The Ideal Friend
"An hourly wage of 20,000 won—what's the point? Life's no fun like that."
Homeroom had just ended. Led by Kwon Dain, the trio of main girls was half-heartedly packing their bags.
"Come on, even so, 20,000 won means you gotta say 'Thank you~' and get to work."
"No, it's definitely nice and all... but it bugs me that the person chewing me out when things get tough at work is family."
At Choi Saeron's complaint, Yun Seola abruptly lifted her head from the pillow she'd buried it in.
"Someone's full."
The sharp retort hit Choi Saeron right in the ear. She had nothing to say to that. Chewing over her own words, they sounded exactly like the whining of a stuffed belly.
So Choi Saeron threw a tantrum.
"I just wanted some mindless sympathy, you crazy big-letter T bastards...."
"The harder the work, the more you get paid, right?"
But Yun Seola's response was ice-cold, and Kwon Dain nodded along. Even so, griping about 20,000 won an hour was crossing the line. That's what they thought.
"Let's get going. Didn't you two say you had somewhere to be?"
Kwon Dain, already packed up, stood first.
"Seola's coming to watch me at my part-time gig today."
With that, the other two rose too. Yun Seola especially had been fully set up with pillow and blanket just moments ago, but now everything was stowed in her bag.
"I was gonna make you a drink or something... but after that jab, forget it. You wicked witch."
"Wanna give me a chance now?"
"You're crazy. Too late."
Choi Saeron put on a serious face. Yun Seola stepped right up behind her and rested her chin on her shoulder, murmuring low.
"What?"
"I know you anyway."
"Know what?"
"You're too nice, Saeron. Even after this, you'll give me a drink."
"...What the hell."
Choi Saeron awkwardly shoved Yun Seola off, and laughter burst from the other two. It was a rare side of the usually blunt, no-filter Choi Saeron. Four years into their friendship by the calendar, and these tsundere moments never got old.
"Ugh...! I hate all of you! I just want Orchid's concert day to come already!"
"Isn't the concert mid-May or later?"
"...Yeah. At least four weeks away."
As Choi Saeron slumped her shoulders at the mention of the concert, they passed through the front gate.
"Huh? What's up, where you going? Not together?"
"Yeah, gotta stop somewhere today."
"I thought you'd at least walk me to the cafe."
"If you're bummed, invite me next time~"
"I'll ask my mom and call you right if it's cool."
With a grin curling her lips, Choi Saeron was the last sight before they split off in different directions.
"Dain, bye~! See you tomorrow!"
The two waved from afar. Kwon Dain waved back and leisurely headed to the cafe where she'd arranged to meet Jeong Jisul.
The laughter and chatter from moments ago vanished without a trace. Her mind was a tangled mess.
"It won't be that awkward, right?"
With a touch of worry, Kwon Dain stepped into the cafe.
"I have someone with me."
"But they haven't shown up."
"So you're just gonna sit there till they do?"
"Only till they get here! I'll leave the second my friend arrives."
"...You're just making me resent you."
"Fiiiine... mutual follow! Just follow back and I'll go! I've been following you forever!"
"...I told you, I don't do Insta anymore."
"Even if you don't! Just the mutual follow..."
The sight that greeted her upon entry was downright comical.
That handsome kid's too nice. What gives?
There was a saying about good looks commanding respect, and talented people tended to be assertive. Having grown up around tons of celebrities with Seong Haein as her mom, Kwon Dain knew it all too well.
But Jeong Jisul? Not a hint of it. Like a sturdy tree, solid and overflowing with consideration.
Kwon Dain strode straight to his table.
"Who's this?"
She asked Jeong Jisul, her tone laced with discomfort. Her face screamed inconvenience and annoyance for all to see.
The woman who'd been hitting on Jeong Jisul non-stop locked eyes with Kwon Dain, mumbled something inaudible like "Sorry," and bolted out of the cafe.
"Nice acting."
Jeong Jisul complimented her with a suppressed smile.
"She wouldn't budge no matter how I refused, but the second you show up, poof. Weird, right?"
