[Anonymous] OMG WTF MY DAD TOOK A PICTURE WITH GI CHEONGHYEON HOLY SHIT
WHAT IS THIS????? I know they say fans never get lucky enough to meet their idols, BUT IS THIS EVEN FAIR??? My dad just went to a seafood restaurant, and there was this guy in front of him who looked like a celebrity, so he asked to take a picture with himㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ BUT IT WAS GI CHEONGHYEON HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH
ㄴ HOLY SHIT, there are so many sightings coming in right nowㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ OMG… A fan of another group said Cheonghyeon was with a <super handsome oppa>ㅋㅋㅋ Did your dad happen to know who that person was??
ㄴ ㄴ (OP) He didn’t even recognize Gi Cheonghyeon, so there’s no way he’d recognize the person with himㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ But according to my dad, the other guy was incredibly handsome tooㅇㅇ He was definitely a celebrity, but I have no clue who… My dad hardly ever calls another man handsome, but he said both of them were ridiculously pretty.
ㄴ OMG, I’m so curious now… Who could it be??????
[Anonymous] Who on earth did Cheonghyeon go on a trip with?
Cheonghyeon’s such a homebody and doesn’t really socialize muchㅠㅠ I seriously have no idea.
ㄴ Imagine if it turns out to be Lee Changjin. That would be hilarious.
ㄴ FUCKㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ Once we find out which restaurant it was, wouldn’t that person have left an autograph there too???
ㄴ OMG, you’re right. Let’s wait a little longer.
Completely unaware that his entire fandom was desperately trying to identify his companion, Cheonghyeon left the spicy fish stew restaurant, patting his pleasantly full stomach.
Before leaving, he’d written a comment on a sheet of A4 paper that the restaurant owner had casually handed him, along with an impressive autograph.
Thank you for the delicious meal!! It was really, really, really delicious!
“Hyung, you should hurry up and become a famous professor too, so you can leave your autograph next to mine. Then let’s come here together again.”
Remembering how Seoan had watched him signing autographs with a faint smile, Cheonghyeon decided to try a little flirting of his own.
After all, the moment he’d taken off his mask, everyone from little children to older men had approached him for photographs. Even the restaurant owner had requested his autograph.
It had made Cheonghyeon feel rather proud.
Deep down, he was pleased that he’d managed to show Seoan how impressive he could be as a famous idol.
…However, this wasn’t the sort of situation he’d wanted.
It was supposed to be his first date, yet so many fans had gathered that Cheonghyeon was completely surrounded, unable to move in any direction.
The photos he’d readily taken with people had spread rapidly across the internet. Others had identified his location from the backgrounds of those pictures and came looking for him.
Everything had been fine when they’d finished their meal and were strolling leisurely through the area, even when they spotted a claw machine arcade beside the restaurant alley.
The lunch rush had long since passed, leaving the area quiet and peaceful during that awkward stretch of the afternoon.
Most people preferred going out to see the ocean rather than visiting the claw machine arcade tucked away in a corner, so the place was completely empty.
When Cheonghyeon exclaimed in admiration at the sight of several claw machines packed into the small space, Seoan smiled and pulled out some cash.
“Well then, shall we see what you’re capable of?”
A little while later, Cheonghyeon let out a sigh.
He’d spent twenty thousand won enthusiastically scratching the back of a white puppy plushie with the claw.
Seoan quietly turned away to laugh.
Cheonghyeon wanted to say something, but Seoan had already won the most expensive prize in the entire arcade.
Unlike the other claw machines, which cost five hundred won per attempt, the machine Seoan had chosen cost a whopping two thousand won per play.
Inside were only a few keys marked with mysterious numbers.
Seoan inserted two thousand won, then selected and retrieved the key marked with the number two without hesitation.
When he used the key to open the box labeled “2” sitting on top of the claw machine, it revealed a pair of Bluetooth earphones worth approximately three hundred thousand won.
Cheonghyeon was dumbfounded by how quickly everything had happened.
“No, how does that even make sense? Wait a second. Just listen to me. I definitely grabbed it properly, but then the claw suddenly opened up!”
He looked back and forth between the machine and Seoan with an aggrieved expression, but Seoan merely shrugged.
“You need to get the center of gravity right. Do you really think grabbing its ears or tail is going to lift a plushie that heavy?”
