In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

It was a moment beyond words.

Hand in hand with my brothers....

“Uh-oh...!”

“Oops.”

Street Boys, applauding at our unsteady rise to our feet, laughed as their shoulders shook.

Trickster and Enoti, standing nearby, clapped and bowed, and TeenSpirit laughed and applauded.

“Congratulations!”

“Congrats!”

We returned their smiles, tidied our outfits, and walked on.

Last year at the Gymnastics Arena, we walked out the same way after winning Song of the Year.

We’d just won Album of the Year—why did my legs tremble even more now? I clenched my slightly shaking fingertips and pressed on.

“Waaaaaaa—!”

Soufflés lined both sides of our path, waving Dalbong lightsticks and cheering.

Some wept.

With Nak-hwa echoing through Gocheok Dome, the fans’ cheers felt like blossoms drifting down our path.

“Congratulations, Wooju.”

Senior Noeul Seo, waiting on the main stage, handed me the trophy and smiled.

“Thank you, senior.”

Noeul Seo smoothed his suit and stepped back.

The cheers still thundered.

“...Okay.”

My voice, standing before the standing mic, quivered.

“When we won Song of the Year last year, I was so nervous that I thought I’d be less shaken this year.”

And I’d heard from Director Jo and Seok-hwan that Album of the Year was ours for sure, so I was told to prepare remarks.

But it wasn’t so.

Just because others said it was obvious didn’t make it so.

“Thank you for giving us such a great award.”

As I held back tears, the soufflés answered with cheers.

I glanced to my side, considering passing the mic, but these teary-eyed kids couldn’t be counted on to help.

“Sob....”

My tears receded.

“First, we’d like to thank every listener who played our album. To our producing team, A&R team, TF team—my rookie producer self thanks you for believing in me and following me....”

So many people deserved my gratitude.

I began with thanks, then shared thoughts from making the album and spoke of our families’ support.

And then.

“The most important people.”

“Without a doubt, our soufflés...thank you so much. You are our muse.”

The fans cheered in response. A majestic BGM swelled as I concluded.

The maknae, wiping his red nose, sobbed, clutching the trophy.

“Soufflés, we won...!”

Laughter and cheers burst out everywhere.

Of course, we were laughing too.

On TV, NewBlack members patted the maknae’s head and draped arms around each other as they returned to their seats.

“You are our muse.”

Fans in the venue and online wept in unison.

“My kids...!”

An indescribable emotion rose and fell in my throat.

“My kids, you really worked so hard. Let’s keep making happy memories—and be even happier.”

“ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ”

“You all did so much—ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅜ”

“Winning Album of the Year with Nak-hwa made it even more meaningful—our first co-composed song.”

“You guys really worked so hard.”

“I’m so happy.”

Soufflés searching for chicken on delivery apps wiped tear-stained cheeks.

Album of the Year held deep meaning for fans even more than artists.

If a song had an enormous hit, it might win Song of the Year on metrics alone.

But Album of the Year requires fandom effort, votes, and a strong album.

It felt like the result of our united effort as one team.

“NewBlack Album of the Year congrats congrats”

“It really was Album of the Year lol”

“The score gap is insane—over 20 points ahead of second even without fan votes lol”

“And second place included fan votes”

“Wow, can’t beat muggle streaming”

“We call that public listening”

“Imagine if Nak-hwa had been snubbed—no way lol”

“You can’t deny Nak-hwa”

As discussion of NewBlack’s over-20-point lead over second place continued,

“....”

Soufflés closed their windows and stared into the distance.

“You worked hard....”

These fans had fought so many challenges all year.

“We made it through.”

Watching the tear-streaked artists huddled on TV, soufflés smiled.

A relief and peace settled in.

“We won the big award”

“But why was I so anxious”

“I knowㅠㅜㅜ”

“Seeing the Composer award had me freaking out”

“They give the main dish but take all the sides and dessert lol”

Now we could guess why Mango did it, but earlier we were at the brink.

“Because we didn’t have certainty.”

If we were from one of the Big Four, we’d be sure no award would be taken.

But fans had no such certainty.

If awards followed merit, no controversy would erupt every year.

