Time of Effort

It had been quiet for a while.

The video of the confrontation with the criminal wielding a weapon hit the mass media and instantly achieved 120,000 subscribers.

After that, the YouTube subscriber count continued to rise, hitting 160,000.

There had been a plateau since then, but this was an unexpected event.

“Are you listening? Anyway, the reaction right now is tremendous. Since it’s come to this, how about filming and uploading other dance videos too?”

Yoonjae’s excited voice hits my ears.

Nevertheless, my mind was elsewhere.

My subscriber count displayed as 187,357.

It had increased enormously in just one day.

And this was an incredible response in just 5 hours since Yoonjae edited and uploaded the video.

The view count was a whopping 520,000.

Among the videos currently on my channel, the highest view count was 2.31 million for the video of the duel with the weapon-wielding criminal.

Next was the video discussing the military service point system and uselessness of female police officers with feminists, at 1.42 million views.

But this video hitting 520,000 views in 5 hours could really be said to have a hot response.

‘Is this the power of K-pop after all? There are so many English comments.’

I knew that K-pop related videos and cover videos were very popular on YouTube.

But to get such a big response just from being linked to that category.

“That’s not it. This is proof of how outstanding Hani-nim’s talent is. K-pop dance cover videos are a dime a dozen. But why was Hani-nim’s video chosen among them?”

“……”

“Of course, my editing skills are excellent… Ahaha, just kidding, Hani-nim has star quality. Charm that draws in viewers.”

Yoonjae’s high praise continued after that, so I had to stop him out of embarrassment.

Really, what am I, such an amazing person?

Anyway, I decided to seriously consider Yoonjae’s suggestion.

Even at a glance, this was content that would easily hit 1 million views.

Of course, if there’s content that can consistently show such amazing view counts in the future, we should grab it.

“But you didn’t use Yerin’s drawing for the thumbnail this time?”

“For this kind of content, a real photo is better.”

It’s a reasonable statement.

Thinking of it, I ended the conversation with Yoonjae and contacted Yerin.

We talked on the phone two days ago, but I feel bad that I hung up quickly because she seemed a bit busy.

“Unniiiiii!”

“Oh, yeah. Have you eaten?”

“No. More importantly, do you know this is the first time you’ve called me first?”

Huh? Did I do that?

I didn’t particularly pay attention so I didn’t know, but thinking back, it seems that might be true.

Even if I contacted first, it was usually sending a message or inviting to a chat room, this might be the first time I called first?

“Is that so important?”

“It is important! It’s a super important issue!”

Her tension is quite high.

When I ask if something good happened, a short answer comes back immediately.

“Unni’s dance! Kyaaaa!”

“Ca-calm down. What’s wrong? Seriously.”

She says she can’t stand it because it’s too good.

She saw it on the live broadcast, but when the video was uploaded to YouTube, she watched it on repeat for an hour straight.

And she says she fell in love ‘again’.

I feel a chill for a moment.

Surely she misspoke, right? Right?

Or maybe it’s a word that young kids these days can use lightly as a joke.

Anyway, while talking about the view count of the video uploaded today, I remembered her answer that she hadn’t eaten yet, so we decided to have lunch together.

Fortunately, Yerin didn’t go to school today because of the school foundation day.

Even though it’s Gangnam-gu, it’s only 20 minutes by subway, so we agreed to meet there without burden.

‘She helped a lot with YouTube thumbnails as usual and last time at the Ladies tournament too, but I haven’t properly repaid her.’

You can’t measure everything with money, but even roughly calculating, it was really a big help.

Food expenses and all living costs for 4 people for 5 days.

And desk, chair, computer and equipment prepared for practice.

Not cheap or secondhand, but all high-end new products.

Yerin, who provided such help without thinking twice.

She seemed to hide when talking about herself so I didn’t pry… anyway, I think there can’t be a relationship where I only receive help one-sidedly.

So let’s keep giving these small and modest repayments steadily.

“Oh? Hello!”

As I was leaving home, I saw the elderly woman I helped pick up empty bottles last time.

She greets me happily seeing my face, and glancing, I see her cart she pushes around is empty today.

Seems like she didn’t have much harvest.

“Grandma, try eating this. It’s delicious when you’re hungry.”

“Huh?”

I gave the chocolate bar I eat as emergency food when time is short going to the health club or academy to the confused-looking elderly woman.

I’m a thoroughly prepared man!

Actually, all women carry handbags, and it feels weird if I’m the only one not carrying… but it also feels weird carrying an empty one, so I’m carrying around some snacks.

“Alright. I’ll eat it gratefully.”

“Yes. Don’t overdo it and take it easy!”

I exchanged a few words with the elderly woman before parting.

