In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

The next day in the practice room.

“Look at this, everyone.”

“What is it?”

“I found the truth about that MBTI thing.”

I showed them an article I’d looked up on my phone.

“See? Those simple online tests aren’t the real thing. The actual MBTI uses a completely different answer sheet.”

“This was written by an expert. So it’s credible.”

As Junghyun eagerly chimed in, I smiled and said to my brothers, “Read the last line: ‘Just for fun—don’t overcommit yourself.’”

“I’m not so sure.”

Ri-hyuk shrugged. “You two are the ones overcommitting the most right now. Want to call in an expert to test us properly?”

“Even if we do, the result won’t change!” Junghyun and I exploded in mock rage.

“Kyah!”

“ENFP is angry!”

We chased Ri-hyuk and Ji-ho around the room and tumbled them onto the floor, laughing.

“Phew...”

Wiping sweat from my brow, Bi-ju, who’d been watching quietly, offered me comfort. “Don’t worry about that, hyung. A person’s personality isn’t defined by a test.”

“Thanks, Bi-ju. But...” I glanced at him, his eyes unusually bright. “You’re relieved it’s not you, aren’t you?”

“Ha!”

“Still, you’re not teasing me.”

“That’s exactly what teasing is.”

I caught the second-youngest sending all sorts of jokes with his eyes. “Woo-ju hyung!”

Our youngest had scrawled “Woo-ju – Junghyun = 0” on the whiteboard and was beaming. Too tired even to speak, I waved my hand and Junghyun picked up the slack.

“While you’re at it, drag Ri-hyuk along too.”

“Got it, hyung.”

“Kyah!”

I waved goodbye as the two were dragged out of the room. “That was fun, guys. See you in the next life.”

“Nyah!”

Only after they disappeared did I finally feel at ease. They’d teased me about matching Junghyun’s type so relentlessly—ten years’ worth of teasing in ten minutes.

But seriously—why did I end up as similar to Junghyun? We have Bi-ju and Ji-ho too—none of them are bad personalities—so why was it Junghyun? I complained to Grandma Kim over the phone, and she just said, “Ah...” in a nasty way. Mr. Han sent me a link about MBTI traits and only talked about himself. Everyone was horrible.

To blow off steam, I stretched my legs, doing splits, when Bi-ju sat down beside me.

“But thanks to this, we got to laugh a bit, hyung.”

Bi-ju stretched himself like taffy. “With concert and comeback prep, we barely had time to smile. Only stress kept piling up.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s nice to have something to laugh about, even for a moment.”

“Absolutely.”

We were all at our limit of exhaustion and stress. At least a good laugh cleared the air. I rubbed my sore body and said,

“Next time, really, let’s just do one thing—variety show, album prep, or concert—just one. My body can’t take all three.”

“I totally agree, hyung.”

“At first it was manageable, but it wears you down more each day.”

Three simultaneous projects that are each challenging alone was overloading us. Fortunately, the variety show was mostly wrapped up. Once we finish finalizing the concert—only ten days away—most tasks will be done.

“Bi-ju.”

“Hmm!”

Bi-ju, who’d dozed off while stretching, woke with a start. I righted him and summoned the others. They were all smiling, but dark circles under their eyes betrayed their fatigue.

“All right! With the concert so close, let’s endure just a bit more. If we’re going to die, let’s die on stage.”

The brothers nodded tiredly and I slapped my hands.

“For the first day of the concert, everyone write your favorite food on the whiteboard. It’s on me.”

“...!”

Markers flew as fast as lightning. Ten seconds later, I pointed at the board and said,

“Whenever you feel like you’re going to collapse during choreography practice, look at this.”

They nodded vigorously, heads bobbing like they might pop off. I smiled. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

With mental support done, we returned to concert rehearsal. Then—

Knock, knock—

The door cracked open. Trainees including Jin-hu peered in.

“Um, sunbaenims? May we come in?”

“Come on in~!”

