Archive of Our Own

OFFICIAL: spArk reunites for their 10th Year Anniversary, 5 years after their last appearance as a group.

@0219forever: WHAT THE FUCK?! A SPARK COMEBACK?

@prodbylch: oh my god it’s finally happening.

@SPARKGLOBAL: It’s official, Sparklers! The winter is finally over! We’ll be seeing spArk together on stage once again!

[Genius Actor Kim Yiwol]

Sparklers~
Have you heard the news?
We’re making a comeback!
You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you?
To be honest, I’ve missed calling you Sparklers…
Anyway, we have to prepare for our comeback now so I’ll be going!
Remember to eat well and stay safe! I love you!

“Excuse me,” Kim Yiwol said as soon as he entered the studio room.

“Hyung, you made it!” Lee Cheonghyeon exclaimed, jumping out of his seat to tackle the older man into a hug. Kim Yiwol lets out a laugh at his antics, acting as if he wasn’t in Kim Yiwol’s apartment just a few nights ago.

Still, being in Lee Cheonghyeon’s studio room feels a little weird for him, like finding a once beloved shirt only to find out it no longer fits. He used to spend a lot of time within the four corners of this room, helping the younger man with producing or guiding the other members on how to sing their parts. Now, being in this place rattles something in Kim Yiwol’s core that he isn’t sure what’s causing it.

“Where are the others?”

“Oh, it’s just you and me, hyung,” Lee Cheonghyeon replied and Kim Yiwol could detect a little sadness in his voice, “Realistically, we couldn’t find a schedule where we’re all free so we’ll each be recording separately.”

“Anyway! That’s enough sad talk. Are you ready to start recording, hyung?”

“Sure, though I haven’t sung in a while so I may be a little rusty.”

Lee Cheonghyeon lets out a laugh as Kim Yiwol makes his way to the recording booth, placing the lyric sheet on the stand and starts warming up his voice.

“Hyung, do you mind if we start with your part in the chorus?”

Kim Yiwol looked at the part that the younger man requested and froze when he saw the lyrics.

[Even if we go our separate ways
I’ll always be there for you
Rewind to all my days with you
To all my days with you]

Kim Yiwol feels as if the lyrics were deliberate. Out of everyone in spArk, he’s the one who chose a career furthest from singing. He remembers when he signed with his current company, how they said they could accommodate him being an idol and actor at the same time. He also recalls how he declined, saying that he had no intentions of performing on stage, not without his five members.

He thinks that it’s weird. He never dreamt of becoming an idol yet stepping off the stage felt like admitting that his time was up, that he had only deluded himself to think that spArk could last as long as they chose to.

Kim Yiwol does what he’s known for and pushes the lingering thoughts out of his mind, reminding himself that he has a job to do.

“Shall we start, hyung?” Lee Cheonghyeon asks and Kim Iwol offers him a thumbs up.

Kim Yiwol starts to sing his part, keeping in mind the guide that Lee Cheonghyeon had sent a few days ago. Once he’s finished, Lee Cheonghyeon lets out a hum, analyzing the way he had just sung.

“There’s something wrong with it,” Kim Yiwol says before Lee Cheonghyeon could speak, “I don’t know what’s wrong but I can just sense it.”

“That’s what I’m thinking about too,” Lee Cheonghyeon agreed, taking a pause to think before hammering his fist into his hand, “Wait, I got it.”

“It’s the emotions! Technically hyung, you didn’t do it wrong, as always. It’s just…lacking emotion?”

In a way, Kim Yiwol understood what he meant. The song that his younger member made clearly expressed the feelings they all had during their time apart and Kim Iwol could see the thoughts and emotions that Lee Cheonghyeon felt about their reunion pour into the lyrics. Even the instrumental seemed to cater to Park Joowoo and Kim Iwol’s taste.

Essentially, this song is Lee Cheonghyeon’s love letter to spArk.

“Hyung,” Lee Cheonghyeon called, “You know the last part? Could you make it more…emotional? You can let your voice trail out as you sing that. Like the memories are rushing towards you and you’re just there caught up in the moment.”

Kim Yiwol nods and prepares for the second take. At Lee Cheonghyeon’s cue, he sings his part again, this time, remembering his favorite memory of spArk.

“And this year’s Artist of the Year Award goes to…spArk!”

“Hyung, we’re okay now!” Lee Cheonghyeon said, satisfied before playing the recording of his voice. Kim Yiwol felt like the years where he hadn't sung had degraded his singing ability. He was always critical of himself but this time, it came with a little regret.

For a second, he wondered if choosing a life away from music was truly the right choice.

“Sorry, could I…” Kim Yiwol pauses, “Could I do another take? I’m not satisfied with it.”

Lee Cheonghyeon looks at him before sighing and giving him a smile, “Hyung, you’re still the same Kim Yiwol after all these years.”

[spArk’s Eternal Hyung]
[1 image attached of Lee Cheonghyeon holding his fingers in a V pose, smiling with Kim Yiwol in the recording booth]
Recording with Cheonghyeon went smoothly today!
Also…about the name change
Cheonghyeon said since we were reuniting, we should all take this seriously
Since he was the one who pushed for this reunion, we all had to comply.
Everyone, please take care of spArk’s Eternal Hyung once again~
Rest well and I love you!

@yiwolya: seeing iwol change his bubble pop name to “spArk’s eternal hyung” what if i decided this was my last straw

@wolyangi: everyone changed their bubble pop nicknames to spArk’s ____. oh my god do they know what they’re doing to me do they know that i’m crazy

Even if Kim Yiwol has spent more years alone in an officetel, he still finds mornings to be lonelier without the hustle and bustle of everyone trying to get ready for the day.

Back when he was living with spArk, he was always the first one to wake up and started preparing breakfast. After a while, either Jeong Seongbin or Park Joowoo would come out of his room to help him. Breakfast was never a dull affair, especially with how Lee Cheonghyeon naturally lit every room he was in. He can still envision the stack of food on Choi Jeho’s plate and how Kang Giyeon preferred to have fresh salads with no dressings.

He’s heard somewhere that people never truly leave you and he supposes that’s true. It’s been years since he lived with spArk yet they still find a way to linger around any place that Kim Yiwol calls home.

His ringtone reverberates around the silent room and his phone reveals Jeong Seongbin’s contact name.

“Hello?”

