Nothing... Happened!
Nothing... happened!
On the morning of my promised outing with Im Nana, I woke up an hour earlier than usual. Today's a battlefield.
Standing in front of my closet, I eyed the neat outfit I'd picked out the day before. My mission for the day was simple: head into the city with the 1.5 million-subscriber YouTuber Im Nana, shop without getting recognized, and make it back home safely. Failure was not an option. If I blew it, photos of me—ones I didn't even know existed—would spread across the internet, and nicknames like "Camp Grandpa" or "Old Man Camper" would go mainstream. I needed to build my public image first, after shaking off that stuff.
I layered on the final touches over my tidy clothes: a black cap pulled low, a mask covering half my face, and sunglasses to top it off. One last check in the mirror. This should do it, right? No one'll spot me.
I arrived at our meetup spot in front of the department store. It was the weekend, so the streets were packed. I hunched down, blending into the crowd as best I could. But... the reactions around me feel off. People were actually giving me a wide berth, sneaking glances and whispering. Am I coming off too suspicious? I fiddled with my clothes self-consciously.
Then, from a distance, a familiar figure cut through the crowd. She was dressed casually too, but even plain clothes couldn't hide her magnetic presence—that polished aura you only get from years in front of the camera. Im Nana waved as she approached.
"Areum-unnie!"
"Shh! Keep it down."
I flinched. Hmm, good. No one's swarming us yet. Nana's eyes widened at my getup.
"Areum-unnie, you catch a cold or something? You're not forcing yourself out here for me if you're sick, right?"
...Did I overdo the disguise? I scanned around, spotting a quiet spot away from prying eyes.
"Let's... head inside somewhere first. That café looks good." I pointed to the most secluded, empty-looking one in sight.
Once inside, Nana lit up like a kid at the menu. "I'll have the strawberry cream latte! Extra whipped cream, please!"
"Iced Americano."
Right then, I felt her staring. She alternated between my face, the chilly weather outside, and back again, eyes round as saucers.
"...? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Ah, Aren't you cold, unnie?"
"Don't you always drink café coffee iced?"
Nana gave me this weird look, then nodded to herself. As expected, Areum-unnie's on a whole other level! I had no clue what that glance meant. We sat down, and sure enough, eyes started turning our way. Whispers rippled as people recognized Nana. Here it comes.
I sipped my coffee casually, but every nerve was tuned to the surrounding tables. Any second now, some brave soul would approach for an autograph. Then the floodgates would open, a swarm descending... Worst case, we'd get kicked out. But five minutes passed. Ten. Nothing. People just peeked, staying at least two meters away.
Huh? Why's no one coming over? With no one approaching, the tension finally eased, and I let out a long breath. Phew, crisis averted. Reality's not like dramas after all. Folks respect personal space in public.
I was solo-admiring everyone's civic maturity when Nana set down her cup across from me, gazing with pure admiration.
"As expected... it's you, unnie."
"Huh?"
"When I come to places like this alone, fans or guys trying to hit on me sometimes stick around, and it's awkward."
I glanced around, puzzled. "Really? But today..."
Nana smiled like it was obvious. "Thanks to you, unnie!"
"???"
Her usual grin turned serious. "Unnie, people can't do a thing in front of a massive wall they know they can't climb."
I had zero idea what she meant. What the hell is this girl talking about? A wall? On impulse, I glanced down at my chest. Big? Yeah, the bra letters were pretty... ahem. Or maybe my face had turned scary without me noticing? I checked my reflection in the table's glass. Just a pretty girl in sunglasses and a mask, pulling a dumb face.
Questions unanswered, we finished our drinks and headed out. Nana hummed cheerfully, sticking close to my side.
"Whoa, nice weather! Perfect for shopping!"
Unlike her sunny vibe, I still couldn't shake the stares. Usually, someone recognizes her even on the street... Paranoia had me scanning like a shady character until we reached the camping store.
...?
W-what? Really, nothing happened?
Truly, zilch. Dramas are just dramas, huh.
The moment we stepped in, Nana's eyes sparkled as she turned to me. "Unnie, you saw it, right?! People wanted to come over but couldn't even speak!"
"Huh?"
"It was so comfy. I usually can't wander alone like this."
What is she on about since earlier?
"...? Really? Hmm, anyway, we're here—let's browse."
"Yes! I'll start over there!"
She bolted to the first eye-catching corner like an excited kid. Oh no, that's... Sure enough, she grabbed a super aesthetic gas lantern.
"Unnie! Isn't this lantern adorable? The gas flame's so soft and moody!"
"Nana, hold up. Put that down first."
"Huh?"
"Gas lanterns like that have super fragile mantles. A tiny bump shatters them, and poof—your light's gone mid-night. Beginners need stuff that's easy and safe."
I steered her to the adjacent LED lantern section. "These just need charging, brightness adjusts easy, and they're the safest."
"Oh... didn't know the pros and cons."
She pondered, then headed to the chairs. "Unnie! What about chairs? This one's pretty and looks sturdy!"
"Oh, that's solid."
Her face lit up at my approval. "Design's decent, frame's tough, seat's a blend fabric—fine by the fire. You can get this one."
"For real?! Whew, yes!"
She beamed like a kid who'd aced a test, proud her eye was finally validated. Was I too picky? One win's fine.
Under my guidance, she built a full set of sturdy, practical gear. Bags in hand after checkout, she beamed proudly. "Whoa... without you, unnie, I'd have been doomed. Why are all the pretty ones so...
"Haha, back during the camping boom, 'aesthetic camping' trended hard. Now tons of gear skimps on performance for looks."
"Yeah, they are pretty... but hearing you, they'd suck in actual use."
"Better late than never."
"Yes! Thanks so much today. I feel like a real camper now!"
No cutesy aesthetic stuff in the bags, but she glowed with satisfaction. Loading up her car on the way back, she shyly pulled out a hidden mini-bag from behind her.
"Unnie... I snuck this earlier. For you!"
Inside: a sleek titanium mug. Lightweight, tough, great insulation.
"Oh, nice pick. Titanium's light, fire-safe, clean handle finish... Good eye, Nana."
She beamed brighter. "Phew! Next camp, coffee from these together! I got one too—couple items!"
Couple items? Oh, right—girls keep closer distance than guys. Yeah, that explains it.
"Haha, love it. Couple items."
My smile made hers shine even more. "I found the site—Gangwon-do. So, we'll take my car?"
"Sure! What time should I be ready?"
"Hmm, we'll sightsee and 'date' before arriving, so meet a bit early?"
Mm, yeah, girls call hanging out 'dates.' Like college friends did.Nice—super natural.
"D-date?! S-sounds good! I'll prep early!"
Her energy's contagious. Gotta learn that.
"9 a.m. then. Text the pickup spot."
"Got it! See you this weekend!"
She hopped in, humming "Da~te, da~te!"—lyrics mixed in, but muffled from inside. I waved, and her car finally pulled out.
What a bright soul. No celebrity ego either.
Our first two-person camp... Weekend couldn't come soon enough.