Don't Get the Wrong Idea 2
"Why no answer? Aren't you Siyeon's uncle?"
"Th-that's..."
The teacher hugged me tightly, glaring daggers at the CEO. She looked ready to call the cops any second.
At that life-or-death moment, a savior appeared from behind the CEO.
"Seriously, did you forget your sister-in-law's name again already? It's Lee Hyun-ah."
The manager unnie popped up out of nowhere and answered the teacher's question for him. She casually hooked her arm through the CEO's.
"My husband isn't that close with your family, so he must've mixed up your name for a second. Oh, and I'm Siyeon's aunt."
"Siyeon's aunt..?"
The teacher blinked wide-eyed and glanced at me. Her gaze said she wasn't fully convinced yet.
Then the manager unnie strode right up to her.
"We were just coming back from Siyeon's grandpa's place. Want to see a photo?"
She pulled out her phone and showed one picture. It was a group shot from a few days ago at Grandpa's house. We all looked so cozy, shoulder to shoulder—no one would doubt it was a family photo.
The teacher stared at it silently for a moment. Then she bowed deeply to the CEO and manager unnie in shock.
"S-sorry! I totally misunderstood!"
"It's fine. We get this kind of mix-up all the time. As you can see, my husband's face is just so intimidating."
Laughter filled the air—haha, hoho—and the teacher's wariness melted away completely. Thanks to the manager unnie's quick thinking, we'd dodged the crisis perfectly.
Nice one.
"So, you three came to hang out with your niece?"
"Yeah, we stopped by on our way back from Jeju."
The teacher glanced at the manager unnie and CEO. The manager unnie had her arm linked naturally, but the CEO stood there awkwardly.
"You two must be newlyweds. You look so young."
"We do? Haha."
The manager unnie's lips curved up at the compliment.
"Hmm."
The teacher turned her eyes to me this time. Then they lit up like she'd just had a great idea.
"Mind if I borrow Siyeon for a bit?"
"Huh? For what..?"
"I have some things I want to talk about privately, and I'm just so happy to run into a student here. Let me treat you to a meal at least."
She turned to me with a gentle smile.
"That okay with you?"
I couldn't say no. I'd been in her debt plenty of times before.
I shot the manager unnie a quick thumbs-up that it was fine.
**
"Did I eat too much..?"
I stood in front of the sink mirror, rubbing my belly.
I couldn't bear to leave any of the food the teacher bought, so I'd pushed myself a little.
...But this much should be okay, right?
I swallowed hard and stepped slowly onto the scale.
Finally, my weight flashed: 49.7kg.
0.7kg over my target of 49kg.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down my forehead.
We had a weigh-in tomorrow morning.
"No way... Is it because of this?"
I unwrapped the towel around me—just to check—and stepped on again.
49.6kg (-0.1kg) without the towel.
Mass conservation was no joke. Not even wearing underwear, and still 49.6kg.
No excuses. I'd exceeded my weight.
By a whole 0.6kg.
"...What now."
If I stayed like this, my diet period would drag on longer.
I absolutely hated that.
I had to find another way.
"Hmm."
I sat in the tub, deep in thought.
Then a brilliant hack popped into my head.
This could drop the weight short-term.
I got dressed and headed out of the bedroom.
Straight to the sauna on the resort's 7th floor.
Sweating it out could shed 1 or 2kg at once.
Athletes did it all the time—dehydration tricks.
A cheat, sure, but I had no other options right now.
I entered the sauna.
One hour till closing, so no other guests in sight.
Relieved, I headed to the women's locker room.
Off with the clothes. White towel wrapped around me.
Hair tied up, then out to the sauna.
Through the thick white steam, a serene open-air bath came into view.
The sauna room was right next door.
Confirmed empty, I slipped in casually.
The door opened to a blast of heat and cypress wood scent.
Hotter than expected—I flinched.
Steam fogged my glasses white.
...H-here?
Vision blurry, I groped for a seat.
Managed to sit.
Every breath pulled scorching air into my lungs.
Soon, sweat beaded on my forehead, bubbling up.