Since we’re both busy… I catch a taxi on the main road, and it’s soon to the destination.

“Unniiiii!”

As I get out of the taxi, Yerin who was waiting at the meeting place runs over waving her hand energetically.

With a height just over 160cm and an overall cute impression, she dives straight into my arms without stopping.

“……”

“Hehe.”

Her behavior is exactly the same as Mia’s.

I pat her head a few times and detach her from my arms.

Then I led Yerin to the restaurant I searched in advance.

Today’s menu is Western-style pork cutlet.

I cut the meat for Yerin who was struggling and exchange plates.

Yerin’s eyes sparkle at my overflowing manners.

As we’re eating like that for a while, she suddenly brings up an unexpected topic.

“Unni, you know how we were going to go on a trip during my break?”

“Oh? Mm, that’s right. You said you were making plans, right?”

I remember hearing about it at the housewarming party last time.

When I nod, she continues with a happy expression.

“The break in December is too far away. So I was thinking we could travel on the second weekend of November. Is that time okay?”

“Huh? Wa-wait a minute…”

I was listening without much thought, but I’m taken aback by the more specific date than expected.

So I take out my phone to check my schedule.

The second weekend of November… the audition is the first week, and the only schedule around there is seeing off Lark who’s enlisting on Wednesday.

Then is it a travel schedule departing late Friday afternoon after sending off Lark on Wednesday?

“Well, it’s free, but will Mia be okay?”

“It’s fine if only unni is okay. If Mia unni says she doesn’t have time, we can go just the two of us. We can go with Mia unni next time.”

“That’s not right. We agreed to go together.”

“Tch!”

Yerin pouts her lips as if disappointed.

Seeing that throwing a tantrum won’t work, she eventually nods and agrees.

“Okay. Then I’ll ask if she has time and let you know.”

“Alright. Yerin, you’re really putting in a lot of effort.”

Such drive shown by a second-year high school student.

Really, I wonder what I was doing when I was young.

If I was a second-year high school student, I remember flipping through novels or comics during class and always heading straight to the PC room when school ended.

Hmm… thinking about it now, it was fun at the time, but I have regrets.

I should have lived more diligently.

Well, everyone has regrets.

‘It’s too late for regrets. It’s not too late even now, so let’s focus on the present.’

I sent Yerin off and returned home.

As I was browsing YouTube for a while, I got a call from Mia.

She says she’ll definitely make time even if she doesn’t have any.

In the end, the trip in the second week of November is confirmed.

‘Next month’s schedule has become quite tight.’

I think it’s a good thing to have things to do.

[I think it’s also good to recharge through travel after working hard for a while.]

‘When I receive this month’s YouTube settlement, there won’t be any problem with travel expenses… I wonder where we’re going?’

Yerin said she’d make the plans, and I’m a bit curious.

Sea? Mountains? Historic sites?

Which direction is she thinking of going?

At first I was going to ask, but not knowing also creates expectation and makes me imagine various fun things, so I decided to leave it be.

Come to think of it, this is my first trip with people other than family since breaking up with my girlfriend in my mid-20s.

‘I hope it will be a fun time.’

Mia and Yerin… our first meetings were awkward and strange for both, but now they’ve become some of my most important relationships.

A trip with them.

There’s still almost a month left, but I’m already looking forward to it.

---

The excited feeling about the trip was brief.

Practice upon practice, only practice will guarantee my future.

“That’s right. Gently rotate your wrist there! No, that doesn’t bring out the feeling. Don’t break it, connect! Yes, slowly move to the right while stretching your leg!”

For this JYC Entertainment audition, the academy said a total of 3 people including me will participate.

Both are young students aged 16 and 17, and their attitude was really extraordinary.

As soon as school classes end, they come to the academy and dance and sing until 11 PM, 12 AM.

It’s really dazzling to see them working so hard at such a young age.

“Unni, you’ll pass. You’re good at singing and dancing, and so pretty…”

“Nah, that’s not true. For idols, age is important in the end. Promising young talents like you will be selected.”

“No. Unni, you’re still plenty young!”

There are relatively older girl group members, but 24 is definitely not a young age.

Especially for someone who’s not a trainee close to debut but just at the academy level.

“Still, unni can do it. Let’s do our best together.”

“Uh… yeah. Thanks.”

Actually, I have zero thoughts of debuting in a girl group and I’m just doing this for free lessons and possibly a nice honorarium if I’m lucky enough to pass the audition, but how can I explain this roundabout?

Anyway, I’m preparing hard for the audition and consistently broadcasting 4-5 hours every day!

And I’m not skipping morning workouts at Myunghoon’s health club either.

Really productive times.

And finally… that day arrived.