After briefly checking my self-content, I lay down in bed early to prepare for tomorrow's music show appearance on Melody Bank, where Yeeun unni was the MC.
And the messages I checked the moment I lay down.
[Yeeun unni: (Debonair Girl Group Debuts at All-Time #2 Initial Sales article link)]
[Yeeun unni: Congrats!]
[Yeeun unni: A congrats to you~]
[Yeeun unni: Eh???]
[Yeeun unni: Park Yeeun >>>> I Dohui? Kuhahaha]
"Haa..."
A sigh was all that came out.
Did Yeeun unni really have no capacity to learn?
[Me: Unni, what are you going to do tomorrow]
[Yeeun unni: Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do~ hahaha]
Or maybe she actually enjoyed getting scolded.
"No way, she can't seriously be a masochist...?"
[Me: I'm saying this because I'm really worried about you...]
The reply came instantly.
[Yeeun unni: Kuhahaha]
[Me: Have you really lost it]
Truly frivolous speech habits of unknown origin.
"Damn girl... where did you pick up this kind of tone?"
It kinda irked me.
I couldn't help but wonder if Bomi, the maknae of Aili, had taught her this.
Of course, it seemed unlikely.
She was quite the cute, petite little thing.
Though nowhere near as cute as Doa.
'But Bomi is at the age where she'd be using meal-time slang heavily...'
Could our Doa also...?
I was suddenly worried.
She was a middle schooler now—once she entered school, bad influences...
[Doa: Unni will figure it out so whatcha gonna do kuhaha]
No, no, that won't happen.
Our Doa takes after me exactly, so she's very refined. Very refined...
Anyway, if it was Yeeun unni, who got swept up by the atmosphere around her so easily, there was a high chance she had picked it up quickly even if Bomi only used meal-time slang occasionally.
However, it felt as if the brilliant days of our Seven promotions together were already fading one by one, which was terribly sad and lamentable.
"I raised our Yeeun unni to be so polite and graceful..."
But for some reason, my heart was racing.
I tried to sleep again.
Tomorrow was exciting and something to look forward to.
* * *
"Hmhmm~"
I arrived at Yeeun unni's Melody Bank MC waiting room with lively steps.
—Knock knock
—Yeees~ come in~
"...Huh?"
To my confusion, the person inside wasn't Yeeun unni, but someone else.
"Ah, ah!"
She scrambled up from her seat but couldn't catch her balance, staggering with cheeks flushed red as if extremely excited—a beauty.
With a face and styling that suggested she was in her early twenties, she looked more like an actress than an idol.
'Ah, I think I saw her in a historical drama once.'
I, too, was bewildered by the sudden encounter, but another woman standing beside her opened her mouth as if to clear up the situation.
She said she was actress Baek Hayeon's manager, and that Baek Hayeon had come as today's one-day special MC.
I instantly understood the basis for Yeeun unni's cocky behavior.
'Well, no matter how simple-minded Yeeun unni is, she obviously knew we'd run into each other again at the music show, so she must have planned this much.'
Meanwhile, the manager was introducing Baek Hayeon as my true fan.
"Our Hayeon really, really likes you, Dohui-ssi, and listens to your songs all the time during schedule commutes. When she heard she'd be the special MC this time, she was so excited she'd get to meet you..."
It was one of the standard lines I'd heard routinely during my three years in the entertainment industry, so I didn't think much of it.
"Ah, really? Thank you~"
It was never the person themselves who said it; perhaps out of pride, managers always introduced them like that.
"I'm sorry, she's just so nervous right now that she can't speak properly."
In the midst of this, the manager gestured to the shrinking Baek Hayeon.
"What are you doing, Hayeon-ah. Come over here and greet her properly. You said you really wanted to meet her."
Before I could even open my mouth, Baek Hayeon quickly approached.
"H-hello! I-I r-really listen to your songs a lot! I bought the album too..."
Unlike what I had thought, the manager's words didn't seem to be empty.
Baek Hayeon really seemed to be my fan, unable to even make proper eye contact and stammering with flushed cheeks.
"Ah, the album... uh, where is it? I brought it... for a signature..."
She was urgently rummaging through her bag too.
Setting aside that Yeeun unni wasn't here, I felt inwardly pleased.
Honestly, if it had been a rookie idol or a junior, there was a high chance they looked up to me as an industry senior, but this person was an actress.
'Well, I'm an icon for teens these days; my charm wasn't something to be confined to one field.'
I knew that better than anyone.
'Pretty... cool... handsome... good personality...'
Anyway, this situation somehow felt especially like the "celebrity's celebrity" image I'd casually set as my goal.
"Ah, is that so~?"
Forgetting my confusion over Yeeun unni's absence, I found my composure and smiled naturally, exactly as if greeting a fan.
"Y-yes... I, r-really..."
To the point of tearing up?
"Since filming is over anyway and we have time left, I'll bring the CD right away. I didn't know the special MC today was you, so I left it behind."
"Really? Oh my, thank you. Ah, ah! And could I perhaps ask one favor...?"
"What kind of favor?"
"I was wondering if we could take a photo together..."
"Hayeon-ah, it's rude when she's busy right now."
"It's fine. If you're my fan, I'm happy too."
Baek Hayeon handed her phone to the manager with sparkling eyes, and I pressed in close beside her.
"Ah, ah..."
"Hayeon-ah, close your mouth a little. You look like an idiot."
"Th-that's... it's touching..."
"Huh?"
"It's big... ah, no!"
"Ah..."
* * *
The reason Baek Hayeon had been invited as the one-day MC today instead of Yeeun unni was simple.
[Yeeun unni: I Dohui, you were excited, right?]
