Episode 49: First Step
The soft noise that woke me was unmistakable.
Bubble, bubble.
The distinct sound of a stew simmering in a clay pot.
The spicy aroma tickling my nose.
Even without lifting my heavy eyelids, I know exactly what it is.
‘Kimchi jjigae.’
The soul food of Korea, of this peninsula.
A dish so iconic, even foreigners here could name it.
And among them, Zia’s kimchi jjigae reigns supreme.
Think the taste depends on the kimchi?
No matter the argument, I’m sticking to my claim.
Slurp.
“Mmm, perfect.”
The sound of Zia tasting it, her soft murmur.
It brings a natural smile to my face.
The click of the old gas stove turning off follows, then the clink of the aged clay pot settling on our worn table.
‘Hmm… maybe it’s time to move?’
This rooftop room holds countless memories for Zia and me, but it’s undeniable that it’s not ideal for two grown adults.
‘The Blind Singer first-place prize was 300 million won… 80% for necessary expenses, right?’
Roughly calculating taxes, about 13 million won.
That should be enough for Zia to agree to a move.
‘That’ll be fun.’
Just imagining house-hunting with Zia makes me grin.
Sure, it’ll be exhausting when it happens, but—
“Oh, newlyweds?”
Every real estate agent we visit will say that, no doubt.
The thought almost lifts the corners of my mouth again, but I hold it back.
“Yujin, get up.”
Zia’s voice, still husky with sleep, draws closer.
I’m already awake, but—
‘Men are kids no matter their age.’
Even nearing 40 in real years, I can’t resist this playfulness.
“Ugh…”
Zia sighs lightly, sensing I’m still “asleep,” and sits on the bed’s edge.
“What time is it, and you’re still sleeping… Guess I’ll let it slide since you’re handsome.”
Her words suggest she hasn’t caught my act.
“Didn’t know this color would suit you… When did you practice dancing?”
Her gentle hand brushes my hair, tickling me, but I barely hold still.
“You worked out hard. Your body’s changed like this.”
Her fingers trace from my hair to my jawline, then my chest, stirring a natural morning reaction into something else.
I just manage to keep it together.
“Maybe I should work out more?”
That’s the final straw.
“No way! You’re already perfect—any less softness, and I’m staging a protest!”
“Eek!”
I grab Zia’s waist like a hunter in the wild, and a squeaky yelp escapes her.
“You should’ve said you were awake!”
A sharp sting hits my back.
But even that can’t stop the laughter I’ve been holding in.
“How much did you hear?”
Zia asks, eyeing my goofy grin.
“Just woke up.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. What time is it?”
“A little past 8.”
“Psh, that’s not late. What’s with the ‘handsome’ pass?”
“You heard everything!”
Her heavy-lidded eyes meet her flushed face as she bolts away, but I etch the image into my mind.
Sprawled on the bed, I watch her.
At the table, avoiding my gaze, she mumbles.
“Come on, eat and wash up. You’ve got to go to the agency today.”
“I can take my time with that.”
I say, dragging myself out of bed.
‘If I hadn’t set a time, maybe…’
Keeping appointments is a professional’s basic duty.
That’s why I didn’t let Zia’s wandering fingers shift my focus.
“Yujin, winning first doesn’t mean it’s over. It’s just the start. Don’t slack off already.”
Unaware of my thoughts, Zia scolds me with a stern look as I shuffle to the table.
“Yeah, I’ll be careful. Thanks.”
I just nod.
She’s not wrong, and saying “I know” would only spoil the mood.
“Pork?”
“Yeah.”
Good thing I can change the subject like this.
“You love pork kimchi jjigae. Hurry, it’ll get cold.”
One fact Zia doesn’t know: I actually prefer tuna in kimchi jjigae.
I just said pork because she likes it.
But—
“Mmm, delicious!”
“You always say that. You just love anything I make, huh?”
“Yup!”
“Such a sweet-talker. Eat up.”
Tuna, pork—what’s the difference?
Her double thumbs-up and warm smile are enough to melt me.
What more is there?
This is peace. This is happiness.
***
“Welcome, Yujin-ssi.”
In Seo Yoonje’s office, two unfamiliar faces—a man and a woman—greet me.
I can guess who they are, though.
“Let’s start with introductions. This is Han Yujin, officially part of MyWay as of today. You both know him, right?”
“Of course. How could we not? I’m Ailee Jang, head of MyWay’s A&R team. Just call me Ailee, no need for formalities.”
“Nice to meet you, Ailee. I’m Han Yujin.”
“I loved ‘Shooting Star’. Such a great song.”
“Thank you.”
I exchange light greetings with Ailee, who looks young for a team leader, then turn to the next person.
“I’m Jeon Seonwoo, head of the artist development team.”
I shake hands with Jeon Seonwoo, noticing his palm is damp despite wiping it on his clothes.
“Sorry, I’m just a bit nervous meeting you in person…”
He apologizes, clearly aware of it.
