Chapter 24: What Will You Do?

“So, what do you think? Not a bad offer, right?”

Jina smiled refreshingly and sipped her beer. Looking back and forth between Jina and me, Osorin, restless like a dog that can’t go to the bathroom, came into view.

She seemed anxious that I might accept the offer. I chuckled and answered Jina’s words.

“Even if I get a lot of money, I have no intention of switching jobs. I quite like it here.”

I’m not particularly interested in big money. Maybe it’s because I’ve gone back in time. After experiencing the disappearance of things I had worked hard to earn, though I hadn’t accumulated much, I lost interest in such things.

‘And I have another goal.’

I can’t leave at this stage where things are slowly being built. For that reason, I refused Jina’s offer.

“That’s a shame, I could have recruited a good editor.”

“You don’t exactly lack editors, do you?”

“Soon there will be a vacant editor position. He’s leaving to get a job. I was thinking of posting a notice soon.” “I see.”

YouTube editors don’t have a very long lifespan. It’s a job that young people often try, and since it’s freelance, it requires results rather than a fixed schedule.

In my case, it’s special, but usually, it takes a whole day to make a 10-minute video.

Most of the money is paid per video or based on the views of the video. By time, this is slightly above minimum wage.

There are many cases where the slower the work speed, the less they earn than the minimum wage. In addition, editing is a task that requires considerable concentration.

You have to sit in front of a computer for 5 to 10 hours, maintain your concentration, and make videos without mistakes, so the work fatigue is considerable.

For these reasons, many people challenge the path of YouTube editors, but after about 3 to 5 years, they start looking for other jobs.

But, I’m different.

“If I can do my personal YouTube and Sorin’s YouTube at the same time, I’ll consider it. Although my work time will be reduced.”

“Then there’s nothing we can do.”

“Su, Sua~ I believed in you~”

Osorin, who had been restless, smiled brightly at my answer. It was a natural reaction since YouTube couldn’t start right away if I left, but the relieved look was somehow pleasing.

“Don’t worry too much. I plan to milk you dry while the going’s good.”

“You mean you’ll throw me away when the milk runs dry…?!”

“Work hard to keep making milk.”

Kishishi, I laugh and tease.

Then, I suddenly looked out the window and saw that the sky was already dark. While playing and talking, time had already passed considerably.

“It’s time to go. The child editor needs to grow taller, so she needs to sleep early.”

“I don’t really think I want to grow taller, though.”

“You were upset about losing in basketball earlier, weren’t you? Sorin, you should have gone a little easier.”

“Right~ I should have held back a little.”

“Eeeek!!”

They’re bringing up memories I had managed to forget! I heavily hit Osorin’s shoulder, who was sitting next to me, and then called Mister.

Mister, who was working on his laptop at a nearby cafe, came to the restaurant where we were shortly after the call.

“Ah, just a moment. Lee PD, can I ask for your autograph…?”

“Sure, of course.”

Before leaving, Osorin asked Mister for an autograph. Mister, as if used to it, skillfully signed the paper and pen Osorin received from him.

Seeing that, I remembered what I had promised.

“Sorin, please give me an autograph too.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes, an acquaintance… no, a friend is a fan of Sorin. I promised to get an autograph.”

“R-really? A friend is my fan! Uh, what do I do, I don’t have an autograph yet…! Wait a minute!”

She was very flustered by my words, but she couldn’t hide her joy. And then she carefully drew an autograph on the paper.

“What’s their name?”

“The name is ‘Bom’.”

“Okay. ‘Thank you for your support. To Bom!’ There, it’s done!”

A carefully crafted autograph. In the corner, there was a small drawing and a message of thanks.

“Huhu…, I have a fan like this too! Sis, Sua. Shall I sign for you two too?”

“I’m fine.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Ah, um…. Okay…”

Osorin, deflated and with a drooping tail. Should I say a drooping badger tail?

“It was fun today. Then, see you later on the phone.”

“Yeah, then go in safely!”

“See you later, child editor.”

Sitting in the passenger seat of Mister’s car, I tightly held the autograph I received and waved to the two. I almost forgot.

‘Something seems to be constantly busy these days.’

I had that thought while riding the train.

