Work Text:
Seoul 1984
It was an uncharasterically cold morning in Ssangmundong, as a rooster's crow broke the misty silence. As if on cue, Choi Moo Sung came out and started sweeping the street, covered in his favorite fluffy scarf. And like clockwork, the scrawny newspaper boy came round the corner on his bike.
"Annyeong haseyo, Ahjussi", as the boy handed him the day's paper. He was amazed at how this ahjussi always beat him, no matter how early he made his rounds.
"Good morning" Mr Choi smiled back at him.
Just as the boy disappeared round the other corner, Kim Sun Young came out bringing the spent coal briquette of last night. She greeted Mr Choi and picked up the paper from her postbox.
"Omo, the National Singing Contest is coming. I wonder will Mi Ran Sungnim join me this time?" She thought aloud.
"Taeki appa, you should try singing too! It will be fun"
Mr Choi waved at her, amused at the idea. "I'm sure it will be, but I don't wish for people to lose their eardrums just yet"
"Wah, You're right" Sun Young snickered. She never really heard him sing, but just the image of the ever-stoic man carrying a tune was somehow funny. In her mind, suddenly a gruff bear was swaying and humming meekly, wearing a fluffy hat and scarf.
Chuckling at the imagery, she excused herself. "Anyway, I'm trying a new recipe of chicken soup for dinner today, as per Sun Woo Appa's wish. I'll drop some for you and Taeki later. Bye, Oppa!"
She didn't get to hear Mr Choi's weak "No, thanks" as her gate creaked closed.
***
That afternoon, Mi Ran, Sun Young, and Il Hwa walked together to the market. As they waited in line for fish, Sun Young excitedly told her friends about the National Singing Contest.
"How about we form a group and audition together? Girl groups are the hots lately" She floored an idea.
"I don't think we three ahjummas qualify as girl groups, though" Il Hwa dubiously replied. "If anything, we'll just be looking ridiculous" She shuddered at the thought. She was never one to love being in the spotlight.
"I hear this year Lee Moon Sae's going to be one of the judge!" Mi Ran supplied.
"Really? Then we should try out, at least we get to see Moon Sae Oppa up close!" Sun Young prodded Il Hwa's side.
"Why is he your Oppa? He's younger than us" Mi Ran reminded her.
"If he's handsome, he's an Oppa" Said Sun Young easily.
"Geez", Miran scoffed "You sure have weird taste in men"
"You're one to talk" Il Hwa eyed Mi Ran.
"Oh right. What's gotten into me." Mi Ran sighed. They all laughed together, agreed that Madam Cheetah had lost her mind when she agreed to marry President Kim.
"Come on, Bo Ra Omma, it will be fun! I'll make you chicken dinner tonight if you say yes" offered Sun Young.
Il Hwa gulped. "Okay okay, I'll do it. Just don't send us chicken, Sun Young-ah, Bo Ra Appa is alergic" she cringed.
They'd had enough of Sun Young's experimental recipes, which were hardly edible. Il Hwa wondered if Mr Sung has already lost his taste buds, after years of being married to Kim Sun Young. Poor man. But maybe love had blunted his tongue, just like love had blinded Mi Ran at some point. She smiled at the thought.
And thus the forming of girl group "Purring Cheetah" of Ssangmundong.
***
Few days later, Deok Sun visited Jung Hwan's house to read comics, although Jung Hwan was out at Taek's. She met Jung Hwan's father, who greeted her excitedly with the latest gag he's seen on TV. Bubbly as ever, Deok Sun acted it along with him. Mi Ran, witnessing it all as she entered the one-room house bringing their puppy's food bowl, just shook her head and sighed. She hollered for Jung Bong in the corner to feed the puppy.
"Jung Bong is practicing with his new harmonica these days" Said Mr Kim.
"Cool!" Deoksun perked up. "That's a harmonica? How does it work? Show us, Oppa!"
Jung Bong gingerly lifted his harmonica and started blowing into it. A shrill note filled the one-room house, as Mi Ran promptly closed her ears.
"You should study instead!" Mi Ran slapped Jung Bong in the back. "This is your second attempt at College, no?"
"Grandpa once said, learning an instrument can help one to concentrate and study better" Said Jung Bong, all serious. Mi Ran just looked at him incredulously and sighed some more.