[Yeeun unni: Kuhahaha]
[Me: No, but please, your tone]
[Me: Your words determine your class]
Since Aili had debuted on November 11th, they would be attending the 'Golden Disc' awards ceremony, which tallied until November 30th.
[Yeeun unni: Enough nagging ㅋ anyway, congrats on MelBang #1 today~]
[Me: Sigh...]
[Me: Yeah, congrats to our unni on the Rookie Award too?]
[Me: Tell Miho unni and Bomi too^^]
[Yeeun unni: Thanks, our dongsaeng~ heehee]
"Aigoo..."
She had won the Rookie Award at one of the big three ceremonies.
I couldn't just keep scolding her on this happy day.
"First, I should call Sera unni and Hana unni separately to congratulate them directly..."
If possible, I wanted to buy them flowers and gifts to send.
First, something Sera unni would like...
Perfume! She really liked the perfume I used.
To the point she'd stick to me every day saying she liked my scent.
She'd probably love it if I bought her that product.
And Hana unni... probably wine.
Hana unni still seemed to drink sometimes on happy occasions.
Of course, I was a minor, but I could ask Seoyun unni to buy it for me.
Yeah, I could worry about the type later together with Seoyun unni.
Now, I'd decided to resume Park Yeeun's education.
[Me: But I'm still in my second week of promotions]
[Me: What were you planning to do next week?]
[Me: We're going to meet again at MelBang anyway]
A reply came back instantly, as if she had anticipated it.
[Yeeun unni: ㅋ stupid stupid~ next week is New Year's, right?]
[Yeeun unni: MelBang is on break, right?]
"...Right. But why does she keep needling me? Anyway, during next promotions..."
[Yeeun unni: Then I Dohui is racking your brains right now, isn't she?]
[Yeeun unni: You're about to ask if we won't run into each other during next promotions, right?]
[Yeeun unni: But my music show MC life ends after next promotions, right?]
[Yeeun unni: Kuhahahahahahaha]
'This damn girl's tone...'
That was less surprising than the other thing.
That Yeeun unni had planned this so systematically.
It was another moment witnessing that people could grow.
[Me: I'll just make time later to visit JS once]
Of course, she was still stupid.
[Yeeun unni: Ooh la la]
I'd have to buy the Rookie Award gift in person then too.
[Yeeun unni: I was joking... we're close, aren't we...]
Sigh, I had to look after Doa during this New Year's holiday...
When would I even go to JS.
* * *
Is there anyone who'd try to hide me besides our Doa?
Sitting in the Trend Song waiting room and scrolling through my phone, I saw a post uploaded a few hours ago and naturally thought this.
[@Joinblo: I've been getting thousands of DMs asking what Dohui was like as a trainee... Simply put, she was a really mischievous but kind friend. The image of her making gestures and saying "Jot Teacher I'm Back" whenever she came in... comes back vividly. Of course, she's also a polite friend who sends me greetings first every holiday even now.]
[She's a friend with no dirt from those days, and since she's an idol, I avoided talking about it in case my image as a rapper might harm her. Rather, I had no intention of hiding that Dohui was my student; if anything, I wanted to boast and brag about it.]
[So I was so happy and moved when she mentioned on broadcast today that I was a polite and kind teacher. I scolded Dohui quite a bit as her teacher, saying she couldn't rap, so I was anxious she might say I was a bad teacher... Whew. I'll keep my words brief now, but since I've been Dohui's eternal fan since she was 13, I want to say I'll keep cheering for her. I Dohui fighting!]
—Jot Teacher I'm Back ㅋㅋㅋ so cute, she was like Dohui even then
—You even scolded Dohui? You're getting special investigation started.
—His face is full of treachery...
—Whatever, if you have photos, post them, damn
—ㅋㅋㅋ well, it's a relief Bongsik has a good image for a rapper
Feeling pleased that another good anecdote had been added today, I leaned back against the sofa.
I should get some sleep now.
Nonsense that belied that thought reached my ears.
"Perhaps... I want to become mysterious."
"Ah, right, rehearsal."
I sprang up from my seat.
Chiyo unni blurting out random, out-of-context words was a preamble proving she was bored, and even as an E-type, it was clear I'd soon be drained of energy.
"I want to become a mysterious person..."
"Wouldn't that be difficult with your personality?"
"Huh...? Really? Why?"
So I pushed aside Ua unni, who was saying what I wanted to say, and deliberately rummaged through the Trend Song MC script.
"Where's my script~"
Giving myself a reason to leave the waiting room aloud.
"It's time for rehearsal~"
I moved my steps outside.
And at that moment, I felt a taut pull on my shirt.
The innocent eyes I met as I turned my head.
They looked exactly like a puppy's.
"Don't go..."
My heart ached at those glistening eyes telling me not to leave her alone with Chiyo unni.
"Oh, if I make this expression, do I look a bit mysterious?"
"If you close your mouth, maybe? Omg, amazing... I never knew."
"Ua-jjang, that's far too cruel..."
Right, what was diabolical about Chiyo unni was that she particularly tormented us two extroverts.
I wistfully caressed Seoyun unni's cheeks.
"Our Seoyun, if you wait quietly and just endure two hours, I'll come right back... okay?"
"No..."
"Then I'm off to rehearsal..."
"Please..."
Shaking off the slender, fragile arms, I quickly left the waiting room.
And the MC waiting room I entered was very quiet without Ju Seungbin there too.
Even though I had abandoned a puppy, a satisfied smile kept forming at my lips.
This New Year's holiday somehow felt like it would be even more enjoyable.
'With Mom, Dad, and Doa, eating together and shopping...'
'Ah, Doa. I need to keep Doa in check too.'
Even if it was just imagination.
[Doa: Unni will figure it out so whatcha gonna do kuhaha]
That was truly, truly terrible even to imagine.