Invisible Moon
Chapter 8
The Air And The Leaves
"The leaves floating in the air
sometimes reached upon the sky."
#WINisWIND
I was staring at the little carp on the table for so long.
It was folded delicately with magazine paper. Its appearance might just be a recycling paper carp, but because it was folded by P'In — that Unistar Moon. Its value was worth much more than just a paper.
I was impressed by MW company's management. At first, when I went to the queue line, I thought it must be crowded and long waiting, thinking about that, how many fans of P'In were here? But it turned out that staff divided the line into ten sections, gave priority for registered fans and grey-shirt wearers, they verified by member card or QR code on a cell phone.
Most Unistar fans had a card called 'MW Member Card', it offered a discount and points collectable when purchasing products or services of MW company. When the Unistar project was launched, it also had a special card — MW Unity Fan club. All we needed to do was just register with the real name, Email address, and phone number, for receiving news of Unistar. This card could be used as a normal MW member card, with additional privilege for all products which Unistar was the brand ambassador. All payments could get UNITY points for redeemed many rewards, such as reserving the seat for Unistar events, upgrading fan meeting tickets, also redeeming the limited edition Unistar gifts.
At the time when I got into the queue for P'In's carp, I didn't have that card yet, so I couldn't get on the priority line, and needed to wait as general fans. Many fans who weren't P'In's fans also fought so hard to take the queue. I realised the benefit of being an invisible person just then, because I could sneak in the queue, and nobody noticed. Finally, I had got one. Luckily. Although I felt a little guilty, it was P'In...P'In told me by his gesture that I should come to get it. So I assumed P'In wanted to give me. Well, anyway.
The hashtag #CarpFish was on the trend on Twitter from that event. Many fans tweeted showing off P'In's paper carp. While DomKati who missed that event or other fans who couldn't get one, they were wailing.
"So nice, little carp." I was resting my chin in the hands, while poking at the paper carp, making it rotating.
"Should I name it?" I was recalling my memory, then I smiled, unconsciously.
"Hey, little carp. What name do you like?" I asked the carp fish, which just stayed still. No response.
"Oh no, I'm crazy. Why was I talking to a carp?" I held my head nervously as soon as I realised.
I should prepare for the lesson, the semester would start tomorrow.
I gently placed the carp nearby the lamp on the bedside table. Then I previewed the textbook about a business foundation for the class tomorrow.
Since I had read the textbook until late at night, I woke up at 8 A.M. The class was going to start at 9 A.M. When I finished getting myself ready, I went to the lecture room.
I found an empty seat beside some friends, the same group during freshmen activity. I had to greet them three times before they noticed I was there.
"Oh, it's you. Sorry, what's your name again?" The first one who greeted me was BOSS, a first-year student, he could easily befriend anyone. Including me. Boss was the first person who greeted me, also didn't forget to accept my friend request on Facebook. I was so glad, and even he forgot my name didn't matter.
"I'm WIN, can I sit with you?" I asked.
"Sure. Go ahead. No problem." Boss immediately took out his bag from the seat so I could sit here.
"Thank you," I said.
Then, Boss continued talking with his friends. Boss must be the most outstanding first-year. He was good-looking and good at sports. Seniors already asked him to be an athlete at a Freshy sport event. No wonder he was a centre of attention among all freshmen.
"Eh, Why are sophomores joining us?" A friend asked, pointing to the back of the room. There was a group of second-year students that I felt familiar with from the freshmen welcome ceremony.
"Yeah. I heard from third-year, Teacher Chana is the lecturer today, everyone loves his talk." Boss answered.
"Wow! Is that teacher who graduated from overseas? Also a former marketing consultant of many big and famous companies."
"Right, he once gave a speech at TED-talk too."
I was listening and slightly nodded, I just knew it too.
I had been an invisible person since I was born. I was accustomed to being a listener rather than a speaker. Actually, I wasn't sure that business faculty would be suitable for me. It seemed like this major required a high standard of communication skill. However, I intended to change myself, so I selected this major for challenging my ability. Perhaps, I would be able to develop my characteristic, from non-existent to become existent, didn't have to be that stand out.
"Hi dear, all students. Wow! Today the lecture room is full."
When the teacher came in the room. The sophomores who seemed to be familiar were joyfully greeting the teacher, while all freshmen were still a little quiet.
Mr.Chana was a male, but his cloth and appearance style was trendy and in-fashion. His way and tone of speaking was a little biting.
"So many second-year today...I know all of you." Mr.Chana pointed to many sophomores, humorously. Then began the PowerPoint slide.
This course named 'Intro to Business', according to the curriculum, was about an overview of business knowledge, including management, finance, marketing, and so on.
"The first thing you need to know," Mr.Chana said, using the mic attached on the teaching desk.
"About my teaching style, I don't like using textbooks, as I believe you can read them by yourself. I like teaching through case studies, you can analyze and widen outlook. And today, I'd prepared a case study that all of you probably know so well. Let's study through them now..."
