God Idol Project: Hope [GIPH]

Chapter 3: A Fatal Trap

Like a sparrow flocking to a mill, I often found myself heading to Hyun-oh hyung's studio whenever I had free time. Every time I visited, hyung welcomed me with a bright smile, never showing a hint of annoyance. Though we hadn't known each other long, it felt like we'd been friends for ten years. I felt so at ease around him.

I spent most of my time hanging out in his studio, except for the minimal classes and practice I had to attend. On weekends, I'd play around with different instruments and even once asked if I could sleep over, only to get scolded for it.

Recently, my schedule had been pretty relaxed. I didn't push myself to the point of nosebleeds preparing for practical exams, so I didn't get crazy busy even during evaluation periods. Exam time was only a bit more hectic. Since I usually studied ahead, there wasn't much to worry about.

Today was a mock exam day, so I visited the studio earlier than usual.

Ding-dong—

I rang the doorbell and waited for the door to open, but there was no response. What was taking him so long? He had said he'd be in the studio.

I had casually asked him to share his door code before, but he refused, saying he needed his privacy.

I pressed the doorbell again. This time, I heard hurried footsteps approaching.

The door unlocked, and there stood Hyun-oh hyung, his hair wet and a towel draped over his head. It seemed I had arrived while he was in the middle of a shower.

"I was trying to get a quick shower before you came. Come on in. What do you want to eat?"

Instead of replying, I held up the plastic bag in my hand.

I had picked up some jeyuk bokkeum (spicy pork stir-fry) from a popular place on the way from school. It might have cooled down during the bus ride, but it should still be good.

"I'm sure it'll be delicious since you picked it out, but it feels wrong to just take it. I have more money than you, you know."

Well, of course, he'd have more money. My parents' money wasn't technically mine, so obviously hyung had more. Still, with my allowance, I could afford this much.

My parents usually bought anything I needed for music or clothes before I even had to ask.

So my allowance only really covered transportation and food. Since I led a pretty model student life—just going between home and school (aka a perfect loner life)—I didn't have many opportunities to spend money.

Meeting people would mean spending money, but since I didn't talk to anyone, I didn't have to worry about that.

Conversation is essential when meeting people, but since I wasn't keen on that, I had always been an outsider.

It wasn't until I became friends with Hyun-oh hyung that I started spending a bit more of my allowance—at least now I had someone to grab a coffee with.

"I should just give you my card."

Seriously, hyung. I worry that he might get scammed someday, handing out his card so easily like that. Not that I'd actually take his card.

"How did your mock exam go?"

Naturally, it went well. I raised my chin in confidence, and hyung burst into laughter.

"Are all high schoolers like this these days? You're as tall as me, but why are you so cute?"

"I'm not cute."

Stop treating me like a nephew. What's cute about a hulking high schooler? Ridiculous.

"You're good at studying too, huh? What can't you do?"

I can't sing.

Sometimes, while hanging out with Hyun-oh hyung, I'd feel a pang of envy for his incredible voice. It's a complex I'll probably carry with me for life.

Why is medical advancement so slow? If only vocal cord transplants were a simple procedure by now.

Other than my defective vocal cords, I had a lot going for me.

Loving parents.
A financially stable life.
Some musical talent.
An intelligence that placed me in the top 1% in mock exams.
A face that people seem to find decent, thanks to my parents' genes.
Above-average height....

And yet, I still couldn't shake my envy. People always long for what they don't have....

I felt particularly pathetic today. I pushed away my sinking mood by pretending to be busy.

As soon as I took a bite of the jeyuk bokkeum, my mood lifted. As expected, the restaurant had satisfied my picky taste buds.

The balance of flavors and spiciness was perfect, and the tender pork melted in my mouth, making me crave more.

I placed a piece of pork on a fresh lettuce leaf, added a slice of hot pepper and a clove of garlic, then a little bit of rice, and popped the whole thing into my mouth.

This is heaven.

The crisp texture of the lettuce and perilla leaf wrapped around the flavorful pork, with the spice and sharpness dancing on my tongue. It was a perfect balance that didn't become overwhelming.

Hyun-oh hyung also ate quietly, shoveling rice and pork into his mouth in quick succession.

Our meals were usually like this—quiet and fast. It was almost like we were racing to finish the food. Satisfied, we both leaned back and patted our full stomachs.

