CHAPTER 97: DEBUT SHOWCASE

GARAM covered his mouth with his hands when he let out a gasp. "Hyung, are you crazy?"

Song Sihyuk, who was sitting next to him in the backseat of the car, chuckled. "What’s so crazy about that? I’m just giving you a token of gratitude for the wonderful photocards that you gave me."

The ’token of gratitude’ in question was the fact that his Siren MV premiered on Aera World Mall’s "Aera Square," a massive media façade in Seoul— with the screen roughly the size of three basketball courts.

Yes, the screen was that big.

Garam still couldn’t believe it.

He was wondering why Song Sihyuk suddenly went home early, and then asked him to go to the department store with him.

Of course, he hesitated at first.

Because I can’t have a dating scandal before my solo debut.

But Song Sihyuk assured him that they wouldn’t have to get out of the car.

Garam was even more confused when they really parked the car in front of the huge screen of Aera World Mall.

And then my music video suddenly started playing!

Not even the elite groups from big companies had done something like that before.

And it’s only possible because my husband’s family owns the luxury department store.

"Hyung, will this be alright?" Garam asked worriedly. He was happy to see his music video being played on such a huge screen while hundreds of people had stopped to watch. But he was also worried. "Our company didn’t have any connection with Aera World Mall before this. People will surely wonder how this ’collaboration’ happened."

"It’s fine," Song Sihyuk said, wrapping an arm around Garam’s waist. "We’re going to announce that you’ll be the new face of Aera World Mall anyway. Once the article about that is released, people will get their answers soon."

Right.

One of the brand deals that Garam recently received was to be the face of Aera World Mall.

"Still, this is huge," Garam said, his eyes still glued to the huge screen playing his music video nonstop. As a result, more and more people were stopping in front of the screen to watch the MV. "I feel like I’m going to gain new fans because of this."

"Isn’t that a good thing?"

"It is."

"Did I do well?"

"Yes, Hyung. Thank you," Garam said, and then he finally turned to Song Sihyuk. "I wanna cry."

"You can, but do you really want puffy eyes before your debut showcase later?" Song Sihyuk asked teasingly. "Well, I can just ask people to delay it for at least two hours."

"I can’t do that when it’s my solo debut, Hyung."

"Why not? You can do whatever you want, Garam-ah. Except leaving me, of course."

Garam just rolled his eyes.

But, thanks to Song Sihyuk’s teasing, he didn’t feel like crying anymore.

My debut showcase starts in a little less than two hours, so I can’t cry.

"Are you happy, Garam-ah?"

"Super."

"Then I’m glad," Song Sihyuk said, sighing while shaking his head. "It was my idea to play your music video there, but I’m not 100% happy with it."

"Why, Hyung?"

"You showed too much skin in your music video."

Aigooya.

"Hyung, I was wearing a shirt almost the entire time."

Song Sihyuk frowned. "You mean that white see-through shirt that leaves little to the imagination?"

"Well, that’s an appropriate beach outfit. I can’t wear a suit in the beach, can I?"

"You have a naked scene."

"I wasn’t completely naked in that bathtub scene, Hyung," Garam said. To be honest, instead of getting annoyed, he found Song Sihyuk’s complaints a little funny. He just couldn’t laugh because he knew the Alpha would sulk even more if he did. "Plus, only my torso was shown, and it was only shown briefly since the bubbles from the bath bomb covered my body."

"It’s still sexy, babe."

"That’s not my problem anymore, Hyung."

"Why did you have to choose that concept?"

"Because it’s summer, Hyung."

Song Sihyuk clicked his tongue. "Next time, I won’t approve anything that will have you show too much skin."

"Why do I need Hyung’s permission for that?"

"You just do."

Garam wanted to argue, but he figured Song Sihyuk was just being annoying as usual.

Hyung can’t be serious about that, can he?

"Should we head back?" Song Sihyuk asked, thankfully changing the topic. "You still need to rehearse for your debut showcase, right?"

