God Idol Project: Hope [GIPH]

Chapter 4: Growing Closer

My curfew kept getting later, I started buying workout clothes I'd never owned before, and I found myself laughing more easily... My daily life had drastically changed since meeting Hyun-oh hyung. I could feel it myself, so naturally, my parents noticed the changes even more keenly. It was like a single yellow rose standing out in a bouquet of red roses—impossible to miss.

After all, nothing in my life had changed this much since I was a kid.

"Iwon, do you have a girlfriend?"

I hadn't expected that interpretation. Well, for teenagers, dating is a big deal. But I would have liked to be excluded from that assumption.

When I shook my head, my dad said if I wanted to keep it a secret, he wouldn't tell my mom.

Great. Should I introduce hyung to my family instead?

...Actually, that's a good idea.

When would be the best time? The option of hyung refusing didn't even cross my mind.

In a surprising twist, I invited hyung to meet my parents based on their schedules, but he turned me down. He said he had an important prior engagement that he couldn't cancel.

It's true he had been busier lately. Based on the little hints he dropped about who he was meeting and where he was eating, it was clear he wasn't free.

There were even days when we couldn't meet at all for a few days in a row.

Still, he made time to spend with me whenever he could, often scheduling our hangouts during lunch on weekdays.

Would it be too self-centered to think he planned other appointments during the time I was at school, knowing we wouldn't be able to meet anyway?

No, this was all because hyung was just that considerate.

According to his usual over-the-top praise, I was his "soul twin" and a tragically voiceless genius. His habit of exaggeration hadn't changed.

I changed out of my school uniform into my workout clothes and played a few violin pieces to warm up.

I was in the middle of practicing when hyung returned from a convenience store, handing me an ion drink with a thoughtful look.

He wanted to say something.

"Iwon, I've been thinking—what if your voice could get better? Your vocal cords are just one factor that determines your voice. If something's wrong with one part, couldn't the others compensate? There's something called vocal therapy. What do you think? I could help you with it."

For a moment, I was stunned. Just how far was hyung willing to go for me?

I had tried vocal therapy before. If there was a non-surgical way to improve my voice, I wouldn't have skipped it. But it hadn't worked.

I couldn't forget the sympathetic look my therapist had given me, barely managing to conceal it. After that, I didn't bother seeking out any other options.

I didn't expect things to turn out the way hyung wanted.

But...

I looked him in the eyes, deep in thought.

How would someone like hyung, who had held on to the slimmest of hopes and fought to the end, feel about me giving up without even trying?

He wouldn't just accept it and move on, whether he tried to convince me, felt pity, or simply waited for me. He wasn't the type to give up.

I couldn't turn away from the hopeful look in his eyes. It was wiser to just go along with it.

When I slowly nodded my agreement, hyung's face lit up with joy.

Was it really something to be so happy about?

"I've already planned the whole curriculum! All you have to do is follow along."

What if I had refused? He's unstoppable.

And so, I began receiving vocal therapy from Hyun-oh hyung.

Hyung didn't waste any time—he immediately started me on physical exercises, overhauling my breathing technique.

We spent nearly all my after-school hours trying out different approaches, but it was worth it.

Because unlike before, there were noticeable improvements.

Day by day, my voice started to change.

It was still unpleasant to hear, but the double-layered sound in my speech had become much clearer.

I learned how to control my breathing, mixing it in evenly when I spoke.

I couldn't change my naturally deep tone, but improving the other factors made my voice sound completely different.

It was a change. Enough that people listening wouldn't cringe as much.

"I can see your progress every day. You'll keep getting better and better."

Even if I couldn't fix my vocal cords, I realized that effort could compensate.

I was grateful. Deeply grateful.

"You're my savior, hyung."

As soon as I said it, I regretted it. I wasn't used to speaking in full sentences, and the words came out in informal speech.

But hyung probably wouldn't mind. Tossing out random words had been ruder anyway. And we were friends, so it was fine to be casual.

"Savior? That's a bit much. If I'm the 'Jeong' in 'Hamjeong,' this is nothing."

A kindness without expectation of return. Was it okay to feel hope for humanity from moments like this?

In any case, I wanted hyung's efforts to be appreciated by more than just me. There was only one place that came to mind.

"Let's go. To my house."

Since showing up unannounced would be rude, I quickly messaged our family chat that I was bringing a guest over. It was Saturday, so there was a good chance both of my parents would be home.

Their replies came quickly.

Dad was excited to prepare a special dish, and Mom said she was on her way home from a quick stop at work.

I showed the messages to hyung, who chuckled in disbelief.

Hyung insisted on buying a gift for my parents, so we ended up running late.

"Here it is."

When we entered the house, my mom and dad greeted us, dressed up and waiting in the living room.

"Hello. I'm Jeong Hyun-oh, nice to meet you."

"I'm Iwon's mother, and this is his father."

"I didn't want to come empty-handed, so I brought this. I hope it's okay."

Hyung handed them a potted plant. He'd wanted to buy flowers, but I barely managed to talk him out of it.

Why would you bring flowers to a friend's house?

After some back-and-forth, we settled on a potted camellia tree.

"It's beautiful, thank you. Come, sit on the couch. I'm curious about what led Iwon to bring you over."

