Chapter 129: I’m Being Pathetic, Aren’t I?

“Of course I didn’t.”

If this was a manga, there would definitely be a ‘Gloom…’ text effect hovering over Doah’s head.

The ominous atmosphere that she exuded aside, I genuinely hated physical contact with a woman I didn’t know.

It felt uncomfortably awful.

I was already struggling to focus on acting since it was still my first time and physical contact with another actor made my concentration plummet even further.

“Honestly, I wanted to refuse, but you know how it is. I had no choice.”

When I explained the situation apologetically, Doah finally turned away.

“I know… I was just…asking…”

Just a moment ago, she was glaring at me like she wanted to devour me.

Now that she turned docile again, she chewed her kimchi like an herbivore.

“How’s the stew?”

“Better than what we could get from the deliveries.”

Seeing her beaming up with a bright smile, it meant that I got the right answer.

After cleaning up the dishes, we decided to go out to buy some drinks.

So, we headed to the nearby convenience store.

Standing in front of the beverage display, Doah stared blankly into the fridge.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

“This one has a buy-one-get-one deal, but it’s the zero-calorie version.”

She pointed at the promotional item.

“Then just buy the cheap one.”

“But the regular one tastes better than zero-calorie.”

“Then buy the regular one.”

“But that one’s expensive.”

What was I supposed to say here?

Question marks popped up in my head and I had to resist the urge to say those words, but I didn’t want to rub her the wrong way.

“…Why don’t you buy both?”

When I offered what sounded like a reasonable compromise, she grabbed the fridge’s handle.

She put both the zero-calorie and regular versions into the basket I was holding.

Then, she puffed out her chest and struck a dignified pose before speaking.

“This is how an idol does it!”

“Pfft.”

Hearing her putting on her Luka tone out of nowhere, I immediately burst out laughing.

But, since she probably had decided to act shameless here, she dismissed my reaction.

“I’ll buy you one too since you’re my fan! Pick something!”

This made me wonder how much dignity could cost, but I smiled and picked up an orange juice.

“I’ll take this one then.”

“No, get something expensive. Something expensive.”

She said, putting on airs like a wealthy boss.

Feeling playful, I looked around to see if there was anything good.

But, there didn’t seem to be anything that was expensive or burdensome for her…

After walking around the small convenience store once, I grabbed a box that seemed suitable.

“Excuse me, Idol-ssi.”

I called out to Doah, who was having another staring contest in front of the jellies section. She was probably craving something sweet.

“Yeah? Have you decided on something?”

“As ordered, I brought an expensive item.”

“Ooh… What is it…?”

When I showed her what it was, she directed her gaze from my palm to my face.

“…Are you seriously going to buy this?”

“You told me to get something expensive.”

“I’m not going to use this though?”

Her face gradually turned red.

Fuck, she was so cute. I wanted to kiss her!

“Fine, I’ll put it back.”

Just as I was turning around, thinking that this bit had gone far enough…

“…W-Well, idols aren’t supposed to use that kind of thing normally.”

The tone of her voice as she said that was even more Luka-like than Luka herself.

“B-But for Oppa, I could…”

My girlfriend really knew exactly how to drive men crazy.

The web drama I appeared in was completed with a total of 12 episodes.

Seeing the number of episodes matched exactly a single season of anime made me feel a subtle feeling.

In anime terms, I was playing a third-rate bully who appeared occasionally.

The fact that my face appeared on screen still felt incredibly foreign to me.

Anyway, today was finally the day episode 9 would air; the episode where my face appeared again.

Since I’ve promised to watch it with Doah, I was waiting for her to come to my place.

-Knock knock knock

When I opened the door at the knocking sound, my girlfriend in a gray hoodie rushed inside.

“Why aren’t you wearing something warmer?”

Did this girl really go out without a jacket or coat?

“Uh, I thought it’d be fine if I just ran since it’s just next door, but… Guess I was wrong…”

Seeing her sniffle, I smiled and pulled out a tissue for her.

Without hesitation, she blew her nose and crawled under my blanket as if it was something natural for her to do.

“Ah… I feel alive again…”

Doah stretched her body out, making herself comfortable.

I gave her butt a gentle pat and sat on the edge of the bed.

“We still have a little time before it starts.”

“Why? Are you trying to say that you hate me coming early?”

“I’m just saying, why are you saying that?”

When I ruffled her hair for her cheeky tone, Doah protected herself with both arms, telling me to stop.