Drops slid down my skin, plopping to the floor.
The pace quickened over time, my breathing ragged too.
"196... 197... 198..."
Like counting sheep to sleep, I tallied each sweat drop hitting the floor.
Finally, hit my goal: 300 drops.
I bolted out like my life depended on it.
Plopped on a sink chair, doused myself with pre-chilled water.
My overheated body cooled; a sigh of relief escaped.
"Phew! Finally livable."
Washed off the sweat, glanced around.
Good—no one else.
Made sense. Only 30 minutes till closing.
...No one's coming now.
Set my glasses on the sink, lathered shampoo into my hair.
Waist-length, so it took forever.
"Huh?"
Time to rinse, but no showerhead.
Couldn't open my eyes with all the foam anyway.
As I flailed blindly—
"Looking for the showerhead?"
A kind stranger placed it right in my hand.
"Thank you."
I bowed, rinsed the shampoo.
Swept my soaked hair back neatly.
Then, a startled voice from beside me.
"Whoa!? Ruti, is that you?"
Familiar voice. No way—I turned.
The teacher sat there, eyes bulging.
"Teac—"
It slipped out before I could stop it.
**
She'd finished her business and was heading back to the dorm when she overheard college girls in the hall.
"They say the hot springs here are amazing for your skin."
Skin care.
Lee Ye-rin perked up at that.
In her late 20s, her reflection's flaws bugged her more these days.
A single blemish meant sighs; bad makeup days soured her mood.
So, of course:
'Good for skin?'
Couldn't ignore it.
Next thing she knew, she was at the entrance.
"Closing in 30 minutes—still okay?"
"...Ah."
Only 30 minutes for 20,000 won.
What a rip-off.
But.
"...I'll take it."
Checkout was tomorrow morning.
Miss this, maybe never again.
She bit back tears, swiped her card.
...Totally got ripped off.
Or so she thought. Reality? Jackpot.
Who could've guessed running into a celeb there.
A top idol at that—the one blowing up lately.
Ruti.
"Wow, what luck. Gotta buy a lotto ticket tomorrow."
"...Haha."
Lee Ye-rin slipped into the hot spring beside Ruti naturally.
She was thrilled; Ruti looked uncomfortable, staring off at distant mountains.
"But earlier, you called me 'teacher.' How'd you know that's my job?"
Ruti's shoulders twitched at the sudden question.
She mumbled softly.
"...I think I saw you once at school during that movie shoot."
Lee Ye-rin's eyes went wide.
"Y-you remember me!?"
Just a passing glance on set.
And she remembered.
Unbelievable—she couldn't shut her mouth.
"No way, how? You only saw me that one time."
"W-well... you're so beautiful, it stuck."
"Oh my."
A compliment on her looks—from Ruti, no less.
Thrilled, Lee Ye-rin scooted closer.
Ruti startled, whipped her head away.
'Huh? Shy?'
So charismatic on stage.
Here, just a bashful girl.
Even top idols couldn't hide their age, huh.
Adorable.
Playful mood struck.
"Hey, though."
Lee Ye-rin grinned, pointing at Ruti's towel.
"Wrapping a towel in the bath is bad manners, you know."
"...Huh?"
Ruti panicked, looked around.
Spotted the sign on the wall—and froze solid.
No Wearing Clothing in the Bath.
She glanced between the sign and her towel.
Her grip trembled slightly.
"Th-that's..."
She bowed her head like she'd committed a grave sin.
Her pale face flushed beet red.
After agonizing alone, she nodded.
"...O-okay, got it."
She gulped, reaching to unwrap her towel herself.
Lee Ye-rin waved frantically to stop her.
"Kidding! Just kidding. Closing time anyway—no one's gonna care."
"...Ah."
Tricked? Ruti's face burned even redder.
Worried she'd faint from dizziness.
"I-I'm getting dizzy... gonna head out first!"
She bolted from the bath, slicing through the water.
Snatching something(?) from the sink in a rush.
Left alone, Lee Ye-rin reached after the departed Ruti.
'Was gonna ask for a pic together later...'