JUST A NOTE, THESE ARE NOT EDITED. THESE WILL NOT BE EDITED UNTIL I FIND SOMEONE TO GO THROUGH AND EDIT THESE.
Suggested music.
youtube link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hYo4Y83-NE
Upkey Girl 1
< Aura of a Star >
I was drinking beer with my dongsaeng (younger sibling/friend) after getting off work.
The conversation stopped for a bit and my gaze was stuck on the projector screen.
A girl group's music video that I didn't know the name of was playing.
Broad smile. (I grinned broadly/he grinned broadly) (헤벌쭉 wide grin)
I guess I'm getting old.
If I see a girl group nowadays, it doesn't matter if they're pretty or ugly, they're just lovely and cute to me.
But out of them, one in particular caught my eye.
Damn, her body radiates light.
As I spaced out gazing at her, the luster was so brilliant that I asked the two in front of me.
"Hey, do you know who they are?"
The guys who had their bodies turned towards the screen tilted their heads and exchanged words.
"Who are they, ah, isn't it RizSoNyuh?"
"RizSoNyuh is five members, I think. They look like at least seven or eight."
"Ooo, there's a few decent ones."
Not a few.
Out of them, there's only one that'll make it as a successful celebrity.
I threw a few tube-shaped puffed rice into my mouth and boasted (Ppungtwigi 뻥튀기 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Msbrvq2Mp0 + )
"Out of the group, only one is going to make it. That one just now, red hairband."
"Should I look them up? Group name is… EyeContact? Let's see, it's been a while since they debuted and… the one hyung pointed out looks like Yona?"
"Mmm, I agree that she's the best. But what's this birthdate, born in 98? Fucking terrifying. She's eight years younger than Hodori." ( + created during the Olympics of ’88 in Seoul, Korea)
"How old are they if it's 98. Nineteen? Twenty? Not that young in terms of the idols that appear nowadays."
"True, apparently they start in elementary school as a trainee." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hYo4Y83-NE)
"I despise young girls that wear short clothing and do sexy dances."
"It sucks. It's like elementary kids smoking while drinking alcohol."
9 person girl group EyeContact's Yona.
While they were chattering on, I looked up her profile and nodded.
"MmMmm…"
She isn't just pretty, she has the aura of a top celebrity.
When I told them, they chuckled.
"An aura, hehehe."
"I guess, being pretty is an aura."
That's not it you idiots.
Being pretty is different than an aura.
Blue light exudes from her body like a fluorescent light.
From the nine girls, it was only emanating from the girl named Yona. A red tint was mixed in as well.
"She's a talented actress as well. Even if her team fails, she'll still make it."
"Kukuk, Hyung, are you learning physiognomy or something?" (관상 觀相)
"You wanna bet?"
"Bet on this? If she makes it she makes it, and if she fails she fails, what does it have to do with us?"
"Let's just drink."
"Let's. Now hurry up and get drunk so we don't get chided by our wives."
"Ah, the smell of a married man."
"Hehe, Hyung, you should hurry up. I'm so so happy. Aren't you?"
"Yeah, marriage is good. I want to propagate it to the whole world. It's too good for me to keep it to myself…"
"Kukukuk, leave it at that. Cheers."
I don't know how long it'll take, but Yona's inevitable success has nothing to do with us.
The married men love their married life so, so much that they're contemplating going back to their homes.
–Cheng! (clinking sound of beer mugs)
It was during my time in the military, when I was about 23, when the ability appeared.
Why, you say there's a halo if you see a handsome or pretty celebrity in real life, right?
One day, I started seeing all sorts of lights from the celebrity's bodies in TV.
The aura of a star.
As time passed, I was able to accurately predict the talents and future of celebrities through the clarity and brightness of the light. No, it wasn't just a prediction, I was certain.
I couldn't be sure who would fail from the countless celebrities, but I could be certain who would make it.
At the very least, there had yet to be one that did not succeeded with this aura.
They may have suicided their popularity through failure to control themselves, or their private lives, but all have made it to the zenith of 'Absolute Popularity'. (대세 大勢)
The auras depict their area of expertise.
Actors are red.
Singers are blue.
Entertainers are yellow.
There are multiple colors of light sometimes in a person.
Those called 'top stars' have a distinct aura.
They emanate a clear and profoundly mysterious aura. Even if it's the same color, the forms of the emanating aura is different. Just like an aura in a work of art, it's a characteristic aura.
In contrast, those with clouded or boringly flat auras flash by and end their careers as a 'Brief Star'.
Then at this point, there's probably questions about me.
'Why do you work at a corporation when you have an OP ability like that? If it was me I'd make my own entertainment company or work as a casting manager.'
I also think of that often.
But that's easy to say, but hard to convert those thoughts into actions.
It means I'd need to venture out after relinquishing my stable job, but I'm the type to prefer the mainstream, and I'm content with my life now.
If I wanted to become an Entertainment Manager (연예기획자) I needed to jump in during my 20s where I still had some passion and dreams left.
But I was born into an ordinary family, made it into college after repeating my entrance exams 3 times, and after I was discharged from the army, I was 25.(재수 再修, 3수 is 3 times) Where I was frantically looking for employment, and as a result ended up with an acceptance not too far from my life plans.
Current age thirtyfive, I'm working as a Gwajang (과장Manager) in a major construction company.
You could ask, there's still a way for you to use your abilities without quitting your job. I could also help those that need my ability.
But that isn't easy.
Let's say I saw someone in the street with the aura of a Major Star. (대스타 = big star)
So, what am I gonna do?
Should I go up to them and ask 'Have you thought about becoming a celebrity? I think you're born to be one' out of the blue?
