Chapter 13

Chapter 13

At my words attention concentrated.

Is it too out of the blue a name to say now.

This is a basement.

But my head is full of only that name.

We originally started in the rooftop practice room in Hongdae.

That name made lightly with the meaning of not forgetting the beginner’s mind.

But I couldn’t keep the beginner’s mind, and the friends lost their hearts because of me.

So I had no choice but to always dream of that day’s rooftop.

Even after becoming a traitor.

Even now after flying to the past together with a miracle.

“Oktap? Why Oktap?”

“Just, because this is basement.”

“Eh... What’s that.”

“Just, because this is basement. And someday we’ll go up to a high place. It’s making our goal point the name.”

“Um, well the meaning isn’t bad.”

“It has an indie band feel and I like it.”

“Ketsuketsu Band was bad after all.”

“Ahem, come on!”

Following Heo Junseong Lee Doyoung was to the degree of not bad, and Kang Min was still only talking nonsense.

No, what on earth is Ketsuketsu Band?

In the end Kim Jihu added strength to my words.

“In English it’s ‘OK TOP’. If we become to the degree of advancing overseas it would be good for writing the name too?”

“Oh! Wow, as expected a guy who studies well is different. I agree!”

“I hope that day really comes.”

“Worse than Ketsuketsu Band but this much I like too!”

“Hey, Kang Min what on earth is that?”

“There is such a thing.”

“Alright, anyway if no other opinions we decide on Oktap?”

“Good! Decided! Bang bang bang!”

“It’s Oktap Band!”

“We are Oktap!”

Just deciding one name, why are they so excited.

Guys drawing when ‘Oktap’ becomes famous in their own ways and sharing that imagination.

Like my life that was repeated once more Oktap also announced a new start.

This time never.

There will be no betraying you guys, Oktap.

* * *

After deciding the name every weekend we put up the name band Oktap and did busking at Banwol Park.

After vacation started we made time even on weekdays and performed and that has already passed a month.

In the past life, while active in the entertainment industry I learned truly many things.

One among those many learnings was that consistency never betrays.

Whatever we do we have to continuously leave traces.

That start was Banwol Park busking.

That will definitely be a big help after time flows.

Of course what we have to do consistently is not only busking.

“Huk, huk...”

“Doyoung is it hard?”

“Seoha. I feel like I’m dying...”

“Doyoung’s stamina is bad.”

While planning the next thing I took Lee Doyoung and Kang Min along and ran at least 3 times a week.

Because it was a body that originally did sports if I don’t release energy like this a stiff feeling comes.

Kang Min originally often ran at Banwol Park.

Lee Doyoung...

“But Seoha what does lowering body fat rate below 15% have to do with bass...”

“Doyoung.”

“Yeah...”

For Lee Doyoung who got exhausted while running we sat on a bench for a moment and talked.

“Do you know what your biggest problem is right now?”

“Playing?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“Stamina.”

“Stamina? Performing isn’t hard for me?”

“That’s not it.”

At my words Kang Min and Lee Doyoung made puzzled expressions.

“There’s a saying stamina is national power, right?”

“Yeah, right?”

“What kind of era is it these days? Exactly an era where the people value leisure time.”

“...”

The two people who already predicted the conclusion of my words made absurd expressions.

I would have been like that too.

“Leisure time. In other words what? It means a world where art is important. Stamina is national power and to raise national power you have to do art. Then stamina is soon art. Understand?”

“No, not at all.”

“I don’t understand at all either.”

“Anyway my words are right. So let’s exercise hard and build stamina!”

“Not convinced at all but... Since exercise is good I’ll do it for now.”

“Yeah, a very good attitude.”

“What on earth is that...”

Unlike Lee Doyoung who good is good Kang Min still looked at me like a strange person.

Can’t be helped Doyoung.

If you lose weight you become good-looking.

Like that the three of us started running the park again.

Did we run about 1 more minute?

“Eh? Kyaaak!!”

“Uwaak!”

Because someone shouted the three of us were surprised and had to stop in place.

“Hul, it’s Oktap!”

“Ah, yes hello.”

“Amazing! I’m a fan! Um, please shake hands!”

“Haha, thank you.”

Some woman recognized us.

It seems our consistency is already producing some results.

“Um, I’m following all SNS too! Please upload posts often often.”

“Yes, but our photo taking skill is bad so it’s not easy.”

“Even if roughly taken you’re good-looking!”

“Thank you.”

