At the end of class in a high school classroom.
So-hee quickly put on her backpack.
“So-hee, after school today…”
“I have an important appointment, so I’ll message you on KakaoTalk!”
And just like that, she left the classroom without even glancing back at her boyfriend she had recently started dating.
When So-hee got home, she tossed her school uniform aside and without hesitation pulled out a pretty outfit neatly stored in her closet.
“Hehe, this looks cute, doesn’t it? Am I getting casted or something?”
It just felt like she had to wear this outfit today.
It seemed fitting.
So-hee was heading to a café near her neighborhood.
It wasn’t a particularly famous place or a reputed restaurant, but what mattered was who she was meeting.
The person who had helped her become more sociable during her shy middle school days; her favorite friend.
Finally, on her way to the café after leaving home.
As So-hee walked through the nearby bustling district, she frequently spotted her friends here and there.
“There really are a lot…”
She had thought her looks sparkled when they first met, but she never expected it to get this big…
Well, she had suspected it a bit.
Many times, she had found Do-hee far prettier than the celebrities on TV.
Plus, she had so many talents.
That’s probably why so many companies were using Do-hee as a model.
Just in front of the beauty store, there were two different posters from separate companies for their skincare and makeup lines.
At that eyewear shop and lens shop, there were innocent and pure photos highlighting her clear eyes.
The outdoor store had a stylish full-body model photo on a huge sheet.
And at the popular chicken place, there was a group poster taken with the Seven members.
“That will come down soon since the Seven promotion is over, right?”
Anyway, except for luxury ads, Do-hee had become a model for practically every top idol-worthy advertisement.
“But I wonder if she’ll do luxury ads…? After all, luxury and mobile phones are the crown jewels of celebrity endorsements…”
Regardless, with Do-hee becoming more famous and busier, every meeting with her had turned into a big event happening once a year.
Thus, So-hee hurried her steps to the café.
She quickly recognized her friend.
In a corner of the café, there was Su-jin, whom she still saw often at school.
And next to her was a girl wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled low, clearly dressed suspiciously.
Her outfit was a school gym uniform.
“I dressed up in pretty clothes, but…”
Feeling a bit disappointed, So-hee still ran excitedly toward them.
And she was about to call Do-hee’s name.
“Do…”
“Oh, never mind!”
Saying Do-hee would probably make people notice.
Thoughtful So-hee decided to call her nickname instead.
“Ra-hee! I’m here!”
As soon as So-hee sat down, she was met with a death threat.
“Wanna die?”
*
“Gasp…”
“Our So-hee has gotten more cocky since we last met, huh?”
“Are you serious?”
“No way! No way!”
I put Do-hee Lee in a headlock as I punished So-hee, who was provoking me by directly calling her out.
“So, how have you two been lately?”
So-hee, who was tangled up in her thoughts, pouted and muttered under her breath.
“I’m worried someone might recognize me if I say Do-hee… Geez…”
I took off my sunglasses and put them away.
“There’s hardly anyone here, what’s the fuss?”
So-hee pointed toward a table diagonally across from us.
“There’s a guy over there!”
“Our manager!”
“Gasp…”
So, I came alone? I came right after school. The manager brought me here.
Still, So-hee continued to grumble.
“I got all excited to meet Do-hee and changed into pretty clothes… and here I am in my gym clothes…”
It seemed she felt a bit unfair.
“I even gave up that my boyfriend wanted to go on a date… Ugh…”
Pfft
I choked a little on my drink and stared at So-hee, shocked.
“What? Boyfriend?”
That little animal-like So-hee?
The innocent and timid one?
Was that blonde hair I saw in my dream a premonition?
So-hee is also becoming a beach?
“Oh, not a beach. Just got a boyfriend.”
I let out nonsense because the shock from seeing that dream was too much.
Anyway, Su-jin, who was sitting next to me, looked calm, sipping her drink while shaking her head at me.
“See, Do-hee doesn’t care about us. What do we even talk about in our group chat? She doesn’t pay attention.”
“No, I only checked the bottom messages of the 300+ notifications.”
“That’s proof she doesn’t care.”
“No, I do that with our Seven members too!”
“Then maybe she doesn’t care about the Seven members either. So heartless, Do-hee Lee.”
“Really, does it look like I don’t care? I do this with my mother too!”
Of course, it’s hard for messages to pile up with my mom.
“…Really?”
Su-jin raised her eyebrows.
“Yeah, for real.”
“Then you’re an unfilial daughter.”
“Huh…?”
It seemed like So-hee and Su-jin, who hadn’t seen each other in a while, had changed.
Growing up during adolescence is really scary.
Anyway, that was when the two who finally understood each other cooled off their petty disputes.
So-hee, who was all riled up, started bragging that she had been dating her boyfriend for about two weeks.
“Oh, really? That’s awesome!”
I was happy to see So-hee’s face full of joy and gave her the best empathy I could muster.
“That’s nice~”
I couldn’t tell her to break up.
Even if I thought of her as someone as cute as Do-ah, she’s not my real sister.
If it were Do-ah, I would tell her to break up immediately.
I wouldn’t even let her date in the first place.
Speaking of which, our piano teacher came to mind.
I should contact them later and pay a visit.
