The Heroes

Good For You

The Heroes bask in the newfound fame, their social media following and popularity growing steadily since their first gig. One day, they gather in Jooyeon's garage, where they receive an unexpected invitation on his phone. "It looks a bit sketchy," Jake comments, eyeing the invitation warily. "Seems legit," Ni-ki retorts, studying the details intently. "Anything seems legit to you," Jooyeon teases, and Ni-ki playfully huffs.

"We should take it, any opportunity is an opportunity," Ni-ki asserts, and Jooyeon nods in agreement. Eventually, Jake is convinced, and he joins in, "It's in three days, we can do this, right?" Ni-ki confidently nods, "Everything's ready, all the public needs is us."

"You know, you're good at inspiring people," Jooyeon comments, tilting his head curiously. Ni-ki smiles in acknowledgment. With their decision made, they rise from their spots and begin to practice, channeling their passion and excitement into their music. The garage fills with the sound of their harmonies as they prepare for the upcoming event while enjoying the camaraderie they've built as a band.

🎸🪗🥁

Jooyeon slumps down, feeling exhausted, and the others follow suit. "Something weird happened at our gig," Jooyeon shares, staring at the ceiling. Jake looks at him attentively, asking, "What happened?" Jooyeon explains, "A boy bought me a drink and asked if our song was about anyone." Ni-ki fiddles with his drumsticks, while Jake offers a suggestion, "Maybe he had a crush on you." Ni-ki snorts "woah" He playfully teases Jooyeon, who flips him off in response.

Jooyeon then sighs, "It didn't seem that way." Jake then asks for a description of the boy, and Jooyeon recalls, "He was pale, about yay tall, with dark hair and moles on his face." Ni-ki looks up with surprise, saying, "I think I know who you're talking about." The others look at him, intrigued. "Was he really quiet?" Ni-ki asks, and Jooyeon nods, confirming the boy's reserved demeanor. "His name is Sunghoon," Jooyeon reveals.

"Suits him," Jake comments, and Ni-ki agrees with a nod. "I saw him too, front row. I bet he just likes you," Jake adds. "I find that hard to believe" Ni-Ki smiled to which Jooyeon scoffs, throwing a pillow at Ni-ki's face. Ni-ki is caught off guard, falling back on his back, and the boys burst into laughter.

🎸

Jooyeon waves goodbye to Jake, who left shortly after Ni-ki. He opens his phone, deciding to post about their upcoming gig and encouraging people to attend. Afterward, he heads upstairs for a relaxing hot shower, allowing the water to soothe his muscles and wet his hair. After getting dressed, Jooyeon returns downstairs and finds his mom and dad quietly having dinner.

"Oh, look who decided to join us," his mom says sweetly, opening her arms for a hug. Jooyeon smiles, kissing her cheek before taking a seat. His father remains stern and silent throughout the meal. "So I've been hearing about your band friends. Are they treating you well?" his mom asks curiously, clearly proud of her son's achievements.

A scoff interrupts Jooyeon's response, and his father interjects, "Don't entertain him with that nonsense. It'll only encourage him more." Jooyeon frowns at his father's dismissive attitude. "What? Can't I congratulate my son?" his mom says, gesturing to Jooyeon's uncomfortable face.

"Actually, Mom, we just had a gig recently, and we gained a lot of fans," Jooyeon shares proudly. His mom coos and pinches his cheeks with her long fingernails, while his father looks visibly angry. Jooyeon tries to ignore his father's disapproval and enjoy his mom's support.

Jooyeon excused himself early and went upstairs, where he decided to lay on his bed and stare at the ceiling until he fell asleep. When he woke up, he yawned and made his way downstairs to the garage, hoisting up the door to let the morning sun creep in. Today, he didn't feel like practicing, so he sat on the old couch and watched the neighbors walking their dogs or going about their day.