Stacking Up Bad Karma
I think the most sensitive issue in human relationships is how you address people. Even in college, you might call a senior "hyung," or "sunbae-nim," or sometimes just agree to use casual names without any titles. But that subtle distance in all those forms of address plays a huge role in relationships.
So naturally, calling Yoo Seolha "Seolha-ssi" versus "unnie" is a completely different matter.
The latter definitely seems way friendlier.
After all, I'd probably keep running into Yoo Seolha, and I was starting to bond with the other Blooming members too. At this point, switching to a casual "unnie" would be the norm.
But "unnie" just doesn't sit right in my mouth...
I'd only ever called someone else "unnie" once. Back in Im Jihye's waiting room, when I sensed I was screwed. It had just burst out instinctively.
Age-wise, "auntie" would've been more accurate.
Even so, I'd called Im Jihye "unnie." Is this what a girl's instinct feels like?} I remembered feeling awkward about it.
Someday, I'd end up calling Yoo Seolha "unnie." Maybe even "oppa" for someone else. As a girl now, sorting out honorifics was an unavoidable gateway in social life.
But not yet.
That could wait until I hit middle school and went through proper secondary sexual characteristics as a full-fledged girl. By then, my body and mind would probably be perfectly adapted to being female. Though I still couldn't picture myself fooling around with guys.
Come to think of it, that reminded me of Seonghun, whom I'd left at school. He had a pretty cute face—definitely the type to make plenty of girls cry in the future.
Sucks that his first love is someone as weird as me.
Still, someday Seonghun might brag, "I confessed to Seo Siyeon back in the day! Yeah?" if things kept going like this. I'd probably end up pretty famous.
"Mmm... ready!"
While I was lost in thought, Yoo Seolha warmed up her throat and stepped up to the mic. I was certain of it: she couldn't hit those notes. The range was too high, and the difficulty was insane. With more experience and growth, sure, but not yet.
"Go ahead."
I hit play on the backing track. After the intro, her lips parted.
The opening was smooth. Her signature fluffy yet powerful tone swam through the beats effortlessly. But the real beast started in the latter half of the first verse—a relentless wave of high notes.
Here we go. Three half-steps up from here.
I crossed my arms, tapping along casually. Any average vocalist would start gasping here, over-tensing their throat muscles until the sound cracked.
But something was off with Yoo Seolha.
"Like a lie, drifting away—!"
First hurdle: the 3-octave E-flat section. She furrowed her brow just a bit, then sailed through with impossibly smooth highs. Better than her usual, even. The texture held firm, packing more punch without breaking.
Uh...?
A crack formed in my smug expression.
The song didn't let up. By the second verse, the difficulty spiked to hellish levels. Pushing with chest voice, then flipping to head voice in a split second for vibrato.
Yoo Seolha controlled it like she'd sung this a thousand times. Or more accurately, her talent was devouring the song's difficulty in real time.
"Aaaah—!"
Finally, the highlight. The peak hit 3-octave G, exploding in ultra-high territory. The room's air resonated with her volume, buzzing intensely. Jonaeun and Kim Seol gaped in awe, and I just stared blankly at the waveform peaking on my laptop.
Silence hung until the final verse's echo faded. Yoo Seolha panted, sweat beading on her face as she turned to me.
Then she flashed a victor's grin.
"...Full song, right?"
"......"
I was speechless. This was impossible. 3-octave G. Even among pro pop singers, few women nail that range perfectly. But she did. Flawlessly.
If she gains experience, she'll break 4-octave? Is this for real?}
Cracking 4-octave would put her in the top tier of Korean music vocalists. Meaning Yoo Seolha was born with top-tier singer talent. If I had a status window, hers would show Vocal Potential: EX.
And she handles lows great too...
But that wasn't the point. I'd lost a bet over honorifics.
"Whoa, insane! Seolha, you crazy? Did your voice just break through?"
"Wait, since when could you hit that high?"
The members erupted in cheers. Yoo Seolha scratched her head bashfully, then fixed me with a predator's gaze, like she'd spotted prey.
"Siyeon-ah."
"...Yeah."
"We had a deal. Call it once, and your wish is granted."
With each step she took toward me, I backed away. A halo seemed to glow behind her—or maybe a giant bear's shadow loomed.
"Come on, say it. Un. Nie."
It wasn't just her. Jonaeun, Kim Seol, even Park Heesu pressured me with expectant eyes.
I swallowed hard. Sorting honorifics had come way too soon—and in the most humiliating way.
"Uh... does it have to be now?"
"Yup! Right now. Super sweetly."
Yoo Seolha pinched my cheeks, pulling them wide and pressing her face close. Shampoo scent tickled my nose, but my heart chilled.
I squeezed my eyes shut tighter and dragged out the unfamiliar, itchy word I'd never said before.
"...Unnie."
"Kyaa! Once more! Louder!"
I wanna die.
At that moment, the soul of male producer Lee Hajun died. I was reborn as girl elementary kid Seo Siyeon. And of course, the camera captured it all for nationwide broadcast.
* * *
"Gotta do what I gotta do..."
Calling her unnie was done, but I still had to practice. Perfect Starry Night in the remaining time. I might not crush Lee Hye-na on stage, but I'd show clear superiority. Hell, at this point, winning was in reach.
Joo Jinwoo had real talent, but he was still green on stage. Me? I was a stage monster. Never flubbed a live, and the stage actually calmed me. Not my original constitution—must be Seo Siyeon's innate trait. Whatever, good is good. Victory was now in sight.
200 million won prize and... a car.
The SUV could seat multiple, so donate it to Evergreen Sky Nursery. Use the cash to rent my own place and bail. Amid these happy plans and intense practice, someone knocked on the practice room door.
I tilted my head and scurried over.
"Who is it?"
"S-Siyeon-ah. It's Lee Hye-na... Can I come in?"
"Sure. Come on in."
Why was Lee Hye-na here? We'd chatted a bit, but we weren't close—and she was my direct opponent this round. Super weird.
"What's up?"
She looked like she'd just finished intense practice, drenched in sweat. Her white tee was see-through, revealing her bra. Too stimulating for a former virgin male; I averted my eyes.
Leaning on boobs to rest is fine, but staring? Still too much.
Lee Hye-na flashed her usual bubbly expression and shouted at me.
"C-Can you call me unnie too...?"
"Huh?"
"I heard you agreed to call the Blooming girls unnie..."
"That was 'cause I lost a bet. For you... Hye-na-ssi? Hye-na-nim? Which works?"
"Hiiing."
Teasing her got cute reactions—like a rabbit drooping its ears. Paired with her mid-150cm height and round eyes, it was killer synergy. My rationality flew out the window for a sec.
"Hmm. Beat me this round, and maybe I'll call you unnie?"
I smirked playfully. But I'd thrown a WWE punch, and she caught it UFC-style—her face turned dead serious.
"F-For real?"
And just like that, I racked up more bad karma.