Thankfully, we had less worry this time.

The question was elsewhere.

“This’ll blow up online.”

Still seeing buzz over TeenSpirit’s Song award, fans turned back to the TV.

Three grand prizes remained.

Song, Album, and now Artist of the Year.

“Whew....”

What would happen now?

Unconsciously gripping their Dalbongs like clubs, fans watched the screen.

“Next, Artist of the Year.”

A young actor in a gray suit strode out holding an envelope.

Cho Jang-won’s senior from the OST-hit drama, now a popular twenty-something actor.

“Music unites us.”

As he spoke calmly, my shoulders felt damp.

Biju clutched his trophy, sobbing, and Jiho sniffled oddly on Biju’s shoulder.

“...!”

Seeing them weep as if ashamed to inconvenience others, I couldn’t help but smile.

Ri Hyuk tilted his head back ninety degrees to swallow tears.

Mid-hyun chuckled, wiping moist eyes; when I glanced, he whispered,

“Honestly, I thought it was bad luck today.”

“Oh?”

I should’ve asked sooner.

I’d feared a “good omen today” comment and kept quiet.

If Mid-hyun had groaned again, I wouldn’t focus on the stage.

His foreshadowing now reassured me.

Meanwhile, the presenter neared the end of his speech.

“....”

Artist of the Year.

They say the three grand prizes hold equal rank.

Yet ask any artist which they’d choose, and most say Artist of the Year.

It’s the one artists value most—recognizing “this is the artist of the year.”

TNT won it in 2014 and 2015.

“Now, the nominees.”

TeenSpirit’s Demonic MV played, drawing cheers.

Next was us.

Biju flew across a moonlit sky in flowing hanbok in Nak-hwa’s MV.

Then Jiho, tears on his cheeks, appeared as a street performer.

“Waaaaah—!”

Indie singer Hong Saet-byeol, Serenity, and senior Cho Jang-won followed.

Same nominees as Song and Album.

After Cho’s solo MV, the screen cut to the presenter’s face.

“....”

Damp hands gripped each other.

“It’s me again.”

I let go of one hand and clasped my brothers’ hands.

I’d do anything for this award.

While artists smiled nervously, we squeezed our hands tighter and watched the screen.

Days ago, Director Jo had said,

“Prepare two speeches. Something good’s coming.”

I hoped his words proved true.

“Okay, the moment you’ve waited for. The 2016 Mango Chart Awards Artist of the Year...”

The presenter paused with a smile.

“NewBlack.”

With cheers that threatened to shatter Gocheok Dome, our debut song Fireworks began playing.

Ri Hyuk’s clear voice gave me goosebumps.

Mid-hyun, hands pressed in prayer to his forehead, ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) caught my eye.

“...”

Biju exhaled a sob, tilting his head back, and Ri Hyuk covered his face with both hands.

Tears halted; Jiho grinned.

Under the spotlights, we felt like the world’s protagonists.

Shouldering together, I said to my brothers,

“...Let’s go.”

Winning back-to-back Artist awards was surreal, but we walked on as naturally as we could.

Fireworks played as narration rang out.

“Billboard Album Chart No. 27, most annual streams and downloads this year... always chasing new records....”

The closing line settled.

“NewBlack is the 2016 Mango Chart Awards Artist of the Year.”

Jiho, first to the stage, flashed a bright smile and beckoned us up.

Taking the glass trophy etched “Artist of the Year,” he held it close before passing it on.

As my brothers made room, I stepped forward.

“Uh....”

“Sorry, Director. You told me to prepare two speeches, but I used it all on the Album award....”

I never imagined we’d win two in a row. Not that I lacked words.

I drew a steady breath.

“We....”

Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu.

A roar erupted in a restaurant.

Lemon Entertainment staff on their company dinner cheered wildly.

“We did it. Finally!”

“They won Artist of the Year!”

“Wow....”

The A&R and producing teams clinked glasses, CEO Park and Director Jo watched TV with smiles.

Manager Hong raised a finger.

“Shh, listen to his speech.”

Junior PD Hyung-seop hit the remote, raising the volume.

On screen, Wooju and his brothers, tearful, were speaking.

