Work Text:
- Saving the talkative little brother's dignity
One consistent part of Chaehee's daily life is checking Bubble Pop notifications from spArk. Although admittedly, sometimes she couldn't keep up with the boys’ chatter. Iwol's messages alone take her a few minutes to read through. The man never skipped a day to send messages, except for when he went through his long health hiatus.
That period was undeniably one of the darkest times of Sparklers. For them, who were used to Iwol's daily greetings and TMIs, the silence was unbearable.
It felt like she was Pavlov-ed into checking her notifications everyday from Iwol. The five months of renewing Bubble Pop chat subscriptions and only seeing five members was too painful. Taking photos and seeing spArk perform with only five members felt like a death sentence.
When Iwol returned from his hiatus, looking more visibly bright and cheerful, Chaehee was the happiest. He went back to his daily chatter too.
Speaking of, it's time for her to check Bubble Pop during her lunch. Iwol always sent messages during the meal times of officeworkers, which meant it also coincided with hers.
Artist Iwol
Iwol
Hi, Jjaei! We're having lunch now. Have a good meal too!
Today's lunch is jjolmyeon! It's a bit predictable, no… ㅎㅎ
Chaehee looked down on her food tray. The jjolmyeon Iwol is having is definitely way better than her company's cafeteria food. As she was about to send an emoji to reply, another message came on.
Iwol
And today's TMI is… the maknaes are now in-charge of recommending meals under the supervision of Seongbin.
We had this discussion back in our concert before, that they really want to eat delicious food for our free meals but held back because of us.
Sorry, we were thoughtless hyungs…
How did you know it was Cheonghyeon who recommended jjolmyeon to me?
A tap on her shoulder sent Chaehee jolting in her seat. It's a reminder to Chaehee that she was having lunch with Assistant Manager Yeo.
“What's making you so focused on your phone? You're not even looking at me or eating.”
There's a small hint of sulking in her voice that made Chaehee chuckle. Assistant Manager Yeo had sides that were really cute, and it's only Chaehee who gets to see them.
Chaehee showed her the phone screen, pointing at the name in bold. Hana playfully clicked her tongue as if expressing annoyance, but clearly she was having fun too.
“You're just like your brother, Assistant Manager Yeo.”
Hana paused, the spoon full of miso soup hung in the air. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“He gets sulky too, quite easily,” Chaehee told her.
It seemed like groundbreaking information to Hana, enough that she put her spoon down. Her curious eyes urged Chaehee to continue speaking.
“It shows sometimes in their vlogs, but it's most often noted through the other members’ anecdotes in Bubble.”
“Where can I see that?”
“The vlogs or the Bubble Pop?”
“Both.”
“I'll show you later after eating!”
***
When Chaehee got home after work, there was a message from Hana.
Hana-unnie
[MeTube attachment: 10 minutes of Iwol being whiny and sulky]
Look at this ㅎㅎㅎ
Chaehee was horrified. For Iwol. She immediately sent multiple messages.
Me
What on earth are you watching
Don't do this to your brother
I could recommend better videos for you
Unnie please
Hana-unnie
Okay, calm down
Hana didn't stop there. She sent another photo that made Chaehee shiver.
Hana-unnie
[screenshot of the Bubble Pop app]
Can I only get Iwol's?
You started a call that lasted 43:49 minutes.
Chaehee knew she did her job properly when she got a late night message from Iwol.
Artist Iwol
Iwol
My sister said she watched a video about me… I asked which one it was but she didn't answer because I might get embarrassed.
Now, I'm curious.
What kind of video might it be…?
She also said she was going to check out my Bubble Pop and was considering getting it.
I thought my heart stopped when I read that.
Me too, Iwol… Your sister gave us the scare.
Iwol
No, she didn't get it in the end. Thankfully.
She said she'll be keeping up with news through her Sparkler co-worker and friend instead ㅎㅎ
Chaehee now had a new task in her job description as a fansite master.
- Yeo Hana, a budding Sparkler
Sometimes, weekends meant staying over at Chaehee's apartment and just resting and doing whatever they wanted.
“Hey, can I come over this weekend?” Hana asked during their lunch break.
Chaehee would have easily agreed to her, but unfortunately, she had some plans scheduled already.
“I'm going to binge-watch some spArk content I missed because of work… Is that okay?”
Well, fortunately, Hana didn't mind it. “Yeah! So I'll go home with you on Friday, okay?”
