Debut, p.29
Debut, page 29
“Is something wrong?” the clerk asked.
“Could you please shred this for me?”
The woman looked baffled. “You want me to shred this now?”
“Yes, please.”
“You won’t be able to qualify for financial aid then. Today’s the deadline.”
“I understand.”
“Okay.” The clerk had a worried look on her face as she fed the shredder. Heather winced as the voracious machine devoured the application she had spent so long preparing. Freed from that dilemma but still uncertain of her ultimate choice, she stepped outside.
The alarm on her phone warned she had five minutes to go before the final started. That was just enough time to text Grace.
3:56 P.M. Heather: Cancel Thursday’s rehearsal. Time for a road trip.
27
HEATHER, ERIN, SUN-HEE, MINDY, VANESSA, AND JUNE DRIVE OUT IN A CAR TO SEE A VIEW; GRACE DRIVES THEM
Grace tapped the brakes of her Subaru at the first sight of the beachfront. “Is this it?” she asked.
“No, this is Zuma,” explained Vanessa. “Ours is ahead.”
As they approached Point Dume State Beach, Heather, in the front passenger seat, turned the radio down to a conversational level. Grace had suggested Malibu for their outing after Heather proposed a heartfelt discussion on the group’s future. Along the way, they stopped at a Korean BBQ restaurant for takeaway. The plan was to eat an early dinner and watch the sunset from the shore.
“You better park soon, or there won’t be any fries left,” complained Mindy.
“I was hungry,” protested Erin.
“You’re always hungry.”
Grace watched in the rearview mirror as Erin made a face at Mindy before presenting a fry as a peace offering. Mindy readily accepted the gift with an open mouth.
Since it was a weekday, available parking at Point Dume was abundant. Grace backed her Subaru Tribeca into a superb spot, steps away from the beach and well away from any other guests. The seven members spilled onto the sand. Heather spread a blanket as the girls gallivanted in the sunshine. Grace left the SUV’s rear hatch open to access supplies as needed.
They claimed spots along the edge of the blanket as Heather arranged the food. The feast included Korean fried chicken, popcorn shrimp, kimchi fried rice, and a remarkably small number of sweet potato fries.
“I thought three orders of fries would be plenty. They were huge,” said Heather.
“You didn’t plan on Erin,” said Mindy.
“Seriously,” exclaimed Vanessa. “How can you eat so much and stay so skinny? It’s not even remotely fair.” Erin smiled guiltily but said nothing.
“Thank you for the food,” they said in unison. The meal disappeared rapidly. As they ate, they teased each other mercilessly over the flirtatious guys they’d all encountered since the video debuted. Satiated, they split into groups and wandered off to explore the beach.
Grace stayed with the SUV, stretching her legs on the blanket, and enjoyed the scene unfolding before her. The DJ on the radio promoted an upcoming concert, but the roaring surf drowned out most of what he was saying. She watched Sun-hee, June, and Vanessa splash in the ankle-deep water nearby. Erin and Mindy climbed rocks a short distance to the south. Heather took a solitary stroll along the beach to the north, evidently lost in thought. She sometimes let the incoming water advance to her toes but went no further.
A light but warm breeze kicked up as the intensity of the late afternoon sun diminished. Grace took a deep breath of the salty ocean air. She reflected on the events of the past school year and the girls who had become valued friends. What did the future hold for Made in Heaven? Had their time together come to an end? She had no idea what would be said in the next hour, but she hoped they’d find a reason to stay together somewhere along the way. Besides the camaraderie, Heather’s outlook had improved drastically since the group’s formation. Grace worried she’d regress into self-destructive behavior without a creative outlet to channel her energies.
Once Heather returned from her walk, she gathered the group. Grace suggested a photo for posterity. Would this be the last opportunity they’d ever have for one? Seven cheerful faces assembled in a tight circle. Heather sat in the middle, basking in the warmth of companionship. The California coastline, magnificently lit by the sun’s golden rays, trailed off in the distance. Grace scanned the three images she had taken and selected one to show the others. The photo was the best they’d ever taken together.
