Chapter 241
It's already last year.
When I was participating in
There were quite a few fans who put up subway advertisements so that more people would know about the trainees they were rooting for.
In fact, Kang Si-yoon and I had advertisements in many subway stations.
The first place we had them was Jamsil Station. And that was..........
"That's right. And it's also a place we visited in person after making thorough preparations, right?"
"I remember the bloody fight with countless plastic bags."
"When you say that, it feels like we fought some kind of bloody war."
Kang Si-yoon laughed at my expressiveness.
To be exact, at that time, Kang Si-yoon suggested a counteroffensive, so we had a hard time wrapping up a small gift to give to the fans.
I guessed the idea that had formed in his head as I recalled the words Kang Si-yoon had said earlier.
"I see, it seems like you want to prepare a similar operation this time to commemorate that time."
"As expected, you're quick-witted. Honestly, have you learned mind reading?"
"Don't talk nonsense. It's all revealed in your expression, so I can't help but notice."
"Really?"
Kang Si-yoon blinked with his innocent face.
"What kind of expression did I have?"
"Every time your eyes sparkle, an ominous feeling comes over me."
"Shouldn't it be the opposite? Why are the eyes sparkling so ominous?"
"I'm worried about what kind of outrageous thing you'll say this time."
"Hey, it's nothing."
I watched Kang Si-yoon shrug his shoulders.
I don't believe it at all.
"As you said, I thought it would be nice to bring a small gift to Seleves in front of the billboard while reminiscing about the time of IPS."
"Ahem."
"Just like back then, write a nice letter and stick it up."
"Ahem."
"Of course, we were trainees back then, but now we're idols who got rookie awards and album awards, right? So I think we should leave it at around 5 a.m. and come back so as not to bother other citizens."
"I can't sleep."
"Why is someone who doesn't usually sleep much whining?"
That makes sense. Even during
The moment they see eyewitness accounts that we, who are currently rising in status at an incredible rate, showed up at Jamsil Station, we could have caused trouble for the people around us.
'In a word, it means that we have to film a sneaking action scene.'
I nodded and started checking the things that needed to be confirmed first.
"I remember wrapping snacks and chocolates last time, but what kind of gift do you want this time?"
"I'm the type to find out things in advance. Let's go to my room."
"What else have you hidden?"
I followed Kang Si-yoon into the room.
Kang Si-yoon immediately hummed and took out something from the storage box under the bed.
"Look, did they come out well?"
What Kang Si-yoon proudly showed me were none other than his photos.
One thing that was special was that they weren't made of thin material like regular printed photos but of a similar material to our album photo cards.
"I made a photo card with some photos I took on our trip, some photos I took at KAMA, and some photos I took in everyday life. And if you look at the back, it says:"
".....oh."
"There are different messages and signatures like this."
I don't know when he started planning this, but Kang Si-yoon seems to have thoroughly prepared for the counter tribute.
He found a company that makes their own photo cards, commissioned them, and even wrote messages on them!
Kang Si-yoon looked at the photo cards and smiled faintly.
"...Do you remember what we always said when we talked about our feelings?"
"We talked about so many feelings that I don't know exactly what we meant."
"We always said that we wouldn't lose our original intention, no matter what the situation was."
We won't lose our original intention.
That's what all the Seleste members, including me, always said as a habit.
I think we value the word 'beginner's mind' even more because we started from the bottom and debuted after overcoming extremely high competition.
"No matter how well we do, no matter how popular we become, I think we should always work hard like this because we promised ourselves not to lose our original intentions."
".........We have to somehow give the fans some joy?"
Kang Si-yoon nodded.
I understood the meaning behind his words.
Usually, idols who have reached the same level as us do not come forward and give tribute to their fans in this way.
Even if they do reverse tribute, they do it through the agency. They don't go to the billboard themselves and leave a gift secretly like we did when we were trainees.
There are scheduling difficulties, and as we mentioned earlier, it could be a nuisance to those around us.
However, Kang Si-yoon says this.
No matter how our status changes, our original intention will always remain the same.
I smiled with a grateful heart.
"Doesn't it feel a bit empty to just give a photo card?"
"Oh, of course. Even though it may not be as much as last time, I thought I should at least give some food."
"So you're going to drag me shopping, that's what you meant."
"I like you because you understand things quickly."
He is truly an unstoppable guy.
***
When we told our plan to our manager, he replied that it seemed like a good idea and that he would actively help us.
I had no idea what kind of help 'active support' would be.
"Hey, what's that card?"
".........Manager hyung said 'Beobka [short for company card]'."
"What? A beobka?"
Kang Si-yoon, who had changed into his outdoor clothes, was surprised when he saw the black card in my hand.
Of course, since I was a Korean in my past life, I knew what a 'beobka' was, but since I was currently acting as a foreigner from Estonia, I had to control my expression as much as possible and pretend not to know.
