Episode 38: The Anthem Without Borders
1. Back to Seoul
The plane touched down at Incheon International just after sunrise.
Unlike before, there were no candles this time—only signs:
> "VOX, our voices travel with you." "Noiseproof. Whisperproof. Us-proof."
The boys smiled, bowed, and walked quietly through the crowd.
A child handed Seon a drawing: five silhouettes holding hands, each surrounded by glowing waves.
In the corner, written in careful Hangul:
> "You helped me speak."
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2. The UN Briefing
Days later, VOX was flown to New York.
They stood in the echoing corridors of the United Nations headquarters, badges clipped to hoodies.
A panel titled "Youth Expression and Mental Health in Media" featured Seon as a guest speaker.
He was terrified.
But then he remembered singing with no mic, in a soaked station, beside strangers who became his family.
He stepped up.
"I am not a politician. I am not a CEO. I am an idol. But I've learned that being loud can be saving someone."
He paused.
"And silence... can be murder."
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3. The Anthem
The campaign asked VOX to write a piece for the closing ceremony.
They didn't write a song.
They wrote an anthem.
It featured:
Vocals from Aiko (Japan), Kelvin (Nigeria), Camila (Brazil)
A chorus in five languages
A beat built from heartbeat samples of real fans
Minho called it: "Breath Signal."
Lyrics:
> "We are not your brand We are not your silence We are the frequency You failed to erase."
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4. Global Drop
The anthem launched at midnight in all time zones.
Spotify glitched.
TikTok overflowed with remixes.
A trending challenge: #BreatheWithVOX
Millions posted videos with their own voices layered over the song's quiet final line:
> "This is my breath."
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5. The Fan Letter That Broke Them
It arrived in the mailroom at VOX's Seoul building.
Handwritten. Taped shut.
> "I was going to end my life last year. I watched you scream. I screamed too. I stayed. Thank you."
Seon read it aloud.
Minho broke first. Then Seo-jin.
They didn't speak. They just hugged.
For once, no one tried to be strong.
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6. Jae-min's First Live Stage
It was unannounced.
VOX invited fans to a mystery rooftop.
At 9:00 PM, Jae-min stepped out.
No special effects. No backup.
Just him.
He sang "First Breath" with his whole chest.
At the bridge, his voice cracked.
Seon joined him, harmony soft and sure.
They held hands for the last line.
> "I'm breathing now. As me."
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7. Rooftop Letters
That night, fans were invited to leave anonymous notes in a locked box.
They expected ten, maybe twenty.
They received 3,486.
Topics included:
Abandonment
Queerness
Body trauma
Dreams deferred
Hope
VOX promised to read every single one.
They began the next morning.
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8. Seon and Jaewon — Morning Light
They lay side-by-side in a small apartment now.
Not dorm beds.
A space of their own.
Seon said, "I thought we were a song with too many verses."
Jaewon whispered, "That's what makes the bridge so good."
They laughed.
They kissed.
They stayed.
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9. Cliffhanger — The Unfinished File
Back in the studio, Minho found an old hard drive.
No label.
He clicked through.
Dozens of files.
Rough demos. Unreleased voice notes. One folder marked: "Seon—Before Debut."
He clicked.
The screen froze.
T
hen played a recording:
> "If I disappear, remember this sound. It's mine. It's me."
Seon walked in behind him, silent.
He stared at the screen.
"This was the night before they tried to erase me."
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