143 - Upki Girl

< A Soldier Turned Into a Non-Soldier! > A glass of carbonated drink after consuming hefty meals like meat. Sometimes, it feels so refreshing and thrilling that you might think you ate just so you could drink it. That's what the current situation felt like. After snapping back at Eyecontact, the relief was immense. It felt like enduring three hours of servitude to Riya was all to enjoy this Cola-like moment more refreshingly. Of course, there was some causality between the two phenomena. The stress accumulated unconsciously during those three hours burst out as retribution against Eyecontact and Kim Seok-won. Had I been in my usual state, I wouldn’t have been so emotional and blunt. I’d have pretended not to see it or snapped as rationally as possible at Kim Seok-won, rather than Eyecontact. Anyway, it was immensely relieving. I could even empathize with Seowon and why he indulges in such blunt talk. I owe the glory of this relief to Up-Kigirl. Ultimately, it was the kids' skills that backed this up, allowing us to land these factual blows. If our skills had been lacking, we would have received backlash like, "Take care of your own business." In Eyecontact, only their leader, Sumi, glared at me, while the rest avoided my gaze, murmuring things like "hmph" and "tch." "Hey, you jerk. Who are you to boss our kids around?" Kim Seok-won, rolling his tongue in his mouth with a displeased expression, finally spat out curses. Getting riled up here would mean losing. I called out to Jangu, who was observing the situation by my side. "Jangu." "Yes, Director." "Let's start recording now. Just in case Director Kim uses violence like last time, we need evidence." "Understood." Before I even finished speaking, not only Jangu but also the five members of Up-Kigirl, stylist, and hair and makeup staff all pointed their phones at Kim Seok-won, the sound of video recording notification tones harmonizing like a chorus. And calmly, I antagonized Kim Seok-won. "I'm not bossing them around; I'm just concerned. What's the use of great company strategies if the singer doesn’t improve their skills? Winning an online vote doesn’t inherently raise skills. Even if you excel in internet voting, do you think the judges will mention you during the live show? You'll just be treated like decoration." That seemed to sting a bit. Sumi of Eyecontact retorted indignantly. "What do you know about us to talk so freely?" I know a lot. Yona told me plenty of your backstories. During trainee days, you all relentlessly practiced and strived towards a shared dream. There was a time when everyone was pure, beautiful, and passionate. However, after debuting, personalities started to diverge. Some members fell into the trap of a small fandom’s endless praise and became arrogant, eventually succumbing to sponsors’ temptations, altering the course of their lives. If you look at the SNS of Eyecontact members, they live lives not dissimilar to famous celebrities. How can an obscure girl group, not even having received their settlement, flaunt luxury shoes or bags, photos of foreign car passenger seats, and vacation spots every day? Fans might give gifts, sure, but that's only part of it, they say. Even without sponsors, they take turns meeting a few wealthy fools, receiving material gifts under the guise of being lovers or ‘some’ relationships. Initially, Yona too thought such a path was correct after hearing Kim Seok-won’s words. There was a time when she believed that most entertainers slowly climbed up using such methods. But, in the end, she couldn’t deny the voice of her heart and chose a different path from Eyecontact. Of course, when it comes to sponsors, Yona says she still hasn’t found the right answer. She wonders whether it's 'partial' or, as Kim Seok-won insists, the true unvarnished face of show business, despite having experienced it herself. That indicates just how deep and blurry the ties between the entertainment industry, businesses, and sponsors are. Even looking at gossip columns from the stock market or leaked confidential data from advertising companies one could expect as much. I scrutinized the faces of Sumi, who was glaring with injustice, as well as the other members of Eyecontact. Among them, there’s even a minor. Right, what crime have you committed? It's the fault of the wretched representatives and despicable adults who misled you. Or is it? Weren't you also enjoying all there was to enjoy and living contentedly? In that case, you’ve met perfectly in your circles. Just don’t splash that filth onto us. As I didn’t respond to Sumi’s words, Kim Seok-won charged in arrogantly. "Hey, no matter how much you whine, in the end, ranks tell the result, right? We're number one, you guys are fourth. That's the fact. Right?" "Yes. But before that, in the on-site voting, we were the first, weren't we? Eyecontact didn’t get a single vote from anyone, only from the production team, right?" "So what? Are you saying we bribed the production crew or something?" "Just stating the obvious. It’s odd. When it airs, there