Page 59 of From Paris to Seoul

Even before I could finish, her eyes lit up.

“I decided to accept it, even though I want to focus more on music now, because… well, opportunities like this don’t come twice, and I’m not exactly in a position to turn down offers.” I let out a short, cynical laugh.

She grabbed my shoulders and gave me a little shake. “Baekhyun, that’s so cool! What’s the drama about?”

“It’s really interesting—I was hooked the moment I read the script. It’s about a high-profile Korean who flees to Japan after a scandal back home. At first, he thinks he’s safe, but then he discovers that someone in Korea has hired the Yakuza to track him down. While trying to lay low, he falls in love with a Japanese woman, which makes his situation even more complicated. Now, he has to decide whether to risk staying for love or escape before it’s too late.”

I scoffed. “And of course, I’ll be the villain—the Yakuza boss.” Shaking my head, I added, “And I have to speak some Japanese lines too. I know the basics, but I’m nervous. I really need to practice.”

Somehow, she looked even more excited than I had been when I first heard the news. “Wow. That’s so…wow. I’m really,reallyhappy for you!”

I smiled, meeting her eyes. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat before continuing. “There’s a catch, though.”

Her eyes widened, waiting for me to explain.

“Most of the filming will take place in Japan. So… I’ll have to be there for about six months.”

Her expression shifted instantly. Her shoulders slumped, and she let go of my arms. “Oh.” That was all she said.

“Yeah… oh.” I echoed like an idiot.

Then, an idea popped into my head—a crazy one, maybe, but I had to say it. Half a year without her was too long. Even one month already felt unbearable.

“Come with me,” I said simply.

She blinked. For a moment, she just stared, then—

“Wow. Okay. Now I’m convinced,” she said flatly. “I had my suspicions before, but this just confirmed it.”

“Confirmed what?”

“That you’re absolutely insane,” she replied.

I let out a short, dry laugh. “Well, maybe I am. But think about it—you could start your transition to becoming a piano teacher while in Japan. Nothing’s tying you down here. And you said it yourself—your dream is to leave Korea one day. Six months isn’t forever. Think of it as a trial period. If you don’t like it, you can always come back.”

I paused for a moment before adding, “And besides… we lived in a dream in Paris. Don’t you want to try living in reality with me? To be driven crazy by me, to argue over who does the laundry or washes the dishes?”

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “Baekhyun, we’re skipping so many steps. I mean… are we even dating? Am I your girlfriend?”

I took her hand, gently stopping her rambling. How is that not clear to her? Of course I wanted her to be my girlfriend. But… the way she questioned it, it felt like something was holding her back.

“Do you want to be my girlfriend, Seo-yeon?” I finally asked, slightly afraid of what her answer might be.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, the floor suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world as she kept staring at it.

“I want to… but my family…” Her voice trailed off as she chewed her lip. “They’re… not exactly open to new people.”

Ah. So that’s it.

Not the distance. Not the uncertainty. Me.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Achaeboldaughter and a guy from a tiny restaurant (one that’s failed, no less)—our worlds couldn’t be more different. I could still remember that night at my place, the way she looked at the cramped space, the way she hesitated before sitting down.

Was she scared? Scared of what the future might look like if she stayed with someone like me?

I’m not naïve. I know what people like her parents think of guys like me—unpolished, unworthy,temporary.

And maybe, deep down, she’s starting to think the same. Not because she wants to, but because she’s been raised to. Maybe she’s wondering if love—or whatever this thing between us is—can truly bridge the gap between our worlds.

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