174 - Upki Girl

< A Leader is Still a Leader > Could a woman's tears be as elusive as Messi's dribble, ensnaring you even as you recognize them? Creak. Only now did I realize that, alongside the original sin of losing to Eunbit on our first encounter, Yona’s tears constituted a code that stung with just as much pain. They weren’t tears spilling from overwhelming emotions but rather slow drops, like a single crystal marble rolling off a slightly tilted desk. At the moment one drop fell between her feet—drip. Tingling. A sensation resonated near my heart. Just like the first time I saw her. The violet-hued sadness resonated within my chest, signifying that Yona wasn't employing some superficial strategy of tears-will-win, but rather she had a reason to cry genuine tears. Unaware as they slipped from her eyes. “Ah, why am I like this? Sorry, unni...” Yona wiped her tears with the base of her palm and apologized to the makeup artist. Then she walked past the center where Jaee and I stood at the entrance to the choreography room. As she brushed past, the left tail of her twin ponytails grazed my chest. Like a wounded animal, she retreated to the recording studio, seeking refuge. "What's wrong with Yona? Did someone say something?" In response to Seowon’s question, Eunbit and Hongi shook their heads, unsure themselves. The stylists paused their work, only blinking in confusion. "I- I’ll go ask her." "Hyung, we need to prepare for the broadcast!" Riya stopped Hongi as he began to follow Yona. “Times like this require the manager to step in.” She glanced at me as she provided a clue, tossing it out like she was the sole witness to a mysterious event. “Yona unni looked off ever since she came back from chasing the langkangkang.” Riya’s switch from calling her "Rukoko" to "lankangkang" signaled her displeasure too and revived the escape scene nearly overshadowed by Jaee's arrival. “Indeed. The manager suddenly went out too. Did something happen between them? Why are we the only ones unaware?” Seowon asked, and Eunbit urged me on with a worried look. “Yona chased after oppa earlier but came back without finding him. It looks like her heart was hurt because of it, so go console her quickly.” Was Yona genuinely hurt by my hug with Jaee? She’d pretended to be experienced around the guys in front of everyone, yet her composure cracked over something this small? Though no one knew the exact cause, it seemed they sensed that Yona’s tears had something to do with me. Only the clueless Hongi seemed completely in the dark, while everyone else picked up on it. Jaee, suppressing a smile, merely looked amused by the situation, glancing down at her toes. Then, as I was about to follow Yona, she interjected. “Just stay here, oppa. It seems like it's because of me, so I’ll go talk to her.” “Ah...” Before I could respond, Jaee headed straight towards the recording studio. It was five minutes before the internet broadcast began. Eunbit glancing at Hongi, asked worriedly. “What do we do? Do we go on without our leader?” Hongi passed the question to Seowon. “Well… Y- I don’t think she’ll be back before the live show, so we might have to start on our own…” “Let’s just say she went to the bathroom for serious constipation issues, doing her business after a week because it got that bad. The fans will understand, right?” Even in this situation, Han Ga displayed his audacity by spreading falsehoods to win over Yona’s fans. Despite expecting Yona to return before the broadcast, it eventually began without her. Ten minutes later, Yona returned to the choreography room. I approached her and whispered quickly so as not to disrupt the broadcast. "Are you alright?" "I'm sorry." She answered briefly as if it was no big deal and brushed past me to get her makeup retouched. Whatever comfort Jaee gave her, Yona’s expression was not bad. Thinking why Jaee hadn't returned yet, I received a message. JH [I’m on the first floor, buying coffee. Want anything?] Me [I’ve got coffee] JH [Want any pastry?] Me [I'm good haha] JH [Okay] Me [What did you talk about with Yona?] JH [Kim Yoon-ho] Me [Oh...] JH [She asked me to take care of you] Me [No way...] JH [Haha, kidding. I’ll tell you later] Me [Let’s do that] JH [Got Yona’s permission, so let's go for drinks after the broadcast] JH [Suddenly really craving some booze haha] Got permission? Feels like Jaee didn’t comfort Yona but rather threatened her... Seems our Yona got thoroughly outmaneuvered by Jaee. "Yona unni is here!" After finishing her makeup touch-up, Yona joined the broadcast seamlessly. Walking up to the camera, she flashed a V-sign and mingled with the other members. "What were you all talking about while I was gone?" "About your constipation." "Wha... Ah, Seowon unni was teasing me. You guys know that’s all a lie, right? I don’t have constipation." The ‘Drunken with Uplifted Friday’ room quickly climbed to the