Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Top Star is Lonely
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Staring blankly into the city night breeze, I found myself standing in front of Han Sea-ah's house before I knew it.
Unlike my home, where the drunken shouts of my alcoholic father echoed like a song, this neighborhood was utterly peaceful, without a hint of disturbance.
High-end houses stood in neat rows amid the soft glow of surrounding lights.
In this endless landscape of homes straight out of a chaebol drama, I couldn't help but feel the grandeur of capital anew.
Among them, a sleek rectangular mansion of glass and concrete—that was Han Sea-ah's house.
"Come on in."
The interior revealed as the door opened was even more magnificent.
To me, who'd lived in a semi-basement, the ceiling seemed endlessly high. Below it hung a chandelier that filled the house with a gentle light.
Wasn't that one sofa bigger than my entire room?
It was shocking that a house this lavish even existed in Korea. If I were confined in a place like this, I'd probably be happy anyway.
"Wanna shower?"
As I gawked around in a daze, Han Sea-ah asked.
Come to think of it, I hadn't washed up yet. The sweat from practice clung stickily to my skin.
"Can I?"
"What a silly question. Just throw on some of my pajamas."
I didn't refuse. Since she'd offered, I decided to enjoy it to the fullest. When would I get to shower in a house like this again?
The place was so huge that finding the bathroom was a chore in itself.
Whoa, insane.
Stepping into the bathroom drew an involuntary gasp of admiration.
The space was too vast to take in at a glance. The tub inside was huge and deep enough to spread out a blanket and lie down.
But what truly moved me was something else.
'Hot water comes out right away.'
At home, it took at least five minutes to preheat, and even then it was barely lukewarm.
Here, though, blissfully warm water enveloped my skin from the first second.
Happiness might be closer than I think.
After showering, I changed into the pajamas Han Sea-ah had left at the door.
Cute animal-patterned sleepwear that didn't suit her age at all.
I tried it on, but the baggy outfit slipped right off. Due to our difference in development, I had to tie the waistband's elastic multiple times to keep it from falling.
Han Sea-ah sat on a massive beige sofa, looking over a notebook.
I cautiously sat beside her.
I hadn't gotten a good look earlier in the chaos, but under the bright lights now, her unreal beauty hit me again.
Her eyes held a subtle brown hue, and her matching hair flowed over her shoulders like silk.
The phrase "goddess hair" from webtoons or comics came to mind.
"What're you staring at?"
Han Sea-ah looked me up and down silently for a moment.
"...Oh, this? It's the script for a drama I'm shooting soon."
Four years ago, she'd quit being an idol to become an actress.
Her debut film had smashed ten million viewers, and since then, she'd built a dazzling career in acting.
"Anyway, mind if I ask why you ran away from home?"
Curiosity filled her brown eyes as she asked.
"Just... some trouble at home."
"Fight with your parents?"
"Not exactly... It's complicated."
I didn't want to dredge up my family issues.
"I get it. My relationship with my parents wasn't great either."
After that, Han Sea-ah didn't pry further into my family.
"Hungry? Want me to order delivery?"
"Oh, no. I'm fine."
Han Sea-ah was being awfully kind to me. It was the level of warmth you'd expect from someone you'd known forever, not a stranger.
She must be really close to the CEO. After all, she was doing this as a favor to her.
"How do you know our CEO?"
"She used to be my exclusive manager."
"...The CEO?"
"Yeah. Thanks to Seo-hee, I got a lot of great opportunities. She acts all casual, but she's pretty capable."
The CEO was growing on me.
At first, I thought she was a pushover for spending thirty million to make me a trainee, but she was more competent than I realized.
"Seo-hee seemed really worried about you. You must be special."
"I'm just a trainee... Nothing special."
"Doubt it. If you were, she wouldn't have called me first."
"Aren't you two close?"
"We used to be."
Past tense again.
Even an idiot could tell something had happened between them.
"Anyway, let me know if you need anything. Treat it like your own home."
Han Sea-ah smiled, gently stroking my head.
The warmth felt entirely different from Yu-na Aunt's touch.
"Then... can I ask one favor?"
"Go ahead. Make yourself at home."
I knew it was shameless to ask while already imposing, but since it wasn't material, it should be okay.
Unlike me in sleepwear, Han Sea-ah wore a negligee topped with a robe. I timidly tugged at its hem.
"Can you stay with me until tomorrow morning?"
"Stay with you?"
