I woke up and found myself in an empty room. I sat up and looked around. With soft and soothing grays and silvers to create a sparkling, the room got luxurious. It was a modern chandelier that dangled over the bed to a plush silvery gray carpet that practically begs for your bare feet.
Waking up in this bedroom would be like waking up inside a warm but pleasant cloud. It felt exactly like that. I woke up to my senses and saw a man's figure looking at the window. The man turned around and met my gaze. Somehow, I felt like my voice wouldn't come out again.
"You're awake," he smiled. It was CEO Seo. He looked like a worried angel staring at me. He was wearing the same black vest and a white long-sleeved shirt, but he was no longer wearing a mask. His eyes were like that of a deer. "You fell unconscious with the commotion that happened earlier. Are you okay now?"
I stood up and bowed down, "Yes," I answered sheepishly. I thought my voice wouldn't come out, but it did. It sure is strange. "I'm so sorry for making a scene. I didn't mean to be such a disrespectful person."
I noticed that I wasn't wearing my ballgown or my mask. No, I was not naked, but I was wearing a plain white shirt and black shorts. I freaked out, "Um, did something happen?"
Chills ran down my spine. Nowadays, it has been a trend in Korea for females to get drugged and touched randomly at parties. I tried to look on the bed to find some blood, but I didn't see anything. I sighed in relief. I don't know, and I'm not quite sure if this is supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing.
CEO Seo took a step forward closer to me, "Don't worry, nothing happened. Actually, an old lady hotel receptionist changed your clothes. You seemed to be not feeling well, maybe because of the strange setting."
"Really?" I said abruptly and paused for a bit. "Ah, yes, I have a headache, and I am a little bit dizzy. I apologize for the hassle,"
"Can you tell me who you are?"
"I am Li Suji," I said, still looking at the ground. "I was recently hired as a full-time writing editor in your company."
"Li Suji? That's quite a nice name." He eyed me, "Then, do you know who I am?"
"Seo Jinwoo," I looked up at him shyly. "Yes, you are the CEO of the company."
CEO Seo then laughed, "Why does it feel like you are nervous? Don't worry, I will not eat you or anything!"
I laughed hysterically, "Right? You certainly won't, right?"
The CEO just looked at me. "You might want to fix yourself up."
I looked at the mirror across me and scanned my face. Holy mermaids in the sea! My mascara was all over the place, and my lipstick was a mess, not to mention my hair! I certainly can not look this unpresentable! The last time I looked unpresentable was when I got wasted, and that was yesterday!
"Well then," he said and walked towards the door, "I'll be leaving you for a bit."
"Thank you!" I bowed and watched him close the door. As fast as lightning, I managed to lock the door just a few seconds after he went out. I scanned the room again and found my purse, mask, and ballgown on the vanity table. I grabbed my bag and looked for a makeup remover, cotton, BB cushion, lip tint, and eyebrow pencil. I should at least look like a human after this.
I looked at myself in front of the mirror near the vanity table, "You really are in a mess, Suji! How stupid!" I tied my long brown hair in a knot. "You better do your mission, right!"
I am here to find the reincarnated prince, but look at me doing my makeup again. I needed to look pretty if I am going to make that prince fall in love with me. I sighed as I looked at my smartphone. It's already 11:17 in the evening. The masquerade party is supposed to end at or after midnight.
I tried to wear my full-skirted ballgown outfit, but for some reason, it's hard to do the zipper on my own. I let out a humph, and just in time, I heard someone knocking on the door.
"Miss Suji, is it okay to enter the room now?" It was the CEO's voice. "Are you okay?"
"Ah, yes!" I panicked, yelling in response. "I'm okay, wait for a bit, please!"
And in just a second, the door flew open. I turned my head in the door's direction, and my hands are on my back, the zipper was halfway through the dress.
"I was worried for a bit, so I entered the door," he looked kind of flushed and turned his head sideways. "I see that you wore your ballgown again. Are you planning to be at the party for the remaining hours?"
"Yes, CEO Seo," I answered. "if you don't mind, can you please help me with my dress?"
"Are you sure?" he asked, and I nodded. He closed the door and took a few steps towards me. "Then, let me help you with it."
I looked at myself in front of the vanity mirror, and I see CEO Seo at the back of me trying to do the zipper.
"It was tangled with your hair," he held my hair and put it sideways. My neckline is probably visible to him, his fingers touched my bare skin for a bit, and I felt a bit nervous about the sudden touch. "It's done."
Thank you. I tried to speak, but my voice wouldn't come out again.
I turned to look at him and stared him in the eye. I felt that sudden pain in my chest again. His pupils turned into violet again. There's something weird. I guess he's not every day like I am. Is he a reincarnated being too?
The prince?
No, I think that's not it. Certainly not.
"I can see your eyes turn into turquoise, at times," he asked and grinned at me. "You are not normal, too? Am I right?"
"Miss Li Suji," He took a step forward until I felt my back touched the corner of the vanity table. "Are you a descendant of a mermaid?"
What?
A descendant of a mermaid?
Eh?