Episode 111
"Hello WeArs! Welcome as our 11th guest on KPOP NOW."
"Hello! We are WeArs!"
Ella, the host of the American K-pop dedicated radio channel 'KPOP NOW', started the radio broadcast with a lively voice.
"It's so great to meet WeArs, who are the hottest K-pop artists these days. Still, I can't skip mentioning this first. As K-pop singers, you've put your names on Billboard's main chart, the Hot 100, for the first time in about 5 years. Congratulations!"
"Thank you!"
"WeArs' achievement this time is very surprising as a K-pop fan. Not long after declaring your entry into the American market, you're already yielding visible results."
Ella, who said that, looked at us with a bright smile. Then, with shining eyes, she asked.
"The reason for such success is of course because WeArs' songs are good, but it seems like it's also because of 'that day's incident' that many people are curious about. What do you think?"
'Sigh...'
Of course, I knew this question would inevitably come up. But receiving the same question everywhere I go, I couldn't help but sigh internally.
To meet Ella's expectant gaze, I spoke calmly.
"If you mean that day's incident. You're talking about what happened with Paul Ryan at the Masked Singer finals, right?"
"Oh! I didn't directly mention the name Paul Ryan. But since you brought it up first, I'll ask with a lighter heart. Actually, I was personally very curious. Eugene, after the broadcast ended that day, was there really nothing between you and Paul Ryan?"
When Ella's question was directed straight at Eugene Kim this time, Eugene Kim continued calmly.
"Yes, there was nothing."
"Oh! Really? The broadcast ended with Paul Ryan being completely furious. Didn't you have a separate conversation after the broadcast ended?"
"It seemed like he tried to say something to me after the broadcast ended. But the surroundings were too noisy so I couldn't hear properly."
"My... If it were Paul Ryan, it doesn't seem like he would just let it go. Was there no contact later?"
"No, I haven't received any contact until now."
At Eugene Kim's answer, Ella nodded with a slightly disappointed expression.
It's understandable to be disappointed.
Since that broadcast aired, the name Paul Ryan had plastered all over the news articles.
But Paul Ryan hasn't faced the press since the broadcast. Then the only person who could hear the behind-the-scenes story was the person involved, Eugene Kim.
She would want to squeeze as much as possible out of us.
'But the Fighters fans are so terrifying.'
Even for us, we were refraining from carelessly bringing up that day's incident.
Even now, Eugene Kim and WeArs were receiving curses that would last a lifetime in real-time.
If we said even one more word here, we might really get terrorized by the hardcore fans.
Of course, thanks to that heated interest, WeArs' song achieved the feat of charting on the Billboard Hot 100, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.
The ranking was still in the 90s, but the symbolism of having their name on the Hot 100 was enormous.
As soon as they ranked, countless interview requests and broadcast appearance offers started pouring in explosively.
Actually, it still didn't feel real.
"Eugene Kim! I understand this album is WeArs' first full album. Could you explain about the album?"
"Yes, WeArs' first full album Challenger contains our autobiographical story..."
After the mention of Paul Ryan, it was a radio broadcast not much different from other broadcasts in Korea.
Except that instead of the other members who were still clumsy with English, Eugene Kim and I answered almost all the questions.
"Alright, then we'll listen to the song that ends part 1 of KPOP NOW! and come back with part 2. The last song of part 1 is WeArs' first full album's title track 'Better'."
Time passed quickly.
With Ella's comment, our song flowed from the headphones.
"Rin-iiiii. Can you see what's coming up in the chat? It's going up so fast I can't understand any of it."
A brief break.
When I was taking off my headphones, Sim Seong-ha, who was sitting next to me, talked to me while looking at the real-time chat.
"Seong-ha, why aren't you speaking? They're asking."
"Aaaaaaah. I want to speak too! Please give me a chance too!"
"Don't tell me. Go tell Ella over there."
"That's... not easy!"
It seemed like Sim Seong-ha would need a Spartan-style English tutor.
While I was devising a plan to reform Sim Seong-ha like that.
I suddenly made eye contact with Ella, who was resting quietly.
"You're good at English. Did you live in America when you were young?"
"No. I studied on my own."
"Oh, really? That's impressive. It's not easy to speak that naturally..."
Ella's sudden chatter.
I didn't know she was this type when hosting the broadcast. Once she started talking, she was the type who never stopped.
"So yeah. I thought Paul Ryan was going to cause an incident while I was watching TV that day. Still, it's a relief it ended at that level. If it were Paul Ryan from when he was younger, the stage would have probably been completely destroyed."
"You seem to know Paul Ryan well?"
"Yeah, because we worked together."
"Ah, really?"
I thought she was just a talkative host. Did she have a relationship with Paul Ryan?
"Yeah, of course we don't meet now. But I also did music. Should I tell you about that time?"
"Uh... that's..."
"Oh, I'm kidding. There's no way old stories would be interesting. But you know, if I were to give you one serious piece of advice. Something might happen soon."
"Excuse me? Something might happen?"
"Paul Ryan is not the type of person to stay still after experiencing something like that... probably..."
"Probably?"
"Oh! It's time to start part 2 now, everyone get ready to start the broadcast."
Was I... had?
Looking at Ella smiling at me and putting her headphones back on. I pondered for a long time whether I should teach Ella the 2 things Koreans hate the most.
***
"Alright, we will now begin the WeArs Cup Malicious Comment Reading Competition. The very first contestant is... the man who is receiving all the attention from rock music fans in America. A heart made of steel, the man of second place... Eugene Kim!"
