Meeting the Editor (3)
Filming videos is boring as hell. I never imagined we'd do rehearsals. We check the movements while pretending to unwrap it. And since my face can't show, only my hands have to be perfectly in frame.
Just my hands...! It's tough, but I have to nail it.
"I'm ready!"
"Then let's start..."
"Yep...!"
I swallow hard. When does it begin? We're just waiting. Give me the signal. Quick. When's it starting...!? My hands are itching to unbox it already. Ugh... I can't hold back. I glance at the editor once, then proceed just like we practiced.
First, I wave my hands enthusiastically. Gotta greet them, right? Next, unboxing... Out comes this gorgeous shimmering blue foldable phone. I pull it right out and snap—fold it shut. It's so pretty. My first thought: too pretty. Love it so much. Totally satisfying.
My wallet's empty now... I'm really broke. Spent it all. It's fine. I'll just earn more. Gotta save for real this time. I can do it. I can...!
Impulse buys are done. Nothing left to buy. For real, seriously. Bought it all. No more impulse shopping ever. Anyway. That shimmering blue-green hue is just mesmerizing.
"It's so pretty."
I'm totally smitten with the phone. I get why people baby their phones even though they're consumables.
I always got hand-me-downs from my parents, but buying what I want with my money? Instant attachment. I thought I was the type who treats phones like disposables and uses stock ones, but apparently not. Gotta grab a case when I get home.
I quietly whisper as I pull out the screen protector from the shop next door.
"Editor, could you put on the screen protector for me, please?"
This wasn't in the rehearsal, but it has to be done. If I do it, it'll be crooked, full of bubbles I can't get out. Makes it all weird. For my precious blue-dingy.
"Quick... put it on quick!"
The editor just nods. I watch her apply it.
"Aning. Not like that, don't make it crooked... Stick it straight on, please~ Eeng. Yeah, like that... Good. Perfect. Just like that. Stick it! Nice. So good. Now get the bubbles out. Scrape 'em hard. Eueng. Good job. You're doing great! Perfect. All gone... Wait, one more here. Push that one too."
The editor hands me the plastic squeegee for bubbles, but I refuse.
"Aing. Just do it for me. Right here, just this spot. Scrape it hard. Mmm... Uh... A million out of a hundred. Euhihihi."
She did it perfectly. Of course, my luxury custom order helped.
"All done. Oh, oh! I'm getting a case too. If you have recommendations, leave 'em in the comments! I'll take suggestions."
My ad-lib. I'm a collab-streaming VTuber too—I gotta handle this much. Even the village dog hits IQ 60, right? They say a dog at school for three years recites poetry. I hit over 80 when I'm in form. Obviously better than any village dog. And with that, filming wraps. So exhausting.
"Seon-ah, you did great. Totally good."
"For real?"
"Yes. You really nailed it. Upload to Shorts right away?"
"Eung... Yep! Do whatever!"
Why ask me? Like I know? Just handle it all.
"Got it."
Thanks, editor. Later... definitely giving you a bonus! Huh? Wait, when does she get paid? Salary's after a month of hard work, right? Yeah. 10th or 25th. What's the difference? No clue.
"Editor, when do you get your salary? 10th? 25th? Oh, gotta do the contract. When are you free? Or send it via email first?"
"Huh... You made one?"
Why that look like you don't trust me?
"No! I'll ask my parents and draft one! They're entrepreneurs, so they know this stuff. Dad's old hospital had like 10 staff. They'll know."
"Uh... Okay then."
"I'll send it soon. Tell me your thoughts. Since I'm not writing it, speak up early. Like, y'know. Stuff like that."
Brain fart. Can't think. Like, examples: scholarship if a kid goes to college, free office coffee shop. What was it... Can't remember.
It's a word I use all the time. Probably today too. Should pop right up, right? Nope. I grab my head, give up, and look at the editor.
I'm not dumb...! It was a quiz, duh.
"Editor... What's that thing called? Free coffee shop in the office. Oh, free cafeteria too. Only for company folks. What is it~?"
"Company welfare?"
"Ah! Right! Welfare it is."
Yeah. Welfare. Nailed my word on the first try. Sharp mind. Approved.
"Tell me any welfare you want! I'll add what I can! Oh, iPhone—how about an iPhone?"
"Uh... I'm good. This one's fine."
"Ah! Then, if yours breaks later, let me know! iPhone. It's pricey, so I'll cover it! iPhone suits you perfectly! Totally."
Did I sound like a boss? Cool? Charismatic? Euhihit. Just love saying 'boss.' Makes me happy. I got my parents' DNA straight. Boss blood runs through me. Can't cheat genetics...!