top, with about 2,300 entrants right off the bat, surging in popularity. < Swearing or use of vulgar language will lead to immediate expulsion without warning. Please maintain polite chat etiquette > < For smooth chat operations, coin donation details won't appear in the chat room. Donation logs can be checked on the main homepage and are fully allocated to charity > —Yodoneuyona: YonaYonna is pretty♡ —Yonnachamp: YonaYonna is pretty♡ —Humulhumul: Our Yona is so beautifulㅠ The members checked the chat on their phones, engaging with the fans. —Yodung-i: Yonna-nuna, where did you go then? “To the hearts of our Budungi fans?” “Oh come on, Yona, that's so cringe!” —Yodung-i: No way! It's not cringy! YonaYonna is pretty♡♡♡♡ —YonnaRight: Yona is indeed Yonnaright —Mochimoshi: Seowon-ching, don’t bully our Yonaㅠ —lukdoo2: Seowon, treat our Yona well. She’s the leader, you know. “What are you saying! If anything, Yona bullies me, I never bully her!” “Alright, calm down everyone. Since Leader Yonna is back, shall we greet once more with our Up-Ki Girl signature pose?” “Yoo Eunbit, are you serious about doing that?” —Milgokjuice: What’s the signature pose??? —Sherassspleen: Everyone brace yourselves. Detective Kim Jeonbit is up to something again... —SeowonPangPang: Seowon is most charming when riled up. Oppa cherishes you. “Everyone, move forward and get ready.” “Yoo Eunbit, this is embarrassing.” “Uh? Where was my spot again?” “Hhong-hong unni, you’re on the left.” “Wait, are we really doing this? I thought it was just a joke.” “I was serious.” “Me too.” “Suddenly doing it is confusing.” “What was the final fix again? Riya, do you remember?” “Yonna unni in the center with the arms crossed version.” “Oh, right, right. Thanks.” “Aren’t you listening to me? I said I don’t want to do it.” “Shall we just take a quick look at the photos?” “Yeah, better to check the photos.” —MisterKkangnim: Seowon’s being ignored repeatedly —本來無一物: A fox shunned by the forest friends hahaha —Kyarreureung: Even checking the photos, huh? LOL —SeowonDdaechi: My fave being lowest in rank... I don’t need such a fave! “I’m not lowest ranked though?” —流天風: Seowon ranks 5th in the team? “No, really, I’m the de facto leader. I win every time.” “Han Seowon, come out quickly and strike a pose.” “I’m not doing it.” “Do you want to be dragged out or walk out?” “Hey, Hongi fans are watching, right? This is the real Hongi you love. Acting innocent and timid at fan meetings is all fake. Take off your rose-colored glasses and come to me. I, Seowon, am never fake or pretentious.” “Can’t let that happen…” “Don’t come. I’ll walk out on my own, pig.” —JangDaebiIII: Just talks tough but ends up yielding in everything —Dotori1403: Gets caught without pretense or fakery LOL —Uibyeong: Where’s the de facto leader? —JokjaebiJoeog: No one stands a chance against Hong —Bbitriya: Hongi Unni’s force though LOL —Seburn7rae: Eunbit, want to see your… never mind... —MAsterr: ????? —BbitHongGajua: Manager, please ban Seburn7rae, the official crazy of Muse TV. ★‘Hanburn7rae’ has been permanently banned★ “Huh? But I don’t have any... you know.” —♡EunbitAndSalt♡: Shibakobuk-nim, you don’t have to answer each oneㅠㅠ “Still, I have to clarify. It's unfair to say I have when I don’t.” —Eungbit-iya: Our BbitBit-nim is so kind... “Alright then, we’re going to show you Up-Ki Girl’s new greeting, so please give us a big reaction for each person!” Like when transforming with Moon Crystal Power, they each struck their signature pose while forming an overall formation, calling out their favorite nicknames. “Sexy Turtle Dancer Eunbit!” “Mi, Mijulfox Seowon…” “Yony Leader Yona!” "Eighteen Meals, Twenty-Eight Wraps BitHong!" “Dancing President Jinri!” “We are the girl group you raised…” (All together) “Up! Kiiiii—Girl!” Finally, Up-Ki Girl’s first fighting pose complete! It nailed the humor perfectly! —Altera: Where are you going to perform this???? —ksm1945kr: Exactly. Like the Ginyu Force. —SoshiminZ: Sigh, the embarrassment is ours to bear... —Ishutir: Another level up song added. —CarbonSoda: LOL this is crazy —Jaeyrt: Am I the only one who finds it cool...? —TransparentinSan: Stop it, you Upkids. —k9kmcas: See, Seowon? You can do it. —wks9502: I like it haha —ByeongSeosaeng: Correct. My drunken brother and friends acted like this downtown last time, got caught embarrassingly. As always, their internet broadcast was all about chaotic chatter and humorous contests. Of course, the fans matched their wild energy with their reactions too. After 20 minutes of warm-up, the main broadcast of Replay Girl began. As the first event, the swim preliminary started, and Eunbit’s expression darkened. “Oh, I don’t want to watch this…” “Get ready to laugh, everyone.” —Who is that participant? Ah, it's Eunbit from Up-Ki Girl. —Pfft, hahahahaha! Laughter erupted from the MC and audience. Then, the editing spurred