Episode 153
I felt someone’s gaze.
It was a sensation that Gyeoul had been experiencing quite frequently lately.
This feeling was different from the usual stare.
It felt ominous and disturbing, casting a threatening shadow that made people uneasy.
“….”
In fact, it wasn’t just something that happened recently; it was more of an impression that dated back a while.
I probably started feeling it when Girl 100 was at its peak.
“…It must be my imagination, right?”
Gyeoul dismissed it as a paranoia that came from gaining more fame than she deserved.
She thought it was akin to developing a bit of an artist complex after stepping into the spotlight.
“Ugh, me, with an artist complex?”
Gyeoul felt a bit ashamed.
“If I let these wicked thoughts linger, I would have to shut myself in a small room for a while to kill my self-esteem… Ah, but then I wouldn’t get to see Teacher Taeyang. …Well, can’t I just go in the room with him?”
Having that embarrassing thought pop up, Gyeoul startled herself and shook her head vigorously to erase the notion. Just then, Seon Taeyang, who had been waiting, spoke up.
“Gyeoul, what are you doing? Let’s head back to the company.”
“Yikes! Yes!”
Gyeoul hurriedly dashed off after Seon Taeyang’s voice.
“….”
Pat, pat.
And there were footsteps following her.
*
“…I guess using it now is the way to go?”
[Using ‘Perfume of Enchantment’. Enhances appearance potential for 24 hours.]
Before the shooting of the real variety show ‘The First-Person Observer’ with my manager and the idols, I decided to use the Perfume of Enchantment as compensation I received from the previous fiasco with Kim Seon-ye.
The effect of temporarily boosting appearance potential would create quite a stir if used on my idols, but stuck under a system where all compensations could only be used by me, it felt more like a burden.
It was one thing for me, with my rather mediocre looks, to use it; it was a whole other meaning for Gyeoul, Gaeul, Yeoreum, and Yuri, who already had high looks, to use it for further enhancement.
…Seriously, what am I supposed to do with my slightly better-looking manager.
No matter how much I checked my future plans, I couldn’t come up with a good use for it. All I could think of was some useless ways like making a good first impression on a blind date or marriage meeting.
So, I used it now.
It wouldn’t hurt for my manager to look a bit sharper on the show ‘The First-Person Observer’ where he was just consumed as a character.
“I didn’t think it would be bad to look a bit cleaner on that ‘First-Person Observer’ broadcast.”
“Oh, Team Leader Seon. It’s been a while since Manager Seok came directly!”
“Ah, Director Choi. Good to see you. Today’s schedule requires my presence, so I came along.”
Choi Seol-young, the top-tier makeup artist, casually sipped her café latte while looking at me with familiarity.
“Seeing you up close, I’ve got to say, your vibe this time feels especially good. You’re rocking that natural yet charmingly girlish makeup, so relax. It seems like Team Leader Lee Jeong’s skills have really flared up today.”
“That’s a relief. Today’s schedule includes a national broadcast, so I’ll need to pay more attention to make it satisfactory.”
“Come on, we know you never do anything halfway, Team Leader Seon. Just wait an extra 30 minutes and you’ll be shocked… wait a second, there’s something different about you today?”
“Excuse me?”
“What’s different, you ask? Is it that you’re wearing an unusually expensive suit or something?”
“Well, since I’m going on-air, I thought I’d take a bit more care….”
“No, it’s just that something feels different. If your usual look is like fine ore, today you feel like a raw gemstone that anyone can recognize!”
“What do you mean…?”
Could this be the effect of that mesmerizing perfume? If Director Choi Seol-young, who is more sensitive than anyone about outer style, is saying this, it must have some kind of effect.
“Um… anyway, thank you for the compliment.”
“You can’t just stop at that thought! It’s just because it’s me recognizing you; most people won’t even notice.”
“Really?”
“You have to unleash that shining potential today! We’re on a broadcast! Are you really going to be satisfied with that plain, floppy outfit? You haven’t even done makeup!”
No, I feel like I put some effort into it; floppy is a bit much.
“It’s a waste of time to even say this. I’m going to do your styling and makeup myself. Get up!”
“Me? Makeup? No way, I’m the manager, so what…? And you’re going to do it yourself? You always have a full booking schedule!”
Getting a personally done makeup session from Choi Seol-young is something our kids barely get once in a while, so why would I be the one?
“Oh, think of it as a free service for being a faithful customer of our shop! Get up! Don’t worry about booking, that’s not something you should think about. I absolutely have to do this right now.”
I found myself unconsciously following Choi Seol-young, swept up in her enthusiasm.
Pulling out her specialized tools like she was just pouring them out, she sat me in the makeup chair and grinned mischievously.
“Hehehe, ever since the first day I saw you, Team Leader Seon, I’ve been waiting for the chance to give you a proper makeover. Today’s the day I finally get to do that.”
