Chapter 8

You gotta give credit where it’s due. I’m the one that was dying to sleep with a celebrity. Although you did accept my proposal, and now we’re here.

“You’ve gone too far. It’s not that. It’s just that you picked me up, and now this villa… it just feels like a lot of effort is going into this one night… you’re a hooligan with manners, is what I might be saying.”

Haha. Jihee could read a myriad of emotions in Seo Kang’s laugh. Was it because he was an actor and he tended to exaggerate his facial expressions? Or was it out of habit? He looked happy, sad, joyful, yet melancholy at the same time. Like the anguished smile of Pierrot.

“Have I been upgraded from son-of-a-bitch?”

“No, this is a downgrade. So, step it up. You can’t go around messing up Seo Kang’s reputation. Override those stupid tabloids with headlines that have your name on them.”

Haha. There was that laugh again.

“Looks like I need to step it up tonight, first.”

Pop! After opening the wine, Seo Kang brought it over with two glasses.

He set everything on the table in front of the couch and took a seat right next to Jihee.

“I thought we’d keep it classic and traditional with wine. Does that disappoint you?”

Wine is a classic way to set the mood. I’m not opposed to it at all.

“It’s the cliche things that people like. Your typical romantic melodramas, new age… people know it’s cheesy, yet they still end up crying their eyes out.”

I don’t think that was quite the right metaphor for this situation… Why am I making a big deal out of this?

There was a warmth and intimacy when sharing emotions with a familiar man. On the other hand, there was tension and awkwardness with a stranger who was actively suppressing his emotions. Jihee perhaps desperately felt the need to eliminate the awkwardness and tension in that moment with any words that came out of her mouth.

“I think I’ve gone too far this time.”

Seo Kang said nothing and continued to peer into her eyes.

When she met his eyes, she saw that they were clear and twinkling. They were too transparent for a guy she would be spending just one night with.

Somehow, those clear and twinkling eyes also had an immense depth and richness, like a well you could fall into, not knowing when you would reach the end.

It would be dangerous to fall into the well. I’d end up like Alice, trapped forever in Seo Kang’s Wonderland.

Now, how does this man always say what I am thinking?

“You keep making me curious, Yoo Jihee…”

“Where?”

“See? You just asked ‘where.’ Most girls would ask ‘what,’ not ‘where.’ If you ask where, it feels like I need to answer with a particular area.”

“As in… my ass, or my breasts?”

Ahhh… this is why I’m desperate to figure you out, Yoo Jihee.

“Or your eyes.”

As he said that, Jihee saw herself reflected in those dark and mysterious Wonderland eyes of his.

To prevent herself from falling into the well, and to remind themselves of their objective, Jihee knew she had to start dribbling aggressively. They couldn’t lose sight of their goal.

“And what if I asked ‘what’? Would that mean you’re curious about what sounds I make, or what positions I like?”

The alcohol was ready. The sex was in the queue. Jihee aggressively turned on the eroticism to get the games going with this delicious man, she had no choice. She just had to.

“It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t.”

That’s right. What else would two people in for a one-night stand be curious about? Moaning and sex positions - that seemed like enough.

The more Jihee looked into Seo Kang’s eyes, the more the well felt like it was darker and deeper than she had imagined. She felt like her insides were exposed in the reflection of the eyes of the man who was doing everything not to expose his own.

“If you have a drink, would you let me know the answers to those questions?” Seo Kang asked as he made a generous pour with the wine.

Oh, you mean the sounds I make? The positions I like?

He’s like a maze in Wonderland. If I get caught in that maze, life will become very tiresome.

She took the wine glass he offered her.

“I’d answer even without the influence of alcohol,” she said.

“Actually, I need to just… see it for myself.”

Sure. You’ll experience it first-hand tonight.

Seo Kang brought the wine glass to his lips and let the opaque purple-ish liquid slide into his mouth.

Looking at the mysterious color of the wine sparked Jihee’s curiosity this time.

“I wonder how many women have had this wine in this villa that’s under your manager’s name.”

And what number am I in that long list?

She didn’t want to come off as a crazy fanatic digging into the most private details of a celebrity’s life, but now that she had stepped front and center into Seo Kang’s secret life, she couldn’t help but wonder what number she was.

Seo Kang had dated the most beautiful actresses in the country, Han Jiyeon and Shin Sunhae, in the public eye - albeit unintentionally, as paparazzi photos forced them to go public. Meanwhile, tabloids coming from the financial district of Yeouido had deemed him a ‘son-of-a-bitch’ while constantly pairing his name with countless other actresses and idol stars in headlines.

Have they all come here? Had the same mysterious, purple drink touched their lips, too? Her curiosity was at an all-time high.

“You’re curious about me too?”

Of course. You’re Seo Kang.

But why was it that his curiosity was being played off as just plain, simple curiosity, while her curiosity was being framed as a complex desire to know more? Why did this feel like a blow on her ego?

“I’m curious what number I am on Seo Kang’s list of women.”

“Then what number am I on Yoo Jihee’s list?”

“Try again. Don’t try and wiggle out of a tough question by answering with another question.”

“No, I really want to know. I want to know what number I am on Yoo Jihee’s big list of men she’s spent the night with.”

There were two guys who transitioned from one-night stands to flings. There were two other one-night stands that Jihee hadn’t intended on being one-night stands - her trashy first man and her shitty second man.

Compared to them, Seo Kang was a ‘gentlemanly hooligan.’

Was the all-around caliber of men seeking one-night stands doomed to be so low? Or did they get better and better as you went?

