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Chapter 156: End-of-Year Stage (26)

“Ah, sorry. Looks like some already got on you though." In stark contrast to my fluffy white sweater, Goh Yoo-Joon was clad in a Christmas-appropriate red sweater. As I tried to pick off the fuzz from Goh Yoo-Joon\'s clothes, our stylist approached and thoroughly cleaned it off for us.

“Thanks so much, noona.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

The stylist looked nearly at her wit\'s end. She just nodded wearily and retreated to her original spot. Seeing her distressed expression, we stood at attention and stayed silent.

“Chronos, your turn to go up!"

Up on stage, a preparation footage was playing, showcasing our interactions with Elisia and the other nineteen-year-old singers.

“Hmm!" After a final throat-clearing, the VTR wrapped up.

“Heading up!" At this moment, the prelude to “Christmas is Ours” started, and the lift carrying me and Goh Yoo-Joon slowly ascended. The roar of the audience then surged to an overwhelming crescendo as we came into view.

Sometimes, standing on stage could feel incredibly isolating. It was as if there was nowhere for us to lean on. Despite Goh Yoo-Joon\'s presence beside me today, an odd tension made me feel like I was up there on my own. Perhaps the vastness of the stage and the weight of having to sing half the song myself contributed to this feeling.

However, I imagined this pressure might be even more intense for Goh Yoo-Joon, who was set to start the first part.

As I looked out at the sea of brightly waving light sticks, I turned to Goh Yoo-Joon. Contrary to my expectations, he was smiling with ease. It dawned on me then that Goh Yoo-Joon was the type to remain unfazed on stage, never overreaching or faltering. His calm demeanor brought me some comfort. As I embraced this strange mix of nervousness and reassurance, the musical\'s first part commenced.

***

“What\'s all this sweetness about?"

“Haha, I know right? I heard this was supposed to be a duet, meant to symbolize friendship."

Yet, the melody was unexpectedly sweet for a friendship duet. For a moment, Kim Go-Ri wondered if society had become more accepting of such nuances. After all, she had been briefed on the song through a VTR shown earlier.

“‘Christmas is Ours’ was a song for convincing a friend who longed to spend Christmas with their lover. This sly friend wanted to prove that the sweetness of companionship could surpass that of romantic love, so the two singles celebrated Christmas together. It was essentially a sweeter take on the misery loves company strategy.

However, seeing her favorite singers perform it live was completely different from just reading and hearing the descriptions from the video. It was astonishing to see two friends known more for their squabbles engaging in such tender interactions on stage.

It was absolutely delightful!

“Gasp, oh my!!! Yoo-Joon!!!" There was Goh Yoo-Joon with his awkwardly romantic gaze and Suh Hyun-Woo with his innocent look.

The awkwardness of their camaraderie was surprisingly heartwarming. Perhaps Kang Joo-Han, who had suggested this song, had foreseen such a reaction from both the audience and the fans.

Oblivious to the fans\' escalating joy, the duo kicked off their performance to the sound of jingle bells. Goh Yoo-Joon led the first verse.

A beautiful white Christmas

The sound of jingle bells comes close

Today, it\'s just you and me, our own Christmas

Isn\'t it enough with just the two of us?

A Christmas of friendship, it\'s going to be so fun!♪

As Goh Yoo-Joon sang, the fans\' excitement reached its peak and exploded into sheer joy. Goh Yoo-Joon circled Suh Hyun-Woo with a mischievous grin, and his gestures suggested a playful persuasion, perfectly complementing his low, warm voice.

The serious demeanor he usually carried was nowhere to be seen, and Suh Hyun-Woo\'s curious and innocent gaze that followed Goh Yoo-Joon\'s every move added more charm to the performance.

‘It\'s a bit cheesy, but oh so nice.’

Perhaps the audience in the theater, as well as those tuning in from home, were all wrapped up in the same warm and fuzzy feeling as they watched the duo perform. Just as Goh Yoo-Joon\'s part came to a close, Suh Hyun-Woo took the microphone in hand.

Really, is that so?

But I want to spend a lively Christmas with everyone

Holding hands with my loved one by my side

Walking down the Christmas streets

An exciting Christmas, it\'s going to be so fun♪

This version of Suh Hyun-Woo was far from his sensitive reaction to Goh Yoo-Joon\'s usual antics. He had a look that seemed to say “Try and fool me, I dare you.”

Was this the natural flair of Suh Hyun-Woo, or something the agency had orchestrated? Regardless of the reason, the audience warmly embraced this delightful scene and cheered enthusiastically for the charming and somewhat exhilarating performance.

***

As I stepped onto the stage, I kept repeating to myself like a mantra. “I am Park Yoon-Chan. I am Yoon-Chan.” After learning about the “naive and gullible protagonist” concept, I thought about someone who embodied innocence the most.

