Chapter 177
In order to finalize the title for the new album, everyone was bustling about, and we played the completed sample in front of the music team.
Feeling a strange tension, Isabella, Oh Jin-woo, and James Oh started giving their evaluations after listening.
“It’s definitely good. Back when James was helping out in the early days, it felt really raw, but now I don’t feel that amateurish aspect at all. Your skills have improved a lot.”
“It’s not bad, but, you know, I usually handle the mixing and add my name to it…”
“Jin-woo, there’s no one left to fool with that, so can you dial it down a bit?”
“It’s not fooling! I’m just considering Team Leader Seon…”
“…”
“…Sorry.”
Anyway, judging by the two’s reactions, it seemed the quality was decent.
“What did Composer James Oh think?”
“…”
But James’s reaction seemed a bit off.
“It’s fine. You’ve definitely improved, but…”
Scratching his head, he finally spoke.
“Hmm… I guess it’s too static and conventional of a track. …That isn’t a compliment.”
I felt a pang of disappointment but accepted his opinion.
“Understood. I’ll enhance the quality and come back to you.”
“No, don’t do that. The quality isn’t the problem right now.”
“Then what part is the problem?”
James Oh furrowed his brows and pondered before finally speaking.
“A composer needs to create art. They should take the lead with a mindset of wanting to imprint their unique color onto the world. Team Leader Seon’s previous arrangements and compositions showed that clearly. The reason I became a fan of Team Leader Seon was that the name Seon Taeyang shone distinctly beyond the artist singing the song. But right now, that’s not apparent.”
Isabella listened to the draft sample I made again and said,
“James, honestly, I think it sounds good, but aren’t you being too sentimental about this? I mean, I’m honestly a bit surprised; I knew Team Leader Seon had talent, but I didn’t expect it to reach completion this quickly. This quality is good enough to be a title. That’s something you’ve got to acknowledge.”
“You can’t call it completion if it just replicates the same narrative as everyone else. It has to be unique. That’s the responsibility of someone considered a genius.”
“Then you should point out the areas that need improvement and tell them to fix it. Isn’t that a bit too abstract?”
“That’s something I can’t advise on. That’s solely Team Leader Seon’s duty.”
With a sigh at James Oh’s words, Isabella replied.
Isabella sighed at James Oh’s words and said, “You know, sometimes you come off as irresponsible, right? Right now, the quality of the song Team Leader Seon made is undeniably top-notch. But if you want to apply your own standards, you need to give precise feedback.”
In front of Isabella, James Oh shook his head firmly, as if there was no room for compromise. “If I point it out here, it becomes a James Oh song. What I want to hear is a Seon Taeyang song.”
“So you want me to fix something vague to make it different from others while still keeping the quality at its best?”
“That’s a bit of a slick way to put it, but you’re not wrong.”
“You seriously…”
I stopped an excited Isabella, who was about to get flushed. “Hold on. Isabella, please calm down. I appreciate the concern, but I’m not willing to compromise on quality either. There’s still time. I can either fix it further or prepare a new song.”
“…Will that be okay though?”
Honestly, it wasn’t that okay. This was a product of squeezing out time that wasn’t there, and the deadline was looming if we wanted to keep up the current pace.
I might have to cut songs from the album.
Still, I said, “It’s fine. I can definitely do this.”
*
I found myself just fiddling with the keyboard without actually playing. I judged, “Uh… this is a disaster.”
It’s a disaster. I can’t think of anything.
Looking back, those days when creative ideas flowed easily seem pretty strange now.
Nothing’s coming. I don’t even know what else to do to spark inspiration.
Just tapping randomly on the keyboard led me nowhere.
Time keeps ticking away, and the deadline approaches, but the ideas simply won’t come.
Maybe I’ll just go to the rooftop for some fresh air…
While I was pondering that, I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest.
Ever since Gaeul’s confession, thinking about the rooftop made my heart skip a beat, like something was crawling up my arm with a slight chill.
…The rooftop is a no-go.
Maybe I should just head to the café downstairs? As I was considering this, someone entered through the studio door.
“Team Leader Seon?”
It was Yeoreum.
“Oh, Yeoreum, what’s up?”
“Well, you see….”
I turned my chair to face Yeoreum and asked, “Why? Is there something wrong? Do you need to go home? Or are you tired? There’s no schedule today, so it’s fine to head back early and rest.”
