Chapter 43: Headache. Dilemma.
I'm standing at a crossroads of one of the biggest decisions of my life.
I've got the big picture sorted, but pruning the branches is no easy task.
It's tough. Really tough.
"Ughhh~ Hmm."
I crossed my arms, rested my chin on my hand, and stared blankly ahead.
Dozens of ramen cups danced in my vision.
"Ughhhh~ Hmm."
The deeper my dilemma grew, the longer and more pained my groans became.
To eat or not to eat. That is the question.
The kimbap I'd paired it with was already decided.
I wished someone would just butt in and settle my profound internal debate, but these two ramen varieties I was eyeing? Even with all the convenience store deals stacked up, they'd never bundle these two together.
Damn it.
The crux of my agony boiled down to this: kimchi ramen or plain ramen?
Sure, it was just a measly flake of kimchi—not even enough to fill a front tooth—but that tiny piece made a world of difference in the broth. Like tossing kelp into Noogulmen ramen.
I clenched my fist carefully so as not to burst the kimbap's side and kept agonizing.
Plain ramen? Kimchi ramen? Or regular ramen plus a side of mini kimchi?
Hmm.
My appearance fee hadn't come in yet. Kimbap, ramen, and kimchi separately? That felt like extravagance bordering on sin.
Then...?
The moment I reached for the smallest cup of plain instant noodles, I let my hand drop without thinking.
Ding-a-ling.
The convenience store door swung open with a chime.
In walked a girl—woman?—with a familiar height and face. Even her attempt to hide herself felt familiar.
She'd pulled her cap down low, masked up tight, but that wasn't enough; she yanked her zipped-up tracksuit collar all the way up to obscure her face further.
Do celebrities really think no one will recognize them like this? Hard to say. Right now, her getup screamed, Hey, I'm a celebrity!
Everything about her was familiar as she slipped in holding her breath, but those big eyes couldn't fool me.
No one could fool me.
A status window floated above her.
"Hey, Won Ji-min. What're you doing here?"
She'd barely taken a step inside when she flinched in surprise. Slowly, she lifted her head toward me, her face a picture of defeat—like a ninja whose identity had been pierced despite perfect camouflage.
Her eyes screamed, How'd you know?
"How'd you know?"
"How'd I know? I just know. You stick out like a sore thumb."
"No I don't."
Won Ji-min still clung to her collar, refusing to let it down. She walked over, shaking her head.
"How do I stick out? I'm covered head to toe."
Does she not have a mirror at home? I almost pointed at her eyes but stopped myself.
Won Ji-min and I. Our gazes locked on the same spot.
"Oppa, you haven't eaten?"
"Nah. You neither?"
Hey, same here.
Won Ji-min nodded. Then her hands moved without hesitation: two large cups of the ramen I'd been eyeing, plus two mini kimchis from behind. Hands full, she piled food onto mine and grabbed another kimbap just like mine.
Then she headed to the counter.
Uh... wait, am I supposed to pay?
"Don't worry."
"Huh?"
"I'm buying all this. Oppa."
Won Ji-min coolly swiped her card. She took it back after the transaction and moved on.
"Uh... thanks."
"No need to thank me. It was the company card anyway."
Arms loaded with ramen, kimbap, and kimchi, she headed to the convenience store seating. Hot water poured, ramen waiting—my dilemma deepened once more.
Won Ji-min, should I microwave the kimbap or not?
"Just eat it as is. It'll soften a bit in the ramen broth anyway. And the veggies get all soggy."
"Uh, yeah... okay."
Unlike on set, I found myself following her lead today without thinking.
Was she always this take-charge?
Won Ji-min silenced her phone alarm set for three minutes and pulled out chopsticks.
"We get meal allowances."
"Huh...?"
"This."
Won Ji-min tore open the kimchi pack and continued.
"Everyone else went home anyway. It's money that vanishes if we don't use it by end of day. No need to feel burdened. Better to splurge big and take credit for it, right? Hehe. You've helped me out a ton lately too."
"Yeah. Sure."
I followed her lead with my chopsticks.
Big treat, she says.
Couldn't exactly ask, You call this a splurge?
Only now did I glance at the spread of convenience store fare on the Parasol table.
Idols. Outsiders think they're living the dream, but their meal routines are worse than your average office worker's.
Not that I had room to pity anyone.
"What about you?"
I slurped down some ramen broth first to settle my stomach.
Won Ji-min, ripping into her kimchi, shot back.
"Huh?"
"Why didn't you go home? You said everyone else did."
"Hmm, that."
That?
