The Road to Glory Chapter 138 - An Unlucky Day

-Insu, you like to take the easy way out too much.

-Senior, do you dislike taking the easy way out?

-No, who would dislike that? But if you try to take the easy way out too much, you’ll get in trouble, kid.

Why did the advice of his retired senior suddenly come to mind?

PD Park, who had now become one of the pillars of JBC, mocked himself.

“Right, there’s no way a coincidence would happen twice.”

He was foolish to have expected it.

How wide is the world that a chance encounter would repeat not once, but twice?

“Good work, everyone!”

Having failed to meet a beloved and popular star, PD Park applauded and encouraged all those who had worked hard.

And so, the final shooting of Spring Again in front of the Eiffel Tower ended.

But only the shooting had ended.

The cheers of the audience, still caught up in the lingering emotion of the ‘When we meet again’ chorus, continued to be heard.

A potentially historic song and famous singers from one country. Their chorus had sufficiently created the picture PD Park wanted.

“PD-nim…”

Despite this, the youngest staff member, who usually spoke freely, approached cautiously.

The one who had boasted that they would meet Roh Haeil on the Champs-Élysées wanted to hit his past self.

“Why do you look so down?”

“PD-nim…”

Sometimes he wanted to hit this youngest member, but affection grows even from annoyance, so PD Park patted him on the shoulder.

“You worked hard on the shooting.”

“!”

“But you know it’s not over yet, right? The real start is when we return home. Let’s stay focused.”

“Yes, sir!”

Honestly, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed.

However, at the same time, he realized that the coincidences so far had just been luck. It was strange that they had encountered each other in this vast land.

-If you try to take the easy way out too much, you’ll get in trouble.

PD Park decided to give up his greed and try not to get into trouble until the day they returned home.

However, was it because he liked to take the easy way out too much?

Not meeting Roh Haeil wasn’t just a minor trouble.

The seafood they ate for dinner causing stomach aches for the filming team was the first trouble. To make matters worse-

“Flight delay? Again?”

“No, how long will it be delayed? They should just cancel it rather than torturing us with hope every hour.”

The midnight flight continued to be delayed due to aircraft malfunction. It would be better if it were canceled so they could rebook tickets, but it kept being delayed with the hope that it might depart in an hour.

After four delays like that. At 4 AM, the airline announced the ominous cancellation of the flight.

The $10 voucher compensation to be used within the terminal was meaningless – only McDonald’s was open at 4 AM – and the sequential flight exchange they promised wasn’t received very positively either.

It seemed like all the bad luck had come at once on the last day because the filming had gone too smoothly.

Celebrities with schedules immediately booked first-class seats, but it was difficult for the filming team with budget constraints to do so.

“PD-nim, what should we do?”

Everyone looked at PD Park with eyes asking what they should do.

The youngest staff member also watched PD Park’s reaction. Suddenly, he remembered the conversation of seniors who had advised him when he heard about filming Spring Again with PD Park.

-Park Insu? How should I put it? He likes to take the easy way out a bit. He’ll probably get taught a lesson someday.

-But isn’t that not too bad?

-Why?

“For now-“

-He takes good care of his people, you know. His improvisations aren’t bad either.

“Send Miyoung and the sick ones back first.”

PD Park calmly gave instructions in the sudden crisis.

“Our latest ticket is at noon…”

“I’ll contact someone I know in the airline. But if that doesn’t work, let’s book business class. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Yes!”

The youngest PD found something truly worth learning from PD Park, who had always indulged his jokes.

“Then will you go on the 12 o’clock flight, PD-nim?”

“No, the ones with schedules go first. I’m the chief producer, where would I go? Don’t worry, I’ll manage. Are you okay, youngest?”

Seeing PD Park handle the situation neatly, the youngest PD turned his head.

“I’m fine. I’ll take care of you, PD-nim.”

“What do you mean take care of? Go and explain the situation well to the cast.”

“Yes, I’ll go and adjust the schedule!”

Although the sudden flight cancellation caused the cast and filming team to scatter, unlike when it was first canceled, the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

That was probably thanks to PD Park making quick decisions without panicking, and also because Team A, who had been cheerful until the end, cooperated by saying they could go slowly and let those in a hurry go first.

“I was disappointed that we only saw the Eiffel Tower, but this worked out well.”

“Paris in the rain is beautiful too.”

“If the rain stops tomorrow, shall we go busking?”

“Sounds good, I like it.”

Saying that, even those who were uncomfortable felt at ease.

“Oh! Teachers, then can I join you too?”

“PD Park, you always like to take the easy way out.”

“Hehe.”

“Do as you like. Even if we tell you not to bring a camera, you’ll hide one and bring it anyway.”

“Thank you for having me!”

PD Park bowed while packing a small camera.

Outside Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport, the winter rain was still pouring heavily.

#

Halo shook his large umbrella.

Even on a weekday, quite a few people were passing through the underground passage.

Then, as he shook the leather jacket and guitar case that the umbrella hadn’t fully protected, water dripped down.

