Phew... I Just Aged Ten Years.

The first screening of the movie Glamorous Outing had ended. The end credits rolled, and the lights came on, but the audience still couldn't bring themselves to leave their seats easily. The lingering aftertaste was too strong.

In the meantime, I pulled my cap low over my face and managed to slip out of the theater with Ha-rin, Eun-jin unnie, and Ah-hyun in tow. We kept our heads down as much as possible, blending into the crowd and walking together without drawing attention.

But my ears were perked up. The conversations from the audience exiting the theater washed over me like waves.

"Hey, did you see that bodyguard earlier? Isn't he insane?"

"Whoa... seriously epic. Kim Na-yeon was pretty, but I couldn't take my eyes off that bodyguard."

"Is that guy really Seo Ha-rin's actual brother? The Yeonhui University heartthrob?"

"Totally! I saw him on her live stream—it's him for sure. He looks even more handsome on the big screen."

"But his acting was so good too? That vibe he had..."

Here and there, I heard people talking about me. There was plenty of praise for the lead actors' performances, but the hot topic was undoubtedly Bodyguard 1.

"I think I need to book a second viewing. He went by so fast earlier, I couldn't get a good look."

"Me too! Me too! Let's do IMAX this time. That face deserves to be seen big."

The audience reaction was way hotter than I'd imagined. Just one minute. That brief appearance had left a powerful imprint on their minds.

This is... really about me? I was still dazed. My heart, which I'd barely calmed, started pounding again.

"Huh? Hold on."

That's when a woman from a couple passing by stopped in her tracks. She stared intently at my back.

"Oppa, check out that guy's physique. Doesn't he look like the bodyguard from the movie?"

"Nah, no way. Why would a movie actor be here?"

"No, really. The height and shoulders are exactly like his."

Her suspicious gaze bored into my back.

Did she catch me? Cold sweat trickled down.

If my identity got busted here, it could spell trouble for Ha-rin and the others too.

That was the moment.

"Honey! Let's go already! I'm hungry!"

It was Ha-rin. She, who'd been linking arms with me, whined and tugged me along. Perfect "girlfriend" acting.

"Oh? Yeah, let's go."

I played along with her quick thinking and hurried my steps.

"Oh? Guess they're a couple. Never mind."

Luckily, the couple dropped their suspicions. We held our breath and speed-walked all the way to the elevator.

"Phew... I just aged ten years."

Only when we reached the underground parking lot did Ha-rin let out a sigh of relief. Eun-jin unnie and Ah-hyun clutched their chests too.

"Oppa, your popularity is no joke. Did you hear? Everyone was talking about you."

"Right? I got chills."

"Even I thought Seo Eun-seong oppa looked cool."

The three girls were more excited than I was, chattering away.

"Haha... you're really praising me, right?"

I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed. But I couldn't hide the smile spreading across my face.

That evening.

"Ah~ I'm starving! All that tension made my blood sugar drop."

The moment we got home, Eun-jin unnie flopped onto the sofa. She'd been on edge the whole movie, so it made sense.

"Oppa, feed me. Something delicious."

"Alright, alright. Today it's a celebration party, my treat."

I rolled up my sleeves. Feeling good, I decided to whip up a special menu.

"Seo Eun-seong's signature rose tteokbokki coming up. Ha-rin, order some chicken. We'll dip it in the rose cream."

"Rose tteokbokki? Seo Eun-seong oppa is the best!"

Ah-hyun's eyes sparkled too.

"Time to cook."

I headed to the kitchen and prepped the ingredients with practiced ease. I mixed spicy gochujang sauce with smooth fresh cream and milk. Then I loaded it up with chewy rice cakes, bacon, and sausages.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Soon, the bubbling aroma of tteokbokki filled the living room.

A little later, the table was set with rose tteokbokki, crispy chicken, and ice-cold cola.

"Let's eat!"

The three gluttons dove in aggressively with their chopsticks. I was about to take a bite myself.

