novelraw Chapter 276: Year-End (4)
Chapter 276: Year-End (4)
“What are you doing! Hurry up and go out!”
Berion, who was sitting nearby, urged us.
No, really…?
That couldn’t be. These guys hadn’t received a rookie award in the past.
I was bewildered, but my body reacted mechanically. Before I knew it, I was walking toward the stage with Jeong Seongbin, pulling the members along. Choi Jeho’s fluffy blanket had long since been taken off by someone from Berion.
“It seems our Spark really didn’t expect to win Rookie of the Year?”
The MC, seeing our dumbfounded expressions, said with a smile.
Yes, we didn’t expect it. Sure, we had five comebacks in a year, and there had been that 14-month hiatus in the past, which was partly why Spark never won Rookie of the Year back then.
It never even crossed my mind. Of course it didn’t. My head was full of thoughts on how to make Spark stand out the most on the year-end stage.
“Then, starting with the leader, about three of you! Let’s hear your acceptance speeches.”The microphone was passed to Jeong Seongbin.
Is he going to cry again? Do Choi Jeho and I have to give the acceptance speech again this time?
Thinking that, I hurriedly looked back at Jeong Seongbin, but his face was, contrary to my imagination, composed.
Although he was a little flushed, and his eyes were moist.
The guy didn’t cry.
“…It’s both bewildering and an honor to receive such a difficult award. Even more so because we didn’t expect to win the rookie award.”
His refined and polite words flowed through the microphone.
“I’m able to give the acceptance speech first as the leader, but I don’t think I’ve done a good job as a leader this past year. Rather, it was a year where I relied a lot on the members.”
It was already impressive enough that he had managed this bombshell of a team by the scruff of the neck and dragged them along, but Jeong Seongbin was even humble on top of that.
Normally, I’d have said something like, ‘If only you’d joined as my junior, I’d have carried you around and treated you so well’, but.
My heart was complicated. I was proud, but it also felt like I was watching a child who had grown up too quickly, and I felt sorry for him, but I was also grateful that he had grown this much. Because there would be no nineteen-year-old who had done as good a job as a leader as Jeong Seongbin.
“I won’t forget this gratitude and my original passion, and I will work hard. Thank you!”
Receiving applause, Jeong Seongbin passed the microphone to Lee Cheonghyeon next to him.
“To all the staff, our parents, and the main characters of today’s rookie award, Sparklers. Thank you. I think my expression was a little foolish because I was so surprised earlier… but now, I’m really overwhelmed. I don’t know if my feelings are being conveyed!”
Lee Cheonghyeon said with sparkling eyes. His raised lips and wide eyes represented his feelings.
“The mischievous maknaes could have been arrogant, but thanks to the hyungs who pushed us to do everything we wanted, we were able to enjoy our clueless rookie life so happily.”
The guys keep surprising me since a while ago. I wonder if these guys were the kind of kids who could say such things.
The strength in Lee Cheonghyeon’s hand, holding the microphone, increased.
“Above all, I’m happy that we can be the singers who received the rookie award for Sparklers. We will repay you with better stages. Sparklers, we love you!”
As Lee Cheonghyeon waved his arm, a cheer close to a scream was heard from one side of the audience.
When Spark won first place for the first time, it was Park Joowoo and me who gave the speech.
When Spark won first place on cable, it was me and Choi Jeho.
When Choi Jeho won first on a dance survival show, and now—today—it was Jeong Seongbin and Lee Cheonghyeon giving the acceptance speech.
And there was just one member who had never once given a speech on behalf of Spark.
Lee Cheonghyeon tilted the microphone slightly and looked at Kang Kiyeon.
Kang Kiyeon swallowed hard and then received the microphone with a trembling hand.
He took a small, deep breath. The venue became quiet.
“Thank… you.”
His voice quivered.
“I believe this is an award we wouldn’t have been able to receive if it weren’t for our fans. Even now, I believe that our fans are happier than we are.”
Kang Kiyeon slowly continued his acceptance speech. A faint smile began to form on his lips.
“We will work hard so that there will only be happy things in the future. We would be grateful if you could believe in us and support us.”
Bow. As the guy bowed his head, we also followed suit.
Applause poured down from above our heads.
The guys looked composed. It seemed I was the only one who got choked up.
* * *
The New Star Award went to Song Minil. It seemed they had grouped Parthe under the label of ‘low seniority’ to give them an award, as giving Spark the rookie award would have made Parthe seem ‘too senior’. No wonder an award I had never heard of in my life had appeared.
As I was clapping for the award-winning Song Minil, the system popped up.
+
[SYSTEM] A ‘Hidden Task’ has been completed.
▷ Task: Winning the Rookie of the Year Award
▷ Reward: Time Stop
[SYSTEM] A work instruction from ‘Superior’ has arrived
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, you said you wished time would stop? If you have that much work, you should’ve just said so. From now on, work to your heart’s content!
+
What the hell kind of reward is this?
I had to keep my expression under control, but the system kept making me angry. Wasn’t it the same system that told me to smile like a rising star and win over 10,000 fans? Then shouldn’t it at least give me a reason to smile?
