Replica Mask Confrontation
I was deep into watching the game footage when my phone suddenly chimed with a KakaoTalk notification. I paused the video and checked who had messaged me.
"Eunha?"
What could she possibly want with me? I wondered as I opened the message. It simply read: I'll be down in 10 minutes.
Down in 10 minutes...? Even after reading it, my curiosity only grew. I shook my head, pondering why Eunha would come all the way here, when a sudden thought struck me.
...Is she trying to buy me dinner?
It was nearly 6 p.m. anyway.
"Huh?"
I checked the time and let out a startled voice without realizing it.
"...Already 6 o'clock."
I'd just finished lunch a little while ago, but after watching a few volleyball matches, time had flown by like that.
Once you get into it, you lose track of time.
Clicking my tongue, I turned off the video and quickly changed into my outdoor clothes. As I stepped outside, Eunha was just coming down from the second floor, and we bumped right into each other.
"Oppa!"
Her bright, lively voice rang in my ears. It had a pleasant ring to it. I let out a soft chuckle and raised my hand.
"What're you buying me for dinner?"
"Dinner? What dinner?"
"Didn't you call me down to treat me to a meal?"
At my question, a look of utter disbelief crossed Eunha's face. She shot me a sulky glare, then crossed her arms arrogantly and yelled,
"No, that's not it!"
Her chin-length brown bob hair swayed with the motion.
"Then why'd you call me?"
"Seoyeon unnie said to meet up."
"Oh? Ah... I see."
Hearing that, I roughly pieced together the situation. She was planning another round of culprit-hunting today, just like yesterday.
Won't be any use, though.
I gave a bitter internal smile, nodded slightly, and spoke up.
"...So where'd she say to meet?"
"Didn't unnie message you on KakaoTalk?"
I frowned at her question. This girl still thought I was the masked guy right up to the end. No surprise there—she'd been grilling me about it right before we parted yesterday. I had no illusions she'd trust me easily.
"Nope."
"Really? Well... whatever. It's fine. It's a coffee shop I know anyway! Just follow me!"
With that shout, Eunha puffed out her chest proudly. But thanks to her baggy clothes, her breasts or slender figure didn't show at all. It was totally kid's fashion. But if she peeled off even one layer...
What the hell am I thinking right now?
I shook my head vigorously to banish the idle fantasy and hurried on.
"Let's go."
After that, I headed to the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet Yu Seoyeon, with Eunha by my side.
"Guess she hasn't arrived yet?"
Eunha glanced around the coffee shop as we entered, searching for Seoyeon. But Yu Seoyeon hadn't shown up yet—no sign of her anywhere. Confirming that, I led Eunha to the counter.
"Orange juice for me. You?"
"Café au lait for me."
We ordered our drinks, then returned to our seats.
"Who do you think the culprit is?"
I tossed the question casually at Eunha as we sat down. She gazed at the red flower petals in the white vase on the table and answered softly.
"Honestly, I have no idea."
Her voice lacked confidence. She seemed completely clueless about who the masked man was, fidgeting with her fingers in frustration.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah... What about you, oppa? Any guesses?"
"Dunno."
I put on a troubled expression and stroked my chin. Truth was, there wasn't much I could say here.
"Do you think we can catch that guy?"
Then Eunha asked again, her voice a bit clearer and louder this time. She must have been really worried. I chuckled lightly and looked at her. The sunset light streaming through the window enveloped her, making my eyes squint a little.
"That Yu Seoyeon girl seemed like she had some ideas, though?"
"But she's weird."
Eunha pouted, denying it.
"...And she kept suspecting you even after your innocence was proven."
She looked up at me as if seeking agreement, and my conscience prickled sharply for a moment. But I easily ignored the pang and replied.
"Yeah, that was kinda odd."
"Right?"
With my agreement, Eunha's face lit up even more, and she beamed happily. She seemed to trust me completely. I wondered what face she'd make if it ever came out that I was the masked guy... But I quickly shook my head. If that ever happened for real, forget her shock—Yu Seoyeon might straight-up murder me.
Gotta watch my back at night.
Shaking off the chill, I noticed the pager vibrating and stood up.
"I'll grab the coffee."
"I'll come with!"
"You guard the seat."
I headed to the counter with the pager, returned it, picked up the coffee and drinks, and went back.
