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Even since high school, Joo Yeri had enjoyed the spotlight. Being the kind of beauty to make heads turn without trying, she was used to the attention that came with her looks, which made her the perfect model. But it wouldn’t be Joo Yeri if she didn’t chase after something bigger. Lately, she’d been dipping her toes into acting, and while it was thrilling, it was also a lot more complicated than she’d thought at first. She had everything a good actress needed: the looks, the charm, the right connections… Her acting wasn’t bad either, and she had taken the issue in her own hands and started acting classes. No, Joo Yeri wasn’t one to back down from a challenge — especially when she had an idea in mind.
Being in that industry also came with a figure that was both a blessing and a curse: the managers. The managers were a team of two or three people who would follow her everywhere — if you let them, even to the bathroom — and would take care of everything for her — transport, media, schedules, what to wear, where to go. However, that also came with a set back: every ounce of her time was revised by them, every friendship, every date, every change in herr diet… That was a side of the live of the famous that was harder to swallow, and how she put up with it depended a lot on the personality of said managers. In Yeri’s case, she had what people in her company called “the Three Kims”: Kim Chawoo, Kim Eunji and Kim Yejun.
The first of them was basically the team leader. He took care of her schedule and was the direct link between Yeri and the company. A good man with a patience only comparable to monks — somehow he hadn’t yet quit even with all the headaches Yeri would give him.
Kim Eunji was basically her PR persona — even though it might be hilarious for everyone that knows Yeri to think she needs anyone for that. Eunji took care of her media, encouraged her to take selfies, revised what worked, what didn’t, the engagement, revised the jobs she was offered beforehand and also was in charge of making sure she didn’t spend all her money on clothing. In truth, they got along very well since Eunji basically did the most tiresome job of the social media business.
And then, the third manager, Kim Yejun. He mostly followed her around, almost like a bodyguard. Versed in men as she was, she could tell he was trying to push his way into her personal space — an occasional lingering glance, his attempts at small talk that felt a little too personal. He wasn’t exactly bad-looking — tall, with sharp features and the kind of demeanor that suggested he was all business. The problem? Yeri wasn’t interested. At all. Yeri was more focused on her career than any romantic entanglements, especially with… well, a manager. That was not an ingredient to the recipe for prosperity. Also, she had no time for that and she was starting to get tired of him shooing away the men Yeri was interested into either for private, social or even work reasons.
And so she thought, how could she manage her manager and get him off her back?
Yeri’s best friend, Kyung, was exactly the type Yejun was likely to fall for. Kyung was sensible, driven, which to a certain point could be charming treats, and if properly stimulated with spirituous liquors, just the kind of person a guy could have fun with. Out of the two of them, Kyung had always been the most grounded — always composed, always focused on her career. It made Yeri admire her even more, even if she found Kyung’s cool demeanor sometimes hard to crack. She could always count on her to be the voice of reason. The perfect solution, in Yeri’s mind.
And if that didn’t work, she had a backup plan.
In case Kim Yejun didn’t find Kyung’s charms enough to fall for, she had yet another human sacrifice for him. Woo Seulgi — not charming, not flirty and definitely not the kind of person who would immediately grab someone’s attention. She was reserved, even more so since… well, since what happened during their last year in Chaehwa High School. Now Seulgi was a med student, and most of her time was spent studying or working with cadavers — both her an Kyung found that terrifying to say the least but Seulgi seemed to enjoy the silent company. She was practical, logical, and often too focused on the human body to be concerned with much else. However, despite her cold and simple exterior, Yeri knew about the soft and deep kindness that lived within her, about the strange cuteness that she would hardly ever show to anybody. She was the type of person you could always rely on, even if she didn’t show it outright. And that made Seulgi the perfect backup plan.
The evening they all met up was... uncomfortable.
The new steakhouse in Gangnam was everything Yeri needed — sleek, modern, and full of people who looked like they’d walked straight off a fashion magazine. The dim lighting gave the place a soft, intimate vibe, while the clink of silverware and the low hum of chatter filled the air.
Kyung and Seulgi were the first to arrive, so they made their way to the reserved table. Choi Kyung, ever the picture of composure, took a seat with an elegant ease, scanning the menu without much enthusiasm. She wasn’t one to waste time on idle chatter, and tonight wasn’t going to be any different. Her posture was perfect, as always, and the coolness she exuded was unmistakable.
