Choi Seola (1)
What is with his eyes...?
His eyes, a mysterious blend of gray and green, sparkled brilliantly.
And why is his skin so pale?
His face is practically glowing!
Right?
There's no way a person like that is actually human!
S-Should I put my hands together and offer a prayer...?
"Seola?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Moon Saebyeok."
The angel's voice sounds exactly like Saebyeok's, though?
Ah!
Saebyeok was an angel all along!
"Ahaha... Do I have to keep holding my hand out like this? It's getting a bit embarrassing."
Looking down, she saw his right hand extended, waiting for a handshake.
She reached out with her trembling hands to gently take it—
Grab.
Kyaah! He grabbed it! My palms are covered in sweat, what do I do?!
"Aren't you being a bit too shy?"
"I-I'm Choi Seola. It's an honor to meet you!"
"Ahahahahat! An honor? Come on, Seola, lift your head up."
Her body reacted automatically to his words.
Hearing his voice in person, its destructive power was no joke.
As she lifted her head, his face was right there, incredibly close.
Her head spun.
"Now, look at me. I look a bit unusual, don't I?"
"N-No? Not at all! You look like a total angel... Oops!"
Heart, stop beating so hard!
Brain! Why do you keep letting my heart take control?!
"You're really fun. Thanks for the high praise."
"No, but seriously... I'm sorry for saying this when we just met, but I really thought you weren't human."
"Ahaha... You're making me blush. Did I ever mention that I'm mixed-race?"
Hmm... Let's see.
She didn't particularly remember him saying that. Ah! But he did mention having dual citizenship, didn't he?
So one of his parents is a foreigner!
"So that's why you have dual citizenship..."
"Yes. My eyes aren't the typical color for a Korean. I suppose that's why you were surprised."
"N-No, not at all! They're really beautiful... They're just so sparkly!"
"...Thank you. You're quite beautiful yourself, Seola."
Brain, hold on!
He's just being polite!
Heart, stop pounding!
Saebyeok is going to hear it!
"Hehe... Thank you. S-Shall we go then?"
As a woman, she should coolly escort him and open the car door for him...
"A Maserati? Nice car!"
She was supposed to open the door, but he was already standing right next to her.
Was it because his legs were so long?
He was too close. What should she do?!
A pleasant scent drifted from him.
"I should sit in the passenger seat, right?"
"Y-Yes! It would be an honor if you sat..."
"Oh! No more of this 'honor' talk. You were trying to open the door for me just now, weren't you? I'm fine, so you don't have to treat me so specially. We're going to see each other often anyway. Right?"
We're going to see each other often.
We're going to see each other often...
We're going to see each other often...
Ah...
This man.
He was absolutely lethal!
Saebyeok was also secretly surprised.
Having spent decades in the entertainment industry, he had seen countless beauties.
Yet Choi Seola did not pale in comparison to any of them.
She stood at about 165 centimeters tall.
Though she was dressed modestly, a quick scan was enough for him to notice that she possessed a figure that transcended typical Asian standards.
She had long, straight black hair framing a small face.
Large eyes, cherry-like lips, a neat forehead, and a nose that harmonized perfectly with the rest of her features.
There was absolutely nothing to criticize.
Why on earth did a woman like this lack confidence so much?
He felt a spark of curiosity.
"S-Shall we head out then?"
Her hands were trembling so much it was anxiety-inducing.
He wanted to drive instead, but... driving without a license in this world was crossing the line.
"Seola? Why don't we take a deep breath before we go? Come on, follow me. Hee-hee-hoo! Hee-hee-hoo!"
"Eh...?"
"Come on! Hee-hee-hoo! Hee-hee-hoo!"
"Hee-hee-hoo! Hee-hee-hoo!"
"One more time!"
"Hee-hee-hoo! Hee-hee-hoo! Haaah..."
"How is it? Feel a bit better?"
"I'm sorry. I was way too nervous, wasn't I?"
"It happens. It's fine. By the way, where are we going?"
"Ah! I booked a restaurant nearby. Oh dear! We only have fifteen minutes left. What should I do?!"
"Ahaha... If we're a bit late, it can't be helped. If all else fails, we can just go somewhere else."
"N-No! We can make it in time! You have your seatbelt on, right?"
"Huh? Ah! Yes, I'm buckled up."
"Here we go!"
Vrooooom!
Her... her driving was that of a true alpha female.
Saebyeok quietly grabbed the assist grip above the door.
Thanks to Choi Seola's driving skills, which rivaled those of a professional racer, they fortunately arrived on time.
"Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
"It's under Choi Seola."
"Yes, Ms. Choi Seola. Right this way, please."
The place she had reserved was a hotel restaurant.
It was located near the entrance of a mountain at a slightly high altitude. With all the lights turned on at night, it had quite a romantic atmosphere.
She must have gone to a lot of trouble to find and book a place like this.
He felt a bit guilty.
After all, it was true that he had asked to meet up very suddenly.
Following the server's guidance, they arrived at what was clearly a VIP room in a private lounge.
A large floor-to-ceiling window occupied one side of the room, offering a panoramic view of the city's nightscape.
He liked it.
"Whew... We made it in time."
Fortunately, she seemed to have relaxed a bit.
"It's a wonderful place."
Choi Seola smiled brightly.
"Thank you, especially since I asked to meet so suddenly and you didn't have much time to prepare."
"O-Oh, no, not at all!"
She waved her hands in embarrassment, her bright smile vanishing instantly.
She really wore her heart on her sleeve.
As a brief silence settled and awkwardness began to creep in, a knock sounded at the door.
"Excuse me, may I take your order now?"
When Seola looked at him for approval, he nodded.
"What do you recommend today?"
"Today's appetizer is..."
Judging by how smoothly she ordered, she seemed quite accustomed to this.
