Tú Corea, mi mundo.

CHARACTER CONTINUITY / VISUAL REFERENCE · Alex — 28 years old · * Spanish. · * Graphic/visual designer at Aurora. · * Naturally bright orange hair. · * Clearly visible, well-kept beard. · * Same face, identity, and proportions throughout the manga. · * Friendly, curious, spontaneous, respectful, and naturally humorous. · * Not interested in becoming famous. · * His relationship with Seo-yeon continues to develop slowly. · * He has no romantic interest in Ji-eun. · Han Seo-yeon — 27 years old · * South Korean actress. · * Long dark-brown hair. · * Expressive dark-brown eyes. · * Delicate features and a warm, reserved smile. · * Elegant, private, observant, and emotionally mature. · * Still concerned about public attention. · * She is beginning to worry that Alex may experience some of the same problems she has lived with because of being associated with her. · * She does not want to control Alex or make decisions for him. · Ji-eun · * Short purple hair. · * Alex's coworker at Aurora. · * Outgoing, friendly, and curious. · * Has a subtle growing interest in Alex. · * Not central to this chapter. · ⸻ · SCENE 1 — A DAY OFF · LOCATION: Alex's apartment in Seoul. Interior. · TIME: 9:00 AM. Morning. · LIGHTING: Natural morning light coming through the windows. · SETTING: Small, tidy apartment. Quiet atmosphere on a day off. · Alex gets ready to go out. · He has no special plans. · He just needs to buy a few things for his apartment and wants to spend some time walking around Seoul. · He wears a casual light-colored T-shirt, an overshirt, dark trousers, sneakers, and a small backpack. · Before leaving, he checks his phone. · No messages from Seo-yeon. · He smiles slightly. · ALEX: · "Good." · He puts the phone away. · ALEX: · "Today's just mine." · He grabs his keys and leaves. · ⸻ · SCENE 2 — SOMETHING HAS CHANGED · LOCATION: Supermarket and surrounding shopping streets in Seoul. Interior/Exterior. · TIME: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Late morning. · LIGHTING: Natural daylight outside; bright white supermarket lighting inside. · SETTING: Busy commercial area with people coming and going. · Alex shops casually. · While putting some groceries into his basket, he notices a young woman walking past him. · She looks at him. · Alex doesn't pay much attention. · A few minutes later, two girls walk past him again. · One of them looks at Alex. · Then at her friend. · She whispers something. · Alex raises an eyebrow. · He continues shopping. · Later, when he leaves the supermarket, a young woman approaches him hesitantly. · GIRL: · "Excuse me..." · Alex turns. · ALEX: · "Yes?" · She looks at him for a few seconds, as if trying to make sure. · GIRL: · "Are you Alex?" · Alex takes a second. · ALEX: · "Uh... yeah." · She smiles nervously. · GIRL: · "The guy who was with Han Seo-yeon?" · Alex freezes for a moment. · ALEX: · "Oh..." · She nods. · GIRL: · "I saw the pictures." · Alex looks around, slightly uncomfortable. · ALEX: · "Right." · The girl smiles. · GIRL: · "Could I get a picture with you?" · Alex blinks. · ALEX: · "With me?" · She laughs softly. · GIRL: · "Yeah." · Alex smiles, still surprised. · ALEX: · "Sure." · They take a picture together. · GIRL: · "Thank you!" · ALEX: · "Thank you?" · She laughs again. · GIRL: · "I really loved the pictures from the other day." · She says goodbye and walks away. · Alex watches her for a moment. · Then he looks at his phone. · ALEX: · "Well, that's new." · ⸻ · SCENE 3 — IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE ANYMORE · LOCATION: Small neighborhood café. Interior. · TIME: 3:30 PM. Afternoon. · LIGHTING: Warm afternoon light coming through the windows. · SETTING: Quiet café with only a few customers. Relaxed atmosphere. · Alex sits alone with a coffee. · He looks out the window. · Someone walks past. · They look at him. · Another person recognizes him. · A young man enters the café, looks at Alex for a few seconds, and finally approaches. · YOUNG MAN: · "Sorry... are you Alex?" · Alex sighs with a small smile. · ALEX: · "Apparently." · The young man laughs. · YOUNG MAN: · "Mind if I get a photo?" · ALEX: · "Go ahead." · They take a picture. · The young man thanks him and leaves. · Alex looks down at his coffee. · He's not upset. · Just thoughtful. · He takes out his phone. · He opens his chat with Seo-yeon. · He types: · ALEX: · "Busy tonight?" · A few minutes pass. · SEO-YEON: · "A little. Why?" · Alex smiles. · ALEX: · "I still owe you dinner." · A pause. · The typing indicator appears. · SEO-YEON: · "You actually remember that?" · ALEX: · "I remember the important stuff." · A few seconds pass. · SEO-YEON: · "Okay." · Alex smiles. · ALEX: · "I'll pick the place." · SEO-YEON: · "Now I'm nervous." · Alex laughs quietly. · ALEX: · "You'll live." · ⸻ · SCENE 4 — DINNER · LOCATION: Small, cozy restaurant on a quiet street in Seoul. Interior. · TIME: 7:30 PM. Evening. · LIGHTING: Warm, dim lighting from small lamps above the tables. · SETTING: Cozy restaurant with only a few occupied tables. Quiet, intimate atmosphere without feeling overly romantic. · Seo-yeon arrives. · She wears an elegant but discreet dark midi dress, a light jacket, a small handbag, and simple accessories. Her long dark-brown hair is worn loose. · She looks around. · Then she sees Alex. · He raises his hand. · ALEX: · "Hey." · She walks over. · SEO-YEON: · "You picked this place?" · ALEX: · "Yeah." · She