The Offer

"Take your time. Nobody's chasing us. It only depends on how good we are together."

"...You're right."

"Let's just walk tonight and head back. The subway should still be running."

"...Okay. Um, oppa."

"Yeah?"

"If I come in the morning, could I spend more time with you...?"

The way Eunchae looked at me, I could feel the change. The gaze that had been thick with warped lust was gone. All that remained was a girl simply in love.

"It'll probably be hard. We've picked up a lot of members in the mornings."

"...Even so. I just... want to be near you..."

"Have you finished sorting things out around you?"

"It's almost done. By next week I should have a lot more time..."

"Then come. I like being with you too. But promise me one thing."

She tilted her head, and I held her eyes and spoke firmly. This was something I couldn't yield on.

"Just because you're older, don't go throwing your weight around with Rahi or Yewon."

The truth was that those two mattered more to me than Eunchae did. Even if that stung her, there was nothing to be done about it. I wouldn't say it out loud, but if it was Eunchae, she would understand well enough.

"...Ah..."

"Don't be hurt. Once you sleep with me, I'll think of you the same way—even if you tell me not to."

Her face flushed hot at that, and every trace of hurt vanished without a trace.

"...Yes. I understand what you mean."

"What, the part about sleeping together doesn't make you nervous?"

"...Th-that... of course it doesn't... It's every woman's dream..."

"Be honest with me. How far did your mind go while we were kissing? You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't get as far as naming our grandchildren, did you?"

She went so red she looked ready to burst, then yelped so loud I clapped my hands over my ears without thinking.

"Oppa!"

"You scared me. Hey. Did you rent out the whole park?"

"...Hmph."

"So. What was the first one's name?"

"...I-I don't know..."

"So you did think about it."

"O-of course I did... A kiss that w-warm... It felt like my lips were melting..."

"If you liked me that much, you should've said something sooner."

"...You said it wouldn't have done any good."

"Still. Who knows. We might already have three kids by now."

"Th-three...?"

"Exactly."

I took her hand and, watching her eyes begin to soften and go hazy again, whispered.

"Let's be good to each other from now on. I'll make it up to you—for all the pain you went through back then, and for all the time I didn't know how you felt."

"...Okay... Oppa..."

"Yeah."

"Thank you... for accepting my feelings..."

"Thank me? I'm the one who should be grateful you like me."

"Oppa..."

The tension had drained from her face, her eyes, even her hand as she answered me. This was the feeling. Like I had finally fastened the first button the right way. I smiled at her, and we walked the park at an easy pace until, one full loop later, we reached the van.

"...I don't want it to end."

"We'll do it again. Next time it doesn't have to be a walk. Some other kind of date would be nice too."

"...Okay..."

"This obedient version of you is cute, but I'd rather see you the way you usually are."

"...O-once I get used to this, I will."

"I'm curious what you'll be like in bed, too. This version, or the usual one."

"...B-bed..."

"I'll drive."

"Okay..."

She swallowed, let go of my arm with a reluctant hand, and climbed into the passenger seat. I got behind the wheel and dropped her off at the subway exit.

"Then I'm counting on you tomorrow. If I so much as hear you drove rough—"

"Don't worry, oppa. I know what I have to do now..."

"Yeah. I know you're smart. I'm just worried it won't be any fun."

"Me?"

"No. Me."

"What is that supposed to mean...? Isn't that too mean? To a girl who just had her first kiss."

"Having your first kiss at twenty-seven isn't something to brag about, junior..."

She shot me a glare. I tipped my chin up as if to ask what she was going to do about it, and she let out a long sigh. I snickered at the sight of her, then leaned in and whispered.

"Sleep well. Your lips felt good."

"...R-really...?"

"Yeah. They tasted good."

Her face went red in an instant. Her lips parted, and then she murmured a goodbye.

"...Good night."

"Yeah. Get home safe."

"...Okay."

She gave me a soft smile, and my chest fluttered a little too. How long had it been since I had seen Eunchae smile? I looked away, pulled the car out, and let out a quiet sigh.

Maybe I've been too wrapped up in sex lately.

I felt a little guilty for having sunk so deep into Eunchae's desire that I had only ever followed that line of thought. No matter how strong and developed the women of this world were when it came to lust, romance still had a basic shape. Hyunji had been like that. So had Rahi.

Still, I'm glad I caught on quickly. I'll have to pay more attention from now on.

It struck me then that I was alone for the first time in a while. I couldn't really mess around while I was driving, so a phone call would have to do. I stopped at a red light and scrolled through my phone, left Rahi a text asking if she had gotten home all right, then, faced with the pile of messages from Hyunji, pressed the call button.

And then she chattered on about everything that had happened, and about how her professor wouldn't stop praising her, and I drove on with Hyunji's voice for music.

The bright sound of Hyunji's smile lifted my mood a little too.