“I hope years from now, we can recall this day fondly,” said Sun-hee.
Grace invited the girls to sit in a circle on the blanket. Their fate would soon be known. “Heather needs your input,” she said simply.
Heather took a moment to elegantly spread her knee-length skirt over the blanket. She folded her hands on her lap, looked at her cohorts, and spoke. “I’ll get right to it. I’m thinking of leaving school.”
Everyone but Grace gasped at the news. “Why?” asked Erin.
“Nothing’s certain yet, but I want to hear your thoughts on Made in Heaven before I decide.”
“Why ask us?” asked Vanessa.
“The reality is I can either continue my studies or pursue an idol career. I can’t do both. The finances are not there.” Heather didn’t need to elaborate on her situation. Heads nodded in understanding. “Being an idol remains my dream, but I can’t do it alone.”
“You carried us this far, Heather,” said Sun-hee to the agreement of the others.
“I believe in you all, but I’m afraid we will hit a wall without more progress.” The girls fell silent and listened intently. “The good news is we’re in the running for the festival prize but are falling far short of qualifying for the Showdown. My question is, how committed are you to taking this to the next level?”
“What’s wrong with what we’re doing?” asked Erin.
Mindy jumped in with her own response. “We’ve been living off the charity of others. That’ll only carry us so far.”
“That’s right,” said Grace. “Steve’s been making our videos for his class projects. Danya and Marielle worked for free. Same with the film crew and the recording crew. Even Arnie, bless his heart, didn’t get paid a cent for what he did. Nobody has mentioned legal issues, contracts, and all the boring but important stuff. The cost of promotions, traveling, albums.”
“That’s true,” said Vanessa dejectedly.
“Two singles and three disappointing shows. The sum of our hard work,” said Mindy. “That won’t make much of an impact, I’m afraid.” The members looked somewhat distraught at this realization.
“How are the videos doing?” asked Erin.
“Last I looked, ‘Have No Fear’ reached 600 YouTube views in four months. ‘Feel the Heat’ cracked 1,500 yesterday.” Grace winced as she delivered her report. “We’ve made a grand total of $12.14 from streaming and have no physical CD sales to our credit because we only printed enough to give away as promos. The merchandise we commissioned cost more than we made back. If Ness’ family hadn’t bought a bunch, we’d be in an even bigger hole.”
“That’s humbling,” said June.
“BTS videos can hit 100 million views in two days,” Mindy added.
“Way to set a high bar there, Mindy,” said Grace.
“600, though. That’s basically friends and family,” said Vanessa.
“Pretty much. Heather’s point is that we need to take this much more seriously if we hope to make it as a professional group. That means practicing more, getting and staying in shape, and perfecting our technique. Not to mention committing to more live performances, promoting ourselves, and raising money to pay the bills. It’s not all sunshine and unicorns.”
“I want to stay in school. I’m not losing my scholarship,” said Vanessa.
“That’s completely understandable,” responded Heather. “I don’t expect anyone to follow my example.”
“Image, too,” Grace said. “We’ll have to agree on a code of conduct. It doesn’t have to be as severe as what agencies demand in Korea, but we must cover the basics. We must set an example of how to act in society. That includes no foul language.”
All eyes darted to Mindy, who feigned surprise. “Why is everybody looking at me?” Her faux-innocent question provoked general laughter. “It was one time,” she said defensively with a guilty smile. “Even monkeys fall from trees. But seriously, we’re doing this alone. No agency, no connections, and no expertise. That’s the price of independence. We can’t expect miracles.”
“We’re not in Korea either,” added Sun-hee.
“True. Let’s be clear. The chances of us succeeding beyond having a bit of fun are tiny. We’re small fish in a vast sea.”
“What does success mean?” asked June.
“It’s when people tell us they like what we’re doing,” said Sun-hee. “That makes the struggle worthwhile.” The others agreed enthusiastically.
