“What’s wrong?”
“Dude, what’s wrong?”
Do Wook and Jung Yoon Ki, who were at the living room table doing a final check of the song Jung Yoon Ki had written and composed, asked in surprise.
However, it didn’t seem like Suk Ji Hoon, who was holding the cellphone, could hear them. He was busy explaining the situation to Manager Oh Baek Ho.
“I think Hyung Seo needs to go to the hospital. Yes…yes. He can barely speak…yes. I understand.”
Do Wook and Jung Yoon Ki, who were surprised by what Suk Ji Hoon said, got up from their seats.
Jung Yoon Ki quickly opened the door to the room that Ji Hoon and Ahn Hyung Seo were using and went in.
“Geez!”
The humidity made Jung Yoon Ki shriek automatically. Their room was full of moisture, like a jungle. Do Wook also frowned at the damp air.
Ahn Hyung Seo, who had been lying down with a blanket over him, wriggled himself up when he heard the door open wide.
“Oh! Don’t get up. Please stay in bed.”
Do Wook quickly stopped Ahn Hyung Seo. Ahn Hyung Seo checked with eyes half open that the people who came in were Do Wook and Jung Yoon Ki, then layed back down.
Jung Yoon Ki, who looked around the room, figured out the cause of the moisture. It wasn’t taking up a lot of space, but a large humidifier was on the desk that Ahn Hyung Seo and Suk Ji Hoon sometimes sit at, far away from any books.
It seemed they had turned it on because Ahn Hyung Seo had a cold.
Since four days ago, not too long after they started choreography rehearsal, Ahn Hyung Seo had a mild cold.
They had just started choreography rehearsal so they couldn’t rest properly. As the album’s songs were decided one after another, they even had to deal with the occasional recording schedule.
He had taken meds and gotten an injection at the hospital as soon as possible, but there were no signs of the cold getting better.
Ahn Hyung Seo coughed.
“I told you not to overdo it.”
Jung Yoon Ki sighed as he rebuked Ahn Hyung Seo. It wasn’t putting blame, but rather concern that came across as scolding.
Jung Yoon Ki knew better than anyone that even though he was told not to overdo it, it was a situation where they couldn’t help but push themselves. The comeback was only a month and ten days away.
As soon as the title song recording would be finished, there was the jacket shoot and music video shoot waiting for them. The members were well aware of the string of activities scheduled, but not one of them could say it was too hard or that they wanted to rest.
Moreover, Ahn Hyung Seo was very satisfied with his part in the title song and was looking forward to the comeback more than anyone else.
While doing the dome tour in Japan as well as working on the project with LIL in America, Ahn Hyung Seo had grown as a vocalist. This song was a good song to put together everything he learned.
Ahn Hyung Seo had felt that this was his chance to properly demonstrate his skills to the KK fans. Not just as a KK member but also on a personal level, he wanted to leave a powerful impression as a vocalist no matter what.
That was why he especially couldn’t rest. Even once choreography rehearsal was over, Ahn Hyung Seo diligently practiced the song. It was not an exaggeration to say that he had sung his part hundreds of times to find the best voice and best breathing method.
“Hyung Seo…you can’t talk?”
While he kept lying down, Ahn Hyung Seo, who was looking at Jung Yoon Ki and Do Wook as if asking why they came in, slowly nodded his head.
The members simply thought that he hadn’t come out of the room all day because he had been sleeping for a long time due to the medicine. Suk Ji Hoon, who was his roommate, had belatedly noticed the serious condition Ahn Hyung Seo was in and called Manager Oh Baek Ho.
“He said he can’t talk. I told him not to talk for now because I thought trying to use his voice would be bad.”
Suk Ji Hoon, having brought a glass of warm water after getting off the call with Manager Oh Baek Ho, said from behind the two of them, who were standing idly.
“Man, didn’t the hospital say two days ago that it’s just a cold?”
Suk Ji Hoon nodded his head.
Ahn Hyung Seo, who had gone to the hospital with Manager Gu Chul Min before rehearsal a few days ago, was told he just had a light cold and went back to rehearsing hard.
That definitely caused his condition to get worse.
“Ugh….”
