chapter 5
5 – Graduation Ceremony (2)
“Um… Unnies, would it be okay to take a picture?”
“Us too! Would that be okay?”
“Unnie!! We’re fans. We went to your live performance recently too!!”
I have a headache from the countless photo requests pouring in from Ara and the Queens members.
Why did the graduation ceremony turn into a photo shoot for “Queens”?
Is it my fault?
I could only watch as Ara took pictures with unknown graduates.
Excuse me… I haven’t taken a picture yet, can you please make an exception?
“Hey… what’s your relationship with Song Ara?”
“Huh?”
When I turned around, there were guys who looked like typical idol fans, staring at me.
Come to think of it, I heard there’s an unauthorized club related to idols…
Could it be these guys?
“Hugging an idol… what a lucky guy…”
“If I could hug once, I’d pay a million.”
Wanting to hug someone else’s wife, these filthy guys.
Even in this reversed world, some things remain the same.
Well, there were quiet girls in that world, and unpopular girls too, so it must be the same here.
“I wonder what their relationship is?”
Honestly, I’m really curious, but I’m afraid I’ll be shocked if I find out, so I’m not curious.
“You jealous jerk!”
“Ara, please take a picture with us too!!!”
Sigh…
In the end, there was only one photo of us taken until the graduation ceremony ended.
***
“Are you upset?”
“No, I’m not.”
“I’m sorry…”
Still, I climbed the stairs of the apartment, pretending to be upset.
Behind me, Ara was bowing her head with a genuinely apologetic look.
In the end, there were more than a hundred photos taken as a service for the fans,
But only one taken with me.
I understood, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
“Well then, I’ll forgive you, so is there something you want me to do?”
“Huh? If it’s something Seonghwan wants, I’ll do anything! Just tell me!”
I stopped in the middle of the stairs, pushed Ara against the wall.
It’s commonly known as “wall-hitting.”
I had to lift Ara a bit because of my height, but Ara, who was quick-witted, spread her legs a little to match our eye level.
I slipped my thigh into her groin.
Then, I touched her lips with my thumb.
“Se… Seonghwan, we’re outside…”
“So, do you dislike it?”
“Ah… no, not that…”
“Then please behave. You led yesterday, remember?”
“Ah… I got it…”
She lifted my hand, which had been touching her lips, to her cheek.
The soft, bouncy texture didn’t feel like skin; it felt like touching pudding.
She used a lot of makeup. Could that be the secret to such flawless skin?
“Did you apply lipstick?”
“Lip balm…”
“What’s the difference? I have no idea.”
“Lipstick is solid… lip balm is… creamy.”
Before she could finish her sentence, she kissed me.
The thought of kissing in public and the possibility of someone seeing us made my heart race.
“Muah… you… shouldn’t have… kissed me.”
She didn’t respond.
Only the sound of liquid meeting liquid filled the air.
I kissed her gently and then leaned down to her neck.
I buried my face deeply there.
“You belong to me.”
“Yeah…”
“If you’re my wife, you should be confident anywhere, even in front of your husband.”
I’m sorry, I can’t fulfill that request.
“Still, I have to work part-time.”
Of course, it seems like I don’t need to earn money.
If Ara does a CF advertisement, I’ll have a lifetime of money, you know.
I almost stopped breathing when I saw Ara’s bank account.
“Ugh, I have to go see the market.”
I looked while cleaning, but there was no rice and no side dishes to prepare.
I promised Ara to cook home-cooked meals every day, but it’s only been two days.
How can I think of a packed lunch when I come home from work?
I picked up some clothes and went out the front door.
What I felt coming this way was that in that world over there, only women stare at me.
But over here, even men stare at me.
Honestly, it’s a bit burdensome.
But isn’t it strange to tell someone not to stare?
It’s not like they’re staring at my legs, they’re just looking at my face…
The reason I’m talking about this now is because I took the bus to go to the mart and there were more than one or two people staring at me.
Some high school girls are staring at me, not even realizing their faces have turned red.
