"Son, how could you be late to your own program?"
"Ah, no. I was just a little tired… Did it start yet?"
"No, come sit down. Have some snacks too."
I massaged my mom's shoulders a bit, since it's been a while since seeing her, then sat on the armrest of the sofa.
My older sister leaned against the backrest, while my parents sat on the floor.
And once the youngest, Kim Nari, stretched out on the three seater sofa like royalty, it completed our family's typical living room gathering.
"Haha…"
I couldn't help but laugh at the familiar sight.
When I first returned, I didn't even have time to do this since I had to practice for the mentor evaluation.
"What are you laughing at, ugly rat?"
I could take it. This is nothing.
"Haha. Go ahead."
Right, it was okay that my mother's daughters teased me as naturally as breathing.
"Huh? You're laughing? Is this a joke to you? You rolled out of bed looking hideous. I don't know how someone like this can be an idol. Our country's idol industry might be doomed."
"..."
"Exactly. I looked at the trainee profiles with my friend, and you know what? You're the ugliest. You don't look like a trainee, just a delinquent."
"..."
"I know, right? Especially those slanted eyes. If there were a student like Kim Chunyong in my class, I would've sighed."
I take back what I said earlier.
…How could they call me ugly, after how much I've raised my appearance stats?
Thump thump-
"I'm not ugly, okay? Are you serious?"
As I slammed the armrest in frustration, my sisters feigned surprise and teased me even harder.
"Oh, he's getting mad, he's getting mad."
"You look like a total thung when you're angry. What, would you punch me too?"
"We all look exactly like Mom and Dad, you know? You're basically insulting yourself."
"What are you saying, we look alike? Nari, let's get him."
"Got it, you lock his arms, unnie."
"Children, pleae just sit quietly! It's been a while since you've seen your brother, so stop bothering him!"
The two of them only stopped after getting scolded by our mom.
'Mom, you're the best.'
I secretly gave my mom a thumbs up and let out a deep sigh.
I wasn't so easily pushed around like this while filming, maybe it's because they're family?
They say you don't know what you have until it's gone. I couldn't stop feeling weak around my family.
As we spend more and more time together, I might be able to act like I used to… but right now, it still feels so unreal that I'm cautious about everything.
And at that moment, the original song 'Aiming' that I heard repeatedly throughout the filming of
"Oh, it's starting."
- "Shoot for the dream of debut!"
The first episode of
I narrowed my eyes as I examined the screen.
A small caption was visible on the upper right corner.
150-Minute Special Programming to Celebrate the First Broadcast of
The first broadcast of
It was to generate buzz by revealing all the rankings within a single day, but it didn't mean that everyone had equal screen time.
So, there's two things I need to check.
When and for how long did I appear on screen?
Also 'how' I was edited.
It's my seventh year as an idol, and most of those years were spent being a malicious member, avoided by broadcasting stations.
"Ah… I got completed edited out. Why the heck did they invite me, then? Should've just let me drink at the dorm…"
Malicious editing, being edited out, and whatnot. I've experienced it all.
And the people experiencing the opposite of that.
- "Hello, I'm trainee Son Jae-ha."
AG purebloods.
Korean AG trainees like Jae-ha hyung, Ji Hwa-seong, Jang Si-woo, and Ahn Jin-woo were shown practicing together in the August underground practice room.
- "A survival show sounds terrifying… but I don't have a choice. I really debut through this."
- "Let's work really hard and debut together. On the count of three! One, two—"
- "Let's debut!"
- "Ah, that was too fast!"
As the four of them chatted about
"My, I hope it goes well for them…"
"Agreed. Jae-ha? Son Jae-ha. He's handsome."
Without needing my phone, I could get a hint of the reactions on SNS just by listening to my family.
"Seriously, so cute…"
I glanced at Kim Nari, who was muttering while watching Si-woo smile shyly, then turned back to the screen.
Since the editing boosts their already appealing looks, you can't help but fall in love.
Now that I've seen the way they showcase the prominent trainees, I just need to focus on myself.
"Tsk…"
"Huh, is Kim Chunyong feeling nervous? A change of heart?"
"Noona, you'd get in big trouble if you talked like that in front of your students…"
"Are you one of them? Mind your own business."
That mouth, really, tch tch.
After a deep sigh, I tapped my finger on the armrest I was sitting on as I tried to recall how the previous broadcasting went.
After Jin-woo appeared, the AG global trainees came out; I think I was the 10th one to be revealed. I wonder how it'll go this time.
Still, the production team's reaction wasn't bad, so I might come around the 8th time.
Just as I briefly looked away, trying to guess when I'd appear, my older sister suddenly grabbed my shoulder and started fussing.
"Hm? Hey, Kim Chunyong! It's you!"
"Wh- what? What did you say?"
"Look at that cockiness. Even from behind, it's clearly you."
"…eh?"
It was true.
Familiar sneakers from a shot of the feet, a black blouson draped over the shoulders, and even slightly form-fitting jeans.
- "Hello, Spring Chun! Dragon Yong! I am Kim Chunyong! Nice to meet you!"
…Why am I coming out so early?
Right after the Korean AG trainees, at that?
"Ah, is my name old-fashioned? I never really thought of it like that…"
Me on the screen, looking bashful as I countered Moon Yoon-ha's nitpicking.
