Episode 28: You’ve Got Talent
A cascade of wavy black hair, like the night sky flowing down.
Snow-white skin in striking contrast.
No need for heavy eyeliner—her large eyes, sharp nose, pink-blushed cheeks, and full lips pressed together.
And the finishing touch: a black double-breasted dress and heels, courtesy of Moon Sookhee.
Could Cinderella, enchanted by glass slippers, compare to this?
Transformed by the magical hands of professionals, Zia seems to claim every man’s gaze as her own.
“Wow, this lady came to slay! Most idols couldn’t even compete.”
“Thank you…”
“Oh, I’m late with intros. I’m Shin Doyeon, your photographer today.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Even Shin Doyeon, a renowned photographer who’s shot album covers for MyWay artists and countless idols, is in awe.
Zia might think it’s just flattery, but as her boyfriend, I know it’s genuine.
“The model’s so good, I’m excited to shoot today. Passport and profile photos, right? Shall we start with the gentleman? I’m the type to save the best for last.”
I’ve never been treated like this before.
Is it because of Zia? I feel oddly pleased as I step onto the stage, but Zia lightly grabs my wrist.
“What?”
She beckons me closer with a finger, and I lean in carefully.
“Is it really okay for us to shoot here?” she whispers, her voice trembling.
“What, you don’t like it?”
“No… it’s not about liking or disliking. It’s just… a bit overwhelming.”
Fair enough.
For Zia, whose photo experiences are limited to neighborhood studios or instant photo booths, a high-end studio for magazine shoots must feel daunting.
She’s so cute, I almost pat her head but stop myself.
No way I’m ruining that perfectly styled hair.
“If it’s not bad, let’s do it. It’s all experience, right?”
“But this place is so…”
“We’re here now—no canceling. Just enjoy it, Zia. Besides, I’ll be doing this a lot in the future. Gotta get used to it too.”
Truth is, I’m beyond used to it—almost bored.
Maybe my grin was too cheeky, because Zia glares at me playfully.
“You’re too much. You know I can’t say no when you put it like that.”
“It’s a rare date. Let’s make it special, yeah?”
“Ugh… fine. Go on, they’re waiting.”
“Alright, I’ll be back.”
Shin Doyeon, ready and waiting, smiles warmly at us.
I nod to her and sit casually on the chair between the lighting panels. She peers through the camera, chatting casually.
“You two look good together. How long have you been together?”
“About seven years.”
“Wow, that’s a while. At that point, isn’t it more habit than love?”
“Is it? Doesn’t feel that way to us.”
“Jealous~!”
Her small talk flows naturally.
Meanwhile, the shutter’s already clicked several times.
“Head down a bit? Body slightly to the left… yes, perfect.”
The shutter keeps flashing relentlessly.
Shin Doyeon’s clearly skilled—her eyes alone tell me what pose she wants, so I adjust preemptively. Her fingers move like they’re possessed.
We wrap up with a formal shot for the passport photo.
“Phew. Have you done modeling before?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You’re too comfortable. Regular people don’t come off this natural.”
Shin Doyeon’s amazement doesn’t stop.
“Well, I’ve been on Times Square a few times.”
“Ha, listen to this guy.”
A joke’s a joke.
‘Not a few times—dozens.’
I shrug at Shin Doyeon, who obviously doesn’t know, and my turn ends.
“Alright, next up!”
The main event of the shoot—Zia’s turn—begins.
***
“Alright, next up!”
Zia hesitantly steps onto the stage.
Shin Doyeon smiles at her.
“You’re too tense. Don’t overthink it. Pretend you’re at an instant photo booth with a close unnie.”
“Haha…”
Zia lets out an awkward laugh at Shin Doyeon’s words.
‘Instant photo booth? I’ve only done those with Yujin a few times.’
Such moments were a luxury for Zia until now.
Click. Click.
As the shoot begins, the pressure weighing on Zia grows heavier.
“Hmm…”
The shutter slows compared to earlier, and Shin Doyeon, who was chatting lively with me, lets out occasional sighs.
‘Maybe I should just ask for the passport photo and skip the profile…’
Today’s schedule must’ve cost a fortune.
Feeling like she’s ruining it, Zia resolves to say something.
Then, her eyes catch a figure.
-“Fighting. You. Look. Absolutely. Stunning.”
Behind Shin Doyeon, Han Yujin silently mouths each word clearly, his message flying straight to Zia.
For some reason, Zia’s mind goes blank in that moment.
Is it because this studio, like something from a celebrity photoshoot show, feels like it doesn’t suit her?
