Schedules, Schedules, Schedules (3)
Actually, I already had a way to visit Taeyang once a day.
But I couldn't use it because I had no excuse to give Jua noona and Jeonghwa if I did. So I'd only gone to see him occasionally, when I just couldn't hold back anymore.
No matter how packed my schedule was, people still needed sleep, and the early morning hours gave me some freedom.
The problem was from now on.
'What do I say when I'm supposed to be overseas?'
The distance was too far. No excuse would fly.
Saying I flew back on a plane just to see Taeyang and then flew out again? That absurd lie obviously wouldn't work.
'What the hell do I even say? Just claim I came back for a schedule?'
Excuses like that only worked once or twice. And if news articles popped up about us having schedules overseas? My alibi would crumble, making it impossible to explain.
"Even with the item, I can't use it."
Screw it. For now, I'd just enjoy my three days off!
I was packing my stuff in my dorm room to go see Taeyang when the texts came in one after another. Checking them revealed a tricky situation.
They were from Ahyun, Jua noona, Boksun noona, and Minyeong noona, in that order.
"And in the midst of all that, Minyeong noona's the most timid one."
Minyeong noona was gaining massive popularity with her newly beautified face. She'd already been recognized for her acting skills even before meeting me, so the synergy was huge.
I felt proud that the face I'd customized to my tastes was popular with other guys too, but I also worried about noona.
'She was super depressed before… hope she's okay.'
She was still happy about her prettier face, but she'd been hurt seeing how people's attitudes changed just because of her looks—exposing their two-faced nature.
The more wounds she got from others, the more her obsession and dependence on me grew, forcing me to sweat bullets soothing her.
"Gotta meet up with Minyeong noona at least once. She can't hold on without me."
Why did so many people need me right when I was about to head overseas?
I asked Minyeong noona if we could meet today, and a reply came lightning-fast.
Women would need at least an hour to wash up and get ready.
Looked like I'd kill time at a nearby café.
I left the dorm, hopped in a taxi, and after about 30 minutes, Minyeong noona's place came into view. I didn't bother texting that I'd arrived—instead, I slipped into a café, ordered a drink, and sat down.
"Excuse me, sorry, but could you give me your number?"
"?"
I jumped. For a split second, I thought she was talking to me.
But no—a woman was hitting on a guy at another table.
I adjusted my glasses again, confirming they were working fine.
"No thanks. Beat it."
"Aw~ come on, don't be like that. You look bored all alone. I can make sure you're not."
"You a comedian or something? I'm waiting for someone anyway. Don't need you. Go away. You're annoying."
The guy in the hat shut her down cold.
But a rejection like that wouldn't scare off a woman.
'Like cockroaches—they keep coming no matter how many you kill.'
Sure enough, even after he straight-up called her annoying, she didn't budge.
"I can treat you really well! Just give me five minutes? You're my ideal type ever!!"
She yelled it like she was in boot camp, ignoring all the stares.
She seemed genuinely into him. And maybe her persistence thawed his icy demeanor a bit.
"…Fine. Five minutes."
"Gasp! Thank you so much!!! You won't regret it!!"
Clatter!
The second he gave permission, she plopped down across from him like a shot.
From then on, she desperately pitched herself. What she did for work, her financial status, her family background, that she'd never had a boyfriend, and on and on.
'She's spilling her whole life story.'
What passion. If I were the guy, it'd creep me out, but surprisingly, he listened patiently.
But that didn't last.
"Babe!! Hey! What the hell?!"
A woman burst into the café, saw someone sitting with her boyfriend, and twisted her face in fury.
She must work out—her body was insanely built. Muscles on a woman, where they don't usually show? That said it all.
The pitching woman looked panicked as the girlfriend showed up.
"Ahem, sorry, but I fell for him at first sight."
"What the fuck."
"Jiyeong! I told you no cursing."
"You shut up! What'd you do, huh? Fuck! How am I not supposed to curse in this situation? Sitting there with another bitch—what's with that shameless attitude? Am I not enough?!"
