The Reluctant Child Model Phenomenon
I'd gotten new panties... and the shoot had gone great. The director told me not to strike any lame poses, which sparked some defiance in me. I searched on my smartphone, struck the pose, and nailed it so hard they even added a solo session for me.
But here's the serious problem that came from it. It went way too fucking well.
They paid me 60 times the original model fee, and the director lost his mind, scheduling three straight days of five-hour shoots. That was the moment I realized how faded the concept of "exploitation" had become in this era.
And as time passed, I figured out why the director had gone crazy taking those photos—and just how massive this had blown up.
The director who'd shot me was doing interviews about me, and when they asked about getting me into the right poses, he said after looking at a few reference shots that I'd come up with them all on my own. Now the internet was on fire over it.
And then Yu-bin's mom poured gasoline on the flames with her promotion. To top it all off, this was the perfect timing with brands eyeing the Eastern luxury market. Enter me, the irregular, and suddenly love calls from every high-end brand with a scary name wouldn't stop. They were prepping for the kids' clothing market and wanted me as their first model.
Thanks to that, I became famous as Korea's genius child model.
"Fuck... Min-ji's the one who should be famous... not me."
The problem was getting drunk on the praise, gaining confidence, and trying all sorts of poses. Just looking at my shitty expressions in those photos screamed supreme ruler of heaven and earth. Like a crazy kid lost in narcissism, with that "can't crawl out of my own hair" look.
The poses matched the outfit styles perfectly, and even the tired shots were praised for their dreamy depth full of profound anguish. I smacked my forehead with my hand.
This was truly fucked.
Mom was dead serious, seeing my future as a model. Yu-bin's mom suggested sending me overseas for shoots with selected brands as a way to study English too. Seeing Mom seriously considering that bullshit gave me a headache.
"Do-hyun-ah~ Wanna hear what Mom has to say?"
"No."
"Kim Do-hyun! Open the door!"
"Why're you getting all serious? I said no."
"Mom... you've never even been overseas...?"
"....."
Fuck... Mom's final plea got me. I ended up going overseas, but only after insisting it was just once.
Between stocks, training, and shoots, winter break rolled around. Luckily, even Min-ji and Yu-bin rode my coattails to fame. For child models, looks trump proportions anyway.
My photo dominated the front page of magazines. Word must've spread overseas, because the shoots had dedicated sunglasses and perfectly sized outfits waiting for me.
After each pictorial, the rumors grew, turning me into the modeling world's superstar. Interview requests from all sorts of programs kept coming, but I turned them all down.
Hell, people started studying and copying my poses. Sure, I could've just half-assed it... but repeating rejections jacked my rates through the roof.
Male model fees were even measured 2-4 times higher than girls'. Amounts so big they barely registered.
It felt like free money, so out of guilt, I put in extra effort. Newspapers ran headlines like 'The Korean Child Model Shaking the World'—the cash per photo made my stock earnings feel pointless.
Still, I nailed down that I was done with modeling for good. No more intoxicating expressions or poses left in me.
Tomorrow was Monday, a school holiday. Mom asked if I wanted to go to an academy during break. Unlike before, when I said no, she dropped it.
Maybe from tagging along so much, Mom's style had gotten sharper. She even did skin care with Yu-bin's mom, looking every bit her young 27 years. Her taut skin made me think Min-ji really took after her. Mom could hold her own anywhere.
"I hear the kids at that academy get beaten bad. It's famous even among friends."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah, beat if you don't memorize English words in 30 minutes, beat for kanji too."
"I thought it had good reviews... was gonna send Min-ji. Glad I didn't."
The academy Mom mentioned was infamous for excessive corporal punishment. Why pay to get hit...? No matter how good it was, I couldn't watch Min-ji take a beating.
I added to reassure Mom.
"I can teach Min-ji myself. She's super smart anyway—no need."
"Min-ji's smart?"
"Smarter than me."
"Oh my..."
