Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Blushing Selfies and Glass Walls
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hold on. There's a rapeseed flower field over there. Let's knock out one mission before we head out."
Sea pointed at the yellow flower field with her finger.
We pulled over to the shoulder and got out of the car.
The app screen on the smartphone Sea held out was packed with pose examples.
They were all embarrassingly awkward poses, labeled as data collection material.
We huddled our heads over the screen and scrolled through the list for a good while.
"Ha... What the hell is this list? Back hug while watching the sunset? Princess carry, cheek kiss?"
"Just do what it says. They'll mosaic your face anyway, right?"
"This one's the least embarrassing, I guess. Cheeks together for a selfie."
I let out a sigh and opened the camera app.
"Hurry up. Let's finish before anyone comes by."
Sea shuffled over to my side, hesitating.
The narrow path between the flowers kept brushing our shoulders together.
"Hey, get a little closer. The angle's off."
"Ah, too close... Whoa!"
Sea stumbled, not spotting the rock underfoot.
"Hey!"
I instinctively wrapped my arm around her waist.
We lost our balance and tumbled right into the flower field.
Thud.
Sea's hair cascaded down onto my chest.
Her round eyes gazed down at me from inches away.
"...You okay?"
"..."
"You're heavy. Mind getting off?"
Sea jolted in surprise and scrambled off me.
"Brush off the dirt. My clothes are ruined."
I patted my pants unnecessarily and looked away.
Sea silently dusted off her clothes too.
The sensation from moments ago lingered like an afterimage, leaving my skin oddly itchy.
"...Let's just take it. Quick."
"Y-yeah. Right."
We stood in front of the camera again.
This time, we were even farther apart than before.
We fumbled awkwardly into position.
Sea stood there half-crouched, just shy of touching my shoulder.
"Hey, where you running off to? You gotta be in the frame."
"Alright, alright. Closer, got it."
Sea shuffled in about half a handspan.
"Cheeks... together."
"...I know."
We stiffened up like statues and cautiously tilted our heads.
Skin touched.
Something soft and warm slid across my cheek.
At the edge of my vision, Sea's face was flushed bright red.
"Why's your face so red?"
"It's hot, that's all. Hot."
"One, two, three."
Click.
The shutter sound hit like a release signal, and we sprang apart like coiled springs.
"Did... did it take?"
"Yeah. Probably."
I checked the gallery.
The two on screen pressed cheeks together with the most wronged expressions imaginable.
Anyone could tell it was a forced business couple photo.
"Good enough. As long as the AI recognizes it."
"Yeah, let's go. It's too hot here."
Sea fanned herself and stared out at the distant sea for no reason.
The breeze tousled her hair.
Her profile, backlit by the sun, looked strangely like a painting.
Damn.
Jeju's sunlight must be messing with my head.
To break the awkward air, I reached out casually, pretending nothing was up.
"Give me your phone."
"Why all of a sudden?"
Click.
"Hey! You can't just snap without warning!"
Sea tried to cover her face with her hands.
"Hold still. The light's perfect right now."
I pulled her hands down and snapped again.
I just wanted to capture Sea in this exact moment.
"...If it looks weird, you're dead."
Sea ducked her head, embarrassed.
Through her wind-tossed hair, I caught a glimpse of her reddened ear.
Click.
"Looks good. Natural."
"What? Let me see."
Sea sidled over and peered at the phone.
On screen, against a backdrop of yellow rapeseed flowers and bathed in sunlight, was a pretty girl beaming brightly.
The usual tough-girl vibe was gone.
Just a girl with the face of first love stood there.
Honestly, it surprised me.
No filter, but her face seemed to glow.
I couldn't tear my eyes away for a long moment.
"..."
"Why so quiet? It's bad?"
"No. It's... not bad."
Both heart rates have entered the 'Flutter' zone. The mood is excellent.
The air froze solid in an instant.
The red heart icon on screen blinked mockingly.
As if sneering, "You're busted, no matter how much you pretend otherwise."
Sea's eyes shook like there was an earthquake.
"H-hey, this thing's broken, right? Flutter? What flutter?"
She patted her wrist frantically in panic.
"R-right. From the fall earlier, we got startled. This stupid machine can't tell the difference."
"Yeah, just the shock from falling."
We blamed the device without missing a beat, babbling nonsense.
But our eyes never met, wandering the empty air.
Damn.
The steady, rapid pulse from my wrist felt anything but fake.
Data analysis: Hormone levels of both testers match 98% with lovers in love. Bonus points accrued!
"Ugh, shut up already!"
Sea yelled and covered her face.
I clamped my mouth shut, at a loss for words.
"...Damn machine, so oblivious and loud."