Hence, there they were on a Friday night. Chaehee's television had spArk's MeTube channel on, the coffee table was filled with dishes and a few cans of beer, and they're plopped down on the carpet, leaning on the sofa.
“What are you going to watch?” Hana asked.
She clutched a 40 cm cat Iwol cushion, one that Chaehee fought for her life to get when Animals_pArk opened the merchandise line.
Chaehee held the remote and clicked the first part of the 3-episode content spArk released last week.
“Looks like spArk will be playing a lot this time.”
The thumbnail showed the six members doing different things which seemed to be sports or games, and the title itself said “Spark-lympics”.
Chaehee learned that while forty minutes might be a short time, it could completely change a person's perception.
“What is Iwol doing…?”
“I'm going to be honest with you—I have no idea either,” Chaehee answered the baffled Hana who was still looking at the television.
Looking at the paused screen where Iwol was lying down on the grass with arms crossed on his chest, Hana asked one thing that had been plaguing her since earlier.
“Is he always like that?”
Chaehee had no answer to her question.
She made a vow to herself to be careful next time when choosing spArk videos to watch. Chaehee also silently wished that a video of spArk Iwol's strange moments wouldn't appear of Hana's MeTube algorithm.
Three episodes and two hours later, Hana was dying from laughter on her seat.
Chaehee was just the same. There was never a dull day with spArk. They knew how to make things fun, even though sometimes it's just baffling and ridiculous. Even so, it was hilarious to see Iwol and Jeho struggle to fit in a large sack for the double sack race, and watch spArk do halli galli as if their lives were on the line. She was still pitying Kiyeon's poor hand after getting hit by Jeho.
“Do you want to sleep now? You can go first, I can watch on my laptop instead.” Chaehee told Hana.
“We can watch more, maybe until midnight.”
Currently, spArk's vlogs were a field of Iwol landmines so Chaehee chose to put their stage performances instead.
The first one, their debut showcase and the vlog behind.
“That's almost six years ago, right?”
“Yeah.”
Chaehee had seen the video so many times that she had the chants and member parts memorized. She glanced at Hana.
“He looked so young there.”
The Kim Iwol on the screen was only 21 years old. Looking at him comforting the sobbing kids, Iwol seemed mature and grown up. However, upon seeing him now, Iwol was really young.
Chaehee felt sentimental.
Although next to her, someone was feeling even more sentimental.
“Are you crying?”
“Ugh… it's just the beer kicking in.”
She could only silently pass her the box of tissue.
They watched the following showcase stages for all of spArk's songs in chronological order, because Hana wanted to.
Her sentimental mood also settled down upon the shock of seeing Iwol with bright pink hair during his Hideout era.
“Ah, I should show you their Grand Music Festival stage where they won a Daesang.”
“A Daesang?”
“Grand prize, it's really a big deal since they got it on their third year,” Chaehee said while putting it on the television.
It was one of Chaehee's favorite stages. It's embarrassing but she might have bawled a bit when she watched that in real-time.
“Jeho is really amazing.”
“I know, right? He's the epitome of center.”
“He just catches your eye when he's moving.”
“Is he your bias?”
Hana chuckled to her question, giving the cushion a slight squeeze. “I can't say that when my brother is in the group too!”
The Grand Music Festival spArk highlight video playing on the television finished showing their performances. It moved on to Chaehee's favorite part—the awarding.
It played just as vivid as Chaehee's memory of that day.
spArk was called up to get their Daesang award, the members, teary and sobbing, gave their speech, and when they returned to their seats…
“Iwol… he's crying?” Hana pointed out.
“Yeah… That was his first time we saw him cry too.”
Chaehee still remembered the chaos on SNS because their heavenly eldest hyung cried for the first time.
Hana watched the television with fond eyes. spArk stuck to the sobbing Iwol, patting and caressing him gently until he calmed down.
***
Before she went to sleep with Chaehee, Hana sent a short message to Iwol and changed his contact name after a brief contemplation.
Me
[a photo of the television playing spArk's new self-produced content]
We did a spArk binge-watching session.
Seeing as how quickly the reply came through, Iwol wasn’t sleeping yet. She worried if sending a message that late might disturb him, but now she's more concerned about his sleeping habits.
crybaby little brother
No, why are you watching that ;;;
I'm so embarrassed
Me
Why are you embarrased? It was so fun to watch.
