Episode 6: As Planned (2)
The seed of this plan was planted over a decade ago, when I was arranging ‘For You, a Moment’ for Seonghoon.
“Yujin, you know what?”
“What?”
Seonghoon had said, lounging on the sofa, gazing dreamily into the air.
“This song was originally meant for two singers.”
I’d responded half-heartedly.
“A duet? The structure doesn’t seem like one.”
“Nope, not that. They planned for two singers to sing this song separately.”
“Oh, I see.”
Giving a song different variations wasn’t common, but it wasn’t rare either.
“’Second Time with You’ has two protagonists, right? The 40-something pre-regression protagonist and the 20-something post-regression one. The older protagonist’s theme was for Yo-han hyung, and the younger one was for another singer. Pretty cool setup, huh? Ever wonder why Yo-han hyung ended up singing it alone?”
“Not really. Why?”
I wasn’t particularly curious. But once Seonghoon started talking, whether I cared or not didn’t stop his chatter, so I just let it slide.
“The PD couldn’t find a singer he liked. Man, what a shame. If you or I had debuted back then, things could’ve been different.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Seonghoon was among the top vocalists in the idol scene at the time.
Me? Well, I was in another league entirely.
But I put up with his ramblings for another reason.
“Seonghoon.”
“Yeah?”
“Why does our oh-so-talented Seonghoon keep singing flat?”
My patience was at its limit because he kept singing a half-step too low. Knowing his chatter would inevitably lead to self-praise, I’d planned to hit him with a counter.
“I mean… that’s how the original goes…”
“If you’re just gonna sing however you want, why ask me to arrange it?”
The stern words of a producer.
Seonghoon straightened up, acting like a disciplined rookie soldier.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Do it right.”
“Yes, sir.”
Amid that little episode, Seonghoon’s cover went up on YouTube—not a flop, but not a hit either, just a modest track that only fans checked out.
***
Anyway, results aside, back to the present.
“The drama’s called ‘Second Time with You’. Heard of it? If I may brag a bit, it’s been in the news a lot.”
“Yes, I’ve seen the articles.”
Of course, I hadn’t. A star PD’s work would naturally get press, but I hadn’t had the time or mind to look. Still, saying I had would make the conversation smoother.
“Then this’ll be easy. It’s about a successful man with deep regrets who goes back in time to fix them. So, there are two protagonists: the middle-aged pre-regression one and the young post-regression one. We planned to have two singers for the main theme, with an age difference to match.”
Exactly what Seonghoon had said, now coming from Yoon Chanwoo’s mouth.
“We found the singer for the older protagonist right away—someone came to mind immediately. But no matter how much we searched, we couldn’t find a young singer we liked, so the plan fell through.”
His words matched what I’d heard before.
“Then you showed up, Yujin-ssi. A young talent who could hold their own against Yo-han-ssi!”
“Yoon PD.”
Bang Hokyung cut off Yoon Chanwoo’s suddenly gleaming eyes.
“Yo-han’s involvement is under embargo too.”
“Oh, my bad. Yujin-ssi, can you keep that quiet?”
A mistake? Yeah, right—it was obviously intentional.
Putting me on the same level as Ko Yo-han to stroke my ego while dropping insider info to build rapport.
It’s a cheap trick, and I’m far too seasoned to fall for it, but I didn’t hold back my smile.
‘Was already hard to keep a straight face.’
When he lays it out like that, I can let myself laugh.
‘Didn’t expect it to go this smoothly.’
To be honest, ‘For You, a Moment’ is a tempting song.
Not just because it’s tied to an award-winning drama or its multiple chart resurgences.
‘It’s an OST for a drama that’s not so different from my current situation.’
The protagonist’s regret—realizing too late that their hard-won success didn’t align with happiness—mirrors the emptiness I felt holding a Grammy trophy.
‘And that’s not all.’
The chance to fix an otherwise irreversible regret, unexpectedly granted, is practically my reality. I’m not just similar to the protagonist of ‘Second Time with You’—I am him.