While we were talking, I remembered that Yeoreum had recently gotten her license and was now flying small planes as a hobby.
“…Oh, did you say you were going to fly a small plane? I don’t really know much about that, so I can’t say much. Just drive safely and have fun.”
“I… I have something to say about that.”
“Something to say?”
Yeoreum glanced at me before speaking.
“Would you like to ride with me? The plane?”
“Ride together? In the passenger seat?”
“Yes, I’ll show you the beautiful sky.”
Beautiful sky, huh… Sounds good.
Riding a plane with Yeoreum seemed like it would be a really enjoyable experience for me. James Oh had mentioned that fresh experiences can help when inspiration isn’t flowing, so this would be a nice way to clear my mind.
“Alright, then, shall we hang out for a bit?”
As soon as I agreed, Yeoreum smiled brightly and said,
“Thank you! I’ll make sure you won’t forget this memory.”
*
Waiting for us was Seok Hyun-woo, who had wiped the usual dazed look off his face and spoke more seriously than ever.
“Please take good care of Ms. Yeoreum.”
“…What’s with that? You’re not sending your daughter off to get married. It’s only an hour trip.”
“…”
However, Seok Hyun-woo didn’t lighten up at all; he just bowed his head deeply.
Not knowing how to respond to his awkward demeanor, I simply gave a casual greeting and sent him off.
Despite Seok Hyun-woo’s worries, our flight went smoothly and steadily.
Today’s pilot, Yeoreum, showed no signs of being a beginner who had just gotten her license; she skillfully took off the small plane with confidence.
Impressed by her skills, I said quietly,
“Wow, you seem to have national-level talent when it comes to driving, don’t you? Aren’t you a bit too skilled?”
“Oh, that’s because I fly pretty often during the previous seasons. I don’t have any records, but it feels odd to call myself a beginner.”
“Haha, I guess you must really like flying, having done it so often.”
“More accurately, I’ve always had this urge to soar through the sky.”
“Why?”
Looking at the blue sky, Yeoreum replied.
“I wanted to fly to see Team Leader Seon.”
“…Well, it makes sense given how tough it must’ve been for you away from home. But shouldn’t you mention your parents first?”
“No, the person I wanted to see the most was Team Leader Seon.”
“…”
While I pondered how to respond, Yeoreum kept her gaze straight ahead and casually remarked, as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“Team Leader Seon, I love you.”
“…”
“Will you marry me?”
That couldn’t possibly be taken lightly or misunderstood.
No way would an innocent kid say something like that.
“Isn’t it too early to be talking about marriage? You’re still a high school student, right?”
“Well, how about having a child with me? We can have the wedding later.”
“…Are you trying to socially ruin me?”
Then Yeoreum chuckled softly.
“Haha, well, that would be nice for me. That way, other people won’t eye Team Leader Seon!”
“….”
Though the words were light and calm, the content was anything but.
That was sincere. A serious statement from a girl who was young yet wise enough to make it.
So I had to meet her seriousness in stride.
“I’ll have to decline.”
“….”
“Let’s just remain as manager and artist. That’s what’s best for the company, the colleagues, and the fans, and I want that as well.”
“So, is it alright after my contract ends?”
Familiar words filled my head, and I forced a bitter smile.
“Still, I’ll decline.”
“…Why?”
“Because I don’t see you that way.”
Only the noise of the airplane surrounded us in silence.
In that cruel void, Yeoreum spoke.
“What about Gaeul unni?”
“….”
“Do you see Gaeul unni that way?”
“….”
I realized from her pointed words.
Whether Gaeul had told Yeoreum about our relationship, or she picked up on the cues herself, she had figured it out.
Hiding further was pointless.
I had to be tacky.
To not let sentiments such as lingering feelings or obsession form, I needed to be resolute and foolish.
So I said.
“Yeah, I like Gaeul.”
“….”
“Fortunately, Gaeul accepted my feelings, and we decided to date after the contract ends. So, we can’t have that kind of relationship. I’m sorry.”
“….”
Yeoreum tore her gaze from the sky and turned to look at me.
With intense emotions boiling within, she spoke chillingly.
“That’s a lie.”
Her eyes, staring at me, were devoid of light, as if they had died.
“That’s just a lie, isn’t it?”
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