"I said no. But she begged for just five minutes. You know I'm a softie. Couldn't turn her down."
"You fucking slut, hitting on him when I'm right here staring daggers? Wanna get wrecked?"
"Yeah!! I fell for him at first sight and made a move!! What're you gonna do about it!! Fuck!!"
"What? What am I gonna do? You lost your fucking mind? You wanna take this outside?!"
"Girls can hit on guys too!! You that insecure about keeping your man?! Pathetic bitch!"
Scraaaape—
No point sticking around for the mess, so I grabbed my coffee and bailed.
"Customers~! You can't do this here!!"
The staff rushed over to calm the rowdy patrons.
But those wild-eyed women weren't calming down anytime soon. They'd probably keep fighting till the guy stormed out in frustration or the cops showed.
What if I didn't have my glasses? I'd be dealing with shit like that guy's—but worse, constantly.
The members said they couldn't even walk the streets casually anymore. Even if fans didn't recognize them, trouble still brewed.
'Ever since they started getting styled, they scream 'celebrity' from a mile away.'
Fans called it an irresistible aura you couldn't hide.
That's why I treasured my glasses—they blocked all that crap completely.
Coin items were worth every penny. Once you paid, they delivered big time.
"Haesol~!"
A bit over an hour later, Minyeong noona appeared in front of her house.
"Sorry you had to wait so long~!"
"Nah, not really."
"Heeeng~!"
In a bright yellow sundress, she looked thrilled, latching onto my arm with a beaming smile.
Her drama role was a bright, resilient genius overcoming hardships. Maybe method acting was rubbing off—her personality was getting cheerier, which was a huge relief.
'She's all sunshine now, but who knows when she'll call sobbing again.'
And today, I had to tell her I'd be overseas for a while, making meets tough.
That news would kill the date instantly, so I'd save it for when we parted.
"But hey."
"Yeah?"
"It's super embarrassing to say this in front of you, but people are starting to recognize me lately?"
"Ah~!"
What she was shyly getting at: We couldn't stroll hand-in-hand like this.
"What do we do then?"
"Um… my house… no one's home…."
"So, date at home since it's empty?"
"Y-Yeah. If you don't want to, we can go out! With a hat and mask, no one'll notice!!"
Oh man, what to do with this horny noona?
Her excuse wasn't a lie, but her intent to lure me home was so blatant my face burned.
I took her embarrassed hand firmly after saying my piece.
"You look way too pretty all dressed up—kinda sucks to head straight home, y'know? Let's mask up, catch a movie, then go back. Sound good?"
"A movie?"
"Yeah, I kinda predicted this and booked tickets already."
"Eek! Then let's go to the movies! I was just being cautious 'cause people keep spotting me. Getting caught would be bad. Scandals are fine for girls, but fatal for guys."
Her frantic excuses were adorable—probably 'cause her look was my perfect type.
Truth was, she'd always been cute, even before the glow-up.
"You don't hate going to a movie, right?"
"No way! Love it! Totally!!"
"Hahaha. Then let's go. I'll lend you my hat and mask."
She clearly planned to drag me home ASAP—no hat or mask in sight.
Black mask and hat clashed with her sunny dress, which was a shame, but I couldn't explain the glasses' power, so I held back.
"Kinda weird, though. You walk around in just glasses and no one notices, so I tried it too? But they spotted me right away. And when I'm with you, nobody even glances."
The members had noticed too. Being with me let them dodge stares.
That's why they begged me to tag along in crowds.
Of course, I never did free escort duty.
"Guess it's just my vibe. If I don't draw attention, people don't even register I'm there. Lucky constitution. Otherwise, growing up would've been a hassle."
"You have that kind of aura?"
"Not scientifically proven."
"Ah! Sorry. I touched a sore spot again…."
Minyeong noona lowered her voice, worried others might overhear—recalling my semen-related BS.
Even after rethinking it a million times, she still bought my ridiculous lie hook, line, and sinker.