Behind The Scenes ༻ Park Jisung

༻ 17

Aruna walked alongside with Minjeong as the sea of crowds cheered.

It was the last stage. The one where all SM groups gathered up to do some fan service.

As Aruna and Minjeong gracefully walked along the brightly lit stage, their fingers entwined, they waved to the ecstatic crowd with infectious smiles on their faces.

The arena was filled with fans, their energy electrifying the atmosphere. The deafening cheers and the sea of colourful glow sticks held high in the air created a mesmerizing tableau of adoration.

Amidst the dazzling spectacle, Aruna couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. This was a dream come true, and her heart swelled with pride for how far they had come together as performers. Each wave to the audience felt like a wave of gratitude for the unwavering support they had received from their fans.

It reminded her of when she attended Red Velvets concert. But now she was on the stage instead of in the crowd.

However, during the exhilaration of the performance, Aruna couldn't ignore the fact that her parents were making their way towards the exit.

Even though there were so many faces being thrown at her, she couldn't help but seek her family.

Their lack of enthusiasm was evident, and for a fleeting moment, disappointment washed over her. She had secretly hoped that this performance might be the one to bridge the gap between her dreams and her parents' expectations.

As her parents disappeared into the dimly lit corridor, Aruna felt a heaviness in her heart.

Had she not done enough?

Aruna began to consider the effort her parents had made by even coming to the performance. They had stayed, at least for a while, in the midst of an environment that was undoubtedly overwhelming for them. It dawned on her that this was a significant step, considering their reservations about her singing career.

In an instant, Aruna's disappointment transformed into a weird appreciation for her parents.

It took courage for them to be there, to try to understand her world, even if they couldn't fully embrace it yet. She saw their presence as a small but meaningful gesture, a sign that they were willing to make an effort.

They were her parents after all. They just needed time.

"Runa?" Minjeong whispered, her voice barely audible over the fading music.
"Oh- yeah? Sorry," Aruna replied, her grip on Minjeong's hand tightening as she refocused on the moment.

Minjeong nodded toward the group of artists who were starting to gather for the farewell. The song was coming to an end, signalling that it was time for the final goodbye.

Aruna realized she didn't even know where the rest of her group was, so she clung to Minjeong like glue.

"How much you want to bet there will be edits of us?" Minjeong whispered in Aruna's ear, a playful chuckle escaping her lips.
"Please," Aruna responded, shaking her head. "I'm not known enough to be made into edits."
"Oh, you would be surprised."

Aruna's mind raced.

Edits of me?

She hadn't considered that possibility before. It was a strange thought to wrap her head around, and she didn't quite know how to feel about it.

"Ten bucks it'll be to a Taylor Swift song," Aruna said.
"Deal," Minjeong agreed with a mischievous grin.

They eventually caught up to the others, taking their place in the line that looked pretty decent for so many people at once.