‘No, that’s not it.’
Is it the unfamiliar, luxurious dress weighing her down?
‘No, not that either.’
It’s because of the man she just saw.
The image of Han Yujin, radiating charm in front of the camera, overlaps in her mind.
‘Why now, all of a sudden?’
Hasn’t he always shone brightly?
From the moment she first saw him singing behind the old school building, where few ventured, Han Yujin was a dazzling star in Woo Zia’s eyes.
‘So why?’
Why is her heart pounding so fiercely?
Zia can’t explain the strange, bubbly tickle rising in her chest, but one thing is certain.
‘It’s different.’
The thrill she felt the day Han Yujin passed the Blind Singer prelims—when she was overjoyed, yet he took it in stride, as if it were only natural—is different.
The flutter when he, with his stronger frame, caught her effortlessly during the Round 1 shoot, making her pout for no reason—is different.
‘Definitely different.’
That certainty only confuses her more.
But—
-“It’s okay. You can do it.”
Even as the studio’s atmosphere grows heavy, Han Yujin’s silent, encouraging lip movements paint Zia’s mind completely white.
“Yes, that’s it! Hold it!”
In that white world, Han Yujin’s radiant figure—
‘I want to be someone who belongs by his side.’
—sparks a fleeting wish in Zia, a magical phenomenon so powerful it feels like sorcery.
***
I’ve thought about it before.
Before my regression, when I was Polaris’s Yujin.
What was Zia doing, where was she?
Honestly, I thought about it a lot.
Aside from music, it was probably my most frequent thought.
But I only thought about it.
I never once considered looking for her.
Because if I did, I’d have gone to her for sure.
One thing was certain, though.
She wouldn’t have been in the entertainment industry.
‘No way she’d stay near it after leaving me.’
It’s a meaningless thought now.
Yet, this meaningless thought fills my head because—
“Wow, looks like you’re finally loosening up. Great, let’s keep going!”
Zia, suddenly transformed, poses naturally before the camera, unfolding before my eyes.
Right now, she’s the epitome of a perfect model.
‘Could it be… this was her path?’
Maybe it’s wishful thinking.
They say love is blind.
To me, Zia’s the ultimate subject, surpassing any model. But to others, she might just be an ordinary person.
But what if this isn’t just my hope? What if Zia’s true talent lies in this world—the entertainment industry?
It would explain why she always vaguely shook her head at Moon Sookhee’s many opportunities.
She’s done makeup and taken photos, but never been on the receiving end of it.
“What’s with this couple? This isn’t a prank, right? You didn’t bring pro models to mess with me for YouTube, did you? How are you this good? Okay, look slightly up, not at the camera. Good, hold it. Three shots.”
Zia’s shoot teeters on the edge of profile photos and concept art, heating up the room.
Yet, Shin Doyeon, a top-tier pro, never loses sight of the original goal.
An amateur might’ve gotten carried away, but the studio’s electric atmosphere is all her doing.
“Man, it’s been a while since shooting was this fun. I’d keep going, but we’re out of time. Let’s sit in the chair for the last shots. Straight posture, chin up, natural smile. Three shots. One, two, three. Perfect. You’re done.”
Every minute saved from my shoot was poured into Zia’s, an efficient session.
Wiping sweat from her brow, Shin Doyeon leads us to a monitor displaying our photos.
“I don’t say this even to pro models, but… you two have no B-cuts. Today was fun, and I’ll retouch everything and send it to you. No extra charge—my treat.”
“Isn’t that too much?”
“Exactly. It’s practically malpractice, but I’d get choice paralysis picking A-cuts. You’re heading to apply for passports, right? I’ll send the ones for that now and the rest by tomorrow.”
I chuckle inwardly at Shin Doyeon’s words.
‘That excuse wouldn’t fool anyone in the industry.’
A photographer with choice paralysis over A and B-cuts? That might work on civilians, but not pros. There’s another reason.
“And…”
As expected, Shin Doyeon pulls out a business card case.
“If you ever think about working in this field, give me a call.”
There it is.
I smirk, reaching for the card, but it slips past my fingers.
“No, not you—the lady.”
Shin Doyeon’s gaze isn’t on me but behind me, at Zia.
“You were comfortable, but… sorry, not fun. The one I want to work with is her.”
“Me…?”
Zia stammers, stunned, as Shin Doyeon presses the card into her hand, gripping it firmly.
“Think about it seriously. You’ve got real talent.”
Looks like I wasn’t imagining things.