Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols
SS Chapter 40: An Idol's Word Is Worth a Thousand Gold (2)
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TL: FoodieMonster007
Won Chaehee was an office worker bored with her life. At her company, she was a talented individual, recognized for her meticulous work and sharp personality.
"Assistant Manager Won, what are you doing after work today?"
"Sleeping."
She kept her distance from those around her, so much that people said she lacked a human touch.
However, she had a secret her colleagues could never imagine.
≫ Only Jjae-i's grand celebration preview keeps me alive
She was a 'homma', a fansite master who took pictures of the popular idol group 'spArk'.
During the day, she maintained the dignity of a working professional, but once night fell, Won Chaehee was engrossed in her life as an idol fangirl.
Then one day.
…spArk_official If you ask me how my time with you was #IWOL #JEHO #SEONGBIN #JOOWOO #CHEONGHYEON #KIYEON #spArk
As spArk announced their comeback, Won Chaehee's peaceful daily life was not shaken. It was never peaceful to begin with. An idol fan's life and peace were two incompatible things.
"Wow, this comeback cycle is insane."
Won Chaehee hurriedly opened her calendar app. A quick calculation suggested spArk would have their comeback right when her coworkers went on summer vacation. The thought of taking leave under the pretense of a vacation to attend music shows made her dizzy.
Jeong Seongbin's last broadcast was just the other day, what do you mean they're already having a comeback…!
Letting out a silent scream, Won Chaehee frantically ruffled her hair. She was not particularly angry. Otakus were just like this. This group characteristically went wild whenever new 'tteokbap' dropped.
The soaring endorphins at the thought of seeing her favorite member, the stress from streaming and voting, and the physical energy that would be drained from following their schedule all fueled her actions.
She had mentally prepared herself since their BubblePop profile pictures changed. Still, when the official notice dropped, she could not help but think, 'It's finally here.'
After checking the calendar, it was time to check her bank balance. She opened her banking app and saw a balance so low it made her doubt she had even received her salary. Haha. Won Chaehee laughed self-deprecatingly.
"This concept seems like it's going to be absolutely legendary… Hsss."
Still clutching her hair with one hand, Won Chaehee fell into deep thought. Even as online communities buzzed about the unprecedentedly dark concept, she caught a glimpse of a unique aesthetic in the small profile picture.
A vibe like this with visuals like spArk's? She could not predict the exact concept for their comeback, but she could paint a rough picture.
≫ Cyberpunk?? Is cyberpunk coming??? Did Iwol even approve this?????
└ Why Iwol…? Does Iwol hate cyberpunk??
└ Just passing by to let you know. It's because Iwol sometimes jokes about how it's a difficult theme to pull off with stylish outfits, so he freaks out about it lololol
≫ What's with the pitch-black photo and the romantic caption
Is it a relationship-in-a-rut concept?
└ The relationship-in-a-rut concept that suddenly raided the peaceful Sparkler fandom
≫ There might be a twist like with 'Dreamer'
Back then, we thought it was going to be a super-horrific, bizarre, non-human festival, but it turned out to be a 'Even Non-humans Worry About Their Career Paths' special
└ I wish they'd show us the 'Dreamer' outfits one more time on April Fools' Day
└ Please
People busily speculated about the concept photos, which looked different from anything before. Just as preparation is the most exciting part of a trip, the wait for a comeback was the most heart-pounding moment.
Something was coming. Something huge. Unable to contain her surging 'deokshim', Won Chaehee went back and watched all of spArk's music videos, the ones that tasted of iron. There were intense music videos that looked like they could burn down a building and listless ones with low saturation.
Are they going to completely swerve from their existing path?
Won Chaehee's prediction was spot on. At the same time, something she could never have imagined appeared.
Exuding an even darker aura than the teaser, spArk's new music video revealed itself.
"Fucking hell!"
It was a rich, sexy concept, the likes of which spArk had never shown, not even in 『MISSION』.
"Wait… just a second."
With the right hand that had unconsciously covered her mouth, Won Chaehee fumbled for the mouse. The colorful thumbnails recommending the next video did not even register. What did I just see? That was the only question filling her mind.
She hit the replay button, and the progress bar returned to the beginning. Silver droplets, too opaque to be water, fell onto the completely black screen. They slowly spread like paint bleeding onto paper.
Jeong Seongbin emerged from the deep darkness. Bright light poured from above, creating a stark contrast between the dark blue background and his pale skin. A deep shadow was cast in the hollows of his eyes beneath his brow bones.
『You told me it was time to end it』
The clear diction, cloaked in a soft voice, captured her ears. His two green eyes were cold and devoid of warmth. When he turned his shoulder slightly, the line of his collarbone stood out in the light.
The enlarged screen revealed what filled the background. Pitch-black flowers and stems intertwined, covering the walls and floor.
『Did a thing like parting ever exist in that promise where we whispered of eternity』
The one with dark green hair was Kang Kiyeon. The area under his eyes was colored with a reddish tint, looking as if it had been roughly smudged. For a fleeting moment, an expression of holding back tears passed over his face. A thin chain running across his top swayed brilliantly with every movement.
