You(r) Tuber Vol 1.

2 Chop-khun Gets His New Cameraman

 

In truth, Chop-khun was an artist, and the YouTube channel was just a side gig. After graduating with a degree in art, Chop-khun began a career that many of his relatives disapproved of. However, his parents had always supported his passion, so he didn't pay much attention to what others said. He started as an unknown artist, eventually getting opportunities to design drink menus and paint murals for cafes. His unique style gained traction on social media. Over the years, his small projects led to collaborations with major brands, and his work became recognised in the art world. As his responsibilities grew, his time became more limited.

 

Now that he had to run the YouTube channel alone, with all the equipment taken by his ex, Chop-khun needed help and someone with the tools to get the job done. He didn't want to invest too much yet, as he'd just started the channel and had already spent a significant amount of money building his new house. After two years of running a YouTube channel, he knew that, aside from good content, the key to making high-quality videos was excellent camerawork and editing. That's why he prioritised hiring for this position first. Even though he wanted to outdo his ex and his so-called best friend, he wasn't going to rush the work.

 

"Huh? How did this guy end up applying?"

 

Chop-khun was astounded as he opened the latest job application in his email inbox. The lean figure, who'd been leaning back in his office chair, sat up straight and adjusted his blue-light glasses before rereading the applicant's resume.

 

Intouch Ananmekha, 30 years old, with a master's degree from England, had applied for the position of cameraman and cinematographer. The attached portfolio was nothing short of A-plus quality, featuring commercial shoots, covers for renowned fashion magazines, short films, and even award-winning projects.

 

"He even has an IG account."

 

Seeing the Instagram listed on the application, he quickly typed it into the search bar. Three hundred thousand followers?! The more Chop-khun scrolled through his Instagram, the wider his eyes grew. There were photos of celebrities, beautifully composed travel shots, and high-quality video advertisements for top-tier brands. It was clear that this photographer's work commanded a hefty paycheck, definitely more than the salary Chop-khun had budgeted for. He's a top-tier videographer. Why would someone like him want to work on my little YouTube channel?! My channel has only been live for a month and has a mere 359 subscribers. Maybe this is my lucky day...?

 

Absent-mindedly, Chop-khun began to nibble on his lower lip, a habit he had when deep in thought. Over the past week, several interesting candidates had applied, but this guy's work stood out the most. Intouch's cinematography and editing style made Chop-khun eager to work with him. It didn't take long for Chop-khun to make a decision. An email inviting the renowned videographer for an interview was sent shortly after.

 

[Three days later]

 

Chop-khun walked into the Starbucks where he'd scheduled the interview. He was so nervous that he arrived nearly an hour early. He wore dark brown slacks and a white button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves-casual yet still presentable. He didn't want the conversation to feel too formal or tense. His brown eyes scanned the famous coffee shop. Luckily, it wasn't too crowded in the afternoon, so he didn't have to wait in line like usual. He made his way to an open spot at the counter.

 

"I'll have a large iced chocolate with extra whipped cream and caramel, please," he ordered his favourite drink from the barista

 

"Sure! What's your name?"

 

"I like you," he replied. 

 

The air in the shop seemed to freeze for a moment. The misunderstanding in the conversation caused another barista and a man ordering next to him to glance at Chop-khun.

 

"Excuse me?" the barista asked again, confused.

 

"Oh, sorry! I mean, my name is Chop-khun."

 

"Ah, got it! One moment, please," the barista said with a small smile, jotting his name on the cup. This wasn't the first time something like this happened, but Chop-khun never got used to it. His face turned red as he accidentally made eye contact with the man next to him, who was smiling, dimples showing.

 

Wow, he's handsome.

 

"Mr Chop-khun, your drink is ready!" the barista called out, snapping him back to reality. Grabbing his favourite drink, Chop-khun headed to the farthest table for some privacy. He placed his work bag on the sofa and took several sips of his iced chocolate. Checking his watch, he saw there were still thirty minutes until the interview. He pulled out his iPad to review the questions he'd prepared.

 

"Excuse me, are you the one who scheduled the interview?"

 

A deep, steady voice came from above him. Chop-khun looked up from his iPad to see the newcomer. It was the man with the dimples! Chop-khun stood up, catching a whiff of the other man's cologne. The height difference was striking-he was 170 centimetres tall, but this guy had to be much taller. Chop-khun hadn't required applicants to include photos in their resumes, as he preferred to focus on their work. Intouch's Instagram didn't feature any pictures of himself either, but it wasn't hard to guess that this tall man was the videographer he'd been waiting for.

