I've Lost Some Weight. So I Wouldn't Be Embarrassed in Front of You.
Time flew by unusually fast after Seo Eun-seong left for Nepal. A whole month had already passed. The days were packed with back-to-back schedules for their new song promotions. But on any days off, the members inevitably gathered at Seo Ha-rin's house.
"Aigoo! This is so boring! No fun without Bear Doll! I miss Bear Doll!" Choi Eun-jin yelled, rolling around on the sofa. She held a smartphone in her hand, the screen displaying a special deal on Nepal flight tickets.
"Hey, Ha-rin. What if we just ditch the ad shoot and bolt to Nepal? Huh? I'll cover the cancellation fees."
"Unnie, are you crazy? What kind of place do you think that is?" Seo Ha-rin cut her off firmly. But Ha-rin's gaze kept drifting to the calendar. It had been quite a few days since her brother Seo Eun-seong headed to Nepal.
"Oppa hasn't even called... What if something happened? I heard there are a lot of landslides there..." Lee Ah-hyun fretted, searching news articles on her phone. On top of that, Ah-hyun—who was already skinny—was even thinner now. It was because she'd been picking at her food, savoring the side dishes Eun-seong had made for her.
"Don't worry, Ah-hyun. What kind of guy is oppa? He's probably sorted out his feelings by now and deep in training. Maybe even cultivating enlightenment."
Ha-rin tried to act calm and reassure the members. But inwardly...
Oppa, you're doing okay health-wise, right? Yeah, you are. You have to be. Every night, she prayed for her brother's safety.
At the same time in Nepal...
"Good job! You did great! Now, let's try writing the formula following the teacher?"
In a small mountain school at an elevation of 3,000 meters, Seo Eun-seong's deep voice echoed.
"Yes, teacher!"
The kids giggled and followed along.
"Alright, now the teacher will solve it."
Eun-seong wrote math formulas on the blackboard. The children's sparkling eyes washed away his fatigue in an instant. Like this, in the mornings, he continued his volunteer work as a teacher. But...
In the afternoons, he transformed into a trainee.
"Huff... huff..."
The moment class ended, Eun-seong slung on his heavy backpack. Instead of books, it was stuffed with hefty rocks. Day after day, he climbed the Himalayan snow peaks. His breath reached his throat, and his thighs felt like they might burst. Altitude sickness? He pushed through with sheer willpower. His diet was strict too. No more greasy fried foods or fast food he used to love—just Nepal's rough vegetables, chewed and swallowed.
Hold on, Seo Eun-seong.
He shook off visions of chicken dancing before his eyes. He pictured his sister Seo Ha-rin, saddened by malicious comments.
"Euracha!"
Every time, strength surged into his legs. The villagers whispered as they watched him.
"Look! That giant's climbing the mountain again!"
"It's the Polar Bear conquering the snow peaks! Bigfoot's here!"
Of course, at first, he waddled up like a bear. But as a month passed and two drew near, a miraculous change occurred. His once-blurry jawline sharpened like a blade. The jiggling belly fat vanished, replaced by defined six-pack abs. His legs and back, forged by the climbs, hardened like armor. It wasn't just weight loss. His original 188cm tall, stately frame now packed on functional muscle. Like the bear woman who ate mugwort and became human, Eun-seong was reborn as an overwhelmingly godlike physique of a man.
"Whoa? I've changed a lot, huh?"
He even stepped back, startled by his reflection in the stream.
"Guess... it's about time to head back?"
Eun-seong adjusted his backpack. This would probably be his last hike. And so, the Polar Bear's long winter sleep came to an end.
Finally, two months had passed. Incheon International Airport arrivals hall.
"Why isn't he coming... Seo Eun-seong..."
Amid the crowds, a beautiful girl stood with her face hidden under a hat and mask. It was Seo Ha-rin.
"Ha-rin, you're sure Eun-seong's coming today?"
Manager Kim Tae-ho yawned beside her.
"Yeah, he emailed that he'd arrive today. Weird. The time's up..."
Ha-rin checked her watch anxiously. She'd rushed here straight after music show schedules, not even removing her stage makeup. Seeing oppa after two months—would his heart be a bit lighter? Longing and worry mixed, making her heart pound.
As if sensing her desperation...
Flight KE696 from Kathmandu, Nepal, has arrived.
