Chapter 259
Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 259
"Yeon-jae…! Your new hairstyle looks amazing."
"Thanks."
I replied to Sung Lee-jun and then looked at myself in the mirror at the hair salon.
For my role as Do Yu-young, my hair had been dyed brown and slightly permed.
‘Isn’t it a bit too free for a student’s hairstyle?’
I had my doubts, but the writer insisted that it would be fine if I portrayed it as naturally curly and naturally brown.
They said it would look better visually if the hair resembled the god with golden hair as closely as possible.
It wasn't an unreasonable argument, so I didn’t oppose it.
‘It’s not like it’s a drastic change anyway.’
Although it was a fairly natural-looking curly brown, it felt strange because my original hair was straight and black.
In contrast, Sung Lee-jun's hair was much shorter than before.
He had also gotten a tan to match the rural background of his character, and surprisingly, the darker skin tone suited him well.
"It's the first time I've seen you with short hair."
"It's my first time having such short hair since my debut…!"
"It looks good on you."
Sung Lee-jun blushed and smiled.
It was intriguing how he always got embarrassed over the smallest compliments.
"Just to be sure…. You both haven’t forgotten about me, right?"
At that moment, Seo Ji-oh, who was beside me, chimed in.
I answered calmly.
"I didn’t forget you. I just ignored you."
"Wow, that’s harsh. I’m hurt."
Seo Ji-oh pretended to clutch his chest in a playful manner.
His voice was much louder than usual, probably because there were other people around.
Seo Ji-oh then turned to tease Sung Lee-jun with a smile.
"Did you forget me too, hyung?"
"No. I ignored you just like Yeon-jae did…!"
"……This is seriously too much."
Nice one, Sung Lee-jun.
Thanks to Sung Lee-jun's innocent but sharp remark, Seo Ji-oh was genuinely taken aback.
I quietly laughed at Seo Ji-oh, who couldn't even manage his expression and was frozen in place.
Then the hair designer, who had been touching my hair, joined the conversation.
"You three seem a lot closer than I thought. I was surprised to hear you were all in the same movie."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It’s an unexpected combination. I knew about Lee-jun, but I didn’t know Ji-oh was also part of your ‘fishing ground’."
Fishing ground?
‘What fishing ground?’
I looked at the hair designer, puzzled, and she chuckled.
"Why, you’re famous for charming people. People say Bambi’s fishing ground has opened up."
"Are you serious?"
I asked, feeling perplexed, and the hair designer looked surprised that I didn’t know.
"There’s even a list of people in Bambi’s fishing ground circulating online. Didn’t your manager show it to you?"
"What…."
I immediately turned around to see Jin-bae hyung laughing awkwardly.
"I thought about telling you, but I’m on that list too, so…."
I couldn’t believe he was too embarrassed to show it because he was on the list.
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even speak.
"Show it to me right now."
"You probably don’t want to see it―."
"Now."
At my insistence, Jin-bae hyung hesitated before handing over his phone.
The title of the post was staggering.
[Title: Bambi’s Fishing Ground List as of 20XX (Updated in Real Time)]
1. Lee Yeon-jae’s Manager
Known to us as Manager Ahn. He lives with Bambi, so he sees him 24/7 (most enviable). Someone compiled photos of Bambi holding onto Manager Ahn’s jacket tightly. Check them out at this link.
2. Lee Jung-hyun
Of course, Bambi’s dad cannot be left out. Need more explanation? He often stays over at Bambi’s place instead of his own spacious house. His Instagram is full of Bambi’s photos.
3. Noh Bi-hyuk
A rookie idol, the youngest in N.A.D.E He’s been famous for being Bambi’s friend since before his debut. Yes, he’s the one who danced with Bambi in the sneaker ad. He practically lived at Bambi’s house before his debut.
4. Lee Eun-taek
A member of the same group as Noh Bi-hyuk. At some point, the three of them started appearing together, and now he calls Bambi ‘baby’(?). Bambi said they’ve known each other since childhood. Don’t know how they became close.
5. Sung Lee-jun
A close friend who even went to Italy with Bambi. Both are quiet and introverted, so they’re quite close. They even live in the same apartment.
6. Choi In-joon
A member of Space, the senior group to N.A.D. Known for having Bambi as his phone background, he’s a true fan. In his live streams, he talks about Bambi for a long time.
7. Kang Se-hyun
Leader of Space. Unlike Choi In-joon, he doesn’t mention Bambi often, but photos of them meeting regularly are uploaded. Just last week, there was a picture of them painting together at an art studio.
8. Wow, when will this end? My hand hurts;;. Anyway, number 8, Yoon Kang-yeon
Director of Bambi’s first movie ‘Twins’. He keeps mentioning in interviews that he wants to work with Bambi again, and it’s hilarious. I brought a meme of him whining. From the behind-the-scenes footage of them at the Cannes Film Festival, they seem pretty close.
Besides these, Lily Sweetie and Mia Brown (Lily Sweetie’s MV co-star, spotted partying together) were recently added.
Oh, and they’re also close with the child actor who played the young Horn in ‘Killing Horn’. There was an uproar when Bambi was seen holding him affectionately during N.A.D’s live stream.
Looks like a delinquent boss who’s become a dadㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Phew, it took an hour just to compile the memes;
Anyway, Bambi’s fishing ground is in full recruitment mode.
Come join the fish pool^^
(Actually, I’m the first fish.)
―Why isn’t Han Se-young included?? She keeps mentioning Bambi too. Said she wants to do a drama with him.
