God Idol Project: Hope [GIPH]

Chapter 41: Debut Showcase (2)

We ascended the seemingly long staircase onto the stage. The stage was bigger than I had anticipated. We had to fill that space with our presence alone.

Each of us took our positions, and before the song started, we exchanged looks with one another, sharing silent encouragement and determination. Slowly, we took deep breaths and waited for the music to begin.

_The world I open my eyes to is so amazing._

We all opened our eyes at once. The sight before us was like a starry galaxy. I was responsible for the intro, singing a short line before we changed formation.

_But I'm scared, yet thrilled._
_Will you find me, the one who's been waiting for you?_

In the opening part, Chorok-hyung drew attention with his soft, delicate voice.

Just like his name, Chorok-hyung was wearing green contact lenses, his hair dyed a bright emerald, and he was wearing futuristic thin-framed glasses, giving him an almost otherworldly aura.

As a modern dance major, Chorok-hyung had a wide range of motion in his joints, making even simple moves look dramatic. He expressed the feeling of waking up in a new world and eagerly waiting for someone with his whole body.

_Expecting a miraculous encounter._
_To the me who hasn't yet opened his eyes, give me memories._
_Color me with your hands, with your colors._

Next was Oran's part. As the lead vocalist, Oran sang the ambiguous lyrics with his youthful voice, balancing delicately between the words' subtle meanings. He navigated that fine line with ease.

Oran, with his light brown curly hair, wore a knitted beret-style hat. His cute appearance and radiant smile made him seem like someone who could cleanse anyone's soul.

_If hope still survives in this desolate land, struggling to breathe, Oh?_
_I won't give up, waiting for the day you, my salvation, will come._
_Even if we are the only ones left breathing in this forsaken world, Oh God, I won't give up._
_Salvation will come when I meet you today._
Seohon-hyung took over with his part, wearing a thin knit top that accentuated his figure, his brown hair paired with golden-colored contacts.

Seohon-hyung's rap wasn't filled with swagger or exaggeration. It was more like he was reciting poetry.

With his smooth, clear enunciation and soft flow, paired with emotional lyrics, some people said his rap felt like listening to a prayer. In fact, Seohon-hyung was a devout Christian.
_Imprint you on me and engrave a tattoo on me that never fades._
The chorus was short but pivotal. Since it required high notes, it was my turn. I looked directly into the camera, sliding my hands leisurely over my body.

The title track was called "Imprinting."

The song was about asking someone to leave their imprint on you, which gave it a slightly seductive vibe.

Initially, the song had a different meaning. It was about never forgetting your first encounter, like how a newly hatched duck imprints on its mother, but it eventually turned into a plea to be imprinted upon.

Regardless, the response from the team was positive.

_Congratulate me, welcome me to my new beginning._
_I'll overcome whatever future awaits._
_Encourage me, cheer me on, like a newly hatched bird._
_I'll fly, even with my clumsy wings._
_I hope our very existence brings you joy._

Park Ha's part was fast-paced and difficult to perform because it required him to look light on his feet. Smiling as he danced, Park Ha, with his bright hair, handled the tricky part without showing any signs of strain.

Even though the choreography was complex and singing simultaneously divided his attention, Park Ha's position as the main dancer helped him pull it off smoothly.

_From the beginning, when heaven and earth started on that day._
_If someone had told me that after all this time, we'd finally meet, I'd ask, Are you joking?_

My favorite line personally was Jeton's rap. I wondered why the word "joking" was used until I realized it was for rhyming with the next part.

_Born anew, gazing at the first light on that first day._
_If we meet after all this long time, everyone would say it's a joke of fate._

With his shirt unbuttoned and no tie, Jion had black hair and cat-like contact lenses.

His relaxed demeanor as he rapped made it seem like he was holding back his full ability, though his skill still shone through.

The brief dance break in the middle was led by Chorok-hyung, with Park Ha joining in for a paired choreography.

_Imprint you on me and engrave me a tattoo that never fades._

Oran sang the main melody, and I harmonized over it, ending the performance with a pose that looked as if I was choking myself—symbolizing the end of the title track.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

As the song ended, applause and camera shutters followed.

"Two, three! Hello! We are Teorra, a group with infinite potential!"

We finished the stage without any major issues, and that alone brought an overwhelming sense of joy.

˚˖✧✧✧˚.

[TEORRA, 20XX. 01. 12 PM 2:00 HOT DEBUT]

The high school girl was captivated the moment she saw Teorra in the TV commercial. She thought anyone who wasn't swayed by those striking visuals was the weird one. From that moment on, she began searching for every bit of information she could find.

That's when she saw the official announcement on Teorra's account: a raffle for fans to attend the debut showcase. Without hesitation, her hands moved on their own, and she applied immediately.

She was confident she'd get a ticket—it was a group that hadn't even debuted yet.

But that was a misconception.

'Did I underestimate it too much...?'

