Extremely Global MBS (3)
On the day of the KBC Acting Awards,
Chu Yeon-ji, manager at Wiztone Entertainment, was convinced she'd pulled off the perfect play of her life.
"Ah..."
Just 5 seconds.
That was all it took to dash up onto the stage like a bullet, snatch the bouquet that had tumbled down, drag a frozen Seo Bom—who looked ready to explode at any moment—off the stage, and simultaneously spin up an excuse for the stunned PD behind them.
"C-condition issues?"
"Yes!!"
"B-but Seo Bom looked perfectly fine just a moment ago..."
"It's the glorious KBC Awards! She was holding it together somehow, not wanting to show it!! Just give us a minute, please?! Even so, having her collapse mid-acceptance speech would be too much!!"
"Uh, umm..."
Overpowered by her intensity, the PD finally agreed to a brief delay, blaming it on equipment malfunction.
In the meantime, Chu Yeon-ji had sweet-talked and soothed Seo Bom with every trick in the book.
"Kang Min scandal? Total nonsense rumor! You believe that crap?!"
"B-but... everyone..."
"The guy's only been overseas for that one week shooting William White! What, like some Romeo and Juliet? Falling for someone overnight?!"
Well, it happens sometimes.
Her own parents had locked eyes once and ended up with a daughter. They were still going strong.
But to an actress whose progress over the past decade had barely advanced beyond hand-holding, it sounded convincing enough.
As Chu Yeon-ji sweated bullets, Seo Bom finally nodded reluctantly.
"First, let's just get through the speech without issues! They're making noise over there—we can't afford to here too!"
"...Okay."
But barely scraping through the awards like that was the last stroke of luck.
Soon, the full Broadway story broke, and all hell broke loose. Aisling Lewis's interview even poured fuel on the fire.
Seo Bom went full berserk.
Agency head Park Jin-tae, sensing the crisis, sent in reinforcements, but they couldn't contain Seo Bom's all-time-worst rampage.
Just as the backups started calling in sick one by one and Chu Yeon-ji's clothes were turning to rags, even the seemingly endless Seo Bom finally collapsed from exhaustion.
...That was the insane backstory behind Kang Min's horrified hospitalization news.
"Senior's coming...?"
Having achieved that feat, Seo Bom first blinked in confusion, like she hadn't registered the words.
But soon she lit up with the brightest smile of her life, then fully snapped to and started flailing in panic.
"S-sis! Mascara! Got any mascara?!"
"Nope..."
"T-twin cake! Pact! No, cream even...!"
"Told you, none... I use shade 23 anyway—won't suit you..."
Chu Yeon-ji was floored.
The girl who collapsed and got hospitalized was trying to do makeup? It'd look unnatural... No, before that—after all that chaos, she had the nerve to ask me for favors?
Anyway, unable to find anything, Seo Bom started scrambling to run out and buy some. But her opponent was faster.
Before long, a call came from the hospital counter, and the door burst open.
Seo Bom froze blankly.
"Bom-ah!"
"S-senior..."
"My god, what the hell happened?!"
Kang Min sighed as he strode over and pulled Seo Bom into a hug.
Up to there, the picture wasn't half bad. Enough that Chu Yeon-ji jumped up, yelling about what the hell he was doing.
But when he grabbed her head to check if she was okay, the reaction softened a bit. By the time he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe sweat from her forehead and flecks from her eyes, she was blinking blankly. When he cleaned her nose bridge and ears, then coaxed out her boogers, she had no words left, just more blinking.
What was this guy.
Her mom?
Seo Bom's face turned beet red after reflexively blowing her nose.
"Senior, I'm not a kid anymore...!"
"If you weren't a kid, you wouldn't end up in a place like this from poor self-care!"
"......"
"Yeah, I heard you collapsed, but what's exactly wrong? Dizzy? Did you get a brain MRI? MRA? Carotid's fine? Ménière's? Diabetes—no, last check ruled that out, but your thyroid was off, right? That Free T4 below normal last time—better now? I told you a million times health management is key...!"
Chu Yeon-ji was starting to realize these two's relationship was nothing like she'd imagined.
And just how pie-in-the-sky Seo Bom's "ambitions" had been.
Even the words Seo Bom mustered up the courage to say got this response.
