Meeting the Editor (1)
I get home and immediately ask Mom to send me some dried persimmon tea, but her question makes me realize my huge mistake.
"So where's the dried persimmon tea?"
"Uh... well..."
"You didn't bring it?"
"Ah..."
"Did you leave it on the train?"
"Ah... no. I left it at home."
The most important thing—the dried persimmon tea—I forgot to bring it. Completely slipped my mind. Forgetfulness. Ah. Forgetfulness.
I only grabbed my phone and cards. No wonder it felt so light on the way here.
"..."
"..."
Mom Boss Phase 1 incoming. Silence descends. Once this passes, a torrent of nagging is definitely coming. What do I do? Is there a way to skip the pattern?
I rack my brain before the silence ends. Pattern skip. Burst DPS skill...! I gotta find it.
"Um, I'm busy. I'm heading out soon!"
"Did you eat lunch?"
"I have plans to meet someone today. We're grabbing lunch."
"'Someone'? Call them an acquaintance. Don't say you're meeting 'someone' out there. Got it?"
"Yes... going to meet an acquaintance."
"What acquaintance? Who?"
Pattern skipped...! Success. Thank you, Editor. I shrug smugly. Of course she'd ask. I've never gone out to meet friends from elementary, middle, high school, or even adulthood. Straight home after school, then academy, then house. Weekends at home only.
"My editor."
"Editor?"
"Yeah. My YouTube editor."
"Is that going well?"
Well... I don't know. Not many views. My main thing is live streams. 99% of my income comes from streams. YouTube's just a handful. A handful—no, the more I run it, the more it loses money. Is the gain worth the loss? Honestly, not right now. I'm doing it for the future.
They say once you hit 100k, 200k subs... ads kick in. On that slim hope—who knows? It could happen to me too. I could do it. Back in the day, I couldn't even dream it, but now I have some leeway. That's why I'm trying.
"No revenue yet."
"Of course not. In business, write off the first three years as dead. Why chase profits already? Is there a future in it? Worth it?"
Future? Ambiguous, but probably yes? I did hit 10k views once. If I do well, maybe a future appears?
Worth it? I don't know. I'm not the one editing. Can't answer that.
"Yeah, dunno."
"'Yeah, dunno'? What language is that? If you're answering, say yes or no."
No, first one's yes. Second's dunno. Got tangled trying to say both. I answer calmly again.
"Future: yes! Worth it: dunno!"
She asked a double question, that's why it confused me. Not my fault.
"Right. So the dried persimmon tea's at home?"
"Yep. Come by later and take it? I'll give you the shipping info!"
"If you're doing that, just do it yourself. Give your brother money and have him ship it."
"Huh...? Uh...?"
Right. That's why people need to learn. Mom's words send a chill down my spine. Why did I come? Because I couldn't flexibly change a plan stuck in my head.
Original plan: bring dried persimmon tea to Seoul. Looking back, the plan was weird from the start. Why bring it to Seoul? Seemed right then. Thought I was super smart. Look at you thinking like this? You're a genius, Seon-ah.
Then vaguely figured Mom would handle shipping. Nope. No need. I could've just gone to a convenience store and shipped it myself...! Came for nothing.
Wow, if I'd thought of this yesterday, no need to come. Really, gotta be smart. Fools suffer physically—ancestors were wise. Thwack to the head again.
"True. Totally true. Wait, no—I have an editor meeting, so counterargument possible."
Found my counter. I'm not wrong. Uhaha. Now off to see Editor. Gonna meet her in a great mood.
Cha Ji-hyun sips her coffee quietly in a secluded corner of the quiet cafe.
Sudden "let's meet" message—she'd worn the white shirt and skirt bought for job hunting. Awkward and uncomfortable, but she swallowed it down with her Americano. Checks her phone constantly for the time.
Every minute burns her throat. Then weeeing—text comes. She checks frantically.
Once signed up for civil service prep: discount spam. Next, international... shady ad. Wrong number? Logs into Discord to confirm.
Correct. Texts had already come anyway.
Replied, of course. But anxiety sparks useless worries. Glances at the door repeatedly.
-Kuueeeu
"Ah..."
Already finished the coffee. Cha Ji-hyun swallows hard. Five minutes to meeting time. Time crawls like it's stopped. People and things all seem slow.
Deep breaths to calm down. Doesn't work well. Chest tightens like stomach cramps.
Been here 30 minutes, 12 people passed—none Sena, she's sure.
No face known, but imagination fills in. Voice, tone, speech, mannerisms build an image. Her Sena: petite, 150-160cm? Shorter than her 164cm, super cute, soft and huggable. A bit of fantasy makes her heart race.
But. Fantasy stays fantasy.
