“Uhm, Eugene… where are we going?”
“Somewhere good.”
“Okay…”
No matter how many times I asked, I kept getting the same answer.
From the moment I got in the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that…
I was being kidnapped.
Sunglasses and a mask to conceal their identity.
A sports car fast enough that no ordinary car could keep up.
Well, at least it’s not a van without license plates.
And besides, I decided to trust Eugene.
Surely, she’s not a bad person.
“What’s your name?”
“Pardon?”
“Your name. You haven’t told me, have you?”
“Oh… I’m sorry. My name is Han Miro.”
“Han Miro? That’s a cute name.”
Click, clack.
While the car momentarily stopped at a signal, Eugene skillfully operated his phone with one hand, diligently typing something.
“Good. Did you have breakfast?”
“Yes…”
“Really? Then we can go straight there.”
Where exactly is Eugene taking me?
We’ve already been driving for over 15 minutes.
Isn’t this quite far?
I’ve never been outside my neighborhood before in my entire life…
Beep-.
Mirooo!!
Where are you going right now?!
‘Soyeon…?’
Beep-.
Beep-.
It’s not like something happened, right!?
Why did you go so far away!?
Miro, you’ve always stayed near home!
You read my messages, didn’t you?
Hurry up and reply!
Even as I was typing a response, Soyeon’s messages kept flooding in like crazy.
At first, they seemed full of concern, but they were getting more and more intense, like she might show up wherever I was any second.
Don’t worry, Seoyeon.
Miro is just…with someone I know.
We had plans to meet and are heading somewhere together.
Didn’t I tell you I had something to do yesterday and today?
But still…just in case…
Soyeon really worries a lot.
Not as much as I do, though.
So I have to ask her this.
Soyeon, how did you know I was going far away?
I don’t want to doubt Soyeon, but something feels strange.
I don’t even know where I’m going, so how could she know?
And why would she send me a message about it so precisely…?
‘…She’s taking her time replying.’
Over a minute passed after I sent my message, and still no response from Soyeon.
Why isn’t she answering right away?
I mean, it’s just a bit odd, so I asked.
It’s not like the time she suddenly showed up at the convenience store where I work…but still.
Is there something I don’t know?
Beep-.
Mirooo!
Look at this!
The message Soyeon sent had a photo attached.
I was at the salon to get my hair done, and I ‘happened’ to see you in this car!
The photo showed Soyeon posing with a V-sign in front of Eugene’s sports car, stopped at a traffic light.
The blonde hair that had been straight just yesterday now had soft, fluffy ends, making it hard to believe Seoyeon was lying.
I came all the way out here because someone I know owns this salon~!
I just happened to see you in the car, so I texted you! Nothing’s wrong…
Right?
I see.
Thanks for worrying about me.
Really, I’m fine.
Even as I sent the message, a pang of guilt overtook me.
I couldn’t bear to look at Soyeon’s bright, smiling face in the photo.
I’m…such a pathetic person.
I’ll be back home by 7, so I’ll text you then.
Got it!
Have fun, Miro~!
After finishing the conversation, I turned off my phone.
The battery was already low from staying up all night yesterday, and leaving it on would just tempt me to keep texting Seoyeon nonstop.
‘You’re so pathetic, Han Miro…’
Beyond the now black screen of my phone, I could see my own reflection—a shabby face with messy hair and oversized glasses.
When will I be able to live without all this worry?
I’m so tired of having to doubt my only friend.
“Miro.”
“Yes…?”
“Want to try a cigarette?”
“What!? I’m still a student!”
Eugene’s words snapped me out of my thoughts and brought me back to reality in an instant.
No matter how messed up this world is, cigarettes and alcohol are off-limits to minors.
“I know.”
“Then why…?”
“You just looked down.”
“…I do?”
“Yeah.”
It felt like she had hit the nail on the head.
My face was more than half-covered by my glasses, to the point where even my grandmother could barely recognize me, so how could she tell?
“If something’s bothering you, just say so. Sometimes, advice from others can be helpful.”
“But…”
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Do whatever feels right.”
Eugene…
For the first time, I felt a sense of trust from an adult.
Part of me wanted to take off my glasses, spill everything, and ask for advice, but I had to hold it in.
“…Would it be okay if I asked for advice later?”
Just a little more.
Let’s build a little more trust first.
Sure, it might feel good to pour out my secrets and worries right now, but there’s always the risk it could lead to my ruin.
“I don’t mind. I’m an adult with the luxury of waiting.”
Swoosh, stroke.
Eugene managed to pat my head while driving, a little show of skill.
If it had been anyone else, I might’ve scolded them to focus on driving, but with Eugene, I had this strange confidence that no accident would happen.
“Thank you…”
After that, we didn’t exchange any more words before arriving, but the atmosphere in the car was so warm and comforting that it felt peaceful.
Screech.