 

"Uh, yes, that's me. You must be Mr Intouch," Chop-khun said, trying to keep his expression neutral despite feeling embarrassed that the guy had witnessed his earlier awkward moment.

 

"That's right. I'm Intouch. Nice to meet you," 

 

Intouch replied with a faint smile. This Intouch guy was almost unfairly attractive. Seeing him up close, Chop-khun noticed how handsome and well-built he was, with adorable dimples on both cheeks and a sharp jawline. If he hadn't known Intouch was a videographer, he might've mistaken the guy for a model.

 

"Uh, please, have a seat," Chop-khun said, realising he'd been staring too long.

 

"I'm Chop-khun. You can just call me Khun," he introduced himself, offering a small smile to the man who was now staring back at him.

 

"Alright," Intouch replied. He hadn't realised the person who had ordered next to him earlier was the YouTube channel owner until the barista called out his name. None of the videos on the channel showed Chop-khun's face, so seeing him in person, Intouch thought he looked much younger than expected.

 

"Have you read through all the job details and conditions, Mr In?"

 

"Yes, I have."

 

"The main responsibilities are as outlined. Work starts at 10 AM, and your workplace is a home office, as I mentioned before. You're free to take on other projects as long as they don't interfere with my work. I'll notify you in advance about any shoots. Does that work for you?"

 

"That's fine. If I take on other projects, I'll let you know beforehand."

 

Chop-khun began asking the questions he'd prepared to ensure their working styles aligned. From their conversation, it was evident that Intouch had a great work ethic. He had no ego, was open-minded, and open to feedback. Despite his calm demeanour, Intouch didn't seem nervous at all. If anything, Chop-khun felt like he was the one being interviewed! Though he was quite friendly, Chop-khun knew very well Intouch had much more experience than he did.

 

While Intouch came across as reserved, and it did make Chop-khun quite nervous, they seemed to get along better than expected. Intouch's quiet, composed personality wasn't an issue at all.

 

"Well, may I ask what direction you're planning to take your YouTube channel?" the skilled cameraman asked, his gaze making Chop-khun feel a bit tense.

 

"I'm not great at being entertaining, so my channel will focus on a relaxed, easygoing lifestyle. The mood and tone of the videos will be calming and pleasant. There might be some travel content as well. Would you be okay with occasional overnight trips? I'll cover all expenses beyond your salary," Chop-khun explained.

 

"That's not a problem," Intouch replied, his sharp eyes studying the man in front of him. The round eyes, sharp nose, and slightly upturned chin gave Chop-khun a haughty appearance, but his demeanour during their conversation was more mature than expected.

 

"Can I ask why a man of your calibre would apply to work for a small channel like mine? The salary isn't as high as what you're used to. If you'd like to negotiate for more, feel free to let me know. Or if you have any specific conditions, I'm open to discussing them." 

 

Chop-khun asked directly, wanting to ensure both parties were comfortable working together.

 

"I like the content you've posted on your channel. I want to try something new. Plus... I'd like to be part of your channel's growth. The salary you've offered is fine," Intouch replied honestly. The amount wasn't small and was reasonable for the work. "As for conditions, I only have one: I'd like to use a pseudonym in the video credits."

 

"That's not a problem at all. When would you be available to start?" Chop-khun asked. 

 

Though curious about Intouch's unique request, he decided not to press further.

 

"I can start work tomorrow," Intouch said.

 

"Great, then I'll see you at my house tomorrow. That way, you can check out the workspace too. Could I get your LINE ID? I'll send you the location."

 

"Sure. What's the first video we'll be working on together?" Intouch asked as he typed his LINE ID into the other's phone.

 

"I just finished building my house recently, so I'd like to do a home tour of my new place. We can go over the details tomorrow," Chop-khun explained while adding Intouch on LINE.

 

After wrapping up the job and contract discussions, the two exchanged simple goodbyes before heading their separate ways. Chop-khun felt a surge of excitement. Everything had gone smoother and faster than he'd anticipated. Having someone as skilled as Intouch on board gave him hope that the upcoming video would bring in more followers. Just 800,000 more subscribers, and I'll catch up to my ex's channel!

 

Bzzz... Bzzz...

 

Intouch reached into his pocket for his vibrating phone as he settled into the driver's seat of his black Porsche 911 Carrera S. Opening LINE, he was greeted by a cheerful Jerry Mouse sticker, accompanied by a message:

 

It's me, Chop-khun. Here's the location of my house.'

 

His gaze shifted to the sender's profile picture. It was a photo of Chop-khun beaming, showing off his pearly white teeth, with Mount Fuji in the background. Intouch accepted the friend request and swiftly typed a reply: 'See you tomorrow.'