Page 10 of From Paris to Seoul

So I kept strolling and eventually arrived at the iconic Eiffel Tower, doing an internal ‘oooh’ and ‘aaah’ as I took it in with my own eyes, before making my way down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

I even climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, where I could see twelve avenues branching out in flawless symmetry. The view of the city was breathtaking, but at the same time, I felt a twinge of melancholy.

I should’ve wanted to experience all of this with my girlfriend, right? But honestly, I didn’t feel that way at all. In fact, I felt a bit relieved she wasn’t here—she’d be too busy recording and taking pictures instead of simply enjoying the incredible surroundings.

Am I in the right relationship…?

Then again, if it weren’t for Sun-hee, I wouldn’t even be in Paris.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I decided to video call my little sister.

“OPPPAAAA!!!” she screamed on the second ring. “ARE YOU REALLY IN PARIS?? Show me! Show me!”

I chuckled at her enthusiasm and waved hi when I saw my mom join beside her.

“Yeah, so I’m at the Arc de Triomphe now,” I said into my phone, hoping my pronunciation wasn’t too far off and carefully angling the camera to get the perfect shot. “Not sure if you can see behind me, but the background here is pretty stunning.” I slowly turned, giving them a full view of the majestic panorama.

“Oooh, so beautiful! You’re so lucky!” Ye-bin squealed. “I wish I could go there one day!”

I nodded, glancing at the city stretching endlessly below. “Yeah, we should come here one day.”

My mom, who had been quietly listening, smiled warmly. “Of course, you’ll take us all on a trip around the world one day. But you’re already doing so much—just make sure to take care of yourself first.”

There was a brief pause, and the familiar weight of being the family’s main provider settled onto my shoulders—just as it always had since Dad left when I was young.

Had she really meant it when she said I’d take them on a trip around the world one day? Or was it just something she said in the moment, caught up in the view, in the idea of us sharing something beautiful together? Somehow, though, those words had turned into an expectation—one I wasn’t sure how to feel about.

Guilt tugged at me. I was here, wasn’t I? Taking time for myself, spending money on something that had nothing to do with them. Shouldn’t I be saving fortheminstead?

But at the same time… why was thatmyresponsibility?

The thoughts pressed in, uncomfortable and unwelcome, but I pushed them aside.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m doing fine,” I said finally, forcing a reassuring smile.

I continued to chat some more with them before heading to Opéra Garnier, feeling proud of myself for navigating on the metro like the locals.

Sun-hee hadn’t texted me yet, so I decided to take a little tour inside the stunning Opéra Garnier, a place that felt like something straight out of a dream.

The lavish architecture, the grand staircases, the dazzling chandeliers—it all felt surreal. On one of the walls, the year of its construction was etched: 1861. It was mind-boggling to think that this building, with all its majestic grandeur, had stood the test of time for nearly two centuries.

As I wandered through the halls, taking in the beauty of the place and snapping a few photos for my personal documentary, my eyes suddenly caught a familiar face.

At first, I thought I was imagining things, but no—it was really her. She saw me too, momentarily stunned, as if she couldn’t believe it either.

Then, slowly, her lips curled into a smile as she made her way toward me.

“Yang Baekhyun? What are you doing here?” she asked, her surprise quickly turning into a smile. “What are the chances of running into you here?”

“Seo-yeon,” I said her name, half in greeting, half in disbelief at the unexpected reunion. A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “I’m here for Fashion Week… well, my girlfriend is, actually. What about you?”

Seo-yeon and I had played second-lead lovers in a historical drama calledPrincess of Cosmosa few years ago. Seeing her again brought back a rush of memories—shooting in the cold winter while wearing heavy royal costumes, the awkwardness of trying to look regal with frozen fingers, and the nights we’d all unwind with karaoke and barbecues after long shoots.

Those had been good times.

“Oh, I’m just here for… vacation,” she said, her gaze drifting away with a hint of secrecy.

There she goes again, with that unmistakable princess-like demeanor.

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