Eighteen's Temperature (5)
There was just over a week left until school started.
Lee Seol met up with U Hana first near the school.
And thinking about Lee Min-woo, who would arrive here soon—by now, the Eighteen's Temperature episodes he'd filmed had been released up to episode 3.
He didn't have much screen time in episode 2, but from the end of that one through episode 3, his presence was solid.
Kim Yul, the male lead. A guy who approached women so naturally, was excessively kind, and carried it off with such effortless skill, like it was no big deal.
Jung Yu-na got flustered every time she faced him, but toward the end of episode 2, she finally sat down across from him and spoke her mind.
She didn't like that sort of thing. No beating around the bush, no dressing it up. Straightforward, even if it made her seem a little ridiculous.
Then in episode 3, Kim Yul's gaze came into sharp focus for the first time.
A look surrounded by people yet somehow empty inside. Behind the playful, nonchalant face lurked a subtle hollowness. After hearing Jung Yu-na's words, he stopped approaching her so casually. No more fake friendliness. And yet... he kept drawing her attention in subtle ways.
Lee Seol was enjoying it too. Hmm, a web drama that nails those nuanced feelings where women trash the male lead but secretly crave him. She wasn't that immersed, but since she knew the lead actor and his performance felt so natural, it was just pleasantly engaging without any hitches.
At first, it seemed like he'd gone mega-viral purely on looks, but weirdly, the hype wasn't dying down.
Maybe because his appearance fit the role so perfectly, packing a huge punch? Or maybe he was just that good at acting...
He popped up even when scrolling Reels, Shorts on YouTube, and searching his name on Instagram brought up a flood of close-up shots—or Photoshopped ones.
For a non-idol, it was kinda wild.
Anyway, this buzzworthy Lee Min-woo was now heading to a high school on the outskirts of Seoul to watch a play with Lee Seol and U Hana.
Was it modest of him? Or had the fame not fully sunk in yet...
Still, the fact that he hadn't suddenly changed overnight wasn't a bad thing.
Truth be told, when Lee Seol had casually invited him to the play back then, she hadn't grasped the scale of his situation at all.
But now that the day had arrived, she felt a twinge of worry. He's gotta be swamped. Is this okay?
Come to think of it, he probably didn't have an agency yet. She briefly thought of her own dad, then shook her head. That'd be too nosy.
Anyway, amid what had to be total chaos, he'd even kept up his cafe part-time gig. School, filming, work... And from how he'd asked her about painting poses and studied up, he wasn't slacking on prep for his role either.
...He's really grinding.
It was the kind of schedule that demanded admiration.
And he wasn't just grinding—he was excelling. School life and grades went without saying, and this web drama was blowing up.
It was hard to dismiss the world as unfair when she'd seen the effort he put in. Helping with presentations and exams, prepping his role in spare moments—all of it.
Setting aside his looks, he came across as... solid. A solid guy. The phrasing felt a bit stuffy, but nothing else fit.
And trailing naturally from those thoughts: If even a guy like that hustles so hard... am I wasting my life? It made her reflect on herself.
A few days ago, when she'd asked if she'd been any help... maybe it was her way of seeking validation from someone so visibly diligent.
Lee Seol glanced sideways for a moment. U Hana stood there beside her, waiting for Min-woo, hands tucked in the pockets of her winter coat, staring quietly at the school gate.
Seeing her like this, U Hana staking a claim on Min-woo(?) seemed like a pretty solid choice. He wasn't the type who only had his handsome face going for him.
Well, the world wouldn't leave a guy like that alone—he'd basically become a celebrity now.
Hmm...
But if you set aside all that talent and ability for a sec, U Hana didn't exactly have a bad matchup either.
She was lost in those thoughts when Min-woo arrived.
Lee Seol had been watching only U Hana's face, but she caught on quick. Her expression lit up instantly.
...That happy? Really?
Lee Seol turned her head, and a oddly convincing feeling settled in, leaving her a bit unsettled.
A guy in a black beanie pulled low. His outfit was low-key overall, not flashy, but those long legs and the jawline peeking from under the hat drew eyes anyway.
But whatever—
If you're gonna hide, do it right. What's with that half-assed getup?
Too bundled up felt overkill, but leaving it exposed bugged him too, so he'd gone for this awkward middle ground.
Should she drag him to a convenience store for a mask? As she pondered that—
U Hana bolted toward Min-woo first.
That bubbly energy... no, better phrasing: a sweet, beaming smile. Honestly, what guy could resist being liked like that? Plus, U Hana's personality meant she'd be super sweet in a relationship, the homely type even after marriage.
She'll do great. Yeah.
......Why was she even thinking about this?
The air around them bubbled with romance, while she stood a step apart—the gap probably got to her.
Not even thinking about dating anyway.
After a bad middle school heartbreak, she'd sworn off it. Not that she'd dated before then.
That's when she'd started acting all tomboyish too. Tired of the push-pull games.
Anyway, Lee Seol shook off the increasingly weird thoughts and followed U Hana over to Min-woo.
