——————
I was halfway through eating a cold kimbap in my pajamas when a pair of Louboutins hit me in the face.
> "Get dressed," Serin said, like she wasn't throwing $1,200 at my forehead.
"You're going on a blind date."
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
> "Girl. No."
> "Girl. Yes."
She shoved a dress at me that looked like it belonged on a Vogue cover and not on a broke jewelry designer who couldn't afford lunch yesterday.
> "You're pretending to be me."
"I'm sorry—what in the actual identity fraud?"
"Please. I can't go. He's a chaebol. I'm emotionally unavailable."
"You were emotionally unavailable five men ago."
She sighed dramatically, lighting a lavender candle like this was therapy.
> "Just be weird so he loses interest. Astrology. Veganism. Spiritual fasting. Men hate that."
"Serin, I can't lie to this man."
"You're not lying. You're roleplaying. Same thing."
---
7:58PM — SŌRA Restaurant, Gangnam
Let the record show: I wanted to say no.
But now I was sitting at a table that smelled like money and guilt, in a restaurant I'd only ever seen on Instagram, wearing a dress I couldn't afford even in my dreams.
Serin's voice echoed in my head like a cursed spell.
> "You're Lee Serin now. Think: unbothered. Rich. Maybe a little dangerous."
And just as I was adjusting the itchy wig she found under her bed—
The waiter approached.
With him.
Tall. Black suit. Face like it was sculpted by God during overtime.
He sat down across from me with all the seriousness of a tax audit.
I stared at him like a deer in designer headlights.
Because I knew that face.
> Oh my God.
That's Hwang Jaemin.
My boss.
My actual CEO.
> "You're Lee Serin?" he asked.
I died.
Then lied.
> "Yes."
Forgive me, Lord. I'll donate blood later.
---
He studied me with that sharp CEO gaze like he was about to fire me for existing.
> "You look... different from your photos."
"Filter," I coughed. "And trauma."
"Pardon?"
"I said kombucha."
He didn't even flinch.
> This man has no soul. Just cheekbones and capital.
---
Fifteen minutes into the date:
I told him I was a Gemini rising with Pisces rage
Tried to order water and accidentally said "hydration, please"
Almost ate wasabi like it was avocado
But somehow… he stayed.
> "You're not what I expected," he said, sipping wine like he wasn't judging my entire bloodline.
"Most women try to impress me."
> "I'm not most women," I replied.
"I have nothing to prove unless you're fictional."
He stared.
Then — and I swear I'm not hallucinating — he almost smiled.
---
Later — Outside the restaurant
The night was warm.
My feet were dying.
And Hwang Jaemin — my boss, my date, the man I accidentally lied to for an hour straight — turned to me and said:
> "Let's meet again."
I blacked out for 0.5 seconds.
> "S-Sure," I squeaked.
Help.
Please help.
---
Later That Night — Serin's Apartment
> "YOU WHAT?" Serin screamed, her face mask sliding down her nose.
> "I panicked!" I shouted. "He said let's meet again and I just nodded like a penguin!"
"Nari. That's your CEO."
"I KNOW."
She stared at me.
Then grinned like a raccoon in Gucci.
> "Okay. New plan."
"Serin, no—"
"You keep dating him."
"SERIN."
"You're too deep. We lie. We commit."
I screamed into a pillow.
I was one date away from unemployment.
And possibly marriage.