When I first met her on set, I honestly thought she might be from a royal family. Her tall, slender frame—like a delicate flower—her polished, classy demeanor, and her impeccably neat appearance (not a single strand of hair out of place, even after countless bottles of soju) all exuded an air of quiet elegance. And then there was her smile—warm, yet faintly melancholic.
It was as if she was born to play the role of a royal queen inPrincess of Cosmos. As for me… well, I was cast as the sickly king, doomed to die halfway through the series.
The sound of shattering glass in my mind broke through the moment, abruptly pulling me back to reality.
Right then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me further back to reality. I quickly glanced at the text from Sun-hee, sharing the location of the restaurant just across from the Opéra Garnier.
“Well, are you staying in Paris for a few more days? Maybe we can catch up later,” I suggested to Seo-yeon. “Or, if you’re free tonight, you’re welcome to join us for dinner. My girlfriend and her friends will be there too.”
Seo-yeon paused to consider my offer. “Oh, thanks. Yeah, we could catch up later, no worries. Just text me if you guys have time. I wouldn’t want to interrupt a romantic dinner,” she said with a wink, teasing me.
The playful gesture caught me off guard. Despite spending months filming together, I’d rarely seen her joke or tease anyone. It was like watching a mannequin come to life—unexpected, yet oddly charming.
“Sure. Text you later on KakaoTalk?” I said, naming the messenger app we used.
She nodded with a small smile.
“Okay, see you later then!”
With small waves exchanged, Seo-yeon and I bid each other a temporary goodbye. I made my way downstairs, weaving through the grand central staircase of the Opéra Garnier and a throng of tourists, finally stepping out into the crisp Parisian air.
The restaurant Sun-hee mentioned was right across the street, its warm glow spilling onto the sidewalk and illuminating the terrace outside. Inside, I spotted her and three of her friends gathered around a round table, laughing over something. A couple of large shopping bags rested beside their chairs, a clear testament to their Parisian shopping adventures.
“Oppa, annyeong! Did you have a good time in the city? Too bad I couldn’t get you into Paris Fashion Week—today was the best day ever!” Sun-hee greeted me enthusiastically as I approached.
“Oh wait, before you sit, can you take a picture of us?” she asked, handing me her phone without even bothering to wait for my response. I pressed my lips together, took her phone, and snapped a few photos of her and her friends at the table.
When I handed the phone back, she immediately checked the pictures and frowned slightly. “Oh, it’s not centered… never mind, we can take more later.”
I sighed, slided into the seat next to her and nodded to her friends. “I had a nice day by the way. I spent the day doing touristy stuff. You should check out the Opéra Garnier across the street—it’s incredible.”
“Hmm… maybe, if there’s time,” she replied, already flipping through the menu. Her excitement shifted gears in an instant. “I’mstarving!”
The ambiance of the restaurant oozed sophistication, with chandeliers sparkling above and quiet murmurs of French accents filling the room.
I noticed the waiters wearing name tags adorned with a collection of little flags, signaling their multilingual skills.
Glancing at the polished menu in front of me, I could already tell this place was going to burn a hole in my wallet.
I started by flipping to the last pages, looking for drinks. A glass of wine—15 Euros. Soda—8 Euros. A bottle of branded water—6 Euros. I gasped in silence. Back in Korea, I could get ten cans of soda for the same price.
I hesitated before checking the prices for meals. Should I just get an appetizer and skip the main course?
Noticing my reaction, Sun-hee subtly tugged at my pants under the table and shot me a death stare.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be so cheap,” she whispered, barely audible.
I stared back at her. Sure, we’re allowed to enjoy ourselves once in a while, and I do like to treat her occasionally. But did she ever consult me before picking this restaurant? Or… any restaurant, for that matter?
Why did she even want me on this trip if she was just going to spend all her time with her friends? A bitter thought popped into my mind.
And on the rare moments when she’s actually present—not glued to her phone making content—she’s throwing sharp comments my way in front of them.
I noticed some of her friends shift uncomfortably in their seats, clearly overhearing what Sun-hee had just said.
One by one, they placed their orders, and finally, it was my turn. When the food and drinks arrived, we ate mostly in silence. The taste was just… okay. It felt like we’d stumbled into a typical tourist trap.
I sighed and tried to make small talk with her friends to diffuse the tense atmosphere. After dessert (which, by the way, cost you at least one kidney), they decided they were too exhausted to walk or take the metro, so they called a ride-sharing service to take us back to the hotel.