looks around. · Few people. · Tables spaced apart. · A quiet corner. · Seo-yeon immediately understands. · SEO-YEON: · "You picked it because it's quiet." · Alex shrugs slightly. · ALEX: · "Figured you'd appreciate that." · She smiles. · SEO-YEON: · "I do." · They sit down. · They talk about normal things. · Work. · Busan. · Food. · Alex tells her a few funny stories from his day. · ALEX: · "I went grocery shopping." · SEO-YEON: · "Sounds dangerous." · ALEX: · "It was." · She laughs. · ALEX: · "Someone asked me for a picture." · Seo-yeon's smile fades slightly. · SEO-YEON: · "Today?" · ALEX: · "Yeah." · SEO-YEON: · "More than one person?" · Alex nods. · ALEX: · "Three, I think." · She looks at him. · Alex tries to make it sound unimportant. · ALEX: · "It's not a big deal." · Seo-yeon lowers her eyes slightly. · SEO-YEON: · "It can turn into one." · ⸻ · SCENE 5 — NOW YOU UNDERSTAND A LITTLE · LOCATION: Same restaurant. Interior. · TIME: 8:30 PM. Evening. · LIGHTING: Warm, dim lighting. · SETTING: The restaurant is even quieter now; some tables are beginning to empty. · Seo-yeon gently turns her glass between her hands. · SEO-YEON: · "I don't want this happening to you." · Alex looks at her. · ALEX: · "What do you mean?" · SEO-YEON: · "This." · She makes a small gesture toward the window. · SEO-YEON: · "People recognizing you. Taking pictures. Talking about you." · Alex stays quiet. · SEO-YEON: · "You don't deserve to lose your normal life because of me." · Alex gently shakes his head. · ALEX: · "You didn't do anything." · SEO-YEON: · "I know." · A pause. · SEO-YEON: · "But I know how this goes." · Alex watches her. · SEO-YEON: · "First it's a few pictures. Then people start asking questions. Then someone writes something that isn't even true..." · Alex smiles slightly. · ALEX: · "Now I get why you hate headlines." · She looks at him. · SEO-YEON: · "You're starting to get it." · ALEX: · "A little." · A pause. · ALEX: · "But I'm not scared off." · Seo-yeon studies him. · ALEX: · "I don't want to start avoiding people just because someone might snap a picture." · She remains silent. · ALEX: · "And I definitely don't want to start avoiding you." · Seo-yeon looks up. · A quiet moment passes between them. · SEO-YEON: · "You make it all sound so simple." · ALEX: · "It's not." · A pause. · ALEX: · "I just don't think fear should get to call all the shots." · Seo-yeon gives him a small smile. · SEO-YEON: · "Easy to say when you've only lived it for one day." · Alex nods. · ALEX: · "Fair." · He doesn't argue. · ALEX: · "That's why I'm listening." · Seo-yeon looks at him for several seconds. · His answer affects her more than any advice could have. · ⸻ · SCENE 6 — YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIDE · LOCATION: Quiet street outside the restaurant. Exterior. · TIME: 9:20 PM. Night. · LIGHTING: Warm streetlights and illuminated shop windows. · SETTING: Relatively quiet Seoul street at night. · Alex and Seo-yeon leave the restaurant. · They walk side by side. · This time, they are a little closer than usual. · Seo-yeon breaks the silence. · SEO-YEON: · "If things get worse..." · Alex looks at her. · SEO-YEON: · "If people keep talking about us..." · A pause. · SEO-YEON: · "You don't have to pretend we don't know each other." · Alex looks surprised. · ALEX: · "Wasn't planning to." · She smiles. · SEO-YEON: · "I know." · They continue walking. · ALEX: · "If you want..." · She looks at him. · ALEX: · "We could just be upfront about it." · Seo-yeon waits. · ALEX: · "Someone asks, you're my friend." · She smiles. · SEO-YEON: · "Just your friend?" · Alex thinks for a second. · ALEX: · "You want me to say something else?" · She smiles, slightly embarrassed. · SEO-YEON: · "No." · They continue walking. · ALEX: · "Then that's what I'll say." · A pause. · ALEX: · "And if you ever want me to say something publicly, if it'd make things easier for you..." · He looks at her. · ALEX: · "I will." · Seo-yeon becomes quiet. · Not because she wants to hide their relationship. · But because the natural way Alex says it touches her. · SEO-YEON: · "Thank you." · ⸻ · SCENE 7 — A SMALL CHANGE · LOCATION: Quiet street, on the way to Seo-yeon's car. Exterior. · TIME: 9:35 PM. Night. · LIGHTING: Warm streetlights and city lights. · SETTING: Quiet nighttime street. Mr. Park's car is waiting a short distance away. · They reach the point where they have to say goodbye. · Mr. Park waits inside the car. · Seo-yeon turns toward Alex. · SEO-YEON: · "Thanks for dinner." · ALEX: · "I owed you." · SEO-YEON: · "You did." · They both smile. · Seo-yeon takes a small step toward him. · Alex does the same. · For a moment, they stand close to each other. · Their hands are very close. · Alex moves his hand slightly. · Seo-yeon does the same. · Their hands brush against each other. · Both of them stop. · They don't hold hands. · They don't immediately pull away either. · They look at each other. · A quiet moment. · Seo-yeon smiles first. · Alex smiles too. · She finally pulls her hand away. · SEO-YEON: · "Good night, Alex." · ALEX: · "Good night, Seo-yeon." · Seo-yeon walks toward the car. · Before getting inside, she turns around. · Alex is still standing there. · They look at each other one last time. · She gets into the car. · The car begins to drive away. · Alex watches it disappear down the street. · He looks at his own hand for a moment. · A small smile appears on his face. · END OF CHAPTER 14.