‘The level of immersion is different.’
Immersion in the song itself, and in the protagonist it’s meant to represent.
This song might as well have been made for me.
‘If I’d sung it with full commitment, I might’ve even outshone Yo-han hyung.’
Just as Yoon Chanwoo couldn’t find a young singer he liked, leaving Yo-han to sing it alone, I don’t think it’d be hard to claim this song if I wanted it.
It would’ve elevated the drama’s quality even further.
But—
‘Would that help my career?’
I can’t deny that the question tilts my head sideways.
Fame.
In a world where only a select few can claim the pie, the presence of those who’ve already tasted it holds an irreplaceable power.
So, if I sang this song solo, could I wield the same influence as Yo-han hyung did?
‘Well, who knows.’
It could be the spark that starts a legend for an unknown singer.
In a world where overnight success isn’t that hard, it’s not impossible.
But I’ve seen too much.
Countless singers, devoured by their “life-changing” song, never seeing the light again.
Comparing the two, I can’t deny the latter’s far more likely.
The story of a guide vocalist fitting the song so perfectly they become its star isn’t quite enough to flip that probability.
‘That’s why I need Yo-han hyung.’
More precisely, I need a name that won’t be overshadowed by the song.
The ‘For You, a Moment’ by Ko Yo-han, celebrated time and again by the public.
And alongside it, a version by an unknown singer that doesn’t just hold up but overshadows it.
“What do you think, Yujin-ssi?”
In today’s Korean pop scene, dominated by idol music, is there a more dazzling stage for a male solo artist’s debut?
The plan I’d gambled on was now becoming reality.
Sure, compared to the debut stage of a certain idol group that greedily swept rookie awards, it’s modest.
‘But the only crazy person who’d cast a 23-year-old aspiring singer with no trainee background as an idol is Lee Heekyung.”
This is the best option.
For a solo artist, this is a red carpet even AZ never walked.
It was a near-gamble.
The chance that Seonghoon’s info was unverified gossip.
Or that even if it was true, the plan had been scrapped beyond revival.
Or that they wouldn’t recognize the true value of my singing.
‘A gamble I took despite all those risks.’
Failure wouldn’t have mattered.
‘For You, a Moment’ wasn’t mine to begin with, and it’s destined to soar.
If it came to that, I’d just release a cover even more perfect than the original.
‘There are YouTubers with 20 million subscribers building fame through covers.’
Sure, I’d have had to pray to the algorithm gods, but that’s irrelevant now.
“If you’re okay with it, Yujin-ssi, I’d like to use your recording for the OST. No need to go far—the guide track I heard could be polished and used as is. That’s doable, right, Bang Pro?”
“Absolutely. That’s why I played it for you, Yoon PD.”
“See, he says it’s fine.”
Yoon Chanwoo’s eager gaze landed on me.
But I wasn’t looking at him—I was watching Bang Hokyung.
His eyes clearly showed dissatisfaction.
That was enough for me to take the shot.
“Thank you for the generous offer. I know it’s more than I deserve, but… to accept, I’d like to propose one condition.”
Yoon Chanwoo’s eyebrows twitched upward.
Bang Hokyung remained unfazed.
“A condition… Let’s hear it.”
Despite the noticeable shift in Yoon Chanwoo’s polite tone, hinting at his irritation, I smiled brightly and stated my condition.
It’s not a big ask.
“The version you heard was recorded to serve as a guide. If it’s to be released officially, I’d like to rerecord it. If possible… after hearing Yo-han-ssi’s recording.”
“What?”
“Pfft. Hahahahaha!”
Yoon Chanwoo froze, dumbfounded, while Bang Hokyung burst into laughter beside him.
I do feel a bit sorry for Yo-han hyung.
What I’m doing is essentially using him as a backdrop to steal the spotlight.
‘But, well, Yo-han hyung would probably just laugh it off.’