"Yes, Hyung. I’m going to perform my songs, after all," Garam said, and then he clung to Song Sihyuk’s arm before kissing the Alpha on the cheek. "Thank you for the gift, Hyung."

***

TO BE honest, ’Siren’ wasn’t exactly a summer song.

Summer songs are usually upbeat, after all.

On the other hand, ’Siren’ was actually R&B pop.

The song also had sexy vibes— a concept that their group hadn’t really explored yet.

It’s okay since I’m the second oldest member anyway.

"Garam-ssi, you look great!"

"Thank you, Noona."

To be honest, Garam knew that he was handsome, but he wasn’t the type to dwell on it too much. He just thought he was lucky to have a face that suited the career he chose.

However, today, he must admit that he looked gorgeous.

The highlight of his outfit was his gauzy white shirt.

Hyung will definitely sulk again if he sees how thin my shirt is.

Oh, well.

Garam looked good in his all-white outfit.

Plus, his silver hair complemented his fit— as well as his silver accessories from piercings to rings.

Silver is really my color.

That was why even his in-ear monitors were silver.

"Garam-ssi, we need you on stage in three minutes!"

"Yes, Noona," Garam answered the staff politely, and then he took a deep breath. "I’m ready."

***

GARAM’S debut showcase was being held in Sky Live Hall— it was a famous concert hall with a capacity of 2,500 people.

But for his debut showcase, only half of that was allowed to attend.

The debut showcase is mostly a press conference, after all.

However, the company decided to hold a live broadcast for the fans who couldn’t attend the debut showcase.

Sihyuk Hyung said he’d watch the live broadcast, so I have to do well.

Hence, as soon as Garam stepped onto the stage, he held his personalized microphone tightly and began singing.

Live, of course.

The loud cheer of his fans almost made the hall shake.

It inspired Garam to sing well.

"Drowning in my own thoughts, your voice echoed in my ears like a siren, calming the storm in my head, I’m still drawn to you..."

***

WHEW.

After performing Siren and his other songs from the mini-album, Garam finally got to sit down and talk to the reporters.

It’s still a presscon, after all.

Of course, he had changed his clothes already.

Garam was now wearing a navy-blue dress shirt, charcoal trousers that provided a classic and sophisticated appearance, and a pair of black Oxford shoes.

His stylist also gave him a slick back hairstyle.

My forehead is exposed after a long time...

"Garam-nim, congratulations on your solo debut."

Garam smiled and bowed his head politely to the reporter. "Thank you."

"We see your name in the credits of the title track ’Siren.’ Can you tell us how you ended up writing this song?"

Actually, the questions asked by the reporters were already pre-approved.

Hence, Garam had already prepared an answer for each one of them.

"The story behind ’Siren’ started when I enlisted. It happened during a slightly melancholic phase of my life. My head was always filled with useless thoughts, so I tried to drown them out by writing random lyrics until they started making sense to me one by one..."

And that was the beginning of the ’Q&A’ portion of the debut showcase.

Of course, Garam also interacted with his fans a lot.

It was all thanks to the witty host.

I’m glad the event isn’t boring.

"Last but not the least, I’d like to thank my members for supporting me," Garam said, smiling, after answering the last question from the reporter. "Hanseo Hyung, Jigu-ya, Finn-ah, Eunsang-ah, thank you so much for being my source of strength. Of course, I’m also grateful to the fans—"

"Garam-nim, what can you say about your title track ranking lower than Cindy-nim’s B-side songs on the charts?"

That was totally not among the pre-approved questions.

Plus, the reporter didn’t look familiar either.

"And how do you feel about having your solo debut at the same time as Cindy-nim’s comeback?"

Garam’s smile froze, panic setting in his system immediately.

This isn’t in the script...

***

SONG SIHYUK clenched his jaw tight when he saw panic set in Lim Garam’s eyes.

He was watching his wife’s live broadcast in the company’s theatre room.

