The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Former Idol Carries an Indie Band
Chapter 104
A few days had passed since Cha Seo Ha brought news that Oktatop’s trip to the United States was confirmed.
Departure would be in early February, a week away.
We met every day to study English or rehearse for the stage we’d be performing on the broadcast.
“Kim Ji Hu, aren’t you going out today?”
“I’ll head out later.”
My father asked while I was eating in the living room.
“Oh, Dad. I got accepted to Korea University Medical School.”
“Really?”
My father’s expression brightened.
He’d looked tired, mentioning he had a major surgery yesterday.
This radiant expression was something I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Yes, it’s a supplementary admission, but I got in.”
“Of course, you’re my son. You’ve worked hard all this time. How about we have something delicious for dinner tonight?”
“Sounds good.”
“Then think about what you want to eat. Let’s have the whole family go out to dinner tonight.”
“Yes, I understand.”
My father left for his clinic.
Mom’s a doctor, Dad’s a doctor.
My two older brothers and sister above me are either medical students or doctors.
With my acceptance to medical school now confirmed, our household had finally become a perfect family of physicians.
“You’re truly my son.”
The one accepted to medical school — I am my father’s son.
But what about the one doing music?
Am I his son too?
It was hard to find an answer.
Because I wasn’t actually my father’s biological son.
When I was five, my parents brought me home from an orphanage.
I had a faint memory of how difficult it was to adapt to the new environment at first.
But my parents raised me with boundless love,
and I grew up right and proper, receiving excellent education.
Then came a certain day.
It must have been around third grade in elementary school when I saw an amateur rock band performance with my older brother, and my entire life changed completely.
Music penetrated deep into my life instantly, and from that day on, I began pursuing music seriously.
I did start properly, but it was nothing more than a hobby.
I had to follow my parents and siblings to medical school.
I thought that was how I became a true member of this family.
My father just did the same thing a moment ago.
Seeing that I’d been accepted to medical school, he said I was truly his son.
To avoid being abandoned, I had to try harder.
* * *
That evening, my whole family gathered for the first time in a while to celebrate my medical school acceptance at a dinner out.
It was an upscale Japanese restaurant we visited whenever something good happened to the family.
The fact that we’d come to this expensive establishment, charging two hundred thousand won per person, meant something worth celebrating had occurred in our home.
“Here comes our youngest, the star of the evening.”
My sister, who was already there, playfully clapped her hands.
“Congratulations, Ji Hu. You’re finally a medical student.”
“It’s just a supplementary admission, though.”
“Are you kidding? A supplementary admission to Korea University is huge. My older brother got rejected there.”
My younger brother pointed at my older brother with his chopsticks and laughed.
“Why are you bringing that up again?”
“Because it’s true.”
While my brothers bickered, my mother handed me the menu with a gentle smile.
“Today, let’s eat whatever our Ji Hu likes. What would you like?”
“Anything is fine for me.”
“He’s never been picky about food since he was little, so he was easy to raise — unlike the others.”
My mother smiled at my older siblings.
Soon the course dishes began arriving one by one.
My father warmed sake and poured it into my older brothers’ glasses.
“You’re an adult now, so take a glass too. When accepting alcohol from an elder, always use both hands.”
“Yes.”
As I took the small glass, a strange feeling washed over me.
Until just recently at this table, I had always been the youngest, the one receiving care.
The one pouring and drinking cola alone.
A somehow distant, separate existence.
The sound of glasses clinking echoed through the restaurant.
My father, as always, taught me how to savor food.
This time, together with the drink.
“You shouldn’t eat something like this in a rush. Learning to appreciate the taste is education too.”
I’d heard this my entire life, worn into my ears.
Everything done properly, with depth.
That was how this household operated.
As the meal progressed, conversation flowed naturally.
“By the way, Myung Hwan, how’s that patient doing?”
My mother asked, and my older brother answered while picking up a piece of sashimi.
“The prognosis is good. The surgery went cleanly, and we moved him to a regular ward yesterday.”
“That’s a relief. Professor Park is quite demanding, isn’t he?”
“The more demanding he is, the more there is to learn. Just watching him assist on surgeries is an education in itself.”
My older brother was in his third year as a resident physician.
Despite the countless nights he must pull, his eyes came alive when he talked about the hospital.
He’s impressive.
“Hyung, I’m rotating through surgery next semester — give me some tips.”
“Tips? Just be quick with your hands and keep your mouth shut, and you’re halfway there. Myung Jun, remember that. Especially that mouth of yours.”
“You too, Ji Hu, it’ll be your turn soon. Play plenty during pre-clinical — once you hit clinical, there’s none of that.”
