Pen and Paper Translations

T/N: Thanks to Tommykater2.0 & Revenant for the generous kofi and reaching the goal! Enjoy double updates until Saturday! <3

Rehearsal preparations went more smoothly than expected. It was as if they had always been one group.

“Changing the two of your paths at the start might look better in the composition.”

Of course, since Hyunseung was conducting the rehearsal, it didn’t end after just two or three takes.

“How about dimming the lights completely for the final ending pose to focus on the hands?”

The others also passionately offered their opinions, pushing them toward an even more polished stage.

“This part would look cooler if the composer did it alone under a spotlight, like a monologue.”

“Then how about we lie down on the floor for a bit during that?”

“Did your legs give out again?”

“It’s not that… it’s to express being drawn into the darkness.”

Watching the dynamic between the sharp-tongued Seo Jini and the blunt yet impactful Ahn Jiho was surprisingly entertaining, and soft laughter never ceased on stage.

Moreover—

“Seniors, have some snacks and drinks while you work!”

“Let’s all cheer each other on a little more—!”

“I-I’ll work harder and finish quickly!”

The meddlesome trio—Lee Hyoeun, Jung Arin, and Yoon Jaeyi—diligently provided water and snacks to keep everyone’s energy up, setting the tone.

And then….

“Composer, have some water.”

Kang Hajun seemed busy looking after him.

Or rather, it felt less like looking after and more like deploying “flirtatious glances” strategy.

“If you happen to think of a nickname while drinking water, please give me one too…”

(once while opening the cap and handing it over)

“If you happen to think of a nickname while going to the bathroom, please give me one too…”

(once while chasing after him as he headed to the bathroom)

“If you think of me while eating an energy bar, please give me a nickname…”

(again while handing over a hidden snack)

What is with this nickname thing…

Hyunseung shook his head watching Kang Hajun.

He probably felt left out, thinking he was the only one without a nickname (*totally misjudged), but what could he do? Besides being good-looking, he didn’t have any major distinguishing features.

For example:

Seo Jini was the “Clickety-Clack Witch,” Jung Arin was the “Tin Can Robot,” Yoon Jaeyi was the “Sucker,” Lee Hyoeun was the “Nosy Parker”—nicknames based on major traits or easy tease points.

Kang Hajun was… just a plain, unremarkable person with nothing to jab at.

Then Kang Hajun approached as I was resting on the stage ledge, holding out a wireless fan.

“Composer, let’s enjoy the fan breeze. If you suddenly think of one, please bestow a nickname on me too…”

Hyunseung swiftly raised a hand, cutting him off. Better to end this before it got more annoying.

“I thought of a nickname for you.”

“Really? What is it?”

“You’re now a gansyeo.”

“What does gansyeo mean….”

Instead of answering Kang Hajun’s question, Hyunseung brushed himself off and stood up. “Let’s just practice,” he said, turning back toward center stage.

Actually, Hyunseung had picked up a new hobby lately… cutting words short.

He’d been calling the cafeteria “old-school,” or shortening “mastering work” to “majok,” confusing everyone.

And the nickname he’d just bestowed on Kang Hajun, “gansyeo,” was simply short for “snack shuttle.”

“Yes! Master Godchis!”

Oblivious, Kang Hajun excitedly chased after Hyunseung.

Swish.

Hyunseung glanced sideways at Kang Hajun following behind, chuckled to himself, and thought: Maybe I should’ve just called him Kang Rat.

…

By the time rehearsal ended, the sun had already set.

“Great work today!”

With that brief, concise greeting, the group dispersed.

“But… are you planning to wear that again tomorrow?”

Seo Jini approached Hyunseung, who was taking off his helmet, and asked.

Suddenly, the attention of those around them—who had been slumped out, gulping water—also turned to the two.

Yeah.

