Overloaded Schedule and Self-Hypnosis
Seeing them like that for the first time in a game ad video, and even recording the song for it—that was all good news. But to make the most of it, we had to quickly prepare the music video for the second album's title track and all the rest. In other words, I had a ton of work ahead of me.
"Yes, yes, then I'll make two versions of the article and send them over... What? Really? Got it, I'll send the draft right away. Uh... ah, yes, yes, there's a format... Yes, yes, in the shared drive... Yes, yes, I'll reference that and send it. How much time for writing... At least a week minimum, so I'll get it to you by tomorrow... Yes, thank you!"
"Sejin, I've locked in the fan meeting venue schedule."
"Oh, thank you, Chief."
I'd been frantically taking calls and hanging up when Chief Nam suddenly appeared and handed me some documents.
"Now that the venue's booked, check its size and fill in the schedule, required staff, and all the other details here."
"I'll put it together and send it right over."
"Let's see... To match the timeline, you'll need it done by tomorrow morning. Think you can manage?"
"Yes, no problem."
"Maybe we could ease up on the timing a bit... Nah, you're the one pushing hard. You'll handle it just fine."
I grabbed Chief Nam as he turned to leave after his last words.
"By the way, Chief, about that thing you mentioned last time—when's that happening?"
"Last time? What? Planning another big move?"
"No, not work. You said you'd assign me a road manager..."
"Did I... say that?"
"You did!"
The chief briefly averted his eyes from mine.
"...As soon as someone comes on board, I'll send them your way. You know it's not hiring season for newbies."
"Isn't our company always hiring?"
"You know not many kids come into entertainment wanting to do roadie work. Especially not these days."
"But I did..."
"Yeah, you did. That's why I always say you're one of a kind. Desperate for a gig, you hit me up saying you'd start right away, then boom—super-fast promotion to manager, and now crushing it like this. Not many like you out there."
'Maybe if I worked with cute idols, I'd land a girlfriend too, heh.' That was my pitch for the gig, and it just happened to time out perfectly, right?
"Anyway, can't you pull some strings for even a temp hire?"
"You're barely driving these days, aren't you? And the girls are busy with training over events."
"Still, it'd be nice to have one."
"Alright, let's see... Hiring a newbie means interviews, sharing schedules, and you'd have to train them yourself... Got time for interviews right now? If you want someone ASAP, you'd need to post the job listing first."
"Thank you! Then we'll push it back for now!"
I was already wishing I could split myself in two, and I sure didn't have time for that right now.
"Hang in there a bit longer. Soon as someone joins, I'll shift them straight to you. Top brass already ordered it, so they'll end up on your team for sure... Once they actually show up."
Top brass is pushing for this, right? I swallowed that last question and watched him go.
This felt like that time in the army when no replacements showed up until I was a sergeant...
Ding!
My phone alarm blared just as the chief left, like it was waiting. I checked it right away and saw a message from Cheon Bom.
Cheon Bom was great at her job, so even the first version of the song had been solid enough. This revised one probably didn't need much, but I couldn't just skip checking it. Verification was a must.
'Work to do... Promo team wants two article drafts, fan meeting needs staff and supplies list, check song and send revisions... Add that.'
My phone's to-do list app filled up with tasks. And on top of that, the pile that was already there.
"Haa..."
Just looking at the list made me sigh. I was busting my ass handling everything, but the work wasn't shrinking.
What sin did I commit in a past life to end up like this? Sell a country or something?
'What kinda dumb thought is that? I'm pushing too hard too fast, so of course it's like this...'
Maybe I shouldn't get greedy and delay the title MV prep? 'Nah, striking while the iron's hot is key.'
I just had to give it my all, stay laser-focused, and power through somehow. Make a perfect plan and tackle tasks one by one...
'Wait, what am I thinking? Like some cram-session slacker the night before a test.'
I'd always end up with a B- no matter how hard I crammed when time was short. With physically not enough hours, problems were bound to pop up no matter how focused I was.
'Then... I need to force more usable time physically.'
