This Isn't in the Script, Eun-seong.
Seo Eun-seong and the Siren members arrived by taxi at a bustling morning local market in Bangkok. The place was alive with energy, teeming with local vendors and tourists even at this early hour.
"Whoa! The smells are amazing!"
Seo Ha-rin and the girls' excitement exploded the moment they stepped into the market.
But there was a problem. No matter how much they hid behind masks and hats, celebrities were still celebrities. A 188cm guy with shoulders like the Pacific Ocean paired with five slender, perfectly proportioned beauties was bound to stand out, even in a crowded market.
"Hey, Ha-rin. People keep staring. Aren't we sticking out too much?"
Seo Eun-seong whispered, hyper-aware of the glances around them.
That's when fact-bomber Kim Chae-yeon snapped her fingers. "That's why we need the local disguise patch. Seo Eun-seong, come here."
Kim Chae-yeon dragged him to a clothing stall at the market entrance.
"Here, put this on. You'll look like just another tourist."
She picked out six pairs of baggy Thai elephant pants covered in colorful elephant prints.
A moment later, Seo Eun-seong and the group were standing in the middle of the street, all matched in the same fluorescent pink elephant pants.
"Haa... I never thought I'd wear pants like this in my life..."
Eun-seong let out a deep sigh as he looked down at the flapping pink elephant pants. Of all colors, pink. It actually drew even more attention.
But...
"Whoa! Bear Doll! It suits you so well!"
"It's our group uniform!"
The Siren members burst into giggles, going wild.
And so, disguised in their elephant pants, Seo Eun-seong and the crew dove into a full-on local food binge.
"Oppa! That moo ping smells insane!"
"Two mango sticky rices here, please!"
"One thaeng mo ban per person!"
The five little food monsters zipped through the market alleys, sweeping up every street food in sight.
"All that for breakfast?"
Eun-seong trailed behind, hands full of plastic bags, waiting on them hand and foot.
Of course...
"Ah-hyun, the skewer tip is sharp, so be careful. Min-ji, you've got it all over your chin again. Come here."
He pulled out tissues to wipe Gomin-ji's mouth.
"I'll take the meat off for easier eating."
He removed the meat from Seo Ha-rin's skewer and put it in a paper cup for her.
His hardcore mom instincts didn't stop even abroad.
That's when it happened. A group of local thugs with flashy tattoos on their arms glanced their way from a narrow market alley and approached.
"Hey? Sawasdee ka?"
The thugs threw clumsy pick-up lines at Choi Eun-jin, mixing broken English and Thai.
Even with her face masked, Eun-jin's ample... assets(?) were impossible to hide.
"W-what are they saying?"
Choi Eun-jin freaked out and hid behind Seo Eun-seong.
He immediately set down his mango sticky rice and stepped in front of the members.
"What?"
Just one word. Eun-seong stared down the thugs without another sound.
His 188cm height, massive shoulders, thick forearms peeking from his shirt, and tree-trunk thighs under his shorts. An overwhelming physique.
And above all, that cold, unwitting killer's gaze.
"....."
"....!"
The local thugs flinched and halted in their tracks.
"Sawasdee ka~ Welcome to Thailand~"
They averted their eyes and slunk off into the opposite alley.
"Phew. That's why I say you girls can't just wander around. It's dangerous. Especially you, Eun-jin noona. Put something on over that?"
"Tch. Can't even relax in Thailand."
Eun-seong switched back to his soft bear doll mode, nagging away.
But...
The five girls hiding behind him had hearts pounding out of control.
Pink elephant pants and still this reliable and cool? Unreal.
That evening, Seo Eun-seong wrapped up a hugely successful global fan meeting and promo event at a massive mall near Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Thai fans' passion was beyond imagination. The venue echoed nonstop with cheers for Seo Eun-seong and Kim Na-yeon.
And then...
"Huaa~ Nothing beats the hotel AC~"
Back at the hotel, Eun-seong showered and flopped onto the bed. His whole body felt drained.
"Hope the girls are doing okay."
He grabbed his phone and checked the group chat. Seo Ha-rin and the Siren members were rehearsing for tomorrow's Asia tour concert.
"Kinda bored."
The hotel was dead silent because of it.
That's when it happened.
Ding-dong.
The suite doorbell rang.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Eun-seong."
He opened the door to find Kim Na-yeon standing there. She was in a simple linen shirt and wide pants, black bucket hat pulled low.
'Huh? Just like Ha-rin and the girls predicted?'
Eun-seong was impressed by their foresight. Kim Na-yeon had really come.
"Eun-seong...?"
"Oh? Yeah. Na-yeon noona. What's up?"
"Eun-seong, we're already here—gonna hole up in the hotel the whole time?"
