episode_0014

“Is there no quiet Cody?”

“Quiet Cody?”

[ Bank transfer completed ]

[ Withdrawal: Thirty minutes more / 1 won ]

Chaewon, who is becoming a naughty assistant to Jolji Siwoo.

She waited for 30 minutes longer.

But if she looked at Chaewon in the mirror, she couldn’t bring herself to go down to the lobby.

“It’s too flashy…?!”

I’m just confused because I don’t know much about animation.

This character, I’m sure I’ve seen it before.

Student shoes, sturdy knee-high socks, a short skirt that goes up to the knees, a gray vest, a large ribbon, a short jacket emphasizing femininity.

And to top it off, they even put on a wig.

I don’t know why it looks so natural, but Chaewon’s hair, which should have been olive-colored, is now blonde.

“Oh!”

It came to me.

This character will appear in the next uploaded video.

The title of the work is ‘I Gave Birth to My Favorite’ and the song title is ‘Idol’.

“Weren’t you going to meet Sir Sunghyuk? You spoke in a hurry, so I thought the schedule had changed.”

How do you usually go to meet friends?

“Just like yesterday… Something simple. The schedule hasn’t changed. It’s still Sunday.”

“Oh my. My mistake. I’ll get ready quickly.”

So, that’s how it is.

When meeting Song Sunghyuk, they went to the studio fully dressed in cosplay.

I wonder if all the dressing up was done by the maids.

Chaewon didn’t do it herself.

“…Well, that’s actually a relief.”

I had to get help from a professional anyway. I don’t know how to do makeup.

“By any chance, is the Cody predetermined when you go out with friends versus going out alone?”

“Yes. Miss has divided it into four categories for you.”

“Tell me more.”

“She emphasized it strictly several times.”

The maid brought her work tablet and showed Chaewon the sample photos she had sent while dividing them.

1. Clothes for important occasions. Suits, dresses, etc.

2. Clothes for everyday outings. Functional pants, shirts.

3. Cosplay outfits for outings with Song Sunghyuk. Chaewon always chose the clothes to wear next.

4. Similar to outfit 2 for outings, but with a skirt.

Each one is lovely and pretty.

You’re the best, Min Chaewon.

Especially outfit 4, which I often saw, was even more pleasing because it was familiar.

“Why did you separate 2 and 4?”

“I wasn’t told the reason, so I…”

“I see….”

As I nodded, the maid also nodded slowly.

There was a brief awkward silence.

“For now, I want to wear a skirt.”

It’s not about surrendering to femininity or anything like that.

I want to put Chaewon in a skirt.

You might think I’m being stubborn, but there’s a reason for this.

Chaewon has never come out wearing pants when meeting Siwoo.

“Then let’s go with outfit 4 today.”

The maid clapped her hands and called over other maids who were scattered around.

“I’ll prepare right away.”

As I stood still like a mannequin waiting for the clothes to be changed, the maid asked with a pleased smile.

“You rarely choose outfit 4. What’s the occasion?”

Again, the maid said something contrary to what I know about Chaewon.

“I think I’ll wear it more often from now on.”

“Really?”

A face that could be asking if there’s someone you like.

The maid couldn’t hide her fluttering smile.

“When you were young, you mentioned separating outfit 4. You said you would only wear it in front of someone you really wanted to show it to.”

In the sample photo of outfit 4, Chaewon, was clearly the one I knew.

It sounds like Chaewon is trying to show it to me by wearing a skirt as if she’s insisting on it.

Out of the blue, Voice 1 shouted cheerfully.

Isn’t there a possibility for me too?

As other egos took turns praising each other, they chuckled and advised to keep the boasting within limits.

It’s hard to believe even when I think about it.

“…Huh.”

The smiling faces of the egos gradually turned serious in a wave-like manner.

***

Heading towards the lobby in the elevator.

Glancing at the mirror.

Ah, why am I so beautiful like this?

A two-piece outfit distinguished by a black skirt and a white blouse.

The main beige ribbon on the chest was neat yet striking.

Perhaps due to the thin underskirt underneath the skirt, the volume seemed to float like clouds.

“Is it because of the perception of the mirror…?”

It’s a dangerously delightful feeling as if I might fall in love with myself.

Being this close but unable to touch or hold.

It’s so regretful and sad.

“That enviable guy.”

Today, I earn another loss while being jealous of my self from 3 years ago.

But isn’t it fair?

The past me is now enjoying overflowing happiness.

Experiencing the miracle of falling asleep with Chaewon in a single room.

Chaewon even made breakfast.

Like this, going as far as meeting me upon my request.

“….”

Is this okay?

Isn’t it risky for Chaewon’s life?

— Lobby.

Although the elevator reached the lobby floor, my steps didn’t easily move forward.

“But….”

I’m concerned about my injured self.

I’m going crazy with worry.

And oh, Chaewon seems oddly…worried about me too.

Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, all I can say is ‘Sorry for not understanding.’

