The stage ended after I nervously waited to meet the leader of Python, who might be another regressor.
“Wow….”
“…….”
There was a brief silence in the waiting room.
Only then did I realize the atmosphere inside the waiting room.
Our Rookies are outstanding.
We performed really well on this music show stage, too.
But compared to Python’s stage right now… I couldn’t confidently say our performance excelled.
That much…the performance of Python was impressive.
The members felt a sense of urgency about that fact.
Thud.
“Alright, Rookies, it’s time to move.”
At that moment, a staff member entered the waiting room to inform us that it was time to head to the stage.
“…Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
We got up and headed back towards the stage.
It could be the moment when our Rookies might set a record as the first girl group to take 1st place in their debut week of a music show.
But for some reason, the atmosphere felt more down than expected.
Rustle.
“Wow, there are really a lot of people…”
“Right?”
I hadn’t seen so many idols gathered since Na Ah Ah.
“Hey, long time no see.”
“Wow, how long has it been? I listened to your track.”
In the corridor moving to the stage for the ranking announcement, countless idols were chattering away with friendly faces.
Of course, there was no one from Rookies who we knew.
Among them…
“Oh…?”
“It’s the Na Ah Ah kids…”
“I heard they might take 1st place this time?”
Some seemed eager to talk to us upon noticing, but in the end, no one approached.
So we quietly ascended the stage.
“Waaah—!!!”
As we stepped on stage, fans of various idols greeted us, including many waving pink light sticks for Rookies.
Fans who came to see the recording early in the morning had still held their ground.
“Guys, let’s smile now.”
“Yes!”
Having endured 24-hour camera hell at Na Ah Ah, we had become experts at showing facial expressions in front of the camera.
I, too, was able to manage a small smile instead of an expressionless face in front of the camera.
All the members of Rookies, including myself, desperately smiled at the camera and fans, wiping away the anxious feelings we had after watching Python’s performance.
Meanwhile, I searched for the leader of Python in a fervent gaze.
‘There she is.’
And while I found the Python members…
‘Ugh, there are too many people in between…’
I couldn’t open the status window due to the idols in between us.
Reluctantly, I decided to wait until after the 1st place announcement to check them out and turned my body forward.
At that moment, the MC began the 1st place announcement.
[Alright, now for this week’s ‘Music Boom,’ we’re down to just the 1st place announcement! Let’s see the nominees!]
Boom.
As the MC progressed, the top candidates appeared one by one on the monitor.
First up was a famous ballad singer.
While they were not an idol, they were a force to be reckoned with after consistently being a sound powerhouse for the last decade.
And the second nominee…
Boom.
[That time, our Black Love – Black Night]
“Waaah—!!!”
“Gyaaa—!!!”
Currently, Black Night, YW’s flagship boy group, had a huge roar erupting the audience as their name appeared on the screen.
‘They were probably 1st until last week.’
They could be considered the most formidable 1st place candidate.
But it had been a while since “That time, our Black Love” was released.
If they had been at their peak yet, they would have easily swept it, but now, it was quite a competitive situation.
And the final candidate, of course…
[Secret Girl – Rookies]
“Waaah—!!!”
“Rookies—!!!!!!!!”
“Please—!!!”
It was us, Rookies.
When our name appeared, a vigorous cheer rang out, sounding almost as loud as Black Night’s fanfare.
For a rookie girl group to match the cheers of the top boy group from the three major agencies…
It was truly an unprecedented occurrence.
Amidst the heated competition, the tension in the air peaked.
[Now, I will announce the 1st place among these three candidates!]
[We’re all anxious to find out who is 1st, so let’s check it out together!]
Swish!
With the flick of the MC’s hand, scores in various categories like digital music and albums started to rocket up rapidly.
There was so much going on that I could hardly comprehend what was happening.
Swish!
But the scoreboard continued to climb without waiting for my eyes to catch up…
Boom.
Finally, when the scores stopped and one group’s name appeared on the screen, I couldn’t help but gasp.
[Rookies – Secret Girl]
1st place.
We were 1st!
Boom!
[Congratulations! The 1st place for Music Boom’s 3rd week of June is Rookies’ [Secret Girl]!]
“Waaah—!!!”
It was so overwhelming; fireworks exploded and a deafening cheer erupted before I could comprehend the situation.
The 1st place I had imagined so many times during our debut week had actually happened, leaving me and the other members stunned with dazed expressions.
