Seo Min-jae's POV
My mother kept folding the same shirt twice. It was the third time I'd seen her do it this morning. I didn't say anything. She looked tired, and I already felt guilty enough for lying.
"I'll only be gone for two weeks," I said, keeping my voice light as I zipped my old black duffel. "It's just a little work trip. It's not that far."
She glanced up from the laundry basket. "Two weeks?"
"Mm-hm." I forced a smile. "Soo-jae's friend found something for me. Pays well. I'll call every day."
She didn't ask what kind of work. That was the part that hurt most she trusted me too much to question it. My father muttered something about city people being sharks and went outside to check the bike engine. That was his version of goodbye.
I stood there for a second, staring at the wall clock. The second hand made a small click each time it passed the twelve. It was almost peaceful, the sound of a life that didn't move too fast.
I didn't belong to that pace anymore. Not since the hospital bills started showing up in stacks, one worse than the last.
By the time I stepped outside, Soo-jae was already waiting near the road with his cheap motorbike, helmet hanging from one arm. He grinned like this was a school trip instead of what it really was; a stupid, desperate idea we'd found online at three in the morning.
"You're late," he said, throwing me the spare helmet. "You told them?"
"Yeah." I strapped the helmet under my chin. "I told them their pretty son is going in for a bridal contest for a guy…..bro of cause I said it's a two-week job. They believed it."
He let out a low whistle. "You're going to hell for this."
I half-laughed. "We both are. Move."
He revved the engine and we left the end side of Seoul to the main city.
***
By the time we reached the city, my phone was buzzing with notifications. Mostly junk, except one video that made my stomach twist ; Kang Jae-hyun, CEO of KANG Group, standing in front of cameras, face blank and composed.
Soo-jae noticed me staring at my phone and leaned closer while driving. "You're not actually thinking of backing out, are you?"
"I am not…."
Soo-jae stared at me, and for a second he looked like he wanted to punch something. "You're serious."
"Dead serious."
He cursed under his breath, then said, "You have to tell Soo-ah."
"No."
"She's part of this trio, Min-jae. You know she's going to find out."
"She'll just talk me out of it."
"Exactly."
"Exactly why I'm not telling her."
He looked at me, jaw tight, then smirked a little. "Fine. You tell her, or I will."
***
We found her at the cafe where she worked part-time, wiping down a counter. When she saw us, her face lit up. That smile lasted about two seconds before she saw our expressions.
"What did you two idiots do this time?" she asked, frowning.
Soo-jae grinned at her. "Nothing yet. But he's about to ruin his life."
She blinked at me. "Okay, what's he talking about?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "You know that CEO guy on the news; Kang Jae-hyun?"
"The super rich hot crazy guy who doesn't smile? Yeah. What about him?"
I hesitated. "He's doing a contract marriage thing, Soo jae found it on the dark web and influencd me…."
Her frown deepened. "So?"
"I'm applying."
She stared. "You're joking."
Soo-jae laughed nervously. "He's not."
She dropped the cleaning cloth. "You're applying to be his bride? Are you out of your mind?!"
"Technically, yes."
"Min-jae…" she started, but her voice cracked. "You're… you can't just.. they'll find out. They'll…"
"It's a contract, Soo-ah. A year or so. No one gets hurt, and I get enough money to pay for the surgery. That's it."
Her eyes watered, but she didn't let a tear fall. "You think it's that simple? What if someone touches you? What if they find out you're…"
"They won't."
She laughed once, sharp. "And if they do?"
"Then I'll deal with it."
The silence after that was long. The sound of the espresso machine filled the air.
Finally, she said softly, "You've already decided, haven't you?"
I nodded.
She looked down, took a deep breath, then said, "Fine. If you're going to do this, you're not showing up looking like that. Sit down."
Soo-jae grinned. "See? I told you she'd help."
She smacked him lightly on the arm. "Shut up. Get me my bag."
***
We spent the next two hours in her small apartment, surrounded by open makeup palettes, hair ties, and a pile of thrifted clothes. She worked like she was performing surgery precise, annoyed, but focused.
"Stop moving," she muttered, applying concealer under my eyes.
"It stings," I said.
"Good. Maybe it'll sting some sense into you."
Soo-jae laughed from the couch. "He looks like one of those idols now."
"Shut up before I use the tweezers on you."
By the time she finished, I barely recognized myself. My hair was softer, styled over my forehead. My lips had a faint tint. My skin looked too smooth, too polished. I felt… unreal.
Soo-ah stood back, arms crossed. "Not bad. You could actually pass."
"Min-jae?" Soo-ah said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Promise me one thing."
"What?"
"When it's over, you come back as you. Not this."
I nodded once. "Deal."
***
That night, after they both left, I stood alone by the window, the city noise buzzing outside. My phone lit up with the competition's application page. I scrolled through the rules background checks, photo submissions, age requirements.
I hesitated only once, before hitting Submit.
The confirmation email arrived seconds later.
I stared at the screen until it dimmed. Then I whispered, "Two weeks."
Two weeks, and my life might never look the same again.