Ch.231First Kiss Memory

# Controversy is like a fire.

It doesn’t grow by sitting still.

You have to keep adding firewood to make it bigger.

At this point, the public still didn’t know the match would be held next May.

So I needed to start building the story by making light provocations from now on.

In that sense, the current WBC Heavyweight Champion,

Edward Maxwell’s statement was nothing short of a signal flare for the story.

“I’ve seen all his matches, Olympics, Asian Games… all against nobodies.”

Since boxing organizations became four separate entities,

No Asian had ever claimed the heavyweight title in any organization.

So when an Asian won at this Olympics,

People called it a miracle and whatnot, but Edward found such expressions ridiculous.

“Miracle of Asia… hope… that’s laughable. He’s never even fought in the professional arena.”

Having an incredible record?

Having an absurd TKO record? I acknowledge all that.

But.

“Frankly, how many undefeated fighters have there been in the pro world, and how many guys with ridiculous records?”

He thought such things were merely momentary.

Especially since it happened in Asia, he felt even more strongly about it.

“They couldn’t win until now, so they finally got lucky, and they’re blah blah blah about it.”

I don’t know how childish this is.

Edward blatantly disparaged Kim Donghu.

The interviewer, who hadn’t expected him to go this far, was flustered.

“A-are you sure you can say that? To some extent…”

“No, it’s really fine. Write down everything exactly as I said it.”

Since there was no story yet,

He had come with the intention of giving a light interview.

‘I didn’t expect such intense hostility, no… why?’

He was pouring out emotions far more intense than imagined.

This level suggested some prior connection between them.

What could be the issue?

Just as he was thinking this.

“I can’t say too much because it might cause controversy… but just because he got lucky and made a movie doesn’t mean he should be by her side… Ah, no, skip this.”

Edward clearly resolved the curiosity.

All the keywords needed to explain the situation were there.

Movie, her.

‘Tarzan and Evelyn.’

Now it made sense why Edward was conducting such an intense interview.

This wasn’t simply an interview to generate buzz.

One of humanity’s primal emotions.

“Don’t write what I just said, it was just me getting worked up and talking nonsense.”

“Yes, understood. Then, um… continuing with our questions, how do you view his style?”

“It’s obvious, he won’t have the stamina. 12 rounds? He definitely can’t do it, his total fight time adds up to barely 4 rounds.”

His true feelings were drenched in jealousy.

“Not only that, but personally, I think he’s too tense.”

“Tense?”

“Yeah, I mean, that heavyweight knockout thing, why even bother with that?”

Most experts described it as pushing rather than knocking out.

Do you know what that means?

A question seeking agreement.

The interviewer played along appropriately.

“Anyone can push, that’s what I’m saying. It’s nothing special.”

To this, Edward poured out his true feelings.

“Hey, Tarzan, I’ll keep it short. Instead of hiding behind a woman like a coward learning modern civilization, get in the ring.”

I’ll show you how strong a male of the modern era can be.

With those words, the interview concluded.

‘…This is really going to cause a huge controversy, isn’t it?’

The moment the interviewer wrote the article, toning down the language as much as possible.

【Edward has really stirred things up?】

The internet exploded.

++++++

While the internet was heating up with Edward’s comments,

The “Tarzan” film set was completely unaware of it.

That’s because something even more important was happening right in front of them.

“Evelyn! Calm down! It’s okay! It was a mistake! No one will think anything strange about it!”

Thump thump thump.

Thump thump thump.

Thump thump thump.

Since filming had stopped after Evelyn ran away,

Her manager was desperately knocking on the door trying to persuade her, but.

“No, how could I! Even if others don’t! I, I think it’s strange!”

The answer remained consistent.

“Everyone makes mistakes!”

“Making a mistake like sticking out my tongue during what should be a light kissing scene is something only I would do in this world!”

This was completely different from a simple mistake.

The filming was ruined because of her openly revealed desire.

How could she possibly stay calm?

‘Did I look too perverted? Flirtatious…? What if people misunderstand me as someone with lots of past experience?’

The thought alone was horrifying and terrible.

Honestly, she thought this was partly Kim Donghu’s fault too.

‘Why did he have to appear now and make me act so strangely!’

She had heard rumors about how intense first love could be.

If so, he should have appeared during high school so she could have prepared.

Why did he have to show up now and torment her like this!

‘I can’t work, I can’t! I can’t build my career!’

She was already going crazy every time she watched the music video edits.

And now a kiss scene? And she made the mistake of using her tongue?

She could feel her blue eyes rolling on their own.

Evelyn looked in the mirror and stroked her blonde hair.

Honestly, objectively speaking.

‘Wouldn’t he not mind? I… I’m pretty… wouldn’t he think it’s a cute mistake if someone like me slightly slipped her tongue?’

Could there be a possibility of being forgiven for her sins because she was pretty?

Evelyn thought this while punching her pillow hard.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

“Why do I have to suffer this pain starting my first love at twenty-four! Why! Why! Why!”

