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Chapter 07
Just as River had said, the sunset at Devil’s Den was beautiful enough to bring tears to one’s eyes.
The western sky was dyed in rose, spreading into purple and orange as it burned.
Below it, the sea had turned a deep wine color, and golden light shimmered across the waves.
Even the people eating nearby paused, busy capturing the sunset with their eyes.
Bada and River chatted softly with the sunset behind them.
It was strange.
Talking to him felt natural, as if they had known each other for a long time.
But that didn’t mean she felt completely comfortable.
In front of him, she kept getting nervous, becoming aware of every little detail.
Was her hair ruined by the humidity? Had she laughed too loudly just now?
She had even gone to the restroom earlier to reapply lip gloss—something she normally wouldn’t do.
What’s wrong with me?
She hadn’t had a single sip of alcohol, yet she felt drunk.
Embarrassed for no reason, Bada turned her gaze toward the sunset.
If she kept meeting his eyes, her heart might explode.
Meanwhile, River rested his chin on his hand and stared only at her profile.
Feeling self-conscious, she kept her eyes fixed on the horizon.
“Stop staring at me and look at the sunset. We came here to see it.”
“I am looking.”
“At what? I can totally feel you staring at my face.”
“Then maybe you are the sunset to me. I actually came here to see you.”
“……”
“How can you be this beautiful? You look like a sunset in mid-July.”
Heat rushed to Bada’s face at his straightforward words.
Mid-July—the peak of summer, the hottest and longest day. He was saying she was that beautiful.
Why does he flirt like a poet? Did he major in English literature?
She tried to calm her racing heart and met his gaze.
His eyes were already filled with the warm orange light of the sunset.
He moved closer and whispered into her ear.
“Breathtakingly gold.”
Every time he murmured sweet words in his noble voice and polished English, her heart shook.
River gently brushed her windblown hair behind her ear.
His fingers lightly touched her ear, sending a sharp spark through her.
“……”
Bada’s gaze wandered along the line of his face and stopped at his full lips.
River lowered his lashes and stared at her lips just as intensely.
Was he thinking the same thing?
…He’s going to kiss me, isn’t he?
She swallowed.
What would it feel like to kiss those lips?
The noise around them faded. She could only hear her heartbeat.
The tension and excitement made her whole body tremble.
“……”
Just as the space between them grew even smaller—
“I thought you looked familiar. You’re that bitch whose pictures are on YourFans.”
The cheap voice struck from behind like a slap, bursting the bubble around them.
Bada froze.
She didn’t even need to turn her head to know who it was.
It was the man River had chased away earlier—and his friends.
He hadn’t dared say anything when alone, but now that he had his group, he looked bold.
Judging by his slurred speech, he was already drunk.
YourFans?
Bada narrowed her eyes.
YourFans was known as a platform where people sold adult content.
She had never even signed up for such a site.
It was the typical sour-grapes tactic—insulting a woman he couldn’t have.
“For a few dollars a month you can see her naked, and you’re buying her dinner? What a loser.”
The group laughed unpleasantly. He muttered a filthy curse under his breath.
Bada’s face burned red with humiliation.
Her fists trembled.
No one even jokes like that in the U.S. What trash. River must have heard it too.
She didn’t have the courage to look at him.
From the corner of her eye, she saw that he was silent, seemingly deep in thought.
“……”
The group began walking past them threateningly.
The man who had insulted her gathered saliva in his throat and spat.
“Ptoo.”
The disgusting spit landed on River’s steak.
He laughed and patted River’s shoulder.
“Enjoy your meal, pretty boy.”
The men walked toward the restroom, laughing loudly.
River’s face had gone frighteningly cold.
His eyes looked as if he might kill someone.
He had been playful and warm just moments ago.
Now, seeing this violent expression, Bada felt fear.
She waved anxiously at a waitress.
“Those disgusting jerks. I need to ask for a new plate… Excuse me!”
For a moment, it seemed like red fire flickered in River’s blue eyes as he looked toward the restroom.
Then he stood up.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“…Where are you going?”
“If you’re done eating, let’s leave. Can you pay with this? I’ll meet you at the entrance.”
The terrifying look vanished from his face, replaced with a calm smile meant to reassure her.
He took out his leather wallet, placed it on the table, and walked toward the restroom.
He probably just wanted to leave.
She understood.
He must feel awful, seeing something like this because of a woman he barely knows. I wouldn’t want to stay either.
Then a thought struck her.
What if he believes them?
It felt unfair.
When he came back, she would strongly deny it. She wasn’t that kind of person.
But then her strength drained.
What did it matter?
To him, she was just a girl he met on vacation.
Why would he bother to find out the truth?
After paying the bill, she looked up.
Wait… what if he runs into those men in the restroom?
Anxiety made her bite her nails.
Just then, a customer ran out of the men’s restroom with a pale face.
Her heart dropped.
Something was definitely happening inside.
Those thugs were the type who would gang up three against one.
Bada shot up from her seat like a spring and rushed toward the restroom.
As soon as she entered, she heard a man groaning.
“River! Are you—!”
She froze at the strange sight before her.
Instead of River being in danger, three men lay on the floor like corpses.
One of them lay face down, his body shaking as he made choking sounds. His elbow was bent at a horrifying angle.
“Ugh… fuck…”
The worst off was the man who had insulted her and spat on River’s plate.
He stared blankly at the air, his face caved in as if hit with a hammer.
If not for the metallic sound of his breathing, she might have thought he was dead.