Before matters became disorderly, Grace wrangled the conversation back to her agenda. “But remember, we set a tangible goal: entering Soundscape Showdown. Well, the bad news is we will miss the deadline this year. We can’t possibly qualify in time. We need a lot more live shows, for one thing. Which brings up Heather’s main point.”
“What do you want to happen? Do we break up now or forge ahead?” added Heather.
“A year is sure a long time,” said Erin.
“I just wish people would pay attention. Sometimes I feel like we’re shouting into a void,” said Mindy.
“Just one success would make a big difference.”
“And the prize money would help,” said Vanessa.
This exchange triggered a torrent of opinions. Grace sensed they had enough to consider. She let the discussion take its own course. All formalities had broken down. Members sometimes spoke in small groups and sometimes shouted over each other. They argued, traded compliments, and expressed various views on their experiences together and possible futures. They shared their fears and dreams. In the end, it was difficult to discern whether they had arrived at a consensus or not. She could tell from Heather’s expression that her primary concern remained unanswered. Did Made in Heaven mean as much to the other girls as it did to her?
The sun had set, and technically, the beach was closed. Nobody had come to shoo them away, though. As Mindy shared another entertaining story about idol life, Grace noticed a curious look on Sun-hee’s face. The girl tilted her head to the side as though distracted by a noise in the distance.
“What’s the matter, Sun-hee?” Grace asked, a hint of alarm coloring her voice.
“Do you hear that?” An immense wave thundered into the nearby rocks before subsiding into the sea. “I thought you said your phone couldn’t connect to the stereo.”
“It can’t. The socket’s broken.”
“Then how are you playing our song?”
Nobody else noticed this exchange, but Grace caught Sun-hee’s point. Standing purposefully and gesturing with her arms outstretched, she shouted. “Quiet!”
Startled by this outburst, the group immediately stopped talking and beheld her.
At that moment, two sounds could be distinctly heard: the continued crashing of waves on the shore and the iconic whistling of “Feel the Heat,” barely audible from the car stereo.
Sun-hee bolted from the blanket and dashed to the nearby Subaru. She tore open its door and climbed into the front seat. “It’s on the radio! Our song’s on KIGN!” she yelled, increasing the volume as loud as it could go without distorting.
The rest of the group sat wide-eyed for a moment. Suddenly, they realized what was happening. All at once, shrieks of ecstasy radiated from the campsite. They jumped around in sheer joy, tears flowing. Hugs abounded. Laughter. Whenever the excitement lapsed, even for a second, they’d hear another song phrase and burst into more screams and squeals of delight.
Grace’s rap started. “That’s me. I’m on the radio.” She vaulted in place like a baby girl, not caring one bit if it diminished her reputation as a level-headed leader.
June, Mindy, and Vanessa picked up their dance routine midway through the song but erupted into laughter so often that it soon went awry. Meanwhile, overwhelmed by the emotions pouring forth from everyone, Heather dabbed tears from her eyes with a leftover napkin. Once she noticed Erin sobbing, she tore it in half and shared it.
During the commotion, a middle-aged man in a faded red tank top and camouflage baseball cap ran to the parked Subaru. He was soon joined by two teenage boys dressed in similar beach attire. They looked alarmed and ready to fight. “Are you okay?” he asked hurriedly as he struggled to catch his breath. “We heard screaming.”
“Oh, my god!” Sun-hee exclaimed in response, “We’re fantastic.” She grabbed the man’s hands and started dancing with him. Mindy and June hugged the boys, who looked befuddled by the scene they had encountered.
As the celebration continued, Grace took a moment to assess the situation. Buoyed by the thoroughly unexpected development, the members of Made in Heaven seemed to have gained new life. This was a big deal. Radio airplay meant that someone outside their circle was finally paying attention. It also moved them one step closer to the Showdown. But most important of all, it revealed the girls’ true feelings. Made in Heaven did mean something to them. Given the right motivation, they would commit to the necessary work.
Heather leaned against the Subaru with a dazed look. Grace touched her friend’s shoulder and asked, “Does that answer your question?”
