God Idol Project: Hope [GIPH]

Chapter 2: Limited-Time Music Friend

Following Hyun-oh hyung somewhat dazedly, I ended up at a small building on the first floor—a perfectly soundproof practice room. It was a space similar to the one I had as a violin major.

The practice room Hyun-oh brought me to had a living space attached, but the layout made it clear that the practice area was the main feature, with the living quarters relatively small. Judging by the lived-in feel and the fact that he suddenly invited me here, it seemed like he had rented this private practice room, which took up an entire floor, for an extended period.

Is this what an idol's practice room looks like?

As I took in my surroundings, Hyun-oh pulled a chair over from somewhere and offered me a seat, but instead of sitting, I set my violin down and paced around.

One unique feature of the practice room was the wall covered in mirrors. The floor texture was a bit different too. Though I hadn't seen one in person, I guessed this setup was similar to a dance studio. In the corner, there were abandoned controllers, mixers, and a digital piano—likely intended for a recording studio but left unused.

On the right wall stood a variety of guitars from different brands, their strings loosened, and on the opposite side was a door labeled "Vocal Practice Room." Peeking through the small window on the door, I could see only the basics inside.

The amps and audio equipment were standard, but the most striking item in the room was the expensive speakers.

I had always wanted to hear these speakers. They were pricey, and since I already had a different model at home, I couldn't justify buying them.

As I lingered near the speakers, Hyun-oh asked, "Do you like those speakers? Want me to play something for you? Any song you'd recommend?"

From my experience, the best way to test speakers is to play a song you're familiar with. Hearing the same song through different speakers allows you to pick up on subtle differences.

Using the laptop connected to the audio system, I selected Chopin's Nocturne No. 2 and one of Hyun-oh hyung's songs.

As the Nocturne played through the speakers, I noticed that, compared to the speakers I had at home, these created a more spacious sound, though it was hard to pinpoint exactly. The overall sound felt slightly more ornate. It was like the same story with the same characters, but told with a lighter, brighter tone.

These speakers were likely more specialized for idol dance tracks. If it were up to me, that's how I'd set them up.

"Our second album's title track, 'Semicolon,'" he said.

Thump, thump?

The song began with a groovy guitar riff, and as the tempo picked up, a voice joined in.

I immediately knew.

That's Hyun-oh hyung's voice!

Even though it sounded different from his speaking voice, I could still tell. No matter how different, it was from the same source.

As other voices, presumably from the other members, joined in, the music started to build. Just when I expected a typical climax, an EDM beat suddenly burst in.

The tempo quickened as they all energetically rapped and showed off their vocal tones.

The song is actually better than I expected!

It had fresh twists and an exhilarating vibe that blew away stress.

Among all the voices, one stood out.

However, I could sense that Hyun-oh hyung was holding back to match the others.

That was only natural. In a group's music, if one voice stands out too much, it disrupts the harmony.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that his unique voice was being wasted.

If only the other members had been more skilled. If the producer had pushed their talents to the limit. Even if not...

The possibilities of what could have allowed Hyun-oh hyung to fully showcase his talent circled in my mind.

One disappointing aspect of 'Semicolon' was that the fast beat made it difficult to convey the emotional depth of the lyrics.

Thanks to Hyun-oh hyung's clear enunciation, the lyrics hit my ears directly, making it all the more regrettable.

A song encouraging us to continue writing the story of our lives, performed with such an upbeat rhythm. Given the opening riff, I guessed it might have been a soft ballad before it was rearranged.

It was hard to fully appreciate Hyun-oh hyung's singing.

It was definitely beyond the standards of my favorite songs. I won't deny that my personal preference for certain voices plays a part in those standards...

Well, if it doesn't work out, I'll just do it myself.

I grabbed one of the acoustic guitars resting against the wall and a pick.

It had been a while since I used this brand, but it didn't matter.

Without a tuner, I quickly adjusted the strings by ear. Then, positioning myself, I rearranged the intro of the song we'd just heard into an acoustic version.

I emphasized the ballad tone more than in the original, playing in a gentle, conversational style.

Though Hyun-oh hyung looked at me like I was some unknown creature, it must have been my imagination.

There was only one reason I played the intro to 'Semicolon': I wanted him to sing along. I hadn't forgotten the reason I came to the practice room.

