*at FNC Building*

 

 FNC builiding was quite that day, maybe because its almost 7 pm and its sunday night too.. It was probably safe to say that the building was empty if there wasnt a faint guitar sounds playing from one of the studio

 

Inside a dark studio, lit only by tv screen thats on mute, sits Lee jonghyun. Lead guitarist of an idol band CN Blue. "Idol".... Its the word Jonghyun detests... Ironic... Isnt it...

 

// flashback

 

8 years ago ( 15 years old jonghun)

 

Jonghyun was sitting under a tree behind school yard as usual with faithful guitar when suddenly a girl suddenly comes to her. Jonghyun recognise her as one of those so called queenkas. Pretty, rich, friendly,.. Basically a complete package. She seems flustered as she got closer... She shoot a bright smile at jonghyun... Smile that melts guys easily...

 

girl: annyeong oppa... I was jus...

Jonghyun: save it... Whatever you wanna say, im not interested... Get your fake smiling face out of mine.. 

 

He said it with such a coldness that the girl was shocked... She ran to her friends, crying.. Jonghyun can still hear they murmur as they comfort the girl.. "Thats what you get for confessing to a cold hearted devil like him..."

 

"hmm.. Devil... Suits me.. As long as those fake bunch leave me alone" he thought

 

Yonghwa: YAH! Lee jonghyun!!! '*smacks jonghyun on the back of his head with magazine*

Jonghyun: aaish hyung!!! That hurts, you know * jonghyun pouted cutely

Yonghwa: arraso, arraso.. Jashik.. *ruffles jonghyun's hair*

 

Jung Yonghwa is jonghyun's friend... Well his only friend really.. They know each other since they were in diapers, their families own two of the biggest bussiness chains in Busan, so naturally they are really close. Yonghwa is older by a year. he always treat jonghyun as his own brother, they both got a deep passion in music. They both can sing and play guitar but yonghwa was more into singing, as for jonghyun, he's a guitar freak.

 

Yonghwa: Jongie-ah...

Jonghyun:  dae, hyung? 

Yonghwa: i know how you feel bout those guys... But cant you say things in... Nicer way?... 

Jonghyun: shiro.... 

 

Jonghyun puts on that cold face with burning eyes, full of hate. Yonghwa just sighed... He knew it was useless to argue.. Being born as a chaebol prince himself, he knew how fake people can get... 

 

Yonghwa was lucky though, his family was more understanding of his passion. Mainly due to the fact his older brother is more than capable as a succesor. Jonghyun on the other is an only child. Since very tender age he had been taught how to smile to an enemy, to maintain his image, to always put family status first... Jonghyun despised every bit of it.. He hated how his dad could smile and embrace someone in one day and then rob them of everything they owned on the next. He hated how everyone in his family always looks so dazzling, pretty and friendly in public and soon as they get home they will mock and make fun of those so called "commoners".

 

Needles to say jonghyun's relationship with his family wasnt good. It got so bad to the point where his dad told him one night that if he's chosen to go on as a musician, he will cut all ties with him.. His answer?.. Nothing, really.. He just walked off and left... Jonghyun ended up living in a rooftop rent-a-room. he found himself a job as guitarist on a restaurant and with a steady flow of gig with his band, he managed to get by. Many, many times yonghwa offered him to stay at his place or help supports him financially, but being the proud guy that he is he always refused.

 

Jonghyun: those backstabbing bunch are the worse... They smile at you and do you over first chance they get. They only care about how they looks, their image, their status... As far as im concern they all can my..

Yonghwa: ara.. Ara.... Have a look at that magazine i just gave you *pointed at the magazine behind jonghyun*

 

Yonghwa tried to change the topic, he knows the more jonghyun talks about the more pissed off he would be.. 

 

Jonghyun: gave?? Dont you mean smacked?? * shoots a deadly glare at yonghwa*

Yonghwa: *smirked and ignores what jonghyun just said*  open page 34.

 

" 34th annual Busan youth day celebration with singing/dancing  competition

 1st place Price: 1 million won"

 

Yonghwa: i signed us in already. I know you need the money.. Be ready this saturday at 7 pm. I'll come pick you up.

 

Jonghyun just nods. 

 

Saturday comes..

 

As promised yonghwa picked up jonghyun and both of them went to the Busan city hall for the competition. They drew lots when they get there, yonghwa picked no. 2. 

 

"Good or bad" yonghwa asked

"Good, i been itching to play"  Jonghyun answered. 

 

Yonghwa smiled, one think he knows bout jonghyun is that he turns into a different person when he gets on stage. He changed from his usual cold, anti social- self into a charismatic and charming person. Heck, he even smiles, and that my friend, says a lot bout  how much he loves perfoming.

 

"You really love going on stage dont you" yonghwa asked

"Its the only time i feel i can fully let go and share my feelings with others" jonghyun answered almost smiling just thinking bout it

"Jongie-ah... you desperately need a girlfriend" yonghwa said trying to hold his laughter.

" aishh...." Jonghyun gave a cold stare to yonghwa as he grumbled to himself.

 

"Yonghwa-shi,  jonghyun-shi. Its time"

 

They both got up on stage, they chose to cover the song "more than words" by Extreme. One of jonghyun's favourite band. They thought it was the best since they only got 2 of them as a permanent member of thr band. 

