Page 4 of Wish Upon a K-Star
M oon Minseok, better known by his stage name Moonster, is good at being a celebrity. In fact, he’s amazing at it.
His ability to pick up things quickly has served him well in his chosen profession. Naturally a good singer and rapper, he quickly learned dance from the age of five when he convinced his parents to sign him up for lessons at a local hip-hop studio during his family’s tenure in Westminster, London. Yes, that Westminster. The one close to the famous Abbey Road Studios. Some might imagine this proximity to rock and roll history was a factor in Minseok’s love of music. And whether it’s true or not, it is indeed included on his official idol profile.
In addition to his talent in singing, dancing, and rapping, Minseok is fluent in three languages and proficient in a fourth.
But Minseok knows his true skill as a celebrity, in fact, lies in his power to be liked. He is liked by nearly everyone in the industry. Friends with many fellow celebrities of his same year. Respected by most others as part of the world-famous group WDB, not in small part due to the group’s knack for breaking records again and again.
Moonster is found charming and easygoing by any who’ve had the pleasure of being on a variety or reality show alongside him. His easy rapport with fellow celebrities means he’s often asked to guest host music shows and festival events as well.
To Minseok this is both a blessing and a curse. He still remembers a time when WDB was struggling to gain recognition. When they weren’t asked on any shows or to do any events. They were from a small label with limited connections. So, he is grateful for the boom in popularity and requests over the last two years. Truly he is. But, despite Minseok’s proclivity for entertaining, he’s in fact an introvert (an ISTP the last time WDB was given the MBTI test for a show).
In his off-time, he prefers to be alone with his music or his books or his shows. In fact, he rarely leaves his bed on days off.
Which makes his intense summer schedule that much more annoying.
He is now suddenly the de facto face of what he has come to think of as the “WDB rehabilitation plan,” made necessary after a couple of not-so-simple scandals featuring the two most popular members of the group. (Note: ranking of popularity based on unverified polls on K-Pop Fan Attic forums. Moon Minseok does not personally validate such rankings.)
He reminds himself that’s why he’s at the midsummer K-pop festival. So he can pretend like everything is okay in the Wonder-verse. And that no one need worry about the group breaking up (a rumor going around) or that their leader, JD, is hiding out on a cabbage farm in shame from his recent dating scandal (a funny image to Minseok as he knows Jongdae would never be caught dead on a farm).
“Moonster-ssi, the next question is for you,” says the assistant PD conducting the behind-the-scenes interview.
Moonster gives her a polite smile and a nod.
“We heard you were involved in writing the lyrics for this song. What inspired you to write something so romantic? Perhaps your beautiful duet partner?”
Minseok glances at the girl beside him. Kim Ana is gorgeous. No one can deny that. But when she smiles, it does nothing for him. Ana is talented. She’s polite and says all the right things at the right time. But, for some reason, Minseok feels like he’s looking at a photograph instead of a person.
Still, he plasters on an easygoing smile. “She definitely would have helped. But I wrote the lyrics before I got the pleasure of meeting Ana-ssi. The producers sent me a scene from the drama, and Robbie and I wrote the lyrics based on that.”
“Fans were really excited about the surprise self-produced song Robbie released on YouTube at the beginning of summer. Are the rumors of new solo music from him true?”
Minseok gives a shrug and a sly smile. “Robbie has always been a great songwriter. I’ve heard some of his recent songs he’s working on and they sound amazing, maybe he’ll share something new soon.”
It is a lie. Minseok hasn’t heard any of the tracks Robbie is working on. He has barely had time to see the other guys this summer outside of the few times they see each other in the dorm. But he knows how to promote things, and he knows what would best help the group. The company only let Robbie drop a surprise solo track to help everyone forget that the next WDB group album is delayed due to JD’s scandal.
“And, Kim Ana, how did it feel working with Moonster?”
Ana sends Moonster another empty smile. “It was amazing and nerve-racking. I was a huge fan of Oppa before. Definitely a total Constellation! So, I was very starstruck. But Oppa made me feel so comfortable during the entire recording session.”
Kim Ana knows it’s a lie. Moonster barely said a passing hello to her as he left the recording studio when she arrived for her session. And this is the first time she’s ever called him Oppa. But she is experienced enough to know that Moonster isn’t going to expose her in front of a camera. It would make him look bad as well. Plus, this lie is for both of their benefits. Pretending to have a close treasured memory from the recording session will help keep the song on the charts.
As expected, Moonster grins, sending her a little wink. “It was easy with such a talented hoobae.”
“Great!” the interviewer says, clapping her hands.
She’s delighted by how perfect Moonster and Kim Ana look on camera together. This will almost definitely fuel the fledgling rumors that they’re secretly dating. Two of the hottest idols right now and she gets to interview them. She begged the head PD for the opportunity.
“That was great! Thank you, Moonster-ssi, Ana-ssi.”
Moonster nods and turns to Ana to say goodbye. But she’s already walking away. It doesn’t bother him. Some idols don’t like making small talk. He returns to his dressing room. He had been pulled away from his lunch for the interview. But when he walks in, there’s another camera crew there.
“Ah, here he is,” says Hanbin, Minseok’s manager. “You can capture some content while he finishes getting ready for sound check. Minseok-ah, this is a behind-the-scenes crew hoping to get vlog content for the HBS YouTube channel.” Hanbin looks like he’s in his late thirties rather than his late twenties with a receding hairline and worry lines around his mouth. Minseok knows he and his members gave Hanbin the majority of those wrinkles.
As he’s hurried into the makeup chair, Minseok sends a sad look at his cooling pasta. All he wants is to eat and nap, in that order.
