122 - Upki Girl

< Target No. 1, ‘JH’ > Just before the second performance, I left the waiting room to monitor the atmosphere of the venue. Even though it was well past midnight, with most transport options no longer available, there were hardly any empty seats left. I settled near the sound console in the center of the audience, exchanging well-wishes with the sound team with whom I had developed a rapport. According to the scriptwriter, the ratings were high, and the entire production team had been awarded a bonus vacation. “Congratulations on the special vacation.” “It's all thanks to you, Yeon Hong-nim.” “No, truly, it's because of the sound team.” “Hehehe.” The stage was shrouded in darkness. Soon, a video of Hong’s interview from the dry rehearsal appeared on the large screen. It had been filmed just a few hours earlier, but had already been edited with subtitles. ―Ah, I feel like crying... It’s strange to think this is the last time. When Hong’s natural, bare face—void of even BB cream—was captured on screen, a murmur surged through the audience. The general reaction was that she looked too haggard. In the first performance just moments before, she had full makeup on, so it wasn’t noticeable, but Hong had lost a staggering 5kg over the last two weeks while preparing for the two final stage songs. The weight she reported to me this morning was 58.8kg. Despite her long-awaited entry into the 50kg range, I find myself missing Hong from the 60kg days. Hong-ah, let’s go back to the Hong Kardashian era…. ―I used to admire Choi Shika so much that I memorized her raps from her underground days. It feels like a dream to be on the same stage with her. Hong had revealed her admiration for Choi Shika throughout the contest. She said it made her feel at ease. For the company, it’s a win-win situation whether she wins or loses. Hong has shown everything she could as a ‘girl crush’ and has gained everything she could, so we are actually hoping for a second-place finish. With titles like ‘Rapper with Principles’ and ‘Queen of Hip-Hop,’ she has garnered just as many antis, and winning against the well-liked Choi Shika could spark backlash. The production team seems to be hoping for Hong’s surprise victory for the sake of ratings, but the public expects Choi Shika to win, which would wrap things up neatly. ―I’d be so grateful if the audience could just recognize my sincerity. That’s the reason I rap. As Hong’s interview finished on the big screen, the song details appeared. While the first performance’s song ‘Time 2 Party’ was a party hip-hop piece meant to be enjoyed with the audience, the second song expressed Hong’s dreams and aspirations over Dante’s trademark sleek and smooth beat, delivering an autobiographical message. Anding ― Yeonhong (Prod. by Dante) Lyrics: Dante, Yeonhong Composer: Dante Arranger: Dante, Nigagara Hawa2 Our Hong took the stage in her changed attire. Hong’s final girl-crush performance was about to begin. The featured singer would appear after the first verse rap concluded. Everyone laughed when I made my debut Like a baby just learning to walk, trying to run Mocking me, claiming I couldn’t even walk I understand, no one knew my potential Busy blowing on what they thought was a flickering flame But the more they did, the more I caught fire, see? Where am I standing now? On the stage I wanted so much, shouting my name— The first act of life starts now Throw me the fuel to burn brighter It wasn't only fat that burned away I erased the more terrifying demon called complacency Wearing the self-esteem that never got weighed down On a stage that won't end, it’s not an Ending but an Anding Shout my name louder, say my name, say my name…… As ‘say my name’ softly faded out, the screen split into two, opening wide to the sides. Emerging from the passageway were four women silhouetted in the spotlight standing in front of a standing mic. Due to the backlit spotlights, their faces were obscured from the audience. ―Starlight, I know it will shine on me Even though I knew their identities and had already heard the song during rehearsals, the rich harmony crafted by the four sent shivers down my spine again. The camera panned over the standing section. A couple or perhaps friends, a man and a woman who had come together, gazed at each other, mouthing, ‘Who are they? Who could it be?’ Of course, they were curious. It wasn’t just one person, but four. In hip-hop contests, featured artists serve not only as attractions but also as critical elements that can determine the outcome. In the previous first performance, Choi Shika had delighted the audience by featuring Juminseong, a male vocalist among the top five in popularity among men in their 20s and 30s. With Juminseong's level of recognition and reputation, our side needed at least someone of K-Noah’s caliber, or else a singer rarely seen on TV, or someone completely unexpected. This means the artist needed to excel not just in singing, but also in popularity and uniqueness. The group we chose met all the criteria: popularity, skill, recognition, rarity, and the element of surprise. As the first verse’s refrain ended, the screen closed again, once more obscuring their presence. During the first verse, only their silhouettes were shown to build anticipation, with plans to reveal their identities during the second verse’s refrain. I sent a message to one of them. The conversation we had just a few minutes ago still hung in the chat window. JH [Feeling surprisingly nervous since it’s been a while since I've been on stage] Me [The legendary Jehee, nervous?] JH [What if people criticize us saying we're from an ancient Plan L eraㅠ] Me [No way] JH [Where are you?] Me [In the middle of the audience, at the console box] JH [Okay, I’ll create a heart for you LOL] Me [I probably won’t see it from the stage though] JH [I can see that far] Me [Then I’ll wave my handkerchief like crazy.] JH [ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ] JH [Kyaa, I'm about to go on standby] Me [Good luck!] Me [Even knowing it was coming, I got chills when the song started. The audience still has no idea who it is, haha] The idea to have the disbanded Plan L perform as a full chorus was from their former manager, Chief Kim Sang-in. At first glance, it seemed like a major win for us, but in reality, it was mutually beneficial. The members were preparing for solo activities in their respective fields; one was even appearing in a daily drama. One of the key images associated with Plan L was ‘women’s loyalty,’ and their steadfast relationship after disbandment made them a beloved group, despite their strong and bold personas. They needed an impactful platform to showcase their unchanging bond and to re-establish their ambiguous celebrity status post-disbandment. The ratings for ‘Girl Crush’ and Hong's intriguing presence were more than enough to meet their needs. ―......it's not an end but drawing a line toward tomorrow. I pray that my earnest voice reaches your heart, too. As Hong’s second rap verse ended, the large screen opened again. It was time to reveal Plan L’s identity. Four women confidently stepped to the front of the stage with their microphones in hand, each displaying their unique stage presence. ―Starlight, I know it will shine on me The faces of Plan L members on the big screen were visible from even the furthest seats. ―Whoa! The cheers were everything we had hoped for. Though it was a live broadcast that allowed audience members to film, they were so surprised that everyone lowered their phones to watch the stage with their own eyes. I could overhear conversations from the audience near me. “They disbanded, didn’t they?” “Are they from the same company?” “I don’t think so.” “Wow, they’re really different. They have a presence. Cool!” “Look how they’re enjoying it, hehe.” The original beagle-dol Plan L stood beside Hong, encouraging the audience's participation and reveling in the performance together. As promised to Jehee, I kept waving the handkerchief emblazoned with the Girl Crush logo, and at some point, Jehee spotted me and formed a heart over her head with both hands. It was undoubtedly a message meant for me. A thrill, unidentifiable yet sharp, prickled near my heart. It was a tender, fluttering emotion I had forgotten for a while. Yes, this was why I had those secret office romances. Hong's performance with Plan L was flawless. But there was no major upset. The winner was Choi Shika. She, too, completed both stages without a single mistake, and with a final score of 621 to 379, derived from the panelists, on-site listeners, and real-time text votes, she carved her name onto the inaugural 'Girl Crush' trophy. Hong's mentor, Dante, comforted her by saying, “To me, you're the winner,” and encouraged her not to be disheartened, referring to the final song's title that it’s not an Ending but an Anding, which eventually brought Hong to tears. And so, the two-month-long 'Girl Crush' came to an end. Despite the controversies and dramas, it was a satisfactory conclusion, achieving enough ratings to award the entire production team a bonus vacation. Mentor Jugari referred to Hong as ‘the uncrowned queen,’ which was perfectly fitting. Though Choi Shika won, the top three real-time ratings were all during Hong’s performances. For Hong, the humming Hingeol, and Upkick Girl, it was the best possible scenario. *** The cast was too large for a single gathering, so the celebration was divided into smaller groups for each mentor team. The Dante Yeonhong team, consisting of about 40 people including other participants and staff, booked an entire BBQ restaurant. Yona first attended the Jakdu team