I jabbed at the innocent watch screen and quickened my pace.
Sea's footsteps beside me seemed twice as fast as usual.
I widened my stride and stared straight ahead.
If I looked at her face now, I'd probably confess the machine's analysis was spot on.
We drove on in silence, pretending nothing happened, until we reached the lodging.
Before we even got out, waiting staff approached and bowed deeply.
Our heavy suitcases vanished soundlessly into their hands during check-in.
Overwhelmed by the lavish interior from the entrance and the excessively polite service, I glanced around constantly.
"Hey, isn't this way too pricey for a couple in their twenties? Feels like a few months' salary per night."
Reeling from the entrance onward, we headed to the room the Secretary Chief had specified.
The heavy silence broke with the door lock click.
I chuckled dryly as the curtains parted automatically when I slotted the card key.
Jeju's sea crashed in coolly through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sea tossed her suitcase by the entryway like it was routine and flopped onto the sofa.
Sinking into the plush leather, she stretched with the most relaxed expression.
I scanned the room, my eyes stopping at the minibar by the fridge.
Champagne for lovers and fancy chocolate boxes sat out in plain sight.
A heart-shaped towel fold even adorned the massive king-size bed.
The blatantly romantic setup drew another dry laugh.
I spoke curtly to Sea sprawled on the sofa.
"Hey, quit spacing out and unpack. Didn't you say we have to head out again soon?"
"Don't know, I'm dying. Let me lie down first. I did all the driving."
Sea waved a hand dismissively, eyes closed.
"You were flooring it like crazy earlier. Fine, just for a bit. I'm hitting the bathroom."
Maybe the coffee from before, or nerves—my lower belly felt heavy.
I wandered the spacious suite searching for the bathroom.
Past the living room toward the terrace: just a private pool sitting there.
"Where the hell is it?"
Bed, sofa, terrace—all top-tier.
But no sign of the damn bathroom.
Then I froze, peering deep into the room.
Beyond what I'd thought was a wall, familiar porcelain fixtures gleamed.
"Found it... Wait, why's the bathroom all the way over there?"
"Where?"
"There. Right by the bed."
Sea came over and looked where I pointed.
No wall separated the bedroom and bathroom.
Well, there was a wall—but transparent.
"...Full glass?"
"Crystal clear full glass."
Not a single fingerprint; it was transparent as air.
Flabbergasted, I approached the glass wall.
Tub, sink, even the shower booth.
Everything inside broadcast live.
Lying on the bed, you'd have a front-row view of someone showering.
"No blinds? Like a switch at your place?"
"Look for it. Gotta be one."
I groped the walls, rifled remotes like mad.
Tapped walls, checked bed headboard, flipped every light switch.
Nothing. No way to cover the glass.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
"Gone. Broken or never there—just raw glass."
"Seriously?"
Sea giggled like it was no big deal.
She seemed amused by my panic.
"What, 'no secrets between couples' or something?"
"Funny? You'll feel weird showering."
"Why? I don't mind."
"How could you not? Ugh, whatever. I'll just stay out of the bedroom."
"When you shower, I'll watch from the bedroom?"
"Hey!"
I snapped, and Sea covered her mouth, laughing.
"Kidding. When you shower, I'll close my eyes. Happy?"
"Quit messing around. You go out too."
Sea perched on the bed, gazing up at me with her chin propped.
Her narrowed eyes screamed fox.
"Steam'll fog it up anyway, right? If you're that bothered, shower together."
"...You nuts?"
My face heated up.
I turned away from her gaze.
Sea rose languidly from the bed, mocking me.
Then she sauntered into the bathroom depths with a sway.
"H-hey! Where you going!"
"Just checking it out. You're making such a fuss."
Sea stood in the empty bathroom center, tapping the glass with fingertips.
Seeing her through the clear glass felt oddly surreal.
She pressed her face close to the glass, staring blankly at me outside.
"Whoa, even crazier from inside. Weird seeing everything from the bedroom."
Suddenly, she pursed her lips near the glass and fogged it with a breath.
White mist bloomed, and she drew a heart with her finger.
"Steam does this, see? But it fades quick."
The fog cleared, revealing her face sharply again.
Her eyes beyond the glass looked deeper than usual.
"Your face was weird just now. What were you imagining?"
"...Imagining what!"
"Liar. I can almost hear your heartbeat from here."
Her breath on the glass felt like it grazed my face.
Cold barrier between us, but the air heated oddly.
I turned away from her stare, flustered.
"I really gotta go, so quit joking and come out."
"Fine, fine. Don't freak. Gonna eat you?"
Sea grinned satisfied and stepped out of the bathroom.