The members looked puzzled at the sudden appearance. The middle-schoolers exchanged glances, then wriggled forward carrying a box. When they opened it—

“Whoa...”

Luxurious chocolates gleamed inside.

“Waaaah...!”

Our youngest acted blinded by delight as smiles surged across the room. Ri-hyuk laughed, “What’s all this?”

“Ah...” Jin-hu spoke for them, “We thought sunbaenims must be exhausted preparing for the concert. And this is our way of saying thanks for the meat the other day...”

“Thank you. Truly.”

“We put letters inside, but—oops! Ji-ho sunbaenim, not for you yet! Please read yours later!”

“Sorry~ I was just too excited.”

Reading the “To. ____” letters, our hearts warmed. Those little kids’ kindness was touching. I hadn’t expected such gifts when Jin-hu had messaged me earlier. As we nibbled chocolate, laughing—

“Sunbaenims, we’re going to your concert too!”

“We know.”

Bi-ju smiled gently. “You said you’d come with the director on the last day.”

“Yes! It’s like a field trip, so we already got our lightsticks. The new version 2 K-dalbong.”

The trainees spoke, eyes sparkling.

“We have to write a concert essay afterward, and they’ll give the best writer the new Wangbongie lightstick.”

“Ooo...”

“I really want that Wangbongie.”

Ah, I recalled Wangbongie had just been released as merch. A lightstick deemed unsafe for concert entry—ironic, but hugely popular with Suffle. The trainees gazed at theirs sweetly, determined to get one.

“Thank you for the gift. We’ll work even harder.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah. I really do.”

They, anxious at first, breathed in relief. Then Jin-hu, with perfect timing, pulled out another envelope.

“And these—I bought them at the convenience store while waiting. I thought you’d like them...”

“Wang-Kkumtul-i!”

“Watch Junghyun’s eyes pop...Oh! My favorite! How did you know?”

Snacks perfectly tailored to the brothers kept coming from the black bag. They squealed with joy. Their fatigue from rehearsal vanished in that moment of happiness.

“Thank you~!”

“Come on, let’s do the Ganggangsullae dance together.”

While the adorable group of young trainees danced in gratitude, Jin-hu turned and our eyes met.

“Ha ha!”

As they joyfully shimmied, I quietly gave him a thumbs-up.

While NewBlack was deep in rehearsal, Suffle sat back savoring the flood of content, thinking, ‘When will we consume it all?’

...It’s an overwhelming amount. There’s the reality show and Mr. Producer. MiTube keeps releasing new videos daily, like clearing inventory.

– “Lemon’s PR team must think we fangirl over NewBlack 24/7.”

– “22222 lol”

– “333 I have a life too lol”

– “At first I thought it was an all-you-can-eat buffet, but then it became my home...”

– “Looks like concert merch is about to be dumped from the warehouse too lol”

Gathered in small groups, Suffle happily complained. Although they said “it’s torture,” they were happier than anyone about the recent developments.

– “I found a pop-culture critic’s column on Mr. Producer’s NewBlack appearance.”

– “Mr. Producer fans’ best jokes about our guys! (+ Bi-ju gifs)”

– “Heard couples on the back of the bus talking about them—died laughing lol”

The public had taken to NewBlack on Mr. Producer. Some media even called them “the national idols.” A national variety show’s influence was making a bigger impact than ever.

“Did you see? That TV rolling around?”

On the elevator up after lunch, I often heard bits about NewBlack. Waiting at bus stops, nodding off on subways, or eating in restaurants—people talked about Mr. Producer and NewBlack. It felt so smooth that I half-expected the moniker “national idol” to stick. Everything was going perfectly. Even the haters’ comments flew away like Bi-ju’s rolling TV meme.

Best of all...

“Let there be light. Yap.”

Whoooosh! Our giant lightsticks bathed the world in a benevolent glow. Experimenting with brightness, Suffle grinned. “Finally have one...!” They’d envied our 1m lightstick in every reality show and now clutched the satisfying grip. Holding it, they felt they could survive anything.

