“Hyung, are you really okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You had gastritis from overworking. The doctors said not to push yourself too hard, but…”
“I’m fine.”
The members’ eyes narrowed. They pretended not to hear and picked up their phones. The car was already headed to the music video set.
– Seo Hojin: Are you trying to work yourself to death, hyung??
– Seo Hojin: No answer, no answer, no answer.
– Seo Hojin: Don’t complain to me later –
– Seo Hojin: Sigh… No answer… but if you’re really in pain, just tell me
Now done with Seo Hojin’s messages.– Lim Hyeonsu: Crazy ;;; What is up with this leak?
– Lim Hyeonsu: How does your company manage things?
– Lim Hyeonsu: People keep saying you picked a good song amid thisㅎ I admit to that –ㅎ
She only sent it to brag. I sent a heartfelt text message to Lim Hyeonsu.
– Me: Yup.
“Did you collapse from the shock of the leak?”
“No, it was overwork.”
“Well… it’s enough to collapse from overwork. Hoyun was the hardest-working one, right?”
Everyone nodded their heads vigorously.
“He doesn’t look like it, but he’s really unique.”
“What do you mean ‘he doesn’t look like it’?”
“It seems like you grew up without much hardship.”
“Me?”
A hollow laugh escaped.
“Hey, in my time…”
“Ah, here it goes.”
Hey! I really did have a hard time. If I were to write about the hardships I went through before I was possessed, it would be published as an autobiography, surpassing bestsellers and even being made into a movie, making people cry and creating a river with their tears!
Ding!
[It’s hopeless!]
… If you include the system window, it would be classified as fantasy, not an autobiography, but anyway, that’s how it was, okay?
“Anyway, it’s a relief that you’ve come to your senses.”
“Everyone was on the verge of losing it, but when they saw you collapse, they actually pulled themselves together.”
When did these guys start feeling so close to me?
I ignored them and continued playing our song. We still struggled to match the slightly offbeat rhythm. We had no more time left because of my excursion to the emergency room.
“Ah, we’ve arrived.”
After visiting the salon and returning to the car for a brief nap, we arrived at the music video filming site in no time.
Seong Jiwon seemed nervous as he cautiously brushed his chest. Kim Seonghyeon patted his shoulder and signaled us to leave the car.
We got out of the car and started bowing 90 degrees as soon as we saw the staff.
“Hello!”
“Hello, please take good care of us!”
“Oh, you’re the ones who caught that thief last time, right?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“That was so cool. I saw the news article. Good luck today!”
The staff’s eyes widened, then they smiled and greeted us warmly. As we entered the studio, we saw a hastily prepared stage set.
“Wow, is this the set?”
“Amazing!”
It looks low-budget…
I wasn’t sure if I should call this a stage set or just low-budget lighting trying to cover up the lack of funds.
I asked the CEO to give us proper promotion. My expression turned sour. In contrast, the eyes of the members standing next to me were sparkling as they looked around.
I glanced around and made eye contact with a man in his 40s in front of the camera.
“Hello! We are The Dawn.”
“Oh, you startled me.”
I could tell at a glance.
This man was Director Jeong, whom Lim Hyeonsu mentioned. It seemed like the two were quite close, considering they used casual language with each other despite the age difference.
Director Jeong smiled at us.
“You guys have great energy, being rookies and all. We’re going to finish filming the individual teasers and the music video today. I look forward to working with you.”
“Yes! We look forward to working with you as well.”
He seemed nicer than I thought. I made eye contact with Director Jeong. He smiled and reached out his hand.
“You’re Seo Hoyun, right? The one Lim Hyeonsu kept badmouthing until her mouth went dry.”
…Usually, she would praise us, wouldn’t she?
I was nervous, but a professional smile was already on my face. I took his hand and replied confidently.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Hahaha, don’t worry, I didn’t hear the details either. But I did hear that you have a very seasoned and bold spirit, unlike a rookie. There’s a lot of talk about leaks and stuff, but you know all that controversy goes away if you do well, right?”
He was subtly putting pressure on me.
But I shamelessly smiled.
“I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it today.”
I wanted to talk more with Director Jeong, but because the curious gazes of the members were fixed on us, it seemed difficult to have an honest conversation any longer.
I’ll talk more to him later and try to capture him if he’s useful.
“Guys, hurry up! You need to try on your costumes.”
A stylist who only worked with the actors from Daepaseong Entertainment raised her hand and called us. The members were very tense.
“Your costumes are really complicated.”
“We’re sorry!”
“Huh? What are you sorry for? Actors don’t wear clothes like this, so I don’t often have a chance to make them. I had so much fun doing this after a long time.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“You can call me ‘noona’!”
When Kang Iche kindly spoke, the stylist happily agreed. They skillfully divided the clothes for each member.
According to the plan pushed by the youngest member of the planning team, the concept was divided into two.
We looked with curiosity as we received the clothes. They were indeed complicated.
After struggling for a while, we dressed and stood in front of the mirror. Draped in a dark blue uniform that was more akin to navy, I had a strap running diagonally from my right shoulder to the left side of my waist.
I just stared blankly, not knowing if it was okay.