If not, I should I contact celebrities who quit and say ' You're born with the fate of becoming a Major Star so just power through it. I assure you' to encourage them?
If I was one to believe in universalism, it wouldn't be absurd, but I don't have the nosiness to involve myself in another person's like nor scratch a festering wound. (idiom :긁어 부스럼 만들다 unendingly scratch to make crumbs)
It's like being gifted a Lamborghini when you don't have a license or any interest in cars.
At least you can resell a Lamborghini.
I'd have somersaulted if the ability helped me discern a good girlfriend, or a good wife, but I have no idea why it's linked to the entertainment sector which i have no connections to.
The only thing I know about that world is a little more compared to other males my age. I guess it comes with the territory of having an ability related to celebrities, but I don't look at celebrity news or anything of the sort.
Just the level that I know who is popular, and who caused what incident?
I don't even have a reason to hide this ability.
Just like the moment before, when celebrities become the subject of a conversation, I try and flaunt my ability. It's that people don't take it seriously.
To be fair, people don't hold the talk about celebrities during a drinking session to heart do they. Most just think, ah that's possible, and move on.
But a few days later, I was contacted by someone who remembered what I said.
Kim Hyeon Dong [ The day is hot, are you alive?]
Me [Same as always. Work, home. Work, home. Drinking like a dog in the weekends ㅋㅋ]
Kim Hyeon Dong [ㅇㅇ anywhere that has a/c is heaven. Girlfriend?]
Me [ㅅㅂ(ㅅㅂ = 시발 fuck) don't have one ㅠㅠ(ㅠㅠ=crying emoticon)]
Kim Hyeon Dong [Don't cry. I don't have one either ㅅㅂ]
Me [ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Kim Hyeon Dong.
We met in the army as predecessor/successor. (선후임, 선임 = predecessor, 후임 = successor. Basically one came in earlier, one came in later.)
His hometown is Ulsan, but came up to Seoul after his discharge from the army. He lived at our house for a few months and we had a good time.
He was a composition major who was an aspiring singer-songwriter.(싱어송라이터 is a Korean term for singer+songwriter) He was good at singing and good at conversation as well. But unfortunately, his aura was bleak. He had a blue aura, but it was just barely discernable.
Sure enough, he was doing auditions and sending in songs he wrote, but soon started looking for a job. He was the type to grasp reality quickly, and went on to make mobile game sound effects adhering to his major.
Though we didn't contact each other much after we both became employed, we have talks once or twice every year. He also asks about my parents since he lived at our house. The last time we met was at the end of the year last year.
Starting with some daily talk as a greeting, he went on to the main point.
Kim Hyeon Dong [Are you still able to use the skill 'Recognize an up and coming star'?] (될성부른 스타 떡잎부터 알아보기 = a twist on 될성부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다 + 스타 basically means recognize a prominent tree when it's a sapling/leaf on a seed)
Me [What is that skill name ㅋㅋ]
Kim Hyeon Dong [I made it up. Do you have time next weekend?]
Me [Too much time that it's a problem]
Kim Hyeon Dong [Then help me out this time]
Me [I'm telling you in advance, but I don't have much money]
Kim Hyeon Dong [It's not like that ㅡㅡ (ㅡㅡ is annoyed look. Yes be racist and call it chink eyes)]
Me [Then what is it]
Hyun Dong sent me a link in place of an answer.
It was information on a Singer's Audition.
<find> (찾아 DREAM)</find>
You need to piece together you talent for a debut! (Korean idiom 구슬이 서 말이라도 꿰어야 보배 aka even if you have marbles you need to piece them together to make a treasure. Explanation: glass marbles were considered gems in the old world, but to make an heirloom it needed to be pieced together into jewelry.)
— Qualifications: over 11 years of age, under 30 years of age.
To sum it up.
Hyun Dong operates an office with people he used to collaborate with aside from his main job.
I remember hearing it before, it seems to be a music studio where they teach students and make their own songs to sell and record.
Apparently, they planned a project to grow their scale.
That's the audition named 'Find DREAM', and he wants me to be a discerning eye on his panel of judges.
Mmm.
I knew he was an idiot and impulsive to a fault, but I didn't know it was this bad.
Me[Me a judge? Are you serious ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Kim Hyun Dong [ ㅇㅇ that's a talent you have. If I think about it all the ones you said would make it made it, and all the ones you said were nothing vanished. I got fucking goosebumps.]
Me[But isn't it a bit… weird for someone that doesn't even know anything about music? I think it's discourteous to the applicants and I think the others will say something as well…]
Kim Hyun Dong [But all the guys at the office think it's fascinating and want to see it? Do you have time this week? Soju call?] (소주한잔 콜? = you up for soju? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngY86Nkddmw)
I wasn't interested in whether it was an audition or judge, I just went to an Izakaya (Japanese drinking place) in Gangnam after work to meet Hyun Dong.
He came with a dongsaeng (younger sibling/friend) that he said was the CEO of their office.
"A pleasure to meet you for the first time. I'm Yeom Dae Soo."
"Yeah, I'm Hyun Dong's friend Kim Yoon Ho."
I was told he was a year younger, but he looked as though I needed to be the one calling him hyungnim. (joke that he looks old/scary.)
His name sounds strong, and his voice was a baritone. (author wrote Baritone like lower tone = basically baritone baritone lmao)
They drank till morning, and his cheeks were drenched like Ho Pan Man (Japanese anmie An Pan Man, super plump cheeks )as if he wasn't fully sober yet.
All the while, his gaze is deep and serious. No, are they blurry…? (눈 풀리다 could also mean went batshit crazy to where he can beat a man up. Imagine drug cartel junkie)
After sitting down, I checked the business card he gave me.