I thought they would edit out the parts where Moon Yoon-ha was being harsh, but they just aired it as is?
"Ha, haha…"
I let out a hollow laugh while watching myself on the TV.
I was used too seeing myself on screen hundreds of times already, though I suppose I'd be flustered from seeing my younger self without mental preparation.
Above all…
"Puhahaha!"
I tried to hide my embarrassment by swatting at my sisters' arms, who were laughing and pointing at the screen.
"Don't laugh! I said don't laugh!"
I didn't know they'd have this kind of reaction, as I had stayed at the dorm instead of coming home back then.
My family, alternating between my flushed face and the refined image on screen, laughed uncontrollably.
"Seriously, who wouldn't find it funny? My little brother's out there acting the total opposite of himself. Hah—'Is my name old-fashioned?', really?"
"Totally. Man, look at you, a full face of makeup. Are you a bride, oppa? It looks like bridal makeup."
"Was I supposed to go bare-faced, then? You'd call me ugly if I did!"
"Oh, cough. My- my son is handsome, isn't he…"
"Dad! Not you too!"
At my shouts, my family all had to cover their mouths in an attempt to stop their laughter.
I rubbed my face roughly and tried to ignore it.
Right, let's not get worked up for nothing. Monitoring is the most important right now, I can't slack off. They'll get used to it eventually anyway.
I turned back to the broadcast, wondering if my eyes were deceiving me, but they weren't.
My part is… okay.
- "Don't be an idol... join my crew instead."
- "Thank you for looking upon me favorably, but... I want to become an idol. Still, thank you so much for your kind words!"
Off the bat, the chemistry with Jin Dasol, then the humorous segment of me getting picked on by Moon Yoon-ha, and the scolding from Senior Min Si-young wasn't so bad either.
- "...I can't give this stage a score. I'll give it the lowest score."
- "...I'll give 100 points."
- "Uh…"
I focused more on the subtle friction between Jin Dasol and Senior Min Si-young, feeling like a shrimp in a whale fight.
Did 'that' Joo Cheol-yeong think highly of me? Enough to go to such lengths for me?
Back then, I got proper screen time only in the 4th competition.
"Tsk…"
Either way, it was a good thing. There's nothing wrong with standing out from the start, plus, it'd leave a lasting impression on the viewers.
Thanks to that, I was able to better observe how the other trainees appeared.
- "Trainee Bang Yoo-chan's voice is truly… unique. You sing well too. It's rare to find talent like this."
- "Haha… thank you. It's because I'm not good at dancing, so I thought I should at least sing well! I'll work harder."
Yoo-chan hyung's portion was not so different from what I had seen before.
Fresh and youthful, but still clumsy. The epitome of an unpolished gem.
"Mom really likes that kid, hm? He's a nice kid. But rather than that…"
"Honey, what do you mean?"
At Mom's unusual shyness, Dad widened his eyes. I swiftly settled between them and whispered to Mom.
"Mom, I'm close to that hyung. I'll bring him over some time for a meal."
"Oh my! I'll need to grill some meat then."
Sorry, Dad, but what can I do?
Our household is a matriarchy.
The trainees who appeared afterward were mainly foreign trainees, like Tsubasa and Ryota from Japan, and…
- "Thank you! Thank you, I'll work even harder!"
<※Caution※ No talking about Liverpool in front of Logan>
Unlike before, where the first episode ended with Liu Wei's flawless performance, this time it was Logan, smiling brightly and waving at the judges.
I was slightly surprised by it.
I did think the order might change because of me, but I didn't expect Logan would be edited so well.
No, maybe it should've been like this back then too.
Was it because I had overheard Liu Wei and Gao Yan's conversation just before coming home?
Even though I tried not to think about it, I couldn't get Logan off my mind.
'Someone like that withdrawing after the next competition.'
I'll have to talk to him more or dig deeper for now…
Wrapping up my thoughts, I looked at the time on the TV and cheerfully spoke to my family.
"There's still one more episode left. Should we watch it while eating something else? Like chicken?"
"An idol trainee eating chicken? Aren't you supposed to be careful with your weight?"
"It's fine, I don't gain weight even if I stuff myself."
"I really want to punch you."
"So you'll eat it, right? I'll go out and get some. There's a 2,000 won discount if you get it to-go."
"Alright. Use your own money."
Walking away from my family as they waved goodbye, I slipped out the front door and quickly pulled out my phone to check the SNS community.
Poof!
- X: Hey, are you gonna see the reactions??
- X: I checked it already while watching your broadcast.
- X: It's on a whole different level compared to the trailer?? I don't think you should watch this?? In my opinion, I strongly advise against it >_<
As if knowing my thoughts, messages from X popped up to stop me. I sank down in the apartment hallway where the sensors were acting up, and typed a reply.
- Kim Chunyong: I have enough experience as an idol; I won't lose my composure over something like this lol
Now that the first episode had aired, it was the perfect time to gauge the rawest SNS reactions before it become fully fan-driven.
I have no choice but to this to be able to prepare for future broadcasts.
"…Well, can't be worse than the day I threw up on stage. It's the first broadcast."
I swallowed hard once, and clicked on the post at the very top of the trending page; [Targeting Star f*ck this is awesome lol].
And so Pandora's Box opens.