Chapter 64 - Message: SENT

Once again, Kim Jun Hyeon barely disguised his boredom, and glanced discreetly at the clock, checking that it was almost midnight. He was across town at a hip Gangnam nightclub, with some friends and acquaintances, celebrating a friend's birthday.

The electronic music was loud, and it didn't allow deeper conversations; yet someone was trying to tell something he really couldn't pay attention to.

Two younger girls were seated by his side: they're from the same social circle as their friends, and had recently returned from a trip to Europe. They looked happy and were very beautiful. One had her hair in a copper color shade that resembled Ye Rim's, just it was straight, sleek and heavy enough — unlike the crazy singer's hair, which had light waves and a nice movement.

The other girl was more reserved and sweet. Which was cute on its way, but also a little tiresome; because he had to make all the decisions, as she apparently had no opinion or couldn't even choose what to drink. Absolutely unlike the freak Miss Tuna.

Completely bored, Jun Hyeon dodged the girls, with the excuse of going to the restroom, and walked away, staring at his phone screen.

Other than the usual messages, there was no sign of the greedy singer of the fifth-class club. 'Aish, why do I care? It's not like I should get involved with that weird woman… '

He returned his phone in his pocket, then changed his mind. But his index hesitated in front of the illuminated screen, when the surgeon realized he would give in to the urge to call Nam Ye Rim.

'Wouldn't I be ridiculous if I called her on a Friday night?'

He again hung up the phone, making up his mind, and headed toward the bar. 'Let her have fun with her old age fans..."

...

Ye Rim was at Pearl's backstage, feeling the effects of a migraine, and feeling absolute crap. But there was someone there who was far worse than her:

Duk Mi.

The former trot star had tried not to show how much the late-afternoon discussion had shaken his self-confidence, but Musician Chang's harsh words of farewell had poisoned his heart.

They were in the third and last break of Friday's show. The audience was not especially good for this period of the month. It only reinforced the male singer's sense of failure.

"Ye Rim… If you wish, keep my dressing room as yours from now on. You are the star here. I'm just the past."

"Sunbaenim, don't think about that. Musician Chang just said that as slander. I'm sure he doesn't even really think that."

"But he's right. This wrinkled face of mine does not even live up to a duet with you."

"What matters is your voice… which is powerful."

"So you agree with what was said? Do you really agree that I'm wrinkled and wrecked?"

Ye Rim regretted speaking so thoughtlessly. 'Damn, what a big mouth!'

"It's nothing like that, sunbaenim. Although there is an age difference, sunbae is well kept and healthy…" What more could Ye Rim say? Age took a toll on all living beings; it was just natural. Unfortunately the singer's narcissistic personality made him a very vain person and quite susceptible to criticism. And being even older than her father, how could it be any different for a romantic duet to with her to get a little weird?

"Well, sunbae, people come here to listen to good music. Anyone who says otherwise is lying."

"Uhm," he ignored her completely, heading toward the backlit mirror of the dressing room, where he meticulously examined his own face. Ye Rim sighed, a little annoyed by that, but she could afford being empathetic with the older singer's situation. It was quite natural that he was terrified about his declining appearance, his age and his situation. After all, for industry, she herself was considered old and finished at just 26 years old.

So she approached, placing her hand on the veteran's shoulder, "Sunbae Duk Mi, just get over it. Talent and experience are your greatest assets."

"Uhum. I know. But I think if I do a makeover, I'll be even better. Besides, my fans deserve the best."

"Of course they do."

The singer stretched his face with both hands in front of the mirror, pulling at his skin as much as he could. Ye Rim didn't even want to laugh. It wasn't funny after all.

"Sunbae…"

"You have an excellent contact for it, Ye Rim. Your handsome friend Dr. Kim. He is famous, right? Mr. Go keeps talking about him and even my friends know him."

"Uhum…" Ye Rim could predict where this conversation would end. "Sunbaenim, it's not like you needed his help..."

"Do not be lying" he turned to her, "He's the best, isn't he?"

"Ah, well, that's what they say… His schedule is busy, and…"

"This. I need to see him."

"Ah…"

"I already talked to him, he said it's all about simple procedures."

" Uhm…"

"Give me his phone number."

"Sunbaenim!"

"C'mon, Ye Rim. Don't you realize that I have urgency to solve my problem?"

"Sunbaenim Duk Mi, I don't see why looking for a plastic surgeon could solve the problem…"

"See, you admit I truly have a problem! See how lies don't travel far!"

"…! Bwahhh! Don't be like that, sunbaenim!" Ye Rim was frustrated, but she knew her veteran's difficult genius well enough to know she was in trouble.

"If you are my friend, then you must help me, Ye Rim!" Duk Mi pointed a finger at the singer. "It will be much easier to arrange an appointment with Dr. Kim if it is your request."

"Ah, well… It would be much more elegant if the sunbae did everything the usual way, calling the clinic, and…"

"In an emergency situation of THIS magnitude... Do you think I should patiently wait for a vacant date on his schedule, as normal? You are about to be hired by HTN, and going to leave Pearl; and I'll stay here_ this wrinkled old turtle? The one responsible for bringing audiences to the club? You want me to die? Want me to be humiliated?"

'Omo, such a drama queen!' Ye Rim thought, but sighed, and said, "Omo, omo, none of this makes sense! Women come here in swarms to hear your romantic songs and look at your charmingly mature features; sigh for your velvety voice… Men are jealous!"

"So I need to keep my good looks longer. Come on, Ye Rim, be a good girl. Give me his phone number."

Realizing that it would be very difficult to escape this situation, Ye Rim thought of an alternative:

"Well, I could send a message… Myself! Look, wait!" She pulled out her cell phone and started typing the message, and she read aloud as she wrote:

"'Hello, Dr Kim…'"

"Do not be like that. Write 'oppa'! It will make him to see me faster."

Ye Rim gave a withering glance at the singer, but he did not care; just gestured with his hand for her to do as he had said. However, Ye Rim did not change that. In fact, until then, she was thinking about not really sending the message. She didn't think she should take advantage of the weak connection with the surgeon to ask him this kind of favors.

She continued:

".'..Mr. Duk Mi, who is my personal friend and met you at the Pearl, needs your opinion about an aesthetic procedure. Would it be possible for you to see him… '"

" 'As a personal favor…' "

"No, sunbaenim! "

"Don't be silly, girl. Write it. He'll like it."

"No!"

"Uhn, whatever," he looked frustrated, and returned to the mirror, applying some translucent powder to minimize the glow of the skin.

"'... would it be possible to see him with priority? He asked so as a favor. Please tell me how he should proceed.'"

"Ah, if it were for yourself, would you write like this?"

'If it was for myself I don't know if I could even make an appointment with him…' Ye Rim mused. But she was startled when she noticed the veteran singer looking at what she had written, over her shoulder. "Oh, how scary!"

"Just wanted to make sure my friend was writing to the right person…" he said simply.

"Omo..." Ye Rim muttered under her breath.

"All right. It's not perfect, but maybe he'll read between the lines… Send it."

"Uhn? Read 'what' between the lines ?!"

"'What', you know. Come on, what are you waiting for? Send it right now," he nodded, ordering her to press the SEND button.

Ye Rim had no choice but to obey, with cringe and this anxious feeling on the consequences...

...

Jun Hyeon was coming to the bar to order a drink and stay a while away from his friend's table, when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He had a funny feeling about this, and he pulled the phone with his fingertips, and a wry, satisfied smirk on his lips.

When he checked the sender, he can no longer contain the smile.