She smiled with her eyes and tugged lightly at his shirt.
"We're flying back tomorrow anyway. Wanna check out the night market? They say Chatuchak Market is so pretty."
"Night market? Now?"
"Yeah! Just an hour. My treat."
Eun-seong couldn't say no to her pleading eyes.
"Well... sure. Let's go."
In the end, he threw on a hat and mask for a light disguise and snuck out of the hotel with Kim Na-yeon.
Bangkok's dazzling night market. Tents everywhere, bright lights, and the irresistible smell of street food assaulting their noses. No room to step with all the locals and tourists.
"Whoa! Look, laeng sae! Ever tried laeng sae, Eun-seong?"
"Laeng... what's that?"
"Kinda like braised pork ribs! Let's get some!"
Na-yeon ditched all actress poise and bounded through the market like a kid.
"Huh?"
Vroom!
A motorbike zipped perilously close through the narrow alley.
"Eek!"
"Dangerous! Noona!"
Eun-seong instinctively wrapped his arm around her shoulders and yanked her close. She ended up buried against his solid chest.
"Haa? What's with today?"
Even after the bike passed, he kept one arm firmly around her shoulders, shielding her from the crowd.
And...
"....."
Na-yeon held her breath in his arms.
This wasn't some drama set acting. This was 100% real.
Seo Eun-seong's care made her heart pound louder than the market speakers.
A bit later...
"Let's sit and rest."
Eun-seong and Na-yeon sat across from each other at a rickety table in a corner of the night market. Two Chang beers arrived ice-cold, piled high with pad thai and laeng sae.
"Cheers~ Great job at the event today, Eun-seong. And thanks for just now."
"Nah, no biggie. You worked hard too, noona."
"Eat up. This is the laeng sae—should suit your taste."
They devoured the spicy food.
"Kuh!"
"Kyaa~"
And finished with cool beer.
"So happy..."
"Pardon? What, Na-yeon noona?"
"I said I'm happy!"
Na-yeon shouted it loud enough for him to hear clearly.
Free from staff and manager eyes, laughing and chatting like normal couples. For Na-yeon, it was happier than any moment.
The private lounge bar by the hotel's outdoor pool. Blue lights shimmered off the rippling water, soft jazz playing in the background.
Eun-seong sipped a light cocktail across from Na-yeon.
"The night market was so fun. Even better with you, Eun-seong."
Na-yeon was pleasantly buzzed from a few pink cocktails. Her fair cheeks flushed peach-like.
"Yeah, it was fun for me too. When else would I get to do something like this?"
Eun-seong smiled faintly at the night sky beyond the palms.
That's when it happened.
Na-yeon rested her chin on her hand and gazed intently at him.
"Eun-seong."
Her eyes were unusually serious and deep.
"Yes, Na-yeon noona."
"I... I'm so happy doing this drama with you. For real."
Sincerity dripped from her voice.
"Me too, sunbae— I mean, Na-yeon noona. I've learned so much thanks to you. I'm still lacking, but you guide me so well. I'm always grateful."
Eun-seong answered with his usual pure, clear gaze.
"Haa..."
Na-yeon let out a short sigh at his response.
A wall. An oblivious iron wall she couldn't breach—that was Seo Eun-seong.
This idiot! You gonna stick to sunbae, hoobae, noona, dongsaeng forever? When will you get the hint?
Her eyes shook fiercely. Frustration, plus alcohol-fueled courage.
"Eun-seong. Hold on."
Na-yeon suddenly shot up from her seat.
"Huh? Noona, bathroom...?"
Before he could finish, she braced the table and leaned in toward him.
Her swaying hair brushed his cheek. Sweet cocktail scent and her rich aroma hit him.
Smack!
"....!"
Something soft and warm lightly touched the corner of his lips and cheek, then pulled away. A surprise peck in an instant.
"Wha...?"
Eun-seong's eyes went wide, frozen like a statue. The ice in his cocktail glass clinked as it shook.
"Eun-seong..."
Na-yeon's face burned red as she stared straight into his eyes. So close their breaths mingled.
She whispered softly in his ear, red lips moving.
"This isn't in the script, Eun-seong."
"....!"
"I'm serious."
Straight ball.
"I'm heading out first!"
She left those words and fled the pool lounge, embarrassed.
"Uh..."
Eun-seong stared at the empty seat, mouth agape.
Dazed, he touched his cheek where her lips had been moments ago.
It was still warm.
What just happened?
Until now, he'd seen Kim Na-yeon purely as a great noona looking out for her junior.
That solid belief finally cracked.
He heard the huge wall splinter.
I'm screwed. What do I do? But I only stan her...
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
His heart raced twice as fast as usual.
Bangkok's muggy night air felt especially hot tonight.