Chapter 71

  Click, click.

With the rapid succession of shutter sounds, Sol hurriedly covered his mouth with both hands. Then he bowed his head and apologized to the photographer. He had been so distracted by the members’ appearances that he had completely forgotten they were in the middle of a photoshoot.

“I’m sorry.”

“Um... it’s okay. Just keep going comfortably.”

“Pardon?”

Given the previous incident, he expected the photographer to be angry or stern, but he spoke nonchalantly, without taking his eyes off the camera. When a bewildered Sol asked again, he finally looked away from the camera to glance at him.

“We already got the A-cut. Just stay as you like.”

“Does that mean the shoot is over?”

“No, I just want to take more shots.”

The photographer answered Sol’s question, refocusing on the camera. When the black lens turned towards him again, Sol didn’t know what to do and just stared blankly at it. He felt like he could do anything thanks to the Stability Potion, but now that he was being encouraged to act freely, he couldn’t think of anything to do.

Suddenly, he remembered a pose Ga-ram had taught him. Sol adjusted his clothes and put his hands in his pockets. Trying to look natural, he slightly raised his chin and imitated Ga-ram as best as he could.

Watching Sol through the camera, the photographer clicked his tongue in disapproval and put the camera down. He approached him, removed his hands from his pockets, and pushed his head down.

“Just stay still as you are.”

Sol swallowed a bitter smile at the photographer’s instruction to stay still. He thought he was mimicking Ga-ram well, but maybe it looked odd. He wondered what he had to do to pose smoothly and naturally, like the other members. While staying still in the position the photographer had adjusted for him, he pondered how he could improve.

“This is good.”

The photographer expressed satisfaction, but Sol had done nothing. He was simply standing in the pose he had set, not moving an inch, and lost in his thoughts. It was ironic. It was better when he did nothing compared to when he tried hard to do something.

The phrase “Acting: D” in his status window suddenly came to mind. Acting in front of a camera was a form of performance, so would improving his acting grade make it look more natural and smooth?

Sol briefly considered using an Ability Grade Enhancement Ticket, but shook his head. He had only one ticket left. It seemed better to save it for a time when it was really unavoidable or a meaningful choice was needed. While Sol was briefly thinking, the photographer, seemingly satisfied with the photos he had taken, put down his camera.

“Let’s check the photos for a moment, change clothes, and move on to the group shots.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Sol did well, didn’t he?”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Yeong-ho quickly approached the photographer and asked. The photographer glanced at Yeong-ho briefly before responding with a delayed “Yes, well, it’s okay.”

Sol checked the remaining trauma resistance time since the shoot ended faster than expected. Considering there was still a group shoot, it seemed safer to use a potion once more. While checking the trauma resistance time, the members flocked to Sol.

“Sol, good job.”

“Well done, well done. Oh, our Sol is beautiful.”

“You did well this time.”

“Right. Hyung, you did really well this time.”

Led by Ga-ram, Ji-ho, Tae-oh, and Deuk-yong all praised Sol. It had been a while since he had heard such genuine praise from everyone since he quit dancing.

[You are currently in a ‘small happiness’ state. Fatigue decreases rapidly.]

[The effect of the ‘Stability Potion’ is doubled in the ‘small happiness’ state.]

[Trauma Resistance 01:13:07]

A notification window Sol had never seen before appeared in the middle of his vision. Drawn to the unfamiliar text, Sol quickly read the glowing white words.

It was a notification window he hadn’t seen when he was previously in a ‘small happiness’ state. It seemed that being in this state while having taken the potion extended the effect duration. When Sol last checked, there were about 15 minutes left of trauma resistance, but over an hour had been added. The original effect of the potion lasted for an hour, so it seemed to have doubled to two hours.

Sol quietly marveled. He wasn’t sure how long the group photo would take, but it seemed like he could save a Stability Potion at this rate. He felt good. It wasn’t just because of the potion’s effects, but also because of how everyone was helping him despite knowing his difficulties, and how all the members were praising him. He liked the new look of himself with a fresh haircut, even though it felt awkward. “A state of very small happiness” was the perfect way to describe it.

Regardless of whether the situation was unavoidable, he felt grateful to the members who endured him, waited without complaint, and tried to help. Sol awkwardly clasped his hands together and looked around at the faces of the members who were praising him. He wanted to thank them.

“Thank you, everyone.”

Sol expressed his gratitude, but somehow, everyone stayed silent. They exchanged glances, and then Tae-oh pointed towards Yeong-ho, as if he hadn’t heard Sol’s thanks.