Seulgi, on the other hand, was less concerned with appearances. She settled into the chair across from Kyung with a slight sigh, glancing around the restaurant as if she were mildly intrigued by the ambiance but not fully engaged with the environment. Her reserved demeanor was still very much present, but there was a flicker of liveliness in her eyes, a quiet energy that Kyung noticed but didn’t comment on.
“It’s been a while since we met,” Kyung commented, her voice smooth as she carefully placed her napkin on her lap, folding it with an almost precise grace. She glanced up at Seulgi, trying to gauge what was behind her friend’s usual quiet demeanor. In response, Seulgi gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Have you been… alright?”
“I’ve been well, really.” Seulgi murmured, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her glass. Her gaze drifted, briefly catching the ambient light from the restaurant, and then returned to Kyung. “Just really busy.”
Kyung watched her for a moment, studying Seulgi’s face. There was something about her friend’s tone, the way her words seemed to hang in the air with that hint of anxiousness. “Law is awfully stressing but I’ve never regretted drifting from medicine.” She snorted, the sound light and somewhat dismissive, but there was an underlying edge of pride in it. “I would have excelled at it, though.”
Seulgi’s lips curled into a small, fond smile. The tension in her shoulders eased just a bit at the familiar rhythm of Kyung’s sarcastic humor. It was always a bit of a relief to hear that, to know that despite the time apart, Kyung hadn’t really changed. She was still the same as ever—sharp, cynical, but always with a touch of warmth tucked under the surface.
“I think my current patients would have been a bit much for you, Kyung-ah.” Seulgi teased gently, her smile widening just enough to make Kyung roll her eyes.
The med student’s attention flickered back to their surroundings. The restaurant was undeniably luxurious, the kind of place where people dressed in their best and sipped expensive wine like it was a normal part of their routine. She always felt especially uncomfortable back in Gangnam — since she entered university, he had stopped following her, or at the very least making himself visible when doing so. In Gangnam, however, she felt him too close to control her unease.
“Too fancy for you?” Kyung’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Seulgi looked at her, a question obvious in her gaze. “The place.”
“Not really my style.” She offered a small smile, shrugging.
“Finally!” Yeri exclaimed as she slid into the chair next to Seulgi, flashing her usual wide grin. “I was starving, but you two seem to have taken your sweet time.”
Yeri’s confident, carefree energy immediately filled the room as she had strode in with Yejun trailing behind her. Somehow, Seulgi had learned to appreciate Yeri’s over the top personality, it made life a little more fun, and she liked that much better than Queen of Gossip Yeri. Thankfully, stardom had moderated her in that aspect.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Yejun said with a chuckle, sliding into the seat beside Kyung. His nervous energy was almost palpable, but he managed to force a smile.
Both of the girls greeted the guy with a nod before turning back to their friend. Before Seulgi could open her mouth to say anything, Kyung took it already upon herself to scold the girl.
“Do you always have to be late everywhere you go?”
The model flashed her an exaggerated pout, settling into the seat next to Seulgi with her usual flourish. She tossed her hair dramatically, as though the very weight of it was enough to justify her grand entrance. “I wasn’t late,” she protested, her voice light and teasing. “I’m just fashionably timed .” She winked at Seulgi, who couldn’t help but suppress a small smile at the playful banter.
Yejun, who had been quietly sitting beside Kyung, looked over at the group with a nervous smile, clearly trying to ease the growing tension between Yeri and Kyung. “I think it’s just a Yeri thing,” he said, his voice a little too eager, almost as though he was trying to save face for their mutual friend. “You know, she’s always keeping things exciting, right?”
“You’re such a smooth talker, oppa.” Yeri answered with a teasing smile. “I’ll have to remember that for when I need an extra boost for my ego,” she said with a playful wink, before turning back to Kyung. “This is Yejun-oppa, my manager.”
The conversation shifted again as the waiter arrived to take their orders, offering a welcome distraction. Yeri immediately launched into her usual dramatic food descriptions, as if the choices on the menu were a grand stage for her performance. Seulgi watched her with a fond expression, though her attention kept drifting to Yejun. He seemed to be relaxing a little, leaning forward as he listened to Yeri and joining in on her exuberant conversation. He wasn’t bad company, but something about him felt a little too… try-hard for her taste.