Her overconfidence resulted in failure. After the raffle, the official account was flooded with comments from people crying about not winning a ticket.

"Looks like there are a lot of people like me...."

In the end, she had no choice but to watch the showcase online.

She had even planned to skip cram school and go to the live hall. The venue was large, not something a freshly debuted idol group would easily secure, and it had plenty of seats.

It was a shame, but it was already in the past. The girl sat in the living room and connected her phone to the TV. Since her parents weren't home, she could watch it on the big screen.

The live stream was on, but the showcase and press conference hadn't started yet. Teorra's commercial played on the screen, and occasionally they'd show glimpses of the audience.

"Oh! Teorra is being hyped up, huh."

It made sense. Not only had they advertised on national TV, but they had also brought in a million-dollar movie director for the music video. The company had invested so much that it could potentially shake its foundations.

Although Hanul Entertainment was a known name, it wasn't quite considered a large agency. They had produced two idol groups—one female, one male—but the female group was a second-tier group, and the male group was third-tier at best. They weren't yet considered a powerhouse for idols.

"Looks like they're trying to make it big this time."

They were in the process of transforming from a primarily actor-focused agency into one that could also nurture successful idols. They were clearly pulling out all the stops.

Whether it would pay off would soon be revealed. Judging by the packed audience, things were looking good.

The front seats of the live hall were filled with reporters and industry personnel, while the seats further back were occupied by fans who had won tickets. Judging by the large number of women, it was clear.

Since they had marketed their impressive visuals, it wasn't time for male fans to join in just yet. Plus, their music had only been released today.

"The song's pretty good. It's oddly addictive."

It had only been a few hours since the release. It was too early to gauge the group's reception. She itched to talk to someone about Teorra but felt reassured by seeing how many people were watching the live stream.

She wasn't the only one without a ticket.

As she stood up to grab some orange juice, the showcase started, so she quickly sat back down. She couldn't afford to miss even a moment.

Before the live performance, the music video played on the large screen. Even though she had already watched it on repeat, seeing it on the big TV with proper sound made it feel like a real movie.

The colors and camera movement were far beyond what one would expect from a typical music video.

'Can't argue with that movie director's experience. Especially Joo Young-won, a director of a ten-million-viewer film.'

Even some of the reporters were so mesmerized they couldn't look away. She assumed it was their first time seeing the music video. Since they were here for work, that made sense.

The music video ended in a flash. The theme and concept of Teorra's world were delivered clearly. Along with introducing their universe, it also expressed a sense of innocence.

She had already read the lyrics before the showcase, and depending on how you interpreted them, they could feel a bit provocative. Maybe because they were so young, they avoided being too direct.

After the music video, the stage went dark, and when the lights came back on, Teorra appeared, their hair dyed in bright colors.

The large screen zoomed in on each member's face, and there wasn't a single unflattering shot. Their attractive looks, combined with their contact lenses, made them seem unreal.

They looked like beings from another dimension or dolls sculpted by gods.

The bright and unique yet somewhat wistful atmosphere blended with the future-bass pop beat, giving off a sophisticated vibe. It didn't seem to be a current trend, but it felt like it could become one soon.

They were singing live, and their live performance was good. Despite being rookies, their experienced vocal skills made it easy to listen to.

Usually, she would get nervous when singers struggled with pitch or timing, but Teorra delivered a clean live performance.

Their dancing looked effortless, but when observed closely, it was clear the choreography was highly complex. The main dancer was better, of course, but overall, they were all skilled dancers.

Their practice was evident, with even their arm angles in perfect sync—classic precision group dancing. With Teorra's visuals, it wouldn't have been surprising if one or two members were a bit awkward on stage.

"Are you telling me a freshly debuted idol group is this skilled?"

Even though she was watching it with her own eyes, she couldn't believe it. Whether these members were born to be idols or whether Hanul Entertainment had honed them through sheer hard work, the result was spectacular.

"Oppa..."

The word slipped from her lips unconsciously. Some of the members were older than her, some younger, but if they were handsome and good at their craft, they were all oppas to her.

Tomorrow at school, she would definitely ask her friends if they had seen Teorra's showcase. If they hadn't, they'd be missing out on life.

"No, I need to message them now. A real friend can't let their friends miss out on life, even for a second."

As the title track performance ended and the press conference began, she grabbed her phone. She started texting her friends while half-watching the press conference, then eventually put her phone down.

Since there were still more songs to be performed, she didn't turn off the screen.

"Is this a press conference or a game of push-and-pull?"

It felt like a fierce battle between the reporters, trying to stir up controversy, and Teorra, trying their best not to give them anything to latch onto.

Her friends' messages perfectly captured her feelings:
[What the heck is this? These guys are seriously impressive at talking.] [I think I'm about to become a fan just from this press conference!]

Good thing she didn't go for the orange juice. If she had been drinking it during the press conference, she would've definitely spat it out laughing.

<To be continued...>