The Idol's Secret Invitation
I couldn't focus on my workout at the gym. My usual routine would have been to build up my lower body with squats, leg presses, leg extensions, and deadlifts, but the only thing getting "built up" was the part of me below the belt. The culprit was the girl working out right next to me: Lee Su-a. My ultimate bias. Her presence was so intoxicating that my eyes kept drifting toward her. Every single movement she made was pure fuel for my imagination.
I eventually decided to call it quits on the heavy lifting and finished up on the treadmill. I cranked up the speed, running hard to suppress my wayward thoughts. After twenty minutes of intense cardio, I was drenched in sweat. I shook out my shirt and stepped off the machine. Su-a was sitting on a bench, scrolling through her phone. I wiped my face with a towel and approached her.
"Let's head out."
"Okay."
We went to the locker rooms to change. There were showers, but the facilities weren't exactly top-tier, so I preferred to shower at home. It was only a five-minute walk, anyway. Su-a didn't need to change; she just threw on a windbreaker. We stepped out of the gym. The trainer’s gaze felt like needles on our backs as we left; I was certain he’d be waiting to nag me about something the next time I came in.
"Is your manager coming to pick you up?"
Even though it had been less than two hours, I felt a profound sense of satisfaction just being able to work out with my favorite idol on a weekend.
"Nope," Su-a said, shaking her head side to side.
"Then how are you getting back?"
"I'm not going back today."
"What...?"
"It’s been so long since I’ve had a break. I can't just spend it rotting away in the dorms."
Everyone spends their vacation differently. Some go on trips they’ve been dreaming of, while others are homebodies who just want to lounge around. Based on everything I knew about Su-a, she was the latter. She’d been the same way during the break after her first single, and even back when she was active in WeAreOne, the group formed through that audition program. I knew this because I followed her social media religiously.
"I’m planning to play to my heart's content today."
"Oh, really?"
She must have plans later. Maybe meeting a friend, or going shopping like the other members.
"Alright then, enjoy your vacation."
In truth, I wanted to stay with her longer. Parting ways like this was incredibly disappointing, but I couldn't interfere with her precious time off. I had to let her enjoy every single minute. It was better for a "distraction" like me to step aside. For a brief moment, it felt like I was on a date with my ultimate bias, like a real couple. It was a memory I’d never forget. But it was time to wake up from the dream. Once I did, the crushing reality that this could never actually happen would come flooding back in.
"Where are you going?" Su-a grabbed my sleeve.
"Huh? Going home, of course."
She blinked her eyes. I blinked mine back, mimicking her.
"You have to take me with you."
"E... excuse me?"
Silence hung in the air. What did I just hear? It wasn't English. It wasn't Japanese. I definitely heard Korean, but I couldn't comprehend the meaning.
"...Why?" I genuinely didn't know.
"Does the reason matter? Don't tell me... you want me to leave already?"
"N-no...!"
"I'm disappointed. I thought Su-aKongtteok was my most passionate Otaku, but you're just a fake fan. I was the only one who was serious, the only one!"
She pouted, making little whimpering sounds to express her hurt feelings.
"No! I seriously like you!" I blurted out the first thing that came to mind to soothe her.
"...Say it one more time."
"I seriously like you."
Wait... this... this sounded like a confession, didn't it?
"Ah! Of course, as a fan...! I mean I like you as a fan...!" I clarified immediately, just in case she misunderstood.
"I know, I know. I know very well how much you like me, Yujun-oppa."
"That's why I said as a fan..."
"I told you, I know."
She did understand, right?
"Hehe, then keep taking good care of me."
Su-a hopped over to my side and naturally linked her arm with mine. The proximity was incredibly intimate. Her chest pressed firmly against my forearm.
"W-wait a second...!" I pulled away, startled.
"I... I don't think we should link arms." It was dangerous for so many reasons.
"Ahaha... I’m just used to linking arms with the other members when we walk..."
I hadn't known that. I thought the other members doted on her and initiated the skinship, but it seemed that when she was "off-duty," Su-a was the one who hugged and clung to the members first. I had just gained new intel.
"If possible, let's walk about three steps—no, ten steps apart. It’ll be a disaster if there are paparazzi around."