“So you three went to the same class?” Yejun asked, breaking the silence as the waiter came back with their drinks, setting down glasses of iced tea and mocktails in front of everyone. His curiosity was evident as he looked at the trio.
Yeri flashed a mischievous grin, leaning back in her chair. “I sat next to Kyungie for all our high school years,” she said, her voice light and casual, though there was a gleam in her eye that suggested she was about to tell an interesting story.
“What school?”
Kyung, ever the sharp one, raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the question. “You’re her manager, shouldn’t you know that?” she said dryly.
“Ah, that’s right…” he blinked, then laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
Clearly unfazed by his awkwardness, Choi Kyung took a sip from her mocktail. “If you want to ask about Chaehwa, just ask,” she said, her tone light but pointed. “Knowing Yeri, it’s hard to believe you don’t know all the gossip by now.”
“What are you saying?” Yeri protested with a mock pout.
The manager, trying to steer the conversation back, chuckled lightly but hesitated. “So, is it true?” he asked, his voice lowering slightly, as though he wasn’t sure whether it was appropriate to ask. His eyes flicked between the three of them, sensing the question hanging in the air like a weight. “The drugs, the junkie trying to kill the students… The top student killing herself?”
The moment he said it, Seulgi’s breath caught. Her heart lurched with the memories of a dark time, of antiseptic white rooms fool of vinyls and police searchings in the Han River. How stupid, she thought to herself, even after so long, even when she knew how things had ended in reality, what they all lived back then still burned like the scar in her belly. Her friends watched her closely, concern creeping into their eyes.
Kyung, sensing Seulgi’s discomfort, answered first, her voice blunt but steady. “Yeah, true,” she said, her eyes darkening as she glanced at Seulgi, who remained silent, her gaze fixed on the table. Her fingers, still holding onto her glass, trembled slightly as she fought to push the past away.
Realizing he may have crossed an unspoken line, the man shifted uneasily in his seat and tried to salvage the conversation. “It’s always heartbreaking,” he muttered, almost to himself. “Not realizing that something was going on before it was too late...”
The silence in the air was telling, suffocating. Yeri looked at Seulgi with concern, her usually bubbly demeanor slipping for a moment. Kyung simply observed, arms crossed, lost in her own thoughts.
The manager cleared his throat, suddenly self-conscious. He had meant to make a casual comment, but now he felt the weight of his words. He glanced at Seulgi, who hadn’t said a word, and felt an uncomfortable sting in the air. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up anything bad,” he muttered, looking genuinely apologetic.
After a few beats of silence, Seulgi cleared her throat, eager to ease the tension. “What new project are you into, Yeri-ah? You told us you took an audition for a drama,” she said, trying to steer the conversation toward something more positive.
Ever the energetic one, Yeri immediately perked up, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “That’s right! I’ll play the secret daughter of the protagonist. It’s a small role but still,” she replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
“It’s NOT a small part, Yeri-ssi.” Her manager cut in, offended. “She appears in half of the season and plays the part of the secret daughter of Lee Byunghun’s character,” he added, almost too eagerly, as though he was trying to assert just how big this role really was.
Kyung’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered, raising her eyebrows. She clearly hadn’t expected Yeri to land such a substantial role, and her shock was almost comical.
The model smiled smugly, her confidence shining through. “Am not,” she replied with a playful smirk.
“That’s incredible, congratulations,” Seulgi said with genuine warmth, her voice soft but sincere.
“Thank you, thank you…” Yeri’s grin grew wider as she basked in the praise. She was used to the attention, but there was something special about sharing this milestone with her friends. It made it feel real, like it was actually happening.
“The producers are still discussing that thing, though.” Her manager added.
“What thing?” Kyung asked, an eyebrow quirked with peak curiosity.
Yeri’s face flickered with a slight expression of frustration, but she quickly covered it up with a shrug. “According to the character, they want me to tan, but—” she paused, glancing around the table before continuing. “A, I don’t want to; and B, I have many agreements with many brands and I can’t,” she finished, her tone serious.
As the meat came to the table, they began grabbing pieces to eat and a brief silence arose. It was Yejun the one to break it to make a needed clarification.
