DARK HORSE

     間違えている箇所もあります。

….

4

Because of differences

We weren't able to meet each other

“Now for the most important part, who would be the winner of this year's Rock Rising Contest!”

 Byun Baekhyun looked at the owner of the warm hand that is now interwinded with his. Oh Sehun gave him an excited smile before his eyes traveled up to the spotlights on stage. The top eight stood in a row, Junmyeon looked at his left, seeing that it was the ace in this contest (because everyone said so), and on his right was the team that performed first. Everyone seemed so out of focus, the tension around them was thick, Kyungsoo didn't Glay want to be first place right now, seeing that thousands of people in the crowd was staring at them, he wanted to land on any place, the people are cheering for the team they're routing for, it was almost not understandable, but they cracked a smile when they heard that Glay was one of the names that were cheered for.

 The MC walked to the center, in his hands were the results of the contest. The six judges were famous in the music industry, whether it was composer, producer, the legendary singer from years back, or even the owner of the big companies, Neighbor and Melodica.

“And the third place is”

Baekhyun didn't hope that the MC would say Glay's name starting from the first place, maybe his hopes were to high to begin with. As long as the people enjoyed their songs, he wouldn't hope to even land on third place.

 Sehun squeezed his hands tighter than before, Baekhyun doesn't know what's going on inside that kid's head.

“Glay”

Automatically, the four smiled at each other, no one stepped up to get the reward except for Kyungsoo, who released the breath he was holding, having a good reason to tell his mother about him staying in the music industry. They can move foward, they can go farther, but no one still knows why Glay got third place.

The price was given by the CEO of Neighbor. He was in his mid-thirties, he was kind- looking in the suit, not fat, on his wrist was a Rolex watch, and his lips were muttering the word 'congratulations' up to three times.

 Park Chanyeol sat down at the assigned seat that was prepared for Arch, he was able to watch the award be given to the second place. Luhan and Kai gave a dry chuckle, while Yifan kept on a poker face, the only good thing right now was that Kim Minseok is not here.

“What were you doing?”

 Chanyeol didn't answer the question, he didn't give a reason for his bloodshot eyes, didn't say anything about the fact that he has been in his private waiting room for almost half an hour. All he was thinking of was the fact that Baekhyun didn't even glance at where he was now, even Junmyeon and Kyungsoo were ignoring him.

 Today wasn't the day that Glay got first place, they weren't chosen.

Chanyeol still saw that the guitarist kid was staring at Arch with amusement, it has the same feeling as him several years ago. It was pure, full of enthusiasm, and wasn't able to keep in the excitement when their goal was almost right in front of them. The thing that Chanyeol didn't understand was both hands that were holding on each other -- he didn't know what was Byun Baekhyun status right now, he cried and disappeared with Park Chanyeol's heart before beating it up once again, knowing that it would only bring pain to the both of them.

 Chanyeol stood up following the members when they were called up on stage to take pictures with the top eight teams, Baekhyun stood very far from Chanyeol, but his heart was unstable once again when there eyes met in just half a second.

“Face the camera” Luhan whispered

 He faced the camera, realizing that he won't be able to get pass this day if he was being too obvious.

 The pain on his left chest was making him crazy.

 ---------------------------------

 "We got third place" Kyungsoo said with a pokerface. 2 million won was not a small amount of money, they could eat an expensive meal for one week or maybe buy 10 large packs of beer but still, who would do that? Right?

 "Well.... Let's pack our stuff?" Junmyeon was the first to speak up. Junmyeon thought that third place was not so bad, though his hopes were high. Baekhyun would feel thankful that at least Glay actually went to the top eight from hundreds of teams.

"Yeah.. Or would you like to stay for a couple more days? We got money." 

"Nah, we would use it all up within minutes" Junmyeon rolled his eye.

Sehun looked at Baekhyun, who was packing his bag beside him. From Baekhyun disappearing with Chanyeol, Sehun can't think of a moment where Baekhyun smiled except when they got the price.

 But the important thing right now is that his charm was still on the main singer's neck.

Everyone already headed home, what's left right now were the trash that were scattered everywhere. Baekhyun heard Sehun mumble to Kyungsoo that he should've asked Chanyeol for a signature though Kyungsoo replied with a pokerface.

Forgetting what he said, Junmyeon suggested buying two packs of beer to celebrate. No one talked about their ex member after Sehun, but the three of them knew that their minds were occupied.

 "Ah..."

 Everyone stopped walking before seeing that a guy wearing a pair of glasses, hair middle-parted, walked out of a car mouthing at them to wait , phone next to his ear talking to the other line.

"Here they come, I'll inform you about it later."

 The four of them didn't know why they had to stop for a stranger that told them to wait for him. After ending the call, the man brought something out of his notebook.

‘JONGDAE KIM - Record Producer

HESTIA RECORDS’

 That's what it said.

“....”

 As much as they wanted to speak, their mouths were hanging out while looking at the person in front of them, who smiled at them before keeping is pen inside his pocket.

“You guys were awesome today”

 "Uhh... Yes.. Are you casting us to become singers-- Ouch!!" Junmyeon looked at Kyungsoo whose hand just hit his mouth before looking at Kim Jongdae who's laughing at his behavior.

Baekhyun massaged his temple, do they really have to be this embarrassing? 

 "Yes, what you said was not wrong" Jongdae admitted straightforwardly 

"If you guys are not in hurry, let's find a place to talk about it around here, let's go by my car."

Who would be stupid enough to reject that offer? That's the reason that Glay is now sitting in the producer's-of-a-small-company-that-was-developing-like-hestia records' car. 

"I really like the song 'Decision' let me guess the one who wrote it(?)" Jongdae said while Baekhyun just smiled, not thinking that the producer would guess correctly. "Is it you main singer?"

"Ah.. No, we composed it altogether" 

 "I'm not talking about the rhythm and sounds but the lyrics, am I right?"

 "Yes you're right" Sehun interrupted "Hyung wrote most of the songs"

After confirming his answer, Jongdae just smiled "I knew it" was all he said before they reached a cafe. They all assumed that he was familiar with it since he ordered without looking at the menu. "My treat, think of it as celebrating for today's award"

Coffee was not a bad choice, but when they were met with the English names of the drinks, Junmyeon can't think of anything except of the word 'Coffee' 

 "What is the freaking difference between Coco and Chocolate?"

 Sehun chuckled "How about Mocca Latte? I think it's good."

Kyungsoo ordered a lemon iced tea, Baekhyun hot latte, while the maknae and the eldest got iced Mocca latte. After the food and drinks were served, Jongdae opened up on the conversation.

 "Do you know the meaning of Hestia?" He said. Sehun just said that it was familiar but overall no one knew what the meaning is. "Hestia is the Goddess of hearth or the fireside, you may think that it doesn't sound cool or important, but the real importance of Hestia is the flames around us.

“....”

Although compared to Neighbor Records or Melodica, Hestia is still new. But because of the catchy songs that everyone is able to listen to, Hestia Records could improve like the Goddess, Hestia.

"Glay, speaking straightforwardly, after we watched your performance today, Hestia would like to serve as your fuel."

 "Why?" Baekhyun was the first one to speak up, a question that would determine their value that producer in front of them viewed them as. "Why did you decide to choose us?"

"You're wrong Baekhyun"

“....”

 "We're asking you to choose us."

 And before going through the contracts, Sehun thought that he should call the apartment's reception for the cost of the renting when he saw Baekhyun smile, satisfied with the answer.

Let's just ask about the monthly renting.  

TBC