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If my boss ever came over and asked, "Rough day?" the only acceptable answer was "Not at all." Even if I was half-dead, or worse. That's how it worked lying was often the only way to get ahead, and I'd already learned that truth doesn't make you a billionaire, not here.
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I had spent days thinking it through before finally deciding to speak with Manager Bons again. I guaranteed agreed to join the competition, but only on one condition: the company would cover all my living expenses. His response was unexpected if I wanted in, I had to attend the shift meeting that afternoon on the rooftop of OPP4's building.
Now, on my way back to my room to prepare, I pushed open the door and found my bandmates sprawled across the couch, laughing at a silly music video from D8.
"I lauv ya foreva~~ oWAhhh~~ like DISSS!~~" Baek Giyul sang off-key in a deliberately ridiculous voice, sending the others into fits of laughter.
"Hahaha! Baek, da-that was actually good!" K wiped tears from his eyes before spotting me.
"Oh, sup, Seokjin! How'd your errand go?"
"Well, I was just trying to buy coffee and ended up getting mobbed by a school kid for an autograph. Mask or no mask, they still recognized me."
"Kids these days are sharp as hawks," K declared, digging into his bag. "Which is why I bought this." He pulled out a strange pair of glasses.
"No way," Juwon gasped. "Is that? The Wizard Glasses!?"
"No, The man of steel~" Jin interrupted, grinning.
"This is the latest model. Charsung's camouflage optics, It can project a synthetic face texture across the lenses and even change your eye color. Put these on and nobody will recognize who you are, unless somebody tryna kiss your nose." Without warning, he slipped them over my eyes.
"Whoa! You look just like Kim!" Juwon exclaimed.
"Kim Jong-who?" I muttered with a squint.
"♫Kim...mi no toriko ni nat--♫ bla-bla, You look like a generic anime femboy now." He held up a mirror, and I nearly laughed at the huge cartoon-like eyes staring back.
"Damn, that's slick. Can it do… this?" With a whir, my eyes flashed crimson.
"Haha! That's dope!" I pulled the glasses off and handed them back.
Yet, K refused "You can keep them for now," he insisted. "You've been busy lately. Think of this as my gift to you"
"T-thanks, It's not a big deal. Still, it gets exhausting sometimes y'know." I replied.
"Then start streaming like me," K suggested. "Chatting with fans online is a blast."
"Yeah, Better than being jobless," Jin chimed in, chomping on a meatball before flicking another one out the window. "My sister graduated top of her class and still got canned from a douchey company, hiring robots, these mofo' are taking over half the workforce. That's the new era for y'all." My man spoke sarcastically.
"True," K declared, punching the air. "But we're idols, man! Our work is secure."
"Idols give love to their fans, Idolizing!" he continued, voice swelling. "That's something no robot can do. Machines obey orders, but we… we care, we choose, we can carry each other when we bite the dust. Because we are comrades idols, idolizing!"
His words echoed in the room, filling it with warmth.
With a dramatic sniff, Jin laced his voice with sarcasm. "Should I cry now Kapitan? sniff*"
"Bro, you sound like a lil' Napoleon. I'm feelin' motivated!" Giyul slurped his protein shake.
"Slurrrrrp* If we all had glasses, I'd toast right now."
I chuckled, then excused myself. "I've got to pick out something sharp to wear. Big meeting this afternoon."
"A suit huh? Leave it to me." K dove into my closet and emerged two minutes later holding a glossy black suit.
"Cool" I stroked my chin. "Looks like I'm going to a funeral" I was being sarcastic.
"BUHuhahaAA!" Juwon burst out laughing.
"Don't blame me" At least, Jin wasn't the only ironic one.
Back he went, returning in navy blue "Aye, Aye, Sir!" he commented. "What, are you a fucking Marine?"
Then i swap to pink. "Barbie."
Yellow. "Piss."
Red. "My Ex-Period."
And finally, he stepped out with a crisp white suit that shimmered under the lights.
*Clap!* "Now that is radiant," he said proudly.
"Finally heuh~" I sighed, slipping into it. He straightened the collar and buttoned it up to the top.
"Fits?" he asked.
"Like a glove." I answered while adjusting my tie in the holographic mirror. Its system analyzed the pairing of black tie with white suit: Compatibility 98.89%. Stunning, Mr. Woo Seok Jin.
"Ninety-nine percent! You're killing it," K said, handing me a comb.
I ruffled my hair into place, then gave him a quick hug before stepping to the door. The others stood smiling, fists raised in silent support.
"I'll bring back something for you guys," I promised, heading toward the lift.
Soon after, I was standing with Manager Bonsong in the lobby of OPP4's tower.
"Nice suit," he remarked as we entered the elevator.
"Thanks. I just hope today's meeting will be… entertaining."
"Don't expect too much if you don't want to be disappointed," he muttered while pressing the button to close the doors.