“Hi, hyung!” Jeong Seongbin greets, “Do you have anything to do today?”

“Not really, no. I’m just going to go to the gym before I review an upcoming role.”

“Oh, you’re auditioning for a role again?”

“Yeah,” Kim Yiwol answered, “Though the production would be scheduled way after our comeback so it probably won’t get in the way of our activities.”

“Speaking of our activities. Hyung, when are you most likely free? I’m trying to coordinate with everyone’s schedules so we can decide on the details for our comeback. The company said they already have a few details prepared but they wanted our input.”

“I’m free for the rest of the week since my recent drama just finished. Just let me know when everyone else is available and I’ll be there,” Kim Yiwol answered.

Talking with Jeong Seongbin like this again reminded him just how much the other man had grown. When Kim Yiwol met him, his self-esteem was at an all-time low and it took a lot of effort from Jeong Seongbin to regain his confidence. Seeing him step into the role of a leader again as if it was easy as breathing left a smile on Kim Yiol’s lips.

The two of them shared a few more updates and Kim Yiwol learned that Jeong Seongbin’s family is a huge fan of his current drama. He felt a little embarrassed when Jeong Seongbin informed him that every time he went home, Kim Yiwol’s face would be flashed on the screen.

He also expressed his congratulations for the group’s main vocalist and his successful OST for a drama. He couldn’t help but tease him about singing for a drama that competed with his and enjoyed how Jeong Seongbin grew flustered at his teasing.

“Hyung, have you seen the Dotion updates?”

“I was just about to check them. Is there something wrong?”

“Well,” Jeong Seongbin pauses, “There’s a show where they want to show the group through the eyes of the manager but the company said that picking up six individuals in different places would be difficult.”

“That is true. I don’t think we should cause Manager Chanyoung and Manager Daeyeon more stress than they need. Are we going to decline, then?” Kim Yiwol asked.

“I think we need to talk about our guest appearances when we meet, hyung,” Jeong Seongbin answered.

“Alright. Let me know when the date is.”

“Got it, hyung. I’ve got to go now so I’m heading out. See you soon, hyung!”

“You too.”

Later that night, Jeong Seongbin sends him a message that everyone’s free by Wednesday and Kim Iwol confirms his attendance. While in bed, he finds himself twisting and turning and even if he was no stranger to feeling restless during times of sleep, this feels different.

Kim Yiwol realizes that he couldn’t wait for Wednesday to come.

The moment he walked into UA’s doors, he was surprised to see familiar faces still greet him warmly. He spots a member of their team who spent lots of time coordinating with shows that requested their appearances and another who was part of the A&R team that frequented Lee Cheonghyeon’s studio.

“Well, if it isn’t Yiwol!”

Kim Yiwol turned around and saw Ms. Jukyung waving at him as she approached. She was one of the few people in the company that kept close contact with him after all these years. When he left the company, she gave him a tight hug and expressed how glad she was that he agreed to come to UA when she presented their company card.

It would seem that the years have been kind to her as well as she carried herself with such grace that Kim Yiwol thinks could only come from age.

“Hello, Ms. Jukyung,” Kim Iwol greeted with a bow.

Ms. Jukyung let out a sigh before pulling him into a hug, “You haven’t changed after all these years, haven’t you? Still the same respectful Iwol I met 11 years ago.”

The two of them walked as they caught up on the events of their lives. Apparently, Ms. Jukyung took on more administrative duties after spArk’s disbandment and that she no longer supervises the new batch of trainees.

“Apparently, the company is setting up their debut though they haven’t decided if they should let Lee Cheonghyeon produce their debut or let them do it themselves just like how you guys did,” Ms. Jukyung informed him.

“Is that so?” Kim Yiwol replied with fake interest.

The thought of Lee Cheonghyeon composing for another group doesn’t sit right with Kim Yiwol. Sure, he’s probably produced songs for other artists within the five years that spArk spent apart but being faced with the reality left a hollow in Kim Yiwol’s heart.

He always thought that only spArk would always perform Lee Cheonghyeon’s songs.

“Anyway, we’re here,” Ms. Jukyung said as she opened the doors to the meeting room and Kim Iwol could see everyone turn their heads to look at him. His eyes can spot the way Park Joowoo’s eyes sparkle and Jeong Seongbin standing to pull him into a hug.

“Hyung, you’re here,” Jeong Seongbin said.

“Was everyone waiting for me?”

“Nope,” Kang Giyeon answered, “Joowoo hyung just got here a few minutes before you.”

“Anyway, now that Yiwol hyung is here. We can begin the meeting,” Jeong Seongbin said as he powered up his laptop, “Joowoo had already compiled everyone’s preferences and ideas for our comeback and it looks like everyone’s in agreement.”

“Since this project is for our tenth anniversary, why not look back on our debut? We debuted with youth as our concept, it’d be nice if our concept this time is reminiscing about our time together,” Kang Giyeon suggested.

“That’d be nice,” Lee Cheonghyeon agreed, “It’d fit well with the song too. We can use items from our debut as a fun little easter egg for the fans.”

“Regarding the choreography, Jeho hyung and Giyeon, how’s it going?” Jeong Seongbin asked.

“We’re still making some finishing touches but it should be done within the week,” Choi Jeho answered.

“As for the promotions, the company talked with Yiwol hyung’s agency and confirmed that he doesn’t have any conflicting schedules as of the moment so we can all take the photoshoots and filming together. However, about our guest appearances…”

Jeong Seongbin selected a different spreadsheet and showed a large number of shows requesting their appearances, “These are all the shows that requested us but they haven’t gone through screening from the company’s team so this may not be the final number. They asked me to highlight certain shows that piqued the group’s interests so they can prioritize them.”

“They’re letting us do whatever we want?” Kim Yiwol asked. As much as this is a special event for them, this is also a large business opportunity for UA especially with how much buzz spArk had already gathered with just one news about their comeback so giving them way too much freedom to decide how the promotions would go is something he doesn’t understand.

Jeong Seongbin nods before speaking, “They said they won’t interfere much with our activities because of the nature of this project being a reunion. They also said they wouldn’t have to worry about scheduling shows since you’re here with us for the time being.”

Kim Yiwol looked at him in confusion as Lee Cheonghyeon let out a laugh while Park Joowoo’s shoulders shook as he tried to contain his own giggles. He supposes this is the result of being so hands on when it came to spArk’s schedule in the past.