While Song Minil was giving his acceptance speech, I did my best to smile brightly. You piece of garbage system. Give me back all my emotions.
* * *
After the first part ended, the Spark children returned to the dorm energetically. Thanks to that, in the second part, only Choi Jeho and I remained, and we had to show ourselves immersed in the stage with tremendous concentration.
Ah, we also had a little chat.
‘Want more blankets? Joowoo’s still got his spare.’
‘No.’
That was it. I did exchange a few more words, worried that a discord rumor would immediately fly about the rookie award-winning idol group.
Certainly, as it got closer to the ending, the stages became more splendid and abundant. The quality and freshness of the performances were also different from the rookies, who at best used pillars of fire as stage effects.
Especially Mr. Polo’s stage was amazing. Even with just one idol member from a large group rapping alone, the stage still felt completely full.
“Sunbaenim is really amazing.”
My jaw wouldn’t close. Applause came out one after another.
I hoped the cameras didn’t catch my face. Because I felt like I’d look like a fool on screen.
For the finale, just as we’d been told, all performers gathered behind one of the great seniors of the music industry to sing together. Choi Jeho and I, standing in the very back row, waved the glow sticks we’d been handed and sang along.
After finishing all our tasks and returning to the dorm…
“Good work! Now, blow out the candles!”
…as expected, not a single one of the Spark members was asleep, and they had taken out a ‘Congratulations on the Rookie Award’ cake from who knows where and started a party.
“Where did the cake come from?”
“Daeyeon hyung gave it to us. Apparently, the company thought we might win, so they ordered it in advance.”
Lee Cheonghyeon answered as he stuck six long candles into the cake. Perhaps to represent us, a candle was stuck on top of each round face.
“Did you get the party hats with it?”
Park Joowoo, who was putting a party hat on my head as I asked, said.
“These are… also from Daeyeon hyung.”
“…You want us to wear this and blow out the candles?”
“Yeah.”
First, we took about 50 photos with the party hats on. Next, we took 50 photos with the cake lit, 50 of us blowing out the candles, and 50 of us eating the cake, for a total of about 27,800 photos, and then sat down.
The photos taken were quickly checked, selected, and uploaded to the official account with a short thank-you message. Individually, we went on Bubble Pop, uploaded our favorite individual and group shots, and took some time to send messages.
“Shall we eat now?”
Jeong Seongbin, who had sent a thank-you message to the fans early on, brought over a plate.
“Can we? It’s past midnight.”
“Considering we have practice later, wouldn’t it be okay…?”
As Lee Cheonghyeon gave a weary little smile, Kang Kiyeon silently picked up his fork. A proper sugar boost made a person more active.
I was going to refuse too, but decided to have just half a slice. No point refusing when everyone else was eating. Not that it mattered, Choi Jeho ate enough for three people anyway.
More importantly, when did that guy eat two slices already? He was so brazenly getting a new slice that I thought he hadn’t eaten yet.
Lee Cheonghyeon, wearing play sunglasses with a large ‘PARTY’ on top, turned the rookie award trophy this way and that.
“This is amazing. It’s a real award.”
“You’ve gotten plenty of trophies before.”
Kang Kiyeon retorted, pretending to be indifferent, but his gaze was fixed on the trophy in Lee Cheonghyeon’s hands.
“You’ve won awards before, Cheonghyeon?”
Jeong Seongbin asked. Lee Cheonghyeon, looking awkward, lowered his sunglasses.
“Not really!”
Lee Cheonghyeon pretended not to know and ate his cake, trying his best to ignore Kang Kiyeon’s gaze.
‘Was it a piano-related award? Or the Olympiad?’
Whatever it was, if Lee Cheonghyeon himself didn’t want to talk about it, I had no intention of prying.
Fortunately, the flow of the conversation changed quickly.
Jeong Seongbin’s mother called to congratulate them on winning the Rookie Award, and Park Joowoo, who had been forcing down a buttercream cake that didn’t suit his taste under the excuse of it being a ‘celebration cake’, had his plate snatched away by Choi Jeho’s “If you’re not going to eat it, give it to me.”—I would say it was a win-win in the end—and Jeong Seongbin suddenly made the atmosphere heartwarming by saying thank you for working hard all year.
The rookie award we received for becoming a notable rookie was shabby. Who could be more worn-out and battered than us?
“Where should we put this? On top of the storage cabinet?”
“Isn’t it better in front of the shoe rack mirror?”
“What if it falls!”
Watching Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Kiyeon wander around the dorm, holding the shabby trophy as if it were the most precious thing in the world, reminded me of what happened last spring. A few months ago, when I had gone to the Children’s Grand Park with those two.
The day Lee Cheonghyeon was struggling to write a song and Kang Kiyeon was running around as I told him to.
Those guys had steadily released the songs they had made and had tried to stand up on their own to win that award. That fact made me…
“Iwol hyung, how about here? You can see it well!”
Made me…
…I don’t know. What word should I use to express this feeling?
But is it necessary to put a person’s emotions into words? As long as it isn’t unpleasant, isn’t that enough?