The screen was big enough for him to see the minimal change in Lim Garam’s expression.

My wife is having a panic attack.

"Jung Han, find out who that fucking reporter is and from which company he’s working for," Song Sihyuk said coldly. "Get him fired and threaten the company not to release any negative news article about my wife’s debut showcase. If this part of the broadcast gets sliced and spread online, take them all down."

"Yes, sir," Jung Han said, bowing. "I’ll work on it right away."

Jung Han then left the theatre room quietly.

Now Song Sihyuk was completely alone in there— but his eyes were still glued to the giant screen.

After what seemed like forever, Lim Garam finally opened his mouth again.

His wife had regained his composure because he was smiling now.

"First of all, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my fans for streaming my songs, especially the title track. I understand the importance of charts, that’s why I’m grateful that their love and dedication brought ’Siren’ to the top 10 on major music platforms. It’s a high ranking that I could only dream of, but my fans made that dream come true."

Whew.

Song Sihyuk was relieved that Lim Garam handled it well.

His wife was sad when the title track of his album debuted at the top 13, but was immediately relieved when ’Siren’

climbed up the charts and sat on #9 before his debut showcase.

To be fair, it wasn’t a bad number.

My wife’s song is #9 on the country’s biggest music platform, but it’s #1 in smaller platforms— especially on those platforms that international fans have access to.

Song Sihyuk would say that Lim Garam still did well despite having a strong competitor.

And that also made him realize that his wife was more popular abroad than domestically.

"This is the first time my schedule overlaps with Cindy Sunbae-nim, so I’m excited and nervous. But I can’t wait to meet sunbae-nim on music shows. Cindy Sunbae-nim, I’m a big fan. Let’s promote well."

Pfft.

Song Sihyuk couldn’t help but laugh because Lim Garam didn’t lie— that brat was really a fan of Cindy or whatever her name was.

My wife bought that singer’s digital album and listened to the songs all night.

Overall, Lim Garam did well on his debut showcase— he performed well and was eloquent when talking to the reporters.

Plus, my wife is also good at interacting with his fans.

Song Sihyuk was satisfied with what his Omega had shown.

"I’m proud of you, Garam-ah."

But that stupid reporter will still pay for trying to humiliate my wife.

***

IT’S FINALLY over.

Garam collapsed on the floor of the dressing room as soon as he got there.

He wasn’t just tired— his stomach was also feeling strange.

Is it because I was nervous earlier?

"Garam-ssi, I’ll help you get up," Shin Junho, his team’s manager, said while pulling him up. "You look pale. Should we go straight to the hospital? You know that you almost fainted, don’t you?"

"I know, but I’m fine now, Hyung" Garam said while shaking his head. "Please don’t tell Sihyuk Hyung that I almost fainted. If he finds out, he’ll stop me from attending music shows."

His promotions were originally planned to last for three weeks.

But because of the sudden brand deals that he had accepted recently, the company decided to limit his promotions to two weeks. After that, he’d start filming commercials and having pictorials for different magazines.

I’m really booked and busy, huh?

"Alright, I won’t tell Song Sihyuk-nim for now," Shin Junho said, looking at Garam carefully as if he were observing him. "But, Garam-ssi, I think you need to go to the hospital soon. I have a feeling that this isn’t just because of exhaustion."

"What do you mean by that, Hyung?"

Shin Junho hesitated, and then he looked around.

Only the two of them were in the dressing room because the other staff members didn’t want to make him feel stuffy. Hence, they stepped out for a moment to give him more room to breathe.

But I’m sure Geon Hyung is guarding outside the room.

"Garam-ssi, you’re an Omega now," Shin Junho said in a low and careful tone. "You should be mindful of the changes in your body."

But it has already changed, right?

"You worry too much, Junho Hyung," Garam said, smiling while waving his hand dismissively. "I just got an upset stomach because I was anxious earlier, that’s all."

Spoiler: No, it wasn’t just an upset stomach.

***

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