"What the—?"

My phone on the table went off like crazy. It was notifications from the college group chat. The screen showed the number climbing past 30.

"So noisy. Who's spamming like this?"

I flipped the phone over in annoyance. Don't bother a dog while it's eating, right?

"Now they're calling? Persistent much?"

This time it was a call. From Kim Min-su.

"Hello? I'm eating, why are you—"

Kim Min-su's yell exploded through the receiver. He was shouting so loud that Ha-rin next to me jumped.

"Why are you yelling? I told you I'm eating."

"What?"

I set down my chopsticks. Ha-rin, Eun-jin unnie, and Ah-hyun—who'd been eavesdropping—went wide-eyed.

Kim Min-su, all hyped up, ended the call.

"What's going on now?"

We all grabbed our phones at once and rushed to open the community sites.

"Whoa...?"

Ha-rin covered her mouth. The community boards were plastered with posts about me.

Someone had uploaded a secretly filmed video from the theater. The quality wasn't great, but it captured me unleashing action on the screen and the audience gasping vividly.

The comments were explosive.

In just one day—no, half a day—my name was spreading nationwide. This was on a whole different level from the live stream buzz. Back then, it was curiosity about a "handsome regular guy." Now, they were going wild for "actor Seo Eun-seong."

"Whoa... oppa... you're really blowing up? Lightning star status!"

Ha-rin let out a joyful shout and tackled me.

"Congrats, Bear Doll!"

Eun-jin unnie hugged me excitedly too.

"Seo Eun-seong oppa! Really, really congrats!"

Ah-hyun wrapped her arms around my waist, moved to tears.

"Whoa, hold on!"

Suddenly surrounded, I got a triple hug from the three girls. Ha-rin's silky hair, Eun-jin unnie's soft skin, Ah-hyun's warm body heat. Their sweet scents enveloped me.

Especially with those squishy things pressing against me from front and back, my mind went hazy.

"Can't... breathe... you guys..."

I let out a happy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scream.

The next morning.

"Hoo..."

I woke up earlier than usual. Excitement kept me from sleeping. Lying in bed, I checked my phone—thousands of supportive messages and DMs had piled up overnight.

This isn't... a dream, right? I pinched my cheek. It hurt. Definitely real.

That's when I spotted missed call notifications on the screen.

Choi Do-hyun (Director) (3 calls).

Huh? Why's the director calling so early? I jolted up and called back immediately.

He picked up before the first ring.

I hung up and headed to the living room. Ha-rin, Eun-jin unnie, and Ah-hyun were already up. The gluttons' eyes lit up when they saw me.

"Oppa! We heard the whole call!"

"Stage greeting, right? For real?"

These gluttons... ears like bats.

"Yeah. Director called me in. Gotta go."

"Kyaa! Good call!"

Ha-rin clapped, then signaled to Eun-jin unnie and Ah-hyun.

"Oppa’s first official schedule. Can't send him out half-assed, right?"

"Obviously! Who do you think we are?"

Eun-jin unnie rolled up her sleeves dramatically. Ah-hyun had already bolted to the dressing room.

"Seo Eun-seong oppa! Come here. Let's pick ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an outfit first."

"Bear Doll, I'll do your makeup. Better than any salon."

The three dragged me to the dressing room.

"Can't I just throw on a suit?"

"What? Today's your day to shine. Gotta look the best."

Ha-rin rummaged through my closet, starting to coordinate.

"Bear Doll? Come on?"

Eun-jin unnie opened her makeup pouch.

"I'll set your hair, Seo Eun-seong oppa."

Ah-hyun stood ready with the hairdryer.

"Okay~ Bear Doll~ Close your eyes. Unnie'll make you reborn."

Eun-jin unnie's hands touched my face.

"Don't mess around with me."

I obediently closed my eyes and surrendered to the three girls.

And so, actor Seo Eun-seong's first official stage awaited.