Have You Heard of Glasses Syndrome? (2)
Four months into our debut, and I'd come to one realization. Idols have the most grueling job out there.
Choreography made up of dozens of intricate dance moves. High-level songs demanding real vocal prowess. Complicated stage blocking that requires perfect sync among members. And you have to nail it all in a single performance—under the crushing pressure of tens of thousands of eyes watching your every move.
The silver lining? I actually had a knack for it.
~♪ I moved my body fluidly to the music, surrendering to the rhythm. Thanks to my exceptional athleticism, I could pull off even the most complex choreography flawlessly. Singing was the same. It wasn't just hitting the notes—I poured my emotions into every single lyric. My innate vocal talent backed it all up.
A flexible body, outstanding singing voice, perfect pitch... These were the gifts I'd gained after my TS. That recognition landed me the center position in our new song so what?. I capped off the finale right there in the spotlight.
Cheers erupted from the audience seats. Standing dead center on stage, I soaked it all in.
"...Hoo."
Sweat trickled down my cheek and dripped off. My breath came in gasps, but I never lost my smile. A "smiling face" is idol 101, after all.
* * *
"Kya!"
Back at the dorm, I chugged the banana milk I'd prepped ahead of time. The sweet flavor flooded my mouth, easing some of the fatigue built up in my body. This was my post-performance ritual—nothing fancy, just my little daily routine.
"Siyeon-ah, gimme a sip, unni."
Out of nowhere, a pair of pale arms wrapped around my neck from behind. I turned to see a woman with wave-cut hair clinging to my shoulder. Lee Ju-hee, our main vocal and the oldest member at 23—which made her our big unni.
The rest of the lineup? Two more waiting in the wings.
"Ah, I'm starving! Tour's over—wanna all go grab some food?" Shin Seo-ah (21), our rapper.
"No restaurant's open at this hour." Baek Ha-rin (22), our dancer.
The group vibe was fantastic overall. Almost like family? (Not quite, but close.) You might think they'd resent the maknae hogging center every time, but no one had ever shown a hint of it.
"No shops open at this time, as expected."
"Then let's just eat here? Grab stuff from the convenience store nearby."
"Ooh! I've been dying to try that samgyeopsal they sell there."
Today's show wrapped up our tour—college festivals—and we were celebrating with a little party. But one problem.
"...How do we even get the food?"
Agency rules strictly forbade sneaking out. Safety issues, plus the risk of paparazzi snapping weird shots. Rookie girl groups like us, just starting to blow up, had to be extra careful. Normally, we'd ask the managers to pick stuff up, but not tonight. Late-night snacking was banned too.
To pull off a party, we'd have to dodge managers and paparazzi to buy food ourselves. No easy way around it.
"Hmm, what now...?"
As everyone pondered, I calmly raised my hand and solved it in one go.
"Can't I just go?"
"Huh?"
I pulled my glasses from my pocket. With them on, not even paparazzi or managers would recognize me. Head to the store, grab the goods, done. Decision made, I geared up for the outing: jeans, gray hoodie, sneakers. Kept it as low-key as possible, just in case.
"Siyeon-ah, you sure you're okay going alone...?"
Ju-hee followed me to the door, face full of worry.
"Should unni come with?"
"Then we couldn't sneak out."
"Still, I'm worried."
"No need. The store's right in front of the dorm building."
Three minutes on foot. What could go wrong?
"I'll be back."
I slipped out alone, ignoring her concerns. It was deep night outside. Building lights all off, just streetlamps casting a quiet glow on the empty streets. I started toward the convenience store.
How long had I walked? Two guys popped out from a side alley and straight-up approached me.
"Hey, student—you live around here?"
One had a camera, the other a notepad and pen. Paparazzi vibes. I adjusted my glasses and played it cool.
"What's up?"
"You know A-Star members live in this neighborhood, right?"
"Yeah... right next door."
"No way!"
They lit up like they'd hit the jackpot. Zero clue I was A-Star's Ruti. Watching them, I couldn't resist messing around a bit.
"Know anything about the members? Like where they hang out often, or plan to go? Anything's good."
"Hmm... I vaguely heard something. They're doing group dinner tonight to celebrate the tour ending."
"Tonight!? Where!?"
"Some place in Yeouido called 00 Pub or whatever."
"Yeouido? Got it. Thanks, kid!"
Grinning ear to ear, they bolted. Off to Yeouido, no doubt. Enjoy the fresh air, fellas.
* * *
~♪ The convenience store clerk stared blankly at his phone. The YouTube video playing was a fresh fancam of A-Star, just uploaded.
She's insanely pretty.
Every member's looks were top-tier, but maknae Ruti stood out on another level—heavenly. Artistic features like something out of a painting. The standout? That single teardrop mole on her porcelain skin. Paired with her captivating eyes, it was pure magic. Mesmerizing enough to lose yourself without realizing.
A girl with killer visuals and killer dance and vocal skills. How could anyone not become a fan?
That's why I applied to this store on purpose...
He'd skipped the one near his house for this distant spot. Sole reason: A-Star's dorm was super close. Maybe they'd drop by sometime? A faint hope.
But nope. Two months in, and not even a shadow of them—let alone Ruti.
Of course. Someone like that wouldn't come buy stuff herself.
Manager would handle it. Zero chance of Ruti showing up personally. A fool's hope from the start.
As he sighed to himself, a silhouette appeared outside the window. Too dark for a clear face, but the outline screamed woman—with killer proportions.
Those proportions match Ruti's exactly...
Height, build—everything lined up. Heart skipping, he glued his eyes to the glass.
Soon, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Yep...
Just some average girl with a similar build to Ruti. He gave a wry smile. Feeling like an idiot for hyping himself up and crashing down solo.
Meanwhile, she wandered the aisles, filling her basket: meat, frozen foods, ice cream. Party prep? But her picks were off—ignoring 1+1 deals for singles, weird combos. Obvious newbie to convenience stores. She hovered by shelves, clearly aware and agonizing.
Not my problem.
He tuned her out. Or tried to—until he spotted the silver bracelet on her wrist. Exact match to what A-Star wore at their last show. He'd looped that fancam dozens of times; no mistake.
A-Star dorm nearby. Matching bracelet. Glasses girl. It clicked.
She's an A-Star fan too.
Maybe she'd come here hoping for a glimpse, just like him. Felt kinda bonding.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"Looking for cheese for tteokbokki? That one's better than what you have."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. And the one you just picked is 1+1."
He helpfully explained each item. She nodded, swapping as suggested.
"Thanks."
"Looks heavy—sure you can carry it?"
"This much is fine."
She lugged it out, hands full. Heavy even for a guy, but she managed. Watching her go, the clerk let out a small sigh.
"Ah, should've asked which member she's into."