Right up until I hung up, the pleasure in Hyunji's voice was unmistakable, and I was glad I had called. I tried to phone more often precisely because I was bad at texting, and it had been bothering me that I had been too busy lately to manage it. I finished the call, and by the time I neared home, Kim Eunji was out there again, same as always. I let out a short laugh and pulled over.

"Oh, Shinwoo."

"Hello. When did you get here?"

"Ah, not long ago. About twenty minutes...?"

"I see. Have you eaten?"

"Of course. Have you?"

"Something quick. I'll head in, then."

I was about to roll the window up when the urgent look she gave me made me wonder if she had something to say, and I stopped my hand.

"Did you have something to say?"

"Um, well. Do you really have no interest in modeling?"

"...That wasn't just something you said to make me feel good, was it?"

"It's real. Male models are so rare these days. Mid-tier brand models especially—there are so few you could call it a shortage..."

"It's not some weird shoot, right? Nothing where I'd have to take my clothes off."

"O-of course not! I would never put you in something like that..."

"What kind of modeling?"

"Casual menswear. Lloyd and Zenith are both putting together special features, so they're in a rush... They're places I have a good relationship with, so I want to help them too. And yes, I do get a referral fee."

Even so, Kim Eunji was being honest about it. I could take that to mean they really were desperate. Seeing her like this, it seemed all right to let her get a little closer.

"Oh, aren't those pretty well-known?"

"You'd know, being a man. They're solid brands."

"Then why aren't there any male models?"

"...Lately Europe's developed a preference for our models. Because of the dramas and K-pop... February is spring-summer haute couture, March is Seoul Fashion Week, and then it runs straight into April's fall-winter prêt-à-porter. It's already a season when models are nearly impossible to book, and on top of that almost everyone left has signed with European brands."

"...Hmm."

It was a reason I never would have imagined before, but if someone actually in the industry said the slots were empty, who was I to argue? I had never had the slightest interest in that world.

"But I don't know the first thing about it..."

"It's really nothing. You just come, pose the way I tell you, and change clothes. I can finish it for you so quickly..."

"How many outfits?"

"If you just wear ten sets, I'll really wrap it up for you."

"...So how long would it take?"

"If we start in the morning, around three or four? We'll be done before dinner."

"I should probably ask about the pay, too."

"Of course. A hundred thousand won per set. If you agree to let them use the photos online, that's another fifty percent. This is an A-grade contract, Shinwoo."

She called it an A-grade contract, but I had no idea what people usually got paid. Hmm. A million won for half a day's work was real money, no question. Still, I hesitated. I knew well enough that chasing the money blind, without knowing anything, was how you got burned. Kim Eunji watched me and rushed on.

"Th-that's just the base of the contract, and if Lloyd or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Zenith uses you for street ads or billboards, the extra pay runs into the millions..."

Honestly, it didn't tempt me much. I had no reason to draw that kind of attention. The problem was that it stirred my curiosity. The simple fact that someone like me had been offered a modeling job—and that a photographer had pushed it twice—was strange enough that I wanted to ask.

"When is it?"

"Next Friday!"

She broke into a bright smile at that, but I hadn't decided anything. I didn't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have time to look at houses. No matter how interesting it sounded, I couldn't just jump in.

"I haven't decided yet. I'm only telling you this because it's you, Eunji."

"Ah, yes."

She went serious, and I spoke to her almost in a whisper.

"The thing is, I think I need to move. As you know, the security at this villa..."

"...Ah. I was actually going to say something, but I was afraid you'd think I was overstepping..."

"That's why. You're not offended?"

"No. Not at all. It's a really good decision. I'm a woman too, but there are far too many crazies out there."

"I haven't settled it yet, but I think I'll have to go to Anyang."

"...Ah... Then you'll have to go around looking at places."

"Right. So I don't know if I'll have the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time."

"Th-then, could you let me know by Monday or Tuesday, after the weekend? I'll keep looking in the meantime, though..."

I understood what she meant. If she found another model, the offer she had made me would be withdrawn. There was nothing to feel slighted about. It was only natural. Kim Eunji made her living at this. She was a professional.

"Of course you should. If it looks like I'll have the time, I'll tell you."

"Even just saying that, I'm already so grateful..."

"Grateful for what. Who am I to try modeling? I'll think it over seriously. I'll head in."

"Yes. Have a good night."

"You too."

I parked in the villa lot and got out, and I heard someone call my name. The mood had changed quite a bit, I thought, but the voice wasn't all that loud, so I just smiled and waved. The smartphone camera made me a little self-conscious, and the corner of my mouth twitched, but I kept it as natural as I could. The moment I stepped inside, I let out a sigh.

...Celebrities really were something else.

Managing my expression was one of the few things I was confident in, but the moment a camera was pointed at me, it wasn't easy at all. Was this why Kim Eunji took her pictures from hiding? I sighed again, and I was just about to punch in the door lock when I felt a presence inside the house.