Episode 19: The Soundcheck Before the Storm
Rain again.
It always rained before big moments in Seon's life.
Tonight was AX1's first performance since the trial began. Not just a live stream — a real stage. Fans. Cameras. An unfiltered audience.
And despite everything, Seon had agreed.
---
10 Hours Before Showtime
The dorm buzzed with movement.
Costumes steamed. Vocal warmups echoing in the hallway. Minho sprawled across the couch, nervously strumming the intro to "Mute Heart."
Seon sat in the corner, staring at his in-ear monitors like they were ticking time bombs.
Jaewon entered quietly, handing him a water bottle. "Drink. You haven't had anything since breakfast."
"I'm not sure I can do this," Seon admitted. "What if they boo? What if they chant the old name? What if—"
"Then let them," Jaewon interrupted gently. "You're not here to win them back. You're here to take your voice back."
Seon looked at him, then down at his hands. Trembling. But steadying.
---
Meanwhile — The Internet Burns
#OrionScandal trended #1 in 7 countries.
Fans created threads compiling evidence. Former trainees joined TikTok to tell their own stories.
But one name kept circulating: Han Seon.
"THEY OWE HIM AN APOLOGY." "Petition for AX1 to go independent." "Seon didn't fall — he flew."
Director Yoo released a tone-deaf apology on the company's official account.
> "We regret any actions that led to misunderstanding."
The post got over 1.2 million comments in four hours.
None were forgiving.
---
3 Hours Before Showtime — The Venue
The venue was a small theater in Hongdae — no banners, no pyrotechnics. Just lights. Floor fans. And real fans.
They'd sold out in 10 minutes.
Seon peeked through the curtain. Hundreds of fans. Some crying already.
Jaewon joined him. "Still scared?"
"Yes."
He expected Jaewon to say something inspiring.
Instead, he said, "Me too."
And that made it okay.
---
Soundcheck
"Mics on!"
The group ran through "Mute Heart." No choreography. Just raw vocals.
Seon's voice cracked at the bridge.
"I sang for you in shadows—"
Silence. His throat closed.
Everyone froze.
But from the audience, a voice sang back:
> "But shadows only lie."
Then another voice. Then a hundred.
The fans were singing with him. Filling in his silence.
Seon took a breath.
And sang the last chorus with his entire soul.
---
Flashback — One Week Before Blacklisting
Seon sat in a boardroom.
Director Yoo leaned forward. "You've been seen leaving Jaewon's apartment."
"I was sick."
"Was he in the bed?"
Silence.
"We can't have rumors, Seon. We can't have a scandal. Either distance yourself, or you're done."
Seon had said nothing. That was his mistake.
Now, he wouldn't stay silent.
---
The Performance
Lights dimmed. The crowd roared.
AX1 took the stage.
First song: "Blindfold." Second song: "Mute Heart."
And then the surprise third track.
An unreleased ballad called "If You Hear Me."
Seon stepped forward.
> "This song... was written on the day I thought I'd never sing again."
The lyrics:
> If you hear me, I'm still here / under the noise, under the fear / I never wanted war, just air / just space to be more than what you feared...
Fans wept. Some screamed his name.
Jaewon harmonized softly beside him. They didn't look at each other. But the song said everything.
---
Backstage — After
Tears. Laughter. Silence.
No words.
Then Jaewon handed him a towel.
"Seon."
He turned.
"I wrote you something," Jaewon whispered.
A lyric notebook. Folded to a page titled: "The Boy in My Chorus."
Before Seon could ask—
A crash. A scream.
Minho ran in. "Guys. It's Orion. They sent police."
---
To be continued…