I sat beside hyung, who looked a bit nervous. The whole situation felt like I was asking for their permission to marry him.

My parents eyed him curiously from across the room, practically drilling holes into his face.

"I'm his friend."

Both of them turned to look at me in surprise.

It wasn't just the fact that I had called him a friend—my voice was probably even more surprising.

I'd been saving my voice for this moment.

"He's also my vocal therapy teacher."

"Your voice... Iwon!"

They were more sensitive to my voice changes than anyone else. They had been right there, watching how much I suffered growing up.

My mom had always blamed himself for not giving birth to me with a better voice, and my dad had silently carried the emotional burden of supporting both me and my mom through it.

"Did you say your name was Hyun-oh? Thank you so much. Truly... You're a lifesaver for our family."

My dad, being the sensitive type, was already on the verge of tears.

"If you start crying, you'll make him uncomfortable, Dad."

"Sorry about that."

"I can't believe it... After trying everything and failing. It's not just me, right?"

I had always pretended not to notice, but I had often found traces of my mom searching for vocal cord-related research papers in her study.

"No, you're right, honey. I can hear it too."

Even though my parents tried to stay composed, they couldn't hide how much my struggles had hurt them.

Despite my dad's efforts to hold back, tears welled up in his eyes. Even my mom, usually the composed, charismatic one, couldn't hide her emotion.

I was just happy to be able to share this news with them.

"We should serve something extra special. What kind of food do you like?"

"I'll eat anything."

"It's still early for dinner. How about a drink? We have coffee, tea, fruit juice, and soda. Oh, I also made some grapefruit syrup. How about a grapefruit soda?"

It seemed like Dad was determined to feed hyung something delicious. Overwhelmed by Dad's enthusiasm, hyung shrank back a little.

"Calm down, honey. You're scaring him."

Hyung had definitely earned some serious points with my parents—his likeability had shot through the roof.

If it had been any other time, hyung would've carried the conversation effortlessly, but today, he was a little off his game. It seemed like the sudden surge of affection was throwing him off. He might have even felt a bit pressured.

"Relax, hyung."

"Sorry if we got a bit too excited. It's just that you're the first friend Iwon's ever brought home, and now you're his savior on top of that."

"No, thank you for welcoming me so warmly. But I don't think you need to thank me for being his friend. We just clicked because of our shared love of music. And as for the vocal therapy, I just did what I could."

My mom's eyes sparkled as she looked hyung over.

"You were raised so well. I'm relieved to know that Iwon has a role model like you to look up to."

"How did you two meet? Iwon just goes back and forth between school, practice, and home like clockwork."

Hyung hesitated. Didn't we meet when he saved me from almost getting hit by a motorcycle?

Hyung, quick on his feet, explained that he had caught my violin before it fell, and I had treated him to a meal as thanks. After that, we just clicked.

He told the rest of the story exactly as it happened.

Hyung casually mentioned that he was a former idol and described our music and dance sessions like something straight out of a movie.

Since when was hyung so eloquent? I was right there, and even I was waiting for the next part.

"You're so witty and well-spoken! Our son doesn't talk much, so it gets a little boring sometimes."

"Oh! So instead of a girlfriend, Iwon found a music friend."

It seemed like Dad was finally relieved after having been convinced I had a secret girlfriend all this time.

"With looks like his, it's no wonder you'd assume girls are all over him, begging to date him."

"You can't just look at appearances when choosing a boyfriend. I always thought Iwon didn't get much attention because he's so distant."

"Well, I married him for his looks alone."

"I married you for your looks, personality, and ability."

Mom burst out laughing, her cheeks flushed from Dad's playful bragging.

As cringeworthy as they were, I had to admit, my parents were a lovey-dovey couple. They always seemed this happy.

"I see where Iwon gets his good looks from," hyung joined in, diving into the compliment exchange with ease—using me as the subject.

He knew exactly what he was doing. Talking about their son was bound to make my parents happy.

The conversation flowed like this, filled with lighthearted banter, until we finished dinner and dessert.

My parents and hyung got along so well, their conversation full of laughter. Seeing them enjoy themselves made inviting hyung over feel all the more worthwhile.

But soon, it was time for hyung to go.

"It feels like I've known you forever, even though we just met today. It might sound silly, but it feels like I have another son."

"...Thank you for thinking of me that way. I lost my parents early and don't have any siblings, so this feels nice. It's like I've gained a whole new family."

"Then you should call us Mom and Dad too. Come visit us often, Hyun-oh. We'll treat you like family from now on."

"I'm planning to study in the U.S. in about three months, but I'll come visit often before then."

"You're going to study music? That'll keep you busy."

"I've already finished most of the preparations, so I still have some time."

"I'm sure Iwon will miss you a lot. Make lots of good memories before you leave."

Dad, looking a bit sad, handed hyung a shopping bag filled with food as he pushed it into his hands.

I wanted to see hyung off at the door, but he insisted I stay, so I had to let him go alone.

"You're happy to have a big brother now, huh?"

Dad patted my shoulder. Both my parents wore bright smiles, their happiness from today's meeting clear.

Friend, brother, colleague, confidant, savior...

He was just one person, but his presence had become a powerful influence in my world.

How could I repay someone who had brought so much happiness into my life?