untitled ; 2024

price of fame

The frenetic pace of life as an idol and an actress had become an overwhelming whirlwind for Hyun-jeong. The pressure of juggling both careers was beginning to take its toll. Between filming for dramas, promoting Super Junior, and appearing on variety shows, her schedule seemed never-ending.

On a crisp autumn afternoon, after a gruelling day of filming for her latest drama, Hyun-jeong hurriedly made her way to the practice room. The hallway buzzed with the energy of Super Junior's members as they prepared for their next performance. Today was supposed to be a rehearsal for their upcoming music show, but the atmosphere was tense, charged with an unspoken frustration.

As Hyun-jeong entered the practice room, she was greeted by Sungmin and Ryeowook, who were huddled together discussing choreography. Sungmin's face lit up when he saw her. "Hyun-jeong, you're just in time! We're going over the new routine."

Hyun-jeong forced a smile, her exhaustion barely concealed. "I'll catch up with you guys in a moment. I need to talk to the manager oppa first."

Young-joon was in his office, poring over schedules and documents. His eyes flickered up as Hyun-jeong entered, looking visibly worn out. "Hyun-jeong, how's the drama shooting going?"

"It's going well," she replied, though her voice lacked enthusiasm. "I'm just a bit swamped. I need to talk about the schedule—maybe we can shift some practice sessions?"

Young-joon's face tightened with concern. "I understand you're busy, but we have to maintain our commitments. The upcoming performance is crucial, and we need every member to be at their best."

Hyun-jeong nodded, though her shoulders sagged slightly. "I'll do my best. I just don't want to fall behind."

As she left Young-joon's office, she noticed the mood among the members was far from upbeat. Eunhyuk and Heechul were engaged in a heated argument near the mirror, their voices raised in frustration.

"Hyung, you're not listening! We've been over this," Eunhyuk snapped, his frustration evident. "The moves need to be tighter."

Heechul crossed his arms, his expression one of irritation. "I'm doing my best, but it's hard when you keep changing things at the last minute."

The argument drew the attention of the other members, and a tense silence fell over the room. Hyun-jeong approached them cautiously. "Is everything okay?"

Eunhyuk looked over at her, his frustration momentarily forgotten. "We're just having some issues with the choreography. It's been a rough day."

Hyun-jeong sighed, feeling the weight of her own fatigue pressing down on her. "I get it. I've been juggling drama shoots and practices, and it's been really tough."

Heechul's eyes softened slightly. "We're all under a lot of pressure. Maybe we can work through this together."

Just then, the door burst open, and Young-joon walked in, his expression serious. "I need to talk to everyone. We're facing some issues with the schedule and need to adjust our practice times."

The members exchanged uneasy glances. Young-joon continued, "I know you're all working hard, but we need to find a balance. If you're feeling overwhelmed, let's talk about it openly and find solutions."

As Young-joon spoke, Hyun-jeong's phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced at it briefly—a message from her drama's director asking her to come in early for an additional scene. The timing could not have been worse.

"Sorry, I need to take this," Hyun-jeong said, stepping away to take the call. The conversation was brief, but it added to her mounting stress.

When she returned, the argument had calmed down, but the tension lingered. Kibum approached her, his expression filled with concern. "Hyun-jeong, are you okay? You look exhausted."

Hyun-jeong managed a weary smile. "I'm fine. Just trying to keep up with everything."

The members continued their practice, but the atmosphere was subdued. The earlier argument had left a mark, and the effort to maintain a positive spirit was palpable. As the hours dragged on, exhaustion was evident on everyone's faces.

Finally, practice ended, and the members dispersed. Hyun-jeong was about to head out when she noticed Donghae waiting by the door. "Hyun-jeong, can we talk for a minute?"

She nodded, and they moved to a quieter area. Donghae's concern was evident. "You've been running yourself ragged lately. I know we're all busy, but you need to take care of yourself."

Hyun-jeong looked down, her fatigue catching up with her. "I just feel like there's so much to juggle. I don't want to let anyone down."

Donghae studied her for a moment, then spoke with quiet sincerity. "You're burning the candle at both ends, Hyun-jeong. It's not easy for any of us, but you're taking on more than most. Let's tackle this together. We're all in this."

Hyun-jeong offered a small, grateful smile. "I appreciate that. It's just hard to keep up with everything. Thanks for reminding me I'm not alone."

As the day wound down, Hyun-jeong headed home, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The balancing act between her dual careers was taking its toll, and the arguments and pressures from practice only added to her stress. Yet, moments like Donghae's reassurance were a reminder of the support she had.

At home, Hyun-jeong collapsed onto her bed, exhaustion settling over her. The life of an idol and an actress was demanding, but she was determined to find a way to manage it all. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, preparing for another busy day ahead.

The next morning, the tension from the previous day still lingered. The members gathered for another round of practice, their interactions a mix of strained smiles and focused energy. Young-joon kept a watchful eye, ensuring that everyone was staying on track.

As practice progressed, a brief, unexpected power outage caused a moment of confusion. Some of the members stumbled around in the dim light, their usual routines disrupted. It was a small setback, but it added to the mounting frustrations.

In the midst of the chaos, a minor argument broke out between Siwon and Kangin over the rearrangement of the practice space. Their voices rose in frustration, but it was quickly diffused with the help of Young-joon, who stepped in to mediate.

As the day drew to a close, the atmosphere in the practice room was a mix of relief and lingering stress. The trainees knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but they were determined to support each other through the ups and downs.

Hyun-jeong took a deep breath as she walked out of the practice room, her shoulders feeling the weight of the day's conflicts and her packed schedule. The arguments with the members and the exhaustion from juggling her idol and acting commitments had taken their toll, but she couldn't ignore the dedication and resilience shown by her teammates.

As she left the building, she glanced back at the practice room with a sense of grim satisfaction. Despite everything, she felt more aware of her role within the group and her ability to handle the pressures. The challenges ahead were clear, but she was ready to face them head-on, knowing she had a solid team behind her and a focus on what needed to be done.