“Fine,” Kim Yiwol let out a sigh, “By the way, what about that show you talked about the other day?”

“Oh, that!” Jeong Seongbin exclaimed as he highlighted a show called ‘Manager and I’, “This was the show I was talking about, hyung.”

“It’d be nice to show Sparklers new content of us outside of idol activities,” Park Joowoo said and Kim Yiwol agreed. Back when they were still active, they never hesitated to show their fans different sides of themselves. He recalls the first time they revealed their lives at their dorm and how the fans ate it up saying it was refreshing to see their idols outside of their main profession.

“There’s an issue, though. None of us live together anymore,” Choi Jeho pointed out.

“That’s easy!” Lee Cheonghyeon exclaimed, “We can just rent a space that we can stay in for our entire promotions!”

“Wouldn’t that be deceiving our fans that we live together?” Kang Giyeon asked.

“They already know that we all live separately. I think it’d be weird if they still thought we still lived in one place even after our contract expired.”

“There’s an issue about whether or not the company would be willing to fund a temporary living space for us though,” Kim Yiwol countered.

“That’s fine! Even if they don’t, I’d be more than happy to cover the cost myself!”

“Cheonghyeon, there’s no need to cover the cost yourself,” Jeong Seongbin said, placating his younger brother, “If renting out a temporary space isn’t possible, then can we just live in one member’s house? Of course, if anyone’s willing. I understand if you wouldn’t want your privacy to be compromised during our promotions.”

“Let’s film in mine,” Kim Yiwol volunteered, “There’s three rooms at my place which should be enough for all of us.”

“Hyung, are you sure?” Park Joowoo asked.

Kim Yiwol nodded in reply. spArk was by no means a stranger to his home. In fact, they’d spent their gatherings more times at his place than any of the others. He also thinks that if anyone should be accomodating, it should always be the eldest.

“Does anyone have any issue with living with Kim Yiwol for the duration of our entire comeback preparations and our promotions?” Jeong Seongbin asked and scanned the room for any opposition before saying, “Then it’s settled. Thank you for hosting us, Yiwol hyung.”

“Yeah! We’re going to be living together again just like old times!” Lee Cheonghyeon exclaimed.

“Should we try to sort out the roommates right now?” Kang Giyeon asked and Kim Yiwol could tell that their youngest was merely hiding his own excitement.

“I think it’d be better if we save the roommate assignment for self-produced content,” Jeong Seongbin answered, “Anyway, that’s about it. Yiwol hyung, when can we move in?”

“I’d probably require a day to clean a little so maybe the day after tomorrow should be fine?”

“Okay, hyung. Just let us know when we can come. I should probably inform the company about the confirmation of our appearance. We should discuss other activities later,” Jeong Seongbin said as he adjourned the meeting, adding that he hoped everyone had a safe trip home.

Getting back to his home, Kim Yiwol admitted that he missed the warmth that he felt whenever the members were around. It felt odd since it wasn’t like they cut contact during the five years they spent apart but Kim Yiwol couldn’t help but feel the difference of meeting the members in small groups due to conflicts in schedule versus being in an actual room with everyone in there, even if it was for work.

He wished he pushed for them to meet up as a whole more often. Maybe that would lessen the longing that’s currently seeping into his bones. Just a few hours with spArk already sent him into a spiral of reminiscing the memories they made together as a whole. Not the memories that Kim Yiwol had erased himself in favor of preserving the original five but the ones that spArk created by holding his hand and making sure that he didn’t let go.

In just a few hours, spArk had already dismantled the thought that Kim Yiwol was fine after their disbandment. He missed them dearly and he resolved to make the most out of this reunion project.

“Joowoo?” Kim Yiwol asked the moment he saw the man standing outside his door through the security footage.

“Hello, hyung! Sorry for showing up without notice,” Park Joowoo said through the intercom.

Opening the door greeted Kim Yiwol with Park Joowoo in a casual outfit holding a plastic bag of what he assumes to be food for breakfast. Once he let Park Joowoo enter his home, his thoughts immediately questioned why the man was here.

“Is everything alright?” Kim Yiwol asked as he grabbed the bag that Park Joowoo was holding and started setting the table.

“Oh, I just thought I could help you, hyung,” Park Joowoo said as he rummaged through Kim Yiwol’s cupboards. He’d been here enough times to be familiar with where the older man hides his cutleries.

“With what?” Kim Yiwol asked. He wasn’t sure if there was a moment where he asked for the younger man’s help and he had just forgotten.

“With cleaning, of course!” Park Joowoo answers, “It’s only fair that I help you clean up since we’ll be staying here for a while.”

Kim Yiwol studied the younger man’s words. Sure, he did have to clean a little and get the rooms ready but it’s not a daunting affair that he would need any help.

“Please, hyung, let me help,” Park Joowoo insisted and no amount of years apart could ever steel Kim Yiwol enough to ever deny Park Joowoo.

With a sigh, Kim Yiwol relented and agreed to let Park Joowoo help around the house. Thanks to the fact that his house wasn’t that messy to begin with, the two of them only spent a short time cleaning.

“Thanks for your help, Joowoo,” Kim Yiwol said, handing the younger man a glass of water.

“Hyung, can I tell you something?” Park Joowoo asked, holding the glass between his hands.

Kim Yiwol wondered if there were any problems that plagued Park Joowoo recently. One of the disadvantages of them not being within the same vicinity anymore is the fact that Kim Yiwol no longer knows when his members are struggling. In the past, he only needed to look at them once and he already knew what was wrong but now it felt like he was only meant to watch from afar.

“Did something happen? You know you can tell me anything. If there’s any help that you need, you know that I’m only one call away, right?”

Park Joowoo’s eyes widened at his words before he let out a laugh, “What? Hyung, no, it’s not that. Don’t worry, if I ever get into trouble or need help, you’d still be one of the first people I’d come running to.”

Kim Yiwol let out a sigh of relief before saying, “Don’t scare me like that, alright? Anyway, what is it that you want to say?”

Park Joowoo twiddled with his fingers, as if trying to find the right words and Kim Iwol just sat there waiting. He wondered what it was that the younger man wanted to say that he’s having a hard time saying. Over the years, Park Joowoo had learned how to speak his mind and Kim Yiwol had heard through the grapevines that he was an excellent vocal coach who was capable of pinpointing what needed to be improved.

