Chapter 82: Birthday Date (5)
TL/Editor: Raei
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Song Soo-yeon lied to Jung-gyeom about having work to do and went out into the street.
After spending the night observing Jung-gyeom and consoling herself, feeling embarrassed to look at him was one of her reasons.
The two were out to buy a birthday present for Jung-gyeom.
She had given up trying to figure out what he wanted.
Until the end, he had no intention of saying what he wanted for his birthday.
-You will definitely give me the gift I want the most.
Jung-gyeom's words lingered in Soo-yeon's mind.
He believed in her.
She had to try to meet his expectations.
Truthfully, he would be satisfied with anything she gifted him. Jung-gyeom was touched by the smallest things.
Because he knew how to appreciate the little joys.
However, Soo-yeon wanted to find a more suitable gift to convey her overflowing feelings.
She hoped even a fragment of her feelings would reach him.
She wanted him to know how precious he was to her.
Soo-yeon made her way to a large department store.
It was a place she normally wouldn't dare to enter.
There was no space more contrasting to her past poverty.
But now, she wasn't lacking money.
Just this morning, perhaps to sway her from quitting her villainous life, Stella had transferred an astonishing amount of money to her.
...Truthfully, Soo-yeon was wavering again.
Not just because of the money, but the dreams Stella showed her were shaking her resolve.
Because of the dream about Damin and Jun last night, she reaffirmed her goal to have Jung-gyeom no matter what.
...Perhaps she should continue her villain life a bit longer?
Given Solace's progress, it was necessary.
After all, she had become the top-ranked hero.
Soo-yeon browsed in the department store.
She skipped shoes since he had refused them before.
A scarf felt too trivial a gift for someone she loved.
A watch seemed like a good option. She mentally noted it.
She wanted to give a ring too, but their relationship wasn't at that stage yet.
"...Ah."
Her steps stopped suddenly.
At the end of her gaze were children's items.
Cute baby shoes, toys.
Clothes of tiny sizes.
Soo-yeon walked towards them as if enchanted.
It was too early to think of childbirth, but she couldn't turn away, perhaps because of the dream.
She remembered how the children in her dream filled her heart.
She felt a sense of completeness as an individual.
With Jung-gyeom and those children, she felt she wouldn't waver no matter what happened in the world.
Soo-yeon smiled softly.
Then, with a sigh, she turned around.
And resumed her search for Jung-gyeom's present.
---
---
In an empty cafe, Soo-yeon fiddled with her phone.
She browsed through various sites, looking for a place to go on a date.
-Good places to go on a birthday.
-Boyfriend birthday date ideas.
-Boyfriend birthday events.
Numerous search terms already filled the search history.
As she sifted through various pieces of information, her expression soured.
"....A dinner buffet costs 200,000 won?"
In her days of poverty, she would not have even dared to imagine setting foot in such a place.
"..."
Yet, imagining bringing Jung-gyeom there and making him happy gradually eased her frown.
Considering the wealth she had accumulated, this place was relatively cheap.
Compared to what Jung-gyeom had done for her, there couldn't be a cheaper place.
After reading reviews and flipping through photos, Soo-yeon made up her mind.
She dialed the hotel's number and made a call.
"...Hello?"
The employee on the line briefly mentioned the hotel's name and asked Soo-yeon the reason for her call.
"...Ah, I have a question. I'm thinking of coming for a meal on April 20th; do I need to make a reservation?"
"We don't take reservations for the buffet. You don't need to worry about finding a seat even without a reservation."
Soo-yeon nodded to herself, then proceeded to ask everything she was curious about.
What kind of menu was offered.
Her boyfriend liked alcohol; did they have it?
She wanted a somewhat quiet spot; was that possible too?
All the answers were enough to satisfy Soo-yeon.
She understood why people spent a lot of money to come to such places.
Having her questions answered, Soo-yeon prepared to end the call.
"...I see. Okay, thank you."
The employee, who had only been answering, then asked her a question.
"Would you like to reserve a room as well?"
"............What?"
Soo-yeon's mind froze.
It was a natural progression, but the possibility took her breath away.
Reserving a room meant...staying overnight.
It wouldn't be a night spent without incident, like last night.
"...How much is the most expensive room?"
Soo-yeon found herself asking, as if her feelings for Jung-gyeom were leaking out.
The employee kindly answered.
"For a room for two, it would be 500,000 won per night. This includes breakfast and access to the indoor sauna."
Soo-yeon, biting her lip in conflict, asked.
"...Would my boyfriend like it?"
There was a part of her that wanted to use the word 'boyfriend'.
Saying it out loud made it feel, if only for a moment, like Jung-gyeom was truly her boyfriend.
"He would be satisfied."
The hotel employee responded.
Soo-yeon fantasized about everything going according to plan.
Going on a date.
Entering the hotel.
Melting away in the sauna.
Delivering the gift at night.
...Spending a very special night.
Just the thought made her heart race.
If only it were possible, it'd be as if the birthday gift was for Song Soo-yeon instead.
She wasn't sure she could handle such happiness.
"...."
But she knew. The plan was almost impossible.
Soo-yeon and Jung-gyeom weren't officially dating yet, but she felt they were getting closer.
Just yesterday, they spent the entire day arm in arm, which could possibly be called dating...?
Of course, Jung-gyeom might just be comfortable around her.
Regardless, it was too soon.
She was already dreaming about a future with him.
She had skipped too many steps.
Naturally, she decided against making a reservation.
"...Can I call again?"
Yet, she couldn't let go; on the off chance, he agreed.
