Haah... I Survived...
Seo Eun-seong fled to the waiting room after escaping the powder keg of a set.
"Whoa... Is the female lead spot in a music video always this cutthroat?"
He stuck out his tongue and muttered to himself.
That's when someone slipped through the half-open door.
"Eun-seong, why'd you run away?"
It was Kim Na-yeon.
"Na-yeon noona? Ah... well, the vibe out there was way too intense. I thought lasers were gonna shoot from their eyes."
"Pfft."
As Seo Eun-seong looked flustered, Kim Na-yeon covered her mouth and laughed.
"Your little sister Ha-rin and the other Siren members... they all seem to like you a lot, huh?"
Kim Na-yeon tossed out a pointed remark at Seo Eun-seong. Her eyes seemed to pierce right through to the heart of the matter.
It's not just greed for the role. They really want to act out a crush with Eun-seong. Makes sense... a guy this handsome and sweet is rare even in the industry. Anyone would want a shot.
Kim Na-yeon thought to herself as she gauged his reaction.
But oblivious as ever, Seo Eun-seong just nodded brightly, clueless to her inner thoughts.
"Right? Na-yeon noona? Ha-rin goes without saying, but they've followed me around since they were kids. I cook for them a lot, clean up after them... pretty much took care of them like a mom. Haha."
It was a perfectly innocent, Seo Eun-seong-style answer. To him, those five were just baby birds chirping for food—or high-maintenance pitcher plants.
"....."
Kim Na-yeon was momentarily speechless at his thick-skinned, utterly unaware response.
"Yeah... that's so you."
She let out a soft laugh soon after. He had no idea that his clueless, pure-dork charm was driving her—and those five idols—crazy(?).
"But... have they decided yet?"
Seo Eun-seong cracked the waiting room door open to peek at the set. In the distance, at the center, the five were playing rock-paper-scissors.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Yes! I win...!"
"No way! You were late! Invalid!"
"What do you mean late? Unnie, you just saw wrong!"
"Move aside. I'm blood-related, so it should be me."
"I wanna~ do it~ pick me~"
Of course it wouldn't end with rock-paper-scissors. They were right back to bickering over who got to be the female lead.
"Haah? Those beagles..."
As Seo Eun-seong shook his head with a sigh, the five—who'd been squabbling—suddenly nodded in unison, like they'd reached an agreement. And then...
"Uh, uh oh?"
They marched straight toward the waiting room where Seo Eun-seong was, like a pack of five hyenas charging at prey.
"Na-yeon noona! They're coming this way!"
Pale-faced, Seo Eun-seong frantically scanned the room for a hiding spot.
But the tent-like waiting room offered no place to conceal his frame. Footsteps grew closer.
"Eun-seong oppa! We know you're in there!"
Lee Ah-hyun's voice rang out, and just as the door handle turned...
"Na-yeon noona, mind if I borrow your back?"
In his panic, Seo Eun-seong ducked behind Kim Na-yeon.
"Eh, huh?"
Kim Na-yeon blinked in surprise. A 188cm tower of a man with Pacific Ocean shoulders hiding behind her petite frame? No matter how you sliced it, two heads' worth stuck out. His shoulders and feet poked out sideways in a comically sloppy hide-and-seek.
"Pfft! Eun-seong... what are you doing?"
Kim Na-yeon burst out laughing at his hilariously unmanly(?) antics.
Bang!
The door flew open, and Seo Ha-rin and the Siren members poured in.
"....."
The five girls' gazes locked onto one spot: the broad shoulders poking out from behind Kim Na-yeon, topped by Seo Eun-seong's head peeking up. It screamed, I'm hiding right here!
"Oppa... what are you doing back there?"
Seo Ha-rin crossed her arms, incredulous.
"Bear Doll, think about your size. You really think you can hide behind Kim Na-yeon sunbaenim?"
Choi Eun-jin clicked her tongue in disbelief.
"It's fine, Eun-seong. You can come out now."
Kim Na-yeon patted his shoulder, holding back a laugh.
"Haha... you think?"
Seo Eun-seong finally peeked out sheepishly and stepped forward with an awkward grin.
"Why cram into this tiny waiting room? Anyway... who got the music video female lead?"
He asked cautiously, gauging their moods.
The five girls shouted in unison.
"No one!"
"Urk."
Their booming voices made Seo Eun-seong's head snap back slightly.
"So what now?"
"We racked our brains, but no decision. So we agreed on something."
Seo Ha-rin stepped forward as spokesperson.
"The guy's supposed to be the crush, right? And the male lead's you. So you pick the female lead."
"Cough! Me?"
Seo Eun-seong choked, sputtering.
Pick one from this pack of feral hyenas? Choosing one meant enduring the wrath of the other four. It was hot potato central.
"No way! I'm not the director or casting director!"
He desperately sought a lifeline. That's when Oh Ji-yeon and Kim Tae-ho strolled in through the open door, drawn by the commotion.
"Ji-yeon noona! Tae-ho hyung! Shouldn't the agency or managers handle this?"
Seo Eun-seong shot them pleading SOS eyes.
But...
"Eun-seong, I'm here today as your personal manager. No authority on Siren stuff, no intention of meddling. I'll just munch popcorn and watch. Sorry?"
"Haah?"
Oh Ji-yeon crossed her arms leisurely and stepped back—her ironclad defense shattering his strongest shield.
"Tae-ho hyung? You're Siren's manager! Do something!"
"Ah, Eun-seong. I am their manager... but casting's creative territory. Directors and actors hash it out—that's company policy. Can't interfere. Good luck?"