He was always happy to see Park Joowoo settle into a personality that didn’t compromise who he was at his core.

“I was thinking, hyung, if I should retire from the idol industry.”

Oh.

“W-what? But didn’t you say you’re glad to be an idol?” Kim Yiwol asked.

“I did and I am!” Park Joowoo answers, “But I was really only glad to be an idol because I was with you guys.”

Park Joowoo looked at his hands before he continued, “After our disbandment, the company asked if I wanted to pursue solo activities and I tried it but then I realized just how lonely it is without everyone. The walls of the waiting room were too quiet, as if it was screaming in my face to wake up from my dream. That we were spending our time apart.”

Kim Yiwol stared at Park Joowoo as he processed his confession. He was aware of the man’s struggles since he received messages in their group chat that Park Joowoo missed them a lot. He wondered how much he must’ve held back, fearing that he was interfering with the members’ pursuit of their own careers.

He gets it. He really does. It’s why he never bothered coming back to the stage after they disbanded. Kim Yiwol thinks the reason why Park Joowoo approached him and not the others is because if there’s anyone who could empathize with his predicament, it would be him.

After all, he already bid farewell to Kim Yiwol the idol a long time ago.

“You know,” Kim Yiwol said as he grabbed the younger man’s hand and intertwined it with his, “If that’s what you truly want, then I say go for it. I know that it wasn’t hard to come to this conclusion, especially since you had to face some cold hard truths but it’s okay. I think everyone else would understand.”

The two of them spent a moment in silence, letting each other’s words sink in. Kim Yiwol wished that the years could’ve been kinder to all of them. How he wished Park Joowoo never had these thoughts because spArk would’ve still been promoting with him.

Maybe when they disbanded, it was time for them to set out and find their own paths yet farewell was never easy especially for those who never wanted it in the first place.

“Hyung,” Park Joowoo calls, “Why did you agree to let us stay here for the duration of our comeback?”

Kim Yiwol swallowed as he thought about what to answer. He did wonder why he agreed so readily. They could’ve just turned down the offer yet something deep in Kim Iwol’s heart grasped at him, making him feel as if he was going to lose some of the most important people in his life.

“I—I think it’s because I missed having everyone around.”

“Me too!” Park Joowoo exclaimed, “When I heard that Cheonghyeon was organizing a comeback for our tenth anniversary, I immediately agreed because I wanted to be with you guys…even if it would be the last time.”

“What makes you think it would be our last time, Joowoo?”

“Hyung, you know how difficult it is to organize a comeback, especially now that we’re in different companies. Our reunion had already fallen through numerous times and even Cheonghyeon said that this is our last chance to ever get back together.”

“I think I’d be okay if this project of ours would be our way of closing this chapter of our lives,” Park Joowoo said with a sad smile.

“If that’s the case, then let’s do everything we want,” Kim Yiwol replied, placing his arm around the younger man’s shoulder. He hopes that this time, they’d have a proper and gentle ending to their story.

One of the first schedules that spArk had agreed on was Polo’s radio show. It’d been customary at some point in their careers that every time they made a comeback, they would always guest on this show.

“So, you’ve created a lot of buzz with your recent news. How does it feel to be together again?” Polo asked.

“I still think it’s surreal,” Park Joowoo answers, “Recently, we started living together again and it feels like no one has changed a bit.”

“Oh? Tell me more about it!” Polo urged.

“Well, Yiwol hyung is still the first one to wake up and he’s still the one making us breakfast even if we keep saying that we can make our own,” Jeong Seongbin explained.

“It’d be rude as a host to not feed my guests!” Kim Yiwol argued.

“Hyung, we’ve been at your home so many times to the point that I’m not sure if we even qualify as guests anymore,” Kang Giyeon grumbles.

“I guess Yiwol still hasn’t changed as spArk’s eldest, hasn’t he? Yiwol, be honest with me, you do consider Giyeon as an adult, right?” Polo asked.

“Of course I do!”

“No, you don’t. You still make sure everyone wears appropriate clothing and still pack everyone’s medicines,” Choi Jeho said.

“Is it that weird to care about my members?” Kim Yiwol asked.

“Hyung, you and Jeho hyung are in your 30s. I’m in my late 20s already, we can take care of ourselves. Polo sunbae, does Yur sunbae take care of Hellas the way Yiwol hyung does?” Kang Giyeon asked.

Polo lets out a laugh before answering, “I can’t say that he has. It’s more of a general reminder from him, I guess.”

“See!” Kang Giyeon exclaims, “that’s what’s normal!”

“Okay, okay, calm down, Giyeon,” Polo said, holding in his own laugh, “Let’s change topic, why don’t we talk about your new song? Cheonghyeon, why don’t you tell us more about it?”

“Sure! Our song is titled ‘Rewind’. As everyone knows, it’s been five years since we last promoted as a group so I really wrote this song as a way to sort of look back on our past and if we had the chance to do it again, then we would.”

“I don’t mean it in a sad way,” Lee Cheonghyeon clarifies as he looks to the camera while shaking his hands, “It’s more of the happy days were so good that we want to experience it again!”

“I see. Well, did the song influence any of your plans for promoting the album?”

“I don’t think it impacted our promotions that heavily,” Jeong Seongbin answers, “We just went into this project thinking that we’d do everything that we want and what Sparklers want to see while also reflecting that it’s been 10 years since our debut.”

“Oh, speaking of the time after your debut. Jeho, you said that when you, Cheonghyeon, and Giyeon formed a unit, Seongbin was still the leader. Could you explain more?”

“That?” Choi Jeho asks, “It was nothing. The three of us considered the project as a subunit of spArk so there was no need to assign a new leader when we already had Seongbin.”

“That is true. I remember getting messages from Cheonghyeon regarding their schedules,” Jeong Seongbin replied with a sigh.

“It seems everyone still has love for the group! Last question, if you had a message for you during your debut, what would you say?” Polo asks, “Let’s start with you, Yiwol!”

Kim Yiwol’s mind went blank. What did he want to say? He remembers his former self feeling extremely bitter at the prospect of debuting with a group that caused him so much trouble in the past.

Then he remembered just how much spArk had changed his life for the better. His lips curl upwards at the thought of spArk huddling together that one night as he spoke about the injury he sustained on his back or that night where he laid himself bare in front of them as he talked about his family.