"Now we're in the same boat...! Small rowboat for now, but someday a cruise ship! I'm the captain. You're first mate! Good. Great. Hehehehehe."
Cha Ji-hyun eats gukbap and parts ways with Seon-ah.
She sits in the back of the bus, plugs in her 3,000-won wired C-type earbuds, and listens to music without closing the YouTube app. Sound quality sucks, but better than the bus engine or loud phone talkers. With passive noise canceling on, she dims the screen max. If the battery dies, she's screwed getting home.
It was fine earlier. Maybe the bus tunes make emotions surge. Sad songs hit deep; she's mulling lyrics.
Then a 15-second game ad shatters it.
"Haa..."
Cha Ji-hyun's heart churns. Is this right? Doing well? At first, felt like owning the world. Doing what she loves... Her path felt perfect, pure bliss.
But that bliss lasted a week. No, three days. From the first upload, back to unhappy.
Can she always work hard... perfectly... no mistakes... the best? Pressure crushes her. She relaxes her head against the window.
Can she do this forever? Confidence soared sky-high before; now plummeting down. Is this the way? Will hard work overcome it? Hold on and it'll change?
"Dunno."
Future's up to the heavens. She'll just give her best. Keep grinding, and it'll work. Eventually, her dream world comes. She wants to believe that.
Agh, fuu... seriously.
Bad luck too. Switch songs, instant ad. Maybe ads are better. Gunplay one's brighter.
Skips ad, crosses arms again.
Weeeing.
Vibration. Uncrosses arms. Text from her trusting boss and streamer, Seon-ah.
Up to here, Cha Ji-hyun's lips curl up slyly.
Seon-ah's a grateful boss. Warm, kind, considerate. Sometimes quirky, weird acts, but cute and pretty. Lucky to meet her. Saved childhood luck for this—worth it.
"Hahha."
Cha Ji-hyun bursts laughing at the text. That damn iPhone. She chuckles long, staring at the sunny emoticon.
She's got insane persistence. Can't win. No way.
Hands up to the nagging. Unbeatable aura. Cha Ji-hyun grins, shakes head.
Can't be helped.
Nope, spring definitely came. ＊＊＊
I explain everything that happened. Good thing it's spilled milk—Mom okayed it readily.
"Alright. Do your best. Tell your dad. Work hard. Take responsibility, got it?"
"Yep!"
Mom's handling all the editor's welfare. Dad probably? Anyway, a win...! No more brain work. Totally great...! Heehit.
"More than that... Seon-ah, when'd you change phones?"
Kekek. Took you long enough. Been dying to brag! Gonna show ya!
"Today! Bought it with my money. My earnings! Super pretty, right? Folds like this. Amazing, huh? Mom's doesn't fold. Only mine. Heehit. Heehee. Snap. See?"
"Hmm..."
With my money! But she eyes me like she doesn't believe.
"Seon-ah... You earned that much?"
Hehe. No surprise. But I declare proudly.
"I earned tons! Look..."
Bank app... Crap. New phone needs re-auth.
"One sec. Doing it now...!"
Zip through auth. Lightning fast.
"Look. See this. Check it."
I scroll way down, show incoming funds. Mom gasps.
"This... What'd you do to get this?"
"Hehe. Yup."
"What exactly?"
"Me? Streaming. Viewers give 1k, 10k all the time."
"Why? Why give?"
Mom doesn't get streaming. How to explain? I ponder. Need a killer analogy she'll get.
"Ah! Like the sponsor thing on your econ YouTube!"
"Hmm... Dunno why they do that. Just watch."
"Sponsors make it possible!"
"True. Saving any?"
Kwek... Savings. YouTube says savings ain't how you make money now. But say that, hour-long nag incoming.
"Y-Yeah. Kinda starting..."
"Not, huh?"
"Kuh... Busy... Gotta go...!"
"Save. Gotta save. Got it? Build a nest egg. Make your own big sum to fear money. Then you'll spend big wisely. Deposit and send Mom the passbook. Eh. Got it?"
"Y-Yes... Coming back soon!"
Stay longer, real nagging starts. I bow out and flee home.
"So tiring..."
I flop on the floor. Home's the best.
"What time is it..."
New phone. Shimmery. Too pretty. Love. Later, customize it. Phone deco time. Ah, no. What time.
"Whoa..."
Still 4 PM. Insane. Real socialites are gods. How's it still 4? Shocking. Rest a bit... 5 PM... stream... stream... Not sleeping.
I pull up the blanket. Not to sleep. Cold. I close my eyes slowly. Thinking stuff. Absolutely, absolutely not sleepy. For real... Jin...