[March 2022]
"You are an extremely successful actress, and you gained so much popularity in the mere span of under two years. Is there anyone, besides your family, friends, and fans, that you're especially grateful towards? And who's your biggest inspiration nowadays?"
Eunbyeol smiled, grateful that the interviewer's final question was an easy one.
"I'm eternally grateful to the people who cast me for X1's music video. If it wasn't for my being cast there, I would have never received so much recognition, and I likely would have had a much more difficult path getting my acting career up and running. So I'm very grateful to those who have believed in my abilities since then. And as for my biggest inspiration... I feel like I'm probably supposed to say another actor I admire, right?" she joked lightly, her smile widening. "But I'll say X1 for this too. The members were all extremely kind to me during the music video shooting, and I'm grateful that they made my first acting experience so much easier than I anticipated, thanks to their help. Since then I've become a fan of theirs, and honestly, I'm always in awe of them," she couldn't help gushing. "They've grown so much and truly... they're taking over the world. Honestly, it would be such an honor if I could work with them again in the future," she finished, grinning at the cameras.
She heard the interviewer say the closing remarks and held her smile until the director yelled cut.
Almost immediately, she stood up, unsteady on her feet. Her staff rushed towards her, and her manager grabbed onto her arm, steadying her.
"That's all for today, right?" she asked her manager, a girl named Lim Soojin, as other staff members began fixing her makeup and dabbing at her face, removing any perspiration she may have had.
"Yes, you did well," Soojin said, smiling at her. "I'm proud of you."
"You better be, I'm exhausted," Eunbyeol sighed, relieved when Soojin waved everyone away. She was more than just a manager, but in the year that they'd been working together, she'd become something of a friend. Only three years older than Eunbyeol herself, she felt as though she could easily talk to and behave naturally around Soojin.
"How'd I do?" Eunbyeol asked as they started walking, her bodyguards surrounding her.
"You get better and better at interviews every time we do them," Soojin said, her eyes sparkling with pride. "You did great. Though... don't be surprised if some crazy fangirls are suddenly out to get you because of that last comment you made."
Eunbyeol laughed, rolling her eyes playfully. "There are already some crazy fangirls out to get me just because of that MV we did a few years ago," she said, shaking her head at herself. It was truly ridiculous. "But honestly, I think most of their fans are pretty chill. After everything those boys went through, I think fans just want them to be happy at this point. At least I'd hope so."
"I'd hope so too," Soojin agreed. "But just because your fangirl mind thinks like that, doesn't mean everyone does. So be careful."
"Okay Mom," Eunbyeol teased, bumping her shoulder against Soojin's.
"Get your famous smile on," Soojin said, bumping her shoulder back into hers as they headed towards the doors. "I'm sure there are people waiting for you outside."
Eunbyeol smiled, following her guards through the glass doors. Soojin was right, of course. There were countless fansites waiting for her pictures, and she paused to wave at the crowd so that they could get their pictures before following her guards and staff members to the black van she rode in.
She got in the backseat of the van, and Soojin jumped in the front with her driver. Soojin's phone rang with a call.
"Sorry, let me just see who it is," Soojin apologized, picking up the phone and holding it to her ear. The car started and Eunbyeol stared out the window, watching the buildings and people pass by. A part of her wished that she could have that life too, a life where she could walk down the streets normally, without worrying. A life where she didn't have to be hyper-aware of everything she said or did. Already the self-doubt was settling in. Had she really been good during that interview? Or would haters once again manage to find something to pick apart and hurt her with? Should she have mentioned X1, or would that only serve to mess up her career? What if it hurt theirs too? What if she acted carelessly-
"Eunbyeol, it's for you," Soojin said, holding the phone out for her. "It's the CEO of Swing Entertainment. He has a very interesting proposition for you."
