Han Minyeong's First Date (2)
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And here too was a woman embarking on her very first romance, still green and unripe. Her name was Han Minyeong. Actress by trade. Much like the character she played, Kim Jihye, who fell for a man today and began her first love, Minyeong herself had gotten her first boyfriend in life today.
That boyfriend was an idol—and so handsome he could be called a god among men, far too good for someone like her.
That must be why.
I can’t believe this is real.
Han Minyeong couldn’t get used to the sight of the man before her, a figure so divine it wasn’t an overstatement. She kept pinching her thigh, wondering if she was dreaming.
Their meeting had exceeded expectations from start to finish. After filming wrapped, she’d ridden comfortably in Jin Haesol’s manager’s car all the way home, only to run into him right in front of her place.
Maybe it felt extra thrilling because we’re sneaking around.
She couldn’t bring herself to invite him in, even formally. Her rundown, shabby home was too embarrassing to show him.
Instead, he grabbed her hand firmly and said let’s go grab dinner, hailing a taxi.
“Is this really okay?”
“Haha! I told you it’s fine.”
For their first date, he’d wanted to take her somewhere memorable, so he’d dragged her straight to a family restaurant. Knowing she’d worry, he paid upfront and ordered steaks and all sorts of dishes.
Delicious. The meat melts in my mouth. So that’s how good steak is.
Two steak A-course meals costing over 150,000 won, salad bar, light pre-meal bread, and healthy fresh fruit juice to boot. There, she stuffed herself silly.
She’d probably eaten extra hard out of lingering resentment toward Jin Haesol that hadn’t fully faded.
I didn’t say it outright since I didn’t want to bring it up, but anyone can see this is basically sponsoring.
A woman getting sponsored by a guy. Ridiculous, sure, but not impossible in this world. Though the terms were brutally strict. With so many pretty women around, ugly ones couldn’t sell themselves even if they tried—no demand.
“Where to now?”
After dinner, she’d vaguely expected they’d find some quiet spot for something naughty. But Jin Haesol’s suggestion was totally out of left field.
“I saw a bunch of night market-style shops over that way. Let’s go check ’em out.”
With her belly full to bursting, he cheerfully led her out to the street.
“You wanna go there with me?”
“Who else would I go with? You’re the one I’m here with, Noona.”
“What kind of guts do you have? We’re gonna get caught for sure.”
“I told you, the glasses make it fine. And you’re in a position where a scandal with me would actually be good, right?”
“Even so…”
“Come on, you said you’d leave it all to me. Keep your promise. No need to worry. Trust me.”
This guy must have balls twice the size of anyone else’s. She couldn’t fathom what gave him such confidence.
“If we get caught, I’m seriously pretending I don’t know you. This was your idea, right?”
“Yep!”
In the end, Han Minyeong went along with what Jin Haesol wanted. She was curious just how far his confidence would take them.
With her permission, he bounded around the street like an excited kid, buying her cute little trinkets left and right and piling them into her arms.
“This’d look great on you, Noona. Oh… and this one too!”
“…Buying more?”
“These two, please.”
“Stop buying!”
“Doesn’t this doll look just like you? Hehe! I’ll take this one!”
“Hey! Enough already!! I’ve got no hands left!”
The nonstop barrage of gifts left her dazed, swept along in a blur. When she came to, her hands were stuffed with shopping bags—all hers.
All this is mine?
She’d never gotten so many presents from anyone. Even her birthday parties had less.
Han Minyeong stood there, mouth shut, unsure how to react to the sudden windfall. If the gift-giver had been offended by her blank response, that’d be one thing—but Jin Haesol didn’t seem to care if she was happy or not.
To him, the gifts weren’t really “presents” but more like “souvenirs.” Unfortunately, she didn’t realize that.
Why doesn’t anyone recognize him? Am I crazy? Or are they? We’ve been wandering around forever, and not one person’s clocked Jin Haesol?
Jin Haesol had blown up right after debut with his insanely handsome face plastered everywhere. Even people clueless about idols would’ve heard the name.
So she’d figured someone would spot him for sure.
Even if they don’t know it’s Jin Haesol, how does a guy like that walk by without women staring? No way.
He had a hat and glasses hiding his face, sure, but his tall, athletic build honed by workouts was eye-catching enough. And in a world where men were scarce and women were starving for them?
Maybe it’s because there are other guys around?