“She could but she shouldn’t so she won’t.”
Seulgi, who had been silently observing, nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a tough spot,” she said quietly. “But your image is a big part of who you are, especially in the industry you’re in.”
Kyung snorted, clearly not impressed with the debate. “So you’re risking playing next to Lee Byunghun because of a tan. You are truly something,” she said, her voice firm.
“Of course not, but I’m willing to wake up early for makeup.” A cunning smirk appeared in Yeri’s face.
Her manager raised an eyebrow, his worried tone cutting through the tension. “You’re pushing it a bit too much.”
“Certainly, suntanning is worse for your health than makeup,” Kyung added in thoughtful reflection, “so I have to be with Yeri on that.”
The girl grinned, appreciating the support. “Thank you.”
At that, Yejun glanced at the woman next to him. “You are also very pale, Kyung,” he remarked, his voice measured but thoughtful. “You must take good care of your skin.”
The compliment was not taken lightly, Yeri knew as much. Even if she wouldn’t let it show, a pink flush began to cover the girl’s cheeks, betraying the stoic mask she was putting so much effort in wearing..
Kyung shrugged, her voice tinted with an air of nonchalance that barely concealed her discomfort. “It’s because I don’t go out much,” she said, her tone casual. “I’m too busy.”
Yejun gave a knowing smile. “I see,” he replied, his gaze lingering for a moment before moving on.
Without missing a beat, Yeri leaned to her side, her voice suddenly curious. “What about you, Seulgi-ah?”
The girl blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.“Eh? I’ve never really paid much attention to that.”
Yeri, ever the playful one, raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. “Too bad,” she said, a teasing note in her voice. “That’ll age you.”
“Seulgi comes from the countryside,” Kyung interjected and made a pause for a sarcastic, almost mocking snort, “so her skin’s always been darker.”
She merely shrugged, her demeanor unruffled. "In turn, I don’t get sunburnt easily."
Yujin gave an approving nod. "That’s good, though."
“Only if I lose track of time in the water.”
Kyung’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “Do you know how to swim?”
Seulgi nodded, a small, nostalgic smile curling on her lips. “Yeah, I learned a while ago.”
The memories of those moments were so vivid she could almost smell the salt in the air, feel the last rays of the sun in her skin, casting a golden haze over everything — her laugh, her touch, the way Jaeyi’s hand had would never leave hers. Jaeyi. The sight of her standing by the water’s edge, looking out over the horizon, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the setting sun. Only thinking of that moment made Seulgi’s heart pound in her chest, a flutter that sped up knowing how close she was to see her again.
She could picture it perfectly, the small ripples in the water when they arrived to Multongbawi. The red shinning of the lighthouse as they skated together, Jaeyi always taking the lead but watching back constantly to guarantee Seulgi was following close. They used to leave the skates and their clothes against the rocks and Jaeyi would make sure there were no waves or currents before she would sign Seulgi to enter the water.
A couple of summers ago, the ocean had seemed like a jungle: vast, beautiful, still and yet terrifying in a way. But Jaeyi had been there, her presence calming, voice a steady rhythm in the chaos of the waves, promising not to let go. A soft smile escaped Seulgi’s lips, the warmth of that memory enveloping her like the sun.
She remembered the way Jaeyi’s fingers had wrapped around hers, a lifeline in the deep blue of the water. The way Jaeyi had never let go, no matter how much Seulgi splashed and kicked, struggling to stay afloat. The firm calm in Jaeyi’s voice as she steadied her, guiding her through the movements, teaching her how to trust her own body. And when she finally floated, for just a moment, all her fear had melted away, leaving only the thrill of accomplishment, her heart light with pride. Jaeyi had been the first to celebrate, her face lighting up with a smile that made Seulgi’s chest ache.
And then, the inevitable happened: Seulgi had gotten a mouthful of sea water. The salty taste stung her throat, and she sputtered, gasping for air. Jaeyi’s laughter rang out, blending with the sound of Seulgi’s coughing. At first, Seulgi had thought it was mockery, a teasing that made her flush with embarrassment and anger. But now, with time between her and that moment, she cherished that laughter, holding it close in the deepest, most tender corner of her heart.
