Moteok: Luxury Home Shock

Moteok. Awesome. Really awesome. If Moteok comes to my place... I'll have to treat her like royalty. Of course, Mom's the one doing the treating...! But I'm thrilled. For real!

"Are you really coming? Both of you?"

"Should we? Wanna stream from Sena's place today?"

"Ooh! Jackpot...!"

Maru really is big corp material. She thinks of this stuff on the spot?! I never would've come up with content like that. Amazing. As expected...

But... do we even have a computer at home? I can't remember. Probably, right? But no sound booth, so it'll be noisy. What to do? PC bang? Nah, can't. Maru and Moteok are famous—someone might recognize them. VTubers can't get red-pilled. Gotta protect them. So what now? Tricky.

"Wait, is it okay for you to just decide, sis? Shouldn't you ask first?"

"It's fine."

"No... Sena, for real?"

"Yeah! Of course!"

Of course it's fine! I love inviting friends ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over. I just don't have any to invite... If I did, I'd be over the moon! Why? 'Cause Mom buys yummy food. Euhihi. When friends come, she gets us all kinds of delicious stuff. Pizza or chicken... burgers, uhuhu. I love it so much. She splurges when friends visit! Those were the days... burgers every time. So tasty. Uhihit.

"Eat out at your place? With your parents there... we'd be imposing. Like..."

"Come on over! Ah, should I call? I'll get permission!"

Call Mom? Then I can find out what food she's getting ahead of time. Wonder what she'll buy today... Euhihihi. Bulgogi pizza? Soy chicken? Shrimp burger? All good. Yes! I whip out my phone... Oh.

"Hing... Look at this."

I show Maru my phone screen. The creases are even deeper than before. I haven't folded it much... but it's all wrinkly and rough.

"Aigoo... Wrinkles everywhere."

"Right? Check this out."

I show Moteok too.

"Aigoo."

Even worse than before. It's still new... but the wrinkles aren't. Am I too sensitive? Is it always like this? Am I overreacting? I agonize, then decide. ...Yeah. I'm just sensitive. First new phone—gotta get used to it. The creases will deepen over time. Like aging. If I stress, I'll suffer forever. Yeah... forget it. Accept it. Be stoic.

"It's fine. Looks good now."

"Huh? Your face doesn't match."

I force a smile at Moteok's words.

"There, perfect. Uhahahaha."

Forced laughter too. The two watching me snicker.

"So cute."

"That was good. Do it again."

"Uhahahaha."

I do it again. Guess I'm their laugh button. They crack up every time. I give five encores as a service, then call Mom.

Ring ring.

'Hello? What's up, Seon-ah? Mom's in Gangneung right now.'

"Gangneung? Why? Where's Dad?"

'With me. We're on a trip to get some fresh air.'

"What about me?"

'You...? No idea. Why?'

"I... was gonna go home. With some friends."

Why Gangneung? A trip? People change when they get old? Mom and Dad hate traveling, just like me. What's going on? People really do change, huh?

'Friends...? Who?'

"That Maru who visited before! Did you sub to her? You haven't yet, right?"

'Ah, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not a friend—a senior. Listen to her good.'

"I do! That's why we're going, but no one's home?"

'Nope.'

"So I can go?"

'Don't break any glasses. Door's unlocked—vacuum first thing.'

"Got it! But... friends are coming..."

You always bought yummy food when friends came. Please...!

'Uh. Yeah... Have fun. Mom'll text later. Gotta catch the bus—call you back. Okay?'

"Huh...? No, sure..."

No way. People change. She used to buy treats... Mom hangs up. I just stare at my phone.

Mom changed too...! Changed!

"What's wrong?"

"Got permission! Mom's on a trip...! House is empty!"

"Empty house, and it's okay to just go?"

"It's my house, so fine!"

Moteok gives me a puzzled look. I glance between my phone and her. I trust Mom. She'll come through. Absolutely. Money for food in five minutes flat. For sure. I'll believe. I'll hope.

"Let's all go!"

"Really okay?"

"Totally!!"

No money? Still fine. Totally fine...! I really love inviting people over. For real. Even if Mom doesn't send food money... doesn't send... I love inviting! For real. I'm serious!! No ulterior motives at all. I really... really... I mutter at my phone.

"For real... absolutely..."

＊＊＊

Just chatting at the cafe, and it's past 6 already. So much to talk about... topics never ended. Honestly, couldn't follow some. Kept checking my phone for Mom's money. I trusted her. No doubts. Obviously...!

Mom sent it. For eating out with seniors—no begging, just allowance. 300,000 won each! I could pocket it all. She doesn't know Maru and Moteok's earnings. Viewers say they make bank... Fan speculation, sure, but I can believe what I want, right? If I believe... what're they gonna do!! Maru flexes pricey clothes too. I'll buy cola... send half back to Mom... keep the rest. Sena allowance! Uhuhu.

Money in, energy up. I join the chatter. Topic? What to eat... I say burgers—Maru nixes it as "kinda meh." Chicken. Pizza. Jjajangmyeon. Gukbap... All shot down. Big corp tastes? I'm small-time, didn't know. Omakase? Needs reservation... Hate Seoul. Eating out means booking or waiting. Anyway. Settled on nakgopsae. Octopus, beef intestine, shrimp... Weird combo. But they love it—pure female power, kyarruru kyarruru—so I nod along.

Then taxi. Arrives. Moteok takes shotgun.

"Sena, address."

"Me?"

"Going to your place today, right?"

"Ah...! What about nakgopsae?"

"We'll order."

"Ah... aha!"

Oh, not eating out? Even better! Totally. I give cabbie the address. Quiet ride. After 4-5 hours talking... superhuman if you can still chat.

"Here."

"Pay."

"Nah."

"Thanks~"

Moteok pays up front. Ten-thousand-won ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bill, cool as ice. Mid-tier power...! Impressive. I lead to the house. Then Moteok asks.

"Why stream?"

"Huh... why?"

"If it were me, I'd travel nonstop."

"Why?"

"Well... uh... yeah..."

Moteok stammers, tongue-tied. Maru watching answers.

"It's a dream. Sena's dream. Dreamers are beautiful."

"Kyaa~!!!"

I laugh for real. As expected of Maru I admire. So cool. So awesome.

"Dream... no... whoa..."

"You'll be more shocked tomorrow."

"What. Why?"

"You'll see."

"What, auto-ventilation? Han River sparkle at night?"

"Not that. Something amazing."

"For real... whoa... suddenly feels distant..."

Moteok gasps even at the entryway. Lights off, can't see much. Just why? She's like a curious girl.

"Can I open?"

"Huh...? Sure, go ahead."

Opens bathroom.

"Whoa..."

Gasps again. Not the end. Asks to open every door, gasps; cabinets, gasps; windows, gasps. No idea why. Then plops on sofa lightly.

"I'd never stream. I'd travel."

Lifts butt, bounces a few times. Personality pocket jiggles too. Man... film that for YouTube... million ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠views easy?

"Uh... uh..."

Whoa? My eyes go wide. Mouth drops. I'm spotting stream angles now... I'm growing. YouTube gold here. I'm a total stream addict now. Jackpot. For real. Gotta spill this as a story. Uhuhu. Editor'll love it. No screw-ups this time. I pull out phone... write script diligently. Busted by Maru. Caught mid-write. She sees, orders delete.

"Delete this! No leaking outside. Nothing from today— no stories! Got it? Promise."

"..."

"Promise."

"...Promise."

"Promises?"

"Must keep..."

Ugh... caught.

15 minutes of careful crafting... Shame. But Maru I respect ordered it. No choice—deleted.