It’s natural since I started editing videos in earnest after leaving the orphanage, but that’s not what I mean, it means that there are many schedules to go outside

. To be precise, there were outside schedules once or twice a week, so it wasn’t that busy, but maybe I, a (former) shut-in, felt busy because I went out for exercise and walks almost every day.

Even now, I’m moving alone because of an appointment with Senior Bom.

‘Still, this is the end of the scheduled appointments. I can stay at home for the time being.’

I don’t want to go outside as much as possible. Moving my body is enough with my fingers.

With that thought, I arrived at the place Senior Bom told me about last time. 3rd floor of a certain building. Since there was no elevator, I climbed the stairs with difficulty.

“Phew…. This is it, right?”

I checked the name of the practice room written on the glass door and grabbed the doorknob. Since Senior Bom said to just come in when I arrived, I was going to go inside first.

“Huff!”

But the huge glass door wouldn’t let me in.

“Ugh…, it’s heavy.”

Is it because of the temperature difference between the inside and the outside? Or is it simply because the force of the door automatically closing is strong?

There was a sign that said [PULL], but I tried pushing with my body just in case, but the door made a clattering sound and didn’t budge.

I had no choice but to grab the handle with both hands and lean my body back, putting in strength.

“Ugh!”

Open up!

Why did they make the door so heavy!

As I was struggling with the door like I was doing a tug-of-war.

‘It’s opening!’

The gap in the glass door gradually widened and began to open. But maybe it was because I was relieved to see it. My feet, which were supporting my body, slipped.

“Huh?”

My slipping body is pulled by the door.

With a thud! sound, a strong impact was applied to my forehead.

“Ouch!”

My head………

Isn’t this cracked?

An unbearable pain spreads from my forehead. Then, due to the conditioned reflex, my eyes became moist and my vision blurred.

At that time, someone inside heard the commotion and opened the door.

It’s Senior Bom.

“What are you doing…?”

Senior Bom, who was holding my forehead and shedding tears, was looking at me with an absurd expression.

•

“Sniff.”

I want to die.

Seeing my slightly reddened forehead, Senior Bom made a pathetic expression.

“Even so, aren’t you too weak? You’re so skinny……. How can you not even open a door.”

“I’m feeling the need for exercise….”

I’m really feeling it desperately these days. I can say that my stamina has improved, but my strength is hopeless. Last time it was a water bottle lid, and this time it’s a door. I get depressed just thinking about it.

“That’s enough…. So, why did you tell me to come all the way here today? In the first place, a practice room. Senior, do you dance too?”

A practice room with mirrors on all sides. I recognized it as a place for people who mainly do ballet or dance to practice.

“Sometimes I dance to not forget the ballet I did before, but I usually use it for acting practice.”

“Do you need a place like this for acting too?”

“Of course. It’s a job that shows everything from gait, behavior, and facial expressions. A mirror is essential for acting practice.”

It was a field I didn’t know well, so I admired Senior Bom’s explanation and looked around. Certainly, since all sides are mirrors, I can see how I move at once in a place like this.

Then, I discovered something in that corner. A cell phone attached to a tripod that was extended to eye level. I guess she’s going to film her acting practice and watch it?

“By the way, don’t you have something to give me?”

“…I can’t give it to you obediently. I’ll give it to you when it’s all done safely. Know that you won’t get it if you ask for something strange.”

“Tsk, you’re unnecessarily cautious….”

Senior Bom made a disappointed expression. What on earth was she planning to make me do…!

“Before we start, would you like to listen to this first?”

“What is it?”

“Music.”

Senior Bom played music on her cell phone without saying much. The music played loudly throughout the practice room, probably because it was connected to the speakers in the practice room.

It was music with a synthesizer melody as the main, a bit of EDM-like music. A slightly fast beat was exciting.

“How is it? Isn’t it good?”

“It’s good. It’s a bit addictive too. You said you only act, are you planning to do music too?”

“It’s not that, but…. Well, maybe it’s similar?” 

Senior Bom, uttering meaningful words, operated her cell phone. And she showed me a video, smiling slyly. It was a short video taken vertically. A video of someone dancing to the music I just heard.

Huh, this is….

No way?

As if responding to my anxiety, Senior Bom’s smile grows closer. She whispered in my ear.

“Let’s film a TikTok.”

Damn!