Secret Jeju Getaway
Jeju Island. I quickly scanned through the shooting schedules my manager unni had sent. It was an MV centered on my solo song, so the other members weren't coming—just me and the staff.
"Total shooting period is six nights and seven days, huh."
"What, you got a schedule?"
"Going to Jeju for the MV shoot."
"Jeju Island..."
Ha Yu-ri, sitting across from me, sparkled her eyes as she gazed at me intently. Her face practically screamed that she wanted to come along. For an actress, she was terrible at hiding her emotions. I pointed a thumb over my shoulder and spoke first.
"Wanna come?"
"R-Really? Is that okay!?"
It wouldn't be a big deal. It was my personal schedule anyway, and having Yu-ri tag along would be helpful in all sorts of ways. We could squeeze in some acting practice between shoots. I nodded readily, and she whipped out her phone with an ecstatic grin. A quick glance showed her searching for trendy swimsuits online.
Sorry, but I had no plans to hit the beach. And definitely no swimsuit. If paparazzi caught me like that, it'd be a disaster. One leaked photo, and the online communities would explode with sexual harassment accusations against me the next day. No thanks. Absolutely not.
"Phone charger, towels, toothbrush, underwear..." I double-checked if I'd packed everything. No missing items, thankfully. I grabbed my suitcase and headed out.
CEO Kim Baek-ho's car was waiting outside the dorm. He'd been standing by the door and personally loaded my suitcase into the trunk. I bowed my head to him before climbing in. Yu-ri was already inside, but her expression looked off somehow. The dark circles under her eyes made her seem exhausted.
"...You made it, sunbae."
"What's with your face? Didn't sleep last night?"
"...Haha."
She scratched her cheek with an awkward smile. She looked like she'd pulled an all-nighter. Was she that excited about the trip? I'd thought she was mature, but she had a surprisingly childish side.
"Both of you, buckle up."
"Yes."
The car set off right away. Soon, low-flying planes came into view outside the window. We'd arrived at the airport before I knew it. Before getting out, I covered my face completely with a mask and cap. I didn't want to cause a scene for other passengers, so we were using the airport discreetly.
"This way."
With CEO Kim Baek-ho and a handful of staff, we moved through the airport. It was peak season, so it was packed with people. Luckily, no one recognized me. We checked in smoothly and boarded the plane. Our seats were by the window in business class—spacious and comfy.
"Wow."
Yu-ri, sitting next to me, peered out the window with a soft gasp of wonder. She'd said this was her first time on a plane.
"Want the window seat?"
I stood to offer it, but she waved her hands frantically, rejecting my kindness.
"Th-The aisle seat's uncomfortable. You don't have to do this for me."
"I think the aisle's better for me anyway. I actually have a fear of heights."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"In that case..."
Her quick seat-swap was pretty cute. Good thing I'd lied about the acrophobia.
Soon, our plane began taxiing for takeoff.
"Ooh."
Yu-ri stared out the window in fascination for a while. And not long after—
"Hng..."
She leaned her head against the window and passed out. Probably from the all-nighter. Watching her sleep so soundly made me drowsy too, even though I'd gotten plenty of rest.
"Guess I'll nap for an hour."
I rested my face on her shoulder and drifted off.
How much time passed? A weird discomfort tickled my lower belly.
...Did I drink too many beverages? I needed the bathroom, so I got up. Everyone else was deep asleep, so I'd go alone. No one would recognize me anyway.
I headed down the aisle to the lavatory. Someone was already in there, so I waited by the door. Eventually, they came out—a boy about my age. He froze when he saw me.
"Uh, Ruti...?"
I startled. He'd recognized me at a glance, mask and cap and all. He stared with a puzzled look.
"Are you Ruti?"
I considered playing dumb, but that might backfire and leak somehow. If he posted on SNS... paparazzi would swarm the airport. Not what I wanted, so I went with Plan B.
"Hi."
I pulled off my mask, flashing my face briefly.
"Uh..."
His eyes widened like he might scream. I pressed a finger to my lips—shh. He clamped his hands over his mouth. Spotting me instantly and obeying like that? Probably a fan. That made it easy.
"I've got personal reasons for sneaking to Jeju, so could you keep seeing me here a secret?"
He nodded vigorously without a word. I grinned and stuck out my pinky.
"Promise?"
"Ah, uh..."
He hesitated, swallowed hard, then hooked his pinky with mine. His face turned beet red as we locked eyes. Realizing it, he bolted back to the cabin, embarrassed. Running on a plane's dangerous, but he was already out of sight.
"Young love, huh."
The vast blue sea stretched beyond the clear horizon. I left footprints on a deserted beach, strolling along the shore. The sea breeze carried the waves' roar, sending my straw hat soaring high into the sky. One hand smoothed my skirt, the other tamed my wind-tossed hair as I gazed longingly at the flying hat.
"Cut!"
The shooting director behind the camera clapped in satisfaction.
"Wow, Siyeon, you're a full-on movie star now? How are you nailing every single take perfectly?"
"You're too kind."
The acting lessons between shoots were paying off. Almost every scene wrapped in one take, no NGs.
"That's a wrap for today."
"Good work, everyone."
Thanks to my smooth performance, we finished two hours early. The staff dove into cleanup like office workers clocking out early, all smiles. I packed my things, ready to head back to the dorm.
"Good job, sunbae. You looked so beautiful filming."
Yu-ri approached cautiously, holding my straw hat—the one that had flown off earlier.
"You picked it up? Thanks."
I'd told her to rest at the dorm, but she'd come out to help the staff. She really was personable.
"Let's head back."
We went to the pension right by the beach. Opening the door revealed a luxurious space. The cream-toned living room felt open with its high ceiling. A plush sofa sat before the fireplace, and the marble kitchen looked straight out of a magazine. But the real star was the terrace off the living room—ocean views beyond the glass railing that instantly refreshed the soul. Perfect for a vacation. You could tell they'd picked it with care. No need to go out; we could have plenty of fun here.
"Celebrity-favorite spots really are on another level."
Yu-ri looked around in awe, then spotted the outdoor pool in the backyard and lit up.
"Can I go in?"
I nodded. The fence was high—no visibility from outside. Safe to play here.
She emerged in her bikini—frilled and surprisingly mature. Her figure was stunning where it counted, slim where it should be. She was a bombshell under those clothes. Not far off from me.
"Hungry? Hang on. Unni'll grill something delicious."
Manager Lee Su-ah was prepping a BBQ in the yard. The smoky aroma of grilling meat made my mouth water. Pool and BBQ—pure vacation vibes.
"Sunbae, come join me."
She urged me into the pool too. I'd packed a swimsuit just in case, but now wasn't the time.
"Gotta run an errand with the CEO. Eat without me."
"Where to?"
I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.
"Grandpa's house."
Since I was back home turf, it was only polite to show my face.