After about another 10 minutes, the car came to a stop.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I looked out the window, and the first thing I saw was an enormous building, so tall that its end seemed nowhere in sight.
“You can get out now.”
“Oh… yes!”
Once I stepped out of the car, I could really grasp just how enormous the building was.
Even tilting my head all the way back, I couldn’t see the top.
It must have been at least 80 floors high, maybe more.
“Don’t wander off. Just follow me, alright?”
“Yes… Um, is it okay for the car to just drive off on its own like that?”
“It’s auto-parking. Now, let’s go.”
Auto-parking.
I’d only ever heard about it, but I didn’t know cars like that actually existed.
I stared in fascination at the car moving by itself, but quickly followed behind Eugene.
The difference in height between Eugene and me was so great that her walking speed was much faster than mine.
However, She made sure to stop every now and then to let me catch up, making it easy for me to follow.
She’s really considerate, even in the smallest things.
There’s so much I can learn from her.
‘…So people actually live here.’
The inside of the building, which I entered while trailing behind Eugene, surprisingly resembled an apartment complex.
The difference was that it looked like a ridiculously luxurious one.
There were a few women in security uniforms walking around, and the place was filled with all sorts of expensive decorations and paintings everywhere.
Soyeon, Eugene…
Why do so many of the people I know happen to be rich?
It’s not like I’m trying to meet people like that, but both of them are wealthy.
“Welcome, Eugene!”
“Yeah. Did you prepare what I asked for?”
“It’s right here.”
“Thank you, as always.”
After receiving a box from the security guard, Eugene stepped into the elevator.
Following her inside, I was stunned by the sheer number of buttons—it was overwhelming.
For someone like me, just an ordinary person, figuring out how to even use this elevator seemed confusing.
This feels like it would be more inconvenient than useful…
Rich people’s logic is beyond me.
And what’s with labeling things like Basement A and Basement B instead of just B1?
‘66th floor…’
The elevator rose so quickly that before I even realized it, we had arrived on the 66th floor.
I barely had time to process the ridiculous speed before the doors opened, and what I saw next left me even more speechless.
“This is… a gym?”
A massive space stretched out endlessly, filled with all kinds of exercise equipment.
I’d been to gyms a few times in my past life, but this was on a completely different level—much larger, with way more equipment.
“This is a space I use personally. You can use it however you’d like.”
“…This entire place belongs to you, Eugene?”
“Yeah. Sometimes our staff or acquaintances come here, but I told them not to come on Sundays.”
“Um, just to check… You didn’t do that because of me, right?”
“I did, actually.”
Ouch—
The weight of it hit me so hard that my stomach started to ache.
This entire, enormous space…just for me?
Eugene and I haven’t even known each other for that long, and yet she’s going to such great lengths?
Isn’t this a bit too much?
“Take this and head to the changing room over there.”
“This is…”
“Clothes.”
Eugene handed me the box she was holding and walked off to another area.
Left alone, I stared blankly at the box for a moment before rushing to the changing room she had pointed out.
“…Ugh.”
Inside the spacious changing room, I opened the box to find a pair of skin-tight leggings and a short-sleeve crop top.
Sure, they’d probably be comfortable working out, but…this is so embarrassing.
Even if Eugene is the only other person here, she’s still here!
With an outfit like this, I might as well be naked…especially my lower half.
No, no.
She went through the trouble of preparing this, and I’ve come all this way.
I can’t back out now!
I braced myself, but this still feels pretty awkward.
After changing, I stepped outside, but Eugene wasn’t anywhere to be seen yet.
Sitting alone on one of the gym benches, I idly looked around the enormous space before, without realizing it, my gaze shifted down to my lower body.
“…This feels weird.”
Even though my legs were covered by the black leggings, my own body somehow gave off a sensual vibe.
Was it just because of the outfit?
“Looks good on you.”
“Eugene…?”
Startled, I turned my head at the sound of Eugene’s voice, but the moment I saw her, I immediately shut my eyes.
“Uh, your… outfit…”
Eugene was practically half-naked.
“Is there a problem?”
“…Don’t you think it’s a bit too revealing?”
I cautiously opened my eyes to take another look, but yeah, it was just as revealing as I’d thought.
Her short shirt barely covered his chest, exposing the lower curves of her pecs.
The dolphin shorts?
So short that her thighs—and even beneath them—were fully on display.
Way too revealing.
“Seems normal to me.”
“Does it…?”
Eugene…
I thought you were a normal person, but I guess the standards of this world are a little off for you.
Still, it’s a small quirk, nothing I can’t overlook.
After all, I’m here to learn from her…
Yeah.
Let’s just consider it a treat for my eyes.
Hehe.
“Alright, let’s start with some light stretching.”
“Got it!”
I don’t know what we’re about to start, but it’s probably exercise, right?
I’m determined to make the most of today and learn all I can!