└(Gosh) Oh right. Thanks. Will add after my class.
―With this many, isn’t Bambi a gumiho?
―The compilation post is so detailedㅋㅋㅋㅋ Why are Bambi fans so intense?
―Blub blub, how's the water up top? Where I am, it's too deep, can't see any light.
└It doesn’t matter if it’s top or bottom, if you’re in the fishing ground, it’s the same. If you can’t see the light, just look at Bambi. He shines. Oh? Just looking at a photo of Bambi once a day means you don't need vitamin D. Got it?
└The comment above is a bit scary….
“……Take it back.”
I returned the phone to Jin-bae hyung with an exhausted expression.
"See, that’s why I didn’t tell you."
Exactly.
I decided it was better not to know in the future.
I closed my eyes tightly as a headache started to creep up.
“I wonder if I’ll get included in this list once the movie releases.”
Seo Ji-oh, who had been peeking at Jin-bae hyung’s phone, muttered.
‘This guy is something else.’
Should I say he hasn’t changed at all?
I pinched Seo Ji-oh's side on impulse.
“Use that time to practice instead.”
“Ouch. That hurts!”
“I meant it to hurt.”
Seo Ji-oh grumbled and sat down in the salon chair.
Unlike me and Sung Lee-jun, Seo Ji-oh didn’t undergo much of a styling change.
Although both of us were playing Do Yu-young’s close friends in the film, Seo Ji-oh’s role wasn’t as significant compared to Sung Lee-jun's.
I wondered if Seo Ji-oh would be disappointed after reading the script, but he seemed content just being a supporting actor rather than an extra.
He showed a lot of enthusiasm, saying it was the beginning of something big, which wasn’t a bad thing.
‘It’s already June. June.’
I couldn’t believe half the year had passed.
‘In half a year, I’ll be a high school student.’
Is that right?
It was both scary and unsettling how fast time was flying by.
It felt like just yesterday when I was eating tteokbokki with Park Ha-eun and Noh Bi-hyuk after elementary school, but now we were all scattered.
Park Ha-eun was already looking into various high schools to enter medical school, and Noh Bi-hyuk had made a comeback in just three months, befitting a rookie idol.
Next week, I was scheduled to move to Goseong, Gangwon Province, where I would be staying for three months.
I suddenly remembered a conversation I had with Park Ha-eun a few months ago.
‘Everything will change from now on, won’t it?’
‘…….’
‘We used to see each other every day at school just a few years ago. I’m already sad thinking we might drift apart.’
What did I say back then?
I think I responded that even if everything changes, even if we drift apart, we should try not to let it happen.
‘Am I trying hard now?’
Well, maybe I am.
But what if I get too busy to even question it?
Look at this. I'm worrying about useless things again.
Even though I knew, the anxiety still surged in, fading away with a light sigh like the tide in the night, quietly.
‘When you feel anxious, focus on the present moment.’
Recalling the doctor’s advice, I took a deep breath.
It’s okay. Just focus on the moment right in front of me.
Even if the direction goes astray, I have plenty of people to help me get back on track.
There are many genuinely precious people around me, not something as absurd as Bambi’s fishing ground.
And most importantly, I have Mist.
The most precious friend and my family, incomparable to anything else.
‘I miss Mist.’
My irreplaceable everything.
Thinking of Mist, my eyes slowly closed.
“Hey, Yeon-jae’s sleeping.”
“Let him be. He still needs one more perm.”
The voices of people around me gradually dispersed into a murmur.
The familiar sensation of falling into a drowsy sleep.
Maybe because I knew what I would see soon.
“……Oh my, look at him?”
“Wow, cute! Is he smiling in his sleep? Manager, are you taking a photo already? Hmm.”
Feeling the corners of my mouth curl up unknowingly, I slowly relaxed my body.
With that sense of disconnection, the familiar black space appeared before my eyes.
* * *
What word could best describe the relationship between Mist and me these days?
Closeness? Security? Comfort?
It felt like we were one, sharing consciousness.
‘It’s already been about four years since I first met Mist.’
As I grew, Mist also matured significantly compared to when we first met.
“Yeon-jae!”
“Ugh.”
Of course, jumping at me like a child hadn’t changed.
‘Isn’t it a bit too much to throw yourself at me with an adult physique?’
I caught him habitually, but he was so heavy that my hands trembled.
“Who is it today? Someone new.”
“I don’t know! Just picked any random human from the street.”
Mist laughed brightly.
Even though it was someone I had never seen before, the familiar tone and the smile told me it was Mist.
His clear eyes were always lovely.
But I knew how sorrowful those eyes could become.
‘I want a body too….’
‘…….’
‘So I can be next to you…. I know it’s childish. I know it’s nonsense…. Just….’
That day, when Mist hugged me, crying and whispering that he wanted a body too.
I still hadn’t found a solution to that problem, so I avoided talking about that day.
Mist now looked as bright and cheerful as if nothing had ever happened.
I worried that he might be sad on his own, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
After all, I still hadn’t found a solution.
“Why? Do you want to change to another appearance? Is there a human you want to be?”
I lightly shook my head at Mist’s smiling face.
“No. Be whoever you want to be. Don’t worry about me. Do whatever you feel like.”
“Really? Can I be mean to you? Curse at you?”
“If that’s what you want, then go ahead.”
“Hmm….”
Mist pondered for a very brief moment before exclaiming playfully.
“No way! What if Yeon-jae ends up hating me?”
I chuckled softly.
“No, I’d still like you anyway.”