09. Ina's Friend Doa
09. Ina's Friend Doa
Everyone judges people they meet for the first time based on their own standards.
Handsome, pretty, looks kind, looks scary, facial features that resemble free democracy and are wildly free-spirited, etc.
It's surprisingly hard not to jump to conclusions on a first meeting.
Even I instantly had an image etched into my mind the moment I saw Ina's friend walk into the waiting room.
She's tall.
Really tall.
I'm 178cm, but from a distance, her proportions make her look even taller than me.
But her head is seriously small. I get why they say it's fist-sized.
Is she a model? Her deep black hair and black eyes. Just standing there feels mesmerizing.
The grayish-brown long coat added to that seductive vibe.
"That gentleman over there is also Lee Ina's acquaintance. Alright then."
The staff who guided her introduced me and hurried off to prep the setup.
Awkward atmosphere.
What the hell do I say?
If she were a famous celebrity, I could've freaked out with "Take a pic for me!", "I'm a fan!", "Sign please!" or some fanboy shit.
But I know nothing about this woman.
She glanced at me, gave a short nod, and sat in a corner fiddling with her phone.
I nodded back and awkwardly sat in my corner, fiddling with my phone too.
Childhood friends since kindergarten? She looks like she'd be tough to speak casually with. Was she different as a kid?
Every time I look, I end up pondering the mysteries of the human body. Such a huge height, yet a tiny head packed with big eyes, big nose, and full lips all neatly fitted in.
One thing's for sure: if I ran into her outside, I wouldn't even have the guts to ask for her number.
Ina said she's the same age as her, so definitely younger than me, but still...
"Doa-ya~! You came!"
"Oh, yeah."
Short break before the main performance after setup.
The second Ina walked in, she beamed at her longtime friend and toddodo ran over, hugging her tight.
"You doing okay? Prepping for the competition?"
"Still working on it. Congrats on your first performance, Ina-ya."
Her friend named Doa pulled out flowers and a huge pile of bread stuffed into a shopping bag from her embrace.
"Kyaaang~! Thank you~! Doa-ya!"
"Last time at the competition support, you handed out chocolate and snacks to my teammates. Same kinda thing."
"Still~! Oh, right."
Ina turned to look at me.
Only then did Doa turn her gaze my way too.
We'd spent the awkward waiting room silence just fiddling with our phones, so Doa was honestly curious about me too.
"My boyfriend!"
"......Huh?"
And Doa made a totally dumbfounded face at the explanation she never saw coming or even imagined.
"We've been dating since January 1st! I'll show you pics!"
She whipped out her phone and authenticated it with all our photos.
From my place to the ice rink.
Thanks to snapping a ton on our first date.
"Oh.... R-right, got it."
Doa's eyes shook massively.
Guess she never expected to hear about her longtime bro-friend's boyfriend like this.
"Oppa, my friend Kim Doa! Friends since kindergarten! And she's a national track and field team pick!"
"Ah~, hello. Thought you were a model at first. First time seeing a national athlete!"
Now it clicked. That huge height, overflowing healthy skin and build.
I shot her a look of glory.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kim Doa. Ina's friend."
But her personality's chic. Her voice is super... low-toned for a woman, oozing sexiness.
Ahh. I know this type.
The sultry, aloof, cool-but-sweet-to-me big sis vibe. Seen it in games.
Meanwhile, Ina was excitedly chattering.
About what happened to Doa and what performance they'd do today.
Seeing her like this, she looks like the late-born maknae babbling to her big sis.
"Neulsom Band, get ready~!"
Staff came in yelling, ending the short break as everyone prepped.
From here, we couldn't stay in the waiting room anymore.
We were invited as audience from the start, so we headed to the hall in front of the stage.
"Feels like an honor."
Seemed awkward just standing there, so I spoke up and she gave an awkward smile.
Getting close to her's gonna be tough.
Usually on first meetings with a friend's SO, you'd ask a bunch of questions.
Instead, I tossed them out. Isn't training hard? You're awesome. I'll cheer at the next one together.
Just questions to break the ice since sitting next to her all stiff and awkward sucked.
Right on cue, the hype guy came out explaining and running mini-events.
The main performance that followed was honestly fucking fun.
I've seen busking sometimes, but never a proper staged show like this.
Woofers blasting everywhere, body tingling every drum hit.
I know jack about music, so even if they flubbed, I'd be like "O? They're fucking killing it?" and move on.
Above all, after seeing Ina just smiling and cute, her serious focused mode had a whole new charm.
Haven't seen her that many times anyway, but charm ain't about meeting count.
"Bass solo~!"
Geeeeng-!
Jjing-!
Slap, finger, whatever—I dunno. Fast fretting had me ooh-ing in awe.
Hand speed and focus rivaling Uncle's StarCraft plays.
The 1 hour 30 min show ended successfully.
Some familiar songs, but mostly new ones. I like hip-hop. Band stuff? Clueless.
Other audience knew 'em all, singing along. Couldn't follow lyrics but screamed and enjoyed.
Survey at the end? Obviously checked <⑤ Very Satisfied>.
Learned something new: bands need ages to pack up after.
Show from 7:30 plus encore to 8, but they didn't emerge till after 9.
Didn't wait.
Other members invited acquaintances too, took group pic post-show and shooed us to go first.
Rest day tomorrow, so we'd meet then.
Honestly thought we'd date right after, but nope.
Wasn't pissed or annoyed though.