U Hana must've had similar ideas—she offered to grab a mask from the convenience store, but Min-woo waved it off.
Right. Let U Hana handle it. After that cafe incident last time, Lee Seol had stopped trying to shove them together so obviously.
Playing it cool was the real help here. No point forcing the mood and getting chewed out—like that one time. U Hana had done it too, so they were even. Though with Min-woo basically celeb-adjacent now, extra caution made sense.
After a quick chat, they settled on going together.
"Let's grab some flowers too."
Min-woo's suggestion.
"Flowers?"
"Yeah. Looked like parents were buying them. A friend invited me here too. You guys have someone, right?"
One of Lee Seol's friends had joined the theater club. She and U Hana were here on that invite.
Decision made: flowers it was. Their plan to meet discreetly at school went out the window as the three of them naturally headed off-campus.
They slipped into a small flower shop nearby, and sure enough, a few people were already browsing, just as Min-woo had said.
Lee Seol's group blended right in. Though even there, the dynamic split naturally.
Min-woo and U Hana. And Lee Seol.
...Daisies or baby's breath seem safe. As she mulled it over, whispers drifted from beside her.
"Should I get this one? It's from Dong-rak, right?"
Lee Seol stifled a quiet laugh at the snippet. Not mocking her. If anything, it was kinda cute.
She knew U Hana and Choi Dong-rak weren't just distant—they barely knew each other.
Even as a girl herself, women were scary creatures. Love erased all hesitation.
Flowers bought, they headed back into the school auditorium.
They grabbed seats toward the back, and the play soon began.
It was solid... fun, even.
Her acquaintance was on props, not acting, so no spotlight during the show, but most of the performers were same-year students she knew by sight.
The small scale limited the spectacle, sure...
But it was enjoyable enough.
When she was really little, she'd gone to plays with her parents. She wasn't as into it now, but those memories lingered.
It captured that cozy charm well. Her friend had mentioned it was mostly first-years.
Really? It felt so polished. The dialogue wasn't cheesy at all—props to whoever wrote the script, probably a senior.
She got into it, and soon the curtain call brought applause as the play wrapped.
Only a few bolted right away. Most hung back to congratulate friends and family.
Now the Yeoul theater club crew emerged from backstage to greet kin and acquaintances.
Lee Seol and U Hana scanned for their friend. Quick spot amid the crowd. She was mid-chat with family, so they waited.
Meanwhile, Min-woo went to find Choi Dong-rak. His family too—seemed he knew them.
The woman who looked like Dong-rak's mom had a warm vibe. She patted Min-woo's back lightly, saying something. Close enough to overhear bits.
"Here to celebrate Dong-rak? Even brought flowers? Goodness, what a fine young man."
"The script Dong-rak wrote... it was really good. He's got talent."
"Oh yeah? Such sweet talk. I saw that web drama you were in—Dong-rak showed me. You were great."
She nodded, adding,
"Auntie always knew you'd make it as an entertainer. Feels like yesterday you kids were blasting songs on the speaker at our house and getting scolded. Dong-rak writes plays, Min-woo becomes an actor... my."
"Mom. That's enough."
"Right, right. Can't go blabbing about a celeb now. Ho ho ho. It'll stay my little memory~."
As she eavesdropped, Lee Seol's friend finished with her family.
A few others had already gathered, chatting.
Lee Seol and U Hana approached with flowers in hand.
Her name was Kim Ji-min. As they neared, she lit up and yelled,
"Seol~ Hana~ You really came!"
Just as Lee Seol reached out with the flowers—
Her other friends grabbed Kim Ji-min.
"Afterparty time. We're heading to Jin-woo's place."
"Ah, think I can't? Parents want me home for dinner soon..."
She shot Lee Seol a sneaky glance. Probably ditching for us.
Then a nearby guy turned and said,
"Whoa, Min-woo's here. For real."
"Seriously? Congratulating Dong-dol, I bet."
"Heard he's joining our club next year."
"Dude's full-on celeb now. Bet he skips school."
"Hope he comes."
"Invite him to the afterparty?"
"He show?"
"Might. Min-woo's not the type to change."
"You tight with him?"
"Trying to get there."
He turned back to Kim Ji-min.
"Oh right, you can't make it?"
"Huh? Oh~ hold on."
She pretended to check her phone, then chirped,
"Parents say just head home. Afterparty it is!"
"..."
The looks said we see you.
Lee Seol mentally cut ties. This is too much...
But Kim Ji-min spun around shamelessly, unfazed.
"Gotta ask Dong-dol about the afterparty."
She skipped off toward Min-woo and Choi Dong-rak.
"Wait. Hey..."
Lee Seol couldn't stop her.
The unsaid words echoed inside: Hey, you bitch... take the flowers at least...
Kim Ji-min was already waving wildly at Choi Dong-rak's group, chatting away. Theater club ties, apparently. His mom watched with a chuckling heh heh.
Even her antics came off endearing—a blessed talent.
Lee Seol smirked, turned to U Hana, and said,
"Let's go too."