“We need to check the photo.”

“Come on, let’s go. I’m curious. Sol hyung’s photo.”

“No, I mean, thank you.”

“What are you thankful for? Let’s just go check the photo.”

When Sol mentioned his thanks again, Ji-ho pushed him on the back. It seemed like they were deliberately pretending not to hear his gratitude. Pushed by Ji-ho, Sol stepped out of the booth and walked toward where Yeong-ho and the photographer were talking.

Deuk-yong playfully hopped ahead of Sol, walked backward, and laughed at Ji-ho.

“I saw a photo where Ji-ho hyung’s eyes were closed. It was really funny.”

“You too! There were more funny photos of you. Some even showed the whites of your eyes.”

“I took some really cool photos, though.”

Deuk-yong, hands behind his back, teased Ji-ho as he walked, and Ji-ho responded in kind, refusing to lose. Seeing their childish squabble, Sol chuckled, showing his teeth, and Deuk-yong’s attention shifted back to Sol.

“I hope there are weird photos of Sol hyung too. Then I’ll ask for those to be sent to me.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s funny.”

Upon Sol’s question, Deuk-yong twitched his nose mischievously and laughed. Sol shrugged, not quite understanding why anyone would bother to keep someone else’s photograph, especially when it wasn’t even their own. Sol didn’t originally like taking photos back in the other world either, and if it hadn’t been for Ju-hwan or Yoo-chan forcing him, there wouldn’t have been a single photo left.

He suddenly wondered if Ju-hwan and Yoo-chan from that side were doing well, and how he, being here, was living on that side. He started to feel melancholy at the thought of his existence possibly disappearing without a trace. Just as he was about to give in to the sad thoughts, Ga-ram, who was usually languid, suddenly raised his hand energetically and shouted urgently.

“Me too! I want one too.”

Before Sol had a chance to dwell on his gloomy thoughts, Ga-ram’s loud voice startled him, coming unexpectedly from beside him. It was surprising that Ga-ram, who wasn’t usually mischievous like Deuk-yong, wanted a photo where he didn’t come out well.

“A photo where I look strange?”

When Sol asked Ga-ram out of pure curiosity, Ga-ram visibly deflated and watched Sol’s reaction.

“You don’t like it?”

“No… I don’t really care….”

For a moment, Ga-ram’s expression showed disappointment, and Sol scratched his neck and trailed off. In truth, he didn’t care much. Whether it was a funny photo or a good one, it was just a photo, anyway. As Sol shrugged nonchalantly, Ga-ram’s face brightened noticeably. Sol realized, with some surprise, that Ga-ram was quite expressive after all.

As Sol and the members approached the monitor, Yeong-ho, Min-ju, and the photographer were already discussing the photo of Sol they had just taken.

“Wow, this is… a masterpiece.”

Yeong-ho’s admiration sparked a series of brief praises from everyone around. Displayed on the monitor was a close-up photo of Sol’s face. It was so close that even the fine hair on his face was visible. The photo, with Sol’s gaze slightly downward rather than looking directly at the camera, was very striking.

The strong light shining on Sol’s delicate and finely lined face cast sharp shadows, making his delicate features appear more pronounced. Sol stared blankly at the photo of himself displayed on the monitor, with his mouth slightly open.

It felt like someone else, not himself. Shortened black hair, a face he always saw in the mirror, yet it felt unfamiliar, as if it belonged to a stranger. The hair, which looked heavy at the ends, with a wet shine from a professional’s touch, rather than dry and frizzy. His eyebrows were neatly groomed but not overly so, with cheeks that had a natural flush, and slightly parted smooth lips. Everything felt new.

Chae Min-ju, who had been exclaiming in admiration alongside Yeong-ho, suddenly came to her senses and pointed the camera towards Sol. Even though Chae Min-ju stood right next to him with the camera, Sol couldn’t take his eyes off the monitor and didn’t notice her. Chae Min-ju seized the opportunity and asked a question to the entranced Sol.

“What do you think of seeing your own photo?”

“It doesn’t look like me… It looks like someone I’ve never seen before.”

Despite Min-ju’s question, Sol’s gaze remained fixed on his photo. In fact, everyone around was the same. From the moment Sol’s photo was displayed on the large monitor, everyone stopped what they were doing, gazing in awe and admiration at the picture. Min-ju smiled slightly at Sol’s response. It was quite endearing, like a child’s innocent reaction.

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