Chapter 49: A Cruel Fairy Tale
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: A Cruel Fairy Tale
The stream ended at midnight.
After streaming for about four hours, Luka gave her closing remarks, saying it was time for her to go.
[Pink Army! Thank you all so much for all the birthday wishes!]
The Pink Army wailed for her not to go, spamming crying Pink Army emotes.
I joined their ranks, mashing the crying emote.
[Hey now. Cinderella has to disappear right at midnight for it to look good!]
[“Miss, wanna go for a second round?” No, I'm not going! I'm not! I told you, the princess is going home!]
[We'll see each other again on Monday~ Why are you all acting like this is our final farewell!]
In the end, Doah, who was playing along with her viewers' antics, couldn't clock out right on time and ended the stream around 12:10 AM.
Haaa... That was so fucking fulfilling.
For me, who got to see all sorts of cute reactions, it was such a sweet time that I wondered if it was my birthday instead.
Her aegyo was just... Oof.
I suppose it might have been a bit nauseating for those with no resistance to cringe, but that wasn't my problem.
For an otaku like me, who was spamming 'cuteee' in the chat, it was an absolute feast.
Man, why is it so cold?
I was already feeling chilly and shivering, so I felt cold even though I was wearing a fleece.
My nose kept running, and I could feel a powerful cold coming on.
As for the cause... it had to be...
[Oppa! What time should we meet tomorrow?]
My phone vibrated. I picked it up and hesitated before replying.
Still, meeting in the evening would be better, right?
Considering my condition and the general mood, evening seemed like the best option.
[How about 5?]
[Sounds good. ㅎㅎ]
I even sent you a dono earlier.
I typed out a message I'd never send, then deleted it.
I'd already prepared a birthday gift, so I'd planned not to send a dono, but I just couldn't resist while watching the stream.
I wanted to hear Luka say my name.
Of course, I knew I was just one of many passing fans, but what member of the Pink Army doesn't know that?
Being a fan isn't about expecting something in return.
You do it just because you like them.
Because you want to support them.
[Did you have a good day?]
[Yes! My friends congratulated me a lot, so it was fun!]
[Get a lot of presents?]
[My friends took such good care of me, it was almost overwhelming, you know?]
I remembered Luka scrambling to read all the dono messages, and a smile spread across my face as I recalled the scene.
[You're so popular, Doah.]
[Aww, I'm not popular. I just stay home and play games all the time. Someone like Minji is the real popular one.]
Getting birthday wishes from thousands of people... isn't that what being popular is?
I don't think I even get 20 birthday messages.
[Minji can be a bit much sometimes, though.]
Minji, the queen of over-the-top reactions.
Honestly, there were times I thought she'd jumped straight out of an anime.
[By the way, Oppa. Where are we meeting tomorrow?]
[Let's meet in front of your place first and then head downtown.]
[Ooh...! You must have a place in mind, right?]
The place I'd looked up was a fairly well-known Japanese restaurant.
Luka said she likes Japanese food, so I figured I couldn't go wrong.
[Yep.]
[Where is it?]
[That's a secret. I want it to be a surprise.]
[Really? You know saying that just doubles my anticipation, right?]
...Should I just tell her?
For a moment, the pressure made me consider telling her, but that felt like a weak move.
[Yeah. Look forward to it.]
I sent an emoji striking a 'you can count on me' pose, and Doah's reply was...
[I'll trust you!♥]
A heart.
They say girls use hearts all the time without thinking much of it, but still...
What the hell is this ticklish feeling?
Even though I tried not to read into it, I could feel my mood lifting.
My eyes kept going back to her message, reading it over and over.
[Yeah! See you tomorrow!]
“Achoo!”
My nose started running, so I immediately dove under the covers to recover.
Kim Doah, age 21.
Standing before my vanity, I set up my tablet to one side and gripped a makeup pencil with a look of grim determination.
[Alright, everyone! The makeup look we'll be learning today is!]
The beauty tutorial I'd studied so hard before bed last night.
Now it was time to actually try it.
Because today, I had a goal.
A mission I'd given myself.
And that was...
[To go out looking as pretty as possible!]
Part of it was just getting in the birthday spirit, but my conversation with Oppa was also a big factor.
A surprise that Taemin Oppa prepared just for me.
He's doing all that for me even though it's not my actual birthday. The least I can do is look pretty.
It was a new style for me, so it felt a little awkward, but I think it looks okay...?
Having diligently followed the video's instructions, I turned my head this way and that in front of the mirror.
Oh well. It's not like I can start over now anyway.
As I went to check the time on my phone, I saw a pile of missed calls and quickly unlocked it.
Calls from Taemin Oppa, spaced ten minutes apart.
I'd put it on silent for yesterday's stream and forgotten to turn the sound back on, so it hadn't rung.
I quickly called him back.
[Hello?]
[Hello.]
For a second, the voice that answered was so unfamiliar I thought I'd dialed the wrong number.
[Yes, Oppa.]
[Doah. I'm so sorry, but...]
I could tell right away that his voice was incredibly hoarse.
[I don't think I can see you today.]
The coughing that followed told me he was sick.
[Did you catch a cold?]
