booktalesy Chapter 387: Red Rouge (6)
Chapter 387: Red Rouge (6)
Chapter 387: Red Rouge (6)
♪ I am a shadow under the moon
You belong with the sun
Cherishing the hand I let go
Before the chorus, there was Yoon-Chan's part. Among the members, he was the only one who used a prop in his performance. He held a large fan and executed the gestures he had practiced. Using the fan had been Yoon-Chan's own idea.
The members split to the sides, and Yoon-Chan moved forward to complete his part, followed by the dancers moving in perfect harmony. The dancers spun dramatically around the center before moving to the back as the lights brightened and the chorus began.
This chorus part was mine, and it was my favorite. The emotional, lyrical instruments and melody felt like an outpouring of feelings.
♪ Blowing away my crumbling heart, Ario-
I sing a song in mourning with sobs
Ario, Ario, Ario ai- Ario
The melody of the lyrical chorus was played by string instruments with the sound of janggu[1] adding depth.
The song flowed both sorrowfully and passionately. The dancers retreated to the back, leaving only the five members of Chronos on stage. The previously crowded stage now felt empty as it left the Rings silent and moved by the emptiness. The song quieted down before the highlight, with Jin-Sung’s solo dance starting to the sound of a violin.
Unlike me, Jin-Sung performed with vigor. His expressions and movements perfectly matched the mood of "Ario愛." As he danced, the dancers silently re-entered and positioned themselves at the back. When Jin-Sung's solo ended, the lights dimmed, and Joo-Han moved forward from the side while singing his part.
♪ Even if I float flowers on still water
They don't drift away
Just like my heart
Always longing, holding your memory
The camera zoomed in on Joo-Han’s face. After finishing his part, he performed the pre-planned gesture. The lights brightened again as the camera quickly pulled back, leading straight into the highlight.
The dancers rushed forward, took their positions, and the dance break began. Led by Jin-Sung, the choreography was powerful and intense. It was the most physically demanding part, but our focus kept the exhaustion at bay.
The "Ario愛" performance ended.
“Good job, everyone.”
“Thank you! Great job!”
With the director’s tired voice signaling the end of the recording, we energetically expressed our gratitude to the crew and waved to the Rings.
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes!!!”
“Glad to hear that. Thanks for coming, Rings. Today must have been tough for you guys, too.”
“Make sure to eat and rest when you get home!”
Because we showed signs of leaving, the Rings suddenly started calling out for us, each trying to say something. They wanted us to say their names or at least give them a world of acknowledgement. However, all we could do was make eye contact and wave on our way backstage.
Even though we wanted to chat with them, the next group scheduled for pre-recording was waiting. As a result, we had to leave the stage without delay.
The production crew called us over. “We will start filming soon. Chronos members, please gather here. We will start filming as soon as you get the cue. Feel free to act cocky or create a little skit as you enter the set.”
“Got it!”
“Even though this is your first shoot, this show is all about you, so don’t worry about anything and just have fun. Go wild and do whatever you want,” the crew reassured us.
It was a simple directive. We just had to enjoy the shooting. They encouraged us to go off-script if it made things more fun. This must have been the difference between personal variety shows and regular TV shows.
“Let’s start filming,” the director signaled.
One of the staff clapped the slate in front of the camera, and the cue signal followed. We received a gentle push from the staff toward the set.
“Ah, we’re back! We’ve finally returned!” Goh Yoo-Joon exclaimed dramatically since he was the first to stride onto the set. Following his lead, the rest of us entered while bantering as we took our seats. Joo-Han naturally took the MC’s seat and kicked off the show.
“Ladies and gentlemen, finally!”
His loud voice made Jin-Sung cover his ears. “Ah, you scared me!”
Joo-Han was unfazed, so he carried on. “Chronos has its very own variety show! Make some noise!”
“Waaaah!!!”
“What’s the name of the show, sir? What’s the name?” Goh Yoo-Joon played along.
“Goh Yoo-Joon, we will reveal that later. Anyway, we’ve been talking about doing a variety show for ages, and now it’s finally happening. It’s an honor and we are very grateful. Everyone, stand up and greet the camera.”
“Stand up?”
“Really?”
Despite our confusion at Joo-Han’s bossy tone, we obediently stood up and thanked the camera.
“Thank you!”
“So~!”
“Oh my gosh, why are you so loud today, hyung?”
“Joo-Han hyung seems more hyped today than ever!”
“Ugh!”
With a loud thump, Joo-Han slapped the table with his cue card and grabbed everyone’s attention again. “What are we doing today for the glorious first episode?”
“He only gets this high-energy on broadcast,” Goh Yoo-Joon muttered.
“What? High Tension?”
“Seriously, Yoo-Joon. Be quiet.”
“Look at our outfits, everyone! Don’t they look familiar?” Joo-Han continued as he ignored our side chatter.
Despite our playful complaints, there was something impressive about his ability to keep the show moving smoothly. The filming progressed with ease, and our camaraderie and natural chemistry made the shoot lively and enjoyable. The more we joked and interacted, the more fun the show became.
1. A traditional Korean drum shaped like an hourglass. It has two heads, each producing different pitches, and is played with sticks or hands. The janggu is widely used in various Korean music genres, including folk, court, and contemporary music, providing a versatile and rhythmic backbone to performances. ☜