Crunch, crunch.
The sand was being stepped on.
The sensation that had felt pleasant until just a little while ago was now making Han Seongtae uncomfortable.
Luna was walking beside him.
Han Seongtae glanced at her.
Luna said she had cut her hair short because it was inconvenient when driving.
He thought the look suited her very well.
“I never imagined I’d meet Han here.”
“…I feel the same way.”
Leaving behind the god who was sending messages nonstop beside him, Han Seongtae smiled awkwardly and nodded.
Who could have predicted it?
That Luna and Han Seongtae would meet at Malibu Beach, a place he had come to by chance.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ says Luna used to like coming out to Malibu Beach every Wednesday.]
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ is satisfied that his memory was not wrong.]
No, there was only one being who knew that fact.
Looking at the god’s messages, Han Seongtae shook his head and continued his conversation with Luna.
“Do you like walking along the beach?”
“Yes, I do. I used to come and walk here every Wednesday with my father. Even now, if it isn’t raining, I come here often to walk.”
“Ah.”
“How did Han end up here? There are other beaches near your lodging too.”
“This is a filming location from Instinctive Rush. So if I came to America, I wanted to visit it at least once.”
At Han Seongtae’s words, Luna nodded as if she understood.
Among people who had enjoyed Instinctive Rush, there were probably few who came to America and did not visit Malibu Beach.
Han Seongtae was even filming Rampage, the spin-off of Instinctive Rush.
It was not strange at all for him to come look around Malibu Beach.
“You came to the right place. The scenery here is really good. The sandy beach too. And with the ocean so wide open, doesn’t it make you feel refreshed inside?”
“Yes, it does. It’s a beautiful place.”
Han Seongtae, who had been staring at her, moved his gaze to the sea and nodded.
Just as Luna said, Malibu Beach was a beautiful place.
To someone, it was a filming location. To someone else, it was a place filled with precious memories.
Han Seongtae smiled, thinking he had done well to come here.
Whatever ‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’s’ intention had been, it was true that walking along Malibu Beach and looking around had healed him.
And he was also getting along well with Luna.
“The sun will set soon, so let’s watch that before we go. This beach is nice to see in the morning too, but it truly shows its real worth when you see it at sunset.”
“Really? Then I definitely need to see it today.”
“Let’s sit here and watch.”
Han Seongtae and Luna sat down and looked out at the sea.
Time passed quickly.
The sky that was gradually beginning to darken, and the sun setting together with it.
The sunset filled the colors of the sky and the sea.
“Wow… it’s really beautiful.”
“Right? It’s a view I see every time, but I never get tired of it.”
“I can see why.”
Because the scenery made by nature was creating a beauty that even the word spectacular could not fully describe.
After staring at the sunset for a long while, Han Seongtae turned his head at the gaze he suddenly felt.
His eyes met Luna’s, who was looking at him.
Grrrwl.
At the same time, sounds came from both their stomachs, crying out that they were hungry.
The two burst into laughter at the same time, without either of them going first.
“So much time has already passed. Since it’s come to this, would you like to eat together?”
“Eat?”
At Han Seongtae’s words, her eyes went round.
Seeing her like that, Han Seongtae smiled awkwardly and nodded.
It might feel strange for someone she was not even close to yet to suggest eating together, but—
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ says there is a restaurant Luna likes nearby, and that you have to go there.]
Because the god of acting had been urging him since earlier, he could not help but suggest it.
“There were a few restaurants I wanted to visit after coming to America. But going alone feels a little awkward. My manager is busy right now so he can’t come with me, and it’s the same for the others.”
“Ah.”
“If you’re all right with it, I’d like to buy your time with a meal.”
Buying her time with a meal.
Even as he said it, he thought it was a truly terrible way to put it.
It would not be strange at all if she refused.
“Okay.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said okay. I was actually wondering who I could eat with too. I also want to get to know Han better.”
Because he had not expected her to accept, Han Seongtae’s surprise and confusion were even greater.
“Are you really okay with it?”
“Yes. Why are you more surprised after making the offer?”
“To be honest, I thought you would refuse.”
“What is that? You asked while thinking I would refuse?”
“I still had to ask your opinion. And it’s true that I wanted to eat with you.”
“Then that’s settled.”
Luna smiled as if there was nothing difficult about it.
That smile, blending with the sunset, was extremely beautiful.
Facing her, he felt as if his face was heating up for no reason.
‘The sun is too hot.’
Han Seongtae smiled awkwardly and walked with her.
They went to the water fountain, washed their feet, then got into Luna’s car and moved to the restaurant.
“…This is the place you said you wanted to go?”
“Yes… probably?”
“What do you mean, probably?”
“It’s right. This is…”
Han Seongtae trailed off and turned his gaze away.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ says this place is nostalgic too, and urges you to go with an expectant face.]
Judging from the god of acting’s reaction, it seemed they had come to the right place.