The droplets flowed to form a puddle in one place.

In the accumulated puddle, ripples were forming from the honking from above ground, the voices from underground, and the melody of a violin.

He slowly walked into the passage.

Where numerous people were passing by, there was a violinist. Oasis’s “Stop Crying Your Heart Out,” which fits well with a rainy day.

Although it was only a violin performance, it felt like he could hear the lyrics.

[Hold on, don’t be scared]

[You’ll never change what’s been and gone]

Humming along, Halo took coins from his wallet and tossed them into the violin case. The violinist whose eyes met his nodded slightly and then devoted himself back to the performance.

[Cause all of the stars are fading away]

[Just try not to worry]

[You’ll see them someday]

Halo moved forward again.

Towards the place where bright light was coming in.

Above the stairs, Paris’s symbol unfolded.

The Arc de Triomphe, the arch of triumph.

The Arc de Triomphe, located in the center of the Paris square, was built to honor the soldiers who died in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

Four sculptures are engraved on the pillars of the arc. The statues, combining history and myth, symbolized freedom, peace, resistance, unity, and revolution.

Halo, passing by the winged Goddess of Liberty, joined the line to go up to the observation deck.

The large umbrella was like a Venetian mask.

The wide black umbrellas blocked each other’s views and formed personal spaces. In those gaps, people freely talked to others, complimented, and chatted.

“Your guitar case is cool.”

“Thanks.”

“Can I ask where you bought it?”

With fewer tourists than the Eiffel Tower and the rain issue, Halo passed through easily, and soon what greeted him was a spiral staircase like a whirlpool.

Plop.

The water droplet at the tip of the large umbrella was sucked into the bottom of the whirlpool and soon made no sound.

“Wow!”

When people passed the souvenir shop and came out to the observation deck, exclamations were heard. The rain that had been pouring like spears gradually thinned and the sky cleared. A huge rainbow was hanging in the sky, enough to draw admiration from people.

After quietly looking at the rainbow, Halo finally held the rib-like railing and cast his gaze downward.

The rotary circling around the Arc de Triomphe and twelve streets stretching out could be seen.

As there are no high-rises in Paris, the refreshing city of Paris came into view at once. Also, things on the ground could be seen better than expected. As it was raining less, not stopping entirely, people on the ground were walking around with umbrellas.

Black umbrellas and black and white cars circling the round rotary. It also looked like watching a black and white movie.

He leaned on the window for a while, looking at the view of Paris. There was still time until the evening appointment.

He decided to spend the day in this view, having told the Arbor chairman who said he would come pick him up to meet at the Arc de Triomphe.

A winter day passes quickly.

Meanwhile, the rain alternated between thickening and thinning. The sight of cars circling the round rotary and travelers glancing at the boy humming Oasis’s song kept changing too.

It was then.

“Look, those people seem to be busking.”

“The rain has stopped a bit now.”

The voices of a family entered his ears.

They’re performing today? Maybe in the underground passage where it doesn’t rain.

Halo turned his head to look at one place.

A corner connected to the round rotary.

On what seemed to be the wide road of the Champs-Élysées, three or four people were holding guitars.

Halo leaned on the window and listened carefully.

“…Can’t hear it.”

Of course, there was no way the guitar sound could reach the Arc de Triomphe observation deck, dozens of meters high.

He, who had decided to spend the day here, glared down. Honestly, he was curious.

If it rains again soon, they’ll surely stop busking.

Now is the only time he can listen.

The moment of hesitation was short.

As rain started pouring down on his head again, Halo raised his umbrella.

#

“The rain doesn’t seem to want to stop.”

It was late afternoon when the senior singers of Spring Again left the hotel. Exhausted from the flight delays and cancellations, they had collapsed as soon as they checked in and only woke up after 11 AM.

And until now, they had been at the hotel.

The rain needed to stop a bit for them to perform.

At this rate, it seemed like they would just end up watching the rain and going back.

‘Do you think we’d give up that easily?’

The senior singer who had been quietly looking at the sky snorted and got up.

“Let’s go.”

As if they had been waiting for that one word,

The entire Team A sprang to their feet.

“Let’s go together! Teachers!”

Busking after filming was more tiring than expected.

The remaining members had to carry guitar cases and umbrellas, and there was no song selection, let alone practice. However, strangely enough, the singers’ faces were full of excitement.

After the filming ended. Although PD Park followed, wasn’t this the true busking where they could sing as they wanted?

The only problem was that the rain showed no signs of stopping as they walked down the Champs-Élysées and set up their busking spot.

However, as they walked straight towards the Arc de Triomphe, as if compensating for their previous misfortune, the weather cleared and a rainbow appeared.

“Here it is.”

As if by fate, everyone’s opinion aligned.

At the end of the Champs-Élysées.

And at a place where the Arc de Triomphe and the round rotary could be seen at a glance, they found their spot.

And what the singers who had found their place would do, goes without saying.

It’s good to sing their own songs, and it’s good to sing songs that Parisians might know.

