In the show 'Make Your Idol', the new survival show GNet will be making, there are three audition rounds in total before they determine whether you get in or not.
But for me? I passed round 0, baby.
With a salary and everything, too!
Anyways, the audition process will go on for two months, and the filming starts one month after that in Seoul.
I'm guessing it's in South Korea because it's closer to the original branch, which I am grateful since there was no way I could afford a plane ticket to anywhere right now.
Back to the topic, silly.
Right now, they have only started promotions, so I have plenty of time to practice.
I promise I won't slack off just because I'm just there as a gap character.
"The more episodes I'm in, the more pay, after all..."
Right now, though? I'm in a streetmarket nearest to my resident, eating rice cakes on my own.
I was a regular here, sometimes even helping out the old grandpa to serve beer if it ever gets too crowded.
Sometimes, I thought about working in this rice cake shop.
But I'm just another customer who likes this family restaurant. I wasn't friendly to the shopowner to get hired, after all.
"I thought you died or something, Chan. Didn't come for two days straight, and for what?"
The old and sporty voice came from the owner of this family restaurant, who happened to have the same surname as mine.
The market was pretty empty since it's only six in the morning. This restaurant opens for exactly regulars like me who come everyday to have rice cakes as breakfast.
I often help out here, too, boiling the rice cakes and carrying spice bags, or even picking chillies.
"Sorry, gramps. I had nothing in my bank and didn't wanna show my face to ya," I shrugged, speaking honestly.
"This kid. You, tight on cash? Where'd all that money you get from workin' everyday go to?"
"I have my reasons, gramps. And I kinda-sorta-pretty much got fired, so..."
At this point, Grandpa Jung seemed pretty angry.
"Now who the hell got the guts to fire Chan!? Boy, you musta sucked ass at work if they gotta fire you!"
It took five whole minutes to calm this old man down.
"Yeah, pretty much. That's why I haven't shown face. I dug around the house and found some pennies, so I came here to eat again."
Finally, Grandpa Jung sighed and walked into the kitchen. I got curious and followed since I've been there, too.
"Ya have nothing to do? Then get yer ass to work, son. Yknow the drill!"
My eyebrows raised.
This grandpa didn't have to say anything more for me to understand.
Damn, I should've just gone here from the beginning, instead of rotting in bed, wallowing in self pity.
But my grumbling stomach just had to act up now. Way to ruin the moment.
"Uh, gramps? Can I have breakfast first?"
.
What you read just now was me from 5 hours ago. Right now, I'm sweating bullets in a family restaurant serving rice cakes left and right.
Lunch hour means rush hour, but to me who had spent my whole life working with all my skills out to the test, this is a breeze to smile through.
Though, the questions some customers asked weren't something I'd expected.
"Excuse me, how old are you?"
What? Did you mean to ask how old the restaurant was? Or perhaps this girl was gonna shout something like "Young people nowadays bla, bla, bla?"
"Yes? I'm twenty-seven this year. Why?" I asked through a natural service worker smile.
"Well, I..are you single?"
Oh!
So it's because I'm hot.
"Well I am, but I'm not looking for anything like that."
"Oh, no, I'm sorry. I'll just have a rice cake special, please..."
"I see, one regular plate of our special coming right up!"
I flashed another light smile before turning to place the order.
You didn't think I was going to say yes, did you? Of course not! That lady was obviously going to scam me.
I guess she pushed her luck, thinking I was an easy target. Very silly of her to do so, honestly.
(Yes, this is all in his head)
I'm not about to be scammed in broad daylight, not in front of this many customers.
Speaking of which, is there always this many people coming in for lunch?
.
Working in this weather for hours without breaktime was actually pure hell.
It's now two in the afternoon, and Grandpa Jung usually closes at three before opening again at 6 p.m.
I was panting like a dog when the old man went to me while chuckling.
"I fuckin' knew it! That facecard can never be denied!"
I grabbed the water bottle Grandpa Jung handed over after taking a seat on the plastic chair next to mine.
"Face what? Gramps, slang doesn't sound cool when you say it."
"Shut it, ya sonuvagun!" Seriously, who says that in real life?
I was about to ask for money, but the old man beat me to it. He slammed a stack of crumpled bills onto the table and slid it over to me.
I didn't ask and quickly counted everything.
"133, 135... That's ₩140.000 you just made, gramps," I said as I divided the bills into each color.
Grandpa Jung was grinning again as he took the now arranged stack of money and gave three green bills to me.
I was in shock.
"What, don't want it? Fine, since ya did gimme twice the customers today..." the old man's words trailed off as he skimmed his fingers through the wad of cash, taking out another green bill.
"Gramps, seriously? You're giving me ₩40.000 on my first day? That's too much, gramps," I say as I snatch the money from the old man's hand.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure those girls'll get bored of yer face in a week, so we gotta milk everything from yer fans now."
"Fans? You're still saying that? You saw me on like, two ads, and that was years ago," I retorted, drinking some more water.
"Have some confidence, son. If ya appear on TV, that means yer famous!"
This old man...
"Anyway, I can't work here everyday, gramps."
"What!?" Grandpa Jung stood up, the plastic chair screeching annoyingly from the sudden force.
I explained further.
"There's this program I'm participating in soon, and there's a lot of things to prepare, but I'll come every week..." Grandpa Jung had an odd face, blinking what I think are supposed to be 'puppy eyes' 'cutely.'
I sighed.
"But yes, I will work here everyday for just this week."
Granpa Jung was smiling again.
"Okay, shoo now, son! There's half an hour until I close the shop, this old man can handle that much!"
Wow.
I smiled, standing up and towering the shopowner. I stand at 180 centimeters 'cause why not, but the old man is just that short.
Will I be like that if I grow old, too?
Whetever, I have other things to think about.
"Then take care, gramps," I said, waving goodbye.
What you read just now was me from five hours aco.