Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Time to Wake Up from the Dream
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Han Sea-ah's room was surprisingly simple.
In the center sat a massive round bed, flanked by a wardrobe and a vanity side by side.
That was it. No other furniture or decorations.
Come to think of it, with multiple rooms in the house, there was no need to fuss over this one. A bedroom like this was plenty.
"The bed's pretty big, so it shouldn't feel cramped."
Cramped? It was so spacious you could play around on it.
Han Sea-ah flopped onto the round bed.
She patted the spot next to her with her palm.
"Then, if you don't mind."
I followed her gesture and carefully climbed onto the bed.
I pulled back the covers just a bit, slid my body in slowly, and lay down beside her.
"Thank you for going along with my unreasonable request."
"Unreasonable? I'm just happy to share a bed with someone after so long."
There were no traces of anyone else in the house besides Han Sea-ah.
Just one toothbrush in the bathroom. Which meant she lived alone in this huge place.
'Can she clean it all by herself?'
The thought crossed my mind, but it was silly. Someone with her wealth surely had staff for that.
"By the way, we haven't even properly introduced ourselves yet."
Han Sea-ah lay facing me, smiling softly.
Even lying down, her face was stunning. It hit me again how unfair the world could be.
"I'm Han Sea-ah. Feel free to call me Unnie."
"I'm Han Sarang."
"Nice to meet you, Sarang. Hehe."
I'd felt it from the start, but she was bursting with energy.
Even sitting still, the air around her seemed to buzz. It even lifted my spirits a little.
No wonder she could survive as a top star—with charisma like this.
"I have to head out early tomorrow, okay? Stay as long as you want. I'll leave some cab fare."
"What time do you need to get up?"
"Shooting starts at ten, so around six."
"That sounds tiring."
"This is a full night's sleep for me. Sleep in if you want. Grab something from the fridge if you're hungry."
Han Sea-ah stroked my hair affectionately once more.
For people who'd just met today, we were awfully close. Had Oh Seo-hee asked her to look after me like this?
"But is it okay leaving me here alone? We just met today..."
"Why? Planning to steal something?"
"No, not that... Aren't you trusting me a bit too much?"
"It's fine, it's fine."
A house like this probably had security cameras anyway. Steal something, and I'd run into her at the police station the next day.
Not that I had any intention of doing that.
"Then, can I at least use the fridge a little?"
"Yeah, go ahead. It's stocked full, so plenty to eat. Microwave's right next to it."
Han Sea-ah pulled the covers up to my chin.
Unlike the drafty blankets at home that let the wind whistle through, this one was plush and cozy, stuffed full of down.
"Sharing a bed with someone... I can't even remember the last time."
Han Sea-ah spoke with a faint smile playing on her lips.
I couldn't recall the last time I'd felt someone's warmth under the same blanket either.
Maybe it was my first time ever.
This life went without saying, and even in my previous one, I had no close family memories.
"Shall we sleep, then?"
"Yeah."
Han Sea-ah pulled out her phone and tapped the screen a few times. The room lights switched off automatically.
The usual night darkness settled in, but strangely, tonight it felt brighter than normal.
"Good night. I hope you make up with your parents tomorrow."
"Thanks. Good night, Unnie."
Soon, even breathing came from in front of me.
Already asleep?
I'd heard celebrities had trouble sleeping from stress, but she sure dozed off easily.
'She said six o'clock.'
I wiggled my toes, recalling her words.
Five a.m. Five a.m. Five a.m. Eyes squeezed shut, I repeated it in my head hundreds of times.
Only when my head started to ache did I let go of the thought and drift off.
For some reason, sleep came much faster than usual.
※
Flick—
My eyes snapped wide open.
The pre-dawn silence wrapped the room in quiet stillness. Not a single bird chirped.
Just last night, I'd felt a cold coming on.
Thanks to the thick blanket, my body felt nicely warmed now.
I glanced sideways. Han Sea-ah slept soundly.
Her soft, steady breaths leaking out confirmed last night wasn't a dream.
Maybe the warmth wasn't just from the blanket.
'Sleeping bare-faced and still that pretty? Not fair.'