"Woah, Oppa, I think it's amazing! You should join the National Singing Contest!" Deok Sun suggested.
"Deok Sun-ah, don't give him ideas" Said Mi Ran, horrified at the thought. She did not want to put Lee Moon Sae through such misery.
"Why not? I think it's a good idea!" Said Mr Kim. "Not many people has seen harmonica players, so our Jung Bong will be one of a kind"
"Not you too!" Mi Ran objected.
"Or is it that you don't want competition, Mi Ran-ah?" Mr Kim teased her. "In that case, we should definitely sign up, Jung Bong-ah! I will sing while you play that harmonica"
"Great! Can I join too, Ahjussi?" Deok Sun chirped excitedly.
"Of course Deok Sun-ah! I hear you and the boys are into Michael Jordan these days? That guy who walks funny?"
"Michael Jackson. It's called moonwalking, Ahjussi. Dorongnyong is already an expert! I'll tell him about this" Deok Sun scampered off to Taek's house across the street.
Mi Ran scowled. But then she thought maybe her husband and the boys are not that much of a competition, if Jung Bong's harmonica skill was anything to go by.
"So, we are going to be rivals, Mi Ran-ah! How fun!" Mr Kim laughed.
Mi Ran side-eyed him and muttered "What did I do in my past lives".
"By the way, Mother, what are you and the Aunties going to sing?" Asked Jung Bong.
"As if I'm telling you that" Mi Ran barked, already in competitive mode. "You better not forget to study, Jung Bong-ah, or else"
Mi Ran might act stern in front of Jung Bong. In her mind though, she made a mental note to practice more often with the ladies. Her husband, Kim Sung Kyun, was a choir singer in his younger days. Once, when they were desperate collecting money for Jung Bong's surgery, he set up a street performance in front of the City Hall. He amassed quite an audience (and money) before being ushered by the police. She smiled fondly at the memory, but immediately remembered that they're now rivals.
"I can't lose to him" she thought resolutely.
***
Over at Taek's, Jung Hwan and Dong Ryong were huddling over a questionable magazine when Deok Sun suddenly busted the door. They jumped and hid the incriminating thing under Taek's baduk board. Deok Sun, who was excited with something, apparently didn't notice.
"Yah, knock first, will you!" Jung Hwan scolded. "Soon-to-be-Master Choi could be practicing in here! He needs peace."
"Taeki's gone since morning" Deok Sun countered. She turned to Dong Ryong and said,
"Dorongnyong, you already mastered the Michael Jackson dance, yes?"
Dong Ryong immediately stood up and started moonwalking back and forth.
"Of course I have, it is not that hard. Even Jung Pal here can do it"
Deok Sun gaped in awe and told him about the National Singing Contest. "Kim Ahjussi, Jung Bong Oppa and I are signing up. If you join us with that dance, we're surely going to win!"
Dong Ryong flat out refused. "Don't you know there's going to be really good singers auditioning? Kids like us will only embarass ourselves!"
Dong Ryong did not tell her that his dad, The Dean, has already signed up. Strict as he was, he had killer dance moves and was really loose on his limbs. He could sing well, too.
"Come on, you're just being modest. Jung Pal-ah, isn't our Dong Ryong the Park Nam Jung of Ssangmundong ?" She appealed to Jung Hwan.
"He's not bad, but my mom is joining too so it will be tough. And do you forget Sun Woo's Mom? She basically has no qualm whatsoever when it comes to dancing!"
"Kim Ahjussi has great voice too! And Jung Bong Oppa has a harmonica" Deok Sun offered.
"What, do you mean that shrill instrument Hyung's so fond of? Forget it. We'll just look like fools" Jung Hwan shuddered and crossed his arms.
Deok Sun pouted. "Yah, Come on, when else will we get to perform in front of Moon Sae Oppa?" She shaked Dong Ryong's shoulders and eyed Jung Hwan with her best puppy eyes. The boys were unyielding though, and turned to watch TV, when Deok Sun suddenly dove for the baduk board. She pulled their magazine out from under, her eyes glinted mischievously.
"If you say yes, I will not give this to The Dean"
So Dong Ryong and Jung Hwan had no other choice but to agree.
Thus the forming of "New Kids off the Block ft President Kim"