“Ugh… I just combed it.”

“That’s what you get for being cheeky.”

“Luka did it.”

By now, she could use that cheat code as casually as breathing.

When the clock hit 6, Doah escaped from the bed and turned off all the lights.

The theater atmosphere returned once again.

We pressed play on episode 9 on the tablet.

The opening theme that I’d grown fond of played.

It was fascinating how you could develop affection for something even though the story was hot garbage.

Since I had received the script, I already knew the scenes passing by on screen.

So this was what I was watching while trembling back at the site, huh?

After about 15 minutes, a chill crept up my spine.

Because what came next was…

「So Eojin, what do you want to do?」

Ah, I really wanted to cover Doah’s eyes.

Ara-ssi smoothly linked her arm with mine.

I found myself focusing more on Doah’s face than on my own face on the screen.

Her cherry-like lips slightly parted.

Then, her eyebrows twitched.

「Depends on how they handle it. That’s not something I can decide.」

「I just need to trust you, right?」

Through the screen, I noticed the things I failed to notice during the filming.

Like, how Ara-ssi resting her head on my shoulder.

No really, when the hell did she rest her head there?

Was I too busy with my lines that I failed to notice back then?

Anyway, the two of us gave off the atmosphere of an obnoxious delinquent couple.

“…Ah.”

A small gasp escaped from Doah’s mouth.

When I saw how her eyes were shaking, I reached out and pressed the pause button.

“…Doah.”

“Why did you turn it off? Let’s finish it…”

“No… You look a little…”

The awkward atmosphere I truly despised settled between her and me.

“I’m really okay though…”

Unable to meet my eyes, Doah lowered her head and fixed her gaze on the pillow.

After briefly considering whether to continue playing it or not, I decided to just turn off the tablet screen entirely.

“C’mon, there’s only a little left. Let’s just continue.”

“Doah.”

Having completely flipped the tablet over, I called her name.

Since we had turned off all the lights beforehand, when the light from the tablet disappeared, a total darkness enveloped the room.

We couldn’t even see each other’s faces in this darkness.

Yet, it’d probably be more comfortable for us to be in this state.

“…Yes.”

“Are you…upset?”

I figured that it’d be better to be frank here rather than beating around the bush.

“…You already told me about it beforehand anyway.”

That was a clean non-answer.

But the point here was that she didn’t deny that she was upset.

I moved my arm to get closer to Doah.

“Kim Doah.”

“What?”

I cupped her cheeks with both hands.

“How was my acting?”

“You were obnoxious.”

“Which means, I did it perfectly.”

I slowly moved forward and touched my forehead with hers.

Her body felt a bit warmer than mine.

“…You don’t have to be considerate of me, you know…?”

She said that but the tone that she used when she said that clearly implied otherwise.

I chuckled at Doah’s response and gently kissed her chattering lips.

-Smooch

After the short kiss ended, her whimpering stopped.

“…I’m jealous.”

The one who broke the silence that followed was Doah.

“Even though I knew everything beforehand, even though I knew the logic behind it…”

She caressed my face.

“I’m just…so annoyed…

“Also, do you know what’s funny?”

She seemed to have plenty of pent-up feelings. Now, she was gradually pouring them all out.

“Even when I try not to be like this, even though I know Oppa just did it for work, I keep acting like a child…”

She trailed off.

I was curious about what came next, but I didn’t want to rush her.

So, I silently stroked her head.

And she buried her face completely in my chest.

“…I’m…pathetic, aren’t I?”

“Well, guess that’s why you ended up with a pathetic guy like me.”

I wouldn’t lose to anyone when it came to being pathetic. Not even her.

“But you aren’t pathetic, Oppa.”

“Did you forget about the time when I secretly followed you because you said you were drinking?”

Looking back, I was actually more pathetic than her.

“Ahem… T-That time was…definitely a bit much, wasn’t it?”

“Anyway, Doah.”

I whispered her name.

“Whatever filming work I do from now on, whatever other work I end up doing…”

This would sound cheesy, but I wanted to reassure her.

“I won’t waver.

“Regardless of whatever I film with whoever, regardless of whoever sends me weird advances, I won’t waver, no matter what…”

Right. I’d been beating around the bush too much about the word that could most easily explain my identity.

“After all, I’m Lucario, a Pink Army.”

Instead of answering, Doah pulled my neck toward her.