As he spoke, Seoan inserted a thousand-won bill and demonstrated for him.
The claw firmly gripped the plushie’s bottom in what was clearly a stable position, and the plushie obediently dropped through the prize chute into Cheonghyeon’s arms.
Earlier, Cheonghyeon had been so determined to win it that he’d repeatedly scraped its back with the claw. As a result, the fur on that part of the plushie was all fluffed up and disheveled.
Seeing its appearance, Cheonghyeon let out an incredulous laugh.
“There’s one more try left, so give it a shot.”
Following Seoan’s instructions, Cheonghyeon aimed the claw toward the rabbit’s bottom.
Unfortunately, because the rabbit plushie had a fluffy, raised tail, the claw failed to grip it properly. It merely grasped at empty air before sliding back upward.
Cheonghyeon must have unconsciously made a sulky expression, because Seoan turned away to laugh quietly again.
The impressive image he’d shown off at the seafood restaurant earlier had already vanished without a trace.
“We’ve already made back more than we spent anyway, so don’t worry about the money. If there’s anything else you want to try, go ahead.”
At Seoan’s words, Cheonghyeon shamelessly began wandering around the other claw machines.
This time, instead of inserting ten thousand won at once like he’d done earlier, he put in only a thousand won at a time and tried his luck with several different machines.
Although Cheonghyeon failed to win even a single plushie himself, whenever he was on the verge of getting frustrated, Seoan would step in and win one for him.
In its own way, it was quite enjoyable.
While they were thoroughly engrossed in the claw machines, people suddenly began entering the arcade, one after another.
The newcomers didn’t appear to be looking directly at him, yet Cheonghyeon had the strange feeling that he was being watched.
He was just about to ignore it and concentrate again when faint, irritating sounds reached his ears.
Here and there, he could hear what sounded like camera shutters and people calling his name.
At first, he’d thought it was just his imagination.
But when he realized that he really was being watched, Cheonghyeon finally understood what was happening.
Seoan seemed to have noticed the situation too, as he’d suddenly become much quieter.
After they’d retrieved the last plushie, Cheonghyeon discreetly signaled Seoan with his eyes.
The two of them carefully made their way outside.
But the moment they stepped out of the arcade, all the customers who had been inside suddenly followed them.
Worse still, the area outside was already blocked by fans.
“Eeeek! Oppa!”
“Hey, damn it! Stop pushing!”
The once-quiet street descended into chaos in an instant.
Amid the commotion, some people pretended innocence while throwing themselves into Cheonghyeon’s arms.
Others grabbed the hair of people already hugging him, trying to pull them away so they could embrace him instead.
It was the first time Cheonghyeon had ever been mobbed by fans while he was out without Changsik.
Overwhelmed by the situation, he froze, unable to do anything.
Then a large hand caught hold of him, and an arm wrapped protectively around him from behind.
“Excuse us. We’re coming through.”
Cheonghyeon flinched at the coldness in Seoan’s voice, a tone he’d never heard from him throughout all the time they’d known each other.
He turned his head, but Seoan’s face was hidden behind his mask and cap, making it impossible to read his expression.
Cheonghyeon faced forward again and managed to escape the crowd, practically clinging to Seoan as they pushed their way through.
Most of the people dispersed once Cheonghyeon left, but some continued following the two of them.
Those who pursued them all the way back to the hotel eventually settled themselves in the lobby.
Their first date had been a complete disaster.
Ding.
In the heavy silence, only the elevator’s chime rang out forlornly.
Cheonghyeon anxiously watched Seoan, who hadn’t said a word.
He resented himself for remaining so engrossed in the claw machines that he hadn’t even noticed the situation getting worse.
He felt so upset that tears threatened to spill from his eyes, but he desperately held them back, afraid that crying would only make him look more pathetic.
Considering the conservative atmosphere of academia, it certainly wouldn’t be a good thing if Seoan were publicly revealed to be an idol fan.
With Seoan’s professorial appointment drawing so close, Cheonghyeon suddenly grew frightened that he might have ruined everything.
They’d both been wearing masks and caps, but there had been far too many cameras.
His heart grew even heavier.
The only sounds in the quiet hallway were the footsteps of Seoan and Cheonghyeon.
Their steps felt as heavy as Cheonghyeon’s heart.
Although they’d walked slowly, they soon found themselves standing in front of their room.