Chaehee also showed me some of your performances from before. I thought about it when I watched your concert but spArk is really amazing.
crybaby little brother
Thank you, noona.
Come again to our next concerts!
Of course, when you are available
Me
I'll be sure to make time for it
When Chaehee woke up in the morning, Bubble Pop's Filial Son had already sent messages.
Artist Iwol
Iwol
I'm doing self-reflection.
For what, you ask?
Noona watched our Spark-lympics video. I'm so embarrassed.
You're curious about her favorite member?
I don't have the guts to know.
Seongbin was shaken when he learned that Seongjun's favorite member is Jeho, you know.
Chaehee glanced at Hana, who was in the kitchen cooking breakfast for them.
Since Iwol didn't want to ask, Chaehee took the wheel instead. Although she had a hunch already, she just needed a confirmation.
“Unnie,” she called.
“Yes?”
“Do you have a favorite member in spArk now?”
Unlike last night, Hana gave it some thought.
“Well… Iwol is my brother but…”
“But?”
“Jeho is really eye-catching you know?”
Chaehee was not surprised. spArk's center was really popular among the members’ siblings.
- A peek into their conversations
Me
Happy holidays, Iwol
Mom is asking if you're coming home for the holidays.
crybaby little brother
Happy holidays, noona!
I want to…
But spArk is booked for many year-end award shows until January ;;;
Me
aigoo
they're making you work during Christmas ???
crybaby little brother
The end of the year is the most busy period for idols…
***
crybaby little brother
Noona
Are you there?
Please reply when you see this.
No matter what happens, please never watch the new Unmanned Island episode.
Me
Why?
Chaehee told me you, Seongbin, and Cheonghyeon were all going together so I wanted to watch.
crybaby little brother
Noona please
At least think of my dignity
***
Me
[a photo of a cafe venue filled with Iwol's photos, and a group photo of Hana, Chaehee, Haewon and Haein]
Chaehee and her friend organized a cafe event for your birthday. I came to visit and help Chaehee ^^
crybaby little brother
That looks amazing!
Please send my regards to Chaehee-noonim.
And also, I think that's my highschool classmate and his sister?
Me
Yeah, we shared a table together and had fun talking.
crybaby little brother
I'm a bit afraid to ask what you talked about
Me
We talked about you, of course ㅎㅎ
***
Me
[a photo of Iwol's clothing brand ad on a shopping mall display]
[a photo of Iwol's cosmetic brand display]
[a photo of Iwol's drama showing on a television at a diner]
It's amazing, you're everywhere.
You're always in my algorithm too.
crybaby little brother
This is a good thing, right…?
I hope you don't get sick of seeing my face, noona
Me
Don't worry, I won't.
But how did you get an ad from a TOEIC prep academy and the Ministry of Employment and Labor?
crybaby little brother
Well, things happened ;;;
- Through noona's eyes
spArk just finished a comeback, which meant a cooldown time, which meant Chaehee would now have to live rewatching old videos and waiting for their self-produced content that they regularly released even when they're on vacation.
That had been Chaehee's routine back then. Nowadays, she got another source of information.
Hana-unnie
We're going on a vacation~ See you next week, Chaehee.
[a photo of Iwol carrying luggages to a car]
Chaehee felt like she was going to explode from the amount of TMI Hana kept sending her. As much as she wanted to go crazy to her, Hana had taken the week off from work because they were going on a family trip. The whole family, Hana said, her parents and Iwol.
That was why she was stuck screaming to herself alone because Hana sent daily updates to her.
Hana-unnie
Iwol really likes sweets but denies it strongly, it's so funny.
On that note, he doesn't like bitter stuff. He'd scrunch his nose when he got a really bitter tea.
It didn't end with the TMI. She sent Chaehee multiple photos. Some of her, others of her and Iwol, and a few photos of Iwol that she took.
Hana-unnie
[a photo of Iwol smiling in a blooming field of flowers]
I did great, right?
Iwol said it looked good but you're the professional here so I want to know your opinion
Me
Iwol has a better aesthetic sense than I do. If it passed his test, then it's amazing.
It felt like Chaehee had subscribed to another Bubble Pop chat. Hana's Bubble Pop. And she's just as talkative as her younger brother.
About a week after, Iwol posted several photos in the fancafe.
Iwol ✔️
We went on a family trip in Jeju!