The primary culprits of idol privacy invasion. Not just as bad as Sasaeng fans, but often more vicious and malicious. Paparazzi. They were obsessed with stalking celebrities or lurking in underground parking lots, desperate for a scoop. They treated it like an annual event to drop dating rumors every January 1st, writing sensationalist articles that dealt massive blows to an idol's image. They occasionally brought up heartwarming stories, but that was extremely rare. They were like hunting dogs, dying to tear their target apart.
"You don't have to worry about that."
"You can't take them lightly. You don't know how scary paparazzi are. They take photos when you don't even know they're there."
That was from personal experience. I wasn't a celebrity, but I had my own run-ins with them. And now, one of those paparazzi was standing right in front of me. It was a bizarre situation.
"I'm telling you, you really don't have to worry." Su-a looked incredibly confident.
"Who do you think I am? I'm La Stella's Su-a. Oppa, explain to me what kind of idol I am."
Asking me to describe her to herself? What kind of nonsense was this?
"Well, your tone is so beautiful that you suit any song, you sing at a professional level, you're a master of all dance genres, and you dominate the stage by nailing your killing parts. Your pretty, baby-rabbit-like face is famous for being cute, but you show off a reversal charm with your charismatic gaze. You're a top-tier advertising model receiving love calls from all sorts of brands because of your multifaceted appeal. As a female idol, you're easily in the top five in South Korea right now."
That was just a brief summary. If she asked for more detail, a single day wouldn't be enough. To exaggerate, I could probably write a thesis on the subject: A Study on the Charms of Lee Su-a.
"Oppa..."
Her voice sounded drenched in ecstasy. She had her hat pulled low, so I couldn't see her expression. Was she moved by my passionate fan-heart?
"...You really are an Otaku."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Calling an Otaku an Otaku dealt zero damage. If anything, it felt like I’d been acknowledged.
"Anyway, how do you think I got to where I am now?"
"Hard work." That was the point where I started liking her, after all.
"That’s true, but I have a special ability."
"The one you mentioned at the gym?"
"That’s a skill every idol has to learn. I’m talking about an ability only I have."
Su-a stood on her tiptoes and whispered her secret ability to me.
"I can feel the gaze of a camera."
"What does that mean?"
"Literally. If a camera is filming me, I can feel its gaze. No matter how well they try to hide, my skin tingles and lets me know." Su-a poked her own neck with her finger.
"A superpower...?"
"Not exactly. It's more like... I think someone is taking a picture, and when I turn my head, they really are."
"Isn't that just intuition, not an ability?"
"If your intuition is right ten out of ten times, that’s an ability, fufu."
I recalled the paparazzi photos of Su-a. Before her debut with La Stella, there were articles floating around the internet. The articles, which used clickbait titles like [Lee Su-a's Private Life], featured photos of her at cafes or shopping. Every single photo the reporter took looked like a legendary pictorial. The important thing was that in all of them, Su-a knew the paparazzi were hiding and was giving them a beautiful, eye-smiling look.
Some even speculated that she had hired the paparazzi herself. In Hollywood, there were cases where celebrities signed exclusive contracts with agencies to have photos taken. But surprisingly, that wasn't the case. Come to think of it, Su-a was an idol who knew exactly how to look pretty for the camera. That was only possible if she knew exactly when, where, and at what timing the camera was shooting.
"So, don't worry too much about the paparazzi."
But you could always get caught if you let your guard down...
"Anyway, just focus on me today. Okay?"
"Got it."
Still, I’d keep my guard up. It felt like I’d suddenly become Su-a’s manager.
"So, what are we going to do now?"
"I want to take a shower first." Su-a waved her arms, flapping her windbreaker. We’d been sweating while working out just a moment ago. Since she hadn't showered, she must have felt sticky. I wanted to shower, too. I’d pushed myself harder than usual on the treadmill to suppress my desires, and my underwear was damp with sweat.
"Should we go to a public bathhouse?"
"Do you think that’s possible?"
Obviously not. If Su-a showed up at a bathhouse? Whether it was the women's or men's side, it would be chaos. Even if the older ladies didn't know much about modern idols, if they watched TV, they would recognize Su-a immediately. How could they not, when she was all over the commercials?
"Then?"
"I know a great place. A place where we can shower, rest, and have fun."
"Does such a place exist?"
"Yes! It's right around here!" Su-a pointed a finger directly at me.
"Your place, Oppa."