Blue light poured onto the stage. All the members except Tae-oh covered their faces with fans and knelt on the floor. To infuse the classic ballad with an Eastern touch, Ga-ram boldly extended the intro.
The opening sequence flowed with the distinct pluck of Eastern strings and the haunting sound of the *daegeum (A large, transverse bamboo flute used in traditional Korean music.), like a fierce wind passing through. At the center of the stage, Tae-oh stood alone, his face half-hidden behind a fan. This performance would begin with Yoon Tae-oh. Behind him, the projection of a massive full moon shimmered into view. Bathed in blue light, his face partially veiled by the fan, and moonlight cascading over his shoulders, the backlight cast a striking silhouette.
With his lower face concealed by the fan, his sharp eyes and dark brows stood out even more. Even in the backlight, his glinting black pupils burned with intensity. He looked like an uninvited guest of the night—or a tiger descending with the moon at his back.
Though artificial, the moonlight seemed to seep into the lines of his shoulders. The delicate fabric of his outfit caught the light, ensuring his broad shoulders and model-like silhouette weren’t lost in the darkness. As the percussive clack of wooden blocks echoed across the stage, Tae-oh moved his fan in time with the rhythm. The other members, still kneeling, mirrored his motions while gazing in different directions. Then, in unison, their fans snapped shut with a crisp click.
A bright spotlight suddenly hit Tae-oh, and the light that had already clung to his eyes now drowned them in brilliance. As the members rose slowly, Tae-oh captivated the audience with a flashy hand technique—tossing the folded fan into the air, twirling it mid-flight, catching it, then tapping his shoulder before snapping it open to shield half his face again.
Before anyone noticed, Sol had risen to his feet in sync with the choreography and now stood before Tae-oh, fan obscuring his face. The camera zoomed in, filling the frame with Sol’s features: red eyeshadow, a faint white liner accenting the outer corners of his eyes—mysterious and beautiful.
As the melody properly began, layered with the sorrowful tones of the *geomungo (Korean zither), Sol rolled his fan shut. Then, with a desolate gaze, he stretched his arm high above him. Under the moon of a white night, his slender hand gripping the fan looked eerily pale. The silhouette of his extended arm, draped in long sleeves, was outlined by moonlight and stage lights. His elongated neck and delicate fingertips instantly lent an air of classical elegance.
With practiced ease—as if he and the fan were one—Sol flicked it open midair, fluttering it like wings before shifting his gaze to the opposite shoulder. Then, tilting his chin up slightly, he met the camera and sang the first line:
"I dream, deep in the night."
To nail the timing, Sol had drilled this moment through relentless repetition. As his tranquil voice resonated perfectly on beat, Ji-ho, who’d endured the same grueling practice, allowed himself a faint, proud smile.
Sol fluttered the hem of his robe as he spun in a full circle before retreating to the left. The camera followed his movement, keeping him steadily in frame. Everyone, including Sol himself, felt the pressure of him starting the first verse. Since the stage was meant to showcase vocal ability, it was only natural that the later parts of the song demanded more ad-libs, high notes, and emotional delivery.
Despite taking acting lessons, vocal training, and even receiving Ji-ho’s advice, Sol still struggled with expressing emotions naturally. For someone like him, the melancholic yet detached opening—like a quiet reminiscence—was the safest choice, one that also highlighted his charm.
"In a dream that will never come true, I search for you endlessly, but in the end, I’ll lose you."
Sol, with his silver hair frozen like snow, blended seamlessly with the lyrics, looking like a man whose heart had turned cold from pain and exhaustion. As Sol safely navigated the opening, Yeong-ho, who was monitoring the performance, unconsciously clenched his fists at the sight of Sol’s ethereal face filling the screen.
When Sol moved left, Ga-ram lightly tapped the side of his own head with a fan and stepped into the vacant spot. His voice, smooth and pleasantly low, carried the song forward.
"When I open my eyes, time repeats itself. Faded, lonely memories—it’s as if time flows backward, and I’m still trapped in the day you left."
Ga-ram finished his part flawlessly, swinging his arm wide in a dramatic turn. His slightly long hair and clothes fluttered with the forceful motion. As the fabric settled, Tae-oh emerged from Ga-ram’s right, and the two fanned out their backs against each other. The shot of the two tall, handsome men was flawless.
"Day and night. Now, I can’t escape this dream."
Tae-oh’s unusually deep voice contrasted sharply with Ga-ram’s soft, lingering tone from moments earlier. While their backs were still turned, Ga-ram quietly slipped behind Tae-oh, joining the line of members before disappearing. If Sol resembled a graceful scholar, Tae-oh—despite wearing the same outfit—looked more like a nobleman’s young master with his sharp eyes, or even a hardened warrior.