Probably frustrated, Ahn Hyung Seo let out a groan. When he made a sound, it seemed like his throat hurt because he closed his eyes and held his throat.
If his throat hurt this much to the point that he couldn’t talk, it definitely was more than just a cold.
“What did Manager Oh say?”
Do Wook asked.
“He’s in the middle of a meeting right now so he can’t come, but Chul Min is on his way. He said it might be good to go to a big hospital.”
Do Wook and Jung Yoon Ki nodded their heads at Suk Ji Hoon’s reply.
A little later, Gu Chul Min came to the dormitory and took Ahn Hyung Seo to the hospital.
Park Tae Hyung and Kim Won, who had returned to the dormitory late and heard the news, also became filled with worry. It had been physically difficult, but the vibe in the dormitory had been full of energy. That vibe immediately became gloomy. It was even more so because Ahn Hyung Seo was the mood maker in the dormitory.
“The recording in two days…”
“I think that’ll be difficult to do.”
Do Wook answered Suk Ji Hoon’s rhetorical question.
It was unfortunate that they had to worry about the recording scheduled for two days later even while their colleague wasn’t feeling well.
“Whew…..”
Jung Yoon Ki, the leader, let out a deep sigh.
“Even if he goes to the hospital and gets better by today, he’ll have to rest at least one or two more days. “
“Yeah…if he’s sick while doing activities…”
Park Tae Hyung concernedly said in response to what Jung Yoon Ki said. Even the thought of getting sick while doing activities made everyone’s expressions a shade darker.
‘That’s definitely worse.’
Do Wook, who almost fainted on stage, knew that the best.
There was a time when Ahn Hyung Seo was excluded from rehearsal after getting tackled by Seo Kang Jun while filming the sports variety program. Thankfully, it wasn’t during their active period, but he was dying to get back to rehearsal as quickly as possible even then. It was even more so this time since the comeback was just around the corner.
‘I hope he’ll get better after resting for a few days…’
That was what Do Wook was thinking, but he had a bad feeling.
***
As expected, An Hyung Seo did not have a sore throat simply because of a cold.
It was a simple sore throat in the beginning, but because he didn’t rest and kept using his voice he was showing early signs of vocal cord palsy.
Of course, the symptoms themselves weren’t that serious. The doctor said that if he got plenty of rest for the time being, he’d get better soon.
However, Ahn Hyung Seo’s occupation was a singer. A singer with their comeback just around the corner no less.
It wasn’t possible to ‘take it easy’.
The members surrounded Gu Chul Min and Ahn Hyung Seo who had come back from the hospital. Manager Oh Baek Ho, who had finished the meeting and hurried back, was also eagerly waiting for the two of them to get back to the dormitory.
Gu Chul Min delivered the news in Ahn Hyung Seo’s stead, who had a muffler wrapped around his neck and his face covered with a mask even though it was a nice spring day.
Everyone couldn’t hide their aghast expression when they heard the words vocal cord palsy. Ahn Hyung Seo, who was observing everyone’s reactions, took out his cellphone and sent a group text.
[I’m so so sorry. My apologies ㅠㅠ]*
(TL Note: The first “I’m sorry” was said to the members without honorifics. The second “My apologies” was said to Gu Chul Min with honorifics.)
He had taken medicine so he was feeling better and probably could talk, but it still hurt when he talked and the doctor said to save his voice as much as possible. Ahn Hyung Seo willingly decided not to speak so he could get better as soon as possible, but he wanted to convey that he was sorry.
“Are you ok, Hyung Seo…?”
Feelings of regret prevented Do Wook from finishing his sentence. Ahn Hyung Seo started writing something on his cellphone. Everyone’s gazes were on Ahn Hyung Seo’s fingers.
[I’ll get better by the day of the recording.]
“What do you mean? You love talking, how are you going to stand not being able to talk? Man, go rest.”
When Jung Yoon Ki said that, Ahn Hyung Seo trudged to his room with a tearful expression.
There wasn’t a single person who could admonish Ahn Hyung Seo. Ahn Hyung Seo hadn’t taken good care of his body, but it wasn’t as if he got sick while drinking, smoking, or going out to party.
Ahn Hyung Seo was the one who was most upset about getting sick while rehearsing.