I arrived at the mart, which I assume is always noisy, and took out a 100 won coin to get a cart.
It’s best to have a cart, especially when you think about carrying rice.
“Hmm… what’s this?”
Most carts usually have a system where you insert a coin, right?
Here, there’s no such thing as a key box.
Seems like a free-to-use fellow.
“With this, there might be a lot of cart thieves…”
I’ve seen news about an increase in thieves collecting carts and selling them for scrap, so it’s not surprising.
This world is unexpectedly a place where things that sound like lies become the truth.
I pulled the cart and entered the mart.
Maybe because it’s quitting time, the scene of couples piling up a cart full of items seemed ordinary.
“Let’s see… what should I get today…”
At that moment, a bell rang, announcing a time sale.
Though Ara told me not to worry about money, I’m the type to save every penny if I can.
Rather than spending recklessly, my motto is to spend slowly, saving.
-Mackerel and flounder on sale. Limited stock!-
Mackerel.
The best blue fish that is cheap and tasty.
It’s delicious grilled or boiled.
It’s a versatile fish that can be used in various dishes, even in Japanese cuisine as sashimi.
Come to think of it, Ara used to like mackerel.
I remember how she enjoyed eating it.
“Auntie, please give me two mackerels.”
“How would you like them?”
“Hmm… Please give me four pieces.”
“Is the student planning to make braised mackerel too? Since it’s a martial arts competition today, why not grab one.”
“Thank you.”
Indeed, the aunties’ choices were unique.
Radish is almost essential for braised mackerel, fitting perfectly with it. Even just being underneath to prevent the mackerel and seasoning from burning does a lot, and the taste is good.
“Should I get some cabbage and Altari radish too? We don’t have kimchi either.”
Watching how well Ara eats pickled radish, it seems like she could get full just by eating.
Since we’re buying, might as well make bellflower root side dish.
“Oh, the last jackpot.”
There’s only one Altari radish left, hitting the jackpot like this is so lucky.
A pretty older sister is sighing a little far away; it seems like she’s late.
Sorry, but I can’t give in because I’m going to feed Ara.
I also brought cartilaginous fish sauce and other vegetables to the front.
“By any chance, where is the rice?”
“Oh, if you tell me here, I’ll get it for you. Are you planning to take it with you?”
“Yes, I’m thinking of getting a 5kg one for now.”
“Our mart offers immediate delivery for customers purchasing over 30,000 won. Since you’re buying, how about getting a 20kg one?”
“Hmm…”
It’s not that bad.
It’s cheap here, and the delivery seems to be free.
I nodded slightly.
“Yes, please do that.”
“Thank you, dear customer. Would you like one 20kg bag of rice at counter A?”
I completed the payment using the phone’s payment function, wrote down the delivery address, and headed home.
*
It’s been 20 minutes since I’ve been waiting for the bus, but it hasn’t arrived.
I checked the bus’s location on my phone, but it’s still in the same place.
There’s probably been an accident.
“Should I just take a taxi…”
I looked at the number printed on my personal bank account and let out a wry smile.
How many years would I have to work to earn this myself?
Even I, who received this, must be a strange person.
– Bbangbbang
“?”
I was about to open the K Taxi app to catch a taxi, but I heard the sound of a car estimate.
Normally, I would have ignored it, but I felt a rhythm and couldn’t help but look.
In front of me, a stunning beauty in a Porsche waved at me.
Ara, isn’t it…
“Ah. She was a member of Queens.”
He couldn’t help but hit his forehead at the ignorance of his wife’s colleague.
She is one of the members of Queens, ‘Lee Eunji’.
We must be the same age, but she already seems to be driving a car.
It’s a Porsche.
“Seonghwan~ What are you doing there?”
“T-The bus isn’t coming…”
“The bus? I was on my way to your place, so it worked out well.”
Eunji got out of the car and opened the passenger door.
I just looked at her with an awkward expression.
Should I get in?
“Hey, get in.”
An idol who is a carpooler, I couldn’t help but force a bitter smile.