"Drunk on dreams, chasing after you like a broken compass—I can’t escape this dream where I’ll never reach you."
Tae-oh rested the tip of his fan lightly on his shoulder and stretched his other hand toward the camera. Then, as if desperately grasping for something, he clenched his fist tightly. The music and emotions swelled—until Tae-oh vanished, and Ji-ho stepped forward through the fan barrier created by Sol and Deuk-yong.
"No matter how much I call your name, no matter how much I beg, I can’t reach you. I wander, lost in searching for you."
Like a beautifully wrapped gift, Ji-ho poured his heart out to everyone watching through the camera. His clear, high-pitched voice soared without hesitation, showcasing his full talent.
"Today, too, I’m here, searching for you."
A powerful voice that reverberated through the stage, unwavering breath control even amid intense choreography. Ji-ho poured his heart into the soaring chorus, showcasing his polished skills without restraint. As his smooth high notes highlighted the climax, the passionate strumming of the geomungo’s strings surged forth like the emotions in the song.
The strings were plucked so fiercely it felt like they were being torn, and as Ji-ho bent his waist to the rhythm of the percussion, Deuk-yong leaped up behind him. Using Tae-oh and Ga-ram as a springboard, Deuk-yong literally took flight.
When Sol first demonstrated this move, everyone except Tae-oh had just gaped and clapped. And for good reason—the sequence from stepping on Tae-oh and Ga-ram to landing unfolded like slow motion. Sol’s effortless, elegant suspension in the air was nothing short of mesmerizing. After Sol’s explanation, the members each took turns attempting the jump, but none could replicate his fluidity.
Tae-oh came closest, but after several tries, Deuk-yong ultimately claimed the highlight of the dance break. The person launching the jumper was just as crucial as the jumper themselves. While the members struggled to support Tae-oh—the tallest—Sol had sprung up lightly, almost effortlessly. But launching Deuk-yong, who was bigger and heavier, required Ga-ram and Tae-oh to time their push perfectly. The result? Deuk-yong soared over Ji-ho and landed onstage with a heavy thud.
Just as it seemed he’d stuck the landing—Deuk-yong wobbled slightly, dropping his fan. It slid across the floor, bumped into Ji-ho’s foot as he moved back, and skittered away. But the members paid no mind to a stray fan.
All eyes snapped to Deuk-yong. With a navy-blue headband tied around his forehead, he couldn’t immediately rise, acutely aware of the worried gazes burning into his back. His balance had faltered on impact, and a sharp pain shot up from the soles of his feet.
Feeling the hyungs’ anxious stares, Deuk-yong spat his next rap verse without changing his fallen posture. Though unintentional, his stumble had left him bracing against the floor like an action hero—a small mercy. His voice roughened, as if choked with emotion, he growled the lyrics, testing his weight on his left foot before slowly pushing himself up. As if the mistake had never happened, he stepped backward seamlessly, continuing his verse without missing a beat. His ankle throbbed faintly, but he showed no sign of it.
As Deuk-yong retreated from center stage, Sol and Tae-oh took over. Moving in sync yet back-to-back, their mirrored motions were flawless—not a single misstep. Their contrasting hair colors and expressions made them look like reflections in a warped mirror. Tae-oh stretched his leg farther than choreographed, avoiding the fan Deuk-yong had dropped in Sol’s path.
To prevent Sol from stepping on the fan, Tae-oh used his foot to push Deuk-yong's fan aside while moving his arm. The two, who had been standing back-to-back, turned to face each other before passing by in opposite directions. As Sol moved toward the side of the stage to rejoin the formation, he spotted the fan Tae-oh had pushed away and quickly picked it up, tucking it into his sleeve. Swiftly maneuvering behind Deuk-yong, Sol discreetly slipped the fan back into his side.
Without even looking back, Deuk-yong took the fan from Sol. As the group dance continued, he held the fan as if nothing had happened.
When the performance ended, the dazzling lights, which had never stopped moving, finally stilled. The members held their final pose for about ten seconds, staring into the camera. The moment the camera's red light turned off, they all rushed to Deuk-yong without even catching their breath. Others might not have noticed, but Deuk-yong had clearly lost his balance upon landing and twisted his ankle. Despite pushing through the rest of the routine flawlessly, checking on him was their priority.
Almost as soon as the members crowded around Deuk-yong, staff signaled for them to exit the stage immediately. Seeing his hyungs gathered around him, Deuk-yong frantically waved his hands.
Boohoo 😭, I'm so proud of my babies 🥺✨👌🏻,*Camping here*
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Ms.Wyrd for this chapter 🤭❤️✨
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