Chapter Text
Becoming popular on any social media site was signing a deal with the devil.
You are no longer in control of your own life, you serve as the puppet to your fans’ commands.
Yoo Hobin was naïve, only thinking his Newtube channel of bully-call-out would only land him a small following, but fans and support kept pouring, demanding for justice. Of course, everyone supported the little guy, they trusted that Hobin, Jiksae, and Gaeul knew what they were doing.
Until they fought Seong Taehoon. From his looks alone, all the fangirls dropped Hobin for this new striking face. It was a struggle for Hobin to defeat Taehoon, his viewers being split on who to root for. Hobin slightly edged out since it was his own channel, but Taehoon’s former status as a UFC fighter with countless supporters was evident.
This was why Hobin hated lookism. Guys like Taehoon who rise their way to the top by pure looks for ‘belief’, rarely putting in sweat and tears just to get by.
At least the paychecks he was getting were full and bursting. Even his mother started getting better quickly after he briefly mentioned her cancer on stream, with his fans wishing for her to have a speedy recovery. Life was such a double-edged sword.
Now, Hobin was facing a new dilemma.
“Don’t you think you and Bomi should get married on camera?” Rumi asked with her innocent smile, “I’m sure the fans would love it, plus, it’ll boost your second channel in the matter of seconds!”
Jiksae’s camera pointed to Hobin, fans and himself waiting for a response.
user82332244466: Bomi who?
Ranstalker: the girl whos dating munseong?
skeletonslefttoe: @Ranstalker nope theyre not
vhittstann: Nah no way hobin has this much game
Hobin choked on his saliva, “No way! I can't treat her like a content machine!”
Silently, he also reminded everyone, “XJ Company! She's not part of this!”
peaceluvplants: wow… suddenly hes got morals
Ssskihm: what u whispering bout Hobin? Spiilll!!
Rumi gave her two cents, “Oh true, and comments have been saying her and Munseong look better together–which I can't argue with…”
“That was unnecessary but sure.” Hobin bit back.
vhittstann: LMAO i knew she was too good for him
Shubidubi: Naahhhh rumi did him dirty
ksuhyeon: cmon Hobin as short kings we gotta unite
“Gaeul then?” Rumi asked.
qawsedrfty: oooo i wanna see editor's face!!
skeletonslefttoe: Haha same actually
Jiksae turned his camera to their young editor unwittingly, the fans must be really eager for a face reveal. Fortunately, he realized quickly and immediately shifted his wrists to the left, streaming Taehoon's half annoyed, half amused eyes instead. Suddenly, a huge wave of viewers joined–like some sort of sick sixth sense.
“She hasn't even appeared on camera yet!” Hobin yelled.
Ding!
[StarrLeaf] donated 50,000₩ on Ultra Chatting:
Lmao, thank you cameraman for this reminder, but why not have Hobin and Taehoon ‘fake date’?:pp
“Hobin!” Jiksae yelled from the camera, “Do you see this? 50,000 won if you get together with Taehoo-”
Jiksae didn't even get to finish his sentence before his stomach was met with an infamous back kick that sent him flying to the ground.
“The fuck do you mean-?” Taehoon snapped, eyes widened and teeth gritted, “And get the fuck back up, didn't even kick that hard.”
Hobin immediately tried to calm the situation down. “Hey! No one's dating each other anymore okay? I'm sorry lovely viewer, but I'll refund the dona-”
[StarrLeaf] donated 60,000₩ on Ultra Chatting:
You said…?
Right now, Hobin had made an easy 110,000 won that he just cannot refuse. He looked down at his wrist, a light shein of blue numbers slowly increasing in count.
vhittstann: Why havent i thought about taebin??
qawsedrfty: doitdoitdoit
user82332244466: 110000won to date the hottest guy on earth? Sign me up-
[StarrLeaf] donated 500₩ on Ultra Chatting:
Taehoon, you know what the fans want now right?
To be honest, Taehoon didn't hate Hobin–quite the opposite actually. He just didn't like submitting to his fans’ requests. It felt too constricting, like he couldn't live the way he wanted.
Most importantly, the system reminded him of Lee Do-un.
People pleaser puppets with no free will, forever under the will of others.
That was all Do-un was.
“Fuck,” Taehoon muttered under his breath, reaching his hand to Hobin’s wallet and taking out one 500 won coin, “You owe me a shitton more ‘kay?” He said while walking out of the company headquarters with his left hand stuffed in his jacket pocket and his right middle finger raised. Despite the mountain of comments in the livestream begging Taehoon not to go, he never bowed down to the will of others.
“Geez, who pissed in his cereal this morning?”
Taehoon was uncharacteristically pissed–well yes, he normally seemed like the angry type, picking fights with anyone who dares to breath in his direction–but the whole ‘getting himself and Hobin to date because of their young fans obsessed with anything romance just gave him the ick. If he wanted to date Hobin, which he definitely does, he would do it on his own accord.
Although, now wasn't the time for mushy-dovey-teenaged-love. That whole interaction just brought up what he calls ‘a really shitty memory’. With the amount of swear words being so rampant today, he decided to take the 500 won he was owed and go play some Taekkwon 7.
He took a long sigh, still frustrated, but now with a tinge of sadness. Not long after, his feet subconsciously turned sideways before stopping, recognizing that the arcade entrance was already in front of him.
He sat firmly on the tiny stool, one leg propped on the equally tiny built-in footrest. Eyes glued to the screen, left hand gripping the joystick while his right held the 500 won about to be deposited for a game of fun. But he didn't drop the coin. He lifted it back up high and inspected it like a movie detective with their somehow-always-handy magnifying glass.
The Red-crowned crane imprinted proudly on the copper and nickel alloy. Its wings spread freely. Taehoon never noticed the design before, always quick to spend them all, but he found new appreciation for those tiny details.
He remembered that someone once told him the crane represented longevity, purity, and peace. A stark contrast to how his former friend lived. Looking back on it, he wished things turned out a little more differently.