"Yeah. Even when we sleep... I just want you nearby."
Not sure if it was a cold coming on, but my body felt shivery.
Chills kept creeping up, and my head ached a bit. Having someone's warmth beside me would help.
I'd have to go back to that house tomorrow anyway. Couldn't I borrow some human warmth just for tonight?
- What the hell.
Did I hear that wrong?
A faint curse seemed to whisper in my ear.
With just the two of us, it had to come from Han Sea-ah.
But she looked perfectly calm, like nothing happened.
I let go of my suspicion. It was Han Sea-ah, after all. She wouldn't curse over something minor.
If I'm hearing things, though... maybe it really is a cold.
"Of course, if it's a hassle, no need. Just letting me stay here is more than enough."
I added quickly, in case she hated the idea.
"Nah. Let's sleep together."
"...You sure?"
"Why not? You're not a guy. Hang on, I'll tidy up the room real quick. Wait here!"
Before I could reply, Han Sea-ah jumped up and headed into one of the many doors at the end of the hall.
Alone in the living room, I lightly placed my palm on the sofa where she'd been half-reclining moments ago.
Her warmth still lingered.
Bang—!
The door slammed shut.
"...Ha."
Shadows darkened Han Sea-ah's face as she walked toward the bed.
"Did you see that kid?"
Her growling voice betrayed boiling emotions.
Flop—
She threw herself onto the bed face-down.
Soon, she buried her face in a red pillow, muffling her mouth and nose tightly.
Aaaaaaah!
She screamed into the pillow at full volume, then kicked her legs wildly, pounding the bed.
"What's with her, what's with her, crazy, isn't she too cute, I wanna hug her so hard she'll burst!"
She'd always been hopeless around anything cute.
'How does a kid end up that adorable?'
If a delicate, pretty doll came to life as a human, it'd probably have a face just like hers. Her soft, dainty cheeks made Han Sea-ah's lips twitch involuntarily every time.
Even setting aside her weakness for cuteness, there was another reason she was carrying on like this.
Han Sea-ah.
Twenty-eight this year.
Nation's Little Sister.
Thousand-Year Idol.
Korea's Gem.
And now, Top Celebrity.
Laden with glittering titles, she'd recently fallen into a very serious illness.
A chronic affliction everyone faces at some point.
Loneliness.
Humans can't survive without relationships.
Since entering her late twenties, Han Sea-ah had felt the loneliness of lacking connections, and it grew day by day.
She'd built a career no one her age could match, but at the peak of that mountain, she stood alone.
Even buying a house in a chaebol neighborhood and piling up luxuries couldn't fill the emptiness.
Lately, she'd realized only people could fill that void.
I'm lonely. Insanely lonely.
To make matters worse, her classmates were starting to send wedding invites one by one, marrying young.
Some even had kids already. How were they speed-running life like that?
[Isn't she just the cutest? She's a little princess, a princess.]
Seeing friends beam with joy while showing baby photos twisted her guts.
I'm the successful one. So why do they look happier?
She'd visited a friend's house once.
A hyper kid running wild, the mom scolding her to settle down, the husband helping out. That tiny family fence brimmed with vitality.
Compare that to here.
Coming home at dawn after grueling work, the house felt cold and empty, devoid of any human warmth. Its needless vastness amplified it.
Ordering delivery every day made even changing menus feel repetitive.
Years of watching movies or anime alone at home. She couldn't remember the last time she'd spoken to anyone here.
The security of a family.
That was the one thing Han Sea-ah had never truly had.
But after a lifetime chasing career, could she suddenly build a family?
It wasn't easy to even meet someone now.
A few blind dates arranged with effort had felt tedious and bothersome when it came to actually building something.
'I'm a lone wolf anyway.'
She'd never once wanted to marry. And she still didn't.
Yet ironically, she craved that family stability.
She agonized between the comfort of living alone and the warmth of family—wanting both.
So lonely she'd considered a pet, but her job kept her away too often.
'Wouldn't it be nice if someone greeted me when I came home...'
She wanted home-cooked meals. To lie down with someone at day's end, chatting softly.
Wouldn't a cute, pretty, obedient daughter who didn't need much upkeep just drop from the sky?
She knew it was ridiculous, but she wished anyway.
She thought of the girl waiting outside.
Sarang. Perfect name for that darling face.
"Sigh, Sarang's parents hit the jackpot."
A daughter that cute would be a joy to raise.
They should treat her better.
Don't make the kid run away.