celebration and planned to join this one later. Lara God from the Dante team had to bow out for the remainder of the season due to excessive controversy. PD Joo's mess was thoroughly used as compost and then vanished into thin air. Once the tables were mostly filled, Dante, the other star of the evening, waved a card with his usual gesture showing his swagger. “Just so you know, tonight’s on me. This isn’t a company card, it’s my personal one.” “Really?!” “So just eat a little bit. The secret to longevity is? Eating light, Yeh!” “Oh, come on!” Dante playfully feigned a poke towards Participant 1, who grumbled in response. “Just kidding, stop being so serious. We’ve got Club Icon booked for the second round.” “Wooowww!” “Now, with our glasses full, let’s have a grand toast. Raise your glasses above your heads!” Everyone responded to Dante's signature toast call, familiar from several group dinners. “I say one shot, you say liquor shot! One shot!” “Liquor shot!” “One shot!” “Liquor shot!” “Drink!” “Die!” “And the minors?” “Fanta!” “Yes!” “Yes!” Each person drained their glass, finishing with a dab dance gesture—a bent arm and a straight arm in unison. While eventually, everyone would mingle, initially, musicians, stylists, and managers formed their own groups. Most of the managers, myself included, had soft drinks in our glasses as we'd be driving. Seated across from me was Chief Manager Lee Jeong-ho, who attended as Plan L’s manager today. I heard he took over the management team lead after Kim Sang-in left. Throughout Hong's rehearsals, Jang-woo was the one shadowing her, so this was my first time officially meeting Jeong-ho. We had a brief exchange during rehearsal earlier. Managers tend to keep their ages a mystery, but he seems younger than me. Naturally, I started a conversation with Replay Girl as the theme. “They’re having Happy Joy on Replay Girl this time, right? We’re also going to be on that show.” “I’m not too familiar with the rookie segments...” “Oh, I see.” Of course he would know. What big secret is he trying to keep? Drawing lines like that. “So, who are you managing now?” “I’m alternating between Suhyun and Dahee.” “I see.” With that, I wrapped up my conversation and shifted my attention to Dante’s manager, who I had gotten to know well over time. We exchanged the usual formalities about having gone through a lot, and about whether I had actually accomplished anything, when a familiar voice boomed from the singers' table. “Craaanng! This is what dining out is all about!” Yu Eunbit was in high spirits. With the new year, she's finally old enough to drink confidently. Wherever she learned it, she was already downing soju cocktails at her head and hopping from group to group, encouraging everyone to drink. Where are the other members? With so many people, it's hard to spot them all at once. As with any large gathering, post-national toast, everyone formed smaller groups, diving into conversations with those at their tables. Let’s see, Hong was sitting with Dante and other team-affiliated girl rappers. She was in the middle of stuffing a huge lettuce wrap into her mouth when she caught my eye. Freezing in place with a guilty look, I mouthed ‘eat, eat’ and waved her on, smiling. The table with Riya and Seowon was right next to hers. They were sitting with Plan L. From my vantage point, I could see both Seowon’s and Riya’s faces, but was it just my perception, or was Seowon staring at Plan L with a hint of disdain? Her eyes were smiling, but it was undoubtedly a forced, insincere smile. Gulp. There seems to be some sort of sensor connecting these folks with the violet ones. While I was worriedly observing their corner, Seowon caught my eye. Her fake smile turned into a genuine, toothy grin as she waved at me. I gave a nonchalant, tsundere-style reply, mouthing ‘What?’ Seowon pouted her lips in response, playfully annoyed. Beside her, Riya also noticed me and waved wildly, shouting out loud. “Munho! Come over here! Get over here!” Finally, even the Plan L members turned to look at me. Among them was Jehee. There was something off about her beaming smile and the atmosphere around her. And then, the situation I feared unfolded. “Oh? Yunho oppa, come over here! Why are you hanging out with the managers? It’s the same nonsense every time!” Jehee’s playful remark made everyone laugh, but I couldn't bring myself to join them. I should have warned her not to act chummy in front of the kids. She’s already marked as Target No. 1 amongst them. Oh dear. Even Suhyun joined in. With her husky voice, she called out for everyone to hear. “Get over here! Jehee’s been dying to see you!” Gulp. Seowon’s brow furrowed slightly. Didn’t they say they have a club booked for the second round? It looks like we might need to wrap this up at the first round.... < Target No. 1, ‘JH’ > End