It doesn’t feel great to backstab a good-natured guy who’s content with his life as a singer.
All I can do is repeat to myself:
‘My plate’s full right now, hyung. I’ll give you plenty of good songs later.’
It’s not an empty promise.
My repertoire is packed with songs that’d suit Yo-han hyung.
Sure, they were meant for solo projects by members of a certain boy group, but—
‘What can I do? Blame it on their bad luck with their agency.’
I don’t have any bad blood with Polaris’s members, but there’s no way for me to help them.
Maybe things would be different if I parted ways with Starlight, but Lee Heekyung isn’t likely to let them go easily.
‘All I can do is pray they navigate this tough world.’
Besides, who am I to worry about others?
I’m just a nobody singer, barely third-rate.
People would tell me to mind my own business.
So, for now, I’ll focus on what I need to do.
***
“I’m singing for a drama OST.”
Zia’s chopsticks, reaching for some rolled omelet, froze.
“A web drama? What’s the YouTube channel?”
Zia’s chopsticks, about to move again as if her question was casual, froze once more at my response.
“Not a web drama. A TV drama. They say ‘Second Time with You’ has been getting a lot of press.”
“That… Yoon Chanwoo’s drama…?”
Zia, stiff with shock, asked with wide eyes. I nodded, picking up a piece of rolled omelet and gently placing it on her rice bowl. Her eyes blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Smack!
“Ow! What the heck?!”
Zia’s idle left hand struck my thigh hard. Then, as if entranced, she mumbled,
“It hurts, so it’s not a dream…”
It was more surprise than pain, but I couldn’t get the words out to correct her.
“Eek! Oh my gosh! How did this happen?! How?!”
Zia’s joyful scream filled the small rooftop apartment. Her reaction was so intense it actually calmed me down.
“The guide I recorded yesterday was for that song, and the PD said he liked my singing and asked if I wanted to try it.”
At my calm explanation,
“Eek! You did it, Yujin! You did it!”
Zia launched herself at me, wrapping me in a tight hug. Then, pausing for a moment,
“Wait… that was a guide track, right? What about the original singer?”
Her face clouded slightly with concern.
‘Ugh, her soft spot…’
Given how much she sacrifices for me, it’s no surprise she’d empathize with another singer. She acts cynical usually, but moments like this show her softness—a charm I adore. Smiling, I answered,
“Oh, he’s singing too. The drama has two protagonists, so they’re assigning different singers to each.”
“Really? That’s amazing!”
The shadow on Zia’s face vanished instantly, replaced by pure joy.
When my first and greatest fan is this happy, what more could happiness be?
To me now, her cheers are a greater reward than any Grammy.
And with that, the lingering unease in my heart was completely erased.
‘Good call.’
The dilemma over For You, a Moment’s lyrics turned out to be a meaningless hiccup, but there’s no guarantee that same inner debate won’t resurface.
‘I need to stick to this going forward.’
I set a firm standard in place of that unease.
‘This is the last time I take a song meant for someone else.’
I’m not disappointed.
I can make my own songs to sing.
My repertoire from the past 16 years is more than enough.
‘Other people’s masterpieces?’
I’ll sing those just for Zia.
If the most precious audience in the world says they’re better than the original, that’s enough for me.
‘And this time, Zia’s by my side.’
What’s more, the emotions enriched by the happiness of having her beside me will shape songs I can’t even predict yet, making my heart race.
‘Guess being an idol really wasn’t my path.’
I’m far happier now as one person’s lover than I was as everyone’s.
Even so, as a deeper smile crept in and I started feeling a bit sorry for the Polaris fans who loved Han Yujin, Zia suddenly stopped again.
“Wait.”
Unlike the chilling “wait” from earlier, this one had a different warmth.
And it soon proved true.
“That call this morning—it was about this?”
“Uh, yeah?”
“You were going to laze around at home and miss this opportunity?!”
Smack!
This time, Zia’s hand landed on my back.
Ouch, that one actually hurt.