"Editor, right?"
"Uh... yes... Seon-ah. Hi?"
Taller than expected, prettier than cute. Pale skin, no makeup—simple but big eyes, defined features.
Cha Ji-hyun flustered—not soft and huggable at all.
"Whoa. Hi! Editor, you're totally not what I imagined! I was wrong!"
Speech matches Sena—relief.
Images exist. My Editor image: cool beauty big-boobs beauty girl. But not cool beauty—total big sis vibe. Cracked apple phone, pet dog Choco at home, loves dolphin pants. Suddenly curious.
"Um... Editor... what phone do you use?"
"M-me?"
Pulls out phone—not cracked, Galaxy. Screen fine, case plain. All predictions wrong—almost sigh. Stay composed.
"What model? Not S series...?"
Thick bezels, uneven top/bottom. Budget model?
"Uh... yeah... budget one."
Nailed it! But Editor mumbles lacking confidence. Phone's nothing to be shy about...! Be proud! Mine's not latest either! Always hand-me-downs from parents—never bought my own. Phones last long now. Should've gotten one originally, still haven't.
Wait...? Change now? Yeah, no more hand-me-downs. Buy one! That's me. Once fixated, must do. Thought loops like conspiracy theorist—perfect logic, gotta act or stomach churns. Know it's impulse. Later regret, logic flimsy, problematic.
But torments me... two nights sleepless, brain stalled—anyone endure? Envy them...! Wanna be that way. Anyway, buying. But not alone... flagship pricey, my money burdensome. Need sponsorship.
"Hold on! Gotta call parents!"
"Ehhh? Okay?"
Wait, Mom or Dad? Choice time. Dad says yes to anything—but cooldown. Heh heh. Did it last time. Cooldown active. Must time for real emergencies.
Mom picky. Rarely yes. But success? No cooldown—unlimited. Process tedious, exhausting... Ask Dad.
Mom demands A4 reasons—write, still lacks proof. Rewrite. Dad? Straight deposit. Pros/cons clear. Hm... what now?
"Something happen suddenly? W-why?"
"Huh...? Oh! Y'see, Editor's getting an iPhone."
"Eh...? Uh...?"
Editor stares blankly. Did I mess up? Compliment, right? Apple suits girls—praise? I really don't know. Was genuine.
"Th-thanks... but... unrelated to now, right?"
"Huh? Important! Got wanna-change-phone urge. Debating Mom or Dad call—Hamlet dilemma. But me alone feels off, so changing yours too!"
"No. No. No. I'm fine! Really fine."
Editor waves hands, shakes head hard, leans back. Too pushy? Push-pull imbalance? But boss perking employee welfare—normal. I'm great boss!!!
Heard IT firms give laptop budget on hire. Advanced IT perks. Amazing food, news coverage.
Bird follows stork, thigh tears—but staff max 2-3, Editor founding member doing manager too. Talented. Why refuse?
"Really fine?"
Push-pull game? Got it. Pull once more~
"Agh. Really fine. This is enough. Phone and texts work—good."
Hm... sincere. Why? Upgrading's great... I'd jump yes. Brag to parents—boss bought phone!! Epic.
"Alrighty."
Can't force. But I'm changing. Foldable. Whoa, almost ended on phone talk. Snap to, look up.
"Oh, right. Editor, full name?"
"Cha Ji-hyun."
"Choi? Choi Ji-hyun?"
"No, Cha. Like vegetable cha."
"Cha surname? Veggie cha?"
"Yes... correct."
Wow... first time seeing that surname.
"Mine's Yoo. Yoo Seon-ah. Siblings? I got one little bro."
"Uh... brother and sister."
"Ooh. Cool."
Eldest daughter. No wonder sharp like me. Good eye. Heh heh.
"Age?"
"25."
"25...? Uh... Korean age? Full 25?"
Older than thought. Older than me.
"Ah, then I'm 00-born. Birthday not yet..."
"Aha!"
I'm younger by one, but boss. Boss cool incoming. I'll buy all. Real boss vibe? Uhaha. Seriously buying all. Block if she offers—boss cool.
"Next... what'll you have? My treat even all. Trust me."
"Uh... anything fine."
"Hm, cool."
Lunch choice hardest—she tossed it naturally. Pro gamer. Not to underestimate. What to eat? Local spot... she wouldn't know? Focus later. Concentrate.
"So... watch streams much? Whose?"
"Uh... used to watch Maru a lot, not much now... just Seon-ah's."
"Mine? Guess yesterday's stream."
"... Collab yesterday. Uploads today."
"Gasp... watched."
Right. My editor. She covers mouth with fist, snickers. Dunno why, but her smile warms me. We just grin wordlessly awhile.