"That's right, you did ask me to sing. It feels like fate, singing this song. Especially with these lyrics, at this moment..."

As I repeated the intro, Hyun-oh hyung steadied his breathing.

Soon, his lips parted, and his soothing voice began to sing.

🎧 Semicolon, semicolon, non-period,
there's still time, time, time left 
So wait a little longer,
take a deep breath slowly 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋

Ah, this is the voice I've been waiting for. A warm voice that whispers into your ear, comforting and embracing you.

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ 'Semicolon, your story is still left 
It's not a period, but the comma of your life

He sang the rap part in falsetto—it fit perfectly.

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ Wake up in the morning and open the window wide 
The bright sky is waiting for you 
How about the chirping of the little birds? 
It's time to meet the person you like 
Change into your prettiest clothes 
The one who will make you smile at first sight 
If you're tired of the wind, fold your wings 
You can rest in my arms for a while 
Countless starlights are waiting for you 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋

Even though it's just a sound coming from a human body, hearing it made me want to cry.

To truly feel a story come to life, the expression must be exceptional. Just as a novel needs living, breathing characters and a heartfelt story to be compelling, only great expression can evoke emotion.

Hyun-oh hyung's singing was more than enough to move me. It was telling me a story so raw and profound that I could hardly put it into words.

Is it because I'm hearing his real voice up close? No, more than that, it's because of his unique emotional appeal.

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ In the routine of life, non-period 
Please find a small hope in it 
Semicolon, your story is still left 
It's not a period, but the comma of your life 
Semicolon, semicolon, and semicolon ; 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋

As the sound gradually faded to a soft ending, I was overwhelmed by how perfectly we harmonized. Despite me tweaking the main melody, he matched it flawlessly without missing a beat, and I couldn't be happier.

For a brief moment, I almost forgot about playing the guitar accompaniment, but I quickly cleared my head. The performance was as moving as I had hoped, or rather, it exceeded my expectations. The resonance was so deep that it gave me goosebumps. I had a feeling this lingering impression would last a long time.

I had sensed an aura in his speaking voice from the start, and now it all made sense. I wasn't wrong to ask Hyun-oh hyung to sing. Maybe I had some foresight after all!

My shoulders started to sway, and my toes twitched. These were involuntary movements—an outlet for the frustration of not being able to speak and express how I felt.

It was rare for me to feel such a strong desire to say something. The fact that he had made me so eager to speak meant I could truly recognize his talent.

"...How was it? I sang with all my heart, but for some reason, I'm more nervous in front of you than I am on stage. My vocals weren't shaky, right? But what's with your guitar skills? I can't even claim to play guitar after hearing you! And you rearranged that on the spot, right? Wow—I just met a genius!"

Despite knowing that I rarely spoke, Hyun-oh hyung was full of questions. He was probably too excited and had forgotten all about it.

I could tell he was excited, too. I felt relieved that it wasn't just me who was satisfied.

But still... How could someone with this much talent say they failed? What kind of cutthroat world is the idol industry?

I felt the weight of the guitar strap on my shoulder. There were so many things I wanted to say but couldn't voice. My lips tingled with the urge to speak, so I decided to give in to the impulse one more time since I already had the guitar in hand.

I clenched and unclenched my fist before playing a line from a famous song. I wondered if Hyun-oh hyung would recognize it.

Diri-ri-ring ding~

"This song! 'Joy isn't mine alone~ I want to sing with you~' Wait... is that what you're trying to say?"

I was glad he caught on so quickly. My first attempt, and it was a success!

"This could be how we communicate! I'm enjoying this, too! I'd love to keep singing, but are you really okay not going back to school? I'm starting to feel guilty as an adult."

I quickly played another tune on the guitar—this time, a beloved old trot song by a national singer.

Diri-ring~

"Haha! 'It's okay~ I am free~ Maybe this is...' Oh, wait. The lyrics after that aren't quite right, huh? Yeah, the rest of the lyrics are a bit too much."

There was no need to do the full trot vocal inflections. For reference, the next part of the song goes, "Even if this is the end, I'll dedicate my whole life."

It was amazing that we could keep up a conversation without speaking! I had come up with the idea myself, but it really was a breakthrough. And to have someone who could understand it was pure luck.

Most people wouldn't recognize the melody so quickly, especially after it had been rearranged on guitar.