"Huh?"
When I returned, Yu Seoyeon was already there, sitting in my spot as if it were natural.
"What? You're here too?"
She scowled, clearly annoyed that I was there, and shot me a question. Just as I opened my mouth to reply, Eunha stretched out both hands and exclaimed,
"W-We agreed to catch the culprit together! You agreed back then too, right, unnie?"
"..."
Our eyes—mine and Seoyeon's—naturally turned to Eunha. She gave an awkward smile and spoke again.
"O-Oppa, sit here."
She scooted inside to make room for me. Grateful for the gesture, I sat down and offered the orange juice I'd bought for myself to Yu Seoyeon.
"Here."
"Not drinking it."
Her blunt refusal made me frown involuntarily.
"Can't you just take it when someone's offering?"
"Why should I? And who knows what you put in it?"
"You think I'm some criminal?"
"Aren't you? Pervert Mask."
She called me "Pervert Mask" so naturally, like it was settled fact. Sighing in resignation, I shook my head and took a sip of the orange juice.
"Unnie! I told you Yu-hyun oppa isn't the masked guy! And isn't that whole thing over already?"
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"How much do you really know about that Pervert Mask?"
Seoyeon's sudden question left Eunha momentarily flustered, but she soon replied.
"W-Well... He's a young guy, uses a smartphone... and wears a mask, that's about it."
Seoyeon smirked mockingly at Eunha's response.
"Then put those three things together and apply them to this guy."
"Huh? A-Apply how?"
"Compare the Pervert Mask you saw to this guy's looks."
"Th-That's forced! Anyone would look similar if you try to match it!"
Seoyeon clicked her tongue and continued.
"Fine, let's add a few more. For example..."
She trailed off, then pointed at me.
"...Put this on that guy."
With that, she pulled an item from her bag.
"Ah!"
A gasp escaped Eunha's lips. I nearly let one out myself the moment I saw it, but I kept my composure and stared at the object.
How the hell did she...
It was a mask. The exact same one I'd used in the Training Room.
...How'd she get it?
Wasn't it exclusive to the Training Room? Did Yu Seoyeon have the Manager App too? I calmed my pounding heart and spoke up, feigning calm.
"What's this?"
I stared straight at Yu Seoyeon. She looked up, piercing me with her gaze like she was threatening me.
Can't back down.
I suppressed the urge to look away and met her eyes.
"The mask that Pervert Mask wore."
"Where'd you find it, unnie?"
Eunha's voice trembled as she asked. Seoyeon rubbed the mask with her index finger and replied.
"I made it myself."
"Huh?"
"Unlike you, I've been done in by that pervert bastard three times. I can't forget this mask even if I tried... It even shows up in my dreams. How could I?"
She ground her teeth, glaring at the mask, then looked up at me and continued.
"...Try it on."
She held the mask out to me.
Crazy bitch.
The curse nearly slipped out as I stared at it.
"What's wrong? Scared to? Chicken?"
Her taunting words made me frown deliberately.
"Why the hell should I wear this?"
"Just try it on once. What, afraid it'll expose you as the Pervert Mask?"
"No... I hear this is the mask that pervert wore, so why should I? And aren't you thinking about how this'll hurt Eunha?"
Defending Eunha like that, the girl next to me looked up at me with deep emotion. She then glared at Seoyeon and shouted,
"Exactly, unnie! Why do you keep trying to put this on oppa?!"
"Hey."
"Unnie, you're just nitpicking ridiculously right now, you know that?"
"Ha..."
Seoyeon pressed her forehead like her head hurt and let out a hollow laugh at Eunha's words.
"Stop suspecting Yu-hyun oppa already and let's catch the real culprit."
Eunha's words reset the conversation exactly how I wanted. I inwardly cheered three times. Good thing I'd used Eunha to my advantage.
"..."
Meanwhile, Yu Seoyeon just ground her teeth in frustration, glaring daggers at me. But moments later, her smartphone blared noisily. She checked the caller, then put on a triumphant expression.
"...Fine. Let's catch the culprit."
She answered the call and waved toward the entrance. The other person must have spotted us, as the click-clack of high heels approached.
My eyes widened naturally.
Shin Ye-eun...!
The woman heading our way was one of the five girls I'd trained at lunch yesterday.