But since I finished 4-Star work and came here, gotta do what needs doing, right?
"Yeah? Thought we'd hang together."
Kinda disappointed, kinda not—said it like that, and Ina's face cycled through expressions.
This girl's fun to tease.
4-Star Hashtag's (Reason).
When I'm disappointed, she feels massively sorry to me.
Gotta haul gear back to academy and unpack, so probably midnight-ish, she said.
Pretty grueling. What can ya say.
But with the sorry groundwork laid, I headed home clear-headed.
Kim Doa had training tomorrow too, bounced right after pics.
Meanwhile, bandmates and others kept sneaking glances at Doa like she was a celeb.
Honestly prettier than most idols?
You see those reviews sometimes. Only seen on TV, but IRL the overwhelming proportions hit hard. No wonder they're celebs.
"Hmm."
Honestly thought we'd hang just us two after, but no.
Reality's different.
Still, my brain spun fast.
Next show date? Maybe try internal ejaculation.
Curious.
§
<Lee Ina>
Grinned sheepishly at Doa's text in the last bus after everything wrapped.
Sorry! Shoulda told you first!
It's cool lol He seems nice lol
Hm, yeah. Inmok sunbae looks honest and has a good personality.
Doa even sent emojis.
Ina scratched her cheek. Even though it's a contract, he's playing the role perfectly.
If her closest friend buys it this much.
Cuz Ina's cute and pretty
You two were stuck together taking pics
Felt jealous as a friend, almost cried
Eyes hurt so much tears came
Teased by oppas the whole pack-up after show, now teased by her too.
Pouted lips while texting, soon home.
Sneaked in quiet so sleeping fam wouldn't wake, washed up, hit the bed.
"......"
Day wrapping up, finally thought about boyfriend.
"What do I do...? I'm so sorry......"
Thinking it over, yeah, super sorry.
After first date, said I'd plan next, but just showed the show and done?
This a date?
Talked maybe tens of minutes? Talked more with friend Doa.
Soon a wave of intense guilt surged.
The emotion's name: sorry.
"Ugh."
Cuz of me, he can't date a real girlfriend now, gotta act too.
Today, sunbae even did part-time morning, must be beat.
These thoughts always snowball.
Plus extra effect <Unnecessary Meaning Assignment> piled on.
Ina pulled covers over her head. Kicked at the blanket ppung-ppung randomly.
§
Effect was insane!
If yesterday's single line of bait showed game-like results, it'd pop "Effect Tremendous!"
"Sorry about yesterdayyy.... We were gonna date......"
"No no, I had fun."
Doe eyes like a deer's, huge and teary like about to cry.
I smiled big like a big man, said it's fine.
Wasn't mad for real, actually fun. Free show plus drinks and snacks.
And me reacting like this just makes her more sorry.
"First time at a small theater for me. Thanks to you, super fun experience."
"Ugh."
Ina always bold and bright, but this reaction makes me wanna tease more.
Life throws all types at ya, but some have that perfect "hit" feel.
Y'know, makes ya wanna poke 'em.
"Personally, super disappointed."
"Euaaa~, sorryyy~!"
"Then......"
One word from me, she slumps like a wet rat—better not tease more.
"Found a pretty cafe, wanna go there?"
"Really? You're not disappointed? I'm so sorry......"
Here, could've demanded anything anytime.
Like no-panties walk or cosplay outfit stroll.
But nah.
Did a normal date.
Pretty cafe, pics together, yummy food.
Why?
To deny her chance to repay the "debt" in her mind.
Plus builds my image good.
"Sunbae-nim! How's this?!"
Time passed, sorry faded, now Ina actively dragging me around.
Ah. Being extra active to lead cuz sorry?
So why'd Ina turn this proactive?
Time to check Ina's 4-Star Hashtag, <#ContractStudy>'s (Problem).
4-Star, (Problem)
Yup. Definitely, Ina sees herself as nothing but a burden to me.
Even trivial stuff, she thinks she's burdening me.
I disappoint? Sorry. I satisfy? Sorry fades to fulfillment.
└ If player neither disappoints nor satisfies?
└ Thinks "I'm no help." Pure gold. Secures top position no matter what.
Like his strategy post, even if Ina treats me great, contract auto-puts me on top.
So conclusion?
That's Ina's behavior.
"This pretty, right? You like it, Sunbae-nim?!"
Max bright smile, but peeking my reaction. Desperate to satisfy, no disappoints.
"Really? Escape room no force. Not forcing, right?"
"Absolutely not!"
And emotions like drugs, with (Resolution) reward?
I grinned satisfied.
"Really? Awesome! Always wanted to try once!"
"Heh, hehe! Really? Satisfied?"
"Totally!"
Ina's face blooms with smile flowers.
Fulfillment.
The reward emotion from achieving something.
4-Star Hashtags chain these emotions on her double-triple.
Self-blame for no help, plus sorry on disappoint.
All resolves only when I satisfy. So over time, Ina binds tighter to me. As the sub.
"Wow~, that was fun. Game harder than expected."
"Ugh, bad at math and math problems pop up. Without Sunbae-nim, no way we'd clear."
"Me too, head hurt recalling formulas after ages."
Out of escape room, outside dark.
Today's date, zero disappoint vibes, just smiled and enjoyed normal.
Out for fun, faking disappoint for hashtags would've killed mood.
Disappoint spot's set elsewhere.
"So, dinner then get a room?"