They’d made it known that he’s changed their lives for the better as well. He remembers Lee Cheonghyeon hugging him once and saying that he was the missing piece to the puzzle and how he could have never imagined a spArk without Kim Yiwol.

“Um, I guess I want to say, hang in there. I know things are unbelievable right now but trust in your members. They’ll be there for you no matter what and I hope you have a lot of fun with them.”

As soon as the words slip out of his mouth, he can feel all the gazes shift on him and it makes him shift in his seat. Turning his head, he sees Park Joowoo looking at him with glassy eyes while Lee Cheonghyeon fans his face. Even Polo is looking at him with a look of a proud parent and Kim Iwol wonders what did he just say to warrant such a reaction.

“Well, that was…absolutely touching,” Polo says, clasping his hands together, “What about you, Seongbin?”

Kim Yiwol listens intently as he hears Jeong Seongbin talk about wishing his younger self to be proud of himself and that he should be ready to become the leader of spArk soon; Park Joowoo opens his message with asking how his younger self is doing and reassures him that he’ll be safe with spArk and that he’ll grow up doing what he loves with his members.

As for Lee Cheonghyeon, Kim Yiwol thinks he must’ve sensed the atmosphere was getting emotional, as the younger man joked that a certain hyung would put him to work soon and he should get a lot of sleep before that; Kang Giyeon tells his younger self to rest his heart more, wishing that the younger Kang Giyeon would go to bed without heavy thoughts more.

“What about you, Jeho?” Polo asked.

“I wanted to say to my younger self that he should enjoy the moments that he spends with spArk. Being a member of spArk gave me the happiest memories of my life so I’m sure it would be his as well. When Iwol argues with you, know that it’s coming from a good place. You’re doing really well, Jeho.”

Not a single soul left the radio booth with dry eyes after his words.

OFFICIAL: spArk reveals full tracklist for 10th Anniversary Album: Rekindle

1. Rewind [TITLE]
2. Run To You
3. Full Bloom
4. One spArk
5. Connect (Prod. by Yiwol and recorded in 20XX)

@yeonifan: this album is going to make my cry buckets oh my god.
@yiwolhyeon: i’m sorry??? did you say connect was made by YIWOL?! THE connect?!
@joowooarts: so connect was a song that yiwol made but he never got to perform it before…is that why they never released it?

“Welcome to the press conference for spArk’s comeback,” a UA staff member greeted.

Kim Yiwol stared at the rows of journalists seated just across from him. His relationship with the press has always been on the negative side. To him, they’re nothing more than a bunch of predators hunting for prey and it just so happened that he was their perfect candidate for years.

He remembers several instances when the press took a field day running his name through the rumor mills. Whether during his injury or his painful past, the press used him as a way to boost their engagement. When spArk disbanded and when he left the company, he remembers headlines wondering what was his next move or if he had plans to retire from the industry.

“Hello, I’m Kim Yebin from MBS,” one of the reporters introduced, “What can we expect from spArk for this upcoming album?”

“I think that this album will still contain our signature sound,” Lee Cheonghyeon answers, “Though emotional, we still made sure that our fans would immediately recognize that it’s our album.”

“Were there any difficulties in preparing the album?” another reporter asked.

“Not really. We just had to coordinate our schedules more since we have a lot of individual schedules but the preparations went smoothly,” Jeong Seongbin explained.

“A question for Kim Yiwol,” one of the reporters asks as they stand, “Among all of the members, you’ve spent the least amount of time on stage after your disbandment. Should we expect more idol activities from you after this promotion?”

Kim Yiwol can’t say that he didn’t expect this question. Scrolling through articles mentioning the group always contained comments about him resuming his idol activities. He knows that his fans have always yearned for him to perform again even if he had to do solo activities.

“I’m sorry,” Kim Yiwol says before pausing to take a breath, “But this will be my final activity as an idol.”

There’s a collection of gasps and the sound of cameras shuttering that Kim Yiwol already knows what kind of headlines he would see right after this press conference.

“I see. Could you explain further?” the same reporter asked.

“I’m not going to lie, I love being an idol. It was one of the happiest memories of my life but the only reason I chose to become an idol was because of my group. I don’t think I could ever step on stage without them,” Kim Yiwol explains, taking a look at each members’ faces, “I don’t want to fool anyone into thinking that I have plans to resume my idol activities after this so instead, I’ll make sure to do everything that the fans want so everyone can close this chapter with a happy memory.”

The reporter nods before taking a seat and beside him, Kim Yiwol could feel Jeong Seongbin pat his back before giving him a smile.

“Aside from music promotions, what else could we expect from spArk for this anniversary celebration?”

“We plan on holding a 3-day concert after our promotions!” Kang Giyeon answered enthusiastically, “We’re working hard on making sure our old performances feel brand new so please look forward to that.”

The rest of the press conference goes by smoothly and Kim Yiwol is certain that their song would get positive reviews from the reporters as everyone in the hall nodded in satisfaction as they listened intently to their new song.

As they exited the venue and headed back to his home, Kim Yiwol searched through his phone and looked through the different news articles.

OFFICIAL: “This album will still contain our signature sound”—Lee Cheonghyeon, when asked about their upcoming album.

OFFICIAL: spArk, to hold a 3-day concert in celebration of their 10th anniversary.

OFFICIAL: “This will be my final activity as an idol”—Kim Yiwol plans to retire from the idol industry after 10th anniversary comeback.

And just as he expected, he finds his name plastered in several online communities.

“Hyung, you really shouldn’t look up your name right after our press conference.”

Kim Yiwol looks up and sees Kang Giyeon staring at him with an unimpressed look before answering, “I’m not looking for hate, I promise. This is just me monitoring because I know I dropped quite the news earlier.”

The younger man takes a seat beside him, leaning closer to scroll through Kim Yiwol’s phone before he asks, “So, how is it?”

“It’s fine. People are saying that they sort of saw it coming.”

The two of them sat in silence for a while as Kim Yiwol continued scrolling through the comments. In the corner of his eye, he can spot Kang Giyeon looking at him.

“Hyung…do you ever wish we had more time together?”

“What brought this up?”

“It’s just—I don’t know. Hearing you say that this will be your final moments as an idol made me wish that we never disbanded.”

“I don’t think anyone wanted us to disband, Giyeon,” Kim Yiwol says, putting his phone away, “It’s just something that happened. Do you regret disbanding?”

