Chapter 125: Self-Torment
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 125: Self-Torment
How many times had I hit the refresh button?
After finishing my stream and coming home, I kept checking the drama's comment section while texting Oppa.
[Kim Eojin is seriously fucking handsome, does this actor have an Instagram?]
[idk, seems like he's a rookie?]
[But is Kim Eojin gonna be in it more? Feels like a minor cameo role.]
There were way more comments than episodes one and two combined, and so many of them were curious about Oppa.
“...Hmm.”
It was definitely something to celebrate. Something I should be celebrating.
So why did I have this nagging feeling that wasn't entirely happy? Was it because I was being petty?
Feeling strangely restless, my fingers flew across the screen.
[Oppa, did you see the comments? The reaction is insane.]
[I actually timed it, and I was on screen for a measly 5 seconds. I can't believe this is real.]
[Still, you definitely made an impression. Won't you start getting more calls now?]
[Well... if I'm being optimistic, I guess so?]
Even calling it "optimistic" was overly humble of him.
In reality, getting this kind of reaction from a web drama of this scale meant it wouldn't be long before he became famous.
The public always goes wild for a dazzling new face.
[I bet your manager calls you tomorrow, for sure.]
[They did say my next schedule depended on the reaction, so I guess I'll probably get a call.]
Staring at the message window, I suddenly wanted to hear his voice, so I just called him.
[Hello.]
[Hello?]
[Mr. Celebrity. Hiii.]
[Hey. How am I a celebrity for a five-second appearance?]
Oppa replied with a playful laugh.
[What are you talking about? At this rate, you'll have a fan club in a week.]
[That's a bit of an exaggeration. People need something to actually stan before they make a fan club.]
[Hey~ You're underestimating people these days.]
Stanning isn't something you do because there's a lot of information.
A tiny fragment is all it takes. It's the same for people and for content.
With just that tiny sliver, people can go wild and declare themselves fans.
It was similar here in the VTuber industry.
It's common for a streamer's viewers and subscribers to skyrocket if one short clip blows up.
And as for what there is to stan in Oppa's case...
My eyes fell on Oppa's face on my phone's wallpaper.
[It's all about the face. His face did all the work.]
[I'm getting dizzy just imagining clips of that circulating online.]
Oppa gave a self-deprecating laugh, sounding embarrassed.
[I'll come up with a title for the clip. Hold on.]
Hmm... what would be good... I want to make it in a style the Pink Army would like.
[How about 'High School PTSD' or 'The Bully Who Only Picks on Otakus'?]
As soon as I said the titles, I heard Oppa laugh.
[Hey. What. You want my career to crash and burn before it even starts? Do you want me to fail?]
[Hey. I'm not saying that's you, I'm saying it's the perfect title for the clip's content.]
He was definitely going to get a nickname.
Or maybe, since his character's name was Kim Eojin, it would be something like 'Eojin-something-or-other'.
[Anyway, once this gets super famous, you'll probably start getting calls from people all over, right?]
[Well... even so, I doubt many people would contact me directly.]
[I bet even your old college classmates will call.]
[Then you can answer for me. I'm not close with them.]
Would they really call...? Hmm... Then again, I guess Minji and her friends might ask about it.
[Okay. So I can go around telling everyone I'm a superstar's girlfriend, right?]
[Then I'll go around telling everyone I'm the world-class Luka-tan's boyfriend.]
I loved these moments, trading words we didn't really mean.
The early mornings when we'd talk tirelessly until dawn before falling asleep.
I hope we can meet again tomorrow.
Right. What was there to think negatively about? Everyone was seeing him in a good light. There was no reason for me to be so possessive.
Back then, I think I overestimated myself.
[Hey. Is this really you?]
Doah's prediction was spot on.
I got a call from Yoonje for the first time in forever, and just as I expected, he immediately started going on about the web drama.
[...Why.]
[What do you mean, 'why,' you bastard! You should've told me you were doing something like this!]
It's not like you're my mom. Why would I have to report that to you?
[Wow... Han Taemin... I was wondering what you were up to all this time, but you had a plan all along!]