– “I want one too...”

– “Turned mine on in the living room at dawn, Mom freaked out and hit me lol the room looked like daylight through the door crack.”

– “She must’ve been terrified lol not like an alien abduction movie but close.”

– “LOL don’t use it at night... my cat attacked me when I turned it on while asleep.”

– “At night it does look like daylight.”

– “If I leave it on my balcony by the sea, is it basically a lighthouse?”

– “No, you’d be hauled off as a spy.”

– “People on boats: wtf is that?”

– “Squid: is that over there?”

Videos poured in: Suffle striding down a dark country road as if it were midday; someone chased by fascinated moths, flute-player style; glamorous reviews calling them “the perfect fan for that idol.” Even rural netizens wrote reviews:

—

[Review] I bought the famous NewBlack 1m lightstick

(Pictures)

Living in the countryside at night is scary; you never know what might jump out. When I heard the 1m version was out, I had to get one.

(Pictures)

It’s more dainty than it looks—cute. I turned it on—(blurry photo)—I cried. The brightness is indescribable. Ha ha.

[...excerpt...]

Anyway, it makes the night feels much safer. The village head scolded me, saying my crops would photosynthesize in fright, but I highly recommend it for night-walk phobia.

(Last photo: on an umbrella stand in light mode, the beam shoots out in a straight line.)

—

Comments flooded with laughter:

– “Isn’t that straight out of Lord of the Rings lol”

– “The lightstick’s power is terrifying”

– “From afar, looks like they’re summoning a demon”

– “I came for a boy-idol lightstick but I’m sold now”

– “Where’d you buy it?”

– “On MiTube they use it so well—feels like a sixth member”

Even Ulleungdo residents who’d once asked where to get it began buying. While reviews kept the laughter going, on Thursday evening Suffle flipped to K-Net to watch the final episode, episode 6, of Travel Diary.

“Hee hee!”

Smiling at the warm, funny reality content, they gasped when NewBlack said they wanted to do a season 2.

– “Please season 2!!! It was so good.”

– “The producers were so kind and thoughtful.”

– “Usually reality shows give idols painful missions, but none of that here—loved it.”

– “They really cared for the kids, you could tell.”

– “From vibe to content, it was perfect. When they said let’s /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ do it again, I nodded right away.”

The crew had granted the members their wishes on a three-night, four-day Jeju trip and given them restful downtime, earning praise.

Then, just when they thought the reality show had ended,...

DUN DUN! The caption “[Special Episode: The Truth of That Day]” appeared.

– “What???”

– “Wait—PD, we ended so movingly, what’s this?”

– “Is this a horror special BGM???”

– “Ha ha ha, look how surprised everyone is.”

– “Lol, but I always wondered—next morning their expressions were a bit stiff.”

Scenes cut from the initial spirit-testing sequence suddenly appeared at episode 6’s end. A creepy BGM set a spooky mood. As Suffle watched intently, unseen footage of that day rolled: Ji-ho whirling his head nervously in the dark, Junghyun at a creepy well waving at empty air, and finally all the members waving together at the void.

– “Ahhhh!”

– “Why are you doing that?!”

– “So scary, damn”

– “Who’s the music director? Great choice.”

– “I can’t watch this... someone explain it to me... I’m turning it off.”

– “Did you turn it off?”

– “No, I’m still watching...”

When they mentioned seeing the guard, Suffle screamed, “Ahhhh!” This was real. Kim Junghyun couldn’t have acted that realistically. Next came the camera operator and staff huddling, wondering “What is this?” With eerie BGM, the camera operator pointed out the wind and the grass swaying didn’t match.

Just when it seemed ghost talk was over,...

[“Did you sleep well in the tent?”]

[“Yes, we made our (next album) songs.”]

Footage of NewBlack boarding the plane played, casually chatting with staff. Seeing NewBlack in 6mm behind-the-scenes cam with earbuds on, I thought, “Oh... are they about to pre-release an album track?” Suffle raised the volume, leaning in for that unexpected teaser. But then—

[Ah—]

A single breath for 0.1 seconds, then play ended.

