Chapter 209: Joy Causes Trouble
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 209: Joy Causes Trouble
“On a street filled with lovers, I want to stroll and whisper with you.”
At that moment, Kkotbi, who had been watching the karaoke screen, turned to look at me.
As she smiled and sang under the colorful lights, I could see Kkotbi’s true smile peeking through her disguised face.
“Let’s wear cute matching outfits and go on a date, too.”
And as she sang, Kkotbi was beautiful.
Watching this private concert just for me, I felt my heart begin to beat in a way it never had before.
That’s how much power Kkotbi had to captivate someone when she sang.
“We’re shining, just like in the picture.”
Soon, the song ended with the final chorus.
As I stared blankly, Kkotbi, her face slightly flushed from the effort of singing, turned to me and smiled.
“What song should we do next?”
“...Kkotbi, you really are a singer. You’re amazing.”
“Of course. It’s the talent I’m most proud of.”
Kkotbi said, sitting down next to me.
“Still, it’s a compliment I hear all the time, but hearing it from you, Ha-chan-oppa, feels completely different. I’m glad I decided to sing.”
More energetic than usual, Kkotbi leaned in closer.
The cramped space of the karaoke booth made it easier for us to be close.
But before I could get too conscious of it, Kkotbi seemed more focused on the music and took the machine’s remote from me.
“Oh, right. Don’t you want to sing a song too, Ha-chan-oppa? Is there anything you want to sing?”
“I’m too embarrassed to sing in front of you, Kkotbi.”
“But I want to sing a duet with you, Ha-chan-oppa. Let’s sing together!”
Singing with a current idol.
If Ahyu heard about this, she’d probably burst into tears with envy.
But right now, it felt like Kkotbi wanted to be with me and only me.
So I decided not to bring up Ahyu.
After that, we sang several more songs.
We sang songs from the early 2000s, and I even listened to some recent hits I’d heard before.
I was especially impressed watching Kkotbi sing all the parts of a Blackstar song by herself, a track meant for a group.
“That was so much fun.”
Even after singing for nearly an hour and a half, her voice was as clear as ever.
As expected of a singer, her vocal stamina was on another level.
“Let’s come again sometime.”
In contrast, my own voice was completely shot after just a few songs.
But I didn’t mind, because Kkotbi laughed, finding my raspy voice amusing.
“Should we head back soon?”
I had to go to work soon, so I didn’t have a lot of time to spare.
It didn’t matter that I was already in my work clothes, since I’d planned to go straight to the office.
The timing seemed perfect: drop Kkotbi off at home, then head to work.
Just then, Kkotbi gently pinched the collar of my shirt with her thumb and index finger.
“Um, Ha-chan-oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you maybe have a little more time?”
Hearing that, I checked my phone.
My schedule wasn’t that tight, so I nodded.
“I still have some time.”
“Actually, I wanted to take some sticker photos.”
Sticker photos were no problem at all.
“Okay, let’s do that.”
“Really? Thank you.”
Kkotbi beamed and suddenly wrapped her arms around mine.
For a second, I was flustered by the soft sensation even through our clothes, but then I noticed the tips of her ears, peeking out from under her hair, were bright red.
“...There are a lot of things I want to do with you, Ha-chan-oppa.”
Kkotbi, who had been busy with concerts and other work, spoke as if she had been holding it all in until now.
Looking at her, I felt like I should do anything she wanted.
Leaving the karaoke booth, we walked down the street, looking just like any other couple.
Kkotbi clung to my arm tightly, as if she had no intention of letting go.
“There’s one over there.”
“Let’s go in.”
We spotted a place for sticker photos nearby.
When we walked inside, the place was bustling with people.
I felt a little awkward in the photo booth area, which was mostly filled with women or couples, but Kkotbi started picking up various accessories you’d normally see at an amusement park.
“Want to try this on?”
Kkotbi turned to me and asked. I chuckled and took one from her.
It was a headband that looked like giraffe horns.
As soon as I put it on, Kkotbi stared at me for a moment before suddenly pulling out her phone.
“I’m taking a picture.”
She was staring at me so intensely, as if she planned to treasure the photo forever, that I just gave a wry smile.
“It’s only meaningful if we take one together. Let’s grab a few and go inside.”
“Oh, okay!”
With an excited expression, Kkotbi began picking out a few more items.
It looked like she was only choosing things to put on me, so I picked out a few for her as well.
“Oppa, over here!”
An excited Kkotbi pointed to an empty booth and called for me, and I followed her.
The booth was even smaller on the inside than it looked from the outside.
It was an environment practically designed to make couples press up against each other.
“Wow, I think this is the first time I’ve been to one of these since middle school.”
“That was a long time ago. Had you already debuted back then?”
“Uh, yes. Well, it was less a debut and more just being a trainee for most of it.”
Kkotbi said as she inserted money into the photo booth machine.
I had tried to pay, but she beat me to it.
“Should we take one now?”
“Ah, just a moment.”
Kkotbi carefully checked the curtain behind us, then clapped her hands once.
With a soft rustle, her hair color and face began to change.
The familiar peach-colored hair fluttered out from under her beret, and Kkotbi’s lovely face came into view.
This look really suited her best.
“It’s okay to be myself in here,” she said.
Kkotbi smiled brightly, and I nodded.
After all, the pictures would be more meaningful if she was her true self.
“Okay, I’m taking it!”