Rather, the ones heavy with guilt and blaming themselves regarding Ahn Hyung Seo’s condition were Manager Oh, Do Wook, and Jung Yoon Ki.
It is the manager’s job to take care of the singers. That’s what managers are for. Manager Oh Baek Ho blamed himself for taking Ahn Hyung Seo’s condition too lightly.
As the leader, Jung Yoon Ki blamed himself for not taking good care of a member. He was anxious about rehearsing so even though he had seen Ahn Hyung Seo had been struggling, he had told himself it’d probably be ok and had let it be.
It was the same for Do Wook too.
‘Maybe I put too much pressure on him…’
Do Wook poured that expectation into this song because Ahn Hyung Seo had grown as a vocalist through constant effort since their debut. Ahn Hyung Seo himself had recognized that right away.
It was meant to allow Ahn Hyung Seo to demonstrate all the skills he possessed, but that could have become a burden.
‘As a producer I’m supposed to lessen his burden…’
Do Wook thought.
However, this was not the time for self-blame. Ultimately, there was nobody who had done anything wrong. What was important was where to go from here.
***
The KK members except Ahn Hyung Seo, Album Production Team Leader Shim Jun, and Manager Oh Baek Ho had gathered together. Fan Marketing Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung, who would have to adjust KK’s album promotion schedule, was also present.
“You don’t know yet when it might be possible to record, right?”
Team Leader Shim Jun asked. Manager Oh Baek Ho answered.
It had been two days since Ahn Hyung Seo had gone to the hospital with Gu Chul Min. Ahn Hyung Seo had gone to the hospital one more time after that. His cold had gotten better, but the best thing for him still was to not strain his vocal cords.
“The doctor ordered him to rest and not overdo it for at least 2 weeks.”
“2 weeks…”
Team Leader Shim Jun muttered as he checked the calendar. His hands moved quickly.
“The members also all agree that it’d be best to rest for 2 weeks and start recording and activities after fully recovering.”
Manager Oh Baek Ho also conveyed the members’ opinions. It was the conclusion they had come to after discussing it while Ahn Hyung Seo slept after taking medicine.
Team Leader Shim Jun, who would have to coordinate the entire album projecting schedule, frowned.
The choreography this time was so difficult that rehearsal for it started even before recording the title song.
Noh Yoon Tae, the choreographer, had put the choreography together based on the guide version of the song and part distributions that Do Wook had told him.
After recording, they would need a significant amount of rehearsal time with the official version.
If recording was delayed, everything else would get delayed too. It was time to make a decision.
“Manager Oh, there’s no broadcasts scheduled yet, right? Team Leader Lee, you should also…”
Team Leader Shim Jun asked, alternating between Manager Oh Baek Ho and Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung.
“We planned to coordinate the timing of the MyTube commercial with the concept photos and music video release….It’s possible to postpone it.”
Fortunately, Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung’s schedule was sufficiently flexible. Manager Oh Baek Ho also replied with a nod.
“There is a broadcast station we’ve been in talks with for the comeback show, but it was just discussions, we’ll have to reschedule it.”
“I think it’d be best to postpone the originally scheduled comeback date by about a month,”
Team leader Shim Jun said as he checked the other singers’ schedules.
When planning a comeback, you have to take into consideration other major singers’ activities. You can’t match the timing perfectly, but nothing good will come out of needlessly having it at the same timeframe as other major singers.
Now, if news got out that KK’s comeback was pushed back a month, it would definitely affect other singers’ activities.
‘A month…’
In some ways it was a short time, but in other ways it was a long time.
In the past, they had no problem maintaining their popularity even if they released one album a year, but that was not the case now. Do Wook was a little worried because there was a delay during a time they had to pump out albums as quickly as possible.
“I am worried about the fans. Besides Ji Hoon’s variety show, there are no other domestic activities at all during that time…and we can’t release another unit album or other albums during that short period of time either.”
It seemed Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung was thinking the same thing as Do Wook.
‘There has to be something to get us through this.’
Do Wook thought of a way. They needed something to fill the void.
‘Will that work?…’
—
Next chapter: KK officially announces their comeback will be postponed