#4. What is Business Gay Performance? (4)
“Let me just make one phone call and come back. You two sit down… oh, should I get you something to drink?”
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
As soon as Han Seongkyung left the CEO’s office, I clenched my fist and hit Jihan’s shoulder with a thud. I thought I hit him pretty hard, but Jihan didn’t budge at all.
“Are you crazy?”
I lowered my head and whispered accusingly.
“How can you just follow me in here so shamelessly? And who made you my guardian?”
Jihan immediately protested back.
“Then who else would be your guardian if not me? And you’re the one who’s fearless. How can you try to handle such an important contract alone? Don’t you know idol contracts are basically 7 years?”
“I know, but I know…”
Of course I thought I had to do it alone.
Since my exclusive contract with UJ Entertainment was terminated, there’s no way I’d have a manager. I don’t have any older siblings to consult about this kind of thing, and I don’t have parents either.
“See.”
He nudged my shoulder with his and said.
“That’s why I followed you. Huh? You’re so small but stubborn, trying to do everything alone.”
“I’m telling you for the hundredth time, I’m not small. You’re just big.”
I added in a sullen tone.
“And don’t treat me like a kid. People would think you’re my hyung or something.”
“I am your hyung.”
Jihan acted smug with a playful attitude.
“I was born a whole four days before you.”
“Only four days?”
While we were bickering childishly, Han Seongkyung returned. She had a cup of coffee in each hand.
“I got coffee from the AR team. Let’s check this while drinking.”
Jihan subtly brought his nose to the plastic lid. Of course, he probably knew what was inside without checking.
The essential item of Korean office workers. The most common gift item. It was warm americano.
“General Manager, Seowoo…”
“I’ll drink it well.”
I stepped on Jihan’s foot under the sofa to stop him and smiled brightly.
I can’t drink caffeine well, but it’s not like I’ll die from it. I didn’t want to leave a difficult first impression over something that would at most keep me up for one night.
“The contract is here. Read it and ask if you have any questions.”
“I will. Could you wait a moment?”
I started examining the documents Han Seongkyung handed me, turning through them page by page.
Fortunately, the content in the contract wasn’t too unfamiliar. No, it wasn’t just unfamiliar – it was…
‘This is too familiar?’
It was very similar to the documents I saw when I signed with UJ Entertainment and when I terminated the contract. The specific phrases and even the format were very similar…
No way.
‘Since you’ve signed, I’ll tell you – we’re actually a company that split off from a major agency. Small in scale but substantial! Well-organized! That kind of company. Huh? Our Seowoo made a really good choice. Of course.’
I never thought that ‘major agency’ they split off from would be Midnight Entertainment…
Still, it put my mind at ease a bit. These were standard contract terms, and honestly, even if they were a bit lower, I felt like I could compromise a little if it meant I could debut like this.
So I was about to skim through and move on.
“Wait.”
Jihan grabbed my hand as I was about to turn the page.
“You haven’t finished reading yet.”
I waited for a moment and only turned the page after he nodded. It described the settlement period and method, standards, exception items, and parts that needed discussion. These were standard clauses, not much different from what CEO Baek had explained at UJ before.
But this time too, Jihan stopped me from going to the next page.
“Wait.”
When this happened two more times, he just grabbed my hand and started turning the pages himself.
“…”
Why is he so serious?
I glanced at Jihan’s face, which was so concentrated that his brow was deeply furrowed.
‘Idiot.’
Why are you so earnest about everything when it comes to my affairs? I may like you, but you don’t feel that way. You’re just Yoon Seowoo, a childhood friend who grew up together and is closer than others.
You who takes the seat next to me as if it’s natural, without showing any sign of annoyance. Your attitude as if there’s nothing more important than taking care of me. Those things keep accumulating inside me…
“General Manager. Can I write my name and contact information in the emergency contact here?”
“Seowoo is an adult, but usually parents’ contact information goes there.”
I quickly snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at Han Seongkyung.
“They’re not here. My parents divorced when I was young so I don’t have contact with my father, and my mother passed away.”
“Oh my, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago. And you can speak comfortably to me too.”
“Should I?”
Meanwhile, Jihan quickly wrote his name and eleven-digit phone number in the blank space on the contract.
“Today must have been hectic for you, so go home early and rest. Starting tomorrow you’ll be moving with the Arcus kids… want to stop by the CEO’s office briefly in the morning? I’ll introduce you to the manager. I need to show you around the building too.”
“Would around 9 o’clock be okay?”
“That sounds good.”
Han Seongkyung looked back and forth between me and Jihan and burst into laughter.
“Jihan, you go in together too. I’m only sending you off early today. You two seemed surprised to meet here, so go talk with Seowoo.”