intrigue and tension, leading to Eunbit in her diver costume getting a solo shot. Seeing it on TV made it even funnier. Even those who were there in person, like the stylists and myself, burst into laughter as the chat was flooded with lines of “ㅋㅋㅋ” blooming like cherry blossoms. —Yaurin: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ —Rudejr4614: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ —wszz1024: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ —Jin Woo-hyeon: We apologize... We’ll always cheer for you... —無形劍客: How many pearls for that diver costume? —2957: Must have been super embarrassing for those watching live LOL —Roadcat: I just got back, and when the Turtle Diver Girl costume appeared, everyone bowed their heads. But it felt kind of uplifting because other fans seemed to acknowledge it somewhat... "Oh, it started?" Jaee entered as the wrestling preliminaries, which followed the swimming event, began. She proudly boasted about the May Queens every time they appeared on screen, just like parents bragging about their children. She talked about how great Yujin was, how Taeeun was like this, and even praised the new members. When Yujin outran Yona to win the 60-meter race, she clapped like a seal as if witnessing an Olympic gold medal achievement. Yet, she didn’t hold back her admiration and praises for Up-Ki Girl either. "When a group has members with strong personalities, it often doesn’t mesh well as a team, but Up-Ki Girl has such great balance. They can tackle any genre without it being awkward. They’re exactly the kind of group I wanted to create. Wow, Yujin just hit the search rankings!" Due to Yujin’s bullying incident and the Valentine’s Day event, Up-Ki Girl's name had stayed in the real-time search lists all day yesterday and today. I had been receiving endless KakaoTalk messages from friends who knew I was Up-Ki Girl's manager or former colleagues, so I had to turn off personal message notifications altogether. I've become immune to rankings like that now. —Real-time Search Rankings— 1. Replay Girl 2. Up-Ki Girl 3. Yeonhong 4. Lookism 5. Youn’s Kitchen 2 6. Yujin 7. Living Together Seeing Jaee delighted with barely a 6th place ranking made me realize where Up-Ki Girl currently stood. This was the level of a super rookie from a major agency. And one more thing. Replay Girl, which I thought would falter compared to jungle programs due to its pilot nature, had retained the Friday night variety show ratings crown for four consecutive weeks. In an atmosphere where the public opinion on idol athletic championships wasn't good, the Replay Girl sports competition, forcibly inserted by PD Jang Hojun, received an unexpectedly positive response. While last week's eye contact and attention-catching acts contributed to noise marketing, Up-Ki Girl dominated the footage with their overwhelming charm and sense of humor in this episode too. Some media used cliché headlines like ‘The Birth of a New Sports Idol’, but Up-Ki Girl’s charm and talent were too grand for such simplistic labels. As artists with basic musical qualifications, unique personalities, appearance, and humor resonated through Replay Girl, no one could deny that Up-Ki Girl was the show’s very essence and center. Through their overwhelming presence, even other teams’ recognition and charm were slowly being highlighted. For the Variety Department and production company, filtering out their once-opposing forces, CP Jin Sang-yoon and PD Jang Hojun, would seem like a masterstroke. As if announcing the birth of a new trend, messages apologizing for the late hour but still inquiring about Up-Ki Girl's schedule poured in continuously throughout the broadcast nearing midnight. After conducting monitoring for Replay Girl and wrapping up the live session... "Jangwoo, I'm staying behind to discuss work with Jaee, so please take the kids home." "Yes." Deliberately, within earshot of the kids, I confidently declared my intention. The program’s positive reception was great, but my resolve to express my feelings today wasn’t swayed. Today, of all days, I planned to do as I pleased without considering the kids’ feelings. Yet, contrary to expectations for discomfort, the kids' reactions were surprising. “Just don’t come back on all fours. Take it easy.” “IYona, shall we have some canned beer back at the dorm?” “Sounds good.” “Come on, Jangwoo oppa should join us too.” Whether Jaee’s claim of having Yona’s permission was true or not, no one questioned my post-work schedule. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed Yona might have given the others a heads-up too. Something along the lines of "Let’s not bother the manager today." And during the drinking session with Jaee, I heard snippets of the conversation they had in the recording studio. "Yona's quite intimidating, isn’t she? A leader is indeed a leader." < A Leader is Still a Leader > End