And…
Buzz.
That was broadcast live on camera.
Meanwhile, the microphone was passed to me, the leader of Rookies.
[Alright, Rookies, please share your thoughts!]
It was time to give our 1st place remarks.
“…Uh, um…”
I thought my heart would swell with emotion after getting our first place, just like when I won at Na Ah Ah, but in reality, it didn’t feel that way.
In fact, I felt so disoriented that I had no idea what to say.
“T-thank you…”
“…….”
As a terse response came out, the MC looked perplexed.
[…Is that it?]
“Oh, no…! It’s not the end…! I-I’m thankful… and more thankful… Um…”
“Wahahaha—!”
The audience erupted into laughter at my repetitive gratefulness, feeling like my head was spinning.
I was worried the atmosphere would become awkward because of me, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Still, thinking I couldn’t let it end like this, Yoo Seol quickly grabbed the mic.
“To be specific, we sincerely love all the fans who made it possible for us to be here. Thank you to all the staff, especially Director Jeong, Producer Han Si-woo, Manager Oppa, and the coordinators! We’ll work hard to show you even better sides of us!”
“Waaah—!”
Right after Yoo Seol, the actual leader, concluded her eloquent remarks…
♪♬♬-!!
The intro of our [Secret Girl] played for the encore live celebration.
Just a moment ago, it had been so crazy, but as the melody of [Secret Girl] flowed, I immediately felt a sense of calm.
“Oh my, how could you say it like that!”
“I knew you’d handle it like this.”
“Our leader is such a troublemaker.”
I exchanged words with Yoo Seol, receiving the mic from the staff.
The other members also grabbed their mics, finally brightening up and gathering together.
“Girls, we’re 1st! 1st!”
“1st right after debut!”
“Hey, don’t get too excited. The fans are still here, so let’s do a good encore, okay?”
“Yes—!”
And so, we began the encore with light but most joyful hearts.
It felt good.
It felt familiar.
Before long, I realized why this feeling felt familiar.
‘It’s the feeling I had when Na Ah Ah ranked 1st at the announcement…’
No, it felt even better than that.
Back then, I ranked 1st among the contestants, but now I ranked 1st among idols.
Being 1st is indeed a wonderful feeling.
Then, at that moment…
Whoosh.
“……!”
A discomfort crept into my soaring joy.
I turned my head toward the source of that discomfort, and there…
Smile.
The leader of Python, who had been leaving the stage with a faint smile as she looked at me, was there.
Whisper.
As soon as she saw me, she pointed beneath the stage with her eyes.
I understood the meaning of that gesture right away.
Let’s meet underneath the stage.
That surely meant something like that.
I nodded slightly, realizing.
‘After all, they’re aware of me, too.’
Then how do they see me over there? What do they think of me?
…Is that person my ally or my enemy?
With a somewhat complicated mindset, I finished the encore stage.
“Waaah—!”
“Gyaah—!”
“I love you—!!!”
After finishing our stage, our Rookies fans shook their light sticks and screamed from the audience.
In the tumult of the cheers, my tangled thoughts seemed to clear a bit.
I then smiled again.
‘Right, I’ll think about work later.’
Let’s enjoy the moment now.
“Thank you! Really, thank you!”
I waved my hands at the fans after the stage ended.
Our Rookies’ first music show ended on a high note with 1st place.
As soon as we finished the encore, we returned to the waiting room and began preparing to leave.
The music show wasn’t just ending today.
We had consecutive music shows until this Sunday.
Since we had to record again early tomorrow, we had to move quickly to rest even a bit.
“Alright, let’s go kids!”
“Yes!”
Just when we were about to leave the waiting room led by our manager Oppa…
“…Huh.”
A group of figures was spotted at the end of the hallway.
…It was the members of Python and their staff.
At that, the expressions of our Rookies members briefly stiffened.
We were conscious of them because of their stage earlier.
Noticing that we were looking, they began to watch us as well.
“……”
“……”
However, since there was no connection or friendship between Rookies and Python, no one made the first move to speak despite our eyes meeting.
“…Guys, let’s pass quietly.”
“…Okay.”
Just as we were trying to quietly pass by them…
“I saw Na Ah Ah well.”
“…!”
The Python side spoke to us first as we were about to walk away.
And the person was…
“And congratulations on 1st place.”
Of course, it was the leader of Python, who gestured earlier to meet me below the stage.
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