"We're really in sync! It's not just me, right? Hey, Iwon, want to be friends? The nine-year age gap doesn't matter, right? I'm planning to study abroad soon, so I only have about half a year left, but we could still hang out until then. What do you think?"

A limited-time music friend. Not bad.

Ding~ Ding Dir-ling~

This time, I played a rock song.

"'Friend~ What's important is the fleeting moment of time we have right now~' I agree. You made a wise choice. Let me tell you, as someone with more life experience, finding friends you truly click with is tough. Did I sound too preachy? Well, anyway, nice to meet you, friend!"

Ding- Ding-ding-ding~

"What song is that again? Oh! 'Nice to meet you~ My love~'"

When I made a deadpan expression, he cheekily asked if the song only went up to "nice to meet you."

I guess the guitar version caused a slight delay. Or maybe my guitar skills had rusted after not playing for a while.

I put the guitar back and brought over the digital piano that had been left in the corner.

I'm more comfortable with the piano than the guitar anyway.

Later, I heard that while I was contentedly enjoying myself, Hyun-oh hyung had been on the verge of tears.

He apparently wondered if he had made a mistake befriending someone so intimidatingly talented, who was already mastering violin, guitar, and now piano.

...Isn't that an exaggeration, though?

Determined to show me a perfect performance, Hyun-oh hyung stood in front of the mirror. Facing me, he sang and danced.

It had been half a year since his group disbanded. Even before that, they hadn't had much time for proper activities. Yet, despite that, his voice didn't falter at all—he must have been practicing consistently.

Singing while performing such intense choreography, I couldn't help but be impressed.

Even without experiencing it firsthand, I could tell just how much blood, sweat, and effort went into synchronizing his breathing with his singing while executing such powerful moves.

He had a strong voice and solid build, yet his tone was vibrant and full.

I remembered hearing about a popular boy group member recently getting in trouble for a DUI. How different would things have been if hyung had been in his place?

But then I thought of how often he mentioned that his group members were like brothers, and I pushed the thought away.

It was impossible to imagine someone like him, who valued relationships over personal gain, acting solely for his own benefit.

Thanks to his chatter, I naturally learned a lot of information.

He said his idol journey had followed the typical path of a failed group, and he was lucky to have even debuted.

As a trainee, he had nearly debuted multiple times, only for those opportunities to fall through. One company went bankrupt, leaving him to bounce around between different agencies.

Eventually, he barely managed to debut with a small, powerless company. After several failed album releases, they finally managed to release their second album.

Their second album's title track gained some recognition, but for some reason, they couldn't appear on major broadcasts, so they had to make money by doing small events.

Even when opportunities arose, his group members would get into trouble, issues would pop up with the agency, and schedules would get canceled at the last minute. It was always something.

On top of that, their agency was a mess—it was run so poorly that they may as well have had no support at all. They neglected them throughout but still took most of the profit during the settlement.

Hyun-oh hyung wasn't just talented, but above average in looks, too. He had simply been unlucky with his agency and group members. Everything seemed like a series of missteps.

His only option had been to disband, and he concluded his story about his idol career there.

"When I look back on it now, there were so many ups and downs... It was like a series of misfortunes. It felt like someone was telling me not to be an idol. But I stuck it out and made it to the end. Sure, if I had given up earlier, I wouldn't have wasted so much time on false hope, but I don't regret it. If you give everything you've got and it still doesn't work out, what more can you do? The throne is small, and not every idol can succeed."

With his passion for music and dance, I thought he'd make a great solo artist.

"...What about going solo?"

"Hm. I got a few offers to debut as a solo artist, and I considered it. But I still feel like I'm not quite there yet. I'm planning to study abroad and improve."

With that, Hyun-oh hyung excused himself, saying he'd go buy some drinks.

Wow... He's already amazing, but he's aiming to improve even more by studying abroad?

It wasn't a bad idea. It would give him time to process everything that had happened with his group and study in a new environment.

No matter how long his time abroad might be, I felt like I could wait for the day he'd return. By then, I'd probably have graduated high school and be a college student, right? Or maybe it'd take longer. But we could still hang out in the meantime.

...With my friend!

As an outsider with no friends at school, I was truly excited.

I had completely forgotten that this friend was "limited-time."