might be viewers who think the same as I do." "Screw you." Hot-tempered Kim Seok-won, despite the video recording, let out profanities and slang as temper rose. I didn’t intend to upload this either. Depending on how it's received, we could also face criticism. It’s just to have evidence if ever a violent situation like the one in the waiting room of Daese Gayo occurs. "Just watch. I’ll completely squash Replay Girl." "Yes, I wholeheartedly support that. Please, show amazing skills. So there aren't any controversies affecting the program. Also, tone down the exposure marketing a bit." I clicked my tongue at the revealing outfits of Eyecontact peeking out from under their ostrich feather-like clothes. "Even though it's a military comfort train, the era of being thrilled just because someone undresses is over, isn't it? It feels like you're underestimating the soldiers these days." "Oh dear, where did this critique come from? Do you think we've only done this a couple of times? We've held at least ten times more events than you have, you brat." It's puzzling how someone with such poor taste and vision climbed to the position of the head of KU Entertainment. The conversation didn't continue further, and soon Song Ji-sun, the writer, returned, calming the atmosphere completely. "Up-Ki Girl, you can head straight up for the rehearsal, and Director, it seems you'll need to perform both songs." "Okay, we'll do both songs as planned. We're fourth in the lineup, right?" "Yes." Kim Seok-won, who insisted on a shorter set due to being "busy" earlier, had a change of heart. Perhaps he wants to show us something. While I had thrown jabs to rile up Kim Seok-won, there's no denying a sexy concept would work in a military venue. Kim Seok-won aims to flaunt their supremacy to us. Fine, this kind of healthy competition is more than welcome. Let's see who keeps the soldiers on edge through the night. I was proud and grateful that the Up-Ki Girl members chose not to outright clash with Kim Seok-won. Yet, I could sense their internal fervor intensifying, eager for the showdown. Back in the car after rehearsal, the members finally let out their pent-up frustrations. Riya praised me for the jab I'd landed on Eyecontact. "Good job, Langkang. You really showed your prowess. Seems Aliya doesn't have to step in now." "Thanks for acknowledging it." "If Eyecontact is performing after us, then it's even better. We'll just have to turn everything upside down." Yona's eyes sparkled with a cold yet fierce fire, the kind of passion that wouldn't yield on stage. With everyone fired up, Seo-won gave Eunbit some advice. "Eunbit, during the talk, just do whatever feels right. Unleash it all." "Oh, but I get more nervous when given the spotlight..." "Just let loose in your comfort zone. Show what being the entry member means. Make everyone a fan." "Alright, will do. Unnie, unleash your ad-libs during the 'Hold Me' bridge. No matter what, Up-Ki Girl's ace and heart is you, Seo-won, the singing wild fox." Ha, this is hilarious. Just the other day, they were bickering over who's more popular on a radio show, and now they're busy complimenting each other. Still, the true ace of Up-Ki Girl right now is undoubtedly this one. "Hong." "Yes?" "Absolutely kill it." "Kill who? Eyecontact?" "No. Just annihilate it on stage. Don't hold back your talent." "Oh... Yes, yes!" I met eyes with the members through the rearview mirror, fueling their fighting spirit. "Soldiers, today marks Up-Ki Girl's first military comfort train performance." "We've been waiting!" "From today, Up-Ki Girl will become the K-pop queens of the military!" "Hah!" "Cover the soldiers' lockers with Up-Ki Girl photo cards!" "Just imagining it is thrilling!" "Turn soldiers into civilians!" "Soldiers rock!" "Let Up-Ki Girl's chants reach beyond the GOP and into North Korean guard posts!" "Seo-won is light, and Yeon-hong is truth to me!" --- ―Lee Yeon-jeong, who are our troops meeting today with the comfort train? ―Yes, once a warrior of Baekdu, always a warrior of Baekdu! We're with the guardians of the central front, the Army's 21st Division! Regular audience members were provided with lap blankets, hot packs, and warm tea, yet the biting cold stiffened their bodies. Our girls were chilled enough during rehearsal that their choreography couldn't come out right. The main recording began under such a somewhat stiff atmosphere. ―Alright, let's introduce the first performer who will open this fantastic stage for us! ―Girls as refreshing and sweet as their name are ready for you. ―Wow! ―Let's start the comfort train with Sweet C's performance! ―Hooah! Yet, nothing could quell the soldiers' unwavering reverence for girl groups, not even the biting cold. As the first girl group took the stage, the perceived temperature soared from -28°C to 28°C. ―Hello, we are Sweet C! I thought I knew most groups, but I have no idea who they are. Probably, neither do the soldiers. Nonetheless, from the moment these four unknown girls got on stage, the cheers and applause didn't cease. The second performer