Same Dress, Different Feeling
“…Han Yeo-reum? Yeo-reum of The Great Garand?”
“Yes. And it's a vintage piece from the brand, so I'm not thinking about ad exposure or any of that. I simply wanted to see her in it, so I had it brought in. You can keep offers like that to yourself.”
At the unexpected mention of a rookie's name, Do Gyeo-ul's manager furrowed her brow. She had assumed the caliber was at least Eun Baek-hap level, only to learn it was someone who couldn't even be compared to Do Gyeo-ul—so her reaction was only natural.
Before anyone noticed, Do Gyeo-ul had her expression back under control, and she gave the manager's shoulder a gentle pat-pat. A wordless stop that.
“I see. Summer in that dress…. I just loved it so much I couldn't help myself. You understand how I feel, don't you? Team Leader Ryu, I'm so envious of your eye.”
“…Well, I am rather good, yes.”
“Then I'll do the dress fitting. The white one first, please.”
Once inside the fitting room, Do Gyeo-ul was still smiling.
But this time, it wasn't a manufactured smile.
How strange. This is so much fun.
The elation swelling up from the depths of her chest made her clench her fists tight.
No wonder she'd been drawn to her from the very first meeting. A rush of satisfaction rose through her—her instincts had been right all along.
She wanted to take what Han Yeo-reum had, piece by piece. For the first time in Do Gyeo-ul's life—a life in which even desire had always been faint and colorless—there was something she truly, genuinely wanted.
“Actress-nim, please don't let it bother you too much… The outfit you have on now is far more elegant, far more expensive-looking.”
The junior assistant, who had been nervously watching the whole exchange, whispered as she zipped up the dress.
Do Gyeo-ul gave her nothing in return but a courteous, pleasant smile.
Words from the likes of her mean nothing to me.
Below Do Gyeo-ul, obviously. Beings who had no right to voice an opinion. Parasites living off an actor's name and face.
Yet even as she thought it, Gyeo-ul studied her reflection in the mirror and managed her expression with practiced ease. Feelings like this were never meant to show.
“I was being so difficult earlier, wasn't I? I'm honestly embarrassed right now….”
“No, no! Of course you should tell us which pieces you'd like to select. Even if we can only prepare something similar, that's our job, Actress-nim.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Do Gyeo-ul's reputation, which had wobbled for a moment, slid neatly back into place. Toward even the junior assistant, Gyeo-ul behaved afterward as if nothing had happened at all.
The dress was fitted. Selected. She checked the accessories and shoes down to the last detail, and then left Ryu Risa's office.
“Director-nim.”
“Oh, Gyeo-ul. Your feelings must be so hurt. Next time I'll make sure to bring in a different stylist and—”
“That black dress I saw in the office earlier. Get me the exact same one. Before the Le-el Style Awards—it's essential.”
Though she wasn't smiling, Do Gyeo-ul's eyes sparkled and flashed, brimming with one-hundred-percent pure delight.
“You know how terrible it is when actresses show up to an awards ceremony in the same outfit, don't you? I refuse to see articles lumping my name together with some nobody from a completely different league! On top of that, there was already that article about us being Korea National University of Arts classmates—ugh. Honestly.”
“No, I'll be wearing what I chose today to the ceremony itself. This is for before that.”
Gyeo-ul picked the scenario back up out of her bag.
“For where, exactly?”
“Just… for photos to upload on social media, I suppose. The fans will love it too.”
“…Fine. I'll see what I can do.”
Gyeo-ul, who had been gazing out the window, soon burst out laughing—pfft.
What a shame I won't get to see Summer's reaction in person….
What expression would she make? What tone of voice would she use? And then, what kind of character could that version of Han Yeo-reum pour it all into? The questions kept multiplying on their own.
Gyeo-ul felt herself growing giddy in a way that wasn't like her at all.
And a few days later, a photo went up on Gyeo-ul's social media.
It was her first photo upload in a while, and the public—no, even the reporters—went into a frenzy, snatching and reposting the image everywhere.
[HOT / You could honestly call her Korea's real princess — Do Gyeo-ul's latest.jpg]
[Do Gyeo-ul in a black mini dress… a beauty that leaves everyone speechless]
[Issue Board / Do Gyeo-ul wearing a vintage C Company fw dress from the 1980s.jpg]
[Anonymous Board / No question, Do Gyeo-ul is the top of all natural beautiesT_T T_T T_T]
And those photos found their way to Summer as well, who had just finished her own fitting.
“…What is this.”
It was exactly one day before the Le-el Style Awards.
At this point, I'll admit it. Do Gyeo-ul was insanely diligent.
She copied my outfit in the space of a few days?
Stealing my acting wasn't enough for her—now the clothes too….
There's no end to her….
I stared at Ryu Risa, who had gone stone-cold in front of me. It was a completely different look from the sparkling eyes I'd seen during the fitting day.
“I can't wear this as-is, can I?”
“…If you want articles pairing you in the same outfit, go ahead and wear it. The virality will be off the charts, after all. You know the 'same dress, different vibe' series, right? That's how it'd run.”
Truthfully, that wouldn't have been a bad choice at all. I was, after all, a rookie. Having Do Gyeo-ul's name attached to mine even once was a gain.
…But somehow, right now, I don't want that.
A disgust rose up in me on a completely different level from merely being mentioned alongside her as a college classmate.
The fury of having what was mine taken from me yet again made my stomach twist in knots. I was gritting my teeth against the surging anger when—
“Do Gyeo-ul knows one thing and exactly one thing only… wouldn't you say?”
A grim, ominous voice drifted over from beside me. Ryu Risa's eyes were glowing with an eerie light.
“When a genius like me sets her mind to something… even the very same dress can be made to look entirely different.”
And with that, Ryu Risa began darting all around the office at high speed.
Every nook and cranny was packed with garments, yet she seemed to remember exactly which piece hung where. There wasn't a trace of hesitation at her fingertips.
“Alterations start now. Get back in there and fit it again.”
Ryu Risa returned carrying a crisp, stiff-fabric white shirt that paired beautifully with the existing dress.
“I'll remake it so thoroughly you'll wonder if it was ever the same dress to begin with. Leave it to me.”
Above Ryu Risa's head, her Artistry stat flickered without pause. It was almost blinding to look at.
Wait a second. This could be….
A gut feeling told me that just as Ryu Risa said, articles on the 'same dress, different vibe' theme would come pouring out in a steady stream. But there was one difference from what I'd predicted earlier.
The public's reaction was projected to skew far more positive this time around.
This might actually work out in my favor…?
The reporters, the countless onlookers—all of them would think my outfit looked better than 'that Do Gyeo-ul's.'
And if that happened….
I'd naturally walk away carrying the Best Dresser image!
Gyeo-ul-ah. Thank you so, so much for copying me….
I gave a small round of applause beside Ryu Risa as she reworked the garment. Then, several hours later—
“…Fit it again.”
I understood in a single instant why Ryu Risa had become a star stylist.
A finished dress stood before me, its design completely transformed from what I'd seen at the first fitting. The fit, the texture—every last element felt entirely new.
Become the Best Dresser
As if agreeing with my hunch, the status window flickered busily before my eyes.