“So, what about Do-hee? No boyfriend?”
“Dohee? No boyfriend?”
Meanwhile, Su-jin, who was chiming in with So-hee, asked me with sparkling eyes.
“Right, Dohee has one!?”
“Does she?”
“What? I heard idols date a lot…”
“Not a lot, but those who do have their ways. They just do it secretly.”
“Oh, then who is? Can you tell me someone you know? I’m curious.”
I had heard a few rumors.
Like Minju, the unnie from Navy A, who got closer while prepping for a special stage during the year-end shows, is apparently dating someone from ParaMax, a boy group under JS.
Or that In-na from 3M, the 4th generation girl group that did well after us and Seven, is dating some male actor.
But I had no reason to blab about it. It’s their private life, and I’m not going to be the one to feel betrayed by my fans.
“I don’t really know. They do it secretly, so how would I know.”
“Ugh… then what about Seven’s members?”
“There weren’t any. Newbies have a dating ban, anyway. But there’re some who ask for phone numbers…”
Su-jin cut me off and leaned in closely.
“Numbers!? So which guy asked you for Dohee’s number!? How did he ask?!”
“…Well, some ask while filming challenges if they can get the number, and some just drop notes.”
I mean, it could just be a friendly thing. It’s not like we’re shooting a show together.
“How many? How many asked?”
Hmm… that one, the guy I met at the awards ceremony…
That challenge guy.
About five, I think.
Now that I remember, I was just a middle schooler until last year; what are these people thinking asking for my number?
“I don’t know, maybe one or two? Can’t remember.”
“What? Come on, tell me quickly!”
“Right, spill it!”
They both grabbed the sleeves of my gym uniform and started whining.
Seeing these girls now interested in romance is kind of bittersweet.
They were kids I only knew as children…
Ah, right, Su-jin showed interest in the opposite gender even in elementary school.
Forget that.
“Oh, and that guy, Baek-hwi! He’s super popular with inner circle fans!”
“So what?”
Today, since it was a rare meeting, I wanted to indulge them, but honestly, I’m already hoping for a break.
*
After a short vacation, it was time to pack up and leave for the company dorm again.
How long was it since I packed my stuff at the Seven dorm? I can’t even remember how soon I’d be heading back to the dorm again.
“Did you pack everything?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Whatever I’m missing, I can just steal from Kim Seo-yoon.”
My mom gave me a look of disbelief.
“What do you mean by calling Kim Seo-yoon your ‘unnie’?”
Oh, we’re going there, are we?
“She spoke to me informally first.”
“……?”
“What?”
Mom sighed heavily.
“Anyway, be respectful to your unnie and work hard.”
“When have I not worked hard?”
“I’ve never slacked off, have I?”
“Listen to your sisters.”
As my mother spoke, she sneakily opened my suitcase and tossed in a dress that she liked.
“Have I ever not worked hard?”
I pulled the dress out of the suitcase.
It’s not like I’m going to wear it anyway since it’s not my style.
During schedules, I’ll just wear whatever the coordinator staff picks for me.
“Sigh, those sisters don’t listen at all.”
Seeing my mom pretend to put the dress back in, I subtly changed the topic.
“But, mom, aren’t we moving? You said you’d buy a house with my money last time.”
But mom just kept folding the dress and shaking her head.
“Forget it~ It looks like moving would be a hassle, so I’m not doing it~”
This isn’t working.
I guess I’ll just give it to Kim Seo-yoon as a gift.
Not sure if it will fit her size, though.
Or should I give it to Woo-ah Unni?
It would probably fit her…
But giving it to Woo-ah Unni like throwing it away feels a bit awkward.
“Is it okay? I really don’t mind.”
Mom chuckled and pinched my nose.
“You know, there are memories with your dad and our daughters—how can I move those? I just don’t want to risk your privacy or safety.”
“Wow, mom, that’s surprisingly touching?”
“Of course~ Mom always thinks about our daughters~”
“Right, then I’ll just pretend I didn’t have it since I’ll be living in a dorm anyway.”
Maybe I’ll move when I leave the dorm.
This time, I need to buy a nice piano with my saved money, hehe.
“But more importantly, since you saved money, should we buy a bag or something~?”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“Not buying it, you brat.”
I quickly grabbed my suitcase and dashed out of the room.
“Are you leaving, Unni?”
“…When will you come back if you leave now?”
Then I saw the pouting Do-ah.
It seemed like she thought I wouldn’t return for a long time, just like when I was active with Seven.
After all, I hadn’t taken a vacation in ages.
Even though that was an exceptional case.
This time, I was planning to get a day off every two weeks to pop by home regularly.
“Not sure, maybe~?”
Despite that, it’s hard to make Do-ah look so upset and sad; it’s just too cute.
She’d probably be happier if I surprised her by coming back!
“Do-hee, dad is probably waiting downstairs~”
“Oh, I’m going out~”
Trying to act indifferent, I left the house, and later, I heard from mom that Do-ah buried her face in her pillow and quietly cried.
Even when she pretends to be aloof, I can’t help but find her adorable.
I’ll have to buy a bunch of gifts that Do-ah would like when I come back in two weeks.
But I hope she doesn’t just welcome me for the gifts, right?
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