While Evelyn was venting her frustrations.

Knock knock knock.

“What! I said I’m not coming out! Stop knocking already!”

“Should I come back later then?”

Kim Donghu had appeared.

“What?! Oh, no, wait! Just a mooooment!”

Even her words were getting tangled.

Still, she couldn’t possibly turn away Kim Donghu who had come to see her.

Evelyn quickly tidied up her waiting room while simultaneously.

Tap tap tap tap tap.

Fixing her makeup.

It was a skill bordering on acrobatics.

“It sounds a bit chaotic in there. If you’re busy, should I come back later?”

“No! It’s fine! Really! Just wait a little! 5 minutes! No, 10 minutes!”

After about 20 minutes had passed.

Click.

“C-come in.”

Evelyn wiped away her sweat and opened the door.

Gulp.

They had even eaten hamburgers together at the hotel.

Why did she feel nervous watching him enter her waiting room?

‘Maybe it’s because the space is different.’

While a hotel room felt like a rented space,

The waiting room was a space decorated according to her own taste.

It felt like she was letting him into her private space.

Her heart was racing for no reason.

“I’m sorry… the filming got delayed because of me.”

Nevertheless, being a professional, an apology came first.

She would need to apologize to the producer, director, and various staff members,

But the co-star deserved the first apology.

He must have been more surprised and shocked than anyone else.

But.

“No, it’s fine. It’s not the first time this has happened.”

“What?”

“I understand. First kisses are very impulsive… yes, I had those feelings too.”

The more surprised one was Evelyn after hearing Kim Donghu’s words.

“Have you… um… kissed before?”

“Yes? Well… I have a few in my works.”

“…Oh, I see, of course. That’s… that’s very obvious.”

Well, yes.

Thinking calmly, it wasn’t strange at all.

Honestly, she was the late one.

It would be extremely rare for an actor who had done multiple shoots to never have kissed.

However.

‘Why can’t I accept this?’

There was a big difference between understanding logically and accepting emotionally.

Being each other’s first kiss.

She knew how greedy this desire was, and that it was obviously impossible.

But she had still dreamed of it to some extent.

And since she had never actually been told it wasn’t possible,

She had harbored a vague hope.

‘No, calm down Evelyn. Calmly, calmly… I’m older… I should show maturity in this situation.’

Now that her expectations had completely collapsed,

Evelyn tried her best to calm her heart, and.

“…Then do it with me too.”

She failed.

“Wait, Evelyn… what did you say?”

“A kiss. Let’s do it right here, right now, then I’ll… film… I know how ridiculous this request is… but I’ll do the filming.”

Do it with me too.

Not publicly, but privately.

Hearing those words, Kim Donghu looked at Evelyn.

“…”

Her gaze was impossible to dismiss as a joke.

Her trembling blue eyes looked anxious and precarious.

Kim Donghu had seen such eyes many times before.

That’s why he knew how much courage it took to say those words.

Her once-flowing blonde hair was now settled calmly.

Her snow-white skin was now flushed red with heat.

“…”

No more conversation was necessary.

Silently closing the distance, he gently touched his fingertips to hers.

Interlocking their fingers.

He embraced her as she trembled with fear of rejection.

And.

Not as Tarzan and Jane.

But as Kim Donghu and Evelyn, their kiss began first.

The moment their lips met and tongues intertwined.

“!”

Evelyn’s eyes flew open.

‘W-what is this…?!’

So this is what it feels like to kiss someone you like.

How could something this wonderful exist in the world?

I’ve never felt anything like this before.

Who knew there was something sweeter than the birthday candy I ate as a child?

Surprised, Evelyn wanted to feel more of this sweetness and pressed forward.

“E-Evelyn? Evelyn?!”

Kim Donghu was startled.

This was less of a kiss and more like…

‘Lip collision? Tongue pushing?’

He couldn’t quite describe it, but what was certain was that it was extremely aggressive.

Worried she might hurt herself by pushing too hard, he tried to speak, but.

“More… more…!”

Evelyn was already in a trance.

It was the moment a unique first kiss memory was being created.

One that Evelyn would never tell anyone else about.

+++++++

At the same time.

Top Rank Promotion was currently in a festive mood.

“It’s already creating huge buzz?”

“From Twitter to Facestorm… it’s everywhere.”

That was because Edward had taken the bait exactly as expected.

Though they didn’t know why he was so passionately angry,

The fact that the situation was unfolding this way was a huge advantage.

“So now… all that’s left is for Kim Donghu to respond to this interview?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What will he say? I heard humility is a virtue for Asians… that would be boring.”

“I know, we need something exciting… but if he just talks about surrender or something, that would be too predictable, right?”

The action was good, so all that remained was the reaction.

How would he respond?

Top Rank Promotion hoped that Kim Donghu’s statement would create an enormous explosion.

“It would be fine if he just said something straightforward like ‘I’ll kill him.'”

The story was already this good before they’d even properly started.

They couldn’t even imagine how successful the match would be.