CBS Chapter 4

Rebirth

 

Da-mi had gone on her first trip with her friends to celebrate the New Year. She had spent days persuading her parents before finally getting their permission. Together with her friends, they all handed over their IDs to buy alcohol.

 

Da-mi realized that her body didn’t handle alcohol well. She had only drunk two or three glasses out of curiosity, but already felt tipsy. Using the excuse of going to the bathroom, she stepped out and walked along the sea in front of the pension.

 

Over the black sea of night, gently touched by moonlight, pure white snowflakes fluttered down. The cool sound of waves, moonlight shimmering along the rippling water, and snow falling over it all—an incredibly beautiful scene like a painting filled her vision as she exhaled a dizzy breath. Her milky breath spread thick like fog, then dispersed like a mirage.

 

The mirage should have disappeared like that.

 

“……”

 

Across from Da-mi, a man was walking toward her through the snow.

 

The situation itself wasn’t anything special. But she couldn’t be sure she was seeing it right. His appearance was so unreal, like an illusion or something mystical. It was as if he had stepped out of a Bible or a myth.

 

She realized that when a person experiences an intense visual stimulus beyond expectation, their body can freeze stiff. Her legs, which stopped on their own, wouldn’t move forward, and even her fingers and toes were caught, unable to twitch.

 

His eyes, faintly veiled by a halo of moonlight, shone with a distinct golden hue—perhaps a trick of the light. As if set with jewels, long lashes were densely gathered above them. His full, curved red lips had a seductive charm that felt almost ominous. On his snow-white skin, like a field of snow, a small beauty mark beneath his eye served as the final touch. The allure in the corners of his eyes was so intense it sent chills down her spine.

 

– “You have to love me as much as you’re loved because of me. That’s fair, right?”

 

When she saw him, her heart plummeted. The moment she saw him, she fell into an irresistible love.  

 

Can a human be so beautiful? So utterly lovable?

 

Is this what it means to fall in love at first sight?

 

Thud! Her heart sank deep like the roots of a great tree. Her chest pounded hot like she had sprinted at full speed. Her entire face flushed red.

 

It wasn’t because of the alcohol. What drew her to him was an irresistible force from a realm beyond understanding. Like hypnosis, resistance itself was impossible.

 

He must be a celebrity, right? An actor? An idol?

 

She didn’t know much about celebrities since she had been studying for college entrance exams. Still, she figured someone who looked like that must either already be famous or soon would be. Even thinking of other celebrities known for their looks, he easily outshone them.

 

Should I ask for his name? What if I’m disturbing his personal time?

 

While Da-mi was lost in such silly thoughts, the distance between the two of them steadily closed. Personal space. It was close enough to breach the boundary people psychologically allow.

 

“……!”

 

Startled, Da-mi quickly stepped aside. The man smiled as if amused by her polite gesture to let him pass.

 

— “You’re just going to let me go?”

 

The heavy, low voice contrasted with his pretty face and sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t the voice she had expected… but actually, she liked it better.

 

— “Hm?”

 

Even though it was night and the sun wasn’t out, sunlight seemed to sparkle on his tilted head. Where in the world was that halo coming from?

 

Only much later did Da-mi realize how overly familiar his behavior had been. He looked at her with the affectionate gaze of a lover.

 

She swore she wasn’t the kind of person to judge others by their appearance. But right now, in this moment, Da-mi was having dumb thoughts like “Is this some kind of fan service?” She didn’t even realize he was speaking informally. Even if she had, she probably would’ve just let it go, thinking, “Do as you like.” If it had been anyone else, she would’ve backed away in discomfort without hesitation.

 

“Your name… I don’t watch TV much. I’ll be a fan starting today.”

 

“TV?”

 

The man opened his lips in confusion, then turned pale.

 

— “You… don’t know me?”

 

His face still didn’t feel real, so Da-mi’s flushed complexion showed no signs of returning. Her mind hazy, she half-listened to the man’s words.

 

— “Sa Hyeon.”

 

Suppressing disappointment and anger, he brought up the name he had chosen to blend into human life.

 

— “That’s my name.”  

 

“It’s a single syllable? It suits you well.”

 

Still looking entranced, Da-mi muttered blankly.

 

— “……”

 

Sa Hyeon—or rather, the snake—wordlessly stared at the coward who remained the same even after growing so much.

 

“Ah… My name is Jeong Da-mi.”

 

It was only natural to exchange names upon first meeting, but she hadn’t thought that would apply to him, so she said it just as the silence was starting to feel awkward.

 

— “……” 

 

“……”

 

She stood there blankly, not knowing what to do next. That was true for Hyeon as well, but unlike the flustered Da-mi, he seemed to be waiting for something more.

 

However, as Da-mi merely blinked awkwardly, a sharp spark flared. The intensity in his eyes was about to evolve into something more when the cold night wind blew, cooling both of them down completely. The chilly wind that slipped past her collar made Da-mi’s body tremble involuntarily.

 

Looking down at Da-mi’s reddened hands from the cold, he reached out and held her.

 

His rough knuckles crossed her soft palm, which had often been her place of comfort, and interlaced between her delicate fingers, clasping them tightly. There was no hesitation in the act of intertwining fingers.

 

“What, wait a minute….”

 

Startled, Da-mi’s wide eyes looked like they were about to roll out and drop. Da-mi had no idea. Just how much the snake was holding himself back.

 

— “Let’s talk inside. It’s cold.”

 

The tender gap between her fingers, pried open by his large joints, felt stunned as if struck by lightning.

 

She couldn’t dare resist. The words he spoke carried an absolute restraint that seduced Da-mi.