Slurp.
Jeong Jisul chugged his ordered green grape ade. Perfect timing for some refreshment.
"I was gonna order you something... but didn't know what you'd like, so I got cake for now. Cheesecake—you like it, right?"
"...Yeah, I do."
Did I ever tell him I like cheesecake?
The fleeting doubt wrapped around Kwon Dain but faded fast.
He must've heard me say it sometime.
"I'll order mine. Anything you want? I'll get you something for making you wait."
"Not hungry."
"Tell me if you get hungry before you go."
"Okay."
Awkward? If asked, thankfully no. If anything, he was treating her too casually.
...He wasn't always like this.
From her observations so far, Jeong Jisul wasn't the type to get chummy with just anyone. Still, she quite liked this easygoing attitude.
"Truth is, what I wanted to say isn't anything huge."
Kwon Dain returned from the kiosk after ordering and got to the point.
"Right after debut, you hit numbe—"
One. Kwon Dain clamped her mouth shut in an instant. Jeong Jisul had stopped her.
"...Why?"
"Not the kinda talk for out here...."
"...Oh."
Right. Kwon Dain finally remembered Jeong Jisul was working under a pseudonym.
...Crap.
She'd thought as long as school folks didn't know, it was fine. But no—Jeong Jisul was hiding his identity from the public.
"DM... maybe?"
Jeong Jisul mouthed to the dazed Kwon Dain. Exchanging messages with someone right in front of you felt like comedy, but it was the best way to keep eavesdroppers out.
"...Yeah."
Kwon Dain fully felt her face burning. She knew exactly how disastrous her near-mistake could've been.
Slurp.
Jeong Jisul took a sip of his green grape ade and kicked off the chat.
...Pretty chill reaction?
She hadn't expected Jeong Jisul to be bouncing off the walls, but this level-headed? No way.
Jeong Jisul had fully awakened his talent after absorbing Bae Sol's experience. When it came to composing music, no one could touch him—that confidence was etched deep in his chest.
...Confidence.
Confidence in one's skills. Kwon Dain had that too. She was sure she could hold her own on set, even against pros.
Not envy of his talent, then.
So what...?
......!
A massive wave crashed across the surface of Kwon Dain's mind.
She hadn't realized something so simple all this time?
The envy she felt toward Jeong Jisul wasn't huge. Not his talent, not his luck.
Just the environment letting him unleash his talent. That's what she envied.
"Ha, haha...."
Kwon Dain let out a quiet chuckle. She'd always thought her "environment" for chasing dreams was top-tier. With Seong Haein as mom, entering entertainment was the ultimate privilege, right?
But that didn't apply to her—she'd prepped to be an actress without Seong Haein.
Finally, she'd uncovered the inferiority complex tormenting her for over a month and a half.
Relief washed over her, mingled with a new frustration—but the relief dominated.
"Thanks."
Kwon Dain expressed her sincere gratitude to Jeong Jisul.
"...For what."
"Had some worries. But hearing you talk cleared it up."
"That was worry-counseling? Just now?"
Jeong Jisul felt a huge question mark at the cryptic words but decided to let it slide.
"Well, good's good."
Kwon Dain loved that attitude of his. How did he always pick the most pleasant words?
Jeong Jisul allowed not a speck of discomfort for Kwon Dain.
The ideal "friend" in her mind. That's Jeong Jisul right now.
"Wanna head wherever you wanna goof off? I'm done talking."
"You haven't finished your coffee. It's okay to go?"
"...Fine, I'll finish this and go."
Slurp.
Slurp.
As Kwon Dain stared blatantly at Jeong Jisul while sipping her coffee.
Bzzz.
Bzzz!
Her phone buzzed repeatedly. At the top, an Insta DM notification.
Following the sender's words, she glanced aside.
Hi.
There stood Yun Seola, mouthing that. But unlike her friendly lips,
Yun Seola's expression was a tad off from usual.
...Or not?
Seola was blank-faced anyway, so probably just her imagination.