#Dating Novice (7)
Checking his feed, there were several recently uploaded photos. The first was a picture of their watches together, as Tae-in had mentioned, followed by a photo of coffee cups from a cafe they had visited together. The most recent upload was a picture of Ha-min’s pajamas scattered on the dining table. Ha-min covered his mouth with a rapidly reddening face. Based on the timing and circumstances, this photo was clearly taken after their intimate moment at the breakfast table that morning.
Among the thousands of comments, most were crying about Tae-rim dating someone, but there were also several speculating about who his partner might be. Additionally, there were quite a few comments in foreign languages. Foreign friends who appeared to be former classmates left comments congratulating him on his relationship. It was honestly a very noticeable situation.
“I seriously got goosebumps when I saw that, thought I was going to die.”
The pajama photo on the table, in particular, felt explicitly revealing to an uncomfortable degree.
“But what was hyung saying? Something about guarantees that he wouldn’t do that and so on…”
“…No, I…”
“Forget it, just don’t make it too obvious. Even if hyung is fine with it, you’d be uncomfortable if rumors spread, given your personality.”
“…But would people really think it’s me?”
“People these days are terrifying. Hey, I keep getting calls from unknown numbers just because I do a bit of YouTube. Fans or whatever… it’s kind of scary.”
“Well, you’re really popular these days…”
“Hey, your Instagram followers are no joke either. These days, you don’t need to be a celebrity to have fans. Even if they’re not exactly fans… how should I put it, you attract people’s attention.”
At his words, Ha-min checked his Instagram follower count. Seeing the number already exceeding 20,000, he blinked his eyes wide a couple of times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things, and checked again. But the number remained the same.
“Why… why do I have so many followers…?”
Ha-min asked, stammering with a face full of confusion.
“You appeared on my broadcast, remember?”
“And that many people…? How many do you have?”
“I’ve got a bit over a million.”
“A m-million?”
“Yeah. My subscribers are approaching 3 million too… because of that, I’m even getting broadcast offers these days.”
“Wow…”
“But TV broadcasting is a bit… If my parents find out, I’m dead.”
Tae-in stroked his chin with a serious, contemplative expression.
“Anyway, I didn’t expect you to gain so many followers. You didn’t even show your face that much on my broadcast, which suggests you might have some star quality?”
“…What are you talking about.”
“Didn’t you say last time? That you’d appear on my broadcast one more time.”
“…Well, that’s true, but…”
“No backing out now.”
Having inadvertently promised to appear on Tae-in’s broadcast, Ha-min left the studio with a dazed expression, continuously checking his social media. While Tae-in might have become popular through his YouTube channel, hyung’s follower count was impressive despite not showing or promoting any particular content. His posts were just ordinary, and even though his latest feed was posted after a two-year hiatus, it was already exceeding 700,000 likes.
Moreover, his feed didn’t even show his face in detail, just everyday photos.
-Those couple watches are insane…?
-OMG first post in 2 years and it’s a love post ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Didn’t he break up with his previous girlfriend?
-The girlfriend’s hand looks a bit big for a woman.
-And I get dumped after 2 years…
-Whether it’s a love post or whatever, please upload more often! Love the vibe of your photos~
-hey, babe. keep in touch! I miss uuuuuu.
On his way home, Ha-min looked through thousands of comments and newly realized what kind of person he was dating. There were more people watching him than he thought, and there were people who liked him like a celebrity even though he was just an ordinary person. Most of the American friends who followed each other were wealthy or well-known like Tae-rim. Even his ex-girlfriend, Son Hee-jae, was an influencer with over 500,000 followers.
Ha-min closed the window with an embarrassed face and stared out the bus window. Under the reddish sunset sky gradually darkening, the shadowed Seoul landscape looked serene. Unlike the peaceful scenery, Ha-min felt somewhat unsettled.
With so many watching eyes, Tae-rim’s uninhibited behavior made him anxious. What if someone recognized them? While he himself might be fine, Tae-rim was currently attending business classes, working at a company, and was a person of status. Ha-min began to worry about potential repercussions affecting Tae-rim because of him.
Amidst the many thoughts coming and going, Ha-min suddenly felt that it was difficult. Dating, that is.
Why did this dating thing, which seemed so easy for others, feel so difficult for him…
Just then, the phone in his hand rang. Seeing “Hyung” on the screen, Ha-min slowly answered with his troubled feelings evident on his face.
“Yes, hyung.”
-Where are you?
