69 - Upki Girl

< Soweon is Light, and for Me, Yeonhong is the Truth > 10 a.m. As all the trainers hummed their way into work, the first meeting since the team's formation began. First on the agenda was deciding on the team name. Each of us had been tasked with coming up with a suggestion, but Eunbi and I had already decided on "Upkey Girl." Each person would present their idea, followed by a vote to make the final selection. Soweon confidently raised her hand first. "Oh, Soweon." "Since Director Kwon planned this, how about 'Kim Yunho Girls'?" "Rejected." "Then 'Produce KYH'?" "Stop it. Next, Yona." "How about ‘Heung Girls’? It means having a lot of fun, and it goes well with the sound of humming." Heung Girls... Yona, were you always this old-fashioned? When the audience wasn't too thrilled, Yona shyly buried her face in the table and waved her hand dismissively. "Ah, I'm not good at this. Let's just pretend you didn't hear me." Next. "Our Hong, do you have any ideas?" "Uh... since everyone else has a fresh image, maybe Strawberry...?" "Not bad, but does our Hong want to eat strawberries?" She didn't deny it, just nodded with a faint smile. "Yes..." "Next, Aliya." "Soweon is Light, and for Me, Yeonhong is the Truth." "Uh?" "That's the team name?" When Yeom and I tilted our heads in confusion, Aliya stood up, as if we were the ones lacking comprehension. She scribbled it out in neat handwriting on the whiteboard and explained. [Soweon][is light][and for me][Yeonhong][is the truth] Ah. It's a sentence using the members' names. Surprisingly creative. "Aliya, that's adorable." "Wow... she's really smart." "Can I use that as my text profile?" "Of course." The rest of the members, excluding Soweon, liked it, but it wasn't quite right for a team name. I diplomatically expressed my rejection, not wanting to offend our princess. "Uh, it’s really clever, but let's put it on hold for now." "Why not?" "It sounds more like a slogan fans would use on cheering banners, don’t you think?" "Obviously. I'm a fan, yoo." "No, that's not what I mean by that..." "Then tell us yours, Mr. Kim. Let's see how good it is, yoo." "Aliya, if you don’t want to use honorifics with me, just don't. I'm fine with it." "Okay. Then I won't." "Eunbi and I thought of something together...” "Oh wow, you two are soul partners. If you like each other that much, just get married." I'm going to twist my ankle. Why does everything I say get intercepted like this? "Han Soweon, we're in a meeting. Watch your mouth." "Yeah, yeah, sorry. That marriage comment was a joke." "Raised Girl Group, shortened to Upkey Girl. How about it?" "What does it mean?" Yeom asked. I explained that it means 'a girl group raised dearly by the company' and 'a girl group nurtured with love by fans.' The reaction wasn't bad. Each person mumbled 'Upkey Girl,' trying out the pronunciation. "Not bad, isn't it?" "Yeah, it's okay. We could even play on the words 'up' and 'key' for additional meanings." "Yunho, you've got a knack for this." Yeom, Rujoo, and Hoonmin approved. And the members? "Upkey Girl sounds good." "I like it too." "I love it." They approved. Except for one. "I disagree. I want 'Soweon is Light, and for Me, Yeonhong is the Truth.' I'm the sponsor, shouldn't I at least get to choose the name?" I entered the negotiation. "Let's save that as the official fan cheering slogan. Sound fair?" "Then I'll be the fan club president." "But... Aliya, you're supposed to be a member..." "Why does Mr. Kim keep challenging me? Do you see me as a rival?" "No way. How could I dare to with a princess?" "Then I'll be the fan club president, okay?" "Yes, yes. Do as you please. You always have to get what you want, don't you?" Member, sponsor, and fan club president. Cash, come quickly. Or else I'll throw a stone. After Aliya and I reached a dramatic compromise, the team name was finally confirmed. "So from today onwards, the team name is Upkey Girl." Following this, Yeom shared the new trainee schedule and aesthetic appointments for appearance management, indicating that the members would receive more professional and detailed care than before. "Please, Yunho, update the group chat with the members' daily schedules every day. Oh, how are we preparing for the K Noa concert rehearsals?" "Today and tomorrow evening in the practice room. It's in Hapjeong-dong; Jangwoo and I will go." "And this is just my personal opinion, but outside, we should refer to each other by titles rather than names and use formal language. We’re new, and ditching formalities might make us look unprofessional." "Yeah, I agree with that." "That's the way it should be." Though still clumsy, the company was slowly shaping up as an entertainment agency. Though I often consulted with Yeom or researched the entertainment industry through online communities, Yeom was working the hardest. As a PD, he searched for international materials daily to strategize the group's concept and album direction, while also managing