Who Would I Eat With If I Left You Guys Behind?
The movie Gorgeous Outing shattered expectations by surpassing 5 million viewers in just 10 days after its release. For a noir film rated for audiences 18 and up, it was an unprecedented and explosive box office run.
And then, the media outlets began dissecting the reasons for its success day after day, all converging on one common story.
Online communities were buzzing with the same fervor. Posts certifying that people had seen the movie three or even four times just to catch Seo Eun-seong's single minute of screen time were spreading like wildfire.
True to the hype, the massive multiplex in Gangnam was packed to the brim, a sea of people.
"Kyaaah! Actor Eun-seong!"
"Bodyguard oppa! Look over here!"
The moment they stepped into the theater for the stage greeting, eardrum-shattering cheers erupted.
Placards bearing Seo Eun-seong's name—rivaling those for the lead actors—dotted the seats everywhere.
[Recruiting Party Members to Kidnap Bodyguard 1 (1/100)]
[Seo Eun-seong, Build a Country! No, Build a Universe!]
[Eun-seong oppa's face is welfare...!]
"Haha... Thank you all so much."
Seo Eun-seong waved awkwardly amid the shower of cheers. It still felt like a dream.
"Whoa? Our Eun-seong's popularity is making me jealous! I'm the director, but the cheers for you are louder than mine?"
Wahaha! Director Choi Do-hyun grabbed the mic and cracked a deadpan joke, turning the audience into a laughing sea.
That's when Kim Na-yeon, standing beside Seo Eun-seong, leaned in close.
"Eun-seong-ssi. Congrats on hitting 5 million."
She whispered softly right by his ear, close enough for her breath to brush his skin.
"Kyaa! What's with their chemistry?!"
The fans who caught the moment screamed in ecstasy. The shot of the film's heroine and her stoic bodyguard was enough to send them into overdrive.
"Ah. Yes. Congrats to you too, sunbaenim."
Seo Eun-seong replied politely. Kim Na-yeon stuck right by his side throughout the entire stage greeting, never straying.
After the electric greeting wrapped up and Seo Eun-seong returned to the waiting room.
"Eun-seong-ssi. Hold on a sec."
Kim Na-yeon called out to him as he gathered his things to leave.
"Yes? What is it, sunbaenim?"
"You've been doing stage greetings for 10 straight days—really, great job. And thanks, I think the movie did even better because of you."
Kim Na-yeon flashed her signature charming eye smile, lightly straightening his collar.
"Let me treat you to a really delicious dinner. How about this weekend? Saturday evening?"
"Dinner?"
"Yeah. I'll book somewhere private. Just the two of us, cozy."
Her voice carried a subtle allure(?).
But only one phrase stuck in Seo Eun-seong's mind.
'Really delicious dinner'.
He spoke up soon after.
"Oh? You gonna treat me to beef or something?"
"Huh? Ah... yeah. The finest Hanwoo."
"Thank you! Saturday evening works great!"
Seo Eun-seong beamed innocently, no suspicion whatsoever, locking in the date.
"See you Saturday, Eun-seong-ssi?"
Kim Na-yeon let out a soft chuckle at his pure reaction and headed out of the waiting room.
Beef sounds delicious.
Seo Eun-seong's steps felt lighter just thinking about the free Hanwoo.
After wrapping up the stage greetings, Seo Eun-seong headed straight for the subway station. With no official agency or personal manager yet, public transport was his most convenient option.
Siren's manager Kim Tae-ho had offered to drive him, but he didn't want to impose.
"Huh? Isn't that...?"
"Whoa... That's Seo Eun-seong, right?"
"Bodyguard 1? Yeah, it is."
The second he boarded the subway, all eyes locked on him. A 188cm sculpted hunk in a perfectly tailored suit and pomaded hair gripping the handrail was impossible to miss.
"Excuse me... Are you Seo Eun-seong from Gorgeous Outing?"
Two brave female college students approached cautiously.
"Ah, yes. That's me. Did you see the movie?"
Seo Eun-seong flashed his signature wholesome smile, and the girls covered their mouths, stomping their feet in excitement.
"Yes! Three times! Could we maybe get a photo?"
"Of course. Here, let me take it."
He cheerfully took their phone and angled the selfie. Soon, other passengers started gathering one by one.
"Sure, sure. I'll get pics for everyone. No worries. Haha."
Seo Eun-seong stayed calm, greeting each person, posing for photos, and signing autographs.
Moments later, eyewitness accounts flooded SNS and communities in real time.
Indeed. The public was falling harder for Seo Eun-seong's down-to-earth, pure vibe, with favorability skyrocketing.
"Been a while since I came here. Was it around Ha-rin's debut showcase?"
Seo Eun-seong arrived at J&J Entertainment's headquarters in Cheongdam-dong via subway—the powerhouse agency housing his sister Seo Ha-rin and her fellow "leeches."
"Hello! I'm Ha-rin's oppa. Hope you've all been well? Haha."
He greeted the security guards and took the elevator up to the practice floor.
"Oppa? You're here?"
The door burst open, and familiar yet distant faces welcomed him.
"Hey! The future top star graces us?"
A bob-cut girl with a tall, slender frame and bubbly charm—Siren's member Kim Chae-yeon, 18, Ha-rin's same-age friend.
"Long time no see, Chae-yeon-ah? What top star? I'm just Seo Eun-seong."
