Editor Wanted (2)
One week after posting the editor recruitment notice, I sat down at my computer and started sorting through every video that had come in, narrowing down the candidates I wanted to interview.
“...This person’s really good too.”
With my hair sticking up in every direction, I yawned my way through the rest of the submissions. Something about the video resonated deep in my chest, so I passed them to the next round and sent over my Discord link, letting them know we’d be holding a voice interview that evening.
“Mad movies are nice. I hope this one gets picked.”
Back when I was trending hard in the community, someone had clipped me into a mad movie. At the time I’d already given up on so many things that even though the video moved me, I couldn’t fully register the feeling. I just watched it with dead eyes and moved on. Looking back now, I realize how emotionally numb I had become.
“...I was convinced my siblings hated me and that dying wouldn’t be anything strange, so I guess that tracks.”
I let out a small groan and logged into Discord, dropping a message in the channel where Haram and Yeon-a were hanging out.
I immediately regretted how curt it sounded and was about to delete it when replies popped up.
“...I worried over nothing again.”
Muttering to myself, I pulled off my headset, stood up, and headed for the bathroom.
“I’ll shower and then get everything ready with the girls.”
In my previous life I had only ever been the one going to interviews. After graduating college, during the brief period when I managed to function like a normal person, that was how things were. Of course, workplace harassment quickly shattered that fragile normalcy again.
“What a pitiful life...”
I peeled off my clothes and stared at the faded scars covering my arms and legs. Most of them had healed into pale lines by now.
“...I have to keep living properly.”
I hugged myself tightly for a moment, then stepped into the shower.
“G-good afternoon...”
After my shower I logged into the Discord server I had set up specifically for interviews. Both Yeon-a and Haram were already online using alt accounts. I was using one too; we’d made it to stop rejected applicants from adding me as a friend later. I figured it would also come in handy for future phone-date or counseling content.
“D-do you think I could actually do stuff like that...? I’m... really bad with strangers...”
Haram’s gentle encouragement made me smile. I nodded even though they couldn’t see me.
“Yeah... someday I’d like to try.”
Since the people who loved me were here, I genuinely wanted to have real conversations with them. Not just small raids with a handful of people, but something where hundreds could gather and I could listen to each of them one by one.
“I-is that how it works...?”
Yeon-a’s light laugh helped ease the tension a little. I sipped some water and swished it around in my mouth nervously.
I swallowed and answered.
“Just one... I think that’s all I can handle right now...”
I could only properly manage one editor at my current level. In my heart I wanted to pay them everything I had, but with a new air conditioner at home and actually buying proper meals, money was flying out the door. Realistically, I could only take on one person.
“Th-thank you, both of you... I’ll discuss it with her first, but I’ll ask if I get stuck.”
Having these two reliable people on my side made me feel incredibly lucky. I really was the happiest person in the world.
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I typed a message into the server.
The applicants all replied at once that they understood. I felt a strange sense of pride, like I had suddenly become a real boss. A soft smile spread across my face without me realizing it.
Yeon-a took over calling names while I sat there grinning like an idiot. At 11:50 a.m. we officially began the interviews.
“H-hello, Chan-woo...! Thank you for applying.”
When I smiled softly, I heard him let out a shaky breath. I hadn’t looked at his resume in detail yet, but I could already tell he was one of my Jireongis.
“Thank you for coming today... Yep... I watched your portfolio. It’s good.”
The interview proceeded politely. I tried to keep things from feeling too pressuring, while Yeon-a asked sharp, incisive questions without being outright intimidating. Haram focused on career history and past work, carefully examining each candidate. I suddenly felt embarrassed about thinking I was “pro” just because I’d won an argument with some Jireongis recently.
‘Real professionals really are on another level...’
It felt like the entire world ran on expertise except for me. We continued through the applicants until we were about halfway through.
“...No, not yet.”
Haram laughed sympathetically. I nodded and called the next person.
That clear, familiar voice.
‘Wait, is that Gaemanyeo? Did I miss her video?’
I quickly replayed her submission and the mad movie that had caught my eye earlier popped up immediately.
“...!!”
Yeon-a confirmed her age again while Haram praised her skill despite still being in school. They both asked about the Gaemanyeo channel listed in her portfolio and continued the interview.
Yeon-a continued the thorough questioning while Haram followed up with several more.
No matter what the two of them said, my attention stayed glued to Yuna’s mad movie. The song flowed beautifully with sharp, energetic cuts. The dramatic introduction of the monster, the way I stylishly carved through it with a box cutter, it was edited like a blockbuster trailer. I couldn’t help but be impressed.
And the part I loved most came at the very end.
“...She cut out the scene where I meet the boss that looks like my father. Other editors said they had to include it for the views...”
That consideration. That was what I liked.
‘She’s fundamentally attentive...’
Someone delicate. Someone who could stay both cool-headed and caring even while handling someone as broken as me. During the raid she had also kept the stream atmosphere fun and lively. Talent, personality, and intuition. Aside from her rather unique tastes, she was perfect.
“...I like her.”
I said it with genuine feeling for the first time. I could sense both Yeon-a and Haram freezing in surprise.
‘It’s basically decided.’
“You can leave now. I’ll let you know about acceptance or rejection later.”
“Y-yeah… I should.”
It felt like I had finally found someone who matched my wavelength.