Hyunseung seemed to be wearing the helmet during rehearsals to be mindful of the external field staff, but for the sign-language performance they were practicing, while gestures and hand movements were important, wasn’t “expression” the most crucial element?

Gu Mingi also kept emphasizing that expression was extremely important.

“Hmm…”

Hyunseung didn’t answer right away, just let out a soft hum. The others waited, stiff with tension, as if awaiting some monumental announcement, lips parted in anticipation.

But only for a moment.

When Hyunseung shrugged and replied, “I dunno?” everyone deflated. One by one, they slumped back into their seats like zombies.

Right.

At the very least, the members of the “Hyunseung Division” present here knew full well that Hyunseung was extremely reluctant to expose himself.

Given that the stage prepared for this fan meeting was a sign-language performance, they had harbored a “seriously?” thought.

But judging by his reaction now, it seemed he had no intention of revealing his face after all.

Didn’t he only reveal half his face ambiguously at the very first fan meeting?
Probably just that much this time too—whatever.

Yeah, if that face were revealed to the world, it would cause a huge uproar, so maybe it’s better not to reveal it at all.

Having lost interest in the “will he show his face?” question, they brushed themselves off and stood to leave.

“Wait a minute, everyone!”

But Jung Arin, reluctant to part just yet, raised her hand and called out:

“It’s getting late, so how about grabbing a late-night snack together before we go our separate ways?”

Swish.

Simultaneously, Hyunseung’s entourage fixed their gaze on Hyunseung—a look that asked, “What do you say?”

“I’m good.”

As if responding to those eyes, Hyunseung waved a hand and picked up his things. The others, claiming they were tired, began hurrying off one by one.

“Ah, ah! There’s this really delicious chicken-feet place around here! It’d be so good if we ate together!”

Jung Arin chased after them, pleading, but—

“It feels weird eating without the composer, right?”
—rejected once by Kang Hajun.

“Your face will be swollen tomorrow.”
—rejected a second time by Seo Jini.

Looking around, everyone else had already vanished as if fleeing.

“With me! Anyone want to eat chicken feet?”

As if swept away by an outgoing tide, everyone had vanished from the stadium, leaving only Jung Arin’s heart-wrenching cry echoing inside.

---

Hyunseung collapsed onto his bed the moment he entered his room, passing through the darkened hallway.

“Ugh, I’m exhausted…”

Staying up all night working on music was fine, but moving his body like this had left him completely drained.

Still, he was back in his young body, so this was within his limits. If it were his original body, he’d already be in an ambulance.

“I’ll shower in a bit…”

He lay still for a moment, covering his eyes with his hand.

“Wait.”

Hyunseung quickly moved his hand away and grabbed his phone.

He remembered he hadn’t heard back from MisutSara and Gu Mingi, whom he’d invited to the fan meeting.

“Are they not coming?”

MisutSara hadn’t responded at all after the text inviting her and her family to come together.

Mingi only communicated via email, so he didn’t have his number and had no way to check.

It wouldn’t matter if they didn’t come, but…

Tap, tap tap.

His fingers, contrary to his thoughts, swiftly dialed the number saved as “MisutSara.”

But only the message that the phone was turned off came through.

Well, with the concert footage trending and Black angel surging again, she probably didn’t have time to come all the way to Korea.

It reached number one on the Billboard charts, so I’ll let it slide.

Next, he turned on the computer and sent an email to Mingi.

Tap tap tap, tap tap tap.

Why haven’t you contacted me? It’s a piece you personally taught me to create—aren’t you coming to see it?

Countless thoughts tangled together; he wrote and erased a few times.

“This should be enough.”

He sent the email, concise and pointed:

— Hey, did you just take my business card and run?

He couldn’t bring himself to beg him to come to the fan meeting, so this should be clear enough.

Just as Hyunseung thought he should wash up and stretched—

“Hey, kid.”

The voice suddenly coming from behind nearly made him fall backward.

“Ah, you scared me.”