“Should I answer the tough question first or should I pass?”

How would I feel after hearing Seo Kang’s answer? Would I be hurt, would I be turned off, or would I just be coolly indifferent?

But above anything else, if I had an idea of the scale and scope of his dating life, would it help with putting out a fire that could potentially light up in my heart? I think any preventative measure would be helpful.

“Tell me. What number am I on Seo Kang’s list?”

“I thought you’d pass. You’re so unpredictable, as always. I’ll be the one to pass, actually. But if I’m going to be straight with you I’d say… how could I possibly remember all of them?”

Ah. I can see why it was a tough question for him.

“Ha! My bad. That was a tough question for the son-of- I mean the gentlemanly hooligan. Or maybe it wasn’t the right question. How’s this: have you invited people here who are in the same industry as you? Women, obviously. Not men.”

I’m talking about the most beautiful actresses in the country, Han Jiyeon and Shin Sunhae, among others, like the actresses and idol stars the tabloids have mentioned over the years.

“Are you trying to transition into being a paparazzi? You need a big case?”

Another question to answer a question. Try. Again. Hey, I’m just as curious about this as is the rest of the country! Seo Kang, you are a tough nut to crack.

“I may consider it as a side job. ‘The Latest Scoop: Seo Kang’s Private Life’. It’ll sell.”

“Nice direction but you keep forgetting something. You’re the lead actress in ‘Seo Kang’s Private Life.’”

Seo Kang’s fingers wrapped themselves around the tip of Jihee’s chin, as if she were the female lead on a stage.

His touch was so electrifying that she had to push his hand away to stop the energy from surging through her body, as if to reject being his damsel.

Still, those piercing eyes stayed keen on her. They were nothing less than star-studded.

“I wonder… where this confidence comes from.”

Confidence? I’m just trying to fake it ‘till I make it to feeling truly confident. Thankfully my efforts are proving to be worthwhile.

“I don’t have much to lose.”

If you let go of all expectations, then you aren’t scared to be bold. For Jihee, her expectations were wanting to look good for him and wanting things to work out with him.

Ironically, the more a woman let go of her desire for a man, the more the man’s desire for the girl would intensify.

Of course, she had no intention of stimulating his desire to truly want her. He wasn’t that easy a target anyway.

“Ah, so that’s why… I was wondering why you were so fearless…”

See? He always says things that make it hard for me to understand. He has a knack for making me feel strange and perplexed.

“You know what you just said can be mistaken to be really rude? You probably have no idea because all the women you run into are goddesses descended from heaven, but among us common folk, I’m well up there, alright? This face gets a lot of traction. I mean, you thought this face was acceptable to a certain extent, too, which is why we’re here, aren’t we?”

“That’s a big misunderstanding. I didn’t mean it that way. And to me… you’re beautiful. Much more beautiful than those girls who are constantly getting treatments, injections, or what not. Their faces change with the trends.”

Hearing “beautiful” come out of Seo Kang’s mouth struck Jihee’s heart. Hard. This was high-level womanizing. Perhaps because it was so much more matter of fact than all the frivolous words of praise that other men would typically shower her with. Her heart took a deep dive into his sweet words.

Why was it that when the same, cliche words that men always threw at women came out of Seo Kang’s mouth, they felt so believable? It was magic.

“Really? You’re gonna put all those dating rumors to shame by saying you prefer a regular, non-celebrity girl?”

The same long fingers that gripped Jihee’s chin earlier started to gently brush through her hair. The tiny fuzz on her face and body started to rise from the subtle warmth of his fingers.

“Sorry but… you’re not my type, Yoo Jihee.”

Right, I mustn't forget. Magic is magic, not reality. I can’t let myself be swept away by this.

Jihee bit into her bottom lip.

“You know there’s a discrepancy in your words and your actions…”

The hand that was caressing her head was clearly putting his desire on full display.

“Besides, isn’t every man’s ‘type’ a pretty woman? As if you’re any different.”

Seo Kang’s fingers found their way to Jihee’s lips that continued to rebuke him. See? I know you want me bad.

“I’m saying… women who talk too much before the game are not my type.”

As his thumb caressed her bottom lip, Seo Kang’s lips opened slightly.

“So now that you know what my type is, among other things… I’m thinking we should get the games going.”

You want me to shut up and let the games begin? Jihee quickly brushed off his fingers from her once again. It was way too hot.

“We’ll start when I want to start. I want some wine more than I want Seo Kang… for now.”

Upon brushing him off, she reached for her glass and took a sip of wine. She wanted to hide how hot her lips had gotten from his burning touch.

I keep getting butterflies. He’s so different from anyone I’ve ever met… his smell is so arousing.

Confidence, self-esteem, charm. Though those were all traits that a top celebrity must have, they felt so real and dominant in Seo Kang. It wasn’t the façade that men tried to put on for show, many times to no avail. His entire being was beaming with confidence and self-esteem, and as a result, the charm was undeniable.

Which is why I need to be very diligent about not losing my cool. Like an elegant swan that looks so austere above water, but only because its feet are working tirelessly underneath.

Jihee had never felt like this before.

Another confident smile lit up on Seo Kang’s face. How charming. He used the hand that Jihee pushed away to grab a sip of wine.

And then.

The moment Jihee put down her glass on the table, he did the same.

Tap.

As soon as the glass hit the table, abruptly, without warning, Seo Kang grabbed onto the back of Jihee’s head and dove in to swallow her lips with his.