“We....”

Wooju wiped his eyes and smiled.

“Before debut, there were a few dreams I had. Today, those dreams became reality.”

“Waaaaaa—!”

“Thank you... I don’t know how to express this feeling.”

His trembling breath came through the mic clearly.

Staff gathered their hands together.

“When I accepted Album of the Year, I mentioned names, but I want to thank them again: CEO Park and Director Jo, thank you for always believing in and supporting us.”

Amid applause, CEO Park bowed, and Director Jo nodded with a smile.

“Our TF team, A&R, producing, and PR teams—thank you, company family.”

Those named raised their glasses with smiles.

Under thoughtful brows, his eyes shone, then a smile spread.

“You are all my precious team members.”

A shy laugh and warm coughs rippled.

“And... our charcoal briquette soufflés.”

As fans cheered, the members waved and smiled.

Wooju laughed.

“I’m just Sun Wooju, and my brothers are Kim Biju, Kim Mid-hyun, Seo Ri Hyuk, and Wang Jiho.”

Staff shook their heads.

“I don’t think that’s quite right....”

A mental image of Sun Wooju riding a unicycle flashed by.

Wooju paused, then turned.

“Agree?”

My brothers nodded; Jiho winked, drawing an OK in the air, making everyone laugh.

“Yes—thank you to our staff and soufflés for making us NewBlack. We will repay your love with even greater love. And....”

Wooju faced the camera, beaming.

“Grandma, your grandson won a big award.”

As Lemon staff applauded, the other members spoke.

“Next year, we want to show you even better performances.”

“We’ll give our all.”

“I love you....”

“Mom, Dad! Sisters! We won an award!”

Behind their faces, memories of training evaluations, debut album production, and variety show struggles flickered, bringing smiles to staff.

“You worked hard, kids.”

Seeing NewBlack embrace on TV, cheers rose again.

Meanwhile, CEO Park raised his phone.

“Bweee—!”

“Ughhh!”

Cheers and jeers greeted Chairman Park and DNS’s President Im on TV.

“My gut call was right....”

CEO Park’s face lit with an immortal’s smile as he closed his eyes.

“Why’s he like that?”

“We got the budget for the special album due early next year—and it’s huge.”

“An album budget... hngh...! Really?”

With NewBlack’s Artist of the Year win, the Mango Chart Awards drew to a close.

Entertainment reporters rushed to cover it while soufflés basked in joy.

“Omg ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ”

“Double crown! Double crown!”

“Our kids are Artist of the Year, hear that?”

“Third-year group with Artist award lol”

“Already on Wikipedia, amazing lol”

“I’ve stan’d since Fireworks—tears...ㅠㅠ Wooju’s speech flashed before my eyes”

“16? 14?”

“It’s 14ㅠㅠㅜ”

“I respect you so muchㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅜ”

Veteran fans wept, soufflés shed tears again after Album award.

They glanced around, sheepish among tearful friends.

“It’s blazing.”

Online communities exploded; each refresh took three seconds.

All over TeenSpirit’s Song award upset.

“Seriously, Mango?”

“Why is merit so hard???”

“They give Artist and Album to NewBlack, but Song to who knows who lol”

“What did Serenity do wrong”

“They’re scared of strong boy-group fandoms lol”

“This will be laughed at in ten years lol”

“TeenSpirit fans roasted TNT’s Artist win last year—now it’s boomerang lol”

“Even if an artist says they don’t want an award, they’ll still be criticized”

“KMA is watching, seriously”

Tiring comments scrolled by.

“We’re not mentioned...”

Only “congrats” and “double crown” highlights appeared—no extra fuss.

And that was a good sign.

If no lingering complaints followed our win, everyone recognized we’d earned it.

“Lucky we didn’t get Song award too.”

Nak-hwa had voting power, but winning all three would invite fierce backlash.

Strategically, it was fortunate.

Soufflés watching the burning battlefield began covert celebrations in quiet corners.

“We’ll celebrate quietly.”

They were gentle.

“...”

Yet to outsiders peeking online, it looked very different.

“What’s with them?”

A massive crowd gathered in a corner, cheering “Wooooo!”—quite a sight.