She gripped her wooden chopsticks tight and rubbed her nose bridge.
"Me... well? I dunno. Yeah, why didn't I go?"
Won Ji-min shrugged and trailed off.
"Beats me."
Beats her, so I dropped it.
No point prying.
No back-and-forth chit-chat.
I just shrugged it off, dunked the kimbap end into the broth, and filled my belly.
"So what're you up to, oppa? You live around here?"
"Kinda sorta."
"Kinda sorta?"
Won Ji-min looked shocked.
"We're stuck in the dorm, but Cheongdam solo living? Guess we're not freeloading after all."
"Makes sense if a buddy who enlisted late begged me to cover his 10-man rent and house-sit, right?"
"Kekhem. In that case... I take back my jab."
Won Ji-min turned away.
I slurped my noodles without pause, shoving them in.
I stood to down the broth too.
Salty. No water here, and I couldn't carry this salty aftertaste around.
Couldn't just mooch as the oppa either.
"Hold up."
I ducked back inside, grabbed a Melona and zero cola, and emerged.
Paid and turned. Our eyes met.
Outside the window, a nice breeze on a fine day.
Other members went home, but not Won Ji-min.
Why?
No clue. House too far?
"Um... paid up."
"Oh. Yeah."
I pushed the door open, arms full.
Whatever. I don't care.
I cleared my head and flashed a grin, playing it cool.
"Yo, superstar. Felt bad mooching, so dessert's on me."
"Ooh, thoughtful one. My mouth was all sticky anyway. Cooling it off again, huh?"
Won Ji-min snatched the cola, checked the label, and nodded happily.
"Zero it is. You know your stuff."
"You might not get it, but this big bro's gotta watch his sugar now."
"Pfft, what age are you? I'm drinking right off this!"
True to her straightforward vibe, Won Ji-min chugged the cola boldly.
After a big swig, her body jolted.
Idols burp like anyone else.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"After this. There's something I wanna do. You'll do it, right?"
Their eyes met.
Seo Hyun-woo, who'd just paid, yanked down the ice cream to hide his purchase, but she'd seen it all.
The door's ad sticker was semi-transparent.
Green packaging everywhere. Good eye for dessert.
But she played dumb, closing her eyes.
She peeled the wrapper off the ice cream and licked the frosty shell.
Seo Hyun-woo didn't act rushed to leave either.
This guy's got nothing going on. Lives close by, solo setup.
As things piled up that she didn't need to worry about, Won Ji-min's smile deepened layer by layer.
Five days left ahead.
She'd found a playmate.
No more lying flat on the dorm floor, lonely and bored.
But hitting the town felt uneasy still.
"What is it."
"What? This is my studio."
Too cluttered for a personal workspace.
Stinky sweat-soaked guy tees, half-eaten snack bags.
No matter how she looked, suspicion filled her gaze as she eyed Seo Hyun-woo.
"Shared studio?"
"Yeah, technically. But no one uses it."
Nowhere else to go.
Couldn't just drag him to the dorm.
Members and manager-oppa were on break too, but still—a grown man like a beast. Who knew what could happen.
Yaaawn~ No way.
So, company it was.
This was connected, technically.
Quarterfinals ahead. Prep needed.
Won Ji-min hit the power on the tower PC below.
Long after pressing, still no boot.
She shrugged.
"Computer's ancient. Hehe."
"Not ideal, huh."
Thankfully, Seo Hyun-woo obliged.
He dragged over a folding chair, turned away.
Hunted paper and pen, then stared blankly at the ceiling.
Thirty minutes passed? Seo Hyun-woo snapped his head up.
"Ah!"
"What?"
"Got it."
Seo Hyun-woo raised his pen toward the finally booted monitor.
Still clueless, huh.
"Not yet. Hehe."
"Huh?"
"Windows just popped up. Gotta wait another ten for programs to load."
"...Bragging? Should I grab my laptop now?"
Won Ji-min shook her head.
"Nah. No beat idea yet anyway. Once the concept clicks, it'll be done."
She brushed it off casually, but that wasn't the truth.
She was scared.
If Seo Hyun-woo left now, she'd face the remaining five days alone again—that fear gripped her.
She wanted to cling. Keep him here to chase away the silence.
"Hmm..."
Unaware or not, Seo Hyun-woo settled in.
Scratching his chin with the pen tip, he asked.
"You know our opponent, right? The ballad singer."
"Yeah."
"Ji-min. Got something to say?"
"Huh?"
The question dove in sharp and deep, probing further.
As if urging her to spill her bottled-up feelings right now.
She sat silent, saying nothing.
Not a word.