Still, I won’t give myself any leeway.

Your life won’t change drastically, Chaewon.

I’m always grateful.

For giving the past me a chance to move towards a new future.

Three years ago, hanging out with a pathetic man named Aclerct, led me to discover the clue to a miracle.

“Let’s go.”

I stopped the closing elevator door with both hands and confidently walked out.

Where are you, Jung Siwoo?

You better not reveal yourself easily.

Looking around restlessly.

Searching for Siwoo hiding somewhere in the lobby.

“…Not here?”

He wouldn’t have called me out and then left.

If you understand Siwoo’s habits, this hide-and-seek is easy.

Remembering how I avoided the noise in the lobby earlier.

Then his destination must be in the same direction as mine.

“As expected.”

I see a man who seems to be experiencing a similar dilemma as I did earlier.

Trying to get up but unable to move easily due to rib pain.

You really.

What would have happened if it wasn’t me?

Just imagine sending messages like ‘Get me out’, ‘I’m stuck on the couch’ to Chaewon as the recipient name.

Embarrassment overload.

“Handle it naturally. Make that guy less embarrassed.”

“Oh, where did Siwoo go?”

Wandering around casually, I sank comfortably into a spot.

“Oops?!”

Startled, I quickly curled up on the couch.

Maybe I have a knack for acting.

“Ugh. Why is this couch so… huh?”

Raising my head, I looked at Siwoo across from me.

We were snugly stuck on the couch, struggling to get out.

“What are you doing there?”

“I… I sat down for a moment and got stuck, can’t get out now.”

“Hahaha! You fool!!”

“You’re stuck too….”

“Yeah, but I can get out. You can’t because of your sore ribs.”

“Ugh.”

I pushed myself out of the couch vigorously.

Then I slowly approached, wrapping my arms around Siwoo’s neck and waist, gently pulling him closer.

“Okay now?”

“Uh, uh, uh….”

Siwoo’s face suddenly blushing.

I deliberately pulled him like this to avoid hurting his ribs, but why does he seem so excited and flustered about it?

Don’t flirt with Chaewon.

Even if it’s me, I won’t allow it.

“So, what did you come to say?”

“Oh.”

“You said you had something to say. Hurry up. We need to go upstairs and have lunch.”

Siwoo hesitated and then nodded.

Bending down, he asked me for a favor.

“Stop sending money. That’s why I’m here to ask you.”

I had expected this.

But I didn’t expect him to come and ask like this.

Still, I have a rough idea why he came.

The man in front of me, with his head bowed, was none other than myself.

“It might be awkward to mention this as the sender’s name…”

But still.

It’s not easy to treat Jung Siwoo to a meal.

“How much is it really? And yesterday, I only transferred as much as Shin Sejin at your place. It’s not like I sent a huge sum of money.”

“Well, think of that as a gift from me. You took him home, took care of him until morning because you felt sorry for him.”

How could one calculate everything between people in terms of money?

However, Jung Siwoo already had debts in too many places.

He probably couldn’t afford to increase the list of people he owed.

“But I wish you would just accept it. The regular support you receive barely covers your living expenses as a music student.”

“That’s true, but…”

Thanks to the benevolent Professor, he had lived like a privileged son, but the Professor had his own family, a slightly younger daughter majoring in piano.

Knowing that a lot of money would be needed for her future, he had been reducing his dependence on the Professor more and more.

When he was 12, meeting a good sponsorship foundation had been very helpful.

The KH Foundation for Arts & Culture (KFAC), which supported young pianists worldwide, provided support ranging from living expenses to independent living support, lesson support, scholarship support, etc.

Through generous sponsorship, they did their best to discover friends with talent but lacking financial means.

If it hadn’t been for KFAC, I would never have been able to enter the conservatory.

The Professor had offered to cover half of the tuition fees excluding the scholarship, but I had declined because I felt burdened.

However, KFAC’s support structure meant that as the sponsored student grew older, the amount of support gradually decreased.

There was additional support based on performance, but my achievements were so few that they could be counted on one hand.

It was only natural.

Once you become an adult, it’s right to find a way to support yourself.

And it’s right to help younger children who need more assistance than I do with the money that supports me.

If there was a problem, despite continuous support from KFAC and concours support from Hanyang University, I had not achieved a single proper grade.

Anyway, that’s why Jung Siwoo is really tight on money this month.

The 20,000 won I gave him yesterday is a huge sum for him.

But if things continue like this, he will try to pass this off by refusing until the end.

He’s not stubborn in other areas, but when it comes to money, he seems sensitive.

It’s like a kind of illness that has developed from living in debt here and there for a long time.

If I hadn’t looked at Chaewon’s bank balance, I would have been trembling even giving her a mere 20,000 won.

Can I write this? Is it really okay to write this, I wonder.

So, at this point, I have to step in.

Jung Siwoo needs active support and encouragement right now.

“So, I’ll buy you food instead. Let’s go eat now.”