Not everyone on the street was single like her. Just because her surroundings lacked couples didn’t mean the whole world was.
So many people have been dating like this without me knowing.
A wave of emptiness hit her. Why couldn’t she have that casual ease? What was she lacking? What made them special?
Squeeze—
“Ah?”
“Noona, what’re you thinking about? You’re not getting distracted by some other guy while dating me, right?”
The solid grip in her palm. The lively warmth from the hand holding hers.
“O-other guy? No way! I’d never do that to you!!”
“Right? No way you’d look at some ugly dude when you’ve got a handsome guy like me.”
“Obviously!”
Without realizing what she was saying, she hurriedly defended herself to his jealous(?) tone.
“I was just spaced out ’cause I couldn’t believe it. Never thought I’d be casually holding hands with a guy on a date.”
“You don’t hate dating me, do you?”
“No! Not at all.”
It’s too good—I’m going crazy. That was the problem. He was pounding on the door she’d locked tight, threatening to break it down. And she was crumbling without a fight.
Even knowing it’d end in tragedy.
He’s gonna toy with me like this and dump me. Throw me into hell when I start thinking it’s real.
This was the work of a nasty devil. She kept brainwashing herself like that. So the blow wouldn’t hurt as much when it came.
The happier she got, the worse it’d rot inside her, festering dark.
“Good. Your face looked off—I thought maybe I was being too selfish. So we can keep hanging out, right?”
“Yeah. But no more buying. What you got me today is already overwhelming.”
“Too heavy? I said I’d carry it from the start, but you insisted. Gimme.”
“No no! It’s not heavy—it’s just too much!!”
Jin Haesol flashed a sly, cheeky grin at her words.
“Overwhelming, huh?”
“Of course it is.”
“Then just say thanks for the gifts.”
“I was gonna. But I’ve never had this before, so I don’t know how to thank you properly.”
“Plenty of ways. For example… come here.”
He glanced around, then pulled her into a dim alley. People passed by, but it was secluded enough not to draw stares.
“W-why here?”
“You wanted to say thanks, right? I’ll show you how.”
“H-how?”
She knew the vibe, knew exactly what he had in mind. But embarrassment kept her from admitting it.
“Close your eyes and stay still.”
Whoosh!
His face closed in suddenly. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Should she turn away? But the heavy bags in her hands made it impossible. Besides, whatever came next was something she’d vaguely thought she’d do someday.
K-k-kiss!? It’s a kiss, right? Kyaaah!!!
Something soft and moist touched her lips. Warm and squishy—a totally alien sensation, her first.
Thump thump thump!
Her heart raced, mind a whirlwind, hands trembling.
W-what do I do? What now?
Lips on lips. So… what next? As a woman, shouldn’t she take the lead smoothly? Too bad she was an inexperienced virgin with zero knowledge.
All those kiss scenes from movies? Useless now.
Sensing her stiffen, Jin Haesol gently wrapped an arm around her waist.
B-belly fat!!
His arm pressed pleasantly against her lower belly.
If she’d lost herself in the kiss like a novel heroine, great—but she fixated on the precious belly fat caught in his grip.
Should’ve dieted.
Whoosh! Smack!
While she obsessed over her belly, the light pecks passed, and a thick, slick tongue slipped into her slightly parted mouth.
“Hng!!”
From then on, even her belly vanished from her mind.
No clue how to handle the intruder, her eyes flew wide.
Ah!
Long lashes and sparkling black eyes met her gaze.
Pretty.
He watched her comically clumsy reaction with tender affection. His tongue moved slowly, gently, teaching her what to do.
Is this Haesol’s scent…?
Closer than ever, his deep fragrance teased her nose.
Slurp, smack! Peck, smooch!
“Huu… mm… mmm… smack.”
Her mind fogged. Feet on the ground, yet floating.
Right now, she was the drama heroine.
The man I love. My savior.
A Cinderella meeting her prince on a white horse. He was too kind, too unreal in his gentleness, so the soot-covered girl couldn’t trust him at first.
But sharing breath like this? She disarmed completely.
I fell for it. No way I can act like this never happened.
Plunged into her new role, Han Minyeong fully became the character.
He covered all costs, and following his lead created joyful memories.
Flowers she’d never noticed bloomed beautifully today; fresh scents wafting through dense trees soothed her, bringing peace.
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