external business and company affairs as the CEO, meaning his dark circles never went away. He'd also lost quite a bit of weight since we first met. Especially when an investment project he was handling stagnated, he considered giving up his apartment to use as a deposit for the members' accommodation, opting instead to eat and sleep at the office. Thinking of it, we should really carry Aliya on our backs. I managed to secure my retirement money and even got back the money I had given as advances to the kids. Things are going well. Although recruiting members was a bit of a hassle, the reduced interference I've noticed from the info screen since suggests that everything is proceeding according to plan. I've reached a point where I can handle operations without relying too much on the info screen’s guidance. "Eunbi's live streaming schedule will be flexible for now." "Alright." "Oh, and they said they saw ghosts at the kids' dorm?" "What?" Soon after I finished speaking, Units 1, 2, and 3 eagerly recounted their ghost sighting experiences. "I’m so scared, I can’t even go to the bathroom alone." "I feel exhausted despite having slept; it feels like my energy is being drained." "I'm grateful to Aliya, but honestly, just girls in that big house feels a bit unsettling." "What do you expect me to do? Move the dorm? Where in Korea can you find a place more secure than that? And ghosts in the 21st century, really..." Soweon shook her head reluctantly at Yeom's curt response. "Honestly, I don't believe in ghosts either, but three people saw the same thing. An old man with a conical hat. If Hong and Aliya had been awake, they would have seen it too." "Ah!" Aliya whined playfully and huddled closer to Hong, shivering. "Sis, that's scary, stop. Aliya really doesn’t like ghosts." Hong trembled slightly, too. "I don't like scary stories either... I mean, no one really likes ghosts..." "So from today, Director Gwak is going to stay with us." At Eunbi's words, Hunmin scoffed and glanced at me. "Feels like they’re bluffing just to have Yunho stay with them." "Oh, it's not like that at all~" "Wow, Mr. Hunmin, that’s so unfair, making them out to be liars like that." "But it's true..." "Anyway, until Cassie arrives, Director Gwak needs to stay. We didn’t sleep at all last night." "Okay, okay." The others still seemed skeptical. I, too, questioned the ghost story—I don't believe in ghosts or superstitions either. Still, even if it was a lie to bring me over, I didn’t mind much. Since I told my family about quitting my job, I've been under critical eyes from both Ssingssing Girl and Mr. Kim Gyudon, so I needed a place to escape for a while. The house has more than a few rooms, so I could just use one on the second floor. When else would I get the chance to live in the LX Village? And now that I'm not working at the company, spending time with the kids could be fun and enjoyable. *** "Hey, we should get some sleep. It's already two a.m." "Already? Let's finish watching this first." "Aren't you tired? You said you didn’t sleep last night." "Once I get home, I don’t feel tired." "Yeah, I also can't sleep when I finally lie down." After the day ended, we returned to the dorm together. We had dinner and gathered in the living room to watch variety shows and music broadcasts on the screen, and before we knew it, it was almost two a.m. They had complained that they’d sleep as soon as they got back, yet being surrounded by friends felt like a school trip, and the conversation never stopped. But they still need to sleep for tomorrow. "No can do. Managing your condition is also part of your job." With the sternness of a drill instructor, I switched off the TV with the remote and stood up decisively. "Aaah!" "We're not pros yet, are we?" "Are you joking? Saying that in front of Aliya? Don’t forget there’s already a ten-billion-won investment riding on you guys." "Mr. Kim, I don’t mind. Playing with my sisters like this is more fun. If you're sleepy, Mr. Kim, just go to bed." "Aliya. I let it slide earlier since we were in front of the producers, but are you really going to keep using casual speech with the Director?" Wow, if nothing else, the choice of leader was on point. Aliya, lying down, straightened up at Yona's sharp remark. "Mr. Kim said it was okay..." "Sigh." "I'll do as you say, Sis..." "Okay, let’s get up. If you have more to say, do it in your rooms. I’m too tired to stay up any longer." "Yes, let’s go in. I’m getting tired too." With Yona’s comment, the situation finally settled. Everyone got up, tidying the area as they went. "Goodnight, everyone. Make sure to monitor Hong in case she wakes up in the middle of the night for a snack." "If Hong is asleep, you could carry her anywhere without her knowing." "Yeah, once I’m asleep, I barely wake up." "But Sis, you snore pretty loudly." "Oh, sorry... but if you lightly push me and remind me, I don’t snore for about an hour." "Really?" "Yeah, my siblings used to do it all the