episode_0127

One Friday evening, in Seonyeong’s bedroom.

I was lying on the bed next to her watching TV.

Unlike us, Elia was sitting quietly on one side of the bed, watching TV.

It’s not that I’m doing this because I’m in a position to live in this house, but it’s just that my body language from when I was a goddess still remains as a habit.

She felt like a girl who grew up in a strict household.

On TV, broadcasters who went on vacation abroad were experiencing the local culture.

The only overseas trip I’ve ever taken was to Thailand with my family right after I was discharged from the military, so I suddenly became curious.

“Seonyoung must be used to being abroad. She goes out often for filming.”

“I guess so.”

“Where was the most fun?”

“I don’t have any particularly fun memories. When I went, I always thought about work.”

Since she is the type of person who strives for perfection when it comes to her work, her answer just now is completely understandable.

At that moment, Seonyeong’s sigh was heard.

“Haa. I wish I could go play across the ocean comfortably once.”

“You’ve never done that before?”

“Because before I met you, I just worked all day.”

“Then, since tomorrow is the weekend, shall we go out and play? For one night.”

I brought it up because I wanted to fulfill my lover’s wish, but Seonyeong’s reaction was boring.

“Well… I’m glad I went, but honestly, I don’t think I’ll feel comfortable no matter where I go.”

Even though the explanation was lacking, I could tell what she meant by those words.

Because she is a celebrity who cannot help but be concerned about other people’s eyes wherever she goes.

Because of that, most of the time we spent together was at home, and even when we went out, we had to cover up tightly in case someone recognized us.

This probably won’t be much different if you go abroad.

If a Korean person notices this and the news spreads that Cha Seon-yeong came on a trip with a man, it would be embarrassing.

Besides, if it was just for one night, they would have to go to a nearby country, and Seonyeong was a famous person who was recognized by many people in neighboring countries.

“Being a celebrity isn’t an easy job.”

Seonyeong nodded slightly at my words.

“It’s my choice, but… Sometimes I wish that no one in the world would know me for just one day. Then I could go out and play in peace.”

Although I brought up the topic of going abroad lightly, I unintentionally made her feel embarrassed.

Just as I was about to change the subject, Elia, who I thought was engrossed in watching TV, spoke.

“Seonyoung! It’s possible!”

“Huh?”

“Not everyone in the world, but it is possible to prevent those around you from recognizing Seonyeong.”

“Is that true?”

Elia nodded confidently to Seonyeong’s question and answered.

“Yes. Is that right, Do-Hyeon?”

“Huh? … Ah!”

I understood Elia’s words a beat late.

Now that I think about it, she gave me a necklace that contained her power.

I carried it around with me out of habit, but since I had no use for it after seeing Elia’s compatibility, I never thought of it.

If you use that, you can fulfill Seonyeong’s wish.

“What are you two talking about?”

Seonyeong looks back and forth between me and Elia with a bewildered expression.

This time, I spoke to her confidently.

“Seonyoung-ah. Let’s go play tomorrow.”

—

The next day, Seonyeong and I were in the neighboring country, Japan.

An impromptu trip with no plans or preparations made the day before.

This was my first time traveling alone with her, so my heart was pounding from the time I hurriedly booked the flight and accommodations yesterday until now when I just set foot on Japanese soil.

While Seonyeong was out of the house, Elia decided to let Zia sleep in her room.

I told Elia not to worry because she could be alone, but does that mean I can be at ease?

Zia also said she was worried about leaving Elia alone and gladly took her with her.

Ha-eun, who heard the story, also came to the studio and said that the three of them would sleep together, so it seemed like there was no time to be bored.

“… .”

Seonyeong had a bewildered expression as if she didn’t know she would actually come, but she was also fidgeting, worrying about what others thought.

But there was absolutely no need for that.

Because I used the power of the necklace Elia gave me to make sure that no one around me recognized her.

I told this story to Seonyeong, but she seemed to have a hard time believing it just from words.

“Don’t worry. It’s okay to be at ease.”

“Still… .”

With her still feeling uneasy, we headed to the ryokan we had made a reservation for in advance.

Coming to a place with a traditional feel of a neighboring country rather than the familiar modern buildings, I felt once again that I was traveling abroad.

“Ah… !”

It was when I was following the female staff at the ryokan to the room I had reserved.

Seonyeong, embarrassed, clung to me and shrank down.

Because of another group of female guests coming from across the hallway.

There were four of them, and the conversation was so loud that we could hear them speaking in Korean.

“Ha, you must be Korean.”

Seonyeong was at a loss, wondering if someone might recognize her.

I can’t say that everyone in South Korea knows Cha Seon-yeong, but the probability that even one in four adults doesn’t know her is extremely low.

Still, I held her hand tightly to reassure her.

“It’s okay. You won’t recognize me.”

“… .”

As I walked, I got closer and closer to the Korean group, and finally our eyes met.