Kang Giyeon nods before adding, “A little. Even if we all stayed in contact all these years, it still feels like we could’ve done more if we stayed together. I mean, I understand why we disbanded but I just wish that we didn’t have to.”

Kang Giyeon put his legs up and pressed his head between his knees and whispers just loud enough for the two of them to hear, “I wish we had more time together.”

“Giyeon,” Kim Yiwol calls, waiting until the other man lifts his head up to look at him before continuing, “I have those thoughts too, sometimes. A lot of what ifs crossed my mind and it only got worse when we started preparing for this.”

“You have regrets too, hyung?”

“Who doesn’t? It’s why I ultimately decided that I’ll quit being an idol after this; so I can settle whatever regrets that I had before. Before, I used to tell myself that I made peace with it. Maybe I actually did until this reunion happened but turns out, there’s a lot of things that I still wanted to do.”

Kim Yiwol can feel the tears wanting to surge past his eyes before tilting his head upwards and taking a breath to calm himself down, “That’s why I told everyone that I’ll do everything that we want. So I can look back and think that I no longer have any regrets. That and I wanted to have more time with you guys too, no matter how fleeting it might be.”

Out of nowhere, Kim Yiwol was surprised to have Kang Giyeon tackle him into a hug before hugging the younger man just as tightly.

“Hyung,” Kang Giyeon said softly, “I’m glad we have the chance to be on stage again.”

“Me too, Giyeon. Me too.”

If there’s one thing that Kim Iwol doesn’t miss about being an idol, it’s waking up at the butt crack of dawn to get ready for a music show recording. Five years of solely acting made him get used to morning shoots as filming during the wee hours were few and far between.

What he did miss, though, was the fans’ unconditional love and support showing through them waiting in the cold even during these hours just to watch them perform. It’s been three days since their album was released and Kim Iwol feels overwhelmed by the amount of support they’ve received. He thought they’ve been way past their peak yet every time he checks the charts, Rewind has reached a new peak.

Scrolling through the comments about their new song, he lets out a laugh at the people’s reactions.

ㄴ Which b*stard made Giyeon sing “Being here makes it feel like I’m seventeen again”???
ㄴOP, you should blame Cheonghyeon or Yiwol.

ㄴHearing Rewind just made me realize just how much I miss hearing spArk sing together. The fact that you can hear Joowoo and Seongbin’s adlibs as Yiwol sings the final chorus…Cheonghyeon, you genius, you’ve done it again.

ㄴJeho saying on a radio show that being in spArk was the happiest moment in his life and his part in Rewind being “If I could do this love all over, our time will forever be in my heart”. What if I decided that this is my last straw?? spArk I demand you pay for my therapy.
ㄴThis and Seongbin singing, “I’m always gonna choose you”!! Cheonghyeon made sure everyone was going to cry listening to this song.

ㄴCan we not separate them anymore? Let’s undisband ourselves, guys. I know you can do it.

“All done!” The stylist exclaimed after placing the finishing touches of makeup on Kim Yiwol’s face.

For their first stage, Kim Yiwol thinks he’s a little too old to be wearing a winter school uniform coupled with a cardigan but bites his tongue. It’s not like he didn’t see this coming, especially after they decided that the concept of their comeback would be related to Flowering. It was a nice reference to their debut, sure, albeit a little embarrassing.

“You know, Yiwol, your song’s really great!” the stylist says, “When I heard that you guys were making a comeback, I immediately applied to be on the team. It’s been a blast being able to work with spArk again.”

“I’m glad everyone was excited to help us with the project,” Kim Yiwol replied with a smile.

He thanks the stylist for their hard work before heading to the stage. He can tell that the company and broadcast station didn’t hold back on the budget for the decoration as his eyes wandered on the empty desk and chairs scattered around the stage with a blackboard located around the back.

Stepping on to greet the fans, his ears are bombarded with numerous cheers as fans chant his name while holding the group’s lightstick and banners. He can feel tears try to rush out of his eyes as he takes in the view.

Kneeling in front of the fans, Kim Yiwol greets everyone with a small wave which incite another loud cheer from the crowd.

“Hello, everyone. Did you get here safely?”

A resounding “Yes!” almost deafens his ears and Kim Yiwol remembers that it’s not just him nor the members that missed spArk but also their own fans.

“The members are still getting ready so I headed out first to greet everyone. Thank you for enjoying our song, by the way. It’s really touching to see everyone’s support after all this time.”

“Never separate again!” someone from the crowd shouts which draws a laugh out of him.

“That’s what I want too,” Kim Yiwol replies, candidly, “But let’s just make the most of our time together, okay?”

Soon after, the rest of the members came up on stage and Kim Yiwol could see how Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Giyeon were greeting everyone energetically.

“Everyone!” Jeong Seongbin calls, “It’s nice to see you!”

“You know, it’s not only our 10th anniversary as spArk,” Park Joowoo says, “It’s also our fans’ 10th anniversary as Sparklers. Thank you for being with us for such a long time.”

Park Joowoo’s words drew a reaction from the entire group as all of the members lined up before kneeling and giving a bow to the audience before shouting, “Thank you, Sparklers!”

Once they finished thanking everyone for their attendance, the sound director signaled them that they were about to start the performance which made everyone get into position.

[When I look at the clock, it points to 02:19
Being here makes it feel like I’m seventeen again]

Kim Yiwol remembers how Lee Cheonghyeon said that he intended Kang Giyeon to sing this line, saying that if anyone should sing this, it should be him. Their youngest member was always a little emotional and Kim Yiwol could hear the tremble in his voice as he sings his part.

[They say time goes, but our love’s here
Like that time, I’ll call out to you again]

He can hear the happiness in Park Joowoo’s voice as he sings his lines. He’s always been full of life the moment he steps onto the stage.

[If I could do this story all over, our time will be forever in my heart
Rewind to all my days with you]

Choi Jeho was always meant to be in the spotlight. Their indisputable center that Kim Yiwol thinks shines brighter when he’s with spArk.

[Even if we grow apart, I’ll always be there for you
Rewind to all my days with you
To all my days with you]

As the second half of the chorus plays, Kim Yiwol thinks he still hasn’t lost the skills that he’s honed. He can feel his body hit every beat of the music, his voice accurately hitting the notes of the song. More importantly, he feels as if he’s in the clouds, being on stage in front of their fans as he sings his heart out.