“Wow, Seo Hoyun, you look amazing!”
“… Is it okay?”
“It’s beyond okay! You have a cool aura, so it’s like you were born wearing this.”
“Thank you.”
“Perfect fit, perfect fit!”
The stylists and hair professionals looked on with satisfaction. As the other members came out, Seong Jiwon suddenly thrust a camera in front of us.
“Wow, Hoyun! It really suits you!”
“What are you filming?”
“The manager told me to film BTS footage for the shoot.
I roughly got the idea. Seong Jiwon wore a uniform similar to mine, but his hat was slightly different. His shiny brown hair that glowed under the light suited him well.
At the same time, Kim Seonghyeon, Jeong Dajun, and Kang Ichae came out. They were dressed more in military uniforms than formal ones. The stylists were busy fixing their hair and clothes as the three wore their boots and rolled up their sleeves.
“Kids these days are really tall.”
“I know, right? Their long arms and legs make it fun to dress them.”
“Ah… hehe.”
Jeong Dajun laughed shyly. Kang Ichae had already snatched the camera from Seong Jiwon and was running around playfully like a puppy.
“Say hello to the camera here!”
“Uh, can the staff say hello too?”
“Of course!”
“I’m sorry. Kang Ichae, come here.”
“I don’t want to!”
“This kid…”
Kim Seonghyeon scolded him, then brought him back because of his overly casual behavior with the staff.
It was then.
As we were getting ready to leave, a song began to echo through the quiet filming set.
“Uh…”
It was our song.
The low beat and the humming sound, the song we struggled to re-record because of Lim Hyeonsu–which, she said, might have turned out even better than the White Cherry track–was playing.
Playing the singer’s song at the MV shoot was natural, so the staff quickly focused on their work again, but the other members nor I could move.
“… It’s our song.”
Seong Jiwon quietly smiled. Jeong Dajun shut his mouth tightly, which had been chattering incessantly just moments ago.
Goodness.
How could I be moved again by a song we’ve listened to and practiced countless times?
Seeing the cute reactions of the members, the stylists and hair stylists added a few words with a smile.
“You guys really have a great song!”
“It’s addictive. It’ll be really popular once it’s released.”
“Th-thank you.”
Jeong Dajun bowed his head with a slight sob.
I glanced at him and suddenly felt mischievous. I pressed down the back of Jeong Dajun’s neck. Jeong Dajun stumbled and stuttered.
“Ah, hyung. What was that for?”
“Let’s do well today too.”
***
“Be more sentimental! Don’t be awkward in front of the camera, and handle your gaze more sentimentally, Jiwon.”
“Yes!”
Director Jeong was stricter than I thought. He was all smiles upfront but like a tiger behind.
I heard from Lim Hyeonsu that he was usually the laid-back type. Why was he working so hard now?
“Wow, he’s really thorough.”
“He seems to know all the details too.”
I should really treat Lim Hyeonsu to some expensive sake later.
“Impressive, the energy.”
“Indeed…”
Seong Jiwon looked troubled and seemed a bit nervous too.
Even though he was already making a sentimental face, Director Jeong kept retaking the scene as if Jiwon could do better.
“No! I told you to look further away!”
“Ah, yes!”
Kang Ichae was enthusiastically filming the BTS video, capturing everything. Jeong Dajun seemed restless, unable to grasp Jiwon’s struggle.
“Hyung! Hyung, think about the chick you raised in front of the elementary school! You said you cried back then!”
“Hey, hey!”
Seong Jiwon’s face turned red, and he yelled at Jeong Dajun.
Laughter erupted among the staff on set. However, Director Jeong remained serious.
“It’s fine, right? Let’s try it again with a feeling of missing that chick.”
…?
“Imagine what that chick would look like if it had grown into a chicken.”
What was he talking about?
Is that even art?
Was it okay to say that? No, it was not.
I watched with my arms folded. What was truly remarkable was that, the moment the camera’s red light flickered on, Seong Jiwon’s embarrassed blush gave way to a genuinely sentimental expression.
… No, is it just a face?
I was confused, scratching my chin, while Director Jeong became even more excited and called for more chick-related expressions.
“That’s it! That’s the face! What was the chick’s name?”
“Ch… Chicken.”
“Good, think about Chicken!”
“Chicken…?”
“Jiwon-hyung is quite crueler than I thought, isn’t it?”
Jeong Dajun and Kang Ichae murmured to each other. Dumb and dumber couldn’t be more separate.
“Can you act like that after receiving that order?”
“I can’t.”
As I murmured, Kim Seonghyeon silently nodded in agreement.
“The trainee life never goes to waste.”
Kang Ichae held the camera with a professional mindset, desperately holding back his laughter. I need to see how it’ll be edited later.
Seong Jiwon seemed embarrassed but was no longer as tense as before. He was so nervous in the recording studio last time.
What’s his problem?
I shook my head, puzzled. He was so nervous last time.
“Next, Kim Seonghyeon!”
“Yes!”
Kim Seonghyeon answered confidently and walked forward.
The red light flickered on. Sitting in the spot surrounded by the camera, he took a deep breath and composed his expression.