There was a moment of silence that felt like the air was frozen, but soon the other group passed us by and continued their conversation.

“Did you just see the couple? They’re so handsome.”

“That’s right. It’s just like when I was a young lady.”

“Hey, what am I.”

Only after the voice grew distant did Seonyeong let out a sigh of relief.

“I really don’t recognize you.”

“Am I right?”

Anyone who sees us is under a kind of hypnosis, and automatically perceives us as someone they are seeing for the first time.

Because the distorted memories continued, no accidents occurred afterwards.

“Oh.”

As soon as I arrived at the room, I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

An interior space made of tatami mats and wood.

Just looking at the exotic atmosphere, different from Korea, made my heart feel calm.

I had a bit of a hard time finding a decent place the day before, but it was well worth it.

“Wow. Seonyeong, come here!”

I looked around and called her.

Seonyeong’s eyes widened as she came next to me and saw the same sight as I did.

“It’s an open-air bath. It’s great.”

As she said, we were looking at the open-air bath attached to the room.

It was a place that we could access through a door in the bathroom. It was large for a place that we could use alone, and it had a nice atmosphere because the mountains and the sky were visible.

“I hope you come home later tonight, right?”

“Yeah.”

Since I couldn’t just keep looking around, I unpacked and left the ryokan.

I took a walk in the nearby mountains to breathe in the clean air, and I also took a taxi out and explored the shopping district.

Actually, it’s not a special act at all.

It’s not something you necessarily have to take a plane to do; it’s a common activity that you can do near your home if you put your mind to it.

And yet, just because this was a foreign country, every little thing was new and enjoyable.

It feels like being liberated from the old world.

Seonyeong also came to believe in the power of the necklace and enjoyed her leisure time with peace of mind.

In the evening, we returned to the ryokan and enjoyed a prepared dinner.

They say that a trip to a Japanese ryokan is characterized by a luxurious dinner, and it was such a satisfying time that I could really appreciate that statement.

After that, we drank tea together on the terrace and chatted about various things.

“It’s completely dark now.”

“That’s right. Time seems to pass too quickly.”

Seonyeong’s face is filled with regret as she puts down her teacup.

I feel sorry for it too, but there was still one thing left for us to enjoy.

It is none other than an open-air hot spring.

“Whoa.”

After a quick shower, I soaked my body in the hot spring naked.

It felt like the hot water was melting away all the worries and fatigue inside me.

I wanted to tell Seonyeong about this feeling, but she was still showering.

“Really good… .”

Being outside, relying only on the light from the lights under the roof, makes me feel like a natural person on TV.

The moonlit mountains gave me a strange sense of liberation.

“Dohyun-ah.”

“Oh, you’re here? Come on in. It’s so great.”

“Ugh… .”

Seonyeong, who had just finished showering, was naked like me.

Looking at the way he’s covering things with his hands, it looks like he’s embarrassed because it’s outdoors.

When I motioned for him to come in, he put his feet in the hot spring and slowly soaked his body.

“Sigh… .”

“Good?”

“Yeah. It was a little cold before I came in, but it’s so warm now that I’m in. ”

I smiled back at her sentiments and enjoyed the hot spring water.

It’s so warm and relaxing that it wouldn’t be strange if I fell asleep like this.

When both her body and mind were relaxed, Seonyeong, who was quietly looking out into the mountains, said.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been this comfortable.”

“I’m glad you had a good time. Even if it’s hard to do it often, let’s come here and play like this sometimes.”

“Yeah… .”

There was a hazy look in her eyes.

It’s as if I’m recalling a moment from the past.

“Actually, Dohyun, I was pretty exhausted before I met you. I worked nonstop, but at some point I started to wonder what I was doing all this for. If I hadn’t met you, I probably would’ve collapsed from exhaustion.”

“Then, did things get better after meeting me?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, I made up with Jia, and I became friends with good kids like Ha-eun and Elia. More than anything, when I receive comfort from you, no matter how tired I am, I gain strength. Like today… . Thank you so much. ”

“I just did what I wanted to do, but I’m grateful to Elia. She introduced us to each other and even gave us the necklace.

“Yeah. Will you be happy if you receive a souvenir?”

“Wouldn’t you be happy because it has a floral pattern?”

I joked around and laughed lightly with her for a moment, then looked at her in silence.

Her body, with only her shoulders and collarbone exposed, and her still-dry hair were so alluring that it was hard to take my eyes off her.

Drawn to her appearance, I soon found myself leaning close to her side and feeling her body.

“Hey, let’s do it here…?”

“It would be a shame to just leave.”

“Still, it’s a little embarrassing because it’s outside… .”

“That makes me even more excited?”

“… .”

He couldn’t bring himself to refute me and looked at me with trembling eyes.

Now, she is no longer the celebrity Cha Sun-young, but an ordinary person that no one recognizes, but she still looks prettier than any celebrity in my eyes, so I put my lips together without hesitation.