After unlocking the door with the key card and entering, Cheonghyeon removed his shoes and changed into slippers.
His calves were trembling uncontrollably.
Perhaps Seoan noticed how hard Cheonghyeon was trying to steady his legs and conceal the trembling, because he came over to support him.
Seoan carefully helped Cheonghyeon sit on the bed.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?”
“H-huh?”
“All those people crowded around you earlier. I even saw some of them digging their nails in…. And your legs have been shaking this whole time. Do you want some water?”
Seoan knelt before him and looked up.
His eyes were filled with concern.
The moment Cheonghyeon saw his face, all the tension he’d been holding inside suddenly loosened.
An overwhelming sense of relief washed over him, and tears gathered in his eyes.
“Why are you crying? Are you hurt?”
Seoan seemed flustered by the sight of Cheonghyeon crying so hard, and his hands grew even gentler as he massaged Cheonghyeon’s calves.
Cheonghyeon felt both apologetic and grateful.
Their plans for the day had been completely ruined because of him, yet Seoan wasn’t blaming him at all. Instead, he was worried about whether Cheonghyeon was all right.
Perhaps Seoan assumed the large tears rolling down Cheonghyeon’s cheeks were the result of being frightened, because his expression turned grim.
Cheonghyeon wanted to explain himself, but the hiccups rising uncontrollably in his throat kept interrupting his words.
Looking down at Seoan from where he sat on the bed, Cheonghyeon realized that Seoan’s clothes were in terrible condition too.
His once-neat, smooth shirt was wrinkled all over.
And perhaps because it had been torn while Seoan was pulling him out of the crowd, the button on one cuff was missing, leaving only loose threads fluttering at his wrist.
Even if Cheonghyeon had ten mouths, he wouldn’t have known what to say.
“Hyung, I’m sorry…”
“What are you sorry for? What do you have to apologize for?”
“Just… everything…”
After all, hadn’t those been his fans who’d swarmed around them, snapping pictures and ruining Seoan’s clothes?
No, perhaps they weren’t fans at all, but the people known as sasaengs.
The fans Cheonghyeon knew were people who always put his well-being first.
They weren’t the sort of people who would track down information about his whereabouts, show up uninvited, and suddenly throw themselves into his arms.
“Hyung’s fine. I’m the one who suggested coming to Sokcho, and I’m the one who suggested playing the claw machines. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me.”
After that, Cheonghyeon simply continued shedding tears in silence.
He cried so quietly and continuously that he almost wondered whether he might drain every last drop of moisture from his body.
Seoan handed him a bottle of water, and then he cried some more.
The cycle repeated itself.
Eventually, as his tears gradually began to subside and he started feeling embarrassed by the spectacle he’d made of himself, Cheonghyeon noticed a strange sensation.
Perhaps because he felt sorry for Cheonghyeon’s trembling legs, Seoan was still kneeling in front of him, gently massaging his calves.
And now that Cheonghyeon had stopped crying quite so much, the feeling of Seoan’s hands softly rubbing his legs was beginning to produce an increasingly peculiar sensation.
That is to say…
What he was experiencing right now felt rather similar to the sensation he’d had while reading the fanfiction his fans had posted on their blogs.
You crazy bastard…!
Perhaps Seoan was simply skilled at anything involving his hands, because his massage technique was every bit as impressive as the skill he’d displayed while effortlessly winning plushies earlier.
It felt as though every nerve cell in Cheonghyeon’s body was responding to each individual fingertip touching his calves.
Some instinctive part of him warned that if he continued receiving this massage, he might end up doing something so embarrassing that he’d never be able to look Seoan in the face again.
Cheonghyeon discreetly shifted his legs.
“Hyung, I’m okay now….”
At his nasal, tear-clogged attempt to stop him, Seoan glanced up at his face, chuckled softly, and stood.
“Have you finished crying now? Go wash up in the bathroom. Let’s order room service for dinner.”
At Seoan’s gentle words, Cheonghyeon nodded and hurried toward the bathroom.
The moment his feet touched the floor, his thoroughly relaxed muscles were so startled by the sudden movement that they nearly cramped.
Nevertheless, Cheonghyeon forced some strength back into his legs and hurried onward.
He needed to wash his disheveled body and face as quickly as possible.
Then they could continue their date.
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