Daydreaming

Chapter 6

She had gained consciousness a few minutes ago, but she couldn't find the strength or the will to get up. She was tired. She didn't want to stop dreaming nor did she want to stop daydreaming as she laid here.

Rather than wrestling between work and play, she wished something remarkable could happen to her. Perhaps a bunny would lead her to a fantastical place full of magic and silliness that matched her quirky personality. She would have tea with the Mad Hatter and have fun, messing around with the mischievous cat.

She would run around freely without worrying about work the next morning. She would be liked for just being herself; she would be herself.

She wouldn't need to worry or stiffen up around people. Then she wouldn't become this serious person who had difficulty expressing herself.

Being Alice in Wonderland would mean everything would go her way, but she had to wake up eventually.

And when is 'eventually'?

"Wake up."

Was it now?

"Wake up, miss."

Miss? Who is that?

"Miss."

That's not my sister's voice.

"Miss, we're closing up. Wake up, please."

Wait, where am I?

Byeol opened her eyes and abruptly lifted herself up. Her arms felt numb, and her neck ached. Due to her sudden movements, she got a quick migraine, and her vision was black before it gradually faded back to transparency.

Although she sat up quickly, she was slow in noticing the menu stuck to her cheek. When she could see properly, she noticed she wasn't in her room. She was definitely not sleeping on her desk either.

"Ah, miss, you finally woke up. The restaurant is closing soon," the man, who helped her, informed politely.

Byeol forced herself to process everything. The man seemed pleased to see she got up from her seat, but she had done so clumsily. It must have been a worrisome sight.

"Right, sorry for the trouble," she fumbled through her wallet, "I must be tired from work - anyway! How much do I need to--"

Before she could take out the money, the man lifted his hands gesturing her to stop. He gave her a friendly smile.

"That's fine, miss. A nice young man paid for you already when he left," he said.

She halted, startled by the news. Her eyes were wide when she looked up at the man.

"Excuse me?"

Was she hearing things? What she was hearing sounded truly unbelievable.

"The man you sat next to paid for you. He said to tell you it's a," the man looked unsure, "bribe...?"

A bribe? For what? She wondered. Why would an idol need to bribe--

Oh.

She realized it; he was an idol. He basically paid for her meal, so she wouldn't tell anybody she saw him there. Or to be more realistic, it was to thank her for keeping quiet.

She laughed sheepishly. "Oh, a bribe!"

The man's perplexed expression relaxed into his friendly one again.

Byeol then thanked and greeted the man with a bow. She picked up her coat, quickening her pace as she exited the place. A smile grew on her face despite the pending trouble she would face.

How silly of him.

➵

After a dreadful scolding and looks of concern, Byeol had taken a bath.

Now she was lying on her bed, while staring aimlessly at her ceiling. Her thoughts lingered on earlier happenings.

She could never resist a smile when she was alone. That too could be said when expressing her emotions in general, so her frown came naturally as her smile did.

A bribe to keep quiet, huh?

Byeol rolled to her side and covered her face completely with her blankets.

I would never do that.

That restaurant was a safe place for many. If she went around telling people about her once in a lifetime encounter, fans would be swarming around that hidden gem. It was a given that neither of them wanted that.

Besides, I wouldn't be able to even if I wanted to.

She froze up and ended up looking serious when she spoke to people. Then she ended up limiting her vocabulary to only the minimum. If someone asked her 'how are you', she answered 'good' and got straight to the point.

She couldn't get herself to say anything more or say things with her usual cheerfulness.

Byeol sighed.

Maybe that's why my co-workers dislike me - TXT too.

For an unknown reason, she thought back to her small exchange with J-Hope. It only resulted in her kicking her blankets and screaming internally.

Ah! I was so disrespectful! What if he's secretly mad and he recognizes me at work. What will he do then!?

Momentarily, her worry turned into confusion. She stuck out her head; her hands holding the blanket's edges. Her eyebrows knitted in thought.

"But wait, in the first place, why was I being so open in front of him?"

Strangely, eating in silence like that and sitting next to him felt so... nostalgic.

Why is that?