The stylist immediately starts fixing Minseok’s concealer. She’s been fighting with the dark bags under his eyes all day. Ones created by three hours of sleep as Minseok’s scheduled appearances last night ended at three a.m.
For someone who loves lying down, Minseok has barely done that in the last forty-eight hours.
Minseok’s phone rings with a call from WDB’s maknae, Robbie (birth name: Choi Jiseok).
He holds the caller ID up, knowing they will blur out the actual details in post and only show Robbie’s name.
“Robiya,” Minseok answers. Tone lightly teasing.
“Hey, you getting ready for the show?”
“Of course. Do you miss me, jagi-ya?” Minseok says. Playful voice still attached. He’s well aware that the fans like when the boys are lovey-dovey with each other.
Which is hard to accomplish these days, all alone.
Still, Minseok thinks, not for the first time, that it is probably for the best that his summer has shifted to solo activities. He was originally scheduled for a sub-unit debut with JD.
The duo of Moon Minseok and Lee Jongdae (endearingly known as MinDae by fans) have been linked together since trainee days. They both gained a small fandom even before debut due to their time as young street buskers. The moment the two met, they bonded over a love of American ’90s hip-hop, sushi, and Korean melodramas (though Jongdae denies the third and Minseok loyally keeps that secret).
Despite being the son of the CEO, Jongdae never used that fact to get out of training or make things easier on himself. And in return, Minseok built an honest respect for Jongdae. He’s always believed his best friend had a baseline of integrity. Something not all celebrities possess. Which is why he is currently in a state of disillusionment when it comes to Jongdae.
This past spring brought many changes for WDB. They had their first world tour. And their first big stage accident. And first huge scandal.
An accident backstage at KFest-Chicago had landed Jongdae with a broken leg. When Nam Sooyeon was caught visiting him in the hospital, it came out that she and Jongdae had been secretly dating. Sooyeon was a K-pop darling once deemed the “nation’s girl next door,” and her reputation had taken a beating due to the dating reveal. She’d lost her contract with one of the biggest K-pop companies because of it.
Some of her loyal fans blamed Jongdae for her fall from grace.
And, if he was being honest, Minseok sometimes felt the same way. Granted, he’s always thought the archaic dating clauses that the bigger companies insisted on went too far. But how could Jongdae make such a huge mistake that risked Sooyeon’s career and the careers of the other WDB members?
“JD-hyeong says he’s worried about the article,” Robbie says.
As if JD has a right to be worried about scandals , Minseok thinks. But aloud he says, “Of course, I miss you too.”
“What?” Robbie says, then lets out a knowing sigh. “Are there cameras there?”
“Yup, want to say hello to the fans?” Minseok lets an easy grin spread over his face, effortlessly hiding his discordant thoughts. A female crew member sighs behind the assistant PD in charge of the shoot.
“Yeah.” Robbie groans. He’s good on camera, but he’s also pain-fully shy.
Minseok turns the phone on speaker and says, “What are you doing, jagi-ya?”
Robbie replies in an equally joking voice. “Waiting for you to get home, jagi.”
Their maknae might be shy, but his showmanship is always good.
Minseok laughs. “What are you really doing?”
“Deciding on what we want to order for dinner, so we can watch the live broadcast.”
“Good. Thanks for monitoring, Robiya.”
“Yup. Drink lots of water and have fun!”
“I always do,” Minseok says before hanging up cheerfully.
The assistant PD calls for the cameras to cut, pleased with the footage. It is kismet timing he caught the conversation. Fans are thirsting for interactions between the WDB members after they had to abruptly end their tour. This clip will definitely go viral and he will get credit.
“Thanks, Moonster-ssi. That was perfect.”
“Anything for HBS,” Minseok says, lowering his head in a bow as the crew leaves.
It isn’t until they are gone that Minseok finally lets himself relax. As part of the biggest K-pop group in the world, Minseok long ago learned the need for control in front of the public, which includes production crews and cameras by extension. Even though fans love the “real” moments between the boys, the bigger they’ve become, the more he finds a need to keep some things private. Just for himself, even if it’s small, meaningless things. It helps Minseok feel like a person instead of a product.
His phone buzzes, and he finds a text from Robbie.
Robbie: Hyeong is still asking if you saw the article?
Minseok knows exactly what article Robbie is referencing. Yet he doesn’t reply immediately. It annoys him that JD continues to monitor these things when he is supposed to be on hiatus. And that is compounded by the fact that he is getting Robbie to do his dirty work right now. Minseok calls foul on using the maknae to get him to respond. But these days, Minseok and JD don’t really talk that much.
Robbie: Hyeong says to be on alert during today’s festival.
Robbie: He says he’s going to call Hyejun-hyeong about it.
This gets Minseok to type furiously back
Minseok: Tell him not to call Hyejun. Hyeri will freak out if we send her older brother to bother her over this.
He watches the three typing dots float at the bottom of his screen.
Robbie: Okay, got Hyeong to hold off on calling.
Minseok feels misgivings about the broadcast, but he knows better than to let bad feelings or superstitions stop him from doing his job. He chalks it up to the cracked relationship between him and his best friend. His hand hovers over his phone—perhaps he should call JD? But he stops himself. If they’re going to have it out, it should be in person and not before he’s about to go on live TV. He must focus on his job. Even JD would agree.
At least today he’ll have something to distract himself with. Because the one person in this world who doesn’t seem to like Minseok is Shin Hyeri. Which makes it impossible for him not to poke at her. It is one of his favorite pastimes, and it always makes him feel better.