Hanlim Multi Arts School; A unique, peaceful, and so-they-say perfect place for aspiring, talented artists.
It is a place where diversity is united by one interest and dream; to be part of the growing fame that the kpop industry has started. A plac...
Nagdadalawang isip kung magrereply, tatawag o hihintayin ko nalang syang magreply. She always updates me, she has to.
I met her when we were younger. Both of us grew up in this label. We saw how it grew and dreamt to be one day become a pop sensation.
"Haruto Watanabe?" Tugon nang production manager habang nakatingin sa listahan nya. "Proceed na sa recording studio please"
"Ne..." I took a glance, then back to my phone. One leg was shaking in anxiety. Ba't di pa nagrereply si Seol?
"Palli!"(Faster)
"Ne!" Dali dali akong napatayo. Napalunok nakatutok parin sa cp. Binaba ko yun at bumuntong hininga bago tuluyang naglakad papasok sa studio.
Ilang runs lang ang ginawa namin. Backup vocals lang para sa bagong production. Again, I was a big part of another best-selling album to be released.
I remember the first time I stepped in this studio. I was 9. Hoping to be as big as Kang Yoongi himself. But there was a change of plan.
When I met Seol.
Somehow I found myself shifting from a wanna-be-idol to a wanna-be-boyfriend. And I never wanna leave her side. The only problem was, I'm scared to tell her how I feel.
The Kang Productions became my home. Minsan na akong inofferan ni Kang-sungnim na itetrain ako sa ibang industry to debut in a group. Mostly kasi na pinapadebut nang Kang Productions ay soloists.
I refused. I told them I will wait until I'm ready.
Wala naman ding mali sa akin. I can release an album if I want to. I can be a pop sensation if I want to. But Seol wants to graduate and I want to wait for her.
Even if she obviously just see me as a good friend.
"Choa, Take a break. We'll recordfor the next song in 15 minutes" The recording director commended while speaking through the talkback mic.
"Ne, kamsahamnida" I took a quick bow at sinabit ang headset sa sabitan non at lumabas na.
I took my phone from my pocket and checked my messages again. Napangiti ako.
> Kauwi na ko : ) > Wala na naman akong kasamang mag lunch. Ano oras ka ba uuwi?
Huminto ako para lang makareply.
Molla, Maybe before 6? <
> K
I sighed. Pinutol nya nanaman ang usapan namin. I don't know how to reply. But I usually let her end our conversations.
You can tell I like her a lot. My efforts are always extra basta para sa kanya. Somehow parang naging importante na for me ang pagiging caring ko sa kanya.
We were fine being friends for years back then. The company was under construction and Kang Yoongi just happily announced his label. I was one of those kids who held on a dream and said yes to the opportunity.
Amongst the adults, there was me and Seol, the only kids in training.
Until that guy Taeyoung came. Now there's three of us. May kahati na ako sa atensyon ni Seol. Back then it wasn't a big deal. But now...
I'm feeling competitive. But I'm trying hard not to be obvious. Ayaw ko rin namang pagmuhian ako ni Seol dahil lang ayaw ko sa new friend nya.
"Haruto, break is over, proceed na ulit sa studio"
"Ne" tumayo na agad ako at hinubad ang coat ko. It's more comfy without it.
Another run na naman kami for the next song. It was hard to sing. Masyadong mataas for my range. But the director has his ways. We carried on and proceeded to another song.
Backup vocals lang ako pero grabe yung pagud.
My stay here in the label means I have to work for this label as well. Matapos ang recording, I need to do runs to collect data from the office at ihahatid yun sa chairman. I also need to write a small report sa mga backup dancers at vocals at practice para ihatid din yung data sa chairman. I'm like an executive secretary.
"Haruto Watanabe, Coach wants to know kung makakasayaw ka ba as backup for Jihoon sa upcoming events nya"
See how hard it is to be me? Hindi lang backup vocals, even backup dances. Hindi lang ako ang may ganitong trabaho sa label, Taeyoung too. But he works part-time dahil nga mag aaral sya.
I scratched the small of my head "Busy po ba yung sched?"
Inabot lang nang staff yung sched sa akin at hinayaan akong i-evaluate yun.
Shocks. That's one hectic schedule for a newbie.
Kakadebut nya lang last month now he's up for a single?
"Ya! Haruto!" I closed my eyes in frustration.
***
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PARK JIHOON (of Treasure). > A newly debut soloist under Kang Productions Inc. He is an upcoming 2nd year in Hanlim. He has a twin brother, Park Doyoung who never leaves his side. ***
"Oh, bat ka tumitingin sa sched ko?" He said with a teasing smile. "Wag mong sabihing backup dancer narin kita?"
Binalik ko sa staff yung schedule ni Jihoon "Molla, Hindi pa ko nakadecide" I sighed at hinarap sya.
"Mwo? Pinag-iisipan pa ba yan? Kaya walang ganap sayo kasi di ka nag tetake nang opportunities. This could be your ONLY chance to grow"
I scoffed confidently. "Nag-aalala lang kasi ako hyung, baka pag nag backup ako sayo, mas makita nila ako. I mean. Kung may dapat man 'tumubo' sa atin. I'm sure it's not me"
"Nang-iinsulto ka ba?" He slightly charged at me.
"Ya, Park Jihoon" Hinila sya nang konti nang kambal nya. "Nasa label tayo wag ka makipag away" Doyoung laughed a little.
I jokingly raised my hands in surrender while watching them leave.
Napailing nalang ako. Were all friends here. Normal lang sa amin yung ganito. They love to tease trainees at the bottom.
So far. Wala naman akong pinagsisisihan. I came here, at such a young age, all the way from Japan, hoping to pursue the dream I planted to myself. And up to this day, still waiting to push on forward.
Seol was the only delay. And I'm not regreting that either.
"Ruto-ya" biglang nawala lahat nang iniisip ko nang makaharap si Kang-sungnim "I need to talk to you"
He was serious. Wala nang pasabi syang pumasok sa opisina nya.
I was in the middle of doing my runs. May tinutulak akong cart na may mga reports from different departments. Napalunok ako. Tinulak ko nalang yun papasok sa opisina ni Kang-sungnim. He doesn't usually ask me to his office in this state. He sound serious.