Next, Kim Iwol appeared. He was in profile, his eyes closed. A silver liquid flowed from outside the frame, running down his hair, the bridge of his nose, and his eyelashes, covering his face.
『On a shallow night, as I lie awake, you casually push me into the darkness』
His face during the group dance scene was clean. However, his hair, styled to look soaking wet, and the gloomy atmosphere carried on the impression left by the previous scene. The anguish of one who cannot accept reality flowed down through his shoes, staining the floor gray.
The choreography's difficulty was considerable even at a glance. Complex steps and frequent formation changes continued one after another. Nevertheless, his relaxed hand gestures and the powerful pop of his shoulders and knees conveyed intensity rather than strain. His bloodless lips and eyes, which gave the illusion of being bloodshot, were swallowed by the shadows.
The owner of the part changed to Lee Cheonghyeon. The background surrounding him also changed. Hyacinth petals made of jewels shone dazzlingly.
『Believing it's a dream, I sink into delusion and close my eyes』
Lee Cheonghyeon wiped his face with two gloved hands. The leather covering his skin had a sheen like the liquid that had flowed over Kim Iwol's face. A close-up showed his trembling lips.
『You grab hold of me and pull me up again』
Choi Jeho's eyes had the power to capture one's gaze. Although the only skin he showed was his face and wrists, he exuded an overwhelming aura with just the fit of his tightly fastened clothes.
『I'm serious』
Lifting his chin, his downward gaze pierced through the screen. It was an expression devoid of any sympathy for the man who could not accept their breakup.
『For that one word』
The ultimatum was short and firm. A mercury-like liquid splashed over the flowers covering the wall.
The hardening floor rose vertically as if the set had rotated. Between fingertips that split the screen in half, an expressionless Park Joowoo was revealed. Sadness and emptiness coexisted.
『Did the love I bet my all on mean nothing to you』
Beyond the melting flowers, cracked and crumbling walls were revealed. They looked like the ruins of a massive building. Jewels shattered like bursting flower buds, and dry petals scattered. The six members dancing in formation repeatedly lost and regained their color, as if they were part of a black-and-white film.
『Were we too far apart for my love to reach』
The chorus, which could never reach a happy ending no matter how many times it repeated, finally accepted reality.
『MooNStruck love』
The title appeared, scrawled haphazardly on the floor. Above it, a rain of silver liquid fell, just like in the intro. Only a few alphabets survived, not covered by the wave of silver foil.
『M NS IO』
The uppercase letters, and one lowercase letter that resembled a specific uppercase letter. Among spArk's songs, there was only one with a title composed of these letters.
The title Won Chaehee had thought of the moment she first saw the music video. It was the sequel to 『MISSION』.
His unfortunate fan, Baek Haewon, who had failed to get the t-shirt Kim Iwol made, recently seized a small piece of good fortune.
≫ Regarding the matter of my bias having a comeback in an insane outfit, which just so happens to be the concept I was chanting for on my timeline
└ Miheon, are you sure you don't have 'mangshinsal' in your fortune?
spArk had come back with the 100% genuine sexy concept he had been wishing they would do at least once. An idol who has succumbed to capitalism. What wonderful words!
To Baek Haewon, who had lost his humanity after watching the 『MISSION』 music video, 『MooNStruck IOve』 was the only drug permitted in UtopiA. spArk was giving them a 'devoted man who doesn't want to move on because his love for you, who dumped him, felt like a dream'.
He could not even remember how much he had screamed when he first saw the music video outfits. He almost passed out and fell into a dead sleep in the early evening before the sun had even fully set.
The intro fairy, Jeong Seongbin, was highly stimulating from the start. Although the taste-impaired public questioned how he was a fairy in any way, Sparklers did not compromise. The leader, usually in charge of the most 'Confucian' outfits in spArk, appeared in a top as tight as latex with techwear-style pants. That alone should have been the sign that these guys were crazy for money. The straight-fit pants and walkers perfectly suited Jeong Seongbin, showing off his legs that stretched out like a highway.
Seeing Kang Kiyeon, who had his jumpsuit unzipped wide open to show the muscle lines of his chest and his collarbones, he reflexively covered his mouth. He brought back the choker, a fading trend, precisely targeting the 'unnies' who had fangirled through that era. At the same time, he used a harness to tighten the clothes, creating an ascetic feeling that contrasted with the open front.
And, ahh… his bias, Kim Iwol, was…
≫ MooNStruck lOve Iwol Cut (1)
(Photo) (Photo)
(Photo) (Photo)
#spArk #Iwol #Yiwol
≫ MooNStruck lOve Iwol Cut (2)
(Photo) (Photo)
(Photo) (Photo)
#spArk #Iwol #Yiwol
≫ MooNStruck lOve Iwol Cut (3)
(Photo) (Photo)
(Photo) (Photo)
#spArk #Iwol #Yiwol . . .
He appeared in an outfit so deliberate it made Jjae-i, a homma whose bias is Kim Iwol, storm-upload posts. He was currently heating up social media.