She couldn't not try, even if she didn't understand her own impulsiveness.
Maybe it was because Jung-gyeom wasn't here.
Like making a clamor inside an empty can, she found courage in his absence.
"Okay, understood."
With that, Soo-yeon hung up and returned to Jung-gyeom's studio apartment.
---
---
Before entering the studio, Soo-yeon sorted through her messages.
[Luna, everyone is waiting for you. We need you to attack Solace.]
"...Sigh..."
Soo-yeon ignored the message.
Her mind was too cluttered right now.
She could still vividly remember Jung-gyeom's tears and the guilt that accompanied them.
...Her desire to fulfill her dream hadn't changed.
She knew she had to work to somehow surpass Solace.
If she hadn't become a villain, she wouldn't have the luxury she now enjoyed.
She would only be able to afford a modest wish bracelet as his birthday gift, not even dream of a hotel buffet or a room reservation.
There are pros and cons.
It's better than the past, which had only downsides.
Soo-yeon shook her head to clear her thoughts and opened the door.
"Hey, I'm back."
...She thought she should change the way she addressed him.
Like in her dream, she wanted to call him "oppa."
She regretted why she stuck with this formal address in the first place.
"You're back?"
Jung-gyeom greeted her from inside, drenched in sweat and sitting on the bed.
His white shirt clung to his body, the neckline damp.
He appeared to have been exercising.
And Soo-yeon froze at the sight.
She hadn't seen his muscles in her dreams like this.
Jung-gyeom, distracted by his phone, didn't notice as Soo-yeon unintentionally memorized his form.
Her perverted curiosity seemed to be surfacing more frequently.
"...? Why are you frozen?"
Jung-gyeom, puzzled by her reaction, asked Soo-yeon.
Silently, she fanned her face to cool down as she stepped into the room.
"...Ah."
Realizing his state, Jung-gyeom scratched his head and reached for clothes from the wardrobe.
Soo-yeon quickly stopped him.
"...Keep, keep exercising. Don't mind me."
She didn't want to interrupt, but she also wanted to keep looking at him.
But Jung-gyeom shook his head.
"No, I'm done exercising. I'll take a shower and come out, so just wait a bit."
---
---
After his shower, Jung-gyeom lay on the bed with nothing to do.
Soo-yeon, watching him, twitched, wanting to approach but lacking the courage, even though she had already rehearsed what to say in her mind.
After a while, as Jung-gyeom got absorbed in his phone, she moved closer, crawling slowly to his side and laying down next to him.
Fresh from his shower, he smelled nice.
"..."
...She was slightly disappointed.
In truth, Soo-yeon preferred his natural scent.
She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath, trying to fold away her perverted thoughts.
If he were to notice such feelings, he'd surely be disgusted.
She herself would be terrified if men had weird fantasies about her.
Soo-yeon moistened her lips and wriggled closer to him.
Only then did Jung-gyeom realize she had moved closer and turned his head in surprise.
"...You startled me."
"..."
"Why, Soo-yeon?"
"...Just curious what you were looking at. Keep going."
Soo-yeon suppressed her fluttering heart and responded casually.
Jung-gyeom chuckled and lightly pinched her cheek.
Soo-yeon's heart raced again.
As she grew accustomed to their closeness, Soo-yeon gathered her courage to broach the subject.
"...Hey, did you know?"
"What?"
"...Eating at a hotel is trendy these days."
"...There's such a trend?"
Song Soo-yeon didn't know. She was just saying it.
"So I've heard. It's expensive but supposedly worth the price?"
"How much?"
"200,000 won... I think?"
Jung-gyeom didn't seem too surprised.
He just slightly pursed his lower lip and nodded.
Observing him, Soo-yeon moved closer until their hair mingled and their heads were nearly touching.
Their shoulders were already touching, and their hips almost met.
Their scents mingled.
Jung-gyeom put down his phone.
Pretending to look at the ceiling, Soo-yeon focused all her attention on him.
"...Do you want to go?"
Jung-gyeom asked.
Her heart raced. She hadn't expected him to ask first.
His question made everything much easier.
Song Soo-yeon answered slowly, not wanting to seem too eager.
"...I'd like to go."
She then baited him with details she learned from the hotel staff.
"There's a buffet with lobster and they grill steaks right there. There's a variety of sushi... fondue, I think? And they have wine..."
"You have to pay for the wine, though."
"Anyway. I've never tried lobster and stuff like that. I'm curious."
"...Hmm."
Both looked at the ceiling.
Soo-yeon patiently waited for Jung-gyeom to finish thinking.
"Alright, then shall we go?"
He said, with a smile as a bonus.
Soo-yeon felt a sense of achievement that made her skin tingle.
She suppressed the desire to jump for joy.
The thought that her fantasies could become reality excited her to the point of madness.
Soo-yeon quietly breathed out shallow breaths and turned her head towards him.
She couldn't resist looking at him.
His cheek was close enough to touch her lips.
She debated hundreds of times whether to kiss him right there.
Soo-yeon suppressed her perverted impulses.
It's not over yet.
"...Then... how about we go on April 20th? I'll pay for it. It's your birthday, after all."
Soo-yeon scrutinized Jung-gyeom's face slowly.
How could someone so lovely exist in this world, she wondered.
He was the person who shook her to the core
"...Ah, sorry."
Jung-gyeom apologized.
All her wild fantasies stopped dead.
"...What?"
He said,
"I have... an appointment that day."
Soo-yeon was left speechless.
She had never considered that Jung-gyeom might not be spending his birthday with her.
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