A dry laugh escaped me at the word 'plan'.
I just... did it because they said it would help with Luka's concert...
I guess you could call that a plan. Right. It was a plan with a much grander goal in mind.
[I just got an offer and decided to try it.]
[That's sick. But... damn, you're ridiculously handsome.]
[So why'd you call?]
Did you just call to check if it was me?
[Huh? Yeah, I called to ask if it was you.]
...So it was.
[Yeah. It's me, so I'm hanging up now.]
[Hey, hey, hey, hey. Just one more thing.]
[What is it?]
[Can I go around telling people I'm friends with you?]
I could already imagine how he was going to use this, and I slapped my forehead.
[Hey. I don't care if you say we're friends, just don't ask me to show up anywhere.]
He used to use my name to set up group dates during the semester.
[Ah, of course, of course. You have Doah, you think I'd do that?~]
His exaggerated reassurances made me even more anxious.
[Anyway, I'm hanging up.]
[Okay! I'm gonna binge-watch the drama!]
Yoonje hung up the second he got my permission.
I should have told him that the part he saw was all there was.
Honestly, the show was so boring that if he tried to binge it, he'd definitely give up and drop it.
Anyway, I guess everyone will know I'm a public figure now.
No, wait. Calling myself a public figure for this seems like setting the bar too low. Maybe a semi-public figure is more accurate.
When I checked the comment section for episode three again, it was filled with talk about me.
[How do I marry Eojin oppa?]
Be born as Kim Doah.
[Kim Eojin is so fucking handsome, I hope he appears again.]
Sorry. It doesn't look like I have any plans to appear again.
[I heard that Kim Eojin guy is a rookie from YM?]
I don't know where you heard that, but you are correct.
Scrolling through the comments, feeling like I was doing a Q&A with myself, I shot up when I got a call from my manager.
[Ah, yes, Manager.]
It had been about five days since episode three was released.
They were supposed to give me a definitive answer about my next schedule around today.
[Yes, Taemin-ssi. Have you been well?]
[Ah, yes.]
[Like I mentioned before, this is a very important stage, you know? It's the first time you're showing your face to the world.]
[Yes, yes.]
[So... the drama's director was wondering if you'd be willing to appear a little more, to build on the buzz you've generated... Hmm... what do you think?]
So they want me to film more for the drama?
If so, there was only one point of concern.
[...I'd have to say lines, right?]
Ah, shit. Maybe I shouldn't have said that.
Now that I'd said it, it felt like a stupid question.
The manager let out a hearty laugh.
[Ah, yes, there are some. Your screen time won't suddenly explode or anything, but it'll probably be like last time, a minor role.]
Hmm... a minor role...
[But back then, I was so flustered I just agreed to it. Do you think I can actually do it?]
I haven't acted since kindergarten.
[If you say you're up for it, Taemin-ssi, we'll arrange for acting lessons immediately.]
...So they want me to take classes.
That was actually more reassuring.
Better than being told to just dive in headfirst with no preparation.
Having a teacher by my side would be 500 times better.
[...What happens if I say I can't do it?]
That was another thing I was curious about.
[It'll be a shame for the production team, but we'll just have to find you your next schedule.]
So it wasn't absolutely necessary, then.
After a moment of thought, I chose what seemed like the best option.
[In that case, would it be okay if I looked at the script first before telling you if I can do it?]
[Understood. But you'll have to decide quickly so I can let them and the company know. I can probably only give you about a day.]
[Yes, I understand.]
[Okay, I'll contact the production company right now!]
The call ended. I flopped down on my bed and stared at the still-glowing monitor.
The endless comments about Kim Eojin.
Right. I'll meet up with Doah later and talk it over with her.
Discussing it with Doah seemed better than worrying about it alone.
There was still some time. It might not be a bad idea to practice a little and show her.
About thirty minutes later, the manager sent me the script. I opened the file and quietly recited the line.
“If you're an otaku, you should just stay cooped up reading comics. Why do you keep crawling out...?”
Was the concept for this role self-torment, or something? This was.