Ch.6060. Hourglass

I wonder what it feels like to fall for someone.

I’ve only vaguely imagined it.

Hana had never concretely experienced what that feeling was like.

She had many doubts about whether she even needed to know.

Do I have to like someone?

Is it bad if I don’t like anyone?

Her mindset was that rather than wasting time with some hopeless boy out of pointless curiosity, she’d rather attend another concert.

In reality, the friends around Hana who were dating didn’t seem particularly happy.

All they talked about was having big fights and how their boyfriends disappointed them.

Or how their boyfriend drank with another girl and wasn’t responding, which was “100% suspicious.”

From Hana’s perspective, as someone who gave advice and listened well, romance seemed like a deeply flawed concept—truly like an empty wagon making a lot of noise.

That’s why she had somewhat looked down on those who struggled desperately with romance as if their lives depended on it.

But that was yesterday’s story.

Fresh from her shower, Hana stares into the mirror.

“…What should I do?”

It was a mutter unlike her.

In an hour, she would have to see Lee Suhyeok’s face again.

Yesterday and the day before, she couldn’t fall asleep because she kept thinking about Suhyeok’s face, and now her dark circles seemed to have grown even more prominent.

No…

I want to look pretty…

I need to look pretty today…

Even if it wasn’t for Suhyeok, today was the day she would be on stage.

It was a day when she needed to look her absolute best.

Sitting calmly at her vanity, Hana began applying makeup.

After finishing her sparkling idol-like eye makeup, she completed her look with a deep pink lipstick.

“Phew.”

She wasn’t the only one going on stage.

An instrument is an extension of the performer.

Hana took out a cloth and successfully removed all the dust from her instrument.

The deep cherry-colored body gleamed brilliantly like new.

Next was her outfit.

She put on the clothes she had bought while shopping with the band members.

Though the outfit was quite revealing, she considered changing at the venue, but with her guitar and effects pedal bag, she didn’t want to add more luggage.

Dressed in her stage outfit—a leather skirt with a white crop shirt—she packed her things.

With her guitar gig bag on her back and pedal board bag in hand, Hana checked her appearance one last time.

“Alright. This should do.”

Honestly, when she imagined what kind of preparation Suhyeok might be doing at home, Hana’s preparations were more than enough.

The weather was clear.

It was a perfect day for the outdoor performance scheduled for the afternoon.

In just a few hours, she would be on stage again.

It was the moment to reap the rewards of a semester’s work and prove the band’s reason for existence.

Her heart swelled.

And standing on stage with Suhyeok was something to look forward to.

Though it felt embarrassing to admit, she realized this must be what “excitement” feels like.

Today was good, but she wished tomorrow would come quickly.

After the hectic performance and after-party, she wanted to leisurely explore the festival with Suhyeok.

Maybe she’d ask him to buy her some snacks.

Lost in these thoughts as she headed toward the main gate, Hana found herself arriving at school.

“…I’m doomed.”

Meanwhile, Suhyeok sat on the club room sofa, pulling at his hair like a frustrated artist.

He was nervous.

Now that the performance day had arrived, he was incredibly tense.

Performing in the small auditorium had been fine because they had practice sessions and rehearsals.

But thinking about performing on that vast outdoor stage…

And with so many people watching him… Suhyeok felt so queasy he thought he might throw up.

“…Are you okay?”

Juyeon bent down and asked, looking at his pale face.

“Juyeon… What if I make a mistake?”

“Then it’s a disaster.”

“What if I really mess up?”

From Juyeon’s perspective, Suhyeok’s concerns seemed both natural and pointless.

“Suhyeok.”

“Yeah…?”

“Performances are always like this.”

Whether you’re outgoing or introverted, getting on stage as a group comes with responsibility.

Even though Juyeon was a good singer, she could forget lyrics too.

Even if Choegang was born for the stage, if he got excited and sped up the tempo, that would ruin the performance too.

Everyone knew they had put in enough practice.

If mistakes happened during the actual performance, the probability of the members collectively blaming him was close to zero.

“…I’m scared too.”

Not knowing how to encourage him with fancy words, Juyeon offered empathy as she stood beside him.

“There are so many people, and having to sing in front of them is incredibly burdensome.”

“And… Suhyeok, you’re on guitar, so you don’t have to speak…”

Generally, in band performances, the vocalist handles the introductions and commentary.

“I… practice my comments too…”

In fact, for Juyeon, speaking was harder than singing.

Even her broadcast practice was partly to prepare for moments like these.

“But… I still do it, Suhyeok.”

Juyeon placed her hand over Suhyeok’s to stop him from pulling his hair.

“Like you. No, maybe even more timid than you, but I still do it.”

