Spotlight Duet

If that face smiles, it would really feel like the heavens parting.

Just imagining it lifted my mood.

But I have no idea how to make him smile.

I think he laughed briefly when my voice cracked before.

But I can’t force funny acts in front of him.

Bit the chopstick end, then just tapped the innocent soju glass.

“Want to avoid too formal interview. Ah, should’ve bought a PlayStation.”

“Where you’d get money for console. You’ve done well streaming so far—this’ll be fine too. When?”

“No reply yet. Soon probably?”

Thought of it, pulled phone, checked mail.

Confirmed read this morning.

But no reply still.

Adjusting schedule probably.

Set vibration loud in case phone call.

All day messages—just deliveries for album, camera, mask tonight.

Trying wait without greed—felt blood drying.

“Hyung, bathroom quick.”

“Yeah. More soju?”

“Yes. Far from drunk~”

Waved to hyung, went corner bathroom.

Wiped greasy hands, looked mirror.

Cap low, bit gloomy—but otherwise okay.

School days, got called handsome, even confessions.

Of course no talk skills—all rejected.

But thinking cam with Seo Injun—dizzy.

Shook head firmly, exited bathroom.

Back table—hyung grilling hard.

Spooned ordered stew—hyung casually dropped.

“Ah right. Phone came while bathroom.”

“Huh?”

No one calls me.

Thought parents—unlocked phone.

Unknown number.

Starts ‘010’—not spam.

Tilted head sneaky—hyung continued.

“Rang nonstop, I answered—voice killer.”

“…Huh huh?”

“Didn’t say who. Said call back when you return.”

Mouth agape, stared number on phone.

Even insensitive hyung says great voice—only one person.

The call I’d waited for.

Grabbed phone, shot up, went outside store.

Anxious heart, dialed, stomped feet.

“Ah, no good.”

Rang long—no answer.

Busy person, more so.

Went voicemail eventually.

Hung quick before beep, squatted there.

Buried face knees, hands wrapped over cap.

Regret mountain—why no phone bathroom.

“Idiot… Idiot! Argh.”

Sat dazed long, stood.

Pushed store door—phone vibrated right then.

Dropped handle hurried, checked phone.

Door rebounded—smashed toe hard.

Toe pain indescribable—but no time care.

“Aah!”

Same number.

Answered before hang up.

“H- h- h- h- hello?”

Stuttered who knows how many.

Tension stopped breath.

Forgot stinging toe—focused call only.

Few static crackles—finally awaited beautiful voice flowed.

–Jangma nim?

My name this sweet.

Sat properly, plugged earphones phone.

Wanted best quality voice somehow.

Passersby glanced weird—but fine.

Talking to who right now.

“Yes, yes. That’s me.”

Then maybe this Seo Injun personal number.

New surprise—small inhale.

Hands covered ears, pressed earphones tight.

Outside noise gone—Seo Injun voice clear only.

–This is Seo Injun.

Just one line—goosebumps arms.

Corners mouth rose uncontrollable—grinned silly.

How voice like this.

Amazing no matter how many times.

Deeper tone than game voice chat.

Good all same anyway.

Internal scream—no quick reply—he continued.

–…Left number, so called. Faster than email probably. Call okay now?

“Yes! Of course! Super okay!”

Quick turned head—looked hyung inside.

Mouthed what’s wrong—waved nothing.

Even natural disaster now—call possible.

Would make possible.

My mood too excited probably—Seo Injun paused again.

Seem need act refined.

–About day I appear your broadcast—when good?

“I’m anytime! New song promo busy—I’ll match you.”

–Then this Saturday evening okay?

Opened phone calendar.

Today Thursday—Saturday two days away.

Thumping heart, pressed Saturday, added schedule.

Seo Injun collab.

Never dreamed such schedule life.

Pure laugh mixed voice said.

“Good! Address text you!”

Only two days—feels long even.

Clutched phone both hands, bit lip.

Call alone this happy—actual meet broadcast possible?

Home, keep looking photos, get used handsomeness.

Idols best, best.

Silly smile—eye contact passerby.

Weird look—hurried one hand cap down, composed face.

First, careful not show this face Seo Injun.

Random thoughts—he asked else.

–Anything need?

Wow giving enough grateful—needed nothing obviously.

But saying flat no seemed rude.

Pondered long—blurted personal want.

“Ah, sign album please!”

–…Yes?

“Yes?”

His reaction weird.

Wrong thing say.

Confused—eyes darted air.

Awkward silence end—Seo Injun cleared throat, low voice said.

–Broadcast needs I mean.

Asking broadcast equipment needed.

I asked autograph fill fan heart.

Vowed no mistakes—already troubled him.

Cheeks heat instant.

Buried face knees, mumbled meaningless.

Fists tapped calves light, bit lower lip hard.

“…Uh, aah. That I’ll prepare all. Ideas organize send too.”

–Yes, understood.

That last—call ended.

Shame filled head top.

Removed cap, pulled hair—now saw swollen toe.

Nothing proper.

Thought better streaming—no.

Still hard facing people.

Pouting face, stood, entered store.

Plopped hyung side, grabbed soju glass straight.

Eating meat watching TV him—shrugged shoulders, looked me.

“Wow okay. Excited out earlier—now about cry.”

“Hyung, drink today. Need drink.”

Overflow soju gulped one.

Asked another immediate—hyung frowned.

Seemed not give—snatched bottle, self-poured.

Downed three nonstop—mind little numb at least.

Dazed limp sit—hyung worried face asked.

“Collab canceled?”

“No. This Saturday decided.”

“But.”

But.

Yeah.

Stared dead grill, head snapped up.

Glared wide eyes—hyung sneaky leaned back.

Reached one hand, grabbed his arm, wailed.

“Hyung, what if mistake that day? See real him too amazing cry what? Only say sings well voice good endlessly what? You know, me facing people really bad.”

“Fan how short—already cry.”

“That’s it! Makes no sense. But why feel cry… Not just happy collab.”

“…Kid crazy. Drink, just.”

Hyung freed grabbed arm, pushed glass.

Stared sloshing soju, no hesitate gulped.

Should taken social skills class.

Or now urgent study proper talk people.

No good counter.

Just emptied bottle front eyes.

After—don’t remember home how.

Hyung piggybacked unsteady me—remember that.

Piggybacked slept—woke home entrance.

Arms hugged deliveries carefully.

“What this…”

Drunk still lingered.

Throbbing head grabbed, blinked slow.

Top delivery opened—album.

Hurried open—recalled “unboxing” trending lately.

Content open albums packages together, review.

Drunk still think content—pro YouTuber.

Silly laugh, carried deliveries, sat desk.

Half-closed eyes, connected cam, wore mask.

Good test before Seo Injun broadcast.

Or, actually don’t know what doing now.

Rough fixed messy hair, turned cam.

Screen showed me.

Mask half face—identity safe.

Hiccuped, no check time, pressed live.