Chapter 97: Poetry composition class (3)

Part 6

“No, you really don’t have to go that far…” I said.

• I’m the one sorry for only doing this much. It’s not even my shoot tomorrow, and I’m half-unemployed when I’m free, so don’t worry too much!

Hyunji doesn’t have a license. Did she clear this with Minho? The words nearly spilled out, but I held back, thinking, If she says it’s fine, it’s probably fine. Despite her carefree image, she’s way more experienced than me.

• So, I’ll pick you up around 9 a.m. tomorrow?

“Yes, I’ll take you up on that,” I replied.

• Hehe, what’s this talk of favors between us? We’re the ones hoping you’ll keep working with us!

“If I start running low on living expenses,” I joked.

• Should I pray for your part-time pay to get cut even more?

Monday evening, Hyunji’s sudden call outlined Flying Rabbit’s plan to make tomorrow’s schedule easier. They’d come to my place, do my makeup at home, and lend me a car to avoid sweating. It felt almost too generous for me.

“They’re investing in me so I’m not wasted potential, but honestly, isn’t this too convenient for me?” I thought.

“Was the response to the last photos that good?” I asked.

• Would you believe overseas event invites jumped 1.5 times since then?

It wasn’t just about keeping me as a part-timer—they saw me as a golden goose they wanted to rely on. Is this a debt I should keep in mind? It’s unasked-for kindness, but it does make things easier…

“…But since I’m meeting my professor, heavy makeup might be too much,” I said.

• With your face, it’ll probably just be light touch-ups like last time.

Two or three hours if we go all out, she added casually. I could only smile and nod. If it’s just that, maybe it’s fine for meeting the professor after so long. Manners, right? Getting a professional’s help for that felt good.

“Haha… alright, I’ll expect you around 9 a.m. tomorrow,” I said.

• Don’t sleep in and leave us locked out!

“I wake up super early, no worries,” I assured.

• They say beauties are late risers.

“Pfft, guess I’m not a beauty then.”

Part 7

“Yoonseo’s other friends? Weirdly, she’s got no girls around her, just a bunch of guys,” Youngjin said.

“Sunbae-nim, you don’t still believe I’m gay, right?” Sihyun replied.

Youngjin shrugged, dodging the question. Sihyun felt outmaneuvered. Did he sidestep my background like that on purpose or by chance? Either way, he’s no ordinary guy.

“…From what I’ve seen, you don’t seem like the type to lose control and cause trouble, gay or not,” Youngjin said.

“Sunbae, I thought I’d built some trust these past few days. Is that all the faith you have in me?” Sihyun teased.

“Doing your job well and being trustworthy are separate things,” Youngjin shot back.

“Harsh,” Sihyun said.

Despite his words, Sihyun could tell Youngjin’s guard had lowered. The shift from formal to casual speech, the lack of awkward distance—all results of Sihyun’s careful efforts over days. He’d asked the question assuming the relationship might crash and burn, but Yoonseo’s light handling had opened a path worth pursuing. Whether that was a pleasant surprise or an annoyance, Sihyun wasn’t sure.

“Some guys drop by now and then,” Youngjin said.

“For free bread?” Sihyun asked.

“They come to chat, but… I don’t know what their goal is,” Youngjin admitted.

Sihyun had half-hoped for a complete fallout. He wanted to draw out Youngjin’s suppressed emotions, see his true nature, and maybe witness Yoonseo’s struggles as a result. He was curious if she’d still treat him kindly afterward.

“I owe Yoonseo-ssi a lot. A benefactor, maybe?” Sihyun said.

“She’s not the type to do grand favors for others,” Youngjin replied.

“It was probably nothing to her, but it meant a lot to me,” Sihyun said.

Mid-sentence, Sihyun’s mouth closed. Can someone, not family or close friend, be this selfless? He’d thought Yoonseo’s kindness was oddly excessive, but maybe to her, it was just a casual whim. What’s this gross, sticky feeling? Brushing it off, he flashed his practiced smile.

“Haha… nothing. Is it too much to want a deep connection out of gratitude?” he asked.

Must be morning grogginess. Just a momentary lapse. Living freely meant avoiding mistakes to achieve what he wanted. Sihyun had no intention of acting foolishly and inviting ridicule.

“There’s a decent-looking guy among them. Since I’m recommending him, don’t come out and ruin the vibe,” Youngjin teased.

“Sunbae-nim, you actually believe that?” Sihyun laughed.

Part 8

“Here we go, entering Yoonseo-noona’s room… huh?” Hyunji said.

As promised, Hyunji and Minho rang my doorbell right at 9 a.m. Unlike Minho, who hesitated at entering a woman’s room, Hyunji’s lively energy froze the moment my door opened.

What’s wrong? My room wasn’t messy—pretty tidy, even. Is something off?

“Hyunji-ssi?” I called.

“This isn’t the Yoonseo-ssi room I imagined!” she exclaimed.

Oh, that’s it. My behavior and style had changed, but my aesthetic sense hadn’t shifted to match my appearance. It was still the stark, utilitarian room of my male days—no decorations, just organized.

Whether Hyunji expected a cute, girly room or something elegant, my bare space clearly didn’t meet her expectations.

“…Sorry, I’m still a rough-around-the-edges guy,” I said.

“Haha… well, you don’t live like you look,” she replied.

Hyunji felt less like a friend and more like a viewer—her words, even serious ones, made me think, That’s just her. Was this familiarity a good thing?

“I’ll buy a bunch of stuffed animals later,” she said.

“I don’t collect those,” I replied.

“Scatter them on your bed to nurture some girly sensibility!” she insisted.

Girly sensibility in the 21st century? I nearly said it but held back, worried it’d disrupt the schedule. I just smiled faintly.

After the brief commotion, we moved to my vanity, stocked with barely-used gifted cosmetics. Hyunji muttered—half-sad, half-annoyed—about their pristine state.

“Well, I’m in your hands today,” I said.

“Leave it to me!” Hyunji chirped.

I smiled faintly at them. Minho returned a quiet smile, while Hyunji’s bright voice responded. The memory of my anxious first cosplay shoot lingered, but oddly, I wasn’t nervous anymore.