"So this is what they meant by support."
"What is this card?"
"If we lose this, we'll be in big trouble. It's a company card."
Kang Si-yoon's eyes sparkled. Once again, it felt something ominous.
"In short, it means that we can spend money without worrying about money today! Let's go!"
"No, where are you going all of a sudden! The mart is clearly this way."
"We have a BeobKa, but why are we at a mart like this? We should go straight to the shopping mall! Hey, hurry!"
"Wake up!"
After barely subduing Kang Si-yoon by hitting him on the back of the neck, I headed to a nearby large mart with him.
Kang Si-yoon kept grumbling on the way.
"It was a great opportunity to buy what I wanted."
"If this is a company card like you said, then all the usage history will be recorded. What if you get caught buying more than you need without permission?"
"I'll think about it then."
Now is the time to give a moderate carrot.
I cleared my throat and made a promise to Kang Si-yoon.
"If there's anything you need, of course I'll buy it for you."
"Really? Really?"
"Of course, after I get enough money."
However, Kang Si-yoon, who couldn't possibly listen to me, went wild and started listing the things he wanted one by one.
"I really want Min-ha's Playbox! I looked it up and found out that the second generation of the Playbox is coming out in a few months, so I want to buy one of those, and I also need to buy a few clothes, and I wanted to buy that coat that I found a while ago! And-"
"Later! When the settlement comes in later, I'll buy you what you need as a gift, so hold on for now!"
After coaxing and appeasing Kang Si-yoon, we were barely able to enter the food section.
Since bulky snacks are hard to wrap nicely in plastic bags, we looked at small-sized chocolates and cookies this time as well.
Instead, we chose things that were a little more expensive than when we were trainees.
"Since we're using the BeobKa, we should put in the most expensive ones."
Kang Si-yoon is a very thorough person in places like this.
We put foreign cookies, chocolates, and jelly in our baskets, and after paying, we went up to another floor to buy the items needed for packaging.
"Let's see the letterhead too."
"I was planning on using it too, so that's good. I can buy it all at once."
When we visited the subway billboard during
The video of us diligently sticking up stationery at a safe height became a huge topic of conversation among fans.
It was a great idea to relive that feeling and send handwritten messages to fans again.
We even bought stationery with cute characters on them and walked out of the large mart with proud steps.
On the way back to the dorm, Kang Si-yoon pushed my shoulder.
"Hey, come to think of it, you went far away and bought a rainbow doll for Yoon-chul's birthday."
"Yes."
"Why don't you show me that kind of affection?"
I sighed lightly.
My breath came out because it was still a chilly winter day.
"Didn't I tell you earlier? I'll buy you the gift you want when the settlement money comes in."
"In short, aren't you saying that you're just pushing with money? No sincerity?"
"Then what do you want me to do?"
I said I'd buy him the gift he wanted. I have no idea what he wants.
I deliberately wrinkled my nose and continued.
"If you really want a gift with sincerity."
"If I want it?"
"Instead of the expensive gift you want, can I just write you five chapter letters with my heart?"
"Oh, that's good?"
That's not it.
Kang Si-yoon wiggled his eyebrows up and down after hearing what I said.
His eyes sparkled like a hyena that had come across a good opportunity.
"You promised? To write five letters."
"Then, then you won't get the expensive gift you want-"
"It doesn't matter. I can buy it myself once I get the settlement. Anyway, you and I have similar financial circumstances, you know. Your personal schedule was nothing but that Korean language game. If you compare me with my parents here, who would be more relaxed between you who came to abroad and lives alone?"
"......."
I was speechless.
Kang Si-yoon, who couldn't miss this flow, pressed me even harder, looking even happier.
"Are you looking forward to it? Ey ya, this is the first time I've received a birthday letter from a guy. I should brag to my mom."
"Why on earth are you bragging to your mom?"
"Karis even wrote a letter for me! I should brag to her like that."
"Stop it!"
I could feel my face burning.
Kang Si-yoon made a really angry expression and wiggled his index finger.
"Hey, I'm the kind one who's letting you go. Then I'll reduce it from 5 chapters to 3 chapters."
"It's not important to reduce it to 3!"
"Then just make it 5."
"...Please make it 3."
"Hey, you already rejected me once."
Kang Si-yoon's mind works like crazy only at times like this.
He handed me the shopping bag containing the items we bought today and made another condition.
"If you wrap 20 gift bags, I'll consider reducing it to 3."
"Are you asking me to wrap 20 by myself? Then you're shameless enough to only do 5-"
"Oh, do you want to write 5 letters or wrap 20 gifts?"
"....."
I want to scold my past self.
What on earth was he thinking when he said that?
I slumped my shoulders and reluctantly agreed.
"...I'll pack 20."
"Okay! Since it's come to this, do the remaining five too."
"This is such a blatant robbery!"
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