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Kang-joon, having changed into a tuxedo, stood before the large window in the living room of the villa. Beyond the lush garden lay a charming lake, a true beauty of nature. The midday sun made the water shimmer like diamonds, much like Joo Se-hee’s eyes when she looked at him. Even in the face of such beauty, a subtly sharp sensation lingered. With an indifferent gaze, Kang-joon looked out the window and murmured softly, “What is it?”
What she was thinking, and what made him uneasy. He replayed the surprisingly peaceful time he had recently spent with his wife. She’d say anything was fine, always smiled beautifully, and acted surprisingly honestly. It was safe to believe she had finally started to trust and love him. But at times, she seemed anxious, nervous, and wore a sorrowful expression. Of course, she’d think he wouldn’t know. That he read every subtle nuance of emotion she occasionally revealed. That bothered and worried him. The sense of incongruity, like a canker sore, that had suddenly appeared within his current happiness. The small yet subtle changes in his wife. Just then, a soft whisper came from behind him.
“...Kang-joon?”
Kang-joon turned indifferently, narrowing his eyes. He wanted to see his wife more clearly, who was both familiar and unfamiliar, the same yet different. Taeryeong wore no hair ornaments, not even earrings or a necklace. She simply wore a white, simple dress that revealed her slender figure. Yet, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Perhaps this was the beauty of an unpolished gem. Kang-joon couldn’t take his eyes off her, nor could he answer. He just looked and looked. After a moment of silence, Taeryeong looked at Kang-joon with calm eyes and spoke.
“Will you call me by my name now?”
Her voice, unlike her gaze, trembled slightly.
“...Joo Se-hee.”
At that moment, Kang-joon realized. His wife was bravely standing before him as Joo Se-hee, not Yoo Taeryeong. A bride of breathtaking beauty, the courage of the woman he loved. With his mind cleanly blanked, Kang-joon murmured to Taeryeong, “This is cheating, Joo Se-hee.”
Kang-joon smiled sweetly at Taeryeong, who looked at him with anxious eyes. “What am I supposed to do if you’re this beautiful? I don’t want to go out.”
Only then did a gentle smile spread across Taeryeong’s soft lips. That smile, like a spring breeze, softly blew and soothed Kang-joon’s anxiety.
“We’ll drive for about 20 minutes. We’ll have to walk a bit after that, is that okay?”
Gently holding his wife’s hand as she nodded, Kang-joon told himself, This time I was wrong, it’s just unnecessary suspicion and apprehension.
________________________________________
After about 20 minutes of driving, they arrived at the entrance of a guesthouse. However, several guards in black suits were guarding the entrance. When Taeryeong looked at him, as if asking if he was responsible, Kang-joon calmly replied, “I didn’t want to be disturbed.”
“I understand that, but is it okay to do this on someone else’s private property?”
“I got permission and paid enough for it, so don’t worry.”
Only then did Taeryeong nod quietly, as if in agreement. Kang-joon walked around the car’s hood, opened the car door politely, and extended his hand to Taeryeong. He had held her hand countless times. But today, strangely, just holding that hand made his heart pound. After passing the entrance and walking a little, they heard the trickle of water. After walking a bit more, they came to a stone bridge across a river. Should she take off her shoes? As Taeryeong pondered, Kang-joon bent down and offered his back.
“Get on my back.”
Taeryeong quietly looked at his back, then smiled and refused. “No, I’ll just cross.”
At her soft yet firm refusal, Kang-joon slowly straightened up. Taeryeong had already taken off her heels and held them in her hand.
“Just hold my hand so I don’t fall. You’ll do that, won’t you?”
Looking at her sparkling eyes filled with laughter, Kang-joon reluctantly replied, “It would be a disaster if you slipped while stepping, so be careful.”
“Are you going to keep treating me like a child?”
