In the taxi, Wakana bombards him with questions.
"Mr Choi, your Japanese is as good as the native people. Are you half-Japanese?"
Though he's happy to see that she's curious about him, he can't answer that question without creeping her out. He had to learn Japanese after finding out that she was from this country. Otherwise, how would he understand what she was thinking about? Even immortality has limits. After closing his eyes, he leans back and crosses his arms.
When he doesn't answer her, she moves on to the next question that's been bugging her for a while. "Mr Choi, why are your eyes turquoise blue? There's a strange glow in them."
"My appearance changed a little after I became immortal," He tells her with a quiet voice. It was also surprising for him back then. Gifted humans are different from cultivators or magic wielders. Becoming immortal also have some side effects for gifted humans. "Do I look old with grey hair?"
"Of course, not. Colouring hair is a trend." Wakana shifts closer to him, studying his face. His skin is so smooth. She has the urge to poke his skin. "Mr Choi, how old are you?"
He frowns a little. How old is he? He lost track of it. He spent four years in hell, but his time was frozen in that place. Technically, he became immortal with an eleven-year-old body. However, he grew like a normal boy after coming back to the human world. But he can control his age and appearance. Though he looks like he's in his late twenties, he is around eight years older than she is... A lot older than her boyfriend. Slightly annoyed by that fact, Minho mutters under his breath, "I am old enough."
And she thought that only women like to hide their age. Wakana puckers her lips. It was a little rude to ask his age. She can find out his age easily. All she needs to do is getting her hands on his information at the police station. "How did you become immortal?"
He opens his eyes slowly, staring at the back of the passenger seat. He didn't chase immortality back then. He wanted to see his brother. It was reckless and stupid. If he had never gone, he would have never found out. He wouldn't have seen that vision. He wouldn't have made that promise. He wouldn't have looked for her.
Why is it call a gift when it's more like a curse? Before he entered hell, he struggled hard to control his abilities. His brother had it more difficult than him. He watched his brother become a monster and he could do nothing about it.
Wakana observes him in silence. She senses wistfulness and despair permeating from him. Her heart aches when the melancholy surfaces in his turquoise eyes. However, his sadness is gone in the second, replaced by an easy smile.
He looks toward the window of the car. "We are going to arrive soon."
Wakana takes the cue and doesn't question him more. For the rest of the ride, they sit in silence. After arriving at the hotel, Choi Minho goes straight to his room. Nishimura Soichiro and Minami Sei haven't arrived yet. She enters her room with a heavy heart. Why did Mr Choi make that face? Was it difficult to become immortal?
What is he regretting about? She lies down on the bed. She feels so tired, though she has done nothing. Her head is full of Choi Minho. "I should be wondering where Sei is."
Is she this kind of person? In one day, she's been swept off her feet by Choi Minho. There's just something about him. It's easy to be around that immortal. He understands her so well. She doesn't have to say much to him. He doesn't look at her like she's a freak. Is it because he's from the supernatural world?
It's not just that. There's something assuring about him. It's not related to his immortality or the fact that he used to be like her. She recalls the way he acted in Okuyama mansion. Protecting her. Teasing her. Acting like he didn't know her. Flirting with her. Even kissing her like that. Patting her head. It's difficult not to be moved after finding out that it's him.
Does he like her?
She swallows when she feels the uneasy feeling in the bottom of her stomach. No, Choi Minho is like a playboy. He even has the looks.
"I love Sei." She mumbles to herself, "I have loved him for more than a decade and Sei also loves me."
Why does she feel so dead? Her head hurts. Is it because of the depletion of mental strength? It's more like she's exhausted after spending the day with Choi Minho. Her emotions are haywire. When her phone starts ringing, she picks up the call without checking the name on the screen. "Who?"
[Forgot me?]
"Sei!" Wakana sits up abruptly. "Where are you?"
[Standing outside your room.]
"What?" She runs to the door and opens it. He's really here. "Did you come back now?"
"A while ago." Sei walks into the room. "Did you have dinner?"
"No, I was going to have some later." She doesn't have the appetite, thanks to a certain someone. "What took you so long?"
"We checked the CCTVs." Sei stares at her. She looks like she has run a mile. What did she do all day? He hands her the bag.
"Eh?" Wakana opens the bag and sees a food package. The scent of strawberry cakes wafts into her nose. "You brought daifuku for me?"
She used to drool whenever she saw desserts. Whenever she brought them, she would put one inside his desk when he wasn't watching. On her way home from the school, she would always stop at the bakery and buying them. Even now, she's licking her lips like a little girl.
"Don't ask questions and eat."
Wakana takes the small round mochi dessert out and takes a bite. She moans when the whipped cream fills her mouth. After the tiring day, these mochi daifuku cakes are a delight. She looks at him with starry eyes. "It's delicious."
His heart skips a beat when she looks at him like that. He covers his mouth. She's so cute. Like a rabbit. He blurts out in a daze, "Don't eat desserts in front of other people."
"Huh?" Wakana raises her brows, confused. "Why?"
"I am afraid that…" Other men would fall for her easily if she shows that kind of face to other men. He clears his throat, feeling awkward. He shouldn't act like an idiot. "It's nothing."
Is he acting shy? She steps closer to him and shoves a cake in his mouth. "It would be a crime if you don't eat this. The taste is heavenly."
But he doesn't like eating sweets. It's hard to say no if she looks at him like that. Sei chews the sweet dessert slowly while gazing at her. After she finishes eating the cakes, he pushes her on the bed. Wakana becomes nervous. Does he want to do it tonight? She squeezes her eyes shut, but nothing happens. To her surprise, he covers her with the blanket and gives her a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep. I will wake you up in the morning."
Feeling a little relieved, she opens her eyes. "What about you?"
"I need to recheck the CCTV videos from the hospital and the train station." He cups her cheek with his hand. "Are there any ghosts here?"
She gives him a small smile. He does believe her. "I can't sense any tonight."
"I will check the videos here," He says to her. "If a ghost comes to disturb your sleep, tell me. I will chase that thing away."
Chasing ghosts away? An image of him running after the ghosts in police uniform appears in her head. She giggles. Seeing her happy expression, the corners of his lips curl up. He pecks on the tip of her nose. "Sleep before I change my mind."
Wakana covers her face with the blanket in the next instant. His low teasing chuckle makes her face burn with embarrassment. That's right. She loves Sei.