was Jeong-hee, known for winning a B-Music trot audition. She was on her seventh consecutive appearance on the comfort train. In a tight velvet dress and an elegant wool coat draped over her shoulders, she subtly swayed, captivating the soldiers' hearts. "Up-Ki Girl, please standby!" "Yes!" It's finally our turn. The typical introductory comments from the male and female hosts followed. ―Next up, we have newcomers making their first appearance on the comfort train. They'll need your warm attention and love. ―I've heard they are already creating quite a stir among the soldiers. ―Yes, let's meet them! Five girls with explosive performances and unique charm, presenting Up-Ki Girl! ―Wooooaaah! "Oh my, that surprised me." "Wow, that's no joke." The roar was so thunderous that it almost shook the waiting tent. Song Ji-sun, the writer, wasn't lying about Up-Ki Girl being on the rise. In the corner, Eyecontact and Kim Seok-won, who had been doing makeup checks, looked visibly surprised. Up-Ki Girl took the stage and began with their opening greetings before their song. "Two, three." "Hello, we're Up-Ki Girl, the group you raised! Nice to meet you!" Despite being bundled tightly in thick wool coats, the girls tried their best to maintain composure and deliver their cheery introductions. After each member introduced themselves, Eunbit and Yona, who were in charge of the main talking points, swapped their rehearsed lines. "Eunbit, do you know anything about the 21st Division?" "Of course! It's the awesome unit that guards the longest GOD section in our country!" No, no! They don't guard GOD; they guard GOP! She went up there all confident and wrecked it from the first line. Yona jumped in quickly to correct her. "Not GOD, but GOP." "Did I say GOD?" "Yes." "Puhahahaha!" Eunbit burst into laughter at her own mistake. Kim Seok-won, listening from the sidelines, couldn’t help but snicker. "Wow, if you just stayed quiet, you might've seemed competent..." However, his snide smile turned sour as the performance started. "We'll perform our debut song 'Hold Me.' Please sing along!" When the girls removed their long coats to reveal their actual stage costumes, the cheers grew even louder. With different styled blouses and velvet outerwear, skirts accentuating each one's physique and style, and high heels with ankle straps, these were the outfits that Up-Ki Girl’s fandom had raved over during the ‘Hold Me’ promotions. 'Hold Me' began against a backdrop of earth-shattering cheers, and an unexpected scene unfolded. "The dark days of my life became brighter..." "Yoo Eunbit!" "Because of your light." "I love you!" How they knew, I have no idea, but the soldiers had memorized the fan chants for 'Hold Me.' It seemed they picked it up from music show broadcasts. Their collective singing persisted from the start of the song to its finish, driving the ever-sensitive Eunbit and Riya to tears. After the song, they dissolved into tears. "Why do you make me cry? Huh? What’s this... My tears froze... You're responsible hiiing!" "Soldiers truly embody the fantasy of girl groups, soldiers rock! Sniff sniff..." The second song was originally meant to be a cover to lift the mood, but the soldiers requested 'I Doll,' sung by Yona during Girl Crush. However, since the setlist was fixed during rehearsal, changes were impossible. In response, a sniffling Eunbit made a tempting proposal. "Then let’s do this. We’ll sing the song we prepared first, and if you shout for an encore afterward, we’ll sing it for you. Deal?" "Deeeaalll!" An Encore Guarantee, if you will. "Wow, these soldiers know about Girl Crush songs?" I murmured in amazement, to which Jangu responded. "They're at the age where they love hip-hop." True when you think about it. Aren't most soldiers in their early twenties? "Director, I’m really sorry but..." As the kids began their second song, Song Ji-sun rushed into the waiting room with a troubled expression. "Could you possibly perform a few more songs?" "What? Why?" Today's closing act was the hip-hop duo 'Alberta.’ Frequent performers on the comfort train because of their connections from serving as entertainment soldiers, they also rake in roughly 20 million won per university gig. Such top-tier acts usually skip rehearsals and arrive just in time for their performances. However, due to road conditions, they'd be 20-30 minutes late today. A 30-minute delay is practically a broadcast mishap. "What to do, we have another schedule..." "Oh, I see. Nothing can be done then." Actually, it was just a practice schedule, so we weren't pressed for time. But why should we sacrifice ourselves in this freezing weather? Song Ji-sun, unable to ask Kim Seok-won, fretted as she sent messages somewhere on her phone. Kim Seok-won showed no intention of helping either. Just then, an information window popped up before me. ――――――― ★It is advisable to fulfill the comfort train production team's request. Accept the alternate performance★ ――――――― "Writer, I'll ask the members and see what they think." < A Soldier Turned Into a Non-Soldier! > End