Chapter 2
Eunseok’s grip on my wrist tightened as I froze mid-step. The sharp scent of smoke snapped me out of my daze.
In one swift motion, I snatched the cigarette from Cha Wook’s hand.
“…!”
I crushed it under my shoe, then shoved the evidence deep into a trash bag. No witnesses.
“The hell are you doing?”
Wook spun me around, his face inches from mine.
“H-huh?”
Too close…!
Despite his furious glare, I couldn’t help gaping at his stupidly perfect jawline. His scowl deepened at my reaction.
“Hey. Who are you? What’s your deal?”
Get it together, Haebom. Time to go hard.
“That’s my line.”
“What?”
“Are you insane? This is a school. What if someone saw you?”
For an idol, his manners were trash. As my lecture spilled out, Wook blinked—then burst out laughing.
“Why do you care?”
“Huh?”
“Why does it matter to you what I do here?”
“Why? Hold on—”
I dug out the lip balm and applied it thickly. Ridiculous? Absolutely. But so was my regression—and this power. Explanations could wait.
I summoned my sternest voice.
“Cha Wook.”
“…?”
“I’m your homeroom teacher!”
His face went slack.
For the next 30 minutes, he’d see me as the terrifying 3rd-year department head—not some random girl.
Would it work?
“…Ah.” Wook’s voice turned meek. “S-sorry, ma’am.”
Bingo. The defiance vanished. I channeled my inner drill sergeant.
“Curiosity’s one thing, but this? If I catch you again, I’ll skin you alive. Understood?”
“Y-yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Don’t disappoint me!”
I fake-stomped away, then ducked behind a door.
He should’ve left by now.
But when I peeked, Wook was still there, slumped against the wall, staring at the sky. At least he didn’t light another—
“Hey. Move.”
A voice behind me. Annoyed, I waved without looking.
“Leave trash over there. This area’s closed.”
“Not here for trash. Here to collect someone.”
I turned—and choked.
“D-Do…”
“Eunseok-hyung.”
NevrAgin’s leader, Do Eunseok, stood there in a cap and mask, only his sharp brown eyes visible. Why was he at a school?!
Wow. Do idols’ heads really look that small?
Eunseok glanced at me. “Friend?”
Wook shrugged. “Dunno her.”
With a nod, Eunseok herded Wook toward the back gate.
“Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.”
Holy crap. Eunseok’s even cooler in person.
My awe shattered as screams erupted—fans had spotted Wook and were stampeding our way, led by a wild-eyed Seo Eun-sol. I bolted onto a passing bus.
Did it work?
My hands shook as I opened a search portal.
[Real-Time Search Rankings]
- National Mock Exam
- Grade Cutoffs
… - Cha Wook School Photos
No scandals. No leaked smoking pics.
SNS was silent. No news outlets screaming “IDOL CAUGHT SMOKING!”
“I… did it.”
I’d stopped Wook’s disaster!
My victory soured as rain streaked my all-8th-grade mock exam scores.
My parents used to drill “Study first!” into me. This timeline, though?
“Sweetie, grades aren’t everything. Rest. Have dreams!”
Sure. But “dreams” probably didn’t mean “saving idols from self-sabotage.”
With a groan, I flopped onto bed—and felt the lip balm in my pocket.
The pearl-like case glowed faintly. This was why I’d fooled Wook.
After my regression, an anonymous package arrived. Inside: this lip balm and a note—
[Move toward your goal. The light of deception will aid you.]
The instructions claimed:
“Apply to become anyone—perfectly—for 30 minutes.”
Even change how others perceive you.
Bullshit.
…Until it worked.
