Entertainment
Since he asked me to write my name first, I wrote "Miro" on the hat.
"May I ask your name…?"
I was about to write the composer's name afterward, but I realized I couldn't remember it. I always just called him "composer."
"My name is Kang Woo-hyun."
"Ah, yes…"
So I signed the hat as he, no—Kang Woo-hyun, requested.
"Thank you."
He received the hat and carefully placed it on the table.
"Do you usually collect these kinds of things?"
Because he did it so naturally, I asked, and he scratched his head a little awkwardly before nodding.
"You noticed? Actually, I collect signatures from singers I've worked with and decorate my place with them."
"Then should I get you Hyun-soo's autograph too?"
"You mean Slim Gold? Haha, no need for that."
"Oh… so Hyun-soo's not up to standard yet?"
"What are you saying… If I ever work with him, I'll get it in person."
"Haha… actually, I was just asking because I'm heading to Hyun-soo's studio today."
"You're going today?"
"Yes, I got stuck while practicing guitar."
I felt like I hit a wall at about 80% of completing the song. On top of that, I had left my guitar at home, so since I was out, I figured I'd drop by Hyun-soo's studio and borrow one to practice.
At the mention of guitar practice, the composer's eyes lit up.
"You play guitar too?"
"Ah, yes, I just started learning…"
"I can give you the guitar version of the sheet music—would you like to practice it when you have time?"
"Pardon?"
"A singer-songwriter who plays their own song on guitar always shines."
With a livelier expression, he stood up and brought me the guitar sheet for the new song we were working on.
"There's actually a guitar version?"
"I thought about offering it earlier, but I worried it might be too much. What a coincidence, though."
A coincidence? It didn't feel much like one to me…
"Uh… it looks a bit difficult?"
Even at a glance, the sheet music looked pretty advanced.
"It's a little complicated because it's arranged for guitar, but practicing it won't do you any harm."
That's true… it's always good to improve at something. And being able to play my own song on guitar would be amazing.
"Well, I'm not saying you should play it right away—just practice slowly whenever you have time."
Since he put it like that, it was hard to refuse outright.
"Alright then… got it."
"Good decision."
I figured I could try it out later when I had no other schedule. Where would I use it? Who knew—but since I was planning to keep practicing guitar anyway, at least I didn't have to pick a song myself. Might as well see it positively.
After chatting a little more about the new song, I left the composer's studio.
Then I took the subway and headed for Hyun-soo's studio.
It wasn't far, so I arrived quickly, but…
"What's going on?"
In front of Hyun-soo's studio, a crowd of people stood around with various equipment.
I texted Ah-young to ask if something was happening and then approached. A young man in a cap came over.
"Uh… can I help you?"
He trudged over, but when he saw me, his demeanor turned more polite.
"This is my acquaintance's studio—what's happening here?"
"Hmm… just a moment."
Since he was being polite, I felt comfortable asking. The young man rolled his eyes around, then brought over a middle-aged man.
"Nice to meet you. I'm PD Ahn Young-wook."
Huh… a PD?
Hearing that reminded me of a text Hyun-soo had mentioned.
"Something about filming a variety show…?"
So it wasn't at a TV station but an observational variety show?
"May I ask your name?"
This PD was oddly courteous.
Weren't PDs supposed to be more charismatic and authoritative?
"Uh… Kim Soo-hyun."
Since he asked politely, I answered, but the situation felt strange.
"You're an acquaintance of Slim Gold, right…?"
"Yes, that's correct…"
I had just come to learn some guitar, but maybe my timing was bad.
If I'd known, I would have contacted him beforehand.
"Well, if you're filming, I'll just head back."
"Oh, no, no! Please, come in. As you can see, it's an observational variety show. If you're his acquaintance, even better!"
When I said I'd go, the PD waved his hands frantically to stop me.
"Ah, it's just… I'd rather not have my face shown."
"Are you a trainee? If it's a problem, we can edit you out."
"No, nothing like that… I'm just an ordinary person. I only dropped by since I was in the area, so I'll head back."
I really didn't intend to get in the way of filming.
But the PD waved both arms, looking flustered.
"We want to capture the natural daily life of the trending singer Slim Gold. Blocking an acquaintance would be wrong. At most, we'll edit your appearance or just mention a friend visited. You won't be a nuisance at all."
"Is that… so?"
"Yes, it's no problem for us at all, so don't worry."
Well… he wasn't wrong. But why did he sound so desperate?
If I just left, wouldn't that make editing simpler?
"Or, how about wearing a cap pulled down?"
Then the PD demonstrated by tugging his own cap low.
"Like this—then only your mouth or nose shows on camera."
Hmm… that didn't sound too bad.
I was seriously debating whether to stay or go when someone familiar came out.
"You said my acquaintance came by… Oh, noona?"
