Paper Dolls

Chapter 24

"Let's try looking at other angles. See the people associated with them," Hyeon suggests and he goes through galleries of Sweet Poison's pictures. 

There are so many events, so many solo activities. After a while my eyes start feeling sore and begin to water. It's like trying to find a needle in a very glamorous haystack. 

"Wait!" I startle Hyeon by pointing at a picture in the bottom left corner aggressively. "That's the guy in the picture! I think it's one of them."

Hyeon zooms in on the picture of Maria, Loona, Summer and Dalia, flanked on both sides by well dressed very good looking men. I recognise one of them as Li Geun, the artist in the group picture in Mr Wan's studio. 

He is standing next to Dalia in this one and I notice there is no polite distance usually seen at events like these. Men and women tend to maintain a professional distance in most pictures taken on the red carpet. You can see most male idols have their hands wrapped around female idols shoulders but they are usually suspended in air, no physical touch usually happens. 

It's common decorum here but there is none of that in this picture. The girls laugh and smile comfortably and Li Geun's hand is hidden somewhere behind Dalia's back, while she leans into him, striking a cute pose. 

They look so comfortable with each other. Like good old friends or maybe even lovers?

Beside me Hyeon is silent. I turn to see him fixated on Li Geun, sizing him up from head to toe. The jealousy on his face almost comical. There really is no competition when it comes to Li Geun. 

He was ranked in Korea's top ten bachelor list last year and his art pieces as so prolific, I've heard each one sells for about five million won a piece. 

"What are you staring at?" I finally ask because Hyeon hasn't moved an inch since we discovered this picture. He looks like a zombie staring at it. 

"Look at Loona's hand," He finally speaks. 

I'd been so fixated on Dalia and Li Geun that I'd barely focused on the rest of the picture. I lean in and stare at Loona, who is on the far right standing next to another tall well dressed man. 

Unlike Dalia and Geun, these two are standing within range of the usual polite distance that celebrities practice but what's interesting is their hands. 

The man's hand is outstretched, reaching for hers and I notice her bare arm splayed out, hand open. 

Hyeon zooms in on the picture which decreases the resolution but it is enough to make out a small white piece of paper in her hand. It is so tiny, barely noticeable to the naked eye. I smile at Hyeon, feeling impressed.

"Nice catch. What do you think that is?" 

"Not sure. But it's definitely something to look into and also who this guy is." He screen shots the picture and leans back. "It's getting late. We should head back. If you find out anything else text me. We need to be prepared before ambushing Loona." 

I nod in agreement, getting up and setting my satchel over my shoulder. 

Hyeon gets up and pauses to stare at me suddenly, looking like he is seeing me properly for the first time tonight. He gestures at the elaborate make up on my left eye.  "You look pretty." 

I turn around before he can see my face burning. "I didn't have time to wash up before coming here."

"There's a nice sandwich truck over here." Hyeon leads me to the parking lot across the road from the library. 

The street here is busy with people taking leisurely walks with their partners and buying street food from the clapboard stalls lining the road. We stop at an egg foldover stall and Hyeon buys two sandwiches.