#18
The evening was quite chilly, as expected near the end of autumn. A sigh escaped involuntarily at my own insensitivity for keeping someone who was working until late tied up in a call.
“It’s cold, go inside to talk on the phone. No, just call me later.”
“…Haha, it’s fine. Soon I’ll be busy and won’t be able to make calls or video calls… I want to secretly come watch your face during your live broadcast, would that be okay?”
Judging by how he kept expressing his opinion, he didn’t seem likely to yield. Even so, a face cam was burdensome. I was in the middle of evasively avoiding an answer, anticipating viewers who would tease about the screen being too bright while ignoring the broadcast itself.
Imun slightly lowered his head and cast his eyes downward demurely. His clear-cut eyes and doll-like long eyelashes instantly captured my attention. “What, what’s wrong?” While I was confused by the increasingly pitiful and lonely atmosphere, he placed his index finger on his lips and looked up.
“Hajun-hyung, really… is it not possible?”
The image of him blinking his eyes slowly while slightly lowering the ends of his eyebrows was incredibly powerful.
“Ah… okay! I’ll do it, the face cam, I’ll do it!”
“Wow, you promised!”
As soon as I unwittingly surrendered, Imun smiled brightly as if nothing had happened. To think I’d fall so pathetically for such an obvious trick. Only after sloppily agreeing did my clouded reason return. It was utterly ridiculous how I had crumbled at the sight of his face.
He’s really playing with me! While glaring at Imun and letting out a hollow laugh, I noticed my cheeks had turned bright red like a sweet potato. After hurriedly cooling my cheeks, I asked gruffly.
“Were you always like this?”
“Hmm… Probably not?”
“What do you mean ‘probably’?”
“…Actually, I don’t know either. I guess it’s because I feel comfortable with you, hyung.”
“Imun-ssi, shooting soon!” “I’ll be right there.” After responding to what seemed like a staff member, Imun turned his head and smiled. The momentary coldness that flashed across his face must have been an illusion, as his face was full of regret.
“Then I’ll get going. Sleep well.”
“Okay, hang in there a little more. Rest cleverly when you’re tired.”
“Haha. Thank you.”
Even long after ending the call, Imun wouldn’t leave my mind. The lingering impression was so strong that I could barely move a finger.
Though it was through a phone, it was as good as meeting him in person. It felt like I had taken a step closer to being a real friend rather than just a friend in name who only exchanged calls and messages.
“Really, my face is burning up too.”
Hajun repeatedly recalled the video call with Imun and giggled mindlessly, unable to contain his joy as he stomped his feet.
***
I checked my appearance in the ivory-colored sweater on the monitor. Looking closely, there was a small speck of dust on my shoulder. After dramatically removing it, I adjusted the camera once more.
Despite broadcasting every day, I was several times more nervous than usual. Well, this looks good. After clearing my throat one last time, I clicked the broadcast start button.
Viewers who flocked like clouds rushed to greet me. Fortunately, they didn’t seem intent on bringing up Imun right away.
While responding to familiar usernames, Hajun slightly furrowed his brow. As expected, the number of viewers far exceeded the usual.
Well, shall we begin? After waving my hand, I began typing on the keyboard, prompting question marks from the viewers. While I was silently completing my task and smiling with satisfaction, one viewer quickly noticed the change.
– The broadcast title changed!!! lolololol
[On The Sky MV Reaction]
Usually, I would just roughly put the date as the title. It was a broadcast where those who wanted to watch would find it anyway, even without clickbait.
But today was different from usual. I blankly stared at the chat that instantly became noisy, folding my arms. Though I had changed the broadcast title myself, I was still unsure if this was the right decision.
– lolololol MV lolololol reaction lolololol
– Ganghalololololol hyunglolololol this side of you is so unfamiliar lolololol
– lolololol no words lolololol
After snorting at the viewers who were as mischievous as ever today, Hajun recalled yesterday’s events.
***
Two days ago. Despite repeatedly pondering how to deal with Imun’s fans, I ultimately couldn’t come up with a plausible answer. Just as I was sighing deeply, unable to call Uijin again, I thought of another person who loved idols as much as she did.
“Mari! Are you free tomorrow?!”
And the day before, in front of a brunch café near home where I had arranged to meet her. Thanks to withdrawing money in advance, I checked my unusually thick wallet and took a deep breath.