Careful not to wake her, I slipped out from under the covers as slowly as possible.
Checked my phone: 4:55 a.m.
Every time, I marveled at how effective my mental alarm was.
I tiptoed out of the room, quietly closed the door, and headed to the kitchen along the hallway from last night.
'She said to use whatever.'
Recalling her words, I opened the fridge.
True to a celebrity's home, it was stocked mostly with veggies and proteins, not greasy stuff. A few microwaveable instants, though.
I shut the fridge door and pulled out my phone to go online.
Typed a search, scrolled a bit, and found the post I wanted.
Washed my hands, then grabbed veggies from the fridge first.
Picked a suitable bowl, scooped a handful from the salad container, and added a few cherry tomatoes.
Pulled out lemon juice and yogurt, mixed a dressing, and after some thought, added just a pinch of salt.
Boiled eggs too.
I took a knife, sliced them to size, and arranged them evenly on top.
For the finish, an apple. Washed it clean, quartered it, and used the pieces to garnish the edge.
I wanted to peel it too, but I'd never handled a knife well enough to try.
And just like that, one plate of salad was done.
Not for me, though—for Han Sea-ah.
She'd let me stay. Not just a bed, but a day of luxury and comfort.
So I wanted to make breakfast at least. Though "making" was generous—just washing and assembling fridge ingredients.
What could I do? Can't cook what you've never learned. This was my best effort.
Grabbed two bowls, portioned out the salad. I don't love veggies, so mine got less.
Put the salad back in the fridge. As I waited, a yawn echoed from the room, and out came Han Sea-ah.
Her sleepy brown eyes turned my way and widened in surprise.
"Oh, Sarang."
Her flustered face suggested she'd forgotten I was sleeping next to her.
Morning person she wasn't, maybe.
"Why up so early? You could've slept more."
"How could I just sleep while the host heads out?"
"No need to mind me... Skipping sleep won't make you grow taller."
She frowned slightly, displeased I'd woken early.
I quickly grabbed the two bowls and forks from the fridge and set them on the table.
"Huh?"
Han Sea-ah stared at the salad in bewilderment.
"Y-You said the fridge was okay, so... I made some for you too, Unnie."
"You made this?"
"Just threw together what I saw."
She sat across from me with a somewhat dazed look.
Her eyes stayed glued to the salad on the table.
"You're probably tired, so I thought breakfast at least... And it'd be nice to eat together..."
Her brown eyes slowly turned to me.
So luminous, they made her emotions hard to read.
Happy? Amused? No clue.
"Of course, if you don't want it, no problem! I can eat it."
Han Sea-ah just gazed at me silently.
Ting. Like some sound effect hummed from her eyes.
"You'll eat some too, right, Sarang?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Haa..."
She let out a sound between a groan and a sigh, picked up a fork.
Took a bite of salad and apple, then flashed a bright smile.
"It's so good, Sarang!"
"Aw, it's just salad."
"Must be the care put into it. Hehe."
Adults could be this cute.
Her fair skin made her look fresher than trainees my age at the agency.
I was struck again by the power of looks. She'd just turned twenty-eight this year, but she could pass for a college student.
"Guess I should head out now. I'll go first, Sarang."
She polished off the salad, checked the clock, and moved quickly.
Like last night, hoodie up, cap pulled low, shoes on.
As I started to follow, she flicked my forehead with her finger.
"You go when you're ready and feel like it. Buses aren't running much now anyway."
"...Is that really okay?"
"It's not 'okay'—do it."
Fine, then at least see her off.
I peeked through the cracked door.
"Um, have a great day."
Ting. That sound-effect gaze again.
Han Sea-ah looked at me wordlessly, then smiled softly.
"See you again, Sarang."
With that promise of another meeting, she shut the door.
I watched her back through the window until she was gone.
Then flopped onto the sofa, staring up at the fancy chandelier on the ceiling.
"I want to stay here like this."
Part of me wanted to beg Han Sea-ah to take me in.
But sadly, I knew my place all too well.
I didn't belong beside someone as radiant as her.
Time to go back.
To where I fit.
Time to wake up from the dream.