When Mr.Chana showed the first slide, I heard many students were screaming slightly, because it was—
'UNISTAR Case Study'
Well, Mr.Chana was indeed up-to-date. He knew how to get students' attention.
"Before starting, I'd like to ask. Anyone can answer? - What's Unistar?"
"University's Moon." "Handsome guys." "Idol."
There were a lot of sophomores raising a hand, as many freshmen were still a little nervous.
Mr.Chana nodded, but he said.
"UNISTAR is a brand, and the 'UNISTAR project' is a branding.[1]"
A brand? Oh right, I thought. When people asked about what Unistar's duty was, many people would say all Unistar members were brand ambassadors[2].
"Unistar pinned the main target group as teenagers like all of you," Mr.Chana explained.
"The agency created what teenagers like, for promoting their products — the Moon and idol. Thus, Unistar members are brand ambassadors, and all Unistar's events and activities are marketing of MW company, both direct and indirect."
I listened and nodded while taking the lecture note.
"Do you know? You're already enslaved by marketing of MW. You're attracted to them. You purchased their presenting products. You followed what they used and bought. Plus, when you went to scream in their events, you were helping them promote, indirectly."
After he said, there was a sophomore raising her hand to ask.
"Teacher ka, then how can I quit from being Unistar's slaves?"
This question made many students laugh.
"Then you just stop liking Unistar." Mr.Chana said with a smile.
"Can you do that?"
"No, I can't."
Many students tended to reply unanimously.
"It's too late."
"I love P'In"
"I already tied myself to the fandom."
"P'Wayu is my husband."
The whole lecture room now was full of laughing. Mr.Chana was smiling along and continued.
"UNISTAR project did marketing on the contrary of many common brands. In general, the brand marketing's team picks the presenter who is the best-fitted for each product. However, the Unistar was totally opposite. The new release products from MW company are all made for the best-fitted Unistar member. Also, the primary standard of creating new products depended on both Unistar and fans."
On the PowerPoint, It was a group picture of all Unistar members. Many Students were taking photos. I would say they didn't do that because of focusing on study, they just wanted to show on Facebook or Instagram like: Today I learned about Unistar marketing.
"I talked with Producer Natthakorn once. Do you know him?" Mr.Chana asked.
"I know!" "PD Kwang!" "Ahh, I'm P'Kwang FC."
I just realised PD of Unistar even had a fan club.
"PD said, typically, the brand has a limitation of its image, but Unistar is flexible because it applies the system of the 'centre'. So, even if there are many commercial campaigns with different images, the centre member can be changed."
Then, Mr.Chana displayed the picture of P'Sea.
"The prominence of Unistar members is that every member has their own outstanding characteristic. Well, all students, you can try to analyze. This young man, what is his brand image?[3]"
"Beautiful." "Pure." "Innocent." "Gorgeous."
Mr.Chana nodded, then changed to the commercial advertising associated with P'Sea. Most of them were cosmetic, skin-care, and also airways.
I could understand by the example. The characteristics of the ambassador and products must be united. So that could be considered as branding. I loved the way he taught.
"Then, how about him?"
Mr.Chana changed to P'Leo.
"The prince." "Handsome." "Elite." "Gentleman."
The study atmosphere in this room was full of liveliness.
Mr.Chana explained that P'Leo was the centre ambassador of real estates and hotel business with his elite and perfect image. I had learned that Unistar apparently selected the member by characteristic. The same like P'Natee had a personality of straightforward, vigorous, and powerful, so he was the centre ambassador of vehicles and sport-wears. Also, P'Wayu was humorous and lively, so he became the centre ambassador of an amusement park, restaurants, culinary and foodstuffs.
"How about this? Our senior, what's his characteristic? - Anyone can tell?"
However, when P'In was on the topic. Everyone was silent.
No one answered.
"What's happening? Don't you know your senior?" Mr.Chana narrowed his eyes.
Some students began to say, with no confidence.
"Numb?" "Emotionless?" "Invisible?"
These answers were unlikely for branding.
"IN or your senior — Intrakorn, he could be an exclusive one because he is PR. Do you know the definition of 'PR'[4]? Well, it's your homework to figure out."
"Intrakorn is a positive image of UNISTAR. He is the optimistic power which we can't see but can feel, make the UNISTAR brand become trustworthy and impressive. Accordingly, IN became a centre ambassador of non-profit campaigns, for promoting the brand with a good image, such as environmental protection or Thai culture conservation."
What I had learned from this class made me understand more about the Unistar project background.
All in all, the person who could be the Unistar, just handsome, smart and attractive weren't enough, characteristic was the most important.
Well then, what was my characteristic? I asked myself.
Fading? I sighed.
Footnote:
[1] Branding is the method of creating a brand and image of a product or company for target audiences, which is unique and distinctive from other products or companies.
[2] Brand Ambassador is a person who represents the brand in a positive light, also having an appearance, characteristic, ability, preference or else which is related to the brand.
[3] Brand Image is how the brand communicates its look and feel to the target audiences.
[4] PR (Public Relation) is a method of communication that establishes the relationship between organisation and public, to create a positive image, credibility, or reduce conflict.
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