“Ah, damn it!”

Suffle jumped as the unfamiliar, static-tinged voice played. Hearts racing, they scrambled for the remote. On-screen text appeared: “[In the end, no one ever learned the source of that sound...]” followed by a tagline about the truth lying beyond.

– “What the hell is this lol”

– “Scared the crap out of me.”

– “My dad watching beside me was thrilled... if that’s a real ghost, it’s epic.”

– “So cute.”

– “I was terrified.”

As Suffle’s hearts calmed, a final video of NewBlack lined up to say goodbye appeared. Judging by their outfits, it was shot separately recently. Woo-ju stood center, smiling brightly:

[“Were you not scared?”]

[“Wow, shameless. Suffle, go scold them! That creepy BGM was his doing!”]

“Ah, so it was you, Sun Woo-ju...!”

Only then did Suffle understand why they’d trembled in fear. Woo-ju gave an embarrassed grin:

[“What you just saw happened when we were making our title track. We wanted to share it with our Suffle, so we created it with the producers.”]

As Suffle watched in stunned silence, he continued:

[“Did you enjoy our reality show?”]

[“We hope you did.”]

Each member gave a brief comment about the reality show, then Woo-ju announced:

[“Our comeback isn’t far off—NewBlack will be back on May 23 with a new album.”]

[“Please give us lots of love and attention~!”]

[“Until then— 안녕~!”]

With waves, the members signed off and the travel diary’s ending credits rolled. The special album’s “Winter Trip” played, accompanied by a montage of snapshots. News arrived that NewBlack’s official SNS had posted the album’s promotion schedule.

“...?”

In a whirlwind of confusion, a single comment perfectly captured everyone’s thoughts:

– “Who drops a ghost teaser as an album teaser?”

It was truly the most legendary comeback announcement ever.

The album promotion seemed a success.

– “NewBlack met a ‘ghost’ while working on their songs..?”

– “‘NewBlack’s Travel Diary’ Season 1 ends, capturing both healing and laughs.”

– “‘NewBlack’s Travel Diary’ PD interview: ‘I didn’t think ghosts existed... until I went to Jeju.’”

Articles poured out as soon as the finale aired. Though our special teaser was intended as a surprise behind-the-scenes gift for fans, I’d worried some would accuse us of fakery.

But...

– “Yep, fake.”

┕ “Junghyun couldn’t act that well—he’d lose focus waving at empty air.”

┕ “Stop commenting online and go watch MiTube instead.”

┕ “Don’t know NewBlack?”

First, the whole country knew our third wasn’t much of an actor. Second, we’re so well known that no one suspected fakery. They took it as just another surprise clip for the fans.

In any case, after that surprise, Suffle was thrilled with the album promotion. They heard our concept photos in white hanbok and black durumagi hit real-time search lists.

“Guys! Look—NewBlack in Pyeongchang...”

“Pyeongchang?”

“The Olympics—Pyeongchang Olympics.”

Fans had suggested sending NewBlack as PR ambassadors for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and we laughed with delight. A music-video teaser would only boost excitement further.

Just as fans and we were riding the comeback high, episode 2 of the Idol Project aired. And...

“What now? Why am I #1 on real-time search again?”

“It’s real.”

“Please let it be good news...”

We’d been too busy with concert rehearsal to watch live. When friends texted that we’d hit #1, I checked, and sure enough we were at the top. Curious, I searched—and then—

“Ha ha ha!”

A bizarre thumbnail for a clip popped up.

“What is that...?”

Probably a reply we gave when asked about a sexy concept. Underneath my mocking, disbelieving glare appeared fluffy pink text:

[“Could you be... SEXY..?”]

“What is this?”

“Ha ha ha!”

The brothers collapsed laughing. In that moment of absurd panic, I asked, “Seriously—what is this?” The unknown clip’s mystery only deepened our anticipation for what comes next.