“Are you performing this week too?”

“Yes, this week we’ll add a new song and do it.”

“Wow, amaaazing. I’ll wait at the very front this week too!”

“Thank you. The weather is hot so please bring water.”

“Yes! I’ll cheer!”

That fan moved her steps again fully flushed.

“Cha Seoha you really seem like a celebrity.”

“Yeah? In what part?”

“How should I say, not getting flustered? Leeway is visible from you.”

“Right, Seoha really seems like a celebrity.”

“Celebrity what. Just because I’m thankful I treat well.”

“And from last time I felt, Min’s speech is strangely weird.”

At Lee Doyoung’s sharp remark Kang Min flinched.

“Me, me?”

“...Look that guy is weird Seoha.”

“Yeah, looks weird. And very much.”

Quite a good-looking face though.

Kang Min’s features are overall distinct, especially the eye shape is very deep and thick.

A very manly impression and thick eyebrows and a face that doesn’t look like a high school student.

Now he grew his hair long too so wild charm was added.

Add playing drums there and that says it all.

But such a kid being an otaku is a strange picture even thinking again.

Of course, outside of us he seemed to be desperately doing ordinary person cosplay.

“Me doing this. Hey, stop the nonsense a bit.”

“Kekekekuk!”

Laughing alone was the same as always.

If we dislike it he does it more severely and laughs alone.

He’s doing it to make us angry.

Well, thinking about it that guy was the most crazy in our team.

“By the way Seoha what are we doing now?”

Lee Doyoung threw a strange question as if he wanted to stop running.

“What do you mean what? We have to run.”

“No, not that. Are we just going to keep doing only busking like this? It feels like moving without purpose.”

It wasn’t a strange question but a very good question.

“Even so I was going to talk soon. Next ensemble I’ll write one song and bring it.”

“Song? The one you said you’d make before?”

“Right.”

“What, Cha Seoha you compose too?”

“Yeah, I happened to reserve a studio rental. I’ll tell the details when everyone is gathered.”

“Ooo...”

“We’ll have to hear the song quality but he was a more tremendous guy than thought?”

My next plan was making our song.

Now our harmony is pretty decent.

We ensembleed almost every day and performed once or twice a week.

We gathered all members and knew the method of matching harmony.

Moreover we even decided the band’s name.

But still what we don’t have.

Our song that we directly made.

That was needed.

The <​Rendez-vous> remaining without finishing the work last time.

I had to make that quickly and complete it together with the guys.

There is still time leeway, but because we have to sing this ‘then’.

Shall I say a kind of our first broadcast debut song?

Well, it’s not going on a music broadcast right now.

“I’m thinking of completing the song tomorrow and bringing it.”

“Wow! I want to go too!”

“Kang Min don’t you have part-time tomorrow?”

“Yeah, tomorrow I have nothing all day.”

Thinking for a moment Kang Min seemed needed.

“Yeah, good. Doyoung you?”

“I have a family gathering tomorrow. Regrettable I want to see the song writing too.”

“I’ll complete it and bring it next ensemble.”

“Yeah, regrettable but can’t be helped.”

“Then Kang Min, you go with me tomorrow and let’s record some drums.”

“Good.”

* * *

The next day. I took Kang Min and visited ST Studio after a long time.

“Wow, studio after a long time.”

“Oh, Kang Min you’ve been to places like this too?”

“I’ve come a few times to record.”

“As expected champion is amazing.”

“It’s all just past stories.”

An expression like recalling the old days.

We entered the room the reservation was set for.

This time even without owner Jang Deokcheol’s intervention owner Jo Hyeonseop rented for free.

Everything has to go well so we can repay owner Jang Deokcheol and owner Jo Hyeonseop too.

It has to go well.

For the thankful people, and for our success.

“There’s a song I roughly sketched before. Today we’ll complete the song so let’s record drums.”

“Nothing difficult. Just leave it to me.”

“First let’s listen to the song.”

Like that I played the <​Rendez-vous> I roughly sketched last time.

Hearing it again after a long time the parts that need correction are heard better.

Drums Kang Min will do well so no worry.

I need to touch the melody guitar that comes out with the chorus a bit more.

Hearing again the synth texture is regrettable too.

Bass will go as is but when recording just take care of the live feel well...

It seems only that much modification will do.

Like that after about 3 minutes passed the song’s playback ended.

“...Hey, Cha Seoha.”

“Yeah?”

“What is this song?”