Although they knew well that they shouldn’t let the guitars get wet, they sang in the light rain. It was more fun than any filming.

However, the time they could enjoy wasn’t long. The rain started to get heavier again.

People who had stopped to watch them opened their umbrellas, and soon began to scatter one by one.

It seems today isn’t just an ordinarily unlucky day.

Starting with the flight delay and cancellation

To the broken sky that kept pouring rain.

It gave them hope as if it would stop, only to pour heavy rain again in the end.

Finally realizing it wouldn’t work, they finished their last performance.

Someone sighed with regret and crouched down to grab the poorly opened guitar case.

We should go. No one could say they had to go, but everyone knew.

Thud.

At that moment. A pair of black boots stopped in front of him.

Wondering what it was, he looked up, and a bill was placed in the case.

“…Merci (Thank you).”

He hesitated before thanking them. And his gaze slowly moved upward.

Above the jeans darkened by water, a brown leather jacket could be seen, and above that.

As the face that had been hidden by a large umbrella was gradually revealed, his eyes widened.

“Hello.”

The boy PD Park had once eagerly waited for greeted them casually with a smile. As if it were in front of a broadcasting station in Seoul, not Paris.

“Huh?”

“Roh Haeil-ssi?”

“How is he here.”

Ignoring the surprised reactions around him, the boy asked.

“Are you filming?”

“The filming, it’s already over.”

“It ended yesterday. You came too late. Yesterday was no joke.”

Halo, who had come after seeing a familiar face from afar, nodded. It seemed like they were preparing for the ‘When we meet again’ chorus last time. Then that must be over too.

“Roh Haeil-ssi…”

A man’s creepy whimper could be heard from the side. PD Park was looking at him intensely.

“I really, really wanted to see you.”

When he spoke as if he were a woman passionately in love with him, Halo flinched.

He didn’t seem like this kind of person when they first met. He didn’t know what had happened, but it gave him goosebumps.

“I’m so glad to see you even now. Perhaps on your way back today, dinner or-“

“That would be difficult. I have an appointment.”

“Ah.”

He didn’t feel sorry, but it felt like he was rejecting him every time they met.

“Then did the chorus end yesterday too?”

“Yes, yes. If you had come during the ‘When we meet again’ chorus yesterday and sung together, it would have been even better. Ugh.”

“Well, it’s fine.”

It would have been fun to sing together, but.

“I sang it recently.”

Halo said with a smile.

“What? Yes, ah. You’ve already sung it.”

No, to miss such a precious thing.

PD Park, who thought Roh Haeil must have gone to some karaoke, felt like he was going crazy with regret.

“It would have been nice if more people had seen it…”

“I’m satisfied.”

“Oh, I see…”

PD Park, not knowing that the song was being spread worldwide even now through the Venice live broadcast, felt sorry for the boy’s modesty(?).

“It’s a shame that it’s raining so much. I wanted to sing together.”

“Really, I even prepared a setlist.”

The young singer who had just turned twenty laid out a list of pop songs, and the senior singer who was seeing Roh Haeil for the first time brushed off the water accumulated on his shoulder.

“It’s a shame, child. I wanted to hear your song once. I was going to go to your concert, but they say getting tickets is like picking stars from the sky, and it’s even harder to see you at the broadcasting station. When will I be able to see you again.”

“…”

Halo looked at her without answering.

When she paused for a moment and realized the meaning, he opened his mouth.

“Then shall we do it now?”

“Now?”

“Here?”

Even though it’s raining so much.

The boy shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

“How about a song from the setlist?”

“Uh, which one?”

The young singer tilted his head.

“This is-“

The senior singer smiled and nodded.

“I’ll do the chorus, you sing.”

“Then I’ll play the guitar-“

Seeing the boy open the guitar case, the young singer’s mouth gaped open and then changed his words.

Roh Haeil was already famous for being good at playing guitar, so it would be better to do something else instead of playing. For example-

“I’ll hold the umbrella for you.”

To avoid getting drenched in the current pouring rain.

This was like when they had sorted out the sudden situation at the airport. Everyone started to move as they realized their positions.

The singer, shorter than Roh Haeil, lowered his head carefully so that the umbrella’s ribs wouldn’t hit Roh Haeil’s head.

He had thought the guitar case was pretty from the first time he saw it.

Elegant curves and embroidered golden butterflies. The singer, who had planned to ask later where he got it, suddenly stopped breathing when he saw the guitar that came out of it, thinking it looked somehow familiar.

“Huh? That guitar…”

As his eyes met the boy’s, the singer lost his voice and was captivated by the intense gaze.

Soon, Roh Haeil casually hugged the guitar and took his position. The singer held the umbrella with trembling hands.

The melody of an acoustic guitar gently sounded.

People listened for a moment to the familiar accompaniment.

Meanwhile, a rainbow bloomed in the oily puddles. The world was filled with colorful lights from car turn signals and electronic billboards, and umbrellas and time passed fleetingly.

In the midst of it all-

[How many special people change]

The voice of the boy, wet with champagne galaxy, rang out.