After we cleared away the takeout containers, hyung said he was going to clean the studio and put on a song to set the mood.

Today's song choice was Dance, by a popular group whose members I even knew by name. It was known for its powerful dance moves that could break bones.

It wasn't my type of song, but I'd heard it so many times that I had grown sick of it.

Was he planning to dance right after eating? Hyung wouldn't be able to resist dancing to this track. As I was thinking the song was a bit much, hyung assumed his position.

Of course. He's already gearing up.

It was too late to stop him. The song's direct command to "dance" was practically brainwashing him.

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ Dance! Right now! Dance! Until you're out of breath! 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋

Oh boy, he's really going for it. Holding a broom like a mic, hyung was belting out the lyrics while swiveling his hips like crazy.

I get it, though. A guy as energetic as him wouldn't be able to hold back.

The voice coming from the speakers screamed at us to dance, threatening not to let us off the hook if we didn't.

"Iwon, come on, let's dance together!"

Dance? Me? Well, I guess I can give it a try. I'll probably be clumsy and awkward, but I'm a beginner, so he'll cut me some slack, right?

Dancing in front of a pro feels like showing off in front of a worm, but I won't be a laughingstock. If he looked down on me, he wouldn't have bothered with me in the first place.

"Watch me first. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and rub your feet against the floor like this. Then raise your arms, stretch them out, and fold them back in—then do the same with the other side. That's it, you're catching on! Let me just show you the whole routine from the start. The choreography for this song is intense, but it's not hard. The point is for anyone to dance to it."

Hyun-oh hyung restarted the song Dance from the beginning and took his stance. I tried to mimic his starting pose beside him.

The mirror covering one wall reflected both of us.

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ A stage, waiting empty for us, lonely
The mic is off, and the music has stopped
Right now, out of breath ₊˚

Just as hyung said, the moves weren't difficult. It's just that I can't move like Moonstone.

As I copied the moves with relative ease, Hyun-oh hyung glanced at my reflection in the mirror before continuing the choreography.

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ Perform CPR on the lifeless stage
Let it move again, as if by instinct
Feed new life into the mic
Throw away that boring old song ₊˚

This was the part hyung had danced to earlier, right?

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ Dance! Right now, dance to the beat!
Dance! Right now, dance until you're out of breath! ₊˚

Even though I was clumsy, I kept up with the beat, and hyung mouthed "Oh!" in approval.

I'm the one dancing, so why does he look so proud?

₊˚ It's my duty to take over the stage
Even if I fall in glorious defeat
Someone has to dance the final dance
This addictive breath filling my lungs
Victory is not far away
Right now, out of breath
Right now, out of breath ₊˚

My heartbeat started syncing with the fast tempo. Something primal inside me was stirred.

There's a reason why body language is such a fundamental form of communication. Moving the body is dramatic and freeing in a way that's different from singing.

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ Dance! Right now, dance to the beat!
Dance! Right now, dance until you're out of breath!
Dance! Right now, dance to the beat!
Dance! Right now, even if it takes your last breath!
Don't stop dancing
Never stop dancing

These lyrics, though. They're pretty intense. Telling you to keep dancing even if you die...?

I shook my head as I loosened up my tired limbs, and hyung rushed over, not even giving me a moment to catch my breath.

"Why are you so good at this? Have you ever learned how to dance before? You even memorized the choreography!"

Is this considered good? I had fun, but I'm not sure. Compared to Moonstone's members or even hyung, I was still miles behind.

"You're comparing yourself to professionals, aren't you? That's just because dancing still feels unfamiliar. Once you get used to it, you'll improve quickly! I'm really tempted to teach you more—want to learn how to dance? If we sing and dance together, that makes us an idol group! What do you think? Or would people say I have no shame for teaming up with a high schooler?"

As if I care about what others think. No one's watching us anyway, so who cares about people's judgments?

If we can just mess around and have fun like this, I think I'd be okay with that. I enjoyed it, and I want to get better at it. Now that he's said I've got potential, I'm even more interested.

I might run out of stamina and collapse after a while, but how hard could it be?

I nodded, and hyung's face lit up immediately.

"I wish I were a bit younger, like five years younger. Then I could actually be in a group with you."

An idol group? What nonsense.

But then, a different thought crossed my mind. How could someone like Hyun-oh hyung, who's seen the ugly side of the entertainment industry, imagine pulling me into that world without hesitation?