His voice sounded a bit hoarse, so Ha-min cleared his throat a couple of times before continuing.
“Um… right now.”
Ha-min looked out the window again. As he was almost home, familiar buildings caught his eye. But for some reason, he didn’t feel like going home right away. If he saw hyung while having so many thoughts, Tae-rim would immediately notice.
“I’m… still near the school.”
-Didn’t your class end a while ago?
“Ah, yes. I had an appointment come up…”
-You didn’t mention that this morning.
“Well, that’s… there’s a senior I got to know because of an assignment, and we happened to meet by chance…”
-Which senior?
As the call went on longer than expected, Ha-min hesitated with a slightly awkward expression.
“It’s a senior you’ve never met, so you wouldn’t know even if I told you…”
-Man? Woman?
The persistent questions brought a subtle discomfort to Ha-min. While Tae-rim had always been thorough about details, today it felt particularly stubborn.
Thinking it was just due to his own unsettled feelings, Ha-min brushed aside the clinging discomfort and continued.
“…A man. I think I’ll come home after dinner.”
-Are you drinking too?
“No, just dinner. I should have told you beforehand, I’m sorry.”
-I didn’t know you had acquaintances I don’t know about.
“Ah… he’s a senior I got to know recently… There’s no need for you to know…”
-I don’t need to know?
Ha-min was momentarily speechless at the pointed question. The other person also seemed to feel the discomfort in this subtle conversation, not hiding his crooked mood, but it didn’t continue beyond that.
During the brief silence that followed, it was the other person who spoke first.
-…Should I pick you up?
At the gentle question, as if trying to calm things down, Ha-min shook his head slightly.
“…No, it’s okay.”
-Come home soon.
“…Yes. Are you at home?”
-Near home. I was planning to have dinner out together.
“Ah… sorry.”
-It’s fine. But why does your voice sound not so good?
“Mine?”
-Yes. Did something happen?
Even though he thought he was speaking normally, at the precise probing question, Ha-min shook his head more urgently.
“No…! Nothing happened. Hyung, I think I need to go now…”
Ha-min spoke more vigorously, waiting for a response. The other person’s reply didn’t come immediately. After a brief pause, his straightforward voice came through.
-Okay. See you later.
Getting permission to end the call, Ha-min pressed the end button with relief. Only then did he let out a deep breath of relief, embracing a sense of self-loathing. He felt guilty for lying unintentionally.
But he had bought time until night. Time to subdue these unsettled feelings. He didn’t want to act childishly, but his heart kept flowing in that direction. Even though he pretended not to care, the conversation between hyung and his mother from a few days ago kept repeating in his mind. Plus, Tae-rim’s influence, with more attention than expected, and his acquaintances who were as impressive as hyung himself. Compared to him, Ha-min was just an ordinary college student with nothing. No status, no money, no background… It was a foolish thought.
Ha-min stopped thinking and suddenly got off the bus. It was to clear his mind by walking a bit. Just then, his phone vibrated once more. Checking it, this time it was Eun-soo.
“Oh, Eun-soo.”
-What are you doing now?
“I’m now…”
Ha-min looked around blankly before answering.
“I’m just… around…”
-Do you have plans?
“Ah… no.”
-Great. I’m hungry, want to have dinner together?
“Don’t you have plans?”
-I was going to eat with Chae-rin, but she said practice might run long, so I have free time.
“Where are you now?”
-Near Tae-in sunbae’s studio. Can you come now?
Since his evening was free anyway, it was possible. Ha-min answered willingly and headed to the opposite bus stop.
“Sure. I’ll come.”
-Oh, wow.
“Huh?”
During the ordinary conversation, Eun-soo briefly expressed surprise at his unhesitating response. At the strange reaction, Ha-min laughed awkwardly and asked again.
“Why?”
-Well, you’ve always been busy lately. Even during the break, when I asked to hang out, you always said you had plans. Even for the department gathering at the start of the semester, you only came because Shin Woo-kyung begged and begged.
“Was I like that…?”
-I was a bit hurt… but well, since you’re dating, I understand.
Eun-soo ended the conversation cheerfully, telling him to come quickly before hanging up. Since he hadn’t thought about that, Ha-min stared blankly into space with a surprised expression. He realized he had been more absorbed in his relationship with hyung than he thought.
Come to think of it, since hyung returned from America, he hadn’t met with his friends often. Even after classes ended, he was always busy going home or to his part-time job. During the break too, when Eun-soo and Woo-kyung suggested going out, he always declined.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