He turned his head to find Hyuna looking down at him with a pitying expression, having entered without him noticing.

“‘Hey, did you just take my business card and run?’ What is this! You’re in your mid-twenties now, right?”

Then, mimicking the content of the email he’d sent, she launched into a scolding.

“It’s good because it’s concise.”

“Can’t you talk like an adult?”

“You mean use ‘adult-speak’?”

“Adult-speak?”

“Talking like an adult.”

“Even that sounds like a kid.”

“Kid.”

“Why are you like that, Min Kid!”

“Why Min Kid.”

Hyuna lost steam, her shoulders slumping.

“Take this.”

She handed him a small shopping bag. Hyunseung checked inside: a sleeping pack, plus tea bags and vitamin drinks for swelling and fatigue.

“What’s this?”

“Can’t you tell? You have a fan meeting tomorrow. Sleep with the pack on, drink the anti-puffiness tea when you wake up, and take the vitamins whenever you feel tired.”

Only then did Hyunseung notice her condition: slightly puffy face, messy hair.

She’d probably kept dozing and waiting just to give him this.

“I don’t need this stuff. I’m handsome enough without it.”

“Then give it back!”

“No way.”

“Ah, Min Hyunseung, you’re so annoying!”

“Min, seriously.”

Unable to win with words, Hyuna declared she didn’t want to talk anymore and stormed out.

Anyway, in her past life, she pretended to be mature and tough, but now she was just a baby.

Honestly, it suited her better, like a typical early-twenties college girl, grumbling, crying, and laughing honestly.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, Hyunseung was struck by the thought that if he revealed his face, his sister might lose that very essence.

Even in her past life, with a brother as famous as a celebrity, hadn’t Hyuna always lived under others’ gaze, suppressing her true self?

He didn’t want to put Hyuna, the one his father would risk his life to protect, back on the public chopping block.

She’d just get torn apart.

Knock, knock, knock!

Mind unsettled, Hyunseung carried the shopping bag and headed for Hyuna’s room.

“You’re here to mess around again!”

As if she’d been waiting, Hyuna opened the door the moment he knocked and grumbled.

“No, I don’t know how to use this pack, so I need you to help me.”

For a moment, she looked genuinely surprised by his words, her eyes widening like a rabbit’s.

“Sit here and wait!”

She sat him on the bed, then brought over a bizarre (in Hyunseung’s opinion) cleansing band with an excited look.

“Put this on quickly, I’ll do it for you!”

“No, do I really have to do this?”

“Your hair’s sticking to your face!”

“No, this is a bit much.”

When he refused again, Hyuna puffed out her cheeks and threatened:

“I’ll spread your photos all over tomorrow’s fan meeting!”

“How about I put your sleeping-with-your-mouth-open pics on a giant billboard?”

Of course, it was a threat that would never work.

“Seriously, this is too much! How am I supposed to show my face in public after this embarrassment!”

“So let’s both just live quietly and protect our reputations.”

Still, for his sister’s sake, he could at least put on the band.

Eventually, as Hyunseung put on the cleansing band, Hyuna giggled and snapped a few photos.

Then she brought over a brush that looked quite professional and began carefully applying the pack.

Swish, swish.

The sweep of the brush across his face wasn’t bad at all. He quietly offered his face, closing his eyes for a moment.

“But, you know…”

Hyuna asked casually:

“Are you planning to never show your face in public for the rest of your life?”

“Yeah, I won’t.”

“Why?”

“Do you have any idea how annoying it is to live under people’s scrutiny?”

After that, she muttered to herself for a moment, “Well, it must be annoying…”

“But I’m so busy I can’t see you much anyway! At least I can see your face every day on TV!”

Opening his eyes at her unexpected reply, Hyuna was smiling brightly, her eyes clear and pure.

“Me and Dad, too!”

At the words she added next, Hyunseung couldn’t say anything and just closed his eyes tightly again.