-To be continued-
Afterword
This book briefly touches on the subject of suicide. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. The 988 Lifeline is available for everyone and is free and confidential.
Dial 988
https://988lifeline.org
Cast of Characters
Made in Heaven: The main focus of our story. Conceived as a hybrid act, the all-girl indie K-pop group features a seven-member dance unit, five of whom double as musicians in the band unit.
Heather Moon (18): Made in Heaven’s main singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist. Known for her vibrant and charming personality, she has a powerful voice despite her diminutive stature.
Grace So (18): With a dominant personality, she is the group’s rapper, lead guitarist, and de facto leader. She often feels compelled to bolster Heather’s shaky confidence.
Sun-hee Ahn (18): A Korean native, Sun-hee is the group’s talented singer and keyboardist. Her sweet voice contrasts beautifully with Heather’s powerful vocals.
Mindy Ito (22): Mindy is the talented veteran drummer for Made in Heaven. The daughter of a half-Japanese/half-Korean father and a Ukrainian-American mother, she is a former member of the disbanded pop-rock group WeR5.
Erin MacLeay (18): Recruited as the band’s bassist, she’s a Korean American from the tiny town of Harper, Oklahoma. Her sheltered upbringing left her underprepared for life in the big city.
Vanessa Nguyen (19): The group’s dance specialist, Vanessa, is a Vietnamese American from Garden Grove, California. Her dance excellence landed a full scholarship to St. Ignatius, a fact she often brings up.
June (Jeong) Kwan (19): Made in Heaven’s main visual and talented dancer, June dreams of becoming a top model and has the looks to achieve it.
Other cast members:
Glimmer Blue: Formed at 37-G Entertainment, they’ve achieved global fame as one of the top girl groups in K-pop.
Mi-Ok Nae (19): Main singer of supergroup Glimmer Blue, who beat out Heather Moon for the position when the group was first formed.
Steven Shepard (21): Originally from Mesa, Arizona, he is a student filmmaker at St. Ignatius University. Tapped to direct several of Made in Heaven’s music videos, he befriended them in the process.
Dong-jun Lee (50s): A prominent and wealthy investor in 37-G Entertainment, also known to abuse his position of influence.
Arnie Johnson (30s): Made in Heaven’s boorish manager. Formerly a thrashcore musician, he is not known for possessing a refined appreciation of K-pop culture.
Dalton Lim (21): A Singaporean film student from UCLA who serves as cinematographer on several Made in Heaven videos.
Marielle Brodeur (30s): An aspiring fashion designer from Quebec City, Canada, who works for a costume rental house and creates outfits for Made in Heaven on the side.
Dae-hee Moon (40s): Heather’s father, with whom she shares a turbulent relationship. To accommodate his never-ending career ambitions, he has relocated his family from Korea to Los Angeles and back again.
Ji-woo Moon (40s): Heather’s mother who strives for family harmony despite the challenges.
Andrew Moon (17): Heather’s immature, if brilliant, younger brother.
Danya Kay (30s): Professional dancer and friend of Vanessa’s. Tapped to choreograph Made in Heaven’s first dance-oriented music video.
Casey Revere (21): Steve’s childhood friend from Arizona and current girlfriend. She majors in Mathematics at SIU.
Ye-jin Kwan (40s): June’s aunt, who fled as a refugee with her before they settled together in the U.S.
Preview of Book Two
If you enjoyed
DEBUT
watch for
COMEBACK
Book Two of the Idol Pursuits trilogy
By Robert Rioux
In the meantime, enjoy this brief preview.
* * *
A vibrating phone in the middle of the night heralded a text. For a long while, Heather chose to ignore it. Insatiable curiosity, though, compelled her to rise from bed and traipse across the cold linoleum floor. She didn’t recognize the sender’s name, but the message was personalized in a way that suggested familiarity. Whoever sent it wished to remain anonymous, at least for now. Most intriguing, the message was in Korean.