It had been quite a while since I'd seen Hyun-soo, and he looked a bit different.
His once bleached, sleek hair now had more volume and flair, and his face looked like it had makeup on.
Was this the taste of success?
"What brings you here?"
"Uh…"
"Ah, let's talk inside first!"
Just as I was about to greet him, the PD quickly stepped in and ushered Hyun-soo toward the studio.
And so, before I knew it, I was inside as well—but it wasn't bad.
I'd intended to come anyway, and as long as I wasn't disrupting the shoot, it should be fine.
"Go ahead, feel free to talk inside."
The PD who led us in quickly slipped back among the staff. I let out a small laugh, but he wasn't exactly unpleasant.
Since I was here, I might as well learn a bit before leaving.
"Do you have a cap?"
"Huh? Oh… yeah, I think there's one over there…"
Where Hyun-soo pointed, there was a coat rack with jackets draped over it, and hanging there was a simple black cap.
"But I wore that yesterday."
"Well, it looks clean enough."
Was that such a big deal?
I had just signed and given away the cap I was wearing before.
"You're not wearing it now, right?"
"No, I just came back from the shop."
"The shop?"
So that hair and makeup really were the power of money, huh…
"The PD said I should look as polished as possible."
At that, I couldn't help but laugh dryly.
Didn't they say it was supposed to be about capturing natural daily life?
Seeing the PD's contradictory actions, I thought I understood what he was up to.
Wasn't I somewhat attractive? They probably wanted to capture even a little bit of this on camera to boost ratings.
I once read in a book that PDs are demons obsessed with ratings.
"Alright then, I'll borrow this."
Saying that, I snatched the cap from the rack and pulled it low over my head.
Luckily, it was big enough that if I tugged it down, it covered half my face.
"So, what brings you here today?"
As soon as I pulled the cap all the way down, Hyun-soo—glancing briefly at the cameras—asked me.
By the way, I hadn't realized while watching variety shows, but seeing it in person, the cameras were right there, openly filming.
"I came to learn some guitar from Ah-young unni, but I guess the timing's off."
"Guitar? Oh, the one you said you were learning before."
"Yeah, I've been practicing, but I hit a wall."
"But… you didn't bring a guitar?"
"Guitar? It's right there."
I raised my hand and pointed to a flashy guitar resting neatly in the corner.
"Hyuk-hyung's guitar?"
"Yeah, I got permission before."
At the last drinking party, I'd gotten his assurance that I could use it anytime.
Granted, he was drunk at the time—and Ah-young had pressured him a bit.
"What about the others?"
"Oh, they went out to buy something. They'll be back soon."
I'd already met the band members at the last get-together.
Drums: Kang Ah-young.
Guitar: Kang Hyuk.
Bass: Min-cheol.
Keyboard: Young-jun, I think?
I couldn't recall their surnames, but I was pretty sure the names were right.
So I picked up Hyuk's guitar. Even the weight felt different.
It was much flashier, yet lighter—probably made of different materials.
"You're learning guitar from Ah-young noona? But her specialty is drums."
"Still, she's better than me."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to learn from Hyuk-hyung?"
Hyun-soo asked more than usual, probably mindful of the cameras. I shook my head.
"Hyun-soo, that would only trouble him."
"Huh?"
"When a man teaches a beautiful woman like me to play guitar, most of them end up lovesick."
At my shameless remark, Hyun-soo's face twisted awkwardly, but I kept going.
"You need to stay sharp too. Falling for this noona is a bottomless pit~"
After all, don't I already have thousands of Mi-ro-dan who look only at me?
"Uh… right."
"I don't plan to date, so I try not to give anyone false hope."
"I… see?"
Hyun-soo was fine. He was the type who only focused on music, barely noticing anything else.
And anyway, he was still underage—even if only two years younger.
I ignored Hyun-soo's frown and lightly strummed Hyuk's guitar.
"Oh…"
As expected from an expensive instrument—it felt completely different from mine.
"So what song are you practicing?"
"Mm… want to hear it?"
It was a famous Japanese band's song—maybe he'd recognize it. In some ways, it had a similar vibe to Hyun-soo's music.
"Alright, watch closely. And… don't tell anyone…!"
"…Why not?"
"Because then they'll ask me to play Guitar Hero~"
"…Is that from some manga?"
"Ugh, kids these days…"
So this was the generation that didn't know that line anymore.
Young people these days…
"But you're not that much older than me…"
"Silence! Don't talk back to an adult!"
Just as I was about to properly start playing in front of this unromantic kid—
Clatter!
"We're back!"
The studio door swung open, and Ah-young and the other band members walked in.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
Swinging a white plastic bag in one hand, Ah-young stepped inside, eyes wide when she spotted me already sitting there strumming the guitar.