"S-senior..."
"What."
"That time, I said some really rude stuff. I've wanted to apologize properly..."
"? When?"
"......"
"Anyway, Bom-ah. If something like this happens—"
Yeah, something like that.
In novel terms, it'd be a 100-chapter reunion arc. Normal folks might picture tearful embraces like Yi Su-il and Sim Sun-ae. But to Chu Yeon-ji, the scene was just pathetic.
Kang Min, relieved she seemed fine, launched into carefree nagging. Seo Bom looked desperate to escape but couldn't bring herself to speak up.
Not lovers—more like a big brother with an age gap and his baby sister, or straight-up parent-child. Pitiful, really...
And that wasn't all.
Once somewhat settled, Kang Min even grabbed Chu Yeon-ji's hand!
"You're Manager Chu Yeon-ji, right? Heard a lot about you. I'm Kang Min, kinda like this one's big bro."
"Pardon? Oh, yes..."
"She's a bit of a troublemaker and hard to read, but she's no bad kid. Sweet heart, thoughtful too. You know her better than me, of course. Please take good care of her going forward."
"Ah, um..."
Far from knowing her well—this sweet, thoughtful actress had churned out five sick notes in a week and left her manager refugee-like. But that wasn't the point now.
Kang Min himself was holding her hand, locking eyes, asking earnestly.
His serious face and deep voice made even seasoned, thick-skinned Chu Yeon-ji flush.
Half-dazed, she nodded repeatedly.
"Y-yes, of course..."
"Thank you! Bom's so lucky to have someone like you in her life!"
"Ha, haha..."
Chu Yeon-ji, who'd briefly fantasized beach-park dates and proposals, snapped back seeing Seo Bom's Poland-on-the-brink-of-invasion face.
The rest of the talk had zero romance, needless to say.
Seo Bom was, naturally, dissatisfied.
But relief outweighed it.
Anyway, we're good now...
Seo Bom sighed in relief.
Over and over.
We're good...
Few knew Kang Min's charms.
Some at facilities or academies did, but once they realized she was the rival, they bailed. No rush then.
But Kang Min's moves the past year were god-tier. Each time his name rose, Seo Bom felt joy mixed with anxiety.
Aisling Lewis's recent scandal was the peak of that dread.
Lucky it was a misunderstanding...
Didn't erase the fear, though. Late, she realized how complacent she'd been.
That was wrong.
Know your wrongs, fix them.
—Right now, today, seize the chance.
Quietly, thoroughly.
Seo Bom steeled herself.
"Phew, anyway, glad you're okay. Sorry, gotta head out again."
"Where to?"
"Nothing big. Dodged all the reporters at the airport. Gotta clean it up. They're just trying to eat too—"
"...Don't go."
"Hm?"
"It's been ages. Stay and talk today, at least."
Kang Min blinked briefly, then sensed his wary little sis was worn down. He gave a wry smile—"Not like you're twelve anymore"—and sat back.
The talk that followed was long and mundane. Plenty piled up over months apart.
But long-time acquaintance Chu Yeon-ji could read the undercurrents.
She watched Seo Bom nod along with trembling eyes and a smile.
Settled gaze.
Unsettling vibe.
That attitude above all.
Definite.
Seo Bom was plotting something today...!
My god.
What to do? Block it?
Could she even?
As Seo Bom quietly gauged the mood with nods, and Chu Yeon-ji anxiously bit her nails—
Kang Min's phone buzzed.
He checked, face troubled.
"Sorry, really just a sec out."
"...Why?"
"Came straight here, so the folks who came to greet me are left hanging. Gotta show face, right?"
"......"
Seo Bom thought fast.
And said:
"Bring them here."
"Huh?"
"Reporters might spot you outside... And they're people who helped you, senior. I wanna greet them properly too—haven't seen them."
"Well, still..."
"You wouldn't hide my sick visit from close friends like that, right?"
Kang Min chuckled "Ha," but to Chu Yeon-ji, it looked like a ploy to embed herself with his circle, starting with acquaintances. Smart, if anything.
No real reason to block. Better optics than him visiting solo anyway.
Chu Yeon-ji easily got the okay from upstairs. Seo Bom brightened.