Myung Eun said with a faint smile.
“That’s right. Once anatomy lab starts, it’s real warfare.”
My younger brother made a shuddering gesture.
“In my first semester, I thought my eyes would fall out just looking at histology slides.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. Still, it’s all part of the process everyone has to go through.”
My mother laughed and patted my younger brother’s back.
“Our Ji Hu is smart, so I’m sure he’ll handle it just fine.”
My mother’s belief and gaze turned toward me.
“So, Ji Hu, have you thought vaguely about any specialization?”
At my sister’s question, my hand gripping the chopsticks suddenly tensed.
“You’re just starting as a freshman — you can take your time deciding.”
My father answered in my place.
“But if possible, I hope you find something you truly love. It’s what you’ll do for the rest of your life.”
“Something I love…”
“Yes. I think that’s the most important thing. Skills will follow naturally, but if you don’t love it, you won’t last long.”
Something I love.
Something to do for the rest of my life.
My father was clearly speaking within the framework of medicine.
Internal medicine or surgery, which specialization to choose.
Anything outside that boundary wasn’t a choice to begin with.
It was only natural.
Everyone sitting at this table was walking the same path.
Mom was a doctor, Dad was a doctor, and my older brothers were doctors.
My sister and younger brother are walking that path.
And with me, the youngest, being accepted to medical school, our family had finally become a perfect household of physicians.
While thinking such thoughts, my phone buzzed softly beneath the table.
Checking it briefly, it was the Oktatop group chat.
Heo Jun Sung: Yo, I heard In-N-Out patties in LA go up to four? That’s insane, right?
Kang Min: I’m more curious about authentic ramen in the homeland…
Heo Jun Sung: Why would you eat ramen after going all the way to the US ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Lee Do Young: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Cha Seo Ha: Is that all you’re thinking about, Heo Jun Sung?
A faint smile spread across my lips without me realizing it.
That loud and pathetic conversation somehow soothed my heart.
Was it because I’d glanced at the small screen?
The buzz from the drink my father had poured felt like it was rising slightly.
And using that sensation as courage, I opened my mouth heavily.
“Um, Mom, Dad. Is it okay if I go to the United States for a bit?”
It was something essentially already decided, but here I was, only now asking for permission.
“The United States? Why the United States?”
“Um, I’m going to be on a broadcast in the US with some friends.”
Silence fell over the table in an instant.
“Really? What kind of broadcast?”
“It’s called The Greenroom — they do talk shows and showcase music, that kind of program.”
“So you’re supposed to be a singer, not a doctor?”
My younger brother teased with his elbow, poking me gently.
“How did someone overseas know about you guys? And is it a trustworthy place?”
My mother’s expression was full of concern.
Since I’d brought it up, I decided to tell them everything from the start.
Of course, the family was already well aware of Oktatop’s recent activities.
They all told me I was their remarkable son and sibling.
My older siblings even bragged about me to coworkers and friends.
But no one had asked me in detail about my future direction.
Were they assuming I’d naturally become a doctor?
“All right, go and see good things. You’ve only been studying all this time.”
My father answered with warm words.
“If you want to stay a few more days, just tell me. I’ll cover the plane and lodging expenses.”
“Yes.”
My heart raced with the joy of having gotten permission, but I didn’t feel relieved.
In a corner of my chest, a word I couldn’t bring myself to speak lingered quietly.
Actually, you know.
I don’t want to go to medical school.
I want to make music with my friends.
That word never made it past my lips.
* * *
A week passed after that.
Jo Hyun Seop and I headed to Incheon Airport.
I’d traveled this route the last time I took a vacation.
But was it because the purpose this time was entirely different?
The scenery I’d seen on the way felt completely transformed.
“Hey, you got your passport, right?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Not you, Lee Do Young.”
“Then… me?”
“Yeah, Heo Jun Sung.”
“Of course I do. When have you ever seen me forget something? I’m pretty thorough.”
Heo Jun Sung held up his passport confidently while spouting nonsense.
“All right, since everyone’s here, shall we go?”
Just as Jo Hyun Seop was about to lead us forward, I stopped.
“Wait. There’s something I need to do before we get on the plane.”
“What is it?”
“We’ve got to build up the hype.”
“Hype?”
I pulled out my phone and opened the camera.
“Come on, everyone gather! Make sure you look good!”
“What’s this about?”
“Ugh — me? Seriously? No way! I can’t!”
“Aw, that shot’s not good.”
“Why not, it’s great. Let’s take it, Ji Hu.”
And so we took a selfie looking friendly and close,
then uploaded a story to Oktatop’s official SNS with a short caption about heading to the United States.
We’re really going to America now!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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