[Do you feel the same way as I do?
Even if we could turn back time, would you choose the same?]

Kim Yiwol remembers the earnest effort that Lee Cheonghyeon had made to make their reunion a reality. He knew that his spirit broke bit by bit every time their former plans fell through. He wonders how long this song has been ready for them.

[Our feelings, our memories, they never changed
I’m always gonna choose you.]

Jeong Seongbin had always mentioned how precious his members are to him and how spArk would only be complete if they were all together. Kim Yiwol remembers how their leader made sure that he would never doubt his place in the group.

[Rewind and I’ll be running back]

As Choi Jeho sings his part, marking the end of the song, Kim Yiwol can feel his eyes water. Maybe the other members felt the same way as all of them decided to forgo their planned ending position and instead came together in a hug.

In the arms of the members he’s always held dear, Kim Yiwol thinks that he’s home.

[spArk’s Eternal Hyung]
[3 images attached, two photos are of Kim Iwol in his stage outfit, one is a photo of spArk sitting in their waiting room with Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Giyeon playing cards]
Hello, everyone!
Have you eaten?
It’s our first day of promotions!
I missed being on stage so much
It’s the first time I actually felt teary-eyed on stage…
The last time that I cried in front of Sparklers was probably during an awards show? I hope Sparklers still look at me prettily…
Did you guys miss seeing us on stage too?
We’ll be doing lots of stages so stay tuned
Rest well and stay safe
I love you

“spArk, we love you!”

Kim Yiwol was surprised to see the amount of Sparklers currently in attendance for their fansign. He’s done the math and knows that UA had produced a limited number of copies of their album, in fear of unsold products but the company had clearly underestimated the fans’ love for spArk as the company had to rush production in order to keep up with the demand.

He finds it ironic that spArk may hit a new all time high in their career for something that would be their final activity as a group. To this day, Rewind still sits at the top of the charts and they’re projected to win some music shows the following week. To see everyone enjoy their special reunion warms his heart.

Due to his position as the eldest, he’s naturally positioned as the very first member to greet the fans.

“You’re…Haewon, right?” Kim Yiwol said and got a nod in reply. He remembers one of their very first fans who had even attended their IDC stages in the past. If he recalls correctly, she’s the sister of his former classmate who helped him once when one of his scandals broke out.

“Hello, Yiwol!” Baek Haewon greeted, “Happy anniversary!”

“Thank you. Happy anniversary to you too, Haewon.”

He flips through the pages and finds the page that Baek Haewon wanted him to sign and left a little message.

‘Thank you for being here all this time.’

“Yiwol,” Baek Haewon calls and Kim Yiwol looks at her before the girl continues, “Thank you for being an idol. I’ll support you no matter what you do, okay?”

Oh.

Kim Yiwol expected to hear many things today but not that. He was prepared to hear all kinds of questions on whether or not he was serious or if he could change his mind but to hear that his fan would support his decision…warms his heart in a way that he never thought he needed.

“Thank you, Haewon,” Kim Yiwol replied with a genuine smile, “Is there anything you want me to do today?”

He watches as Baek Haewon pulls out what seems to be an angel costume complete with a pair of wings and a halo before standing up immediately and tries it on.

“How do I look?” Kim Yiwol asks and gets a thumbs up in return, “I’m glad you like it. I won’t be removing it today so take as many pictures as you like.”

Baek Haewon bids him farewell as she moves over to the next member and Kim Yiwol greets the second fan with a smile.

“Hello, Yiwol!” the fan greets, holding a stuffed toy that resembles him.

“Hello,” Kim Yiwol bows, accepting the fan’s gift, “It’s absolutely beautiful.”

He inspects the doll and appreciates the small details. Inspecting the doll made him realize that this doll was based on his outfits from Mission. He remembers this particular fan from one of their earlier promotions of that album which made him think that maybe this person became a fan after their appearance on IDC.

“It’s been ten years since I’ve been a fan of you, Yiwol,” the fan says.

“Time sure flies, doesn’t it?” Kim Yiwol replied.

“It does! I even have a child now,” the fan says sheepishly and Kim Yiwol’s eyes grow from her confession.

“Really? That’s amazing! Congratulations!” Kim Yiwol replied, smiling brightly.

He’s never thought about the prospect of time moving for everyone so the thought of one of their fans already starting a family comes at a shock to him because he remembers the time when they were merely teenagers.

He wonders if the reason why they gained so much support for this project is because they were a part of so many people’s memories in the past. He hopes that everyone felt the same nostalgia that he did when he was preparing this album.

“Yiwol! Look here!” a fan calls and Kim Yiwol spots them holding a camera making a few poses until the fan is satisfied.

“Is everyone having fun?” Kim Yiwol asks and gets a loud cheer from the crowd.

“Hyung, your outfit really contrasts what you’re wearing,” Kang Giyeon said, letting out a small giggle. They had decided to go for suits as their concept today as per his own request and apparently Choi Jeho requested a sports uniform for their next fansign.

“Is it?” Kim Yiwol asks, tilting his head, “It’s fine. I’ll do whatever Sparklers want today.”

“Take your clothes off!”

“Okay, maybe not that,” Kim Yiwol said which drew a laugh out of everyone.

“Sparklers should wait till the concert if they want to see Yiwol hyung shirtless,” Park Joowoo teased, “I heard Yiwol hyung started working out again to reveal something that day.”

“Is that why you’ve been asking to go to the gym with me recently?” Choi Jeho asked.

Kim Yiwol smiled as the provocations drove the fans wild. Sighing, he decided to go along with the joke and said, “Sure. On the day of the concert, I’ll take off my shirt.”

“Sparklers! You should think about everything you want Yiwol hyung to do! He’ll do everything!” Lee Cheonghyeon urged and Kim Yiwol thought for a moment that he would come to regret his promise.

[spArk’s Eternal Hyung]
[5 images of Yiwol wearing different accessories and 1 image of him holding a doll of himself]
Hello, Sparklers!
Our first fansign was today! I had so much fun!
You’ve heard about what happened today?
Haaah…about that
I really was only joking when I said that.
What?
I can’t back out now?
Oh dear…
Okay then, Yiwol. Let’s work hard for Sparklers from now on.
Rest well and take care everyone.
I love you.

Kim Iwol sat down on the floor, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. Kang Giyeon and Choi Jeho certainly didn’t hold back when they said they had plans to revamp their choreography. He wondered if they could do a 3-hour show in this state, feeling bad for his fans if he were to show a tired version of himself on stage.

