CHAPTER FOUR: THE FIRST DATE
The Lord has answered my prayers and done more than that.
All I prayed for was a job as a k-pop idol manager but the Lord made me act as her boyfriend also. I'm even the talk of the social media platforms.
"I wonder how I would face everyone when going back to college after the holiday. I wish I could see the face of grandad. He must have been enraged, I sometimes pity the old man, I know he wants the best for us but, I think I should get to choose my own career. Being a k-pop idol manager.....and a boyfriend to a star,"
We first headed to a fancy clothing shop where eyes turned towards us, phones became the cameras and the people became the paparazzis. Everyone couldn't stop looking at us. Some even took selfies with us as we shopped.
"Gosh, it really is a pressure being famous, how do you live this kind of life," I asked feeling a little stuffy.
"I'm used to it, I mostly disguise myself and hide when I get caught. Here, take these sunglasses and hoodie, they'll cover your face so people won't recognize you at the restaurant we'll be going to," she answered handing a pair of glasses and a designer hoodie to me.
"Yh....why didn't you take the car? It would have been more easy to move around wouldn't it?"
"Yes but, that means we would be notifying everyone in the area. Everyone knows the vehicle I carry, it's a new model limousine," she answered while choosing a scarf and sunglasses for herself.
"How do I look? Do you recognize me?" she asked with the sunglasses and scarf on with a beautiful peach gown with red belt and peach shoes.
"Not at all, plus—you look absolutely beautiful. I just still can't get this pressure off. I mean, it feels like every single eyes in the universe is watching me,"
"Oh, sorry but you have to get along with it. I am the number one best female K-pop idol. Do like I do,"
"Like you do?"
"Yeah, I mostly pretend they aren't there unless they need a selfie or something,"
"For a celebrity as famous as you, you don't go out with bouncers. What if you get attacked?"
"Well I have the people to protect me, and anyone who tries to do that will surely be attacked by my fans around the area. And I don't like bouncers at all, they make me feel like a little kid who can't take care of herself. Come on, let's go," she said holding my hands, fingers intertwined together and walking towards the counter where we paid for the dresses.
We then headed out to the restaurant on foot, I feared that people would recognize us immediately but to my surprise, they didn't. We were totally camouflaged in our new outfits, although they were new and designers, they weren't anything to call the attention of other to us that: 'hey, here are the two most famous celebrities in the whole of South korea'. And I'm glad it didn't. I felt free.
SWEET AND FLAVOURED
(RESTAURANT)
Our date was at the tooth aching shop, it was a place called Flavours and Sweet snacks. Entering there was like stepping through a portal to another realm, a realm of candies, ice cream shop, cakes, biscuits and all sorts of sweet and flavoured snacks. There were like thousands of flavoured snacks; vanilla, chocolate, even almond flavour. To think a girl as sweet as her wouldn't love sweet things like this would be an understatement.
"Come on babe," she said still holding my hand and dragging me to the counter.
"I'll take a medium triple flavoured ice cream with vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavours. What will you have Tae Kyun?" she asked turning to face me with an unreadable face.
"I'll also have the medium triple flavoured ice cream but with almond instead of strawberry,"
"Alright, we'll serve it in two minutes," the young worker assured.
"You don't like strawberries?" asked Yu Ra facing me with a questioning look.
"Well....not really. I always preferred almond flavour instead of strawberry, it's good you have to try it,"
"If you say so," she responded as we were served our ice cream and went to our seats.
I started eating before Yu Ra shoved her spoon to me to have a bite.
"Here, try the strawberry, it's good," she said with a smile.
"An indirect kiss? Is she out of her mind? Oh my gosh, I should have known when I agreed to pretend be her boyfriend," I thought to myself
I took the bite and smiled to prevent her being suspicious of what I thought.
"It's...good,"
I accepted it but a little got on my lips by mistake
"Oops, let me get that for you," she said leaning in close—a little too close than normal and cleaning the drop of ice cream on my lips with a careful and slow wipe.
For a moment, our eyes met. It was close and delightful to watch, she had the most beautiful eyes, golden eyes that would make any unsuspecting boy fall in love immediately. The gaze stood for what seemed to be an eternity before she broke the gaze.
"S-sorry," she stammered stepping back a little in her seat.
I then offered her a bite of my almond flavoured ice cream so as not to make it weird that she's the only one feeding me.
"Here, have a bite,"
Her eyes were stuck on the table spoon filled with the almond ice cream.
"Uh, Tae Kyun sorry but....I just want to remind you that this is a fake relationship. I just got excited….that's all. Sorry," she muttered eyes glancing at her bowl and my eyes every now and then.
At that time, I remembered that it was all fake. It took me by surprise, I didn't even expect that. I didn't cry but it felt like a load of weight suddenly fell on me.
"How could I possibly have forgotten. What was I doing? Falling in love? As if. And what was I about to do? I'm very disappointed in myself for forgetting that all these were fake. Tae Kyun, you're just pretending to the public, she doesn't like you, she's way out of your league, focus on your career,"
"Oh, my bad. It's not your fault. You don't need to apologize, I forgot it was fake," I apologized and ate my ice cream in quiet.
HAN YU RA'S POV
"I shouldn't have done that. Worse, I shouldn't have said that to him. I possibly hurt him. Oh gosh, Han Yu Ra why? why? why?"
HAN TAE KYUN'S POV
"Let me have some," she told me
"Excuse me?" I asked with an unreadable expression.
"I-i-i mean for t-t-the fans. We have to show evidence of our relationships through our dating pics and vids, don't we?"
"Ah, that's why she brought me here, to shoot a video and take pics for THE FANS, no problem, that was well expected. Wait, why am I getting pissed off. I should have known, I signed up for this—literally,"
"Alright, let's take some pics," I replied wiping off the pissed expression off my face.
We took some pics, made videos and headed out but this time our hands weren't together. I kept mine in my pocket and here's were clinging into her bag.
"Where next?" I asked.
"Well, since we've had snacks and taken pics and we've also gotten clothes, I think we should call it a day. Tomorrow Soo Min will start teaching you about some things you'll need to know about the management work,"
"Cool, let's head home then," I said as we walked the streets of Seoul.