The Coffee Advertisement's Explosive Reactions
After filming wrapped, the coffee advertisement was finally released on schedule.
It was an unusual apocalypse-themed coffee ad, so there were plenty of worries, but the result turned out better than expected.
‘Other members’ versions also turned out well.’
Reactions praising how it captured an almost creepy yet artistic sensibility were abundant.
Since it was the first ad, there was a lot of pressure, but the responses seemed decent, so I finally felt relieved.
‘What about my version?’
The problem was that I still hadn’t seen the ad I shot.
What could I even say? It was the first ad, and monitoring my own performance felt unfamiliar.
Of course, I wasn’t worried about messing up. I remembered the atmosphere during filming had been quite good. People had also reacted positively to my acting.
Of course, it had been by dodging with title changes or something.
‘…Okay. Let’s see.’
Just as I was about to press the play button.
“Won-woo.”
At that moment, Lee Hae-won’s voice calling me came from outside the door.
“Eh?”
Lee Hae-won peeked his face through the door gap.
“Have you seen the ad?”
“Eh? I’m about to watch it.”
Then Lee Hae-won smiled and gave a thumbs up.
“You really came out great.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Watch it quickly. You look really handsome.”
The sudden praise from Lee Hae-won made me feel awkward, so I cleared my throat.
Then I pressed the play button.
* * *
The first scene of the ad opens with the back view of Do Won-woo walking through a ruined city.
Do Won-woo trudged along with a tired expression, stumbling somewhere. Flickering streetlights, scattered trash, and the distant sound of cold wind.
[Ha…]
A sigh escaped between Do Won-woo’s lips as he looked up at the sky.
And the sky grew hazy, the vision beginning to shake…
[Is it over now?]
Do Won-woo collapsed.
His consciousness fading, his eyes’ blinks slowing.
At that moment, someone approached and extended a coffee to the fallen Do Won-woo.
Regaining vitality, Do Won-woo looked down at the coffee can in his hand, wiping the dust from it. When the dust cleared, the product name on the can appeared…
[Even if the earth is said to be destroyed tomorrow, I will drink a cup of coffee today.]
With the final narration, the ad ended.
* * *
After the ad was released, people’s reactions exploded.
It was just an unusual coffee ad, but people were enthusiastic. After all, it was because of how handsome he was.
Most comments were pure praise for Do Won-woo’s appearance.
It was inevitable, because the Do Won-woo in the ad video was exceptionally more striking than usual thanks to the ‘Weak’ title effect. It created a tragic atmosphere. So, it felt like a movie protagonist with a backstory.
One could call it a protective instinct; even though it was just a coffee ad, it stirred people’s protective instincts.
From the reactions alone, it seemed people were admiring Do Won-woo’s looks far more than the coffee.
* * *
“This… is it okay?”
I was startled by the unexpected situation.
I had shot it hoping it wouldn’t be bad due to acting issues, but I didn’t expect the reactions to explode like this.
Normally ads promote the product, but for some reason it felt like I was more viral than the coffee.
“I expected it.”
“Expected it?”
“Won-woo’s face is so handsome that people can’t help but watch it.”
Kwon Hak-jin nodded as if he had expected it, and Lee Hae-won beside him was just excited, smiling brightly.
Meanwhile, Lee Hyo-seop was drinking coffee while appreciating the scenery with teary eyes from the window.
“No, it’s a coffee ad, but people are talking about my face instead of the coffee. Is this right?”
It seemed to be a hot topic even for those who hadn’t watched the survival show, the so-called muggles.
And with the ad uploaded to various famous platforms with diverse age groups, the reactions were coming dynamically.
Not just me, but the ads of other members were also becoming hot topics.
“I heard from the company that luckily the coffee is selling a lot.”
“That’s great news.”
Anyway, it was fortunate that it was selling well. The copy “Even if the earth is destroyed tomorrow, I’ll drink coffee” had become a meme, with various parodies coming out.
Anyway, with positive reactions from the first ad, everyone was in high spirits.
When shooting the first ad, we had been half-doubtful if we could handle it.
Ding!
At that moment, the system notification rang.
Coffee Merchant of the Ruined World
I blinked at the title. Recently, I’d been getting annoying titles…
Coffee Merchant of the Ruined World
— Awakening +15
— Focus +10
— Barista function activated
‘Barista function?’
I checked the detailed explanation window.
It seemed I could now brew coffee that granted specific buffs.
So, if I made and drank the coffee, the same effect would apply to others.
‘Should I try it as a test?’
Curiosity sparked, I equipped the title and decided to brew a cup of coffee for one of the members.
The target was…
“Want to drink?”
“What? Coffee?”
“Yeah. Try it.”
Na Jae-hyun, who had been yawning from sleepiness, received the coffee without thinking and drank it.
‘…Indeed.’
And after taking a sip, his eyes suddenly changed.
It seemed the awakening effect had appeared.
“I suddenly feel like I can do anything!”
“…Anything?”
“Yeah! Anything!”
Previously drowsy Na Jae-hyun suddenly said he could do anything after drinking the coffee and started roaming around the living room.
It seemed the effect of the coffee I had made and given him was manifesting.
“Even handstands?”
“Handstands? Of course!”
Despite the random suggestion, Na Jae-hyun immediately did a handstand.
‘Is this what awakening means? A state like this?’
I wasn’t sure, but the awakening effect seemed different for each person.
We’d figure that out later, and I decided to stop Na Jae-hyun. I couldn’t leave him in that state.
“Jae-hyun?”
“…Hup.”
“Stop doing handstands now.”
“No, I think I can….”
“You don’t have to.”
Behind our figures, the members’ laughter could be heard.
“Haha, why did he suddenly become energetic?”
“Yeah. Amazing.”
Just as I barely stopped Na Jae-hyun and sighed.
The phone vibrated.
“Who is it?”
Checking the phone, a name I hadn’t seen in a while popped up on the screen.
[Hael]
I had given him the phone number, but I hadn’t expected him to call again.
I thought he would call to aggro again someday, but the timing was short. After being insulted because of me, I thought he might be a bit more restrained…
‘This time, a text message.’
Since I got insulted on the phone, it was sent as a text.
Actually, whether text or call, it was the same to annoy.
It looked like praise, but if I knew his inner thoughts, it wasn’t praise.
The guy who said he’d trample on my face.
Soon after, Hael sent a photo of himself drinking coffee.
What kind of guy was this? The more I looked, the more annoyed I felt…
Hael was going crazy again.
‘I should ignore him.’
I decided not to reply.
I didn’t want to give this guy any room to do something.
But as I looked, it was somewhat interesting, so I kept watching.
‘Hmm, persistent.’
Normally, if no reply came, they would stop, but messages kept coming.
This was obsession. I didn’t know why he was so obsessed with me, but there was definitely something.
It was hard to say there was no connection with me. There were too many inexplicable strange things. Was the hostility I saw just simple emotion?
‘Definitely something.’
But since I didn’t know what it was, that was the problem.
At that moment, the vibration rang again.
A text that gave off a somewhat threatening vibe, as if he could do something.
What was clear was that, for unknown reasons, Hael had considerable hostility toward me, wanted to ruin me, and was preparing some means now.
Anyway, the final goal was to bring me down. The target might not be just me, but our group itself.
‘I don’t know what it is….’
Anyway, it felt like I had hit him back, so my mood was good.
The guy who used to look at my face like a thorn in his eye, now saying he’d see my ad wherever he went, so…
‘For a while, his mood will be bad.’
I put the smartphone on the table and took a sip of coffee.