Business block, Zithen family complex, State Zhyphrese, Draconian continent Voldage, and the Year 2041, Planet Grimoire.
While the second shoot went well, some post-interviews did not go over well with many participants. As Tae-Jun suspected would happen, many of them needed to be made aware of the real aim of the interviews toward the end of the day. He grimaced when reflecting on what happened. "Man, I don't think those kids knew what would happen to them." While none were kids, biologically speaking, their mentality was that of preadolescents. They had been spoiled beyond belief, and that was to their detriment.
All of the reporters came with minor research done. What they'd really wanted to do was get a scoop on how the prospective idols behaved behind the scenes. One of their goals was to catch potential scandals in the making that would gain attention with snide headlines.
Fortunately, because he'd been alerted to their presence, Tae-Jun avoided most of them. He'd spoken to a few reporters, but that was only because it was required. Tae-Jun had to seem polite and courteous to the media frenzy if he wanted any sound bytes later. He had also done his best not to mention his mother or family, for that matter.
Gut instinct warned Tae-Jun that mentioning either subject would land him in scorching hot water, and he really didn't need that right now. If anything, he was beginning to feel the effects of insufficient water. He was extremely thirsty and starting to lose his voice. That wasn't all due to talking, either.
When Cilin found him taking refuge on a staircase between the walls of two rooms, he seemed surprised. "I take it that you've reached your limit."
Tae-Jun glanced at him wryly. "Just for a wee bit. I'm excessively parched and hungry." He rubbed his forehead. "Honestly, the waiting room was growing suffocatingly noisy and hot. I needed time away from the reporters as well."
"You did quite well for someone not used to this atmosphere," Cilin informed Tae-Jun. "I found your efforts quite admirable." He seemed bemused by what he'd witnessed.
That gave Tae-Jun pause. "I'm glad you were pleased with my efforts," he said quietly. "I'm glad to think that something good will come out of this eventually."
They sat silently once Cilin handed him another energy bar and a water flask. "I'm afraid that's all I can give you right now," he told Tae-Jun. "Right now, any food I dared give you would add extra pounds, which wouldn't go over well with anyone."
Well, he'd known there were drawbacks to what the participants could and could not do while on set. Secure in knowing that he'd avoided the worst offenses that could be committed, Tae-Jun shrugged. "Yeah, they were getting really aggravated with some of the participants."
Cilin frowned when he heard that. "Please tell me what happened there." The fact that he didn't know indicated that he'd been elsewhere for a reasonable time.
"It really wasn't that big of a deal," Tae-Jun didn't mind telling Cilin what he observed. "There were just a couple of participants that insisted on drinking sodas and other stuff that wasn't really good in keeping them focused." He shook his head in disparagement. "If anything, it would eventually dry them out and make them look like mummified corpses." There are better ways of presenting oneself to the world through the lens of a camera.
Cilin smiled faintly. "We should get back in there," he encouraged Tae-Jun, who was gradually starting to wonder if this was going to work at all.
Several hours passed because several delays had occurred despite all the preparations made beforehand. Tae-Jun was exhausted but still pleased with the progress. He'd avoided the worst scenario that could've happened.
That of being banned for fighting or creating unnecessary chaos. That happened to several participants who had attempted to fulfill someone's orders to get Tae-Jun thrown out. Instead, the reversal occurred, and those unlucky minions discovered who wasn't a trustworthy backer when they got into serious trouble. Now, the list of participants had thinned out far too much.
They were currently in between interviews. Tae-Jun was getting grumpy, and he knew Cilin was even grumpier. This was no way to use up time efficiently. "Hey, Cilin, what would you normally do right now?" He wasn't even sure what time of day or night it was.
Cilin yawned. "I'd be getting ready to sleep." He glanced at his watch. "We've gone seriously overtime. What are they thinking, not just postponing the rest of the interviews til tomorrow?" His annoyed growl echoed Tae-Jun's frame of mind.
Even when they were grumbling about this and that, word finally came down.
There would be an end to this interminably dull moment.
However, only some things were entirely up to par.
"While we'll resume activities tomorrow, there will be a mandatory meal since we're all here this late."
Cilin grimaced. Tae-Jun sighed in exasperation. "Great, kiss goodbye, a comfortable meal." He shrugged in resignation.
Cilin nodded. "The best we can gain from this will be potentially meeting a manager who'll take over from me."
As Tae-Jun suspected, Cilin needed to be cut out for this tedious, thankless work. "I hear you," he shrugged when Cilin stared at him in surprise. "I could tell you weren't in the mood to do this initially. Next time, if I devise such a scheme, just ignore me, okay?"
Not certain that he'd been the one behind this arrangement, Tae-Jun was almost certain that Cilin had agreed unwillingly, which caused some of the tension to rise around him.
Cilin stared at him blankly. "You think you're the one who requested this?" he said finally.
Tae-Jun shrugged. "Sure, seems like what a cowardly little fool would do." He rubbed his forehead. "From what I could tell, you were the only steadfast friend I seem to have." Tae-Jun phrased his wording carefully since they were around people.
"There seems to have been a serious misunderstanding somewhere." Cilin picked up on what he was trying to say and nodded with thinned lips.
At his reminder about where they were, Cilin huffed in aggravation. "Yes, that is true." They stood off to one side where they wouldn't be easily overheard.