L.I.T. Please take care of us."
"KYAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!"
With their greeting, a burst of cheers erupted.
It was from a group of about a dozen fans sitting behind the press area.
Then, in the front row, there was Jeong Haesung, the writer.
Oh my, I believe that author-nim is 35 years old this year.
Well, considering my own age, it's not that strange.
For the first time in a while, Kang Mina, feeling excited, rapidly snapped photos with her camera shutter.
It felt like she had returned to being the home master.
One thing was certain: L.I.T wasn’t just another idol group destined to fade into obscurity after a fleeting moment of buzz.
“Park Juhee, your heart’s done it again. You bitch.”