[Yeah. I guess I didn't dress warmly enough when I was out yesterday.]
A wave of guilt washed over me.
The chances that he caught it from me are too high.
I shouldn't have asked him to hold my hand when I was sick the other day.
The memory of my racing heart from that day overlapping with this moment, I tried my best to answer calmly.
[Then let's meet up after you're feeling better. I'll bring you some porridge.]
[No, no. Don't come.]
No.
You came to see me without even waiting for my answer.
It's not fair for you to be the only one who gets to look cool.
[Porridge. What kind do you like?]
[No, I'm telling you, I'm really fine.]
His cracked voice only strengthened my resolve.
[If you don't tell me, I'll just bring a random kind.]
Oppa was silent for a moment.
[...Beef and vegetable porridge.]
[Okay. Just wait a little bit.]
After hanging up, I let out a deep sigh.
A small part of me felt it was a waste of makeup, but my guilt was stronger, so I quickly got ready to leave.
The porridge chain was near the bus stop.
I called ahead to place an order, then hurried down, picked up the food, and entered Oppa's apartment building.
-Knock, knock, knock
“Oppa. Please open the door.”
After a short wait, the person who greeted me from the other side of the door was a handsome man with dark circles hanging under his eyes.
“...I told you not to come.”
“Are you going to make me stand out here?”
Oppa gestured for me to come in, and I took the container out of the bag, preparing to transfer it to a bowl.
“You caught it from me, didn't you.”
“...It's not like that.”
His voice was completely shot.
It seemed he had it even worse than I did.
“Aren't you worried you'll catch it again?”
“I already had it once, so I'm immune for a while.”
I didn't know if that was actually true, but I had no intention of backing down now.
Today was supposed to be a day spent with Oppa anyway.
The only difference is how we're spending it.
And since he'd done something for me, I thought it was only right to return the favor.
I put the bowl on a tray, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to his bed.
“Can you eat by yourself?”
“I don't have an appetite, so it's fine.”
“Did you eat anything today?”
“...No.”
Hearing his answer, I scooped up a big spoonful of porridge and held it out to him.
“Ahhh~”
He just stared blankly, so I nudged my chin up as if to tell him to sit up, and he finally pushed himself up.
The spoon went into his mouth.
“...It's edible, right?”
“Thank you.”
Instead of answering, Oppa just gave a weak smile and expressed his thanks.
“Ah... really. I wanted to celebrate with you today...”
“You already did via text yesterday. It's the thought that counts.”
“Still, I'm just saying it's a shame.”
A slightly stretched-out white t-shirt.
His collarbones were clearly visible underneath.
His smile, contrasting with the dark circles under his eyes, was a little...
Decadent, maybe?
Feeling like I was about to have improper thoughts, I busied my hands with the spoon again.
Kim Doah. What are you thinking, in front of a sick person? Honestly.
“Ahhh~”
“Ah. Oppa. Open your mouth.”
“Aigoo~ Such a good eater~”
“Do... Doah. I'm full now.”
“Ahhh~~”
Only after I'd managed to get the very last spoonful into his mouth did I feel at ease.
“Have you taken your medicine?”
“One this morning.”
“Well, this is dinner, so let's take one more.”
I got up from the chair and glanced at his desk, where the same pills he'd given me were sitting.
“Here.”
Oppa obediently took the pill and lay back down in bed.
“You should probably go back to sleep now, right?”
“Now that I've taken the medicine, I'll probably fall asleep soon.”
“Then I'll just stay until you fall asleep and then go.”
“You can just go, you know.”
“Today was supposed to be our date. So please, let me stay.”
Hearing my words, Oppa reached out and pointed his index finger toward the bookshelf.
“Over there.”
I turned my head and saw a wrapped box sitting there.
“This?”
“Yeah. It's your present.”
I picked up the box and sat back down, overcome with curiosity about what could be inside.
It's heavier than I thought.
What on earth is it?
“Is it okay if I open it?”
Oppa nodded.
As I slowly tore off the wrapping paper, I saw a small lamp inside.
“Wow. I love it.”
The light pink lamp went perfectly with my signature color.
Perfect.
It was the kind of gift that made you say 'it's exactly my taste'.
I was just amazed by Oppa's sense.
Because I'd never expected him to be such a thoughtful person.
“Thank you, Oppa.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. I think this will be perfect on the drawer next to my bed.”
“That's a relief.”
Oppa gave a bashful smile.
Ah. I can't take it anymore.
Even if he's a patient, I can't hold back any longer.
“...Then please let me hold your hand, just until you fall asleep.”
“You'll catch my cold.”
“But our birthday date was ruined, wasn't it?”
It was a bit of a cheap trick, but right now, all I wanted was to satisfy my selfish desire.
“Will that be enough?”
“Yes.”
Oppa's hand slipped out from under the covers.
And just like that, sharing his warmth with me, Oppa slowly drifted off to sleep.
The sound of his steady breathing.
After confirming he was completely asleep, I wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with a towel and got ready to leave.
It was a shame, but still, I thought it hadn't been a bad day.
I figured it would become a beautiful memory to look back on.
That's what I thought, at least, until I turned on Oppa's computer.