 

They sang the song so beautifuly that the crowd was mezmerized... The whole auditorium was silenced.. Captivated by their voices.. And when they finally finished, the crowed roared in approval. 

 

"Hyung, you think we got this?" Jonghyun asked yonghwa

"We gave it our best, the rest is out of our hand"  yonghwa answered

 

After 4 hours, or what seems to be an eternity to both of them finally the final decison will be read.. 

 

" The winner of 34th busan youth music competiton is.... XXX" (didn't write the group name to save myself from fans wrath :P)

 

"Bah, another boy band, with only half singing capability and pretty face" jonghyun grumbled

"You got admit though, that is  what sells these days" yonghwa replied with slight dissapoinment still in his face

"Hmpf.. " jonghyun still sulks

"Kaja, i'll treat you dinner, no point mopping around" yonghwa pulls jonghyun up frm his seat.

 

As they bout to leave the door a man walks up to them.

 

"Annyeonghaseyo yonghwa-shi, jonghyun-shi. My name is Park bin young, im a representative of FNC ent" 

"Ahh- dae, annyeonghaseyo" they both replied with puzzled look on their faces.

" i watched your performance earlier, and i must say im impressed. Im curious, would you be interested to join our label?"

"Dae??!!" Both of them said in unison

"Chincha?? But we didnt even win?" Yonghwa asked still puzzled

"I see potential in you guys.. Believe me im good at what i do, with a little polishing, you guys could be the most famous k-pop idol group in korea.. No, even the world"

 

"Idol?..." Jonghyun hesitated upon hearing the world idol..  Jonghyun hates idols  And being the person that he is, he just blurted out things that comes on his mind and said  " i hate idols, they are mostly untalented and fake people whole only cares bout their image and status". Yonghwa elbowed him telling him to shut up.. Jonghyun just gave the "what?" Look to him.

 

 

Mr park was shocked. He didnt expect jonghyun to be so blunt.. But he is a veteran scout, he knows how eccentric musician can be. He know he struck gold when he saw these two perfomed and he wasnt bout to let them go.

 

He composed himself almost instantly and asked a question to jonghyun while smiling

 

"Jonghyun-shi, do you like making music?" 

"Yes" jonghyun answered

" do you like performing?"

"I love it" he answered again

"Would you like it if you can create music everday, play for massive crowds, play with best equipment and on top of all that you will still get paid handsomely"

"That would be a dream" Jonghyun answered

"Well you can dream no more,  being an idol will guarantee you those things" mr Park smiled again knowingthat he managed to start convincing this stubborn musician

 

"And the catch is?" Jonghyun asked 

" hmm you are a smart one" mr park answered

" you will have to also perform your tasks as an idol. You will have to be friendly your fans, you will have to be friend to your fellow idol.. Well at least while the camera is rolling.."

"So basically you want me to be fake just like them?" Jonghyun asked in disgust

"Its a price to pay for your dream..." Mr park said 

"..... Hmm.... What do you reckon hyung?.." Jonghyun asked yonghwa

"Hey, dont ask me, im all in the second he said FNC, its all up to you" yonghwa answered

 

"...... Ok i'll do it"

 

// flashback ends

 

 So here he is, 8 years on after that fateful night.. A full fledged idol. Credits to the scout, true to his word CN Blue is now one of the most famous k-pop band in korea, and they are also very well know all over the world. Every member has their own charisma. Yonghwa as leader with his charming face and friendly demeanor has the most following. Followed by the two maknaes, minhyuk the pretty boy and jungshin, an all round funny and.... Let just say unique personality. Mihnyuk and jungshin plays drum and bass guitar respectively. They were introduced into the group shortly after jonghyun and  yonghwa arrived in seoul during their trainee days. 

 

Jonghyun on the other hand has the least follower... Not that it bothers him, quite the opposite actually. He loves the fact that he's not as famous. He hates how he has to attends variety show and put on his fakes smiles and pretends to be happy surrounded by fake idols and celebrities, and by being not so famous he can get away from doing most of those stuff.. 

 

That night as usual he was stuck in the studio doing what he loves, music.. Alone... When suddenly the door opens up. he sees he's manager coming in.

 

"Jonghyun-ah, you still here." The manager asked with a smile on his face

"Where else would i be" jonghyun answer with his attention still on his guitar

"Yah! Stop playing for a minute, i need to talk to you"

"Urgghh what is it..." Jonghyun unwillingly stops

"You've been offered a part in a variety show..." His manager said as he lets out a sigh as if he knows what will happen next

"Ah hyung!!! You know i hate those stuff" jonghyun protests

"Ara.... You know i never forced you into doing these things but im sure you know. Your fame depends not only by how good your music is.. But how often you appear on these shows.." 

"Fame again...." Jonghyun frowned and pouting

" you can hate fame all you want but without it, you wont be able to sit here today doing things you love. Without it, none of it would have been possible"

"....." Jonghyun couldnt answered. He knew what his manager said was true

"... Arasso, i'll do it" jonghyunsaid,  still pouting...

"Good boy, now sign these papers and you're set" the manager said happily, ignoring jonghyun thats still pouting.

 

Jonghyun signed the papers.. As he read one of them his eyes widened, "WGM???!!!"