PS. Noona took my photos
There were photos in the post that Chaehee had seen, the ones Hana had sent her. Looking at all the photos, Chaehee thought both siblings had great sense of aesthetic.
***
It wasn't just Chaehee who enjoyed seeing anecdotes about Iwol and his noona. Everytime Iwol talked about Hana in Bubble Pop, Sparklers were filling up SNS with excitement. It was both curiosity to see another side of Iwol and genuine happiness because they were fans who watched Iwol go through the process of looking for her.
Today, too, Sparklers were setting off firecrackers on SNS because of Iwol.
Artist Iwol
Iwol
We had a few days off so I went home since I had nothing to do.
It's the weekday so noona was at work and was surprised when she saw me at home.
Everytime I go home, mother always feeds me so well.
We had hotpot!
[four photos of Iwol at home, wearing a plain white short and black sweatpants. all photos were candid shots of him eating, watching the television, and hugging a cushion of his cat mascot]
Sparklers always yearned for the natural Iwol. It was a rarely seen breed of Iwol that even spArk's vlogs lacked. His noona's photos came like rain during extreme drought.
Not only was it the natural Iwol at home that they wanted, it was a younger brother Iwol that they never saw in spArk.
While Sparklers were going insane on SNS, Chaehee was calm. She already lost her mind yesterday when Hana had sent her a message.
Hana-unnie
The maknae came home to play ㅎㅎ
He learned his contact name on my phone was “crybaby little brother” and sulked while having hotpot
It was too cute. Chaehee thought she might go insane.
Another message followed.
Hana-unnie
We're into baking lately so we tried making our own sourdough bread. Look at what Iwol did.
Can you believe he’s worse than me?
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Chaehee was glad they were having fun but the sourdough mix Hana sent wss concerning. It looked like it had its own life. She never baked but she knew it was not supposed to look like that.
Chaehee was reminded that not even Iwol is perfect and has flaws.
- Chaehee and Hana
Me
This might be random
crybaby little brother
What is it?
Me
How much would spArk's fee cost if I were to get you guys sing on my wedding?
crybaby little brother
You're not getting married, are you…?
Me
It's a hypothetical question!
crybaby little brother
I'd easily do it for free…
In fact, I'll get the kids to sing if you want. Don't worry about the cost. Consider it our wedding gift.
What do you think of Seongbin becoming the host?
Me
Seongbin would be amazing.
But I'd like it more if you would do it.
crybaby little brother
I don't think I'll be in the right headspace to host your wedding…
Me
You're not going to cry, are you?
crybaby little brother
I will cry
A lot
Me
What am I supposed to do with this crybaby little brother ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
crybaby little brother
Are you dating someone?
Please let me meet your partner before the marriage…
Me
You've met before but only briefly
crybaby little brother
Really? Who was it?
Oh
I thought you and Chaehee-noonim were just really close ;;;
Me
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
crybaby little brother
I should pay my respects when we meet…
Hana could already imagine what happens in their first proper meeting. Back when they met at the concert, Hana and her family could only briefly greet spArk since they were in a rush. It seemed they were overdue for a proper meeting.
She imagined an awkward Iwol not knowing how to act in front of his sister's partner who is also a fan, and Chaehee being as awkward as him not knowing how to address her partner's younger brother and her idol of five years.
It reminded her of a post she saw on SNS. Chaehee and Iwol were exactly that.
Like idol, like fan.
- Yeo Hana
Hana thought her life was perfectly fine. Although she grew up with adoptive parents, not once in her life had she felt that she was lacking something.
The arrival of a younger brother proved her wrong.
Nothing was missing in her life yet Iwol fit in completely, as if complimenting her.
Sometimes, she wandered how different her life would be if she grew up with a younger brother.
She loved her parents, she's grateful to them for raising her like their own kin. However, she knew the horrible childhood Iwol had. She would never learn the details, Iwol would never tell her, but she knew her younger brother had suffered.
Iwol had grown up alone, without receiving the umbrella parents gave children until they learned to become independent. Although he's now an adult, Hana wanted him to experience the comfort and security of having a safety net.
In her 34 years of life, Hana never had a younger sibling.
The first time she met Iwol, the first time he sobbed in front of her, Hana had decided.
No matter how long it took, she would learn how to be a proper older sister.
The words her parents once told her rang in her mind.
There are things only a sibling can give you.
As much as Hana could, she'd give whatever this little brother of her wanted.