Despite him struggling with the preparations, he’s never felt so alive. He can feel excitement coursing through his veins at the thought of performing in front of a large number of fans.

“Here, drink this,” Choi Jeho said as he approached, handing him a bottle of water which Kim Yiwol accepted gratefully, downing the water in one gulp.

“Are you okay? Not feeling like anything’s wrong?” Choi Jeho asked.

“Nope,” Kim Yiwol answered, wiping his mouth, “I feel fine. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

A small part of Kim Yiwol felt annoyed that Choi Jeho was doubting him yet he also understood where the other man was coming from. After all, Choi Jeho was always there when he was at his lowest. If anyone had the right to be skeptical of him faking his condition, it would be him.

“I’m alright, I promise,” Kim Yiwol said, standing up, “I’m not like how I was back then. I won’t hide what I really feel.”

The look on Choi Jeho’s face clearly indicated that he wanted to say more but held his tongue.

“Is the choreography too difficult?” Choi Jeho asked instead.

“A little, yeah,” Kim Yiwol answered honestly, “But I think it’s more of my dancing skills being out of use for how many years. I think I’ll catch up, don’t worry.”

“What part are you—”

“Hyungs!” Jeong Seongbin called, “Let’s get back to practice!”

“Sorry,” Kim Yiwol said as he patted Choi Jeho’s shoulder, “You can teach me later.”

Kim Yiwol ran up to get into position for their next song. When they were deciding on the setlist, it was a unanimous decision to feature Connect. Lee Cheonghyeon reasoned that if there’s any song that needs to be on the setlist, it would be that because Sparklers waited five years before they could see the full performance.

Being able to perform Connect felt like a dream he didn’t know they had. If Lee Cheonghyeon’s love letter to spArk was Rewind, then Kim Yiwol’s love letter to spArk was Connect. The process of making this song always felt like him accepting that spArk had taken root in his heart and one of his biggest regrets was never having the chance to perform it together with them.

“Wow! It’s so nice to see us complete!” Lee Cheonghyeon exclaimed as he stared directly at the mirror.

The older members shook their heads, laughing slightly at his antics while Kang Giyeon rolled his eyes before saying, “You’re acting like we haven’t seen this view for the past months.”

“Giyeon doesn’t get it! I’m not talking about the comeback! I’m talking about us in position to perform Connect.”

“Hey, Lee Cheong—”

“He’s right,” Kim Yiwol says, “It’s so nice to finally perform this song together.”

“See! Even Yiwol hyung agrees!”

“Okay, okay, settle down,” Jeong Seongbin says, “We’ll start the music on 3, 2, 1.”

The intro plays and Kim Yiwol lets his body move to the music. He doesn’t really need any coaching for this performance in particular as the choreography was already embedded inside his heart as he watched the other five members perform this song multiple times during his absence.

As the song hits the chorus, Kim Yiwol thinks that the song feels better when he can hear six distinct voices play through the song. A far cry from the past version where everyone could agree that somehow it felt empty, because someone was missing.

Reaching the climax of the song, he feels glad that he’s able to perform this song for a variety of reasons; it’s the first ever song he made, he’s resolving one of his prior regrets, and most importantly, he’s performing with the thought of showing Sparklers a complete image of spArk. As he stares at the six figures reflected by the mirror, he can see everyone smiling and he can tell that everyone feels the exact same way.

The first day of their concert arrives and Kim Yiwol struggles to contain himself in his seat while the makeup artists fix his face. A part of him thinks that this is the beginning of the end but he banishes the thought as quickly as it arrives.

“I’ve checked the situation from outside,” Manager Chanyoung said as he entered the dressing room, “There’s a lot of people lined up already.”

“From what I hear, the concert goods are already sold out,” Manager Daeyeon added.

“Would we even have enough for the remaining days?” Manager Chanyoung joked, “Don’t you think it’s amazing, Yiwol?”

“It does. It warms my heart to see people still adore us after all this time.”

“Well, what can I say? You are exceptional idols. Anyone would be proud to be called a Sparkler,” Manager Chanyoung replied, beaming with pride.

“Thank you too, Managers,” Kim Yiwol said as he looked at them through the mirror, “From our rookie days till now, thank you for being our managers.”

Manager Chanyoung let out a breath before saying, “Why did the atmosphere suddenly turn emotional? We should be happy today!”

“Ignore Manager Chanyoung. What he means to say is that he’s glad we handled an idol like you, Yiwol,” Manager Daeyeon chimed in.

Kim Yiwol smiled at those words as he tried not to tear up, fearing that he might ruin his makeup. He thinks that maybe this reunion wasn’t just for spArk and Sparklers but also the people who looked after them throughout the years. He wonders how the managers felt during their disbandment. What were they doing during those five years? Were they ecstatic to find out that everyone agreed to the reunion?

He remembers monitoring the show that they agreed on, how the managers expressed their love for spArk in their own subtle ways with Manager Chanyoung still willing to drive them anywhere while Manager Daeyeon still remembering what kinds of food that they enjoyed.

The words of their managers left such a profound impact on Kim Yiwol that he couldn’t help but cry when he watched the episode.

“We hope that next time, we can still be spArk’s managers,” Manager Chanyoung said, smiling proudly.

“We love you guys a lot and we’ll always be cheering for you,” Manager Daeyeon added.

“Hyung!” Jeong Seongbin called, snapping him back to the present, “Are you ready?”

“Yeah,” Kim Yiwol replied, standing as he headed towards the door and accompanied Jeong Seongbin onto the lift alongside their other members.

At his side, he can feel Park Joowoo entangling his fingers with his own and Kim Yiwol did the same to Choi Jeho. He can hear a staff member say in his in-ear that they’re about to go on stage in a few seconds. As he waits for the lift to start, he turns his head around to look at his fellow group members and thinks about how they’ve come a long way.

Maybe they met one day in winter, then went their separate ways but what’s important to Kim Yiwol is that they came back to each other eventually.

[spArk’s Eternal Hyung]
[1 image attached of Kim Iwol smiling brightly amidst the falling confetti]
My manager sent me this right after the show.
They said this is the first time that they saw me smile this big.
I love being on stage so much.
Thank you for letting me conclude my idol activities happily, Sparklers.
I love you, forever and always.