time." "Then we should take turns tapping you every hour like a watch." Just as I was about to head up to the second floor, Eunbi called after me. "If you get scared, you can sleep with us." "Hey. If a ghost appears, do let me know. I've never seen one before." "Oh, just see one for yourself and you'd sing a different tune." "I'm heading up first. Turn off the lights before heading down." "Goodnight, Director!" "Sleep well." "Goodnight." "Yes, alright. You too. See you in the morning." "Keep your phone on, in case we call you if a ghost appears." "Oki." Answering casually, I went up to the second-floor bedroom, set an alarm, watched some trendy girl group videos, and drifted off to sleep happily. It wasn't long before I was startled awake by a ringing phone. It was Yona, sounding teary. “Director, please come down quickly." "Why, what happened?" “Ghost, a ghost... there’s a ghost in the basement bathroom, waah.” "Okay, I've got it. The Director will be there right away." After hanging up, I started feeling slightly goosebumpy myself. It was just before 4 a.m. I turned on the light in my room and switched on each light as I made my way down to the first floor. As I was heading to the kitchen by the stairs leading to the basement, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. What the...? Oh no! Oh my God! The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Incredibly, there was the ghostly figure the kids had described—a pale old man with a conical straw hat and white beard, wearing a traditional white robe—sitting right at the head of the kitchen table! This is why people watch horror movies in the summer. With goosebumps crawling all over me and feeling the chill spreading through my body, I reckoned, "Oh my gosh, what the heck is happening!” Trying to shake off the terror by speaking out loud, I was about to confront the ghost when it suddenly stood up and shrieked terrifyingly at me. “Kiyaaah!” The scream was so chilling that I reflexively screamed back. “Waaah!” As I frantically dashed toward the entrance, I heard something unexpected: “Hahahahahaha!” “Puhahaha!” Laughter erupted from all corners of the living room as Units 1 to 5 appeared, their phones in hand, recording every bit of it. Eunbi, Aliya, and Soweon rolled on the floor, laughing their heads off. "Did you see his face?!” “Hahaha! We're going to be teasing him about this forever!" That's when it dawned on me—it was all an elaborate prank devised by the kids. But then, who played the ghost? “Oh, I apologize, Director. The young lady insisted...” The one pulling off the disguise, taking off his hat, was none other than Aliya’s driver, Mr. Hong. Even with a fake beard and costume, the lengths they went to just to freak me out were remarkable. “Wow, really...” "Looks like you got quite the scare, didn’t you?" "Now I understand why people have heart attacks. Man, that was no joke." I turned my attention to Yona, who was giggling right in front of me with her camera rolling. "You acted really well. You've got talent, for sure." "Hehehe. How’s your first experience at the Upkey Girl dorm?” “Did you all stay up just for this?” “Yes. We even rehearsed it twice.” “Amazing, truly. Now hurry and get some sleep.” “Oh, my stomach hurts from laughing so much." "Director Gwak's really made an epic moment in history!" “Hahaha, hahaha!” I hated it. I couldn't stand any of these rascals right now, but I especially detested Aliya, who was pointing at me and laughing so hard, clearly trying to push my buttons. "All right, it was fun. Time to sleep now." Knowing that reacting would only give them more fuel to tease me, I decided to remain composed and trod back up to the second floor amidst their echoing laughter. Once back in my room... "Ugh... This is infuriating." I couldn't help but curse out loud. What annoyed me even more was that when I turned off the lights and lay down, I kept recalling the creepy image of Mr. Hong shrieking in the guise of a ghost, which genuinely scared me. Once fear sets in, it’s relentless. With the unfamiliar bed making me restless, everything from shadows in the ceiling corners to past horror stories swirled uselessly through my mind. "Damn it..." I can't sleep alone like this. I never thought I'd be like this at thirty-five. In the end, clutching a pillow under one arm, I went down to the basement and threw open the door to their room. The kids were still giggling, replaying the footage they’d shot. Perched on the top bunk, Aliya spotted me, expressing exaggerated glee. “Hahaha! It's Mr. Gwak! Hey, scaredy-cat Mr. Gwak! What brings you here?” Though her taunting twisted my insides, I had no choice. I surrendered to my defeat and sought solace from the enemy. “Hey, I’m too scared to sleep alone. I’ll crash here.” Before I even finished speaking, Eunbi and Hanga scooted back, patting the mattress with welcoming gestures. "Come here." "Here's a spot for you." < Soweon is Light, and for Me, Yeonhong is the Truth > End