episode_0044

#44

“Ah, yes… Nice to… meet you.”

I slightly bowed my head in greeting.

Hmm. Even I can tell it’s a bit awkward.

Uncomfortable… and burdensome…!

“You must be flustered since this was so sudden, right?”

Yes.

But I can’t say what I’m really thinking.

“Ah, no. I’m… fine.”

“I’m sorry. For making you do something like this, Sarang.”

If you’re sorry, you shouldn’t have arranged this in the first place…

The words rose to my throat, but I swallowed them back down with a gulp.

“I know it’s greedy, and I know it’s rude, but I really wanted to meet you like this at least once.”

“Is… that so?”

“It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

Honor…

The word choice gives off such an uncle vibe.

“…Thank you. I heard you’ve been a fan of mine for a long time.”

“Ah. Did Manager Hogu tell you? About me.”

“Hogu Op—… I mean, Manager Hogu didn’t go into detail. Just that you’ve been a fan for a long time… He said you must’ve met me at a fan meeting before.”

“Haha. So that means you don’t remember me.”

“Huh? Ah…! No, that’s not what I meant…!”

Ugh. Foot in mouth. Seriously.

First impression ruined—I’m an idol who can’t even remember a fan’s face. This is bad.

“It’s fine. It’s understandable. You must have countless fans—you can’t possibly remember every single one. I’m just one of many passing faces.”

“I’m… sorry. I heard you’ve attended a lot of fan meetings and events.”

“I don’t go to those expecting to leave a lasting impression on you. It’s alright.”

This man—Han Myeongsu—just smiled warmly.

There are often fans who try to stand out at fan meetings or events.

Some come in costumes, others bring special gifts. Many try different ways to build a sense of closeness with their idols.

Especially with our group, … Since our concept is like a first-love girlfriend, we have quite a few fans who take it seriously.

Like that otaku freak who rushed at us during a music show… There are some real weirdos.

Or the guy who threw a tantrum because I didn’t remember him after two fan meetings.

…Well, I *do* remember *him*, so I guess he succeeded?

But that’s just part of being an idol.

Even if I don’t feel like it, I have to smile at fans and say things like “I love you” when I don’t mean it.

Making heart signs, taking photos together—it’s all part of the job.

Of course, it’s all just business. We’re used to it by now.

In that sense, this whole thing today is just an extension of fan service.

A slightly more intimate business transaction than usual, but still devoid of real feelings.

That’s all I have to do, right…?

“Still, I’d be happy if, starting today, I became the most memorable fan in your idol career.”

“Ah… Haha. I’m sure you will be. Uncle……. Uh… What should I call you…?”

“Ah. You can call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

The worst possible answer.

Calling a fan by their first name feels weird. And he’s an *uncle*. He looks around the same age as my dad. It’d be awkward to address him casually.

Ugh. Seriously. What am I supposed to say?

“You can even call me ‘Myeongsu-yah~’ if you want.”

“Th-that’s a bit too casual for me….”

I’m uncomfortable, Uncle.

But if I actually call you “Uncle” like you want… That’d be weird, right?

“…Personally, there *is* a title I’d like you to use.”

“What is it?”

“Ahem… This is a bit embarrassing.”

What? He’s suddenly blushing.

I’ve never seen an uncle turn this red before.

It’s not something weird, is it?

“‘Papa.’ Could you call me that?”

*Pfft.*

I barely held back a laugh.

“Huh? ……‘Papa’…?”

“Yes. Ah, ahem. If you’re uncomfortable with it, you don’t have to.”

“……”

*Papa?* I’m not a kid.

But the uncle, still driving, fidgeted nervously after saying it.

Even *he* knows it’s a weird request.

“…I guess it’s a bit… much?”

“……”

Calling him that feels…

Well, it’s not that I *hate* it.

But there’s such a thing as atmosphere, you know?

A 21-year-old idol calling a 50-something uncle “Papa”… Anyone would find that weird, right?

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to. This is just my selfish wish.”

Ugh. Now I feel like the bad guy for refusing.

“To be honest… People say I’ve done well for myself, but in my personal life, I’m a failure.”

He suddenly started sharing his family history.

“My wife and I divorced, and my daughter went with her… Ahem. I shouldn’t be dumping this on you right after meeting.”

“It’s… okay.”

“Thank you. So, I’ve been… lonely at home, and that’s how I discovered . And then I fell for you, Sarang.”

“Um… How old is your daughter…?”

“She’d be twenty-one this year.”