I’m not offended—someone being nervous around me isn’t bad—but I’m curious why.
“You were really looking forward to meeting me?”
I toss the question lightly to ease the mood, but Seo Yoonje answers.
“You bet. Our Jeon here was dying to meet you. Since you sang ‘For a Moment’ as EUJN, he’s been chanting we need to bring you to MyWay. What’d you say back then?”
“That Yujin-ssi would be the pillar to succeed AZ.”
His words catch me off guard.
Comparing a complete rookie to AZ after one song? That’s bold.
“Did you know, Yujin-ssi? The day Blind Singer’s first episode aired, Jeon called me before it even ended, freaking out about how incredible you were. He knew contestant number one was you right away.”
“I was so upset with the CEO back then. I was floored. That was the first time I ran out of a team dinner.”
“Sorry about that, Jeon. But the fewer who knew, the better.”
“Now that you’re here, that’s all that matters.”
The word “satisfaction” is practically written across Jeon Seonwoo’s forehead.
Seo Yoonje, Ailee, and I share a small laugh, but it’s brief.
“Alright, let’s tackle the most urgent matter. Ailee?”
Seo Yoonje’s eyes sharpen as he calls her, and Ailee, dropping her smile, starts her report.
“Yes. For Shooting Star, we could start recording as soon as the lyrics are ready. It’s a bit embarrassing to say in front of the artist, but… we don’t have any songs in our catalog that suit you better. So, Yujin-ssi, about the lyrics—do you plan to write them yourself, or is there a lyricist you want?”
The answer’s obvious.
“I’ll write them.”
It’s the song inspired by Zia.
No way I’d let someone else write the lyrics.
But then—
“Got it. We’ll talk again once the lyrics are ready.”
“OK. Next…”
Ailee cuts the topic short, and Seo Yoonje nods.
Wait, am I the only one thrown off here?
Shouldn’t they at least ask about a timeline?
“You’re not going to ask when I’ll have it done?”
I blurt out my confusion, and Ailee responds with something I didn’t expect.
“Do great works come from rushing? Don’t stress, just take your time.”
I’m stunned.
“I heard from the CEO that your motivation is rock-solid. For artists like you, waiting quietly yields better results than pushing. Of course, releasing a single while Blind Singer’s buzz is hot would be ideal, but don’t feel pressured. If Jeon’s this confident, the hype fading won’t matter.”
Is this the legendary “artist-first” approach of MyWay?
Something Starlight could never dream of.
‘Though I pushed myself to the limit too…’
Isn’t driving people to their breaking point for deadlines a Starlight specialty?
I’d heard MyWay’s culture was different, but I didn’t expect this much.
‘Leaving schedules entirely to the artist’s discretion is already insane.’
As I sit, dazed by the unfamiliar vibe, Seo Yoonje claps lightly to shift the mood.
“Yujin-ssi’s not used to our style yet, huh?”
“We do have that side to us.”
“Come on, no need to say that in front of the CEO. There’s nothing urgent to decide right now, is there?”
“Right.”
“Let’s save the rest for later. You two can go.”
Jeon Seonwoo and Ailee bow lightly and leave.
“You okay? Pretty shocking, right?”
Seo Yoonje asks playfully, like a robot.
“I’d heard about it, but… I didn’t expect this.”
“That’s why artists who adapt to MyWay can’t go anywhere else. We’re one of a kind.”
He laughs, but it doesn’t feel like a joke, so I can’t laugh back.
‘Did I bring this for nothing?’
In this laid-back atmosphere, maybe I could’ve taken it slower.
But since I brought it, I might as well.
“CEO.”
“Yes?”
“Can you listen to this?”
Without waiting, I play a track from my phone.
A hybrid pop blend of guitar, drums, and synths.
Seo Yoonje’s smiling eyes widen as he listens.
The “music maniac” stares at the finished track with a fierce gaze.
“Can you call Jeon and Ailee back?”
Without asking me, he picks up the intercom to summon them.
“Sorry, Yujin-ssi. Can I… share this with them?”
“Of course.”
His belated request doesn’t bother me—I expected this reaction.
Moments later—
“What… is this…?”
“No way, this too…?”
Jeon Seonwoo and Ailee, returning bewildered, react even more intensely than Seo Yoonje.
“If I’m reading this right, this isn’t a song you plan to sing alone, is it?”
Seo Yoonje nails my intent, and I smile.
“Exactly. To be precise, it’s not a song for me.”
The track, ‘First Step’, was once the legendary debut song of Polaris.
“Got anyone at MyWay who could sing this?”
Now, it’s destined to be someone new’s debut.
****
TL Note: If you want to read 17 advanced chapters. You can read them on my Gumroad page.
Link: https://galeriakrish.gumroad.com/l/qvcevg
Or if you want to download the chapters you can download the pdf on my itch.io page.
Link: https://krishgaleria.itch.io/idol-regression
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