Chapter 129: I’m So Pathetic, Aren’t I?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: I’m So Pathetic, Aren’t I?
“Of course I didn’t enjoy it.”
If this were a manga, there would have been a menacing ‘goooooo’ sound effect floating above Doah’s head.
Not only was she radiating a serious aura, but the physical contact with a woman I didn’t know hadn’t been pleasant for me either.
In fact, it was so uncomfortable I thought I was going to die.
Just focusing on acting for the first time was overwhelming enough, but the physical contact with another actress cut my concentration in half.
“To be honest, I wanted to say I didn’t want to do it, but you know how it is. It couldn’t be helped.”
When I explained the situation apologetically, Doah finally averted her gaze.
“I know… I… was just saying…”
Even though she’d been glaring at me like she was going to eat me alive just a moment ago.
Docile once more, Doah chewed on her kimchi like a herbivore.
“Is the stew good?”
“Better than what you’d get at a restaurant.”
My answer must have been the right one, because she gave me a bashful smile.
After cleaning up from our meal, we decided to pop out for a bit to buy something to drink.
We headed to a nearby convenience store.
Standing in front of the drink aisle, Doah just stood there, staring intently into the refrigerator.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m thinking.”
“About what?”
“This one’s buy-one-get-one-free, but it’s the zero-sugar version.”
Doah’s index finger pointed to the product on sale.
“Then shouldn’t you just buy the cheaper one?”
“But the regular one tastes better than the zero-sugar one.”
“Then just buy the regular one.”
“But that one’s expensive.”
So what do you want me to do?
A question mark popped up in my head and I wanted to retort, but I had no intention of provoking a sensitive Doah.
“…Buy both?”
When I suggested that somewhat plausible compromise, Doah grabbed the refrigerator handle.
She put both the zero-sugar and the regular versions into the basket I was holding.
She puffed out her chest and struck a dignified pose before speaking.
“This is the dignity of an idol!”
“Pfft.”
Her sudden Luka-like tone made me burst out laughing.
But Doah, having decided to be shameless, paid no mind to my snickering.
“Since you’re my fan, Oppa, I’ll buy you one too, as a special treat. Go on, pick something.”
I wondered what kind of dignity she was talking about over something so cheap, but I just smiled and picked up an orange juice.
“Then I’ll have this one, please.”
“Aigoo. Get something expensive. Something expensive.”
Doah put on airs like a rich company president.
Feeling mischievous, I looked around to see if there was anything good.
Hmm… I don’t see anything that’s ridiculously expensive…
After a quick spin around the small convenience store, I decided on something and grabbed the box.
“Excuse me, Ms. Idol.”
I called out to Doah, who was having another staring contest, this time with the jellies, as if craving something sweet.
“Yeah. Did you get it?”
“As you commanded, I’ve brought the most expensive item.”
“Ooh… What is it…?”
When I subtly showed her the item, she glanced from my palm to my face and back again.
“…Are you really going to buy this?”
“You told me to get something expensive.”
“But I’m not going to use this?”
Doah’s face gradually turned red.
She was so cute I wanted to give her a kiss.
“Alright, alright. I’ll put it back.”
I figured that was enough teasing and turned around. But just then…
“…Ah. Idols aren’t really supposed to use things like that, but…”
Her voice was even more Luka-like than Luka’s.
“I… I’ll make a special exception and let you use it, Oppa.”
As expected, my girlfriend knew exactly how to drive a man crazy.
The web drama I was in was set to end with a total of 12 episodes.
I felt a strange sense of familiarity with the volume, which was exactly one cour of an anime season.
In anime terms, I was playing the role of a third-rate delinquent who only appeared once in a while.
The fact that my face was appearing on a screen still felt incredibly surreal.
Today was the day episode 9, where I’d finally make another appearance, was airing.
Having promised to watch it with Doah, I was waiting for her to come over to my place.
-Knock, knock, knock
I opened the door at the sound of the knock, and my girlfriend, dressed in a gray hoodie, scurried inside.
“Doah. Where’s your jacket?”
Did she really come over without a padded jacket or a coat?
“I thought it would be fine since you’re just next door if I ran really fast, but I guess not?”
I smiled at the sight of her sniffling and handed her a tissue.
Without hesitation, she blew her nose and crawled under my covers as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Ah… I feel alive again…”
Doah went limp.
I gave her butt a little pat and sat on the edge of the bed.
“There’s still a little time before it starts.”