Even Kim Tae-ho dodged his gaze, feigning ignorance. Obviously, both planned to spectate this drama unfold.
"Urgh... you cowardly adults... Na-yeon noona...?"
Cornered further, Seo Eun-seong turned beseechingly to Kim Na-yeon last.
But...
"Fighting?"
She whispered, flashing tiny fists. No one came to his rescue.
"Hoo..."
Trapped on all sides, Seo Eun-seong eyed the five girls in turn. Finally, he sighed deeply and raised both hands.
"You're all in cahoots... Fine, I'll pick. No complaints, got it?"
"Yes, oppa!"
At his resigned acceptance, Seo Ha-rin and the Siren members steeled their expressions.
Seo Eun-seong plopped into the chair at the center of the waiting room. Propping his chin like an audition judge, he scrutinized his sister Seo Ha-rin and the four members.
Seo Ha-rin. Choi Eun-jin. Lee Ah-hyun. Kim Chae-yeon. Gomin-ji.
All top idols, each with distinct charms. Any could pull off the role. It wasn't about visuals.
He just needed logic to resolve this peacefully and rationally.
"....."
Seo Ha-rin and the Siren members swallowed hard, eyes glued to his lips. Oh Ji-yeon, Kim Tae-ho, and Kim Na-yeon crossed their arms, watching the "Eun-seong's Subjective Female Lead Audition."
"First off."
"Y-yes?"
His voice broke the silence, making Seo Ha-rin and the members flinch.
"Eun-jin noona and Ah-hyun are out."
"What?!"
"Why?!"
Immediate backlash erupted.
"Why me? Don't you know I'm the best actress in our team? I can nail the crush gaze perfectly!"
Choi Eun-jin stepped forward, indignant.
"Right! I practiced longing expressions in the mirror all last night! That's not fair, Eun-seong oppa!"
Lee Ah-hyun pouted, losing her usual composure.
Seo Eun-seong raised a hand to calm them.
"Hear me out. Eun-jin noona, we're too close and casual normally. Suddenly acting all lovelorn? I wouldn't buy it. I'd just remember you pinching my belly fat."
"Ah..."
Choi Eun-jin had no retort to the valid point.
"And Ah-hyun."
"Yes."
"You're still 17, a minor. Me doing romance with a high schooler? It'd look risky on screen. Fans might feel weird. So, no."
"Ah... I guess so..."
Lee Ah-hyun nodded reluctantly—logical, if disappointing.
"Next, Chae-yeon out too."
"Huh? Why me?"
Kim Chae-yeon blinked in confusion.
"I'm not super close to you, and I'm 20, an adult. I meet all the criteria?"
"Yeah, exactly—we're not close. I'm a acting newbie too. Sudden romance with you? Way too awkward. We'd rack up NGs."
"Tch."
Kim Chae-yeon shut her mouth against the brutal facts.
"....."
Now only Seo Ha-rin and Gomin-ji remained. Tension simmered as Gomin-ji clasped her hands with a goofy grin.
"So it's me? I'll have a crush on Eun-seong orabuni~?"
"Hm..."
After brief thought, Seo Eun-seong made his call.
"I've decided. Ha-rin should do it."
"Eeeeng..."
Gomin-ji let out a disappointed whine.
"Phew, see? Told you it'd be me—'cause he's my oppa."
Seo Ha-rin exhaled in relief, smugly eyeing the members.
"But... why? Oppa?"
Still, she wanted to know.
Seo Eun-seong spoke gravely.
"The reasons I gave are part of it... but the real one is separate."
"....."
Everyone leaned in at his serious tone.
"You're a girl group. If I were still the fat Bear Doll oppa, it'd just be funny no matter who did it. But I've slimmed down, changed a bit, right?"
"True."
"Me doing serious crush-romance with anyone but my blood sister? Siren guy fans might misunderstand or get jealous. Could turn into gossip. With a new album dropping, better play it safe?"
He met each girl's eyes, including his sister's.
"If Ha-rin does it, fans'll see it as cute sibling business acting. No drama. Right?"
"....."
It thoroughly considered the group's position, the members', and the fans' feelings.
As expected of Eun-seong. So thoughtful.
Kim Na-yeon admired silently from behind.
"Eun-seong's got a point."
"Man, Eun-seong? You thought that far for our girls?"
Oh Ji-yeon and Kim Tae-ho nodded approvingly at his depth.
"Yeah... back when he was Bear Doll, maybe not. But with oppa's current visuals, it's totally plausible."
Sharp-witted Lee Ah-hyun agreed first.
"For real? He thought that far?"
Choi Eun-jin and the others were inwardly touched by his consideration, holding their tongues.
"Of course I did, Eun-jin noona. Heh."
Seo Eun-seong grinned, relaxing.
Then, casually to Seo Ha-rin, without a second thought:
"What do you think, Ha-rin? Cool with acting opposite oppa?"
"Eh... it looped back to me anyway. Whatever, I'll do it. I'll carry hard."
Seo Ha-rin shrugged coolly on the outside.
But inwardly:
What do I do? This is suddenly so awkward I could die!
The thrill of winning faded fast. The oppa before her wasn't the chubby one she'd played with, snot-nosed as kids.
A perfect specimen with physique and looks that shrimped most male actors.
Why's it awkward? It's just oppa...
A small, dizzying tremor stirred in her heart. Not romantic attraction to her brother—no.
More like bewilderment at this stranger-perfect version of him.