Off-Screen (무대아래에서) | Haobin

Interlude: Gyubin POV

Author Note:

//Please be aware that this chapter contains conversations that refer to disordered eating and body image concerns//

As always, thank you to my wonderful friend (@rainb4 ) who makes these chapters better <3.  

---

When Gyubin entered middle school, his family made him see a fortune-teller.

His family consulted a fortune-teller for most of their major life decisions, and they praised the intuition and abilities of good fortune-tellers frequently. Gyubin was rarely allowed to attend these consultations as a child, although he was familiar with the trusted fortune-teller his family consulted. Most of the street fortune-tellers, whom his parents looked down on, either wore flashy clothes or traditional hanboks. But the fortune-teller who visited their home didn't wear colorful robes or bring a lot of traditional tools with her. She wore high-end clothes and looked like just another business woman. Whenever she visited, Gyubin would say hello politely and then secretly wait in the hallway until his parents were finished meeting with her, trying to listen in on the mysterious meetings that seemed to shape his family's future.

This time, however, when the fortune-teller entered their apartment, Gyubin was invited into his parents' office to attend the reading.

Before that moment, Gyubin's life was simple. His family loved him and he loved them. He had a lot of friends. His family was somewhat wealthy, so he didn't worry about the same things his friends at school worried about. His only real source of stress was that he didn't do well at school. He didn't seem to be good at anything that adults considered worthwhile. All his other friends had something they were good at, but Gyubin struggled to focus on academics or any other respectable pasttime. He preferred to run around and play than sit down and stare at a math worksheet or read a boring book. But he wasn't that stressed about it. Adulthood was a long way off, and Gyubin figured he'd get better at something before he reached it.

But then his mother and father made him sit down on the couch before the fortune-teller and asked her to read his future career prospects.

The fortune-teller first read his birthday. She carefully arranged his birthdate on a scroll and studied another scroll with colorful Chinese characters. She rang a small bell and sat in stillness for long enough that Gyubin started to fidget uncomfortably. When she finally spoke, she started with an explanation of what his birthday meant. It didn't matter much to Gyubin at first because all of it was too far in the future. She said he'd marry when he was in his twenties; he'd have one child who would be a girl; and he would make a big career switch in his life. He would be seriously sick once, but he would recover.

"Can you tell us what he's good at?" Gyubin's father asked her. He was rarely anxious or fearful in front of Gyubin, so the anxiety in his voice surprised Gyubin. Gyubin's stomach began to churn with unease. "What future career should we prepare for him?"

As the fortune-teller studied Gyubin, the hair on the back of his neck prickled. He started to sweat in the silence.

"Your first career will be based on your good looks. As long as your looks last, your good fortune will last."

His mother startled next to him.

"We were approached by a talent agent a few months ago for modeling. I didn't think it was proper at the time..."

"You should follow that path. His career will certainly be connected to his handsome looks." The fortune-teller smiled at Gyubin, obviously meaning it as a compliment. His parents looked pleased. Gyubin couldn't smile, though. Were looks... a skill? Gyubin didn't think so.