Team Leader Seon was getting ready to make a proper grab. Finally, that circle is unraveling today.
…Is this really okay?
*
With a serious face, Choi Seol-young gazed at my finished makeup and said.
“Team Leader Seon.”
“Yes?”
“Can we take just one photo?”
“Sure.”
After several shots from the front, Choi Seol-young ended up lying on the dust-covered floor, enthusiastically snapping away.
…Just one, huh?
“This is going to be one of my top three life masterpieces!”
“Uh… I’m glad. Thank you for your effort.”
“We can’t stop here. Come on. I have some nice outfits that will give a formal vibe, so try those on. I’ll lend them to you.”
Following her lead, I awkwardly emerged from the changing room after finishing my fitting.
“Is it okay?”
“…”
Choi Seol-young silently took pictures.
“Pose! Say hello like a butler from a cartoon!”
“Uh… I appreciate it, but can we go see Gyeoul now?”
“Oh, I got too excited. Sorry. You don’t need to dry-clean them; just wear them and return them when you’re comfortable.”
“Okay, thank you. I’ll wear them carefully and return them.”
As I checked the photos, I left behind Director Choi Seol-young, who looked like she was grinning mischievously, and returned to the waiting room to wait for Gyeoul.
And there, I could see Gyeoul, who had already finished her makeup.
“Gyeoul, I’m sorry. Were you waiting?”
“Oh, Teacher Taeyang! No, I wasn’t waiting…”
As Gyeoul spoke, she froze like a paused screen upon seeing me.
Her pupils seemed dazed, like she had taken some strange medicine.
Feeling concerned, I asked worriedly.
“Gyeoul?”
“Eek.”
Just as if she snapped back to reality from my voice, Gyeoul grabbed my sleeve and urgently pulled me.
“We need to get out of here fast.”
“Why? Is it about the schedule? It’s okay. We still have plenty of time. We got here two hours early, right? Plus, the filming starts at our TwoBear office, so it’s not that far.”
Gyeoul seemed to ignore my words, muttering.
“This is dangerous. It’s already risky with Teacher Taeyang, but it feels even riskier now.”
She glanced at the makeup shop staff with wary eyes and whispered.
“…Right. We can’t be seen. We need to go to my room and hide the current Team Leader Seon from everyone.”
“I have to hide it.”
“…You’re the house’s ex-boyfriend, Gyeoul.”
*
To prepare for the filming’s opening, Gyeoul and I returned to TwoBear where we ran into Seo Soo-yeon.
“Team Leader Seon. You came after doing Gyeoul’s makeup… why does your face look like that?”
I scratched my head at Seo Soo-yeon’s unusually intense reaction, which was usually quite bland.
“Is it really that different?”
“…Yes, to be honest, I’m very shocked.”
“Should I erase it?”
“You don’t need to go that far… but I think it would be positive for the broadcast. It will definitely be a hot topic in a good way.”
“…I don’t think I should completely erase it either.”
Gyeoul’s reaction felt a bit concerning, but if the most rational one at TwoBear, Seo Soo-yeon, said it was fine, I guess it must be okay.
Just then, Oh Yoori, wiping off sweat in her training clothes, walked out and said, “Oh, Team Leader Seon, since you’re here, I guess filming hasn’t started yet…. Why does your face look like that?”
“Why do you have that reaction? Is it weird? Isn’t it kind of okay?”
“No, it’s not just okay right now….”
Yoori struggled to articulate how to say it as if pondering how to phrase her thoughts.
“Now that we’re here, it won’t add any plus points, so that’s not the issue, but it might make people uneasy. Honestly, from my objective view, it’s quite powerful…”
“Uneasy? Who’s uneasy?”
At that moment, Jin Yeoreum’s voice echoed from the hallway.
“Yoori, you said you were going to get some water, why is it taking so long? I know it’s tough since we’ve been going since dawn, but we need to be diligent…”
“Yeoreum unni? …Ah, wait, don’t look this way.”
“This way?”
And then, our eyes met.
“Yeoreum, good morning. You’re training hard again today. I’m always proud of you.”
“…”
Looking pale and staring at me blankly, Jin Yeoreum made Oh Yoori mutter to herself, “Oh boy, this is bad.”
“Yeoreum? Is something wrong? You don’t look well?”
Feeling some anxiety, Yeoreum trembled in her body and eyes and made a phone call.
“Yeoreum? Why are you calling me suddenly?”
“Unni, I understand your feelings, but calm down a bit…”
“Manager Seok. Is there any way you can book a room nearby right now? It’s urgent. Very urgent. …What kind of room?
As if not hearing what Yoori and I were saying, Yeoreum spoke into the phone while lightly biting her nail.
“A place where one person can be hidden.”
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