“Over here!” As soon as I stepped into the café, she waved both hands high, taking the initiative. People’s gazes instantly turned to Mari, who was half-standing and raising her voice. I quickly ran over, covered her mouth, and hurriedly sat down across from her.
“Today, I’ll buy you anything you want to eat.”
“Oho, what kind of favor are you trying to ask? Underestimating a high school girl’s stomach will lead to trouble, you know?”
“What trouble.” Hajun scoffed, crossing his legs arrogantly. “We’d like to order!” As if falling for the light provocation, Mari called the waiter combatively. The way she rolled her eyes suggested she was ready to order every food item on the menu.
I hastily stopped her and ordered only as much as we could eat. While listening to her chattering, the first dish arrived. “I’ll enjoy this!” Mari, who was neatly cutting her steak, suddenly lifted her face.
“It feels like it’s been a hundred years since I met Hajun outside.”
“What are you talking about.”
“Tell me quickly. What on earth is going on for you to be like this.”
As if it was her turn to tease, she smiled slyly. For a few minutes, I couldn’t easily share my concerns and just aimlessly tore the napkin on the table. Hajun gazed steadily at her as she snorted and urged him on.
“Well… As an idol fan, when do you feel most proud and happy? Not when your favorite idol wins an award or appears on a show. Is there anything I can do for fans?”
“Idol fan? Not a fan of Hajun but a fan of an idol? Why?”
Mari tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand at all. After roughly explaining the situation, she finally exclaimed “Aha!” and picked up her fork. The gesture of pushing up non-existent glasses was quite convincing.
“It feels best when someone who isn’t a fan becomes one.”
“For example…?”
“Like MV reactions or something. When someone who had no interest watches a music video and expresses various admiration…”
Mari wielded her fork like a pointer, as if she were an expert instructor. Although her playful behavior was ridiculous, her words were strangely persuasive. Even I felt a tug in my heart whenever I heard someone say they had started playing Legend of Legend after watching my gameplay.
‘When I first started Legend of Legend, I studied by watching your YouTube videos, hyung.’
Naturally recalling Imun’s confession, I was momentarily moved before lightly tousling Mari’s hair.
“Thanks. I’m glad I consulted with you.”
After sending her off with thirty-three flavors of ice cream for giving such a clear answer, today was the big day. While going through the YouTube list I had prepared in advance, I secretly stroked my chest away from the viewers’ eyes.
Let’s hope Mari is right. Thanks to watching videos aimlessly, I still had a couple of On The Sky music videos I had never seen before. Reciting her words—not to worry, as she patted my back—I carefully began.
“Hello, everyone. Are there many people joining my broadcast for the first time today?”
Unfamiliar viewers signaled their presence with hand emoticons. My mental stability was slightly shaken as the chat moved faster than I had imagined.
“I’m Gangha. I’m mainly a game streamer who plays Legend of Legend, and today for the many new—oh.”
‘Please show your face, Gangha-nim!’, ‘Could you turn on your face cam?’ The newly joined viewers were making familiar requests. Normally, I would have pretended not to see and changed the subject, but thinking that they were all Imun’s fans made it difficult to ignore.
With tears in my eyes, I raised the camera angle I had carefully adjusted, and the viewers heated up the chat with cheers.
‘When we asked, you wouldn’t even listen!’ I casually laughed off the chat from existing viewers expressing their grievances, and glanced at the monitor. It seemed that showing my face on broadcast would be difficult to get used to, no matter how much time passed.
“Um… Today, I’ll start the broadcast with a special MV reaction instead of a game broadcast. From the middle part, I’ll proceed with Legend of Legend as usual.”
No matter how hard I looked, there was no content that would satisfy both my fans and Imun’s fans. And I couldn’t spend the entire broadcast watching On The Sky’s music videos.
‘lol Is Gangha getting into OnS this way?’, ‘Imun made a good friend lol’ It was a crude conclusion I had to resort to, but fortunately, none of the viewers seemed dissatisfied.
Hajun relaxed his tense body while watching the chat where everyone was laughing. Today, his goal was just one thing.
Don’t get cursed at. With a more serious expression than ever, he displayed the music video on the screen. The die was cast, and now it was time to show a spectacular reaction that would touch people’s hearts.
– You’re doing this here?;;
– Wow, strong from the start;
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
