Chapter 8
Yoon Jin was dazedly listening to the PD’s explanation about the filming while being led by the staff to change clothes and receive makeup and hair styling. The surroundings were extremely busy, and he felt awkward in his loose, pale yellow pajamas among people who were properly dressed.
Weren’t pajamas literally clothes worn when sleeping? He couldn’t understand at all why he had to wear this—adorable pajamas with rabbits on them—for a birthday party broadcast. Yoon Jin looked down at the pink rabbit on his chest and then raised his head again.
‘This is crazy.’
Yoon Jin had seen many idols appearing with strange concepts multiple times. Lyrics that made no sense, hairstyles that were amazingly set up somehow, fashion with unidentifiable focal points. All of that was like a fate that idols had to experience at least once.
But knowing something intellectually and directly facing that situation were completely different stories. Having lived for 7 years in a world full of prejudice that pajamas were informal clothing, he couldn’t hide his bewilderment that the clothes for a live broadcast in front of fans were unbearably cute pajamas. Moreover, the pajamas Yoon Jin was wearing seemed intentionally prepared in a large size, sweetly covering his palms.
“So with the home birthday party concept, after the initial greeting, we’ll do a brief current events talk and comment reading, then Minhun will enter with the cake, and then you’ll play a dice game together.”
“……”
“Minhun is appearing as a surprise, so please keep that in mind. The game is designed to be more action-based rather than talk-based.”
“Understood.”
Minhun, who was standing next to him, nodded on Yoon Jin’s behalf. For Yoon Jin, who had memory issues, the content had been urgently changed based on the judgment that he wouldn’t be able to proceed with the originally scheduled talk and random quiz.
“We’ll monitor the situation constantly and guide you on the screen over there, so don’t worry too much.”
“Ah… yes, thank you.”
However they had been informed about Yoon Jin’s condition, the PD looked at him quite worriedly and sympathetically. Yoon Jin’s body automatically bowed his head and uttered words of gratitude according to his memory.
“Then, fighting!”
Yoon Jin still dazedly watched the PD leaving with words of encouragement, then glanced slightly at Minhun. Unlike himself, Minhun was wearing neat casual clothes, boasting distinctly defined features after receiving makeup, and his still-short hair was covered with a hat, giving off a warm college student vibe.
In contrast, Yoon Jin had his fluffy brown hair lightly styled, and his makeup was done with a slight flush to hide his pale complexion.
“Minhun… this thing we’re doing now is a live broadcast that fans watch, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Then how many people usually watch it…?”
“I don’t know exactly… at least hundreds of thousands come in, right?”
“Looking like this…?”
“Huh?”
When Yoon Jin hopelessly lifted the sleeve covering his palm and asked, Minhun tilted his head as if wondering what the problem was.
“You look super cute, hyung. Everyone will love it.”
Heh heh. Yoon Jin laughed dejectedly inside and changed the thought he’d been having until now. Perhaps he wouldn’t be able to properly come to his senses. That’s how far the life of a nobleman that had been ingrained in him for 7 years was from being an idol.
“We’ll be shooting soon! Yoon Jin, please move to your position!”
While listening to Minhun’s encouraging words—saying he didn’t need to be nervous since it was a broadcast only for fans, and that fans would like whatever he did—Yoon Jin stepped into a place filled with dolls and cushions.
A wall decorated cutely with balloons and various ornaments, colorful blankets and cushions, and party hats and glasses placed on the table. This was the location of Yoon Jin’s first debut stage.
“5! 4!”
Numerous cameras focused on Yoon Jin. As the PD counted down with fingers 3, 2, 1, the surroundings became quiet, and the shoot signal was given. On the tablet PC placed in front of Yoon Jin, chat messages began to rise endlessly.
[Jin!! Happy birthday!!♥]
[Congratulations on our Yoon Jin’s 27th birthday!!]
[Waaa~!! I missed you so much ♡♥♡]
[Oppa hello~~~!!!]
“Um… Hello, I’m Jin from Sparkle.”
Yoon Jin alternately looked at the rising chat messages and the camera earnestly. Soon, he stiffened his expression briefly while reading the text the writer showed him, but immediately composed himself.
“Oh, thank you for always coming to my birthday party like this.”
Loosen expression, smile, and say thanks cutely. What stiffened Yoon Jin’s expression in this sentence was the word “cutely.” He tried his best to fulfill the request. He pulled over the large teddy bear beside him and greeted fans by waving the doll’s hand. It was an action that came from the simple thought that since the doll was cute, using it would probably make him look cute.
Feeling the awkwardness that exuded like a rookie who had just debuted, Yoon Jin wanted to close his eyes right then and there from shame and embarrassment.