“What’s that smile about?” Kyung’s voice cut through the haze of Seulgi’s thoughts, pulling her back to the present.
Yeri, ever the instigator, smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Maybe a hot swimming instructor?” She always had an uncanny knack for never hitting far from the mark. Her nose, as usual, was impeccable in its precision.
Suddenly, an idea came down on Kyung’s mind, fueling a spark of suspicion in her. “Is that why you go back to your hometown every summer holidays?” she asked, fixing her glasses as she leaned to observe Seulgi’s reaction.
A sudden thought flickered in Kyung’s mind, a spark of suspicion that lit up her gaze. "Is that why you go back to your hometown every summer?" she asked, adjusting her glasses with a deliberate motion, leaning in just enough to gauge Seulgi’s reaction.
Fortunately, Seulgi had always been a master at hiding her emotions, her face a flawless mask of indifference.
"You are imagining whatever," Seulgi deadpanned.
Feeling encouraged, Yejun leaned in with a teasing spark in his eyes. “Then maybe you could come to Bali next month,” he suggested. The two girls exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them in a split second. “Yeri has a photoshoot there and we'll spend a week. The beaches are incredible there.”
Seulgi shook her head with a small sheepish smile, a touch of finality in her voice. “Already have everything fixed for my trip but I'm sure Kyung-ah will be more than happy to go with you.”
Kyung raised an eyebrow, looking at Seulgi with a rather annoyed confusion. “Why me?”
The actress grinned, leaning forward slightly. “Because you love spending time with me and I'm inviting you.”
“Come on, it will be fun!” Yejun chimed in, his voice brimming with bright enthusiasm, undeterred by the clear rejection.
Yeri smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Forget it, that word isn't in her vocabulary.”
At that, Kyung responded with a soundly snort. Then, she crossed her arms with a smirk of her own.
“How dare you?”
Yeri grinned, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Come on! We'll take pictures and drink piña coladas in our bikins.” Then she released a soft sigh and added: “I'd die for a sex on the beach.”
The way she said it, with that effortless confidence, made both Kyung and the guy next to her choke on their food. Their eyes widened, cheeks flushing as their imaginations ran a little too wild, each of them suddenly picturing Yeri in a way they never had before.
Kyung’s throat went dry as she struggled to swallow, her mind suddenly clouded by a thought that felt foreign and strange. She glanced at Yeri, her playful grin, tossing words around so casually and perfectly aware of the effect they had on her. She loved to play with people, rejoiced in feeling desired, the center of attention. Kyung even wondered why would she invite one of her managers to try to sell him to any of her friends when she could never renounce to the attention.
The image of her in a bikini, sipping piña coladas under the sun, took root in her mind. An intrusive thought — vivid and unexpected. She imagined the way the sun would glint off her pale skin, how her laughter would bubble up between sips of her drink, carefree and radiant. But in her mind, that laughter shifted into something different, something softer, more alluring. And then, Yejun would appear, wearing a short swim suit, his chest glistening like covered in oil, and he would...
Kyung shook her head slightly, trying to snap out of the thought, but it clung to her, invasive and unwanted. She cleared her throat, trying to focus on anything else.
To honor the four way date, Yeri pulled out her phone with a sly grin, snapping a quick selfie of the group. She posted it to Instagram, tagging everyone in the caption with a casual, playful remark. The image instantly gained likes and comments, flooding her feed with attention.
Thousands of kilometers away, Jaeyi was gliding effortlessly across the pavement, her skateboard cruising beneath her feet as she laughed with a few college friends. A buzz on her phone caught her attention, and she pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A new notification from her fake Instagram account. It was from Yeri’s recent post. Jaeyi clicked the notification, expecting nothing more than a casual picture of the girl shopping — or pretending to shop — or boasting about something Prada or Louis Vouiton had gifted her. However, as her eyes settled on the photo, her expression hardened. There was Seulgi, smiling, radiant and cute as ever, standing next to an unfamiliar man who seemed to take up too much space in the frame, too much of Seulgi’s personal space.
Jaeyi’s fingers clenched around the phone, a scowl curled on her face. She shoved the phone back into her pocket, pushing off the pavement with more force than necessary, her mind a whirl of unwanted thoughts. Her patience was running out, those two weeks till her summer holidays would be the longest.