facade

“oh? if you say so, it must be true. the best genetics…” myungji giggled, covering her face with her hand. “that means a lot. i owe you so much– making you proud means the world.”

“myungji, love, you don’t owe us anything. we love you, and we just want you to be happy and healthy and living your dream,” choe assured her gently, rubbing her shoulder.

mirae laughed. “can i have a custom one anyway? debuting is cool, but i want a trophy with my face on it.”

“if you want it, we’ll get it,” choe laughed. “you have to work hard, though. no phoning it in and getting a trophy. i raised you better than that.”

“thanks…. the teams said that they made me the visual because i have a good face for film,” myungji retorted, blushing at the compliments. 

“you have a nice face in general-- genetic, obviously,” choe teased, rubbing her daughter’s back. “i’m so proud of you. so is your mother.”

“i don’t know if we get a trophy. i’ll bring you home a nice cheque?” she offered with a snort

“i don’t need more money. if you don’t get a trophy, we’ll have one made for you,” she commented with a warm smile.

“no, i’m serious– i don’t want to go onstage with it. it belonged to my dad. it’s ratty and ugly. i kind of would rather take my chances with this. or see what else the stylists have….”

“then borrow someone else’s cardigan. for fuck’s sake, kyungmi. you’re not wearing something that you’re squeezing out of.”

mirae looked choe dead in the eye, determination brimming over. “i want to win, eomma. i’m not going to get distracted. i’m going for that number one spot, and nothing can stop me.”

“good. then wisen the fuck up, and bring me home a trophy,” choe answered bluntly, nodding at her daughter.

mirae rolled her eyes, biting her lip and shoving some extra shorts into her suitcase. “i got it,” she answered with a little whine. “i know how big this is okay? don’t you think i want to win this? do you think i’d really fuck it all up for myself like that?”

“not on purpose, no. but sometimes you get carried away without thinking of the consequences,” choe pointed out, handing her daughter a hoodie that she’d folded. “i just want the warning to be in your head so you don’t get distracted.”

she was a little taken aback by the wording, hand coming up to cover her mouth in shock. “oh god i…. that’s not what i’m going for,” she said, giggling nervously. “i don’t have anything else i can wear, though– i can’t go onstage in my cardigan…”

“sure you can,” choe answered. “i’m sure a good stylist can make it work. better than what you have now.”

“thanks mom,” myungji said , holding a plushie tight against her chest with a warm smile. “i honestly didn’t think it was that good until i heard the track for the first time– i guess all the practice has really been worth it! which song did you like better?”

“i liked them both,” she retorted, smiling. “that’s a cop out, isn’t it? i personally liked dramatic better, but hocus pocus suited you more in my opinion. they were both very good, though. you’re very photogenic.”

“yeah, i know, but i don’t want you to have to! even if we have money, i don’t want to waste it,” mirae answered shamefully, averting her eyes. she bit her lip. “i didn’t think about how it could get you in trouble, eomma. i’m sorry. i won’t do it again.”

choe sighed. she couldn’t be mad at mirae. not really. pulling her daughter in for a quick side hug, she rested her head on the top of mirae’s. “it’s not a waste. i would give you the world if you asked me, mirae. nothing is wasted on you. you’ve had it so rough for so long-- if you wan’t twelve phones, the least i can do is provide them. what else is that money going to be used for? sitting in a bank account?” she pointed out. frankly, they had millions. “please. i’ll hold you to that. i want you to be able to follow your dreams, but i need you to be safe too.”