“Look coldly, Seonghyeon!”
At Director Jeong’s order, Seonghyeon slightly tilted his head and looked forward. As planned, it was a fitting image for a cold and thorough character.
But, looking at Director Jeong, his mouth was slightly pouting, as if dissatisfied.
No way.
I quickly gestured to Kang Ichae. He nodded and asked a staff member for the sketchbook he had prepared earlier. He quickly scribbled something before holding it up.
“Hyung, look at this!”
As Kim Seonghyeon looked startled, the quiz in Kang Ichae’s rushed handwriting came into view.
Kim Seonghyeon squinted at it, and a few staff members followed suit.
“What greeting does a gentleman makes…?”
“What? What kind of quiz is this?”
I took the sketchbook, flipped a page, and held it above my shoulder. Kang Ichae shouted.
“The answer is…!”
“…Shin Saimdang?”[1]
The atmosphere in the shooting set became awkward. Especially around Kim Seonghyeon, who was solving the quiz, it felt as cold as the Arctic.
Of course, Director Jeong was thrilled.
“Shin Saimdang! Your expression is perfect right now! That’s the cold image I want!”
“…”
“Cold and disdainful, like you’re looking down on your opponent!”
It worked.
Good.
Yes.
I held out my thumb to Kang Ichae. He nodded and started preparing the second question.
A few staff members with unique tastes watched this situation with great interest.
“When the dragon… goes up to the sky… what does it say?”
“What? Ascension?”
“The answer will be revealed by Jiwon-hyung!”
Pressured by the atmosphere, Seong Jiwon reluctantly held up the sketchbook. Kim Seonghyeon seemed really distressed, but he couldn’t ignore the answer and had no choice but to look at the sketchbook. Embarrassed, Seong Jiwon shouted the answer.
“The answer is… I, I’m going up-dragon…!”[2]
“…”
“Did someone turn on the air conditioner?”
I asked Jeong Dajun. With a doubtful expression, he shook his head. It seemed like the temperature dropped at least 10 degrees.
Seong Jiwon genuinely seemed embarrassed as he hung his head. Director Jeong, who was happily commanding the camera and shooting non-stop, finished Kim Seonghyeon’s filming in just five minutes.
“Perfect, nothing more to improve.”
Director Jeong sent Kim Seonghyeon off with a satisfied smile. For some reason, Kim Seonghyeon appeared exhausted as he stumbled out from in front of the camera. Then, he gave Kang Ichae a light punch.
“Um, next, Seo Hoyun, please come in!”
Ah, finally, it’s my turn.
Kang Ichae cheered me on. I stood in front of the dazzling lights and reflectors.
I didn’t know it would feel like this to stand here. I had always been the person standing behind the camera.
“Seo Hoyun, don’t be nervous. Just do what you always do. Be subtle and somewhat cunning.”
… Okay.
It seemed like Director Jeong knew something about the incident with Lim Hyeonsu.
I frowned as I looked at the changing lights. I was subtly nervous.
“Why are you nervous?”
“Haha… That’s right.”
Director Jeong smiled wryly and looked at me subtly. I recalled the advice given to me by Lim Hyeonsu and Joo Woosung while trying to smile awkwardly.
“I’ll do my best.”
I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes toward the camera. Director Jeong’s eyes were flickering as if trying to catch something but became serious instantly.
“Your gaze is perfect right now… Okay.”
Director Jeong gave me the pass sign from the beginning and did a close-up shot. I slowly fiddled with my fingers and looked ahead.
“Lower your gaze a bit more and try to smile.”
Fortunately, the character concept of this project matched well with me. If I had to continue with the cute and lively pineapple concept, it would have been difficult to immerse myself and shoot well like this.
“Good, just like that… Um, I like it.”
Director Jeong nodded his head and gestured. As I slowly walked out, the members’ eyes were on me.
“You’re good at facing the camera, Hoyun. It was worth the expectation.”
“Thank you.”
“Come here and take a look.”
As I went next to Director Jeong and looked at the screen, it felt a bit surreal.
Moving on the screen as Seo Hoyun and standing under the blue light with a frown – everything was strange.
It’s fascinating.
… It felt like it wasn’t me.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
At the same time, a prompt appeared.
[Choice
- Am I… an angel?
- My heart is racing so fast.
- I’m very handsome.]
Damn it.
I quickly chose.
“I’m very handsome.”
“What? Hahaha!”
It was the best option. At least it was the safest. I shamelessly said it, but Director Jeong burst into laughter and patted me on the back.
“You have a sense of humor, Seo Hoyun.”
“…”
Did he mean I was not really handsome?
[1] It’s a play on words. 신사가 하는 인사는…? (What greeting does a gentleman make?)
신사 (gentleman) + 인사 (greeting) can also be understood as “신사 인사,” which sounds like “신사임당” (Shin Saimdang), a famous Korean historical figure.
[2]Again, a play on words. “올라가다” means “to go up” and “용” means “dragon.” In the punchline, “올라가용” is a pun combining the two words, creating a phrase that sounds like “I’m going up-dragon” which is both a literal description of the action and a play on the word “용” (dragon).
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