Chapter 49

Chapter 49

From before the album was released Oktap was fully immersed in preparing this showcase performance.

Had to attend school and digest schedule and given time little so had to use time richly.

Naturally even after album released steadily gathered and practiced and raised the performance’s level to the degree satisfying fans.

Like that time steadily flowed and became the performance day.

Hongdae’s Main Hall.

Before the performance starts already many people lining up or taking seats in nearby cafes or restaurants waiting.

Kim Juhee operating YouTube channel Human Kim Juhee also alone sitting in cafe waiting for the showcase.

Kim Juhee in the midst of unable to calm the excited heart after succeeding showcase ticketing until now.

She appreciating Oktap’s past videos and music video with smartphone calming the heart not calming...

“...What time fucking not going...”

No matter killing time watching videos entrance time not approaching.

“Want to see quickly...”

Meanwhile someone approached her.

“Um.”

“Oh, yes?”

“Um... Human Kim Juhee... Right?”

“Ah, yes. Right.”

“Wow! I’m subscriber. Nice to meet!”

“Ah, hello. Came to see showcase?”

“Yes! I’m waiting number 3.”

“Wow, crazy daebak envious. I’m 79.”

“Aha, is that so. But performance hall not that big so no big difference.”

From those words comforting Kim Juhee somehow unknown superiority felt.

Of course no such intention but just originated from Kim Juhee’s envious heart.

Like that short conversation and talk about Oktap came and went.

After that too people approaching Kim Juhee quite many.

Most subscribers, and people recognizing late after hearing conversation.

Kim Juhee also didn’t know at first but looking carefully most of the customers in this cafe now people who came to see Oktap.

Taking out earphones and listening to customers’ conversations most people in the midst of sharing expectation about showcase.

“Hey, really too fun right?”

“Hope does well incomparably to Banwol Park.”

“Like Killing Band?”

“Wow, really if performs to that degree I seem will go crazy...”

“No, thinking about it performance hall anyway small so hard to do to that degree.”

“Ah, that also right.”

The conversation of high school girls sitting at the next table too cute.

This time turned ears to another table.

“Wow, I coming to see all Oktap showcase.”

“My words. Are you the person who cursed big time until a while ago?”

“No, thought idol.”

“I said not idiot.”

“No, I thought viral really?”

“Suspicion... Anyway performance too anticipated. Not right?”

“Yeah, but do these perform well? When saw in video did big time well.”

“Hey, just crazy. Fucking well.”

“Oh, really? Can expect?”

“Whatever you imagine more than that.”

“That degree?”

At that table there was a person who was originally Oktap’s anti.

Probably satisfying that person difficulty compared to other fans.

Kim Juhee thought such.

Such a person if Oktap does performance moderately seems will turn off interest saying then of course.

So worried?

Not at all.

Because Oktap will do well.

Probably even people who disliked Oktap if see their performance that thought will change.

Kim Juhee firmly believed.

Because a person who looked at Oktap with deep affection more than anyone.

* * *

While reserved people waiting outside the performance hall Oktap was moving busily.

Proceeded basic sound rehearsal and considered lighting switching timing.

Matched members’ movement lines even up to doing ment.

Meticulously checked all elements needed for the performance.

“Bracelet number right?”

“Yeah, all there.”

Confirming even bracelets to fill for the audience now Oktap catching breath.

“Whew, opening performance among ourselves not easy.”

“Right.”

Renting performance hall and holding personal performance was also first time for me.

Ordinary if doing performance agency did everything from one to ten.

After I became world singer my intervention increased.

Still first time preparing everything from one to ten like this.

Still if asking hard not to that degree.

Had confidence doing performance well and if such small scale performance hall nothing to mind greatly.

But the biggest reason burden little in preparing this performance was exactly because together with these friends.

What complicated and hard, troublesome and annoying...

Such feelings all covered by the sense of belonging of together.

“Want to do well.”