Kkotbi announced, seeming to want to take the first picture without any headbands or props.
I was standing there awkwardly, wondering if I should strike a pose, when I heard a voice from the machine count down: three, two, one.
It happened in an instant.
As I stood there awkwardly, Kkotbi went up on her tiptoes, placed a hand on my shoulder, and I felt a soft touch on my cheek.
She was kissing my cheek.
Click!
The sticker photo captured the scene perfectly: my stunned expression and Kkotbi kissing my cheek.
Is it really okay for a picture like this to exist?
Seeing my reaction, Kkotbi, her face beet red, pulled her lips away from my cheek and quickly turned back to the machine.
“Wh-what should we add next?”
I let out a hearty laugh at the sight of her back as she asked shyly.
I never expected her to make such a sudden move.
She was adorable, trying so hard to act casual as she fiddled with the settings, even though she was clearly hyper-aware of what just happened.
It was nice to see my usually mature friend acting her age.
We took a few more pictures after that.
Kkotbi carefully placed the printed photos into a plastic sleeve, holding them like a treasure.
Of course, by the time we stepped out of the booth, her appearance had changed back.
“Haa, that was so much fun,” Kkotbi said with a smile.
“Want to come again sometime?”
“Really?”
Kkotbi’s eyes widened as she asked, and I nodded.
Something like this, I could do for her anytime she had a day off.
I fixed her hat, which had gotten crooked when she hastily changed back, and she looked up at me.
Her eyes were filled with a hint of disappointment that our time was ending, but she gave me a faint smile.
“See you later.”
See you later.
Right. I’d almost forgotten Kkotbi was staying at my place.
As the realization finally hit me again, Kkotbi gave a shy smile.
I’m not sure if I’ll survive this month.
After that, I walked Kkotbi home.
Her parting words, “I’ll be waiting for you,” made my resolve waver, but I somehow managed to make it to the office safely.
Maybe it was because it was the middle of spring.
I loosened my tie, my face feeling a little hot.
“Ha-chan, you look a little strange today.”
“...I’m the same as always.”
Yu U-jeong, who had been watching me from the side, made a comment, but I vehemently denied it.
Still, once I started working, I began to shake off the events of the day.
Of course, I did find myself wondering if I should buy something on the way home, thinking about how much Kkotbi would be looking forward to tonight.
Before I knew it, it was time to leave. I saw Ji-eun and Si-ho off.
“Here, information on Shin Jong-hyeok. I gathered what I could. Thought it might be helpful.”
“Thanks.”
Before leaving, Yu U-jeong handed me some additional information on Shin Jong-hyeok.
“I’ll expect to be rewarded later, you know?”
“We’ll see.”
“So prickly.”
Yu U-jeong said, though she didn’t seem to mind.
Our conversations were often like this, but we had grown surprisingly close.
If she’d just stop doing weird things, she’d be a great friend.
As if sensing my gaze, Yu U-jeong glanced at me and gave a sly smile.
“Wanna go to a motel?”
Things like this.
“Yu U-jeong, stop it with that stuff.”
“What’s the big deal? A healthy man and woman can spend a night together. It’s not like I’m lacking in any department, am I?”
“You’re lacking in the head department.”
“Then maybe Ha-chan is lacking down below.”
I’m done with this conversation.
“Besides, Ha-chan, you’ve already done it with those girls, haven’t you?”
Her words, striking deep, made me freeze.
How did she figure that out?
I stared at her, and she gave me a foxy grin.
“You can just tell with things like that. You’re quite the fox yourself, you know. The way you handle girls who make even me go ‘헉’ [gasp], like some kind of playboy.”
As she spoke, Yu U-jeong gently stroked her chin.
“But I wonder if you were any good. I like your personality, Ha-chan, but I’m not so sure about what’s downstairs. Want me to teach you a few things?”
I decided not to exchange another word with Yu U-jeong.
I turned to leave her behind, but just then, my phone started ringing.
I pulled it out and saw Kkotbi’s name on the screen.
Did she need something?
“Hello?”
As soon as I answered, I heard what sounded like a front door opening on her end.
[Ha-chan-oppa, Joy already made her move!]
But the words I heard were completely different.
Joy had gone and caused trouble over Shin Jong-hyeok.
*
5
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.
The owner of those footsteps was a woman with sharp features and dyed blue hair, wearing a hat, mask, and even sunglasses.
Joy, whose real name was Jeon Hyang-rak, was now entering a certain building.
This building, secretly frequented by celebrities, was designed with private rooms partitioned for two people.
“This is the room for the ‘Shin-jeong’ reservation.”
“Ahem, thank you.”
After clearing her throat to disguise her voice, she opened the door the staff member had indicated.
Inside was a man wearing a cap, just like her.
With his simple features and sturdy build, the phrase “country youth” suited him perfectly. He broke into a bright smile when he saw her.
Seeing that smile, Joy felt her heart pound.
She had fallen for him because of that kind smile he only ever showed her.
“Jong-hyeok, have you been waiting long?” she asked.
Shin Jong-hyeok shook his head.
“Not at all. Waiting for you is a pleasure, Hyang-rak.”
Hearing that, Joy smiled shyly.
She had always hated her strange-sounding real name, but she loved it when he said it.
Perhaps it was because this was the first time she had ever liked someone so much, aside from her school days as a young middle schooler.
Right now, Joy was completely smitten with Shin Jong-hyeok.