The Beginning of My First Date in This Lifetime
The next morning, in the apartment building where Jeonghan lived.
Having come home after drinking heavily the night before, Jeonghan was sprawled face-down on his bed, fast asleep.
His current state made his handsome face almost irrelevant—his hair was a wild mess, and his clothes were rumpled in a truly pathetic sight.
With his upper body bare, faint traces of stab wounds and gunshot scars from his time serving in the Special Forces on classified missions were visible across his body.
A little while later, Jeonghan slowly opened his eyes. Still half-asleep, he reached for the phone on the shelf and checked the time.
When he saw it was 9:47, his heart sank. He shot upright in bed.
‘Shit!! I’m late…!! Oh, wait. It’s Saturday today.’
Thinking that, Jeonghan flopped back onto the bed. Just as he was about to drift off again, the doorbell pierced through his ears.
“Ughhh…. Who the hell is ringing the bell on a peaceful weekend…”
Muttering to himself, Jeonghan pulled the blanket over his head, but the doorbell didn’t stop.
“Guess I have no choice. Better say something.”
Jeonghan got out of bed and went to check the intercom to see who was pressing the button. The face that appeared on the screen was familiar.
‘Huh? That girl is…’
The person in front of his door was the white-haired beauty he had shared the elevator with yesterday.
‘Why is she here…? What does she want?’
Her expression looked somewhat displeased—probably because he hadn’t come out quickly enough.
“Who is it?”
At Jeonghan’s question through the intercom, her expression softened a little. She answered him.
“Hello. I live next door. Um… we saw each other in the elevator yesterday, and you didn’t look well, so… I brought something for your hangover.”
She pulled a can of electrolyte drink from her pocket and held it up to the camera. Jeonghan blinked in confusion.
‘What…? Did I do something to her yesterday…? Why would she do this for someone she just met…??’
“If you’re too tired, I can just leave it by the door.”
“Ah, no!! I’ll be right out!!”
Jeonghan quickly grabbed a nearby hat to cover his messy hair, threw on a random tracksuit top and bottoms from the hanger, and rushed to open the front door.
“Ahem… Hello.”
He accepted the drink she offered. She gave him a gentle smile and said,
“I moved in on Wednesday. Please take care of me from now on.”
“Yes. Thank you. By the way, what’s your name? I’m Lee Jeonghan.”
“I’m Yamada Yukiko.”
As she spoke, Yukiko brushed her hair behind her ear with her right hand.
“Oh, you’re Japanese? But your Korean is incredibly good.”
“Yes. I learned Korean from an acquaintance. My pronunciation… isn’t very good, is it?”
“No, it’s almost native level. If you hadn’t told me you were Japanese, I would’ve thought you were Korean.”
“Thank you.”
Yukiko smiled brightly at him. Seeing that smile, Jeonghan felt his heart begin to race without realizing it.
‘Wow… She’s pretty even when she’s expressionless, but when she smiles, she’s even more beautiful.’
“Well… I’ll head back now. Sorry for disturbing your rest.”
“Huh? It’s fine. I’ve been up for a while. You didn’t disturb me at all.”
Yukiko kept smiling at him, then playfully pointed at her right eye with her index finger and teased,
“That’s a relief… But you’ve got some eye crust right here?”
“Huh?? Oh no…”
At her words, Jeonghan hurriedly rubbed his eyes. She held back a burst of laughter and told him,
“Pfft…!! I’m kidding, I’m kidding. There wasn’t any eye crust.”
“Ah, I see…”
Yukiko looked at Jeonghan’s reddening face and said,
“Have a good weekend, Jeonghan-ssi.”
She turned to go back to her place, but for some reason, Jeonghan didn’t want to let her go. He called out to her just as she was entering her door code.
“Um, Yamada-ssi?”
Yukiko turned her head toward him. He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“If it’s not too forward… would you like to… exchange phone numbers?”
“Huh? Phone numbers?”
‘Crap… Did I go too far? She looks uncomfortable… Was I too hasty?’
Seeing her slightly stiffened expression, Jeonghan regretted his actions. She asked him,
“Jeonghan-ssi. Do you have your phone with you?”
“Huh…?”
“You said you wanted to exchange numbers.”
“Ah, yes.”
Jeonghan turned on his phone and handed it to her. She entered her number, then called it herself.
After ending the call, she handed the phone back to him.
“You can contact me whenever it’s convenient for you.”
“Uh… okay.”
“Mm… You don’t look very happy…?”
“No, no, not at all. My face just looks like that. I’m really happy.”
When Jeonghan blushed and mumbled, Yukiko burst into laughter and said,
“Puhaha!! I’m joking, I’m joking. Anyway, contact me when you have time. Don’t feel too awkward about it.”
“Yes. Have a great weekend.”
Yukiko went into her apartment. Once inside, she thought about how Jeonghan had blushed and panicked just now. A smile unconsciously formed on her lips as she murmured in Japanese.
