✦*⋆ LIVE: YEOUIDO SPRING FESTIVAL WITH MINGYU !
SAY YES, LOCO & PUNCH APRIL 7TH, 2017. ( ♥ )
nothing else seems quite as perfect. after all, they come as a package deal, don’t they? won and mingyu. mingyu and won. wongyu. he laughs softly remembering the less-than-enthused text he had gotten in response. (he’s right, though — wongyu does roll off the tongue more smoothly than minwon, or worse, gyuwon.) pursing his lips, he peers over at the taller by his side. cute. his cheeks flush with excitement.
waiting for their turn isn’t quite as luxurious as how he hopes it will be in the future, but the informal stage before them is enough to create the illusion of stardom. it still feels like a small taste of his dream, hearing the pretty voices of the friends performing before them as they wait as if they’re on a music show ready for their debut stage, the lights when the sun sets bright enough to feel like spotlights— maybe he’s just a dreamer, but isn’t everything a little more fun when you let your imagination run wild? looking at it for what it was — a dimly lit, unprofessional and frankly, a little unsafe looking structure somewhat resembling a stage — was just boring. he didn’t want to be a buzzkill all the time.
the breeze tickles at his skin as he bounces on his heels. he daren’t take another peek at the older’s face to see if he feels the same anticipation, lest he get caught with this pink tint to his cheeks that he can’t explain, but he likes to think that he’s as thrilled as he is to be performing together. music isn’t the only hobby they enjoy together; won semi-frequently reads to him, and musicals are their most watched movies. even their differing hobbies they share; won skateboards alongside mingyu as he jogs, sits comfortably studying as the older paints or draws— point is, the two of them match together well, but music feels (to won, at least) like the time they really bounce off one another the best.
after all, they complement each other’s talents, right? with mingyu a rapper and won a singer, mingyu’s voice rhythmic and won’s smooth. won likes to think of mingyu as the lyrics, and himself the melody, but maybe that’s just his desperation to never be parted. lyrics need a melody, right? and a melody feels incomplete without lyrics. peas in a pod, two sides of the same coin, two halves of a soul, superhero and sidekick; maybe they’re all just won’s way of validating their friendship; to convince himself that mingyu won’t ever leave.
(he knows he won’t, but that doesn’t stop the fear from keeping him up some nights, as if he needed more things to stop him from getting the sleep he needs and deserves.)
they take centre stage before too long, and that excitement is soon replaced by nervousness. he glances shyly at his best friend as the preparations are made, tightening his grip on his microphone. it’s not the first time they’ve done anything like this. it’d be a miracle if it were, considering how long they’ve known one another and how long they’ve been honing their talents, but it is the first time he’s gotten this unsettled by his side.
ultimately, it’s a love song. a very soft, cute love song. in front of a crowd, no less. their behind-closed-doors renditions of ‘on my own’ are in an entirely different league to this, but he swallows his worries, takes one last lingering look at the taller boy and nods firmly.
do it for him. I’m doing it for him.
니 눈앞에 왔잖아 내가 여기 있잖아 너의 입술로 말을 해줘 say yes, say yes 나도 모르게 너에게 가고 있나봐 부는 바람에 내 맘 전할래 love is true
his unusual stage fright is gone as soon as the first word leaves his dry lips. he’s not as lively when he sings as he is when he dances, for obvious reasons, but his body sways delicately to the beat nonetheless. his deep voice is a stark difference to the original, but he makes it work, matching the gentleness of punch’s vocals. it’s not too challenging of a song for him, with no ridiculous high notes to contrast with his natural tone, so getting the feel of the track right is what’s most important to him. despite being the more talkative one of the two of them, won’s voice is softer, quieter, so he does his best to tap into that as he sings.
introduction complete, he heaves out a silent sigh of relief as he watches mingyu transition seamlessly into the rap. sure, he’s biased, but he thinks mingyu’s rendition beats the original. it’s got a little more impact, a little more feeling— he almost misses his cue, lost in smiling fondly at the older like a lovesick puppy.
maybe— maybe this song is a little more meaningful to him than he lets on.
니 눈앞에 왔잖아 내가 여기 있잖아 너의 입술로 말을 해줘 say yes, say yes 나도 모르게 너에게 가고 있나봐 부는 바람에 내 맘 전할래 love is true
I need you
baby 너에게 하고 픈 말 내가 못다한 말 baby, baby, baby boy love is true
the backing vocals provided feel unnatural when paired with his own voice, but that’s long forgotten as mingyu jumps into his second verse. it isn’t that he isn’t concentrating on his own contributions to the performance, but how can he help being distracted by the talented boy by his side? his best friend is a masterpiece; the way he moves, the way he raps, the way he smiles. everything about him is art, and won is only human. everyone is watching the older boy, and rightly so.
(won can admit he’s so drawn, he almost misses his cue again, though it’s begrudgingly, and certainly not to the boy himself.)
니 눈앞에 왔잖아 내가 여기 있잖아 너의 입술로 말을 해줘 say yes, say yes 나도 모르게 너에게 가고 있나봐 부는 바람에 내 맘 전할래 love is true
the bridge arrives faster than he expects it to, and suddenly, he’s left to complete the remainder of the song by himself. it seems unfair, both to mingyu and the audience, that he sing the majority of the track. wonwoo’s dream isn’t to sing or dance, it’s to sing or dance with the older; he’d give up every second of his time on the stage to see mingyu thrive.
but then, he’s sure mingyu would say the same.
that’s what best friends do, right? support and encourage one another. best friends. forever. he smiles as he belts out the high note, sighing once he comes back down.
내가 바라는 단 한가지 니가 내곁에 있어주는 것 니가 날 보며 웃어주는것도 내 얘길 들어주는것도 난 그걸로도 충분한데 you
'I need you.’ avoiding the older, he looks out over the audience. it’s not large; it’s just what he expects of any open mic event, though admittedly, he had wondered if, due to the festival being so popular, there’d be more. either way, he isn’t here to impress people, he’s here to have fun with his best friend. ”a late birthday present!” he had quipped when they arrived. he chuckles quietly between lines, quickly recovering.
moving across the stage, he meets the older’s eyes as he sings, gesturing for him to meet him in the middle. he ducks his head down to hide that same pink tint to his cheeks as the song draws to a close and the backing track fades to silence.
너를 보며 웃잖아 두 눈이 말하잖아 너도 이렇게 대답해줘 say yes, say yes 너라서 좋아 니가 날 울려도 좋아 너는 나의 모든 전부니까 love is true I need you baby 너에게 하고 픈 말 내가 못다한 말 baby, baby, baby boy love is true
“next time, we should do ‘start of something new’.” won giggles, hand covering soft lips.
mingyu frowns, “no.”
“worth a try.”