RAP STAR

Chapter 57 [verse 9. Twisted World, END]

"..."

Tense silence hung between Sang-hyun and Cha In-hyun. They stood facing each other, disregarding the scorching sun, sweat trickling down their backs.

As time passed and Cha In-hyun remained silent, Sang-hyun sighed and spoke up.

"I can... I can still sing the song. But the World Wide Indie Fest is the end."

"...?"

"Don't register the song. Don't register it with the Copyright Association either. If you do, it'll pass as if nothing happened."

Sang-hyun spoke firmly. Cha In-hyun, who had been half bowing his head, raised it to glare at Sang-hyun.

"It's already over."

"There's still enough time to undo it."

"No, I've already sold 'One' to the agency. You know that, right? It's a major deal. 'One' will be included as the title track of the new album by a major artist."

Sang-hyun felt his last hope crumble at Cha In-hyun's words.

The major artist is one of the top singers in Korea. Recently, he has been focusing on acting, but he started as a singer and will end as one.

"Will your name be credited as the composer and lyricist?"

Cha In-hyun's expression changed at the mention of 'you,' but he answered calmly.

"Yes."

"Don't you have any musical integrity?"

"No."

"And yet you call yourself a musician-!"

"Don't be ridiculous! What's that? Does integrity pay for you? Does it give you food? Pay for your father's surgery? I can do something for my mother who worked 14 hours a day in a restaurant to support me while I preserved my integrity!"

"But... But you felt guilty, didn't you? That's why you avoided me, and you looked relieved when you were eliminated in the semifinals."

"...No."

Cha In-hyun discarded the last piece of conscience in his heart.

Yeah, there's no need to persuade. There's no need for any excuses. I'm already a bad person.

But Cha In-hyun was greatly shocked by Sang-hyun's following words.

"There was a rapper. A rapper who never saw his father's face. And his mother was always sick since he was young. But to raise his child, she had to work with her sick body. It was a terribly poor house, but the rapper really wanted to do music. So he dropped out of high school to pursue music."

"What are you talking about?"

"That's the story of the original artist of the song you stole under the name 'One.'"

"What?"

"That song isn't mine. It's a song filled with the last hope of a musician. I just happened to hear it and sang it at the hospital. And you stole it. Do you understand what I'm saying? You stole someone's future!"

"W-What rapper was that?"

Cha In-hyun couldn't answer immediately. If he said it was Kallip, he didn't know what would happen. If Cha In-hyun went to Kallip and asked about the song, Kallip would surely say it wasn't his.

Unable to answer, Cha In-hyun bit his lip and turned away.

"Whether your words are right or wrong doesn't matter. I'm not a saint; I'm just trying to support my family."