So, yeah,
Until actually meeting the arrivals.
The first arrival was a scowling woman.
"...I held that sign the highest."
"Ahem..."
"Screamed till my throat gave out. Got totally ignored."
"Sorry."
"Nah, whatever. Me and Actor Kang Min? That's our vibe. Never expected anything."
"......"
Han Ye-seul PD.
Not a stranger. Already famous, and Seo Bom herself had connected her to Kang Min via fan cafe—for reconciliation help, obviously.
?
...But something was off.
Couldn't pinpoint it, but to Seo Bom, the exchange felt weird.
...?
Han Ye-seul pouted dramatically. But at Kang Min's groan, she glanced guiltily, face reddening.
And,
Watching, Seo Bom couldn't help but blink blankly.
Uh, so...
Eh?
Snapping to, Han Ye-seul cleared her throat and offered a hand.
"Nice to see you, Bom-i. Been a while?"
"Y-yes...?"
"Knew you knew Min-i, but this close? Surprising."
"Did I not mention...?"
"Nope."
"Thought I did..."
"Sigh, really no. Min-i's always short one word..."
Again: Seo Bom connected these two.
And suddenly, she wondered if she'd made a colossal mistake.
...But it didn't end there.
The door opened again to a woman with hair tied back short.
"So, dinner possible this time?"
"...Sorry about last time, Writer Baek."
"Hehe, no. Abandoned puppies don't get attention! Can't be helped!"
"Umm."
New face.
But not unknown.
Seo Bom blinked at the pin in her hair.
That hairpin—definitely seen it...
Lightning memory strike.
Long ago, OlivePenguin—real operator of Min-i Love on Seo Bom's request—bragged about a birthday gift hairpin.
Seo Bom, first to unmask the mystery figure, gaped slightly.
Baek Chae-i, after a pouty moment, mumbled it was a joke at Kang Min's sincere apology, blushing. Then greeted Seo Bom politely.
"Hello, Actress Seo Bom. Writer Baek Chae-i. Met Actor Kang Min on my debut."
"......"
"A-actress?"
"......"
...No need to say: Seo Bom had pushed her too—not arranged, but funded as sponsor.
Seo Bom's face went from stunned to pale.
...Naturally, not the end.
"U-um, hi..."
"Oh, Yun-a! Doing well?"
"Y-yes... Hi, Bom-i unnie too..."
"......"
Jo Yun-a, agency junior—recently super awkward.
Hamster who'd lost her seed pouch, glancing nervously. Seo Bom had coaxed her for help.
She beamed wide at Kang Min listing her drama role praises.
...?
By now, Seo Bom had no reaction left. Brain devolved past IQ shortage to brick, staring vacantly.
What.
What the hell...?
Even as Yoo Ji-yu of Die to Live and Park Yeon-ju from King and Sovereign filed in, her mind stayed blank.
Even Chu Yeon-ji, beach-date dreamer, blinked at the parade: What kind of guy is he?
But no time to zone. Final storm hit.
From entry, she stirred outside chaos. "Phew." Small sigh, irritably ditched sunglasses. Room froze.
Kang Min just sighed softly.
"Humanely speaking, Min. A heads-up? We dated, and now you're ghosting 'cause you're bored?"
"Told you hotel... Articles just died down. Tone it—"
"Ooh, nagging's sexy, but save it for non-visits. Greetings first, manners."
Aisling smiled coolly, heels clicking straight to one person.
Locked eyes with Seo Bom awhile.
Then tiny eye-smile, hand out.
"Nice to meet you—Aisling Lewis, famous for depth with Min lately. Didn't know what gift, so cat doll."
"......"
"Oh, and this wrench I grabbed—Swiss one's best, yeah."
"......"
Right now,
Seo Bom thought: if her hand held a machine gun, she'd have no regrets.
A certain hospital room veering past awkward into demon realm.
But amid the murder vibe, the most tense weren't who you'd think.
Truly unforeseen combo.
"Oh, nice—Fencer Man. Name's Ho-shin Kim or something?"
"...Kim Ho-jin. Nice to meet you, Actor Harry Gordon."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......?"
"Hm, Min said so much—don't seem that impressive."
"...?"
Kim Kang-hyun Director's headache peaked into final desertification.
---