Morning light slipped through the curtains,a gentle warmth slowly seeping into the quiet room.
Jinwoo was the first to wake. He lay still for a moment, staring up at the ceiling,then turned his gaze to the woman sleeping peacefully in his arms.
A few strands of hair had fallen across Celeste's forehead. Her breath rose and fell in calm, steady rhythm—completely at ease. Carefully, Jinwoo brushed her hair back behind her ear, his eyes lingering on her serene face as if to memorize it.
Just then, Celeste stirred slightly.She tucked herself even closer into his chest and whispered,
"Is it morning already…?"
"Yeah. But you can sleep a little longer."He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
Still with her eyes closed, Celeste smiled in his arms.
The warmth in the room lingered.All the feelings from last night hung in the air,like the fading scent of something sweet.
There was nothing unfamiliar between them anymore. Jinwoo let out a quiet breath, holding her just a little tighter.
Please… let this moment last a bit longer.
Eventually, Celeste sat up slightly, her tone more serious.
"Jinwoo," she said quietly, "there's something I need to tell you."
"Hmm? What is it?"
She was silent for a while, eyes fixed on the window. Then she slowly turned to look at him.
There was no fear in her gaze,but there was honesty—and a trace of tension.
"I have… a kind of ability."
Her voice was calm, almost too calm.
"What I'm about to say… it's confidential.You can't tell anyone. Ever."
Jinwoo sat up slightly, nodding. "Okay."
"And if, after hearing it… you're scared of me,or don't want to be near me anymore… I get it.Really, I do. I won't hold it against you."
Celeste gave a small breath, steadying herself.
"My ability… it affects people's emotions.More specifically, people start feeling attracted to me—without meaning to.Even when I don't want it, they just… fall for me."
Jinwoo's expression didn't change, so she continued.
"I used it to build Langley Group.No backdoor deals, no bribes—just my presence.And yeah, it worked. Too well, sometimes."
She let out a dry chuckle, barely audible.
"That's why I've always been careful.With friends. Relationships. Everything."
Then she looked up at him again.
"I can control it. Turn it on and off, like flipping a switch.But I can't make it disappear."
She paused. Her voice softened.
"But… I've never used it on you."
That made Jinwoo blink.
She smiled faintly, reassuringly.
"You're the first person I've ever let close to me…as just me."
Celeste reached out a hand.
"Let me show you. What it feels like."
Jinwoo took her hand.
A sharp tingle—like a soft shock—ran through him.
"Whoa!"He quickly let go, blinking in surprise.
"What was that? Was that… electricity?Wait—are you Pikachu or something?"
Celeste stared at him, stunned—then burst out laughing.
"…That is by far the weirdest reaction I've ever gotten."
Jinwoo gave her a teasing look, still holding her hand.
"I mean… it kind of felt like static.Not unpleasant, though. Actually… kinda cute."
Relief washed across her face, her shoulders relaxing as she laughed again.
"I was worried, you know? That you'd be freaked out."
Jinwoo gently squeezed her hand in both of his.
"Freaked out? Nah."He smiled, leaning in slightly.
"You're way cuter than Pikachu. A thousand times."
Celeste didn't say anything—she just smiled, quietly, like she'd waited a long time to hear that.