“(He’s cute. Just like that person…)”
Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes carried a mysterious sadness.
Meanwhile, Jaehyuk was preparing for his Christmas date with Alina.
‘What should I do…? How should I spend this meaningful 26th Christmas…? I’ve been a lifelong solo in both my past and present lives, so what do I even know?’
As Jaehyuk sat on the sofa, lost in deep thought, Dahyun came out of her room and asked him,
“What are you thinking about?”
She sat down beside him. Jaehyuk asked her,
“What are you doing for Christmas?”
“Me? I’m going on a date with my boyfriend, obviously.”
“A date, huh…”
“Oh dear, did I say something I shouldn’t in front of a lifelong solo?”
Dahyun looked at him with a mocking expression. Jaehyuk let out a small laugh and told her,
“It’s fine. I’ve escaped the solo life.”
Dahyun’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.
“What?? Stop lying. Where would you find a girl?”
“Exactly. It just kind of happened.”
“Wow… What poor soul…”
“Poor soul? That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
Still looking shocked, Dahyun asked,
“So, you’re actually going on a date? This Christmas?”
“Yeah. We’re going to K-World. Which brings me to… As you know, I’m a total newbie at this.”
“True. So?”
“Tell me what girls like on dates.”
“Hmm… For free?”
“I’ll send you a chicken gift card.”
“Wow… You’re trying to settle this major issue with just one chicken?”
“Ugh… Fine. Chicken plus one pizza. Deal?”
Dahyun grinned and nodded.
“Okay! Deal!!”
Meanwhile, at the grand mansion where Alina Kim lived.
Sitting on the living room sofa, she was also worrying about how to spend Christmas with Jaehyuk.
‘What should I do…? I want to make this Christmas a little more meaningful… How can I make Jaehyuk-ssi happy?’
At that moment, her chief bodyguard, Robert Han, who had been walking around the living room, spoke to her in English.
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Robert let out a sigh. Alina asked him,
“”
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Alina looked startled and asked,
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The term “big mouth” that Alina used referred to someone who couldn’t keep secrets or talked too much.
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Alina sighed at the unexpected situation. Robert reassured her.
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Alina crossed one leg over the other while still seated on the sofa and said to Robert,
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At Alina’s slightly irritated response, Robert wisely closed his mouth.
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Alina listened carefully to Robert’s explanation.
After a while, once he had finished, Robert asked her,
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Alina hesitated, fidgeting, before finally asking,
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Alina blushed and hesitated to ask, but eventually opened her mouth.
“<……Never mind. I’ll figure that one out myself.>”
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Alina’s face turned red as she wore a worried expression.
‘I already booked the hotel… What do I do at night…?? I should’ve just asked even if it was embarrassing…?’
A few days later, on the morning of Christmas Day.
As promised, Alina was waiting in the middle of Seoul’s amusement park, K-World. She was wearing a navy coat, dark skinny jeans, a wine-colored knit sweater, and brown boots.
‘I wonder when Jaehyuk-ssi will arrive?’
She checked the time on her phone while waiting for him. Her stunning beauty drew the eyes of everyone passing by.
“Wow… Is she a celebrity?”
“Babe, look over there.”
Even some men in couples were staring. Those who turned to look at Alina received jealous glares or annoyed complaints from their girlfriends.
A short while later, Jaehyuk, who was heading to the amusement park, spotted Alina waiting nearby. He waved at her and greeted,
“Alina!”
She gave him a gentle smile and waved back, walking toward him.
“You’re right on time.”
Jaehyuk asked her,
“Did you wait long?”
“No. Not that long.”
Alina came to his side and linked her arm with his left one. Feeling something soft against his left arm, Jaehyuk flinched without meaning to.
‘Uh… Why does this feel like déjà vu…??’
He recalled how, two years ago in New York on his birthday, Alina had also linked arms with him.
‘Back then and now… Her heart really is… huge…’
“Jaehyuk-ssi? What’s wrong?”
“……It’s nothing.”
“Are you uncomfortable with skinship?”
“No, it’s not that… Um… I’m just… excited?”
Jaehyuk awkwardly brushed it off. Alina smiled sweetly at him.
“What do you want to ride first? I’d like to start with the Viking.”
“Then let’s ride the Viking first.”
The two headed off to ride the Viking. Behind them, a white man in his late thirties with blond hair and blue eyes—wearing a blue padded jacket, bright-colored jeans, and sunglasses—was eating ice cream while watching them closely.
He sent a text in English on his phone.
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The man watching Jaehyuk and Alina stroked his blond mustache and muttered in English,
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[Kane Butler. Alina’s special bodyguard.]
[Former British Army Special Forces SAS]
Kane secretly followed the two from behind. Completely unaware that he was watching them, Jaehyuk and Alina simply enjoyed their date at the amusement park.