TITLE: Un-Idol SUMMARY: Ura earns the title of an ‘un-idol’ after refusing to perform fanservice. It’s a shame she likes the sound of it. PAIRING: None GENRE: Not sure? WORD COUNT: WARNINGS: None that I know of. Let me know if you think something deserves a warning! A/N: i ended up writing more than i meant to for ura oops hope you enjoy.
SUMMER 2016
“TRIPTYCH’S NEWEST MEMBER MAY ALREADY HAVE AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM.”
Ura wasn’t sure if the red layout of AllKpop’s website was affecting her vision or if she really was seeing red. An attitude problem? For what? What could she have possibly done that would warrant someone to believe that she had an attitude problem?
“Is it true that you refused to refer to a fan as your boyfriend?” Heo Seongja asked, sitting on the other side of the computer screen. Ura glanced at her manager, Hyunjung, in confusion. This is why Heo Seongja wanted to talk to her? Because of what she said at the fansign?
“Yeah. I couldn’t call a stranger my boyfriend, that’s just weird.” Ura responded. Seongja nodded. “Of course it’s weird, but that’s what people look for in idols. Someone to be a stand-in significant other. What did you say exactly?” Seongja asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Ura let out an exhale through her nose, trying to fight the urge to punch something. She hasn’t said anything that another idol hasn’t said before. In fact, she’s sure that she’s heard some boy group member somewhere make a similar statement. Although there’s always a double standard when it comes to women and men expressing oneself.
“This fan told me that he rejected a girl from his class because he only has eyes for me. He wanted me to pretend to be his girlfriend for the time we had at the fansign. I told him that it’s unhealthy to think of me in such a way. I’m no ones ‘girlfriend’ and I can’t be the emotional support that comes from a real girlfriend.” Ura explained, her arms crossed. “It’s not right that he would accept the affection of another girl because he feels like he is loyal to me. That’s messed up. He should live his life. That’s what I told him.”
Seongja nodded again, inhaling deeply through her nose. She flipped her computer screen back around and pulled up a few more articles, all titled similarly. One article from Naver caught Ura’s eye.
“They’re calling you ‘un-idol’. A lot of them are questioning why you even debuted in the first place.” Seongja reiterated glumly.
The phrase should have hurt Ura. It was intended to be an insult, right? That’s why it was attached to her name, followed by the words “attitude” and “rude”. But why did she like the ring of it? Why did she like how it looked?
“Nice.” Ura nodded, a small smirk on her lips. Heo Seongja bit her lower lip, as if biting back some comments of her own.
“You’re not taking this very seriously.” She frowned. “No, I am.” Ura gave a short nod. “I’m sorry that I’m bringing a lot of negative attention to Triptych. I’m not sorry for what I said and I’m not sorry that people are able to identify me out of a line up now.” Ura reasoned. “Can we scroll down to the comments?”
“You want to read the comments?” Ura’s manager questioned in confusion. “Yeah. Let’s see what people really think about me.” Ura shrugged.
Heo Seongja blinked a few times but scrolled down to the comments and proceeded in reading off the most liked comments.
“Three hundred up votes; ‘Bit rude of her. Fans pay a lot of money to meet idols. She should have just played along’.” The representative read. “Hm.” Ura responded.
“Two hundred up votes; ‘This is more embarrassing for the fan than it is Ura. Imagine going to your bias and telling them all that and then getting rejected?’.”
“Good point.” Ura commented, chewing on her lower lip, trying not to show any amusement.
“Two hundred up votes; ‘Ura didn’t do anything wrong. It’s unhealthy for fans to develop that mentality’.”
“See!” Ura thrust her hand forward, gesturing to the laptop. “I’m not being ridiculous! Only the delusional ones are making a big deal about this.”
“Is it wise to refer to your fans as ‘delusional’?” Hyunjung, her manager, commented with a slightly disapproving stare. Ura shrugged it off. Even though she knew deep down that biting her tongue and apologizing would be the easy route, she felt so objectified being expected to play a role that wasn’t hers to play.
“Mrs. Heo, I know you’re upset with all the negative press that I am receiving,” Ura sympathized. “But I can’t just ‘play along’. I thought Triptych was supposed to be different. I thought the expectations for us would be to be authentic, not something we’re not.”
Seongja sighed heavily, closing her laptop screen. “That is the exception that the company has for you, yes. But that’s not the expectation the general public has for you.” Seongja explained. “I’m not upset with you for standing up for yourself, no one at the company truly is. We’re just worried that this will affect your image.” Ura pursed her lips together and shrugged. “I don’t think it will. You read those comments. A lot of them seemed supportive enough. Plus, Kpop moves fast. This story will be old news by the end of the week.”
Heo Seongja didn’t seem too convinced but she shook her head in defeat anyways. “I guess you’re right.” She rubbed her temples in circular motions. “Alright. You’re free to go. Thank you for discussing this with me. I might call you back to help me with some damage control.”
“Sounds great.” Ura rose from her seat, following her manager to the door. “Oh, and Chiyau?” Seongja called out as the two women made their way to the door. Ura turned around expectantly. “The ‘Un-Idol’ title fits you, doesn’t it?” Seongja smirked. “Just don’t let it get to your head. I’m not interested in having weekly meetings like this.”
Ura smirked. “I’ll try not to, ma’am.” She winked. As the door closed, she could hear the dry chuckles of the HBH representative behind her.