Wouldn't most people who've experienced such hardship try to warn others away?

A few negative possibilities flitted through my mind.

But hyung was too kind-hearted to be someone I could doubt. Rather than stew on it alone, it was better to ask him outright, so no misunderstandings would form.

This was too complicated a question to convey through music. Instead of speaking, I pulled out my phone.

If I tried to speak for too long, my voice would just get distorted and hard to understand. I typed out my question and handed him the phone.

Hyun-oh hyung read it and fell into thought. It wasn't a simple issue. After a while, he sighed softly and finally spoke.

"Let's sit down and talk," he said, guiding me to sit on the studio floor with him.

"You're right. I've seen the dirty side of the entertainment industry up close. I've experienced it firsthand. To be honest, there were times when I felt sick to my stomach. But you know, it's not just the entertainment industry. Any field that's full of ambitious people has its dark side. It's just that the entertainment world makes it more obvious because it's so public."

I wasn't naive enough to believe that any place with people could be entirely pure.

"The public is probably aware of it to some extent, too. And yet, there are still countless people who want to become celebrities. Is it because they want to be famous? Or make a lot of money? Sure, that's part of it. But I think it's mostly because they want to be loved."

The desire to be loved...

"Celebrities have the chance to be loved by a lot of people. I've heard someone say that public adoration is like a drug—once you experience it, it's hard to quit. Even as a failed idol, I get it."

Hyung, sitting cross-legged, seemed to reflect on the past as he continued talking.

"The bigger the risk, the sweeter the reward. If you've got overwhelming star power, a steel-trap mindset, or strong backing, then I think it's worth taking the leap. Of course, the decision is yours to make, but if it were me, I'd say it's worth the gamble at least once."

High risk, high reward. His logic was convincing.

"So don't misunderstand and think I don't care about you. I only said what I did because I think so highly of your talent. You're a genius—someone worth revering."

"...Even if I can't sing?"

"Why not? Think of not being able to sing as a handicap. If you could sing perfectly too, I'd be telling you to go straight into idol training. But it's not like that's what you want, right? For me, the idol path was everything, but for you, there are so many more options. Top session musician? You could do that right now. With your potential in composing and arranging, you'd make an amazing composer or producer. Maybe even a dancer. We'll see, but all your options are wide open."

He didn't need to flatter me so much, but I couldn't help but smile.

"And, the most important thing! As someone who's seen countless idols, let me tell you, you've got center-stage looks. Whatever you do, I bet my entire fortune you'll be famous for being handsome. That's the judgment of a former idol."

His entire fortune? He'd win first place if this were a compliment contest. Even if he's exaggerating, it's not like I don't enjoy hearing it—but I'm afraid I might actually start believing him.

Is his baseline just set incredibly low or something?

Besides, with hyung being such a generous person, his credibility feels a bit shaky....

How could someone who's been through so much as an idol still be so trusting of people? It wouldn't be strange if he ended up hating humanity.

It seemed like he'd follow someone into trouble without even realizing it. Even though hyung was older than me, why did I feel like I had to look out for him like a kid?

Still, despite everything he went through, he still wanted to be an idol. The only word for it was passion.

But why idol specifically?

When I asked, hyung's gaze turned distant, as if recalling something deep, and he answered earnestly.

"The best part of being an idol was having members I could rely on. It was like having comrades who made up for my shortcomings. Even when things were tough, I never felt alone."

That last part was probably the key.

We hadn't known each other for even a month yet, but I could already tell—Hyun-oh hyung wasn't the type to enjoy solitude.

He had a strong core, but he was shaken by loneliness.

Perhaps, unconsciously, he had sought out the idol group life as a means of survival.

Now that he was no longer an idol, was hyung feeling lonely?

If it was okay that I couldn't sing, I wanted to be the one to keep him company.

I pointed at myself and then at hyung, trying to pronounce clearly as I said, "Ham... Jeong."

"Hamjeong? What do you mean?"

When I repeated it, hyung finally caught on.

"You and me? Our last names? Our group name?"

Hyung burst into laughter.

What a crazy coincidence—Ham (me) and Jeong (him) coming together to form a team.

Maybe the name was too old-fashioned. Should we go with an English name instead? TRAP?

"Hahaha! I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. But I like it—it's straightforward! We'll lure everyone into the 'deadly trap' that is us!"

Looks like hyung was ready to jump into this headfirst.

...Should I stop him?