After a moment's thought, I pulled out the hypnosis app. Time to use its original purpose again after so long.
Normally, I'd work while awake, but when solo-tasking, hypnotize myself to rest my mind while my body kept going... That'd give me two people's worth of time.
'Best life hack ever. Just gotta be careful not to lose memories like last time... Use it reaaally carefully...'
But things were urgent now—no choice.
"Beep-beep, beep-beep...!"
Then the humidifier's warning beeped behind me. Out of water, whining for a refill.
"Aigoo, now even the machine's bullying me..."
I wanted to ignore it, but it was company-mandated to use diligently, so I filled it up. Mixed in the specified meds from the office supply, too.
Clop clop. On my way back from the bathroom, I peeked into the practice room.
"One, two, one, two!"
"Sync those steps better!"
"One, two, one, two!"
"Ha, haa... haaa..."
Cracking the door, I saw the girls deep in practice, no breaks.
"......."
I watched them dance for a bit. Practicing choreography to the first song version, sweating buckets, shirts clinging tight and jiggling with every move. Six watermelons bouncing in sync—what a sight.
Sluuuurp... I wanna bury myself in those six watermelons, just go at it with all three of 'em...
Too busy the last few days for happy time with the girls—nothing but work. My already insane stamina was building up, so even their sweat or looks sent signals. Sure, tons of work and fatigue kept it from exploding, but...
'Finish work first. For their sake.'
Yeah, just a bit more grit. Once this wave passed, happy time would come. Seeing them gave me a spark of energy and anticipation.
'Working for them means I didn't sin in a past life—I saved like three countries...'
Then I'd better do everything I could. I closed the practice room door, headed back to the office, steeled my resolve, and pulled out the hypnosis app.
"Huff, huff, huuuuff... haaaaa..."
"Don't breathe so fast—slow it down, match my count. One... two... One... two..."
"Suuuup... haaa... suuup... haaa..."
After brutal practice, Park Minji sprawled on the floor, Im Haeun tending to her. Shin Soye chugged water nearby, catching her own breath.
"Hoo, hoo..."
Soye stood after a moment.
"Minji, you okay? Really beat."
"G-Gasp... haaa, haa..."
"She's totally wiped. Let's rest 15 minutes and see."
"Yeah... rest up. I'll be right back."
"Going to Sejin?"
"Yeah."
She knew they were hurting, but Lee Sejin was pushing even harder. That's why she'd check on him whenever she could.
Clop clop...
Heading to his office, Soye peeked through the open door. There he was, grinding away at the computer.
She watched quietly for a sec, then spotted something off.
'...His eyes look weird?'
Sejin had this dazed, almost drugged-out gaze—no focus, like his mind was checked out. Yet his hands flew across the keyboard like mad. Kinda eerie.
'First time seeing him like that.'
Never since they met. Hesitating, she pushed the door open.
The creak turned his head her way, and life sparked back into his eyes.
'Ah, he's back.'
"Huh? Sis, what brings you here? Weren't you practicing?"
"Ehehe, saw you working hard, thought I'd drop by~"
Relieved he seemed normal, Soye approached.
"Working hard? Nah, that's you and the girls."
Without arguing, she rubbed her face against his cheek like a puppy begging for pets.
"Ack, sis, this is the office..."
"This much is fine."
Sejin didn't push it, just gently stroked her head.
"It'll all work out. Nail the ad and MV timing, show off everything we've prepped."
"......."
She'd come to cheer him, but here she was getting cheered. Blushing at his soft touch and voice, she nuzzled his cheek again.
Rub rub.
Mwah.
"Back to practice."
She kissed his cheek and beamed.
"Yeah, work hard. But don't overdo it—watch your condition."
"You too—don't push yourself. You're the one grinding hardest here."
"Hahaha, yeah... They'll add more staff soon, just gotta tough it out a bit."
If you're about to break, tell me. That lifeless look in your eyes scares me.
Soye held back those last words, smiled once more, and headed back to practice.
And two weeks later, Im Haeun's ad video dropped on YouTube.