After their late-night conversation, So Jin and Hikari finally went to sleep, but neither could rest easily.
Hikari lay on the soft hotel bed, staring at the ceiling. Why am I feeling like this? she wondered. The thought of sleeping under the same roof as So Jin made her heart race for no reason.
So Jin, on the other hand, let out a deep sigh. He was never one to overthink, but tonight felt different. The presence of someone else in his space, someone who had started to intrigue him, made him restless.
After an hour of overthinking, both finally drifted into sleep.
---
The Morning Routine
So Jin woke up early, as usual. He quietly got out of bed and began his morning workout—push-ups, crunches, and shadowboxing. His muscles flexed with each movement, sweat glistening on his skin.
After an intense session, he took a cold shower and brewed some tea before pulling out a canvas from his bag. The misty Tokyo skyline looked too beautiful not to paint.
As he stroked the brush across the canvas, Hikari stirred awake.
She sat up, still drowsy, and blinked at the sight before her.
So Jin, dressed in a simple black t-shirt, was sitting near the window, painting with sharp focus.
For a moment, she thought she was still dreaming.
"You paint?" she asked, startled.
So Jin glanced at her, then returned to his strokes. "Yeah."
Hikari got out of bed and approached him. She was stunned by what she saw on the canvas. The details, the depth, the perfect balance of light and shadow—it wasn't just good. It was masterful.
"You're this good?!" she exclaimed.
So Jin smirked slightly. "I've been painting for a long time."
Hikari still couldn't believe it. "But… why have I never heard about this?"
So Jin leaned back slightly, stretching. "One of my paintings was auctioned in Japan once. It sold for 15.5 million yen."
Hikari's jaw dropped. "You're joking."
"I'm not."
Still in disbelief, she quickly grabbed her phone and searched for famous paintings sold in Japan. After scrolling for a while, her eyes widened.
"'Myriad of the Misty Mountains'…" she read aloud.
So Jin nodded. "That's mine."
Hikari's mind went blank. Wait… I've seen that painting before!
She scrolled further and suddenly froze.
"So Jin…" she said, her voice unsteady.
"Hm?"
She slowly turned the screen toward him. "This painting was resold last week for 155 million yen."
So Jin's brush stopped mid-air.
"What?" he blinked.
"It got auctioned again… and someone bought it for a hundred times its original price."
There was a long silence.
Then, So Jin sighed, shaking his head with a small chuckle.
"I guess… I shouldn't have told you about this."
Hikari still couldn't believe it. "You're a billionaire businessman, a master archer, and a world-class painter? What else are you hiding?"
So Jin smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Hikari crossed her arms, pouting. "You're really too much, you know?"
So Jin just continued painting, while Hikari sat beside him, watching his every move.
And for the first time, she realized…
She wanted to know everything about him.
---
The Flight to Korea
As soon as the painting was finished, So Jin checked his watch.
"It's time to leave. Pack your things," he said.
Hikari, still lost in thought over the painting, blinked. "Already?"
He nodded. "Meet me on the roof when you're done."
She gave him a confused look but did as told.
When she reached the rooftop, she froze.
There, waiting for them, was a sleek black helicopter.
Hikari stared at it in disbelief. "Are we… flying to Korea?"
Then, her jaw nearly hit the ground when she saw So Jin casually climbing into the pilot's seat.
"Wait. WAIT. You can fly?!" she shouted, unable to process this new revelation.
So Jin smirked as he put on the headset. "I can do a lot of things."
Hikari stood there, stunned. "Is there anything you can't do?"
So Jin pretended to think. "Hmm… I guess I'm not great at dancing."
Hikari scoffed. "Of course."
She hesitated before getting in. "This is safe, right?"
So Jin glanced at her. "Do you think I'd let you get on if it wasn't?"
She sighed, strapping in. "Fine, but if I die, I'm haunting you."
"Noted," So Jin said with a grin as he started the engine.
As they lifted off, Hikari gripped the seat tightly.
"This is insane," she mumbled.
So Jin glanced at her. "Relax. It's just flying."
She turned to him. "JUST FLYING?! Normal people don't wake up, paint a masterpiece, then casually pilot a helicopter to another country!"
So Jin chuckled. "I never said I was normal."
Hikari sighed dramatically. "I swear, every time I learn something new about you, it makes my brain hurt."
"Well," So Jin said, smoothly navigating the aircraft, "then get ready. There's more to come."
Hikari just shook her head, both amazed and exhausted by him.
As the helicopter soared towards Korea, one thing was clear—her journey with So Jin was only just beginning.
... to be continued...