While thinking such Lee Doyoung’s whisper entered.

“Will do well. Prepared hard.”

Not only Lee Doyoung.

From Heo Junseong and Kim Jihu, Kang Min’s expressions also some form of aspiration contained.

The aspiration of wanting to successfully finish this performance.

We until now received all kinds of curses and received interest.

What we hoped but knowingly or unknowingly upsetting heart would have been.

Today’s performance the first start of properly showing our skill after album release.

Not that all suspicions solved with this one performance but still would want to do the start well.

“Let’s just do well as prepared! If do this performance well today remaining plans will also go well.”

“Right, in fact to us performance easier than broadcast? Don’t worry and let’s do well.”

At me and Kim Jihu’s words other guys’ expressions revived.

The aspiration contained in each heart changed to expectation and soon headed to hope.

Because now to Oktap only things that will go well left.

Just do what prepared without mistake.

And what we prepared is music.

What we do best.

“Alright, let’s shout the slogan once, soon audience will enter.”

“Good.”

“Two, three!”

“With Oktap!!!”

* * *

Before the performance starts the five people each had given work.

First Cha Seoha overall performance total.

Strong Kang Min carrying supplies like water and snacks.

Meticulous Kim Jihu stage setting.

Heo Junseong stay still because disturbing.

And Lee Doyoung with the best impression...

“Welcome!”

Ticketing.

“Oh, not Lee Doyoung-nim?”

“Yes, right.”

“Why doing ticketing directly...”

“Ah, because we couldn’t find people. Anyway welcome!”

“Ah, yes...”

Some among the audience who finished ticket confirmation murmur while going down.

“Why doing ticketing directly...?”

“No what is company doing?”

“Agency really no money?”

Such reactions also but naturally most audience knowing the truth.

Because here mainly people who know Oktap well visited.

“Cute. Ordinary would use people for ticketing”

“If cute fine.”

“That right.”

Lee Doyoung had to work hard answering the ‘on earth why directly?’ entering like a tide.

This also all Cha Seoha’s plan.

From now wanted to actively announce the fact we are real indie band without agency.

Just with placing Lee Doyoung at the ticket booth the effect quite tremendous.

Not only that looking at Kang Min carrying water passing beside the audience seats some among audience also murmured.

Doing even such things directly.

Of course people who originally liked band culture familiar with such situation.

But audience who were originally idol’s fandom or didn’t know the fact Oktap is indie to the degree cognitive dissonance coming.

Ordinary when going to see idol concert members don’t do ticketing directly or carry water right?

Like that time flowed and performance time imminent.

Inside the performance hall where subtle lighting and music hovering audience fully packed.

And a little later.

Music subsided and lighting darkened and Oktap appeared on the stage.

“Waaaa!”

“Kyaaak!”

Oktap appearing receiving pouring cheers and applause.

Waved hands to the audience and smiled announcing the full-scale showcase starting.

Members standing in each position.

Looking down from the stage audience fully packed.

Eye light sparkling more than lighting felt brilliant.

Compared to music broadcast stage or Killing Band filming site a stage shabby to the extreme.

Too small and shabby audience seats.

Even harsher place than Band Slam time.

But such things didn’t matter.

If together with these cool audience, and if Oktap together can create a performance incomparable to dome or arena.

Everyone put quite strength on outfits and hair also rebelliously arranged state.

At overwhelming visual audience regardless of gender to the degree soul leaving.

That high school student.

Moreover indie band.

Unsuitable splendid and aggressive visual.

They briefly shared eye light then without ment immediately started the song.

Kang Min’s drums striking down and Heo Junseong’s aggressive guitar.

Lee Doyoung’s bass line running out saying won’t fall behind simultaneously popped out.

And the fans who heard that intense playing shouted.

Because knew this song’s identity.

Title song Awaken.

Oktap’s showcase announcing the first start of the performance with a welcome song full-scale started.