-Creeeeak

Someone opens the door and enters.

“You can do it too, Suhyeok.”

“…What are you two doing?”

Before the door closes, a third person interrupts the conversation.

When Hana’s voice was heard, Suhyeok naturally looked up in her direction.

“Why are you two holding hands?”

“Suhyeok was… pulling his hair…”

Juyeon hid her hands behind her back like a child caught secretly eating candy.

“Lee Suhyeok. Were you pulling your hair?”

“Hana, what if I mess up the performance?”

Suhyeok repeated the same question.

After glancing at Juyeon, Hana grabbed Suhyeok’s hand.

“You can’t mess up, Lee Suhyeok.”

“…Huh?”

“There are two guitars, so it won’t be ruined.”

Hana smiled with confidence.

The only ones playing the same instrument on stage were the two guitarists.

“Even if you make a mistake, I can cover for you.”

“You know what? I can play all your parts too.”

Songs with two guitars inevitably require dividing the parts.

In deciding this, personal preferences matter, but skill and balance are equally important.

That’s why Hana practiced and analyzed all the songs before carefully distributing parts to Suhyeok.

“Trust me and don’t worry about making mistakes. Just enjoy it, Lee Suhyeok.”

After all, bands aren’t about pleasing others.

Bands are about the performers having fun.

Especially for Suhyeok’s first performance, Hana wanted him to enjoy it.

“Hana…”

An indescribable sense of reassurance filled Suhyeok.

Certainly, “I’ll carry you” was far more comforting than “I’m nervous too.”

“Haaaah!”

The door bursts open.

Choegang. Enter.

As expected, he was wearing a tank top, surprising no one.

“Oh. At least you didn’t go with the skull one, I see?”

Hana welcomed him with a predictable smirk.

“No! Actually, Seo-eun caught me and I’m in the middle of changing!”

Seo-eun had anticipated that Choegang would wear something that didn’t match the concept and had ordered him to send a photo in advance.

Sure enough, when he tried to wear a skull tank top, the two reached a compromise: he would wear a regular black tank top instead.

“Everyone! All here?”

Lastly, Seo-eun arrived and led the members outside.

“Oppa! Photo! Hurry, hurry!”

Jaejun, summoned by Seo-eun’s hand, was forced to become the 23rd generation’s photographer.

“One. Two. Three. Taking it.”

What good was being the legendary former president?

Jaejun’s authority was thoroughly destroyed by his girlfriend.

“Done?”

“Yes! Now vertical!”

Ah. She really wants a lot.

“Oppa. You can’t come during the day, right?”

Seo-eun checked her boyfriend’s schedule while examining the photos on her phone.

“Yeah. I should make it to the regular performance tonight though?”

“Are you coming with your seniors?”

“With the people from my year.”

“Okay. You know I always appreciate it, right, oppa?”

Seo-eun glanced around briefly, then quickly kissed Jaejun’s cheek.

Jaejun looked quite satisfied, as if he’d never had any complaints.

Though unintentional, witnessing this scene gave Hana a strange feeling.

Her thumb fiddles with her lips.

Will I ever…

naturally do something like that with Suhyeok?

She couldn’t quite picture it now.

I guess couples do that sort of thing naturally…?

Me and Suhyeok…

The seed of something sultry planted in her heart began to sprout faintly.

“Everyone! Let’s pack up and get ready to go on stage!”

Hana deliberately waited for Seo-eun to return after sending Jaejun off.

“…Unnie.”

“Yes?”

Seo-eun was actually the one who tensed up at Hana’s unusually hesitant attitude.

Could there be an emergency?

But what came out of Hana’s mouth was a completely unexpected question.

“Unnie… how many days after dating did you kiss?”

Why would she suddenly be curious about this?

What reason could there be for this sudden curiosity after more than a year of dating?

Seo-eun’s gaze drifted toward Suhyeok and Juyeon walking away.

Ah… so that’s it.

I shouldn’t joke about this…

But she couldn’t resist teasing her cute junior.

“We did it before we started dating?”

“Ah. No fun, unnie. Don’t lie.”

“Why do you think I’m lying?”

Well… because… that sort of thing…

Surely happens after you start dating…

Hana’s eyebrows formed a straight line.

“Hana. What’s this~ Don’t tell me you dress like that but are actually that conservative?”

Seo-eun’s arm wrapped around Hana’s waist, which was clearly visible with her exposed midriff.

“Hana.”

“Yeees…?”

“Time is precious.”

Hana tilted her head in confusion.

“There’s a reason they say not to date guys who haven’t completed their military service.”

Hana’s eyes widened in shock.

In the invisible hourglass.

The sand was still flowing down even now.