Han Seongtae got out of the car, and Luna followed him out.
“I didn’t think we’d come here. Did you hear about it from Uncle?”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“Nothing. Let’s go in.”
He wondered for a moment at the sight of her shaking her head, but Han Seongtae immediately followed her into the restaurant.
The place the two arrived at was a hamburger restaurant about twenty minutes by car from Malibu Beach.
At the shabby appearance of the restaurant, where it was hard to find even a single customer, Han Seongtae looked around.
“You said you looked this place up before coming.”
“Yes.”
“What kind of hamburger did you look up? There are a lot of different hamburgers here. I’ll eat what Han recommends.”
At her words, Han Seongtae looked not at the menu, but at the gods’ messages.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ confidently says Luna likes avocado hamburgers.]
An avocado hamburger.
He thought it was quite a unique taste.
“An avocado hamburger. It’s a menu I’ve never seen in Korea, so I was curious.”
“…That’s interesting. Almost no one comes here and orders that menu.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it’s interesting.”
At her words, Han Seongtae smiled awkwardly, ordered the hamburgers, and finished paying.
Carrying the hamburgers to their seats, Han Seongtae sat down in front of Luna.
“Please eat.”
“Yes, I’ll enjoy it.”
After putting the hamburger down in front of her, Han Seongtae held his own hamburger and let out a “hoo” of breath.
‘I’ve had an avocado sandwich, but this is my first time eating a hamburger.’
It would probably be a similar feeling.
He remembered that he had eaten avocado sandwiches without disliking them.
Han Seongtae took a bite of the hamburger.
‘It’s just…okay.’
It was not particularly amazing or delicious.
Well, what did the taste matter?
He had not come here because he truly wanted to eat a delicious hamburger.
Han Seongtae lifted his head and looked at Luna.
“Are you not eating?”
He found Luna staring blankly at the hamburger.
At his question, Luna seemed to think for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth.
“Actually, I don’t like avocado hamburgers.”
“…Pardon?”
What was that supposed to mean?
‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ had clearly said she liked avocado hamburgers.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’s’ eyes tremble.]
It seemed this was a fact even he had not known.
Even while Han Seongtae was wondering what he should do, her words continued.
“After my father passed away, avocado hamburgers became hard to even look at. They lost their taste too.”
“Ah.”
At her words, Han Seongtae let out a faint sigh.
The avocado hamburger was a food of memories for her and Brian.
From the perspective of a daughter who had lost her father, it would not be easy to face a hamburger that reminded her of Brian.
Han Seongtae was blaming himself for his thoughtlessness, for not thinking that far, when—
Munch.
She took a bite of the hamburger.
At that sight, Han Seongtae looked at her in surprise.
“But… why does it taste good now?”
“…”
“Is it because I’m with Han? It’s strange, right? This is the first time we’ve had a proper conversation. But it tastes good because we’re together.”
“…”
“It’s delicious. Right?”
At her words, Han Seongtae could not say anything.
Because the sight of her smiling while eating the hamburger looked a little sorrowful.
Han Seongtae silently bit into his hamburger.
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
His small murmur quietly filled the table.
“Should I take you back to your lodging?”
As soon as they came out of the restaurant, Luna gestured for him to get into her car.
At her words, Han Seongtae looked around, then nodded.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll gratefully accept the ride.”
By the time they came out of the restaurant, the surroundings had grown too dark, and not a single car was passing on the road.
The restaurant itself had been in a somewhat remote place from the start.
It seemed like it would be difficult to simply wait for a taxi, and even if he called one, it did not seem like one would come.
Vroooom.
The sports car Luna drove raced down the road at a very high speed.
Han Seongtae sat in the passenger seat and enjoyed the speed Luna created.
“Han, would you like to drive together sometime later?”
“Drive?”
“Yes. Uncle praised you a lot. I like driving too.”
“I’d like that. If there’s a chance later, let’s run together.”
He could make a promise like that.
Because he would come to America again next time.
It did not take that long to arrive at the lodging.
“Thank you for driving me.”
“No. Han bought me dinner, so this much is only natural.”
At her words, a soft smile formed on Han Seongtae’s lips.
Han Seongtae was about to finish saying goodbye to her and return to the lodging when…
“Han!”
“Yes?”
Turning around at her call, Han Seongtae found a business card in Luna’s hand.
“It’s my business card. Contact me when you come to America later.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll definitely contact you.”
Taking her business card, Han Seongtae smiled and nodded, then watched her car disappear with the sound of its exhaust.
The blue car disappeared from sight, and Han Seongtae looked down at the business card.
—Mechanic, Luna Walker.
‘It suits her surprisingly well.’
Luna as a mechanic… it seemed like it would look very cool.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ worries that Luna might be doing work that is too hard.]
Receiving the god of acting’s fussing, Han Seongtae returned to his lodging.
And like that, his time in America was coming to an end
T/N: The god was the chaperone for a date lmao
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