TV Talent

Part Seven: Curtain Call (Flashback #1)

Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul. December 25, 2019, six days before.

Linda was late.

She'd touched down at Gimpo International Airport, straight from a project in New York about five hours ago. She was already cutting it close with five hours, but it still should have been enough time for her to get ready at a nearby hotel and head to the Sky Dome at a relatively leisurely pace. Unfortunately, a delay in airport security, complications with the hotel room and traffic left her with barely enough time to reach the stadium. The venue was already packed with people when she reached there. Gocheok Sky Dome, originally a baseball stadium, had been converted into a concert hall for the Gayo Daejeon music festival. Seating areas were cordoned into sections sloping above the stages, bright lightsticks waved excitedly in the bleachers and the air buzzed with energy and excitement. Thankfully, the event seemed to have only just started. She'd missed the red carpet, but that didn't matter, at least she was here. Grateful she'd made it, she hurried inside, adjusting her outfit and hoping she hadn't missed anything important. She scanned the field of guests in the artists' private area and spotted Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa and Rosé seated together on the other side of the grand stage. She caught Jisoo's eye and waved. Jisoo excitedly nudged the girls and they waved back, grinning. 

The first performance had already taken the stage. A breathtaking Christmas carol medley performed by none other than our very own BTS. Linda had seen them perform before in America, but this was a different version of them than what she was used. Instead of their usual sharp dance and upbeat songs, their performance played out like a musical. She found herself smiling unconsciously as she watched Jungkook lead the little girl around the stages and clapped with wonder as each set of members showed up to dance and sing with props. The performance drew to an end with them facing the crowd together, singing Silent Night. She clapped with the rest of the audience, impressed. As they left the stage, the hosts appeared. Jun Hyun-Moo and Kim Seolhyun, a middle-aged man and a tall, slender woman took the stage to talk about the event. After talking for a bit, Seolhyun turned to Hyun-Moo. 

'What a crowd of people we have this evening, isn't that right Hyun-Moo-ssi?' 

'Yes, that's right, Seolhyun-ssi. As it is, I see a lot of familiar faces among the artists here this evening such as Blackpink, who will be performing their latest comeback, GUCCI GIRLS, later tonight.'  

Linda took her cue and quickly got up and approached the stage.

'We'll be waiting excitedly for it! Speaking of which, why don't we introduce one of tonight's guests, who has traveled a long way from New York to perform here in Seoul?' 

Linda walked onto the stage, smiled at the hosts and took a mic from Seolhyun. 

'Annyeonghaseyo, Kimara-imnida.' Her voice bounced off the dome's walls. The crowd cheered back in greeting. She waved, grateful she'd practiced in the airplane. 'Hello Seoul, it's really great to be here! I'm honored and excited to be performing for you tonight with the amazing BLACKPINK, so please look forward to our performance and all the rest of the great performances we're showing tonight at SBS Gayo Daejeon.'  

'Yes, we are showing some very special stages, so stay tuned,' Hyun-Moo added. 'Seolhyun-ssi, which stages are you most looking forward to tonight?' 

'Well, I for one am looking forward to our special Disney Dream Medley, and of course who could forget the Shin Seung Hun Medley, featuring Shin Seung Hun, Jukjae, and Seventeen's Seungkwan and Dokyeom.' 

'Also remember to keep an eye out for some unique collaboration stages tonight, such as Stray Kids and NCT Dream, and of course our amazing Don't Touch dance collaboration stages,' Linda chimed in. 'But first, let's welcome Tomorrow by Together and ITZY, who are covering Boy In Luv by BTS and TT by Twice, as well as putting on excellent personal performances of Run Away, ICY, and DALLA DALLA.'