Playing until exhaustion, they sat side by side on the beach to rest, and before they knew it, the sun began to set, casting a tangerine hue over the Jeju sky, bringing back memories of days gone by.

The day she mustered the courage to speak to him first.

That hill, that sunset.

Leon, too, had a longing look in his eyes, reminiscent of the distant past. Clad in a crumpled shirt, gazing at the distant sea, he remained the same poor artist she had loved in the old days.

With his gaze fixed on the distant sky, he suddenly asked, “Was it me or my painting?”

During their youthful days of mutual love, it was a question he had asked several times.

Whether she initially fell for him or his art, it seemed to be a question that greatly intrigued him.

However, Heesun never provided a proper answer. She couldn’t even discern it herself.

In truth, for Heesun, they were one and the same. She couldn’t separate the man from the painting.

The first time she saw the man, who passionately captured the landscapes she had seen every day on canvas—landscapes that were neither particularly beautiful nor special—she thought:

So there is someone so beautiful in the world.

And looking at the paintings he created, she thought again:

So there are such beautiful landscapes in the world.

The man drawing on the hill where the sun was setting looked like a painting itself. So, unable to determine which side she had fallen for, Heesun simply smiled instead of answering.

Even now, she couldn’t quite understand.

Facing the man who had been waiting for an answer for countless years, Heesun smiled.

“I’ll tell you when it comes to mind.”

Until the sunset, Leon and Heesun stayed on the beach and then returned to their accommodation.

The lodging was a small house perched on a quaint hill.

Adorned in European style, the interior opened onto a terrace, offering a view of the sea that gave the feeling of being on vacation on some foreign island.

Everything was in disarray due to seawater and sand—hair, clothes, everything. When Heesun showered in the bathroom attached to her room and came out, a large box that hadn’t been there until a while ago was placed on the bed.

“What is this?” she wondered, looking at it. Then a voice came from behind.

“Dinner will be at a splendid restaurant. I prepared clothes for you since it might be awkward to go to a casual place like the one we visited during the day.”

Saying that, he was perfectly dressed in a suit, with his hair impeccably groomed.

Once again, he looked like a person from a distant world, as if kissing him, whispering love, and even having a child with him were unbelievable facts.

What kind of restaurant requires dressing up so much? Heesun recalled the French restaurant at the Grand Hotel that she had visited only once.

Uncomfortable memories resurfaced, making it feel like her breath was being cut off.

“Uh, I’m okay with not going to such a nice place. The restaurant we went to during the day is enough.”

“I made a reservation on purpose. Since we’ve come all the way here, I can’t just take you to a shabby restaurant.”

Although she hesitated, claiming it was burdensome, it seemed he didn’t understand.

“I’ll wait outside; take your time getting ready and come out.”

Left alone, Heesun opened the box. In it were a Sabrina neckline black dress reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn, jewel-decorated shoes, a clutch bag, and even large earrings.
Left alone, Heesun opened the box. Inside were a black dress with a Sabrina neckline reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn, jewel-decorated shoes, a clutch bag, and even large earrings.

As she gently touched the smooth silk with her rough fingertips, sharp dissonance seemed to resonate.

You dare to touch me with hands like yours?

Suppressing her reluctance, Heesun put on each item from the box. Her pale face didn’t quite match the glamorous attire, so she reluctantly applied some makeup.

She finished her transformation by slightly tilting her head. Awkwardly emerging, the man who had been leaning against the car waiting was taken aback, hastily adjusting his posture.

“Oh my. You’re so…”

The man, who seemed about to say something with a trembling voice, eventually blushed.

With Heesun, who now looked much smaller than before, Leon started the car with an excited expression.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, staff members were already waiting.

“Welcome.”

From the moment she entered the grand, white building, her shoulders tensed. Under the gentle melody of classical music, people well-dressed beneath sparkling chandeliers leisurely enjoyed their meals with serene faces.

Heesun tried her best to act confidently. I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I feel so small?

However, she had spent too many years at the bottom, avoiding others’ eyes. Despite her efforts, she ended up bowing her head.

“How do you like the atmosphere? Is it to your liking?”

The man, asking enthusiastically as if oblivious to her feelings, was annoying.