Victory Beers and Jealous Sparks
"Clink clink clink!"
Shine Candy's oldest member, Jiyeon, taps her spoon against a beer bottle. She has this image like she couldn't handle even a shot of soju, but damn, images and reality are worlds apart. Looking around, the place is stocked with booze. It was already chilling in the fridge nicely before I even got here. I heard they just got assigned this dorm the other day...
Just when the hell did they buy all this?
This isn't an idol girl group's dorm—it's like a bunch of day laborers crashing together. Moments later, with a satisfying pop, Jiyeon cracks open a cold beer and flashes me a bright smile.
"Alright, our composer gets the first one!"
"Ah, sure."
As the bottle makes its rounds, all eyes turn to me. They're probably expecting a toast from me, but I'm not the star here. It's Shine Candy.
"Nayun, you do it. You're the leader—feels right."
"Ah, okay! Then..."
Kim Nayun pauses for a moment, then raises her glass, golden liquid sloshing inside.
"A toast to Shine Candy's #1 and to the composer who made this glory possible!"
"Wooo!!!"
The members erupt in rowdy cheers. Their energy is straight-up idol level. And for good reason—today, Shine Candy topped the charts with Blush. Their first #1 after three years of debut. A miracle right on the brink of disbandment.
"I never thought we'd be active again..."
"Right? A month ago, I was scrounging for part-time gigs."
Jiyeon and Yunji's words have me nodding along. Just like they said, Shine Candy a month ago was so obscure most people didn't even know they existed. If someone claimed they'd debut and hit #1 in a day, they'd get called insane. This #1 was such a shocker, even their agency was floored.
"It's all thanks to our oppa now!"
Nayun downs her beer cleanly and beams, her gaze lingering on my face. Playful, with a hint of provocation in her eyes.
"So lucky we got that song from oppa back then. Otherwise... ugh."
"Totally. Nayun really saved our asses."
The victory bash is all warm vibes. Everyone's handling their liquor like pros today—the snacks are barely touched as they chug away. Tough to keep up with that pace.
Gotta buy a skill for booze tolerance.
I've got pride, you know. Can't have a guy outdrunk by girls—that's straight-up embarrassing.
I'm sandwiched between three beauties, laughing and crying together over drinks, when Jiyeon—who's been glazing over—suddenly face-plants onto the table.
"...Think it's time to call it?"
She cracked the beer like a champ but can't handle the drink, huh.
"Ah, unnie's such a lightweight... Hold on. We gotta finish this."
"Kim Nayun, come here. I'll grab this side."
"Okay."
They drag the now-limp Jiyeon to her room like a sack of potatoes. I munch on snacks waiting, and Nayun slips out first, hurrying over to whisper.
"Oppa, you saw my text, right?"
"...Yeah."
"Then play along with me for a bit."
"......Alright."
Ever since that company dinner, Nayun—who already liked me—has been craving my affection even more. To the point where... if I told her to die, she might actually do it. Even now. She knows I like girls, so she's scheming to feed me one of her own members. Her eyes are spinning like a villain's, but I can't bring myself to stop her. Kinda curious how it'll play out. Though I'd rein it in if it goes too far. Shine Candy's my first produced group in this world—I don't want to see it ruined.
"Yunji acts all cool on the outside, but she gets super jealous of how close I am to oppa. Just nudge her and she'll fall right over."
Nayun plops down first, sliding her glass next to mine. Yunji comes out late, sits, and soon enough leans subtly my way. Curious about her inner thoughts, I use my ability to peek.
Thankfully, her favorability toward me is over 70.
[Why's she acting like that, making the composer uncomfortable?]
[Huh? Why's... he just sitting there?]
[I get they're old friends or whatever... Ah, damn. What the hell?]
Even without reading minds, the awkward vibe is obvious. She chats along with Nayun's lead, smiling brightly, but tension pulls at her mouth.
"Kim Nayun."
"Yeah?"
"How long have you known the composer?"
Yunji glances at the composer poking at his chicken, then asks. Trainee Han Jimin was famous enough that even she knew him. Legendary story about how, when he quit being an idol, big shots like Executive Oh Minseo clung to his pant leg begging him to stay.
And now, just being in the same room makes it obvious why.
"Me and Nayun?"
"Huh? Oh... yeah..."
Her eyes meet Jimin's for a split second, and she ducks her head without thinking.
Ahh, ahhh.
Just eye contact and her heart's pounding. His aura screams "this is what a real entertainer looks like." And she's in a group that hit #1 on the charts.