Min-ji beamed at Mom, puffing out her chest at being called smart.
If Mom starts expecting too much from her kid heart, I'll have to tell her not to burden her later. I showered and changed into the gifted panties. They fit great even on my fast-growing body.
Brands kept sending clothes, saying wear them around normally. We were overflowing. Send photos in them and height measurements, and they'd keep shipping, they said.
Without my intervention, things would've gotten way worse by middle school. New panties? We'd only buy when the old ones tore. Before I stepped in, the family was scrambling just to pay interest.
Only after selling Grandma's land did we breathe—wiping 500 million at once. Then efforts to pay back, but only 100 million off the remaining 600 million.
Now? One overseas kids' clothing shoot pays it all off. Money... feels so meaningless.
"Oppa~ Let's go play!"
"I just showered... let's play at home~"
"Wanna build a sandcastle~"
Mom firmly said no, but I changed anyway.
"You can't spoil her like that. It's freezing out there."
"Nah, Min-ji listens to me great. If I say it firm, she'll get it."
"Then say it firm."
"I'm giving her a chance now—it's hopeful torture. She should go play."
Off to the playground with Min-ji. New panties called for a sweat sesh. After hours at the sandpit, we were both filthy. Her dirtiness matched the rabbit doll she carried.
The bear doll I bought stayed home as "new." At 5, she already knew to cherish things. She hugged it to sleep—time for a fresh one.
"Want oppa to buy another doll?"
"Really!?"
"Let's pick one out."
"Yeah!!!"
Her perky butt made her waddle like a baby duck. Thrilled about dolls, she sang and bounced.
The stationery shop owner spotted me and grinned.
"Oh! With your little sis? So pretty. What's your name?"
"Kim... Min-ji..."
"Want a gift from uncle? Wait a sec."
I figured it'd be a 20,000-won doll and was about to refuse, but he packed a bag with 100-won snacks.
Yeah, that's how it should be... I bowed deeply at his kindness again. We probably had more money than him now... but selling kids' supplies to scrape by, and still so generous.
Min-ji thanked him with a bow.
"Thank you..."
Modeling had helped a bit, but outside family, she was still whisper-quiet. Bowing scared, she gripped my hand tight.
"See any doll you want?"
Her round eyes scanned, pointing to a black rabbit.
I pulled 20,000 from my wallet; the owner eyed the fat stack inside, surprised.
"Got more cash than I thought?"
"Ah, big family gives allowance~ Lots of relatives."
"Wow... spending on sis? Good kid."
He hadn't clocked my newspaper-famous face. Magazines with me plastered everywhere, but I wasn't dolled up now—body caked in dirt.
I pocketed the change, grabbed the bagged rabbit doll.
"See ya~ Thanks for your work."
"Bye-bye."
Min-ji clutched new doll in one hand, mine in the other. I held her dirty bear and her hand tight.
Shaking her head in joy, staring at the new doll. Home, straight to the bathroom.
Rinsed off, then Min-ji splashed into the warm tub.
Didn't know she loved water—thrashing happily in the big tub.
"Gotta wash hair. Be good."
"Okay!"
Her trauma with me had faded, but fear lingered—she obeyed me more than parents.
Shampooing tickled her.
"Kitty ears~"
"Woo! Oppa kitty ears too."
"Mine's too short—won't work."
Mirror ears up, her laughter filled the bathroom.
Dried her off, toweled, handed to Mom. I sank into the tub, sighing.
Where'd my energy go? Min-ji's homebound stamina tolerated no rivals.
Quick rinse, out—tossed the foamy bear in, scrubbed till I was spent.
"Eye mask! Oppa give to Min-ji!"
"Oh, okay—wait for oppa to open?"
"Yeah!"
Mom and Min-ji chatted outside. At my age, strength limited—Mom'd finish the rabbit wash.
Another fresh pair on, strode out bold.
"Oppa bear!"
Min-ji pointed at the bear print on my crotch spot. Gotta wear pants next time.