Considering my limited social interactions across both my past and present lives, I could only think of one name. Park Yoon-Chan was the most innocent person, or rather, the one who could most convincingly portray the protagonist\'s demeanor.

This time, I was determined to successfully channel Yoon-Chan’s persona. I then looked up to Goh Yoo-Joon, who was earnestly trying to persuade me, with admiration in my eyes. Despite both Goh Yoo-Joon and I being keenly aware of the awkward and cringe-inducing atmosphere between us, it was bearable. Our stage experience somehow helped us navigate through it fairly smoothly.

Let\'s do this together, my friend

Come on, hold my hand!

♪

I eagerly took Goh Yoo-Joon\'s extended hand and delivered my part.

Okay! With you by my side,

Even a simple Christmas feels like it could be truly delightful!♪

Goh Yoo-Joon lifted our joined hands above our heads with a broad smile.

Now that we are holding hands,

We are spending Christmas together

Echo my words. Christmas is ours!♪

In tune with Goh Yoo-Joon\'s part, I continued with mine.

Christmas is ours!

Christmas is ours!

Christmas is ours!♪

Alternating turns, Goh Yoo-Joon and I chanted “Christmas is Ours.” Goh Yoo-Joon then stepped back with a content look, gently released my hand, and vanished backstage.

I was left alone on the stage and stood there, absorbing the audience\'s cheers as the bright white lights slowly dimmed. It then gave way to a soft pink glow, and the prelude to another sweet melody “Twisty” started to fill the room, eliciting murmurs of appreciation from the crowd.

It was a song by the indie band Ae-Seo & Hoon, and it captured the essence of youth\'s excitement. Those familiar with the tune expressed their delight, while newcomers were drawn in by the engaging intro.

The transition to the new song stirred the crowd, but it soon settled. In its place, an indescribable roar of excitement, or rather, the collective sound of the audience filled the air. I glanced over to see Elisia stepping onto the stage from the opposite side, microphone in hand, her gaze fixed on me. The audience\'s response intensified as she and I made eye contact, and she approached me gradually, her voice carrying the melody closer.

I can’t sleep

After our conversation ends.

My heart flutters under the moonlight outside the window

This is clearly a feeling for you♪

Elisia\'s particularly calm and serene voice and her steady tone added a layer of sweetness to the song. Flowers bloomed in the path Elisia walked. With professional ease, Elisia locked eyes with me and steadily closed the distance between us.

My previous guise of innocence was gone as I returned to my usual self. I kept my eyes fixed on Elisia with a composed gaze while continuing with my part.

The cool breeze carries a sweet aroma

My heart sways, drawn irresistibly to you

I wonder what you are thinking under the same sky

Curious about the look on your face as you gaze at the stars♪

Pink lights shone on Elisia while yellow lights illuminated me. The part involving exchanging glances, which I had found hard to immerse myself in, felt different on stage. Looking directly at Elisia, with a gentler voice and a more affectionate gaze, I somehow felt it to be completely natural.

After Elisia slowly approached, she stopped close by and looked at me with a light smile. I also responded with a smile and sang my part.

But expressing these feelings isn\'t easy

My lips seal shut in your presence

Lacking the certainty that our feelings are mutual♪

What followed was Elisia\'s part. Unlike the duet with Goh Yoo-Joon earlier, my role in this song was totally different. My job was simply to gaze at Elisia and do my best to create an atmosphere brimming with anticipation. After her part concluded, I simply added harmony to her singing.

Our path is winding, like a complicated road

Let\'s try to take it easy♪

Contrary to typical duet songs, the male voice carried the higher harmonies in this one. This made my tune sound softer and her tune clearer yet mature. After all, this song was a favorite for many and was cherished for its prelude and harmony sections.

After the harmony, it was my turn again. I smiled softly and reached out my hand toward Elisia.

There is a shortcut,

Just like this, we just have to take one more step closer♪

Just as Elisia was about to take my hand, a commotion stirred among the audience. Pretending to be startled, Elisia and I looked around, only for Goh Yoo-Joon to emerge playfully from the sidelines, flashing a cheeky grin before he sprinted over and playfully snatched Elisia\'s hand.

Immediately afterward, the next song “BOO THANG” started. As I watched Goh Yoo-Joon teasingly lead Elisia toward the main stage, a camera zoomed in on my face, capturing my feigned expression of betrayal and sadness. I forlornly lowered my hand that was ambiguously stretched out toward the two.

The audience let out a light laugh at the comedic staging we had prepared. Then, the spotlight on me dimmed. I had done my job, and the stage was set for Goh Yoo-Joon, Elisia, and the rest of the nineteen-year-olds to begin their performance on the main stage.

That was it for me until the final part of the musical. There remained only the finale of the musical and our Chronos\'s performances.