Anyway, after Jimin left BOZ, the company apparently pulled out all stops to lure him back. But no one could reach him... Sneaky Nayun must've had his personal line. And they're close, too. She and Jiyeon unnie always say "Composer," but this girl drops "oppa" sometimes.
I wanna call him oppa too...
She'd gotten permission before. But the words wouldn't come easy. He was their composer, Shine Candy's producer—felt too formal.
In contrast...
"Huh? When oppa quit training, I stepped up and snagged his number."
"Yeah. She begged so desperately, I gave in."
"If oppa hadn't given it then, I was gonna cling till I could report him to the cops or something. Here."
She's different. Like she's sharing something with the composer that I don't have. Yunji hated it.
Nayun finishes, picks up a sauced chicken piece with her chopsticks, and places it on the composer's plate. Then taps his arm playfully and laughs.
"Hehe! Oppa likes sauced better than fried, right? You said so when we drank together."
Yunji flinches and shoots Nayun a look. First time hearing the composer's food prefs. No wonder he skipped the fried earlier.
"Huh?"
Wait, more importantly—they drank together?
"Ah... yeah, that time."
The composer nods like he remembers. Yunji keeps her smile, but lowers her head. Brings her glass to her lips. The booze that tasted good before now hits bitter as hell.
"......"
And Nayun's staring right at her.
"......What?"
"Nothing."
Bad mood. She wants to get close to the composer too. Call him oppa. Nayun acting like his girlfriend and hogging him looks shitty. This is supposed to be Shine Candy's #1 celebration, but she's steering the vibe elsewhere. Obvious.
So...
"Composer! Let's go grab chicken sometime. I know this super famous sauced chicken spot."
Couldn't hold back—jumps into their convo. Feels Nayun's glare, but whatever.
"Super famous spot?"
"Ah, Demon King Chicken? It's known, but the taste is meh."
"Kim Nayun, total flavor illiterate? One bite and the crispy skin explodes with sweet-spicy sauce. Sauced is Demon King Chicken all the way."
"...Really? I know it too, oppa. Let's go together later."
"Ah, what? I said it first!"
Her voice rises without realizing, grip tightens on the glass. Then she startles and loosens up.
Annoying.
Yunji hated this situation. Supposed to be celebrating Shine Candy. Feels sidelined. And the reason...
"......"
Nayun smirks as their eyes meet. Amused by her composer-conscious antics. Even presses closer—practically skinship level.
"Ah, fuck."
The sight draws a quiet curse no one hears. Rationality fraying. If not for the composer, she'd flip the table already. And he's accepting Nayun's touches without pushing back. The intimate duo stabs at her heart. Infuriating.
But another thought creeps in.
They're definitely not dating.
Years with Nayun. Album bombed, so no dorm life, but she knew how Nayun lived. And Kim Nayun never once mentioned Han Jimin. Except when bringing new songs.
Right. You're not that close either, huh?
Yunji's eyes lock on Kim Nayun. Tempting charm? She was confident she outshone Nayun. Looks-wise, objectively prettier. Even got confessions from guy trainees.
Let's give it a shot.
Same debut year, same age—close, but no way she'd lose.
Ignoring Nayun's prickly stare, Yunji slides right next to the composer.
"Compoooserr! Shine Candy hit #1, so lemme feed you your fave chicken. Ahh~!"
Chopsticks snag a sauced piece, delivered with max aegyo. Glances at Nayun—relaxed facade cracking with tension. Felt good.
Yeah, should've gone for it openly. No more tiptoeing.
...Heaven.
Two girl group members glued to my sides, waging a charm war to impress me. Nayun feeds me a snack, Yunji grabs her chopsticks right after. Yunji sneaks a touch, Nayun goes full-on handsy.
"Hey, what're you doing?"
"Hehe!"
Then Yunji murmurs something soft, but Nayun plays drunk and ignores. As Nayun openly dismisses, Yunji's touches ramp up. Grabs my arm naturally, presses her chest firm—and doesn't pull away. Knows it's touching, too.
First time with this dynamic. Feels surreal. Dealt with two girls before, but Jeong Hye-ryeong and Kim Chaeyeon were a different setup.
Anyway, Nayun's a real vixen.
Stoking Yunji's jealousy so perfectly natural. Wouldn't have guessed without her tip.
As more booze flows and the mood ripens fully...
"Oppa... me... ahh..."
Nayun fakes glazed eyes, lets out a lewd moan, and burrows into my arms.
"Hold me like before. Yeah? We hit #1... give your Nayun the top prize. Please?"
Lifts my shirt, starts licking my chest. Yunji's face watching... too nuanced to describe.
But one thing's clear. She won't bail and leave us alone.
How do I know? Flames in her eyes staring at Nayun.