"Whoa... But seeing you in person like this? Can't get used to it. How does a diet change someone this much? Did you shave your bones or what?"
Kim Chae-yeon circled him, poking his arm in awe.
"Ugh... so noisy..."
From the corner sofa, a petite girl with chubby cheeks, dazed eyes, and hamster-like cuteness stirred awake—Siren's other member and No. 2, 20-year-old Gomin-ji.
"Huh? Eun-seong orabuni... long time no see..."
Gomin-ji shuffled over sleepily and koala-clung to his waist.
"You got so cool... hehe. Smell good too..."
"Min-ji, you doing okay? Practice wearing you out?"
Seo Eun-seong ruffled her hair familiarly.
"Eun-seong orabuni smells nice..."
Gomin-ji nuzzled happily into his chest.
"Where are those three leeches, anyway?"
Seo Eun-seong asked. Speak of the devils—the practice room door flew open.
"Who're you calling leeches?!"
"Bear Doll's here?"
"Eun-seong oppa!"
Seo Ha-rin, Choi Eun-jin, and Lee Ah-hyun burst in noisily. Now all five members of top girl group Siren were gathered before Seo Eun-seong—minus the one on vacation in Japan.
"Alright, let's eat first."
Seo Eun-seong set up coffee, bread from the subway station, and the hottest Dubai chewy cookies trending on SNS right on the practice room floor.
"Ooh? Dubai cookies! These are super hard to get! Bear Doll? You're kinda cool."
Choi Eun-jin snatched one with a grin.
"Eun-seong oppa! Such good taste! Thanks~"
Lee Ah-hyun grabbed one too.
"Seo Eun-seong, this is why these three leeches are getting spoiled. Always bringing food offerings."
Kim Chae-yeon crossed her arms, dropping truth bombs.
"What?! The leech in question is offended! Wanna die? And he's my oppa!"
Seo Ha-rin bristled.
"Right! Our Bear Doll's feeding us, so why you fussing, Chae-yeon? Wanna get scolded by unnie?"
Choi Eun-jin glared too—while speed-ripping into a cookie pack and shoving one in her mouth.
"Tasty?"
"Yeah! Super!"
Watching the five girls munch away, Seo Eun-seong felt full just from the sight.
But the peaceful snack time didn't last.
Once their bellies were satisfied, the three leeches' eyes sharpened.
"Oppa."
Seo Ha-rin wiped chocolate from her mouth and called him.
"Yeah? What?"
"You see the straight-shot pics from today's stage greeting?"
"Straight shots? Nah, haven't checked yet."
"Really?"
Seo Ha-rin shoved her phone screen in his face. It showed him mid-greeting with Kim Na-yeon whispering right in his ear—an undeniably intimate vibe.
"Kim Na-yeon was whispering all sweet to you like honey dripping?"
Choi Eun-jin crossed her arms, glaring daggers.
"Yeah. No matter how you look at it, sunbaenim Kim Na-yeon seems interested in you, Eun-seong oppa."
Lee Ah-hyun chimed in, her usual calm gone, voice edged.
"Oh ho? Got a fling already? Seo Eun-seong?"
"Eun-seong orabuni... so popular..."
Kim Chae-yeon and Gomin-ji leaned in, popcorn-ready.
"No? Fling? She was just encouraging me for my hard work."
"Why whisper it? Mic was right there."
Seo Ha-rin hit the nail on the head. Her eyes narrowed.
"Today's the last stage greeting. Did... that vixen maybe ask you to grab a meal alone?"
"....!"
Chills ran down Seo Eun-seong's spine. Women's intuition was terrifying.
The words about Saturday dinner and beef nearly escaped his throat.
But instinct screamed: Admit it, and these three beasts would pulverize him.
"Huh? Ah, no? No plans or anything."
He played it cool, not batting an eye, even pulling an innocent wronged expression.
"For real, oppa?"
"Obviously. Who would I eat with if I left you guys behind?"
His ironclad defense finally softened their faces.
"Phew... Good. Oppa, don't fall for it. Got it?"
"Yeah, Bear Doll. You're ours. Hehe."
He wiped cold sweat internally.
That was close.
The Saturday dinner had to stay buried till the grave.
As the awkward air lingered...
"Eun-seong's here, huh?"
The door burst open again—Siren's manager Kim Tae-ho entered.
"Tae-ho hyung. Hey."
Truth was, the real reason Seo Eun-seong visited J&J's practice room today wasn't just snacks for his sister.
Post-release, he'd become a prime free agent and mega-rookie. Agencies swarmed, but J&J moved first.
"Eun-seong-ah. CEO's waiting. Let's go."
"Got it. Coming, hyung."
Seo Eun-seong stood.
"Tae-ho oppa. I'll go with oppa too."
"Hm? You too, Ha-rin?"
"Duh? He's my oppa—who else would go if not me?"
Seo Ha-rin quickly linked arms with him.
"Me too, with Bear Doll."
"Me three!"
Choi Eun-jin and Lee Ah-hyun rolled up their sleeves.
"Guess I gotta join?"
"I wanna go. Hehe."
Somehow Kim Chae-yeon and Gomin-ji jumped in too.
"Haha, what a circus. Alright, let's all go. Cool with you, Tae-ho hyung?"
Seo Eun-seong chuckled. Today, Ha-rin and the crew felt extra reliable.