"..."
Another peaceful day at WeArs' dorm. Even after the schedule ended, as if they weren't tired, all 7 members naturally gathered in one room at some point.
I have no idea why that had to be my room.
"The first comment is from HeavyMetalKing living in Minnesota. 'Eugene Kim? Who the hell is that? How dare they go up against Paul? I'll fold your spine in half...'"
"Yes, A-jin. For the protection of the person involved, that's enough."
"Yes ma'am! Then the second comment is... 'WeArs' songs are shitty so I don't want to listen to them.'"
"Wait a minute, why are they suddenly cursing WeArs? They should only curse Eugene hyung!"
"That's right. I can endure cursing Eugene hyung. But I can't endure cursing WeArs... aaaaagh!"
"A-jin, you did memorize all the English vocabulary words you were told to, right?"
"W-wait a minute! I was going to do it in a bit... H-hey! Sim Seong-ha! Where are you going!!"
"Shut up Kang A-jin! I was studying!"
"W-what! You were playing with me until just now! Eugene hyung! Help me!"
"..."
Since coming to America, it seemed like A-jin had been heavily influenced by Seong-ha.
It was good that he seemed brighter than in Korea.
But it felt like the troublemakers had increased from two to three.
"Eugene."
"..."
"Eugene?"
I called his name. But Eugene Kim didn't answer with a sullen expression for some reason.
"It seems like being called the man of second place earlier was a critical hit."
Baek Si-hyun carefully whispered to me from the side.
"Si-hyun. I can hear everything."
"Ah..."
I couldn't fool Eugene Kim's bright ears.
Anyway. Are you... perhaps sulking?
"Don't look at me with those eyes."
"Y-yeah."
Eugene Kim, who confidently said everything he wanted to say even in front of Paul Ryan. Sulking at being called the man of second place.
It didn't really match his image.
Both Kang A-jin and Eugene Kim.
The gradually changing appearances of the two didn't look bad.
'Should I say it seems like their hearts have opened to each other now.'
At that moment.
Bzzzt- Bzzzt-
The sound of phone vibration rang out.
"Hello... Yes, we're all together right now. Just a moment."
Eugene Kim, who answered the phone, talked with someone for a moment, then turned the phone to speakerphone.
"Who is it, Eugene?"
-Oh! Long time no see, everyone. Have you been well?
When I asked Eugene Kim, a voice I hadn't expected came from the phone.
"James Blake?"
"Wow! Long time no see."
"We entered the Hot 100 chart!"
"What have you been up to lately?"
-Please speak one at a time! You guys are still noisy.
The identity of the person who called was James Blake, who had taken charge of producing our first full album.
-I'm doing well. And I'm seeing you guys doing well too, so you don't have to tell me. Anyway, it seems like everyone is doing fine.
"We're all doing well."
-Yeah, Park Han-hwi? I'm glad you're doing well. Anyway, I didn't call to ask how you're doing... Oh! Alright, I'm going! Just wait a moment!
James Blake answered someone's call halfheartedly and continued speaking.
-Actually, I'm very busy right now. I'll get straight to the point. Not you guys... but Eugene Kim. You caused a big incident recently.
"...What incident?"
-It's not like you don't know, but it seems you're embarrassed. Still, you did well. Thanks to the incident you caused, people got to know you, so that's a good thing, though it seems infamy has also piled up along with it.
"So the main point you were talking about earlier..."
-Ah, right! As I get older, I keep talking too much. Actually, I received a contact.
"A contact? From who?"
-From Paul Ryan.
"Excuse me?"
-He said to tell you to come find him directly if you're confident.
"Excuuuse me?"
-Well then, I've delivered the message so I'll hang up now...
"W-wait a minute. What on earth is this about suddenly telling us to come find him?"
-Hmm, to add a bit more. You'd better go meet Paul Ryan if possible. If you don't go, given that guy's personality... you know? Then I'm really hanging up now. Bye.
Click-
Because of James Blake, who dropped a bomb and hung up the phone as if nothing happened, silence suddenly lingered in the dorm.
"What... is going on?"
I asked the question out of absurdity, but there was no one here who could give me an answer to my question.
"From what I roughly understood, Paul Ryan told us to come find him, right?"
Woo Jung-woo, who seemed to understand late, said to me. And I lightly nodded.
"Then we just need to go find him! What could possibly happen if we go?"
"That's right!"
"They say even if you enter a tiger's den, you'll survive as long as you keep your wits about you!"
"Ryan isn't a tiger, he's a Saiyan."
"Who doesn't know that, you ignorant fool!"
"What did you say? That I'm ignorant?"
While the other members were each adding a word to Woo Jung-woo's words.
Eugene Kim suddenly showed us an article.
[Paul Ryan gets into a brawl with a fan during a performance. Strikes fan's head with guitar causing 12 weeks of injury...]
"W-wait. Everyone makes mistakes at least once in their lives..."
When Woo Jung-woo said in a panic, Eugene Kim found another article and held it out to us.
Even with just a brief look, articles about Paul Ryan's bizarre acts could be seen in piles.
"Ah, I'm not looking! I'm not going to look!"
Woo Jung-woo shook his head in panic, then looked at me and spoke.
"Wait! I have a great idea!"
"What is it?"
"Rin-i hyung goes alone! How about it?"
"Ohhh..."
Wait, why is everyone silent?
Han-hwi hyung? Eugene?