"Valeria," he said, approaching her. He extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you."
Valeria shook his hand. Jin's touch was cold and firm. But his eyes were warm and curious.
"Please, sit down," Valeria said, pointing to the sunbed next to her. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Green tea, please. Unsweetened."
Valeria signaled to the servant. Then, she turned to Jin.
"Did you watch my broadcast from start to finish?"
"I actually missed the beginning," Jin said. "But then, I watched the replay. And I was very impressed. What you see is not just ordinary images. These are real prophecies. But uncontrolled, irregular, random. However, with the right technique, with the right training, you can direct these visions, see what you want when you want. You can watch the explosion and the moment of the explosion like a movie, from different seats, and you can find the source of the explosion. With my help, you can save the world…"
Valeria's eyes sparkled. "Can I… really do that? Can you teach me?"
Jin smiled. "I can teach you. But there's a price."
"What price?"
"Cooperation. If your visions combine with my technology, the power that will emerge will be greater than you can imagine. But we won't use this power just for ourselves. We will use it to change the world. Moreover, there will be those who want to have this skill of yours. For our cooperation, we will make a contract of loyalty to each other."
Valeria thought for a moment. Changing the world... If she succeeded, she would truly become a goddess. People would really worship her.
"What about the others?" she asked. "There are others like me. Will they be with us?"
The smile on Jin's face tightened slightly. "Yes, there are. The triggered ones have started to form different groups. But we can't trust everyone. They want to develop by taking everyone who has power among them, to build a network. This is very dangerous. Power grows not by being shared, Valeria, but by being controlled. Uncontrolled power is very dangerous."
Valeria tried to digest these words. Jin was offering her a new perspective. Power was not something to be shared, it was something to be possessed.
"What about you?" she asked. "Have you been triggered too? Do you have power too?"
Jin paused for a moment. Then, slowly, he raised his hand. A beer glass standing on the edge of the pool rose into the air, hung for a while, then turned into a vapor. The beer inside mixed with the pool. The glass, as if it had been broken down into its atoms.
Valeria's eyes widened. "God..."
"Yes," Jin said. "But my power is not limited to this." With a movement of his hand, the cloud reassembled, recreating the glass. The beer that had mixed into the pool separated from the water and rose again. It filled the glass, passing through the glass molecules. "I was also triggered. But I have learned to control my power. And I can teach you too."
Valeria looked into Jin's eyes for a moment. In those eyes, there was both a threat and a promise. But at the same time, there was loneliness. Just like herself.
"I accept," she said.
A triumphant smile appeared on Jin's face. "Great. Then, let's begin."
That evening, there was a party at the villa. But this was different from the parties Valeria was used to. A private dinner for two. Candles, champagne, ocean view. And Jin.
Throughout the meal, Jin talked to her about technology, the future, power. Valeria listened to him with admiration. No one had ever spoken to her like this. Unlike those who saw her only as a beautiful face, a sexy body, Jin valued her mind, her abilities, her potential.
When the meal was over, they went out to the terrace. The night was warm and starry. The sound of the ocean came with a gentle breeze.
"Valeria," Jin said, turning to her. "I want to confess something to you."
Valeria looked at him curiously. "What is it?"
Jin paused for a moment. Then, he raised his hand, caressed Valeria's cheek. His touch was no longer cold. It was warm, soft, inviting.
He opened the social media app and showed it. "I'm also a follower," he said. He showed the date he started following. It was nine years ago. When she had only a few thousand followers… "I've been following you for a long time. And being close to you… You're more impressive than on the screen. I like you. Not just as a business partner. More than that."
Valeria's heart raced. This was something she didn't expect. But at the same time, it was something she wanted. Jin had given her power, meaning, purpose. And now, maybe he could give her love too. And being with him… could make Valeria one of those who controlled power.
"Me too," she whispered. "I like you."
Jin leaned in, pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and gentle. But within it, there were promises. Promises of power, promises of the future, promises of togetherness.
They went inside. Valeria's bedroom was the most beautiful place in the house: facing the ocean, surrounded by glass walls, a giant bed, soft lights, and silk pillows scattered everywhere. But they weren't in a position to see the view.
Jin embraced her, threw her onto the bed. Valeria's hair scattered as she fell onto the silk sheets, her eyes shining with desire. As Jin removed the last pieces of clothing, Valeria watched him, absorbing every muscle movement, every touch's promise.
Then, Jin leaned over her. His lips wandered over Valeria's lips, neck, chest, stomach. Each kiss was more passionate than the last. Each touch was a volcanic eruption.
Valeria threw her head back, moaned. "Jin... please... I can't take it anymore..."
Jin responded to her whispers. His lips found her most sensitive spots, caressed, kissed, touched with the tip of his tongue. Valeria's body arched like a bow, then trembled and relaxed. Her moans echoed in the room.
"Now," Valeria growled, burying her hands in Jin's hair, pulling him to her. "Now, Jin. Please. I want you. Now."
Jin responded to her request. When they united, they both held their breath. Time stopped. The world, the ocean, the stars, everything disappeared. There was only them. Two bodies, two souls, united in a single rhythm.
Their movements were slow and deep at first. As if discovering each other, enjoying it. But desire quickly flared up. The rhythm accelerated, breaths were cut short, moans turned into screams.
Jin's hands grasped Valeria's hips, pulling her closer to him. Valeria wrapped her legs around his waist, ran her nails down his back. Sweat mingled on their bodies, lubricating, fueling the fire.
"Jin!" Valeria cried, reaching the climax. "Jin, yes! God, yes!"
Jin let himself go with her scream. They both climaxed at the same time, with the same intensity, with the same passion. Their bodies contracted for a moment, then relaxed, clinging to each other.
For a while, they didn't speak. They just breathed. Their heartbeats gradually returned to normal. Sweat was cooling on their bodies. But the warmth between them had never diminished.
Then, exhausted, sweaty, they lay embracing each other. Valeria rested her head on Jin's chest, listening to his heartbeat. Jin ran his hand through her hair, occasionally touching his lips to her forehead.
"What was that?" Valeria whispered, her voice still trembling.
"The beginning," Jin said, his voice deep and resolute. "The beginning of a new era. And we will be its king and queen. Together."
Valeria closed her eyes. There was indescribable peace within her. But at the same time, a fear in the distance. That vision, the shattered worlds, the disappearing people, the fading stars... What if Jin couldn't deliver on his promises?
She pushed her thoughts away. For now, she just wanted to enjoy the moment. In Jin's arms, warm, safe, desired. Maybe this was what they called love. Maybe this was what they called power.
Jin held her tighter. His lips whispered in her ear: "Tomorrow, I will teach you everything. How to control your visions, how to use your power. And then... we will change the world."
Valeria shook her head, closed her eyes. Outside, the ocean was gently roaring, the stars were falling. And in Malibu, two people were laying the foundations of a new alliance, a new power.
But inside Valeria, that vision was still there. Shattered worlds, disappearing people, fading stars. And finally, darkness. Deep, endless darkness.