The entry gates opened, and travelers began emerging, wheeling their suitcases. Middle-aged men in hiking gear or college backpackers.
"Where is he?"
Ha-rin stood on tiptoes, scanning for her brother—the 188cm giant with a plump build, unmistakable even from afar. But...
"Huh? He's not here?"
Even as the crowd thinned, no sign of him. Did he miss the flight? Wrong gate?
"What's going on?"
Ha-rin was pulling out her phone in worry when...
A buzz rippled through the gate area. Travelers stopped, turned back, pulled out phones to snap pics.
"Whoa? No way? A celebrity?"
"Model? That proportion is insane."
"He's too handsome. Who the hell is that guy?"
Like the Red Sea parting before Moses, the crowd split to the sides. And from the center...
A man strode out.
Thud, thud. Black t-shirt and jeans—a simple outfit, but the fit was more perfect than a runway model's. Add the 188cm height, shoulders like the Pacific ready to burst the shirt, raging pecs. Veins popped sharply on his forearms. But the masterpiece was his face. No hat, so his forehead gleamed. A veil-like sharp jawline, high nose bridge. And clear, deer-like light brown eyes. Like they sculpted national little sister Seo Ha-rin into a man—no, bolder lines, overflowing masculinity, a living statue.
"Whoa... an actor maybe?"
"That handsome and we don't know him?"
"He's so hot... can't breathe..."
Exclamations burst from female travelers nearby.
"Doesn't he kinda look like Seo Ha-rin?"
"Huh? Yeah, he does?"
Some even said he resembled national little sister Seo Ha-rin.
Meanwhile...
"....."
Ha-rin stared blankly at the man. As a top idol and national little sister, she'd never seen a guy this handsome—couldn't tear her eyes away. Just pure amazement.
"Huh?"
But something felt oddly familiar. Those soft eyes—she'd seen them somewhere before.
Then...
"Oh?"
The man spotted Ha-rin and flashed a grin. Then he strode right up to her.
"M-Me...?"
Overwhelmed by his physique, Ha-rin unwittingly stepped back. The man pulled down his mask, looking down at her.
"Seo Ha-rin... you doing okay?"
A low, gentle baritone matching those soft eyes.
"Y-Yeah...?"
Ha-rin's eyes widened. How does he know my name? Stalker fan? No, no stalker could be this handsome. New actor saying hi? All sorts of thoughts raced through her mind.
"Wh-Who are you?"
Finally, she asked in a trembling voice.
"I hoped you wouldn't, but you really don't recognize me?"
The man chuckled to himself. That familiar half-smirk, one corner of his mouth lifting.
"Who else?"
He leaned in close, locking eyes with Ha-rin.
"It's Seo Eun-seong, your big bro."
"Wh...?!"
Ha-rin's mind went blank. Oppa? This guy's my oppa? She tried matching his face to her memories, but no match. It wasn't just weight loss—he was reborn.
"You're really my oppa?"
She couldn't shake the doubt. He was too different from the Seo Eun-seong she knew.
"Hmm. Guess I have to. Secret, but your favorite panty color is chick yellow..."
"Sh-Shut up!"
Reflexively, Ha-rin clapped her hand over his mouth. Only her real brother knew her intimate underwear preference.
"O-Oppa? Really oppa?"
"What, you think it's fake?"
"No way... lies..."
Unable to believe it, Ha-rin poked his forearm. Rock-hard. Not squishy fat—steel muscle.
"I've lost some weight. So I wouldn't be embarrassed in front of you."
Instead of words, Eun-seong reached out a huge hand. And familiarly ruffled Ha-rin's hair.
"Let's go. I'm starving. I'll make you mala tteokbokki. Or rose tteokbokki's good too."
"Tteokbokki...?"
That touch. That tone. That menu.
"Ah."
Only then did Ha-rin realize. This unreal sculpted hottie was the brother she'd waited so long for—Seo Eun-seong.
"Oppa!!!"
Forgetting all dignity, Ha-rin threw herself into his arms. She felt his firm, broad chest. Onlookers whispered enviously, "Whoa! Boyfriend?", but she didn't care.
"How is it? Do I look human now?"
At Eun-seong's joke, Ha-rin pulled back and inspected him.
"What happened? How'd oppa become this handsome?"
"What do you mean? I lost weight."
Indeed. Seo Eun-seong was an unscratched lottery ticket. No—a jackpot from rolled-over prizes exploding.