Chapter 39: Ahyun (7)
The cameras had been shadowing our daily lives like ghosts. But they only rolled when something special happened.
"Isn't this supposed to be a reality show?"
"You think reality TV is truly real? Besides, you guys spend all day in the practice room—no footage means no show."
The manager's words made perfect sense, so we all nodded.
"So, what do we do on the trip?"
"The concept is building team spirit among members, so do whatever you want. Just hit a few must-see spots."
"Sounds like some places are pre-booked."
"Restaurants are locked in. Tourist attractions too."
She says we can do whatever, but piles on the obligations? What's the point?
Still, the members lost it.
"Woooah!!!"
"Trip! Trip! Trip! Trip!"
"Yesss~!! Let's go! Escape~!!"
Just the thought of breaking free from the practice room maxed out their happiness meters.
"Where are we going?"
"Overseas. You'll have a blast playing in the ocean."
"Whoa!! Ocean, ocean!!!!"
"This is insane~ This is insane~"
"Eungyu, cameras are rolling—aren't you being too goofy?"
"This is how you get airtime on variety shows."
"Your reactions just look cringy."
"What'd you say? I'm cringy? Unforgivable!"
"Ack! Let go!"
Kang Jun and Nam Eungyu, same age, were always bickering like this—petty squabbles but thick as thieves. They bowed to their hyungs, doted on little Uyeon like big bros, but clashed with each other nonstop. Must be that same-age friendship thing.
"When?"
"Reality team needs footage soon, so next week? Everyone good?"
"Yep! Totally."
"All good!"
"This is only possible 'cause you nailed that live stage. Keep grinding, and we'll reward you with breaks like this."
"Heh, got it!"
"Can we go in the water?"
"Duh, why else film at the beach?"
"Oh…."
"Wait, you're filming us in swimsuits?"
Mention of swimsuits soured their faces. Honey Enter didn't sexualize men like products, but they didn't ignore appealing to women entirely.
"Not asking for skimpy bikinis. Hate this level? You're unqualified. Other guys bare way more for a living."
"Yeeeah…."
"No complaints here."
"We pick our own suits, right?"
"Suits are sponsored too. You choose from those."
"Let's see 'em!"
"Picking them gets filmed too, FYI."
Who even watches guys shop for swimsuits?
Flip it: girl idols picking bikinis on reality TV?
Totally viable! Funny how it clicks reversed. Gross, but unavoidable.
The members shoved aside the swimsuit filming dread, hyped purely for the trip. Truth be told, I was buzzing too about going abroad.
Blondes!! Women!! Western!!
-Flex!! I stroked my doppelganger doll lovingly.
You're my only hope.
With the doll, I'd roam free overseas. Doors open to steamy nights with Western women. No way I'd pass that up.
A few days after the manager's announcement.
Inside the reality cameras, we each picked swimsuits from the sponsored haul—designer pieces, all classy. No triangles or squares; full rash guards covering top and bottom. Kinda tame for "swimsuits," right? Hardly "exposure."
Still, the members emerged changed, mumbling about shyness and awkwardness.
Blech—flashback again.
Watching reality cams devour us in swimsuits was nauseating torture.
"Haha!! So, which one'd you pick?"
"Curious about mine, noona?"
"Speaking for women: unavoidable. Super curious."
"Ugh…."
Boksun noona grinned mischievously. We'd just wrapped a hot night; naked in bed, cooling off. She'd heard about our overseas trip somehow and brought it up—cue swimsuit revival.
"Picked something safe."
"What color?"
"Black."
Designer black with flashy gold embroidery—not basic at all.
"Aw, why not red? Passionate red!"
"Eww, no way."
"Pfft! You look horrified."
"Dead serious. Why film that crap?"
"Cut 'em some slack. It's inevitable."
Her finger poked my chest, twirling teasingly. Not quite on the nipple, but grazing dangerously close—pure torment.
"Want round two?"
Her seductive gesture? Zero urge to dodge. I asked anyway.
"Getting hard again already?"
"Gotta. This is my meal ticket."
No stiffness? I'd chug stamina boosters. My libido now overwhelmed one woman easy.
"Meal ticket, huh?"
"Doubt it? I'm feeding you with it."
"Eek!"
I chomped her breast.
"Nyaa~! That hurt!"
"Heh heh heh."
Smack! Smack! Smack!
"No milk, why suck so hard?"
"Men gotta be real about tits."
"Like big boobs?"
"Obviously."
Tits: man's haven. No sharing these perfect ones. Face buried, inhaling her scent—she stroked my head tenderly. Mom I never had vibes.
"How far with Ahyun?"
"Huh?"
"Lee Ahyeon. Your dedicated team staffer."
"!!"
I bolted upright, knees hitting the sheets.
"Heh heh heh."
Boksun noona's laugh dripped meaning. Eyes and mouth smiling? Bullshit—deeper intent obvious.
"How'd you know?"
"She came by. Real sneaky."
"Ahyun knows too?! When?"
"Few days ago. Guess she kept quiet. Naughty girl."
Few days meant yesterday's bubbly Ahyun already knew about Boksun.
"Why no hint?"
She'd seemed thrilled. I even asked if something good happened. What if it was the opposite?
Clueless as hell. Ahyun really okay?
Pinch!
"Ow!"
"Worried about her now? Even if not dating, that's rude."
Recalling yesterday's Ahyun got my cheek pinched.
"Shorry, lemme go."
"Heh, don't fret. No dragging you into girl fights."
She released, spouting weirdness.
"I'm the prize, and you won't involve me? What's that mean?"
"Women battling over a man. You're 20—what do you know? Can't mediate? Let the girls handle. Just take the result."
Take the result? No clue what "women's fight" means, or sitting back for outcome.
"You mean they'll fight over me?"
"Probably? Details are girl privacy—no spilling."
Privacy my ass.
"If one loses?"
"Gives you up."
Gives up? Boksun or Ahyun—one ghosts me forever.
"……."
"Guys meddling in girl fights? Bad idea. Easier for you—no heartbreak picking sides."
No way I'd ditch Ahyun or Boksun. Both mine—who hands them off?
"You two wrap this without me?"
"Yeah."
"Secret meetup, decided between yourselves."
"Not thrilled? Thought you'd like it."
"Why think that?"
"…So what would you prefer?"
I stood from my kneel.
"Noona, could you live without me? Satisfied with another guy?"
"…No. Honestly, doubt it."
"Then why?"
"Can't let you go!! Mad I do this without dating? Prefer that kid Ahyun?"
Ah, fuck. Brain freeze.
Root: me caught two-timing. But Boksun skipped anger at me, focused on out-dueling Ahyun.
I knew this world's women didn't fault men for multiples. Law or not, emotions differ, right?
Girlfriend two-timed? Meet the other?
Life-or-death showdown.
Hypocrite? Sure. Only thought that pops. They're there now—itching to eliminate each other.
No mediation?
One dies. Odds favor Ahyun over Boksun.
Ditch Ahyun? She's devoted as hell—sex proves it. Post-Ahyun glow: warm recharge.
Boksun's? Electric danger. Office romps demand intensity.
Both essential. Irreplaceable.
"Can't lose either. Love Boksun for Boksun, Ahyun for Ahyun."
"What?"
She bit her lip.
"Can't both be mine?"
Law allows—why not claim both?