Chapter 7
The sound of the shutter was swallowed by the clamor of the breakfast buffet, utterly unnoticed.
“Go ahead, eat.”
“No, you first.”
When Gaeun placed a slice of papaya on her plate, Seokjin moved it back onto hers.
“Joo, really, please have it.”
“No, I’m fine, really.”
“It’s my treat.”
Gaeun, who usually loved food and rarely conceded, was actively insisting he take the papaya. Something felt off to Seokjin.
Of course.
The moment he bit into the carefully cut papaya, he understood why she had been so desperate to offer it. Despite its ripe orange color, promising sweetness, the papaya was unripe, sharp with an unpleasant, raw taste.
“Gaeun?”
“Delicious, isn’t it?”
Seeing his forehead crease in distaste, Gaeun propped her chin in her hand and smiled. In response, Seokjin speared a piece with his fork and offered it to her.
“Here, try it. See if it’s tasty.”
“…Does it usually taste like this?”
Gaeun grimaced, swallowed the unchewed piece in one gulp, and asked.
“It shouldn’t taste like this normally.”
“What kind of fruit tastes like a watermelon rind?”
“So that’s why you gave it to me?”
“…Eat it before the omelet gets cold.”
With a forced, playful smile, Gaeun insisted he eat. A photographer nearby would have seen enough to capture the image of Joo Seokjin, the CEO of Jusin Retail, with his charmingly devoted girlfriend.
Gaeun adjusted the wide brim of her hat and knocked on Seokjin’s hotel room door.
“Joo, come on out.”
“I’m coming.”
When he emerged, she swallowed dryly.
Seokjin, wearing sunglasses with sharply angled lenses, looked like a model straight from a magazine spread. His presence exuded such effortless charisma that Gaeun momentarily lost herself.
Had she abandoned him at the airport, countless other women would have rushed to offer help, ensuring he would never have been alone.
Noticing her gaze lingering on him, Seokjin asked,
“Why are you staring like that?”
“…Ah, partly because your face is half-hidden. It’s… quite something to see.”
“I’ve never heard anyone say they judge a person by half their face.”
“Maybe that’s just flattery.”
Gaeun, feeling momentarily enamored, spoke against her own judgment. Seokjin’s allure was undeniable—even partially obscured, his handsomeness radiated.
Throughout the trip, a nagging sense of unease took hold: other women’s eyes would inevitably be drawn to him. And sure enough, on the BTS ride to the water bus for the dawn temple, numerous women sneaked glances at Seokjin.
Not wanting to appear possessive, Gaeun stepped slightly aside, maintaining a subtle distance.
“Let’s go to the rooftop bar tonight.”
“Traffic might be terrible, are you sure?”
The rooftop bar Gaeun had in mind was atop the world-famous B Hotel, part of an international luxury chain. They planned to relax there and take in the night view, though the thought of Bangkok’s notorious traffic made her uneasy.
“If it’s convenient, we could plan another activity nearby tomorrow and take a dinner cruise tonight instead,” Seokjin suggested.
“A dinner cruise?”
“Yes, to enjoy a meal while taking in the Chao Phraya River night view.”
A fine idea—but a dinner cruise would likely be expensive.
“It’s not as pricey as you think,” Seokjin said, sensing her concern, his tone confident.
“You and I clearly have different ideas of ‘not expensive.’”
“This is well within what won’t feel burdensome for you, Gaeun.”
“Then let’s go for it. The cruise it is.”
“Shall we make the reservation? Your phone, please.”
“Here.”
Handing over her phone, Gaeun watched as Seokjin navigated the reservation effortlessly.
“Need to pay now?”
“Here you go.”
She handed over her card politely, feeling oddly like a secretary assisting him with work.
“All done.”
Feeling slightly petulant, Gaeun grabbed her card back with exaggerated force. Losing her balance, she stumbled.
“Oh!”
She ended up leaning against Seokjin’s chest, her eyes fluttering open. Instinctively, her body clung to him like a magnet. His chest felt impossibly wide and solid, every inch of it sculpted muscle.
It was as if she could rest here forever, and a quiet, teasing thought teased her mind.
Her own memories surfaced unbidden: her naïve devotion to Han Kyung, her freshman crush, and the little absurdities she tolerated because she wanted to protect his pride. Seven years wasted foolishly—and now, just standing here, the bittersweet regret welled up in her eyes.
Quickly wiping them away, she smiled, and Seokjin seemed none the wiser.
“Shall we get off?”
“Yes.”
The walk from the station to the water bus was a short distance. The street smelled faintly of open sewers, but the sweet scent of tropical fruits piled in carts quickly overpowered it. Gaeun wrinkled her nose and inhaled deeply, savoring the exotic aroma.
“When I go back to Korea, I’ll work hard and make it a point to take a trip like this at least once a year.”
“Travel is always good—it’s a chance to recharge.”
“Do you often travel alone like this?”
“Yes. Others might think it’s business trips, but a trip with a swarm of coworkers isn’t really traveling. I enjoy the freedom.”
Listening, Gaeun pictured him as a prince disguised to sneak out for a little freedom, and though it sounded like a spoiled complaint, she understood that freedom meant different things to different people.
When they arrived at the dawn temple, the sun glinted off the pagoda towers.
“The sparkling pieces are discarded porcelain from Chinese merchants. Some saw them as worthless, but look—they’ve become treasures.”
“So, Gaeun, you…”
“Excuse me?”
“No, even though you’re currently between jobs, if you find a way to use yourself well, you’ll shine just like this.”
Gaeun felt a warm sense of reassurance, as if he was comforting the twenty-seven-year-old version of herself with no remarkable resume to speak of.
The steps to ascend the enormous pagoda were nearly vertical. Simply looking up made Gaeun’s legs tremble.
“Shall we go up?”
“…You first.”
“Together?” Seokjin offered his hand.
Feeling compelled, she placed her hand atop his. Up close, the glittering pagoda was even more stunning.
“You can also view the night scenery from the opposite rooftop bar,” he added.
“You frequent it often, then?”
“Business trips, yes. But this kind of personal travel is a first.”
“So I’m your first partner on this trip?”
“Seems so.”
Gaeun smiled at his deadpan acknowledgment. The two of them climbed the dizzyingly steep stairs, hands firmly clasped, moving like a couple utterly at ease with each other.