‘Just switch bodies back…’
If the broadcast he was doing now had been a face-to-face broadcast with fans, it would have been easier. Yoon Jin was very familiar with dealing with people, but conversely, he was vulnerable to communicating through machines. Having communicated solely through letters for 7 years, he couldn’t immediately get used to this kind of situation.
Yoon Jin fiddled with the sleeve covering his wrist as if resentful. Every time he had to stand in front of many people, he had spent hours reviewing outfits and receiving grooming to strive for a perfect appearance. As such, this cute attire was enough to revive the emotion of embarrassment that he had temporarily forgotten.
[What?? Is today not Jin’s birthday but mine??? Am I allowed to see something this cute for free???]
[What’s with the doll greeting, what’s with the reddened cheeks, what’s with the fidgeting hands…???]
[Oppa, I’m in the emergency room right now with a heart attack]
While he was briefly complaining about his sleeve, anxious fans’ chats rose incessantly. Fans who had entered the W-Live with half-worried, half-anticipating hearts not long after the news of his collapse had come out were feeling perplexed by Yoon Jin’s appearance from the start.
If it had been the original Yoon Jin, he would have welcomed fans by waving his hands with a very bright voice, but in the video, he was embarrassed about something, mumbling with cutely curled-up lips while hiding behind a large doll to greet them. Fans noticed that Yoon Jin wasn’t like his usual self, but more urgently, they were gushing over this cute situation.
“Ah, well… I became awkward with cameras after returning from the military… I’m trying to get used to it again.”
Yoon Jin, who uttered the excuse that Sanggu had told him before the shooting began, still scratched his cheek while holding the doll. Since many entertainers actually became stiff like rookies after returning from military service, it was a magical phrase that could perfectly cover Yoon Jin’s condition.
Sanggu, who was on the opposite side, raised his thumb as if to say he did well. The writer signaled that they should start reading chat comments for the current events talk and displayed a few selected comments on the monitor.
“Um… shall I read the chat? No, I’ll read and talk with you.”
[Who is our baby asking when he’s hosting alone hahaha]
[Oppa, did you actually not return from the military but from kindergarten? Why did you come back even cuter.]
[Yoon Jin being camera shy is new and thrilling and cute, the best]
Despite the fans’ reactions, Yoon Jin’s attention was solely directed at the instructions the writer was displaying. I need to pull myself together, I need to pull myself together. While Yoon Jin was firmly trying to gather his resolve in his mind, his body was still frozen to the point where he couldn’t let go of the doll.
“I see many people are concerned about my physical condition. I’m sorry for worrying you. I’m really fine now.”
[Jin, who are you talking to??hahaha Are you being shy with the camera??haha]
[Oppa… the doll in your arms doesn’t seem fine. It’s being strangled hahaha]
“And there’s a question about how I’ve been doing lately. Lately… I’ve been exercising at the dorm, watching our old videos too. I’m doing well and staying healthy.”
[Is our Jin reading a script?? Your voice tone sounds like a company briefing hahaha]
[What did the Ministry of Defense do to our oppa hahaha it’s cute but I can see you’re trying hard… which makes it… cuter… I’m going crazy]
“Lastly, you say my clothes are very cute… thank you. But they seem a bit big for me.”
[No, just… you are cute…]
After finishing all the answers to the given chat comments, Yoon Jin relaxed his shoulders as if relieved. Soon, when instructions to read a few comments in real-time appeared, he finally turned his attention to the tablet.
“Jin, the dongsaeng next to you looks awkward and it’s cute, asking if you’re a rookie idol… hmm…”
Is this malicious? Yoon Jin seriously pondered. Usually in social circles, saying something like this meant indirectly criticizing someone for looking like a rookie because they were too clumsy. Yoon Jin bowed his head with an apology, saying he would try to become familiar quickly. People on the opposite side gestured that that wasn’t the meaning, but unfortunately, it wasn’t conveyed to Yoon Jin.
“Oppa, you keep holding the doll, it’s so… huh?”
So cute. Unable to read the chat to the end, Yoon Jin pushed the doll he was holding to the side in embarrassment. It felt a bit awkward when the sense of security in his arms suddenly disappeared, but more than that, his ears reddened with embarrassment first. While Yoon Jin was flustered, the PD’s voice was heard.
“Yoon Jin, a surprise guest has come to visit~!”
It was the signal for Minhun to appear. Minhun, who entered the screen holding a cake with candles, sang the birthday song unnecessarily sweetly. The chat window filled with cheers at Minhun’s surprise appearance.
“Happy birthday to Sparkle’s precious leader, Jin hyung~”
“What! When did you come!”
“I came to visit because I thought you might be lonely by yourself.”
Yoon Jin, who performed his prepared “surprise acting,” moved his body to the side to make room for him. It was ironic that acting now felt more natural than before, but it certainly seemed more reassuring than being alone.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
