Chapter 6: Suspicious Similarities and Strategic Bribes

The girl stared out the window, lost in thought.

Her mind kept replaying what happened earlier.

Kim Siyeon without her glasses.

She didn’t get a good look at her face, but the vibe was completely different.

Yet, that vibe felt strangely familiar and comforting.

At first, she thought it was just her imagination.

It’s Siyeon, the gloomy girl.

What difference would taking off her glasses make?

But a boy’s comment made her think deeper.

“Siyeon looked different without her glasses. She kinda reminded me of someone on TV…”

Someone on TV would likely be a celebrity.

A familiar vibe and a TV star.

Her thoughts narrowed, and a silhouette emerged in her mind.

As she got closer to that image…

“Ugh…”

A headache hit her.

The image in her mind clashed so hard with Siyeon’s usual self.

It was a strange feeling, like dizziness from an optical illusion.

“Hmm.”

Her thoughts wouldn’t settle.

Gayoung turned to look at Siyeon.

As usual, she sat quietly at her desk, staring at the blackboard.

Not studying, just sitting there blankly.

It was impossible to guess what she was thinking behind those glasses.

“Gayoung, what’s got you so lost in thought?”

A friend she was close to approached her.

“Staring at Siyeon again?”

“Just something’s bugging me.”

“You’re so weird. What’s there to care about with her?”

Her friend shook her head, puzzled.

Siyeon, the glasses girl, was known for being invisible at school.

You wouldn’t even notice she was there unless she spoke.

Naturally, hardly anyone in class paid her any attention.

Except one person.

Moon Gayoung.

“But she looks like her.”

“Like who?”

“Ruti.”

“What!?”

Her friend was beyond shocked, almost horrified.

The other students eavesdropping widened their eyes in surprise.

“You’re saying Ruti and the glasses girl look alike? No way!”

Ruti, A Star’s youngest member.

A rising star with a commanding presence.

In contrast, Siyeon had zero presence, like she didn’t exist.

They weren’t just different—they lived in entirely different worlds.

Knowing this better than anyone, Gayoung quickly corrected herself.

“N-no, her voice! Her voice sounds like Ruti’s!”

“Her voice…?”

“Yeah, their voices are similar.”

It wasn’t just the voice.

The way they spoke, their tone and inflection, felt similar too.

Maybe that’s why Siyeon had been on her mind since the start of the semester.

“What are you even saying? Tons of people have similar voices.”

“…True.”

Even she thought it was ridiculous.

Comparing Ruti to the glasses girl, of all people?

As a fan, it was absurd.

But why did she keep wondering about Siyeon’s face without glasses?

It’s not like taking them off would change who she is.

‘It’s all her fault. What’s so bad about taking off her glasses?’

She went out of her way to take her to the nurse’s office, and Siyeon wouldn’t even show her face.

She was faking being sick in the first place.

‘Now that I think about it, I’m kinda mad. I was worried for nothing.’

She felt a strange irritation.

“Yawn.”

I covered my mouth, letting out a big yawn.

Tears welled up faintly in my eyes.

It’s only first period, and I’m already sleepy.

I barely slept, practicing choreography until late.

I’ve been busy, but things have gotten crazier lately.

A new song’s dropping next month.

There’s a ton to prepare for it.

I’m practically living in the practice room these days.

“…Maybe I should’ve skipped school.”

I considered it but came anyway.

I’ve finally started school again; I don’t want to fill my attendance with absences.

Besides, being sleepy isn’t a reason to skip.

I can just sleep at school.

Second period.

I naturally face-planted on my desk and slept.

Thanks to the arts high school’s relaxed vibe, teachers don’t care much as long as you’re not bothering anyone.

Some teachers scold you, but I’ve never been caught.

Because no one notices me.

My lack of presence means I can sleep openly in class, and no one cares.

I always catch the best naps during class.

…But today, something’s off.

“You come to school just to sleep?”

Someone kicked my desk lightly.

I looked up to see Gayoung, arms crossed, glaring at me with an annoyed expression.

“Ugh!”

I stretched, raising my arms high.

Checking the time, it was lunchtime.

Everyone else had gone to eat, leaving just me and Gayoung in the classroom.

“You woke me up to eat lunch?”

“Who said I woke you for lunch? I’m telling you to stop sleeping in class.”

“Why?”

Obviously, you shouldn’t sleep in class.

I know that.

My “why” was about Gayoung’s unusual behavior.

She’s usually so indifferent to me.

“If you sleep, it makes others want to sleep too. It could ruin the class vibe.”

Her logic was sound, so I couldn’t argue.

Not that I had the nerve to.

“…I’ll try. It’s lunchtime now, so I can sleep, right?”

“It’s lunchtime. Aren’t you eating?”

“…Nope.”

To be clear, it’s not that I don’t want to—it’s that I can’t.

Weight management is an idol’s fate.

Gain even 0.5 kg, and it’s straight to diet hell.

To avoid that, I have to stick to a strict meal plan.

Gayoung, oblivious, grumbled beside me.

“Now that I think about it, you never eat lunch at school. Are you a picky eater? You won’t grow properly if you don’t eat balanced meals at our age.”

…Huh?

I stared at Gayoung.

A silence hung between us.

For the record, I’m way taller than her.

And not just in height.

Realizing the flaw in her words, Gayoung silently looked between her body and mine.

Her pale face slowly turned bright red.

“You were mocking me in your head, weren’t you!”

…She’s misunderstanding again and taking it out on me.

After school, I headed to the school gate, where the agency van was waiting as usual.

I climbed in, looking unusually exhausted.

The manager in the driver’s seat glanced at me with concern.

“You look extra tired today. Something happen at school?”

“…Just a little.”

It’s all because of Gayoung.

“Do your homework? If not, do it before the teacher comes.”

“You want to skip PE? You were fine this morning. Are you faking again?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to sleep in class? One more time, and I’m telling the teacher.”

She was on my case all day.

I couldn’t rest properly, and now I’m exhausted.

…She used to barely notice me.

Ever since the dodgeball incident, she’s been weirdly fixated on me.

She must think I was faking being sick.

I got on her radar in the worst way.

For the sake of my peaceful school life, I need a plan fast.

“Oh.”

A great idea hit me.

“Manager unnie.”

“Yeah?”

“Can you get me something?”

“Siyeon asking for a favor? Sure, name it.”

In times like these, a bribe works best.

Especially something the person will love.

“What… what is this?”

Gayoung’s eyes widened as she stared at the piece of paper in my hand.

It wasn’t just any paper.

It was a ticket to A Star’s exclusive concert, where their new song would debut.

Sold out in three minutes online, it’s a ticket you can’t buy even if you have the money.

For an idol fan, there’s no better gift.

“…You’re giving this to me?”

“Yup.”

“No way I can accept something this valuable!”

She said that, but her hands were already clutching the ticket.

“My cousin got it, but I’m not that interested. If you don’t want it, I’ll give it to someone else.”

“Who said I don’t want it!?”

She hugged the ticket tightly with both hands.

Her eyes were practically dripping with honey.

“There’s two tickets?”

“Go with a friend.”

“That’s fine, but…”

Gayoung glanced at me.

“These were meant for you, right?”

“So?”

“Let’s go together.”

She handed me one of the tickets.

I scratched the back of my head, troubled.

I’m the star of that stage—how could I miss it?

It’s not like it’s a team without its captain.