Chapter 11.3 - Act 11: Slowly 3 (2/2)

Glancing over those words, I soon folded the award and embraced it. The stiff texture touching my chest felt somewhat assuring.

‘A 1st place Award… it’s my first time.’

Whilst having such thoughts flow inside, I slowly carried my feet. In fact, I knew I’d be coming first the moment I applied for this concour because outstanding students didn’t participate in small contests like these.

Guys like Lee Suh-ah, Kim Wuju and Jun Shihyuk only focused on large contests and small ones like these were deemed a waste of time. Therefore, it was as clear as daylight and was even underhanded but…

…I couldn’t stop my lips from foolishly raising themselves up.

“Yunjae. Do you want to take a commemorative picture…?”

“Sure I guess.”

Han Dasom who had been hugging her own certificate from the side quickly typed a few words on her phone and before long, the driver walked out of the car with a large camera in his hands.

Then, he took a picture with the building in the background.

“It came out well, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

Like that, Han Dasom and I holding our respective certificates with a bright smile was etched onto a photograph.

*

The principal stood still and stared outside the window.

“…”

He could see students running in the oval, off in a faraway distance. The oval with several buildings placed around had students carrying instruments as countless teachers walked around.

Gazing down at them, the principal fidgeted with the baton in his hands and sank into deep thought.

‘Central Arts High huh…’

Although obvious, Future Arts High was not the only performing art school in Korea. There was at least one per district while some of them were famous just like Future Arts High and an example was Central Performing Arts High School.

“…”

Twisting the baton in his hands, he snorted.

Of course, everyone would agree that the best performing art school in Korea was Future Performing Arts High School. With a long history and constant support from the Foundation, it also prided in superb graduates and a solid group of teachers.

Although Central Arts High was a little decent, it wasn’t on the level of being able to contest against the fortress called Future Arts High.

However, since there was a second place, the first place could not lower their vigilance and the principal, Song Muntak, was also spending his day today, thinking of how he could keep their first place.

‘So this Subscription Concert is crucial…’

Although it was he himself that dared to bring up a musical, Song Muntak was also anxious because a challenge would always carry an opportunity and risk with itself.

If it succeeded, they would be able to create a bigger gap with Central Arts High but life is uncertain because it could fail right?

‘This is troubling.’

Song Muntak pressed his temples deeply and contemplated.

That was why the main vocals were important. Main vocals stood at the very front of the performance and received the gazes of the audience and grasped their ears with their songs – they were the protagonists of the stage.

‘…’

Since they couldn’t easily decide on such protagonists, there was something he had prepared after talking to the teachers.

Turning his body around with a flick, Song Muntak sat on a chair and stared into the monitor for a while.

[Club Activity Plans]

Glancing across the document, Song Muntak made a faint smile.

Fortunately, without him even doing anything, the opportunity found its way towards him. It was an opportunity that would allow him to know who suited the position of the protagonist the most.

*

Even whilst going around, gathering up certificate awards from numerous concours, school life continued without rest.

Prac exam preparations, mid-sems preparations and the preparations for the Subscription Concert… On top of those, I also had to prepare for the club presentation.

‘Haa…’

To be honest, it was slightly daunting but since it was the path I had chosen, I couldn’t complain about it.

If you lacked talents, you must at least try harder.

I was walking with sunken eyes when Han Dasom from the side looked at me with a deeply worried look.

“Yunjae, are you okay…?”

“I am fine…”

Han Dasom, who was finding that pitiful had slanted her lips and took a thermos flask out of her bag before handing it over to me.

“This is a tea I drink, do you want it?”

“Thank you…”

Receiving the bottle from her and drinking it, I felt a sour yet sweet taste wetting my mouth as warmth seemed to be spreading out my body.

Ah, I feel alive.

I thanked her and opened the door of the club room as the familiar sight of the room revealed itself. On the long table, club members had taken their seats as teacher Kwak Jungsoo sitting in the head of the table, talking, raised his head from the sound of the creaking door.

“Ah, you came. Come sit.”

“Yes sorry. The class took longer than it should…”

“That’s okay. Things happen.”

When Han Dasom and I quickly took our seats, I felt a lot of eyes landing on me.

There was Song Mirae’s blunt gaze, Chloe’s bright smile, Yun Soojin-sunbae’s warm welcome and Lim Suhjoon-sunbae resting his chin on his hands.

Within the crowd of people, teacher Kwak Jungsoo slowly raised his body.

“Now. Although I had already greeted you guys, since there was a late student, I will now give you a proper greeting. I’m Kwak Jungsoo. Nice to meet you.”

“Wahh~”

Teacher Kwak Jungsoo slightly lowered his head in reply to the clapping sounds before returning his gaze back to us.

His large sharp eyes glanced across the members.

“This is something which should originally be done by the teacher in charge of the society, but since teacher Kim Ahri has gone overseas, I will take over this performance. However, that doesn’t mean I will be teaching you from zero to ten, because after all it is your society. I will be in the position of an adviser, so to speak. If anyone doesn’t agree to that, come out now.”

“…”

Seeing sunbaes glancing at one another due to teacher Kwak Jungsoo’s frightening appearance, I barely held myself back from laughing.

Teacher Kwak Jungsoo gazed across the quiet crowd and muttered “There’s none huh” to himself before walking up to the white board placed near the table.

Then, he started writing a large word.

[Protagonist]

“First, let’s start off by choosing the protagonist.”

Gathered within the club room, we looked at each other.