What’s Your Agency? (2)
“Why does Dad’s name come before mine?”
“Oh… I’m a huge baseball fan… You’re O Woo-joo, right?”
“Yes.”
I’d be too embarrassed to show my face after pulling a stunt like that, but she didn’t look ashamed at all. Her brazen attitude was the total opposite of mine. Wow. How do you greet an idol so boldly to their face like that? Maybe you need that kind of thick skin to stand in front of crowds as an idol.
“Anyway! With talent like that, you’re unemployed right now?”
“No, not quite unemployed. I just do a little internet streaming on the side.”
“Internet streaming? Then you must be with an MCN, right? Oh, by the way, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. As you know, I’m O Woo-joo. I’m nineteen this year. You’re my noona, right?”
“I’m Im Gyeong-guk. Twenty-three, so yeah… noona fits.”
Her calling me “noona” sent chills down my spine, but I brushed it off and shook the hand she suddenly offered.
“Unique name. But with looks like yours, you must be pretty famous. How come I don’t know you? Oh, I’m not dissing you or anything—this is purely because someone with your appearance should be super famous.”
She rattled it off so fast, probably worried it’d offend me. She didn’t seem like a bad person, but her boldness bordered on over-the-top. Was this okay?
“I’ve only been streaming for less than a month.”
“Aha? No MCN then?”
“Y… yeah?”
I’d been getting emails from MCN agencies with their logos stamped all over them lately, but it felt too soon, so I hadn’t replied.
“Want to join our company?”
“Pardon?”
HeartCat’s agency was MJ Entertainment, right? Wasn’t that a massive corporation? It was a talent agency, not exactly an MCN.
“Our company has tons of support. It’d be great for you.”
“Um… isn’t MJ Entertainment different from an MCN?”
“Sure, it’s different, but wouldn’t it be better than joining some generic MCN? Oh, and drop the formal speech.”
“Haha…”
From what I knew, MCNs just forwarded ads and took a cut, while talent agencies worked their artists to the bone for profit. A lazybones like me? No way. Never.
“Maybe later. If I ever join an MCN someday, I’ll consider yours.”
“Everyone else is dying to join us, but someone like you can pick and choose.”
She was massively misunderstanding something, but since we’d probably never see each other again, I let it slide.
Her sparkling eyes right in front of me were getting overwhelming, but just then, the door at the entrance creaked open. O Woo-joo hurriedly slipped on her sunglasses and mask.
Oh, right—that’s why she’d wrapped her face up so tight. She was hiding because she’s a celebrity. My guesses had all been wrong. HeartCat made sense to conceal, though. They’d debuted amid massive hype, every member center-level pretty, and hadn’t disappointed—nailing visuals and skills to snag a music show win right out the gate. Not even a year since debut, but their growth was explosive, fandom already top-tier. Seung-yoon had filled me in. Thanks to him, I’d heard their debut track until I was sick of it. Hmm. Yeah, that level warranted hiding your face.
It reminded me of right after my change. Overly self-conscious back then. Ugh, embarrassing.
“Dad, why are you so late?”
“Huh?”
O Woo-joo’s dad…
“Oh? Gyeong-guk, you’re here?”
“Commentator! Hello!”
Excitement bubbled up, and I shot to my feet with a deep 90-degree bow.
“No need for that much formality.”
“Ah… just really happy to see you. You’re a legend to me.”
“Come on, you barely caught me playing when you started following the game. Legends are guys like Ji-hwan or Jung-hyeon.”
“No way. You’re legend enough, sir. I still remember that walk-off homer on retirement day.”
“Whoa~ that’s almost ten years ago.”
He smiled sheepishly but pleased, chuckling heartily as I lavished praise. Then O Woo-joo slyly cut in.
“How do you two know each other to be this chummy?”
Chummy? If anything, it was famous person meets huge fan. That’s the vibe. Though we’d met once before filming, boosting my fondness.
“Ran into Gyeong-guk while shooting with Hyun-soo recently. I mentioned it, right? The pretty girl who threw like a beast?”
“When?”
“When I asked if you’d guest on Hyun-soo’s channel~”
“That was her?”
“Yeah. But how do you two know each other? What brings you here?”
Commentator, we’re total strangers. Or rather, I’m the only one who knows her one-sidedly.
“Ran into her doing laundry.”
“Oh? You live around here, Gyeong-guk?”
“Yes. You too, sir?”
“Nah, just visiting my son. He rooms here; checking if he’s surviving.”
“Your son?”
“Kid’s a mess—not eating right, room trashed. Had Woo-joo handle his laundry.”
“My brother’s a total slob. Total glutton too.”
“Ah… yeah… haha.”
Was it okay to spill family dirt to near-strangers like me? I awkward-laughed it off.
“You have siblings, noona?”
“Only child.”
“Parents must dote on you big time, Gyeong-guk.”
“Uh? Yeah… haha.”
Dote? No clue how they saw me now, but growing up, they’d made it clear: no breadwinner, no home. Miles from doting. But denying it here? Nah, play it cool.
Beep.
“Ah, laundry’s done.”
O Woo-joo started pulling out her brother’s clothes now that the spin cycle ended. Watching dad and daughter load the cart and transfer to the dryer nearby, they looked utterly ordinary despite being a top idol and famous commentator. Just a normal family. But once back to work, they’d shine spectacularly. He’d deliver fun broadcasts; she’d thrill fans as an idol. Then home to normalcy again.
Seeing that tugged at thoughts of my own family. Mom running a neighborhood salon, Dad at a small interior firm. Plainer than the O’s, but fun in their way. Life had been hectic and scary lately—minimal contact. But now, my chest warmed fuzzily. I missed them. Made some cash this time; should grab pricey meat. Your no-good son… er, daughter returns triumphant! Flash some bling too.
Others buy parents gifts with first paychecks. I’d only cared about my own survival. Ahem. Better late than never.
“What’re you spacing out for?”
I’d been propping my chin, staring dreamily at the O family, when O Woo-joo plopped down after loading the dryer.
“Oh, nothing. Just watching you two chat while loading laundry—it made me think of my family.”
“You live alone?”
“Yeah.”
“Aigoo? Thought pretty daughters like you lived with parents. Don’t they worry?”
“Haha. They care, but not the fretting type.”
More like survival of the fittest.
“I always worry about Woo-joo in the dorm. Bet your parents do too, even if they don’t show it.”
“Worry? It’s nonstop nagging.”
O Woo-joo pouted grumpily, and the commentator lightly smacked her head.
“Ow, don’t hit~”
“Aigoo. How’d I end up with two headaches?”
“I’m not! Worry about oppa. That lazybones. Tell him to get his act together. After work, it’s just gaming in his room. You’re too soft on him, Dad.”
“Sigh. Yeah, yeah.”
Ahem. Until recently, I’d been just like her brother. Stung, I stayed quiet.
I chimed in occasionally as they bickered, saw the O family off after their laundry finished, then headed home with mine to sort clothes.
“Whew—done. Time to stream? What to do today~”
No main content yet, so I pondered each time. All-day King of Fist? Hadn’t played in ages; skills rusty. Escape Black tier before season? Rainbow tier tempted, but…
Riiiing.
Riiiing.
Phone buzzed insistently—not texts or chats, a call. Checked the screen.
Hmm… Expected a text, but a call? Heart pounding hard.