…She’s my age.

I had a bad feeling about this.

“So I’m… a replacement for your daughter?”

“Haha. I suppose it could look that way.”

It doesn’t just *look* that way—it *is* that way, Uncle.

“I’m sorry. If it makes you uncomfortable… Just treat it as an old fan’s ramblings and move on.”

“……”

…Ugh. Seriously.

Bringing up his family like that…

Now I’d feel like a monster if I refused.

Fan service. It’s just fan service…!

“It’s… fine. ……Papa.”

*Cough…!*

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

“N-nothing. My heart… Is this what they call a ‘fan heart attack’?”

That’s not *quite* the right term, but I’m impressed an uncle even knows slang like that.

“Thank you. This was my lifelong wish.”

“…For me to call you ‘Papa’?”

“……Yes.”

He’s embarrassed.

I’ve never seen an uncle blush like this before.

…I kinda want to tease him now.

“…Papa.”

*Ghk—!*

“Papa. Where are we eating today?”

*Cough…!* “W-well… I know a nice Western place…”

Wow. His ears are completely red.

Cute. He’s just like Hogu Oppa—

…Wait. What am I thinking?

“…We’re going to a Western restaurant.”

Hmm.

The formal speech is kinda awkward. Should I drop the honorifics?

“Papa. …Do you use honorifics with your daughter?”

*Ghk—!*

“Huh? No, right? It feels weird if you’re so formal with me.”

“W-well… Sarang-ssi… No, wait. Sarang…-ah.”

“We’re dropping formalities, right? Papa.”

“Yes… I mean, yeah. ………Sarang-ah.”

So cute.

Hmm.

Teasing older guys is fun.

Hogu Oppa was fun to tease too…

But yesterday, he was oddly sharp.

Probably because he has a girlfriend now.

Ugh. Why does he keep popping into my head?

They’re probably all over each other right about now…

So annoying. Seriously.

“Uh, is something wrong? Ahem… S-Sarang-ah. Your expression…”

“Huh? No, no. I’m fine. Just spaced out for a sec.”

“If anything’s bothering you, you can tell me.”

…He’s really treating me like his daughter.

…Did he want to do this with his own daughter too? Is that why he set up this “date”?

I thought he had ulterior motives at first.

But now, I just feel kinda bad for him.

He seems like a genuine fan who respects boundaries.

I expected some sneaky physical contact, but there’s none of that.

Hmm…

Well, I guess…

…I can play the daughter role for a day.

Just for today, okay?

I relaxed a little.

I was ready to unbuckle my seatbelt and jump out of the car if things got weird.

But now, I rested my hands properly on my lap.

I even slouched a bit, leaning back into the seat.

…This seat is *so* comfortable. Way better than our van.

“Papa.”

“Y-yes?”

“What are we doing after eating?”

“Ahem… I, uh, prepared some things based on your ‘day-off wishlist’ from your last livestream.”

“Whoa. You even remembered that? That was super late at night.”

“…I pay attention to everything you do.”

A true hardcore fan, huh.

Well… It’s not a bad feeling.

“So… I booked and prepared everything in your top five, just in case.”

“……Seriously?”

“Of course. I even bought tickets for the amusement park. Your number one was eating ramen by the Han River, right? So I packed a tent and a mat…”

Wow…

I glanced back and saw an actual camping tent in the trunk.

He went through all this trouble for me…

Honestly, I’ve never felt like this before.

Hogu Oppa is fun to be around, but he’s never been *this* meticulous.

Wait, why do I keep comparing him to Hogu Oppa? Seriously.

Ugh. That face of his, staring blankly at me, just popped into my head again.

I need to forget about him.

…So annoying.

“Papa.”

“Yeah?”

“…Never mind. Just wanted to say it.”

“O-oh… Okay.”

“Thanks for preparing all that… but can we go somewhere else today?”

“Somewhere… else?”

“Sorry. You went to all that trouble. But we shouldn’t draw too much attention.”

“Oh… Right.”

“We can think about where to go while we eat.”

“Sure. Ahem……”

It’s nice that he’s accommodating me, but…

Well… He’s a 50-something dad-like uncle, right?

Hmm. What kind of places do 50-year-old men even like?

I’ve never thought about it before.

Maybe I should just ask him?

…No, he’d probably just prioritize me again.

Not that I mind, but today is technically a business date, right?

Shouldn’t we go somewhere *he* likes?

While I was lost in thought, the car arrived at the restaurant.