“Why? Are you saying you’re unhappy I came early?”
“That’s not what I meant. Why do you have to put it like that?”
At her cheeky tone, I ruffled her hair, and she protected herself with both arms, telling me to stop.
“Hey! I just brushed it.”
“That’s what you get for being cheeky.”
“Luka did.”
She was now using that cheat code as naturally as breathing.
When 6 o’clock hit, Doah escaped from the bed and turned off all the lights.
The movie theater atmosphere returned.
We pressed the play button for episode 9 on the tablet.
The opening theme song, which I’d grown fond of.
It was a strange feeling, growing attached to it despite the story being a total wreck.
Scenes I already knew from the script passed by on the screen.
Oh… this is the scene I watched them film while shivering in the cold.
After about 15 minutes, a wave of tension shot up my spine.
Because the next scene was…
[So, Eojin, what do you want to do?]
I wanted to cover Doah’s eyes.
Ara-ssi smoothly linked her arm with mine.
I found myself focusing more on Doah’s face than on my own on the screen.
Her slightly parted, cherry-like lips.
Doah’s eyebrows twitched.
[That depends on what they do. It’s not like I can change anything.]
[I just have to trust you, right?]
Things I hadn’t been aware of during filming were now clear on the screen.
Ara-ssi resting her head on my shoulder.
Wait. When did she rest her head on me?
Was I too busy with my lines to notice?
On screen, the two of us gave off the vibe of an obnoxious delinquent couple, no matter who was watching.
“…Ah.”
A small gasp escaped Doah’s lips.
Seeing her eyes waver, I reached out and pressed the pause button.
“…Doah.”
“Why’d you turn it off? We should just finish it…”
“No, it’s just… you seemed a little upset…”
An awkward silence I truly hated settled between us.
“I’m really fine…”
Unable to meet my eyes, Doah lowered her head and fixed her gaze on the pillow.
I briefly considered turning it back on, but in the end, I just turned the tablet’s screen off completely.
“Ah. We should have just watched it. There was still some left.”
“Doah.”
Having placed the tablet face down, I called her name.
Because we’d already turned off all the lights, pitch-black darkness fell the moment the tablet went off.
A situation where we couldn’t see each other’s faces.
Perhaps this was actually more comfortable.
“…Yes.”
“Are you upset?”
It seemed better to be direct rather than beat around the bush.
“…You already told me all about it anyway, Oppa.”
A prim, irrelevant answer.
She didn’t deny that she was upset.
I moved closer to Doah.
“Kim Doah.”
“What.”
I cupped her cheeks with both hands.
“How was my acting?”
“You were obnoxious.”
“So you’re saying I was perfect for the role?”
I slowly leaned in and touched my forehead to hers.
Her body felt a little warmer; I could feel her gentle heat.
“…If you’re doing this because you’re worried about me, you don’t have to. I’m fine.”
How could her words and her tone be so different?
I let out a small chuckle at her answer and gently placed a kiss on her muttering lips.
-Chu.
The short kiss silenced her whining.
“…I’m jealous.”
It was Doah who broke the ensuing silence.
“Even though I knew everything beforehand, and I thought I could totally understand…”
Doah’s hand caressed my face.
“It’s so irritating.”
“And you know what’s funny?”
As if a dam had broken, Doah, who seemed to have a lot pent up, began to pour out her inner thoughts.
“Even when I tell myself not to be like this. Even though I know you were just doing it for work, Oppa, I keep acting like a child…”
Doah trailed off.
I was curious about the rest, but I didn’t want to rush her.
I stroked her hair without a word.
Doah buried her face completely in my chest.
“…I’m so pathetic, aren’t I?”
“Well, that’s what happens when two pathetic people get together.”
When it comes to being pathetic, I’m confident I wouldn’t lose to anyone.
“But you’re not pathetic, Oppa.”
“Hey. Don’t you remember when I secretly followed you because I heard you were out drinking?”
Looking back on it now, I think I was the truly pathetic one.
“Ahem… That time was a little… You definitely were, weren’t you?”
“Anyway, Doah.”
I whispered her name.
“From now on, no matter what kind of filming I do, or what other work comes up.”
It was cringey, but I wanted to make it clear.
“I won’t be swayed.”
“No matter who I’m filming with, or if someone makes a weird pass at me, I…”
Right. I was beating around the bush when there was one phrase that could easily explain my identity.
“Because I’m the Pink Army’s Lucario.”
Instead of answering, Doah pulled me in by the neck.