Come to think of it, this was his first time at a restaurant since becoming Saebyeok.
Even in his past life, when his career was at its peak, he hadn't had the peace of mind to enjoy places like this.
In many ways, it felt like a long time.
As he was lost in thought for a moment, Seola asked cautiously,
"Saebyeok, what about the wine...?"
"Whatever you prefer, Seola."
Surely sharing a glass of wine doesn't carry some weird, special meaning in this world too, does it?
Fortunately, it didn't seem like it.
Nodding resolutely, she looked over the wine list and placed the order.
The waitress informed them that the sommelier would bring the wine shortly, then politely closed the door and left.
"You seem quite experienced. Do you like wine?"
"O-Oh, no! I don't usually get to come to places like this, and..."
"And?"
"...I didn't have anyone to come with."
It was cute how she hung her head.
He shouldn't, but he kept wanting to tease her.
"Hmm... I see."
"I-It's true! I've only ever gone out with my family. And my older sister is really strict about this kind of etiquette... She drilled it into me so I wouldn't embarrass myself by not knowing table manners when I went to study abroad..."
Watching her ramble on for a while made him chuckle.
Why was she being so desperate?
Wait, thinking about it, did he just sound like a guy grilling a girl about her past relationships?
Since this was a reversed world, a single slip of the tongue could easily lead to his intentions being misconstrued.
He needed to change the subject quickly.
"Study abroad? Where did you go?"
"Ah, Parsons School of Design."
"Oh. Manhattan. So you're from the City."
"Huh? Are you too, Saebyeok?"
For a moment, he was speechless.
He had lived in New York, but that was in his past life.
Fortunately, a knock sounded at the door.
Knock, knock.
The sommelier's timing was impeccable.
Wine.
It wasn't an alcoholic beverage he had particularly enjoyed in the past.
He had only had it at parties or on dates; usually, he drank bourbon or scotch.
Taking a light sip of the recommended wine, he found its crispness wasn't bad.
Come to think of it, here they were, a man and a woman, sipping wine alone together in a restaurant.
It felt strange.
Choi Seola asked with a tense expression,
"...How is it?"
"It's delicious."
Just that small compliment was enough to instantly brighten her face.
Did she say she was twenty-four?
Considering she drove a luxury sedan that seemed a bit too expensive for someone her age, and judging by her table manners, she had likely been well-educated from a young age.
Parsons tuition wasn't cheap, and it was located right in the middle of New York, where the cost of living was insane.
Unless she was on a full scholarship, the living expenses alone would have been astronomical.
This led to the conclusion that she was at least from an upper-middle-class family...
Yet, for someone of that background, she possessed an untainted, greenhouse-flower-like innocence.
It's hard for people with a lot to protect to remain pure.
He was becoming increasingly curious about her.
He felt like he was meddling too much...
Was it the hormones after all?
"I did think your illustration skills were extraordinary. So you graduated from a prestigious school."
"...No, not really. At Parsons, you can throw a stone and hit someone with my level of skill."
Her face darkened instantly.
Did she have a hard time during her study abroad?
"You're my number one viewer and my exclusive manager. That's more than enough to make you amazing!"
"Hehe... My choice that day created today. I think I did a really good job."
Even as he playfully bragged, she smiled sheepishly again, as if it truly were an honor.
Ah, this was dangerous.
When he thought about it, Choi Seola was someone he was truly grateful to.
He had confidence in his skills.
Eventually, his viewership would have grown, and the streamer named Saebyeok would have become famous.
But the number one contributor who shortened that time was, without a doubt, her.
On top of that...
She was the first person with whom he had shared such personal conversations.
Excluding Manager Kim and his psychiatrist, who were part of his original circumstances.
Her expression, still peeking up at him with her head lowered in embarrassment.
Her steak, which she was just cutting into tiny pieces, barely eating.
She probably hadn't even eaten properly today; she should eat heartily.
He couldn't help but keep worrying about her.
"Say ah."
"Huh? Mph..."
He popped a small piece of cut meat into her slightly parted mouth.
"Now, chew."
Nom, nom.
She was very obedient.
With her eyes wide and round, she looked just like a puppy.
"Swallow, and now, say ah again."
"I-I can eat on my own!"
"Ah!"
"Ah..."
She really was obedient.
He felt like patting her head.
This was bad.
And so, their quiet meal continued for a while.
The day she had entered the stream of a broadcaster with zero viewers, intending to evaluate him as she usually did.
That was when they first met.
It was a miracle that occurred in the vast world of the internet, where hundreds of millions of people pass each other by without warning.
It felt like a dream...
How could something so unrealistic happen?
His first broadcast, his first song—she was the first for all of it.
When did it start...?
Was it when she first heard his voice?
Was it when he first called her name so gently?
She had fallen in love with his voice, and she thought that was enough to make her happy.
Then came the sudden message asking to meet.
To say she wasn't thrilled would be a flat-out lie.
She certainly had the shallow greed of hoping he would be handsome.
Hiding her swelling expectations deep in her heart, she resolved not to be disappointed no matter what.
But that was a terrible arrogance on her part.
The moment he first appeared before her, everything was already over.
Her entire heart was instantly subjugated by him, and her flimsy mask shattered into pieces.
And now, that very man sat before her, reaching out to her.
Why was he being so sweet...?
Was he always this kind of person?
If he kept doing this, what was she supposed to do?
No...
Why on earth did he only appear now...?
The emotional poison he offered was sweet.
Like a baby bird, she wanted to keep relying on him.
He truly shone.
He was so dazzling that she couldn't look at him straight.
Yet, greed began to dominate her emotions.
She wanted him so much.
She wanted to be with him for the rest of her life.
Was it okay for someone as lowly as her to love him...?
Tears began to flow.