Eventually we came out together somehow. Being dragged along while held by Jihan’s arm.
As soon as we left the floor with the CEO’s office, Jihan snatched the coffee from my hand and drank it all without hesitation. I had no intention of drinking more, but I felt awkward just throwing it away, so I just watched him quietly.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you home. Let’s finish talking when we get home.”
I didn’t say I didn’t need it or that I could go alone. Honestly, I was happy.
“You’ll take me home?”
I asked as I followed him to the underground parking garage.
“All the way home?”
“I have to see you eat dinner before I go.”
Jihan pointed to a corner of the parking garage and said nonchalantly.
“You don’t eat well when you’re very nervous. I’ll make you dinner.”
I deliberately gave a short “okay” and slipped into the passenger seat to avoid showing my expression.
I was happy. That he took care of me as if it was natural. That he remembered every little detail about me. That he gave kindness as naturally as breathing.
This is why I like you.
“Make me rolled egg.”
“Okay.”
Jihan started the engine and said.
“What else do you want to eat?”
“Soybean paste stew.”
“And?”
“Grill some ham too.”
Screech – the sound of car tires scraping against the smooth parking garage floor echoed.
“How unusual for Yoon Seowoo to show appetite. I’ll prepare everything, so eat.”
“But we don’t have ingredients at my house.”
“I wasn’t even expecting any.”
Jihan burst into laughter. His low, soft voice was pleasant to hear.
“Let’s go grocery shopping on the way.”
“Okay.”
Just as the car was about to emerge into the bright outside, Jihan asked me.
“You won’t avoid me anymore, right?”
Instead of answering, I burst into laughter.
* * *
There was a problem.
[Arcus member really changed. Official statement from Twelve (photo) (photo)]
â”” Full text (link)
[Wow when Days had dating rumors and schedule cancellation controversies they played deaf and blind and embraced their members, but they’re ruthless with kids who haven’t even debuted yet]
â”” But it was continuously noisy; that’s different from debuting okay + the center popular member dragging them along vs not stirring up trouble, this is a bit different
â”” Right; Bae Dojin did everything there;;;
[Maki’s controversies really couldn’t be resolved to keep him;; But for a 4-member system, the main vocal’s empty spot is too big… Adding one member isn’t bad though…]
[Asked for member protection and got
#Arcus5-1=0
#Popular_member_shitty_management_condemn
Twelve_kicking_out_overnight
Ridiculous_how_can_you_abandon_Maki_like_this]
[Wow all the trending topics are about Maki]
â”” He was popular though
â”” It’s a shame (not defending) I was a face combo fan ã… ã…
└└ What the heckㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
[Wow really Arcus is probably the first group to be this noisy even before debut, it’s dizzying;;;;]
[So who’s the new member? Official announcement?]
[Guys (photo) (photo)]
â”” Whoa
â”” Whoa
â”” Whoa;
[Huh isn’t this the guy who was supposed to debut with UJ but it fell through? As center??]
â”” Seems right, name is ㅇㅅㅇ… UJ Entertainment said they were closing business but the website is still up?
â”” He was main vocal… He could be center, seems pretty?
[But somehow ã… isn’t he too unremarkable? He’s so plain he doesn’t stand out… But the current Arcus lineup is Jihan, Sol, Hapil, Lee Seon?]
â”” That’s right; it was only because it was someone like Maki that he didn’t get buried, feels a bit pushed aside
[This guy is why Maki has nowhere to go]
[Ah ã…‹ã…‹ how exactly does he slide in so perfectly as if he was waiting? Does he have connections? Our kid is getting funeral wreaths and suffering while this guy lives life easy?]
[Not even a trainee from the same company, rolling in from somewhere else, why is he suddenly taking a promising debut group spot? This is worse than a 4-member debut system]
â”” Exactly ã…¡ã…¡ Even if we compromise and maintain the 5-member system, it’s not like Midnight doesn’t have trainees, what’s with this randomness ã…‹ã…‹ Who are you? Do we know you?
â”” No matter how urgent they are before debut, are they really just roughly shoving anyone in if the size fits?
[No matter how much noise Maki had in his private life, they spent a year together for one debut… I doubt the existing members will accept this guy]
â”” Right, isn’t Hapil Jae suuuuuper famous for being shy with strangers
[Bullying, dating rumors, personality 3-piece controversy set member who had fireworks before debut vs new member from other entertainment trainee background who seems plain in everything but we don’t know how he rolled in… it’s a balance game that makes your heart petty]
[Is Arcus really going to be okay? I’m really worried about them;;;;;]
“Right…”
I awkwardly smiled as I scrolled through social media.
“Is Arcus really going to be okay?”
It seemed fans had mixed reactions about my joining.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