When Taeryeong glared at him, Kang-joon finally laughed and extended his hand. And so, the two held hands and carefully crossed. Kang-joon crossed first, followed by Taeryeong. With the summit in sight, the clear water, clear enough to see the bottom, made Taeryeong stop. Kang-joon quietly waited for Taeryeong, who gazed down at the water. After a moment of hesitation, Taeryeong gently dipped her toes in, and a small scream escaped her lips.
“It’s cold!”
It was the moment Kang-joon reached out his hand, startled by the sound.
“But it feels so good.”
As if nothing had happened, Taeryeong was beaming. While Kang-joon slowly withdrew his hand, feeling embarrassed for no reason, Taeryeong was splashing her feet in the water. She’d giggle when she dipped her toes in, then press her lips together when she dipped her ankles. Her round eyes crinkled beautifully, holding a soft smile, and her neat eyes and expression became lively. He couldn’t take his eyes off his wife, who was excited and thrilled like a child. Just then, a gentle breeze blew, softly rustling Taeryeong’s hair. Taeryeong, bathed in the dazzling midday sun, which seemed to shatter upon her, shimmered all over. It was a moment where reality disappeared. He felt as if his wife would vanish like a mirage if he reached out and touched her. He felt he had to confirm her presence immediately. Unable to bear the moment, Kang-joon leaped across and lifted Taeryeong by her waist. Her softly fluttering hair shimmered, and her smiling face was dazzling. He felt he would go mad if he didn’t confirm her existence by holding her like this. The smile that had spread across Taeryeong’s face also vanished at his deeply gazing eyes.
“...”
“...”
The moment their gazes met and intertwined, her slender arms tightly embraced Kang-joon’s neck. He loved this woman, who nestled so deeply in his arms, to the point of madness. The emotion overflowing within his chest made him feel as if his entire body would burst if he didn’t express it. So Kang-joon called her name with overwhelming emotion.
“Joo Se-hee.”
Even with the tender call that made his eardrums melt, Taeryeong did not lift her head. She felt as if tears would burst forth if she looked into his eyes, which were as tender as his voice. It felt like all she could do was cling tighter to Kang-joon’s neck.
“I love you.”
Despite the gentle sound of flowing water, her husband’s confession whispered in her ear was sweet enough to bring tears to her eyes.
________________________________________
After crossing the stone bridge, Taeryeong remained on Kang-joon’s back. She had gotten on his back because they said the path was quite rough. But in reality, the path she comfortably viewed from his wide back was not rough at all. Just a set of stone stairs in the middle and a dirt path uncomfortable for walking in high heels. When Taeryeong pleaded to be let down, Kang-joon told her to close her eyes. He said it would make the surprise more enjoyable, so she reluctantly closed her eyes at the end.
“We’ve arrived.”
Taeryeong, who had her eyes closed, slowly opened them at Kang-joon’s words. As her feet touched the ground, an exclamation of admiration flowed from her automatically parted lips. As Kang-joon had said, the wheat field, surrounded by mountains, valleys, and cliffs, was a secluded place. But the sight of the green waves rippling from the mountain wind was truly spectacular. It was humble yet beautiful, peaceful yet majestic. Taeryeong honestly hadn’t expected this trip. Being with Kang-joon was enough, and she had thought they would rent a hotel or a pool villa. But this place was just too much. Overwhelmed with emotion, Taeryeong couldn’t speak. She just looked and looked. Kang-joon’s soft murmur came from behind her, misinterpreting her silence.
“Is it too desolate?”
Taeryeong slowly turned to Kang-joon. The magnificent man, who seemed to fear nothing in the world, was looking at her for her reaction. That was both amusing and sad. Who am I to him? Something hot welled up inside her chest, threatening to escape through her eyes. The more it did, the more Taeryeong bit her lip and whispered to herself, Don’t cry. Smile brightly. And indeed, Taeryeong smiled brightly and whispered,
“I love this place so much.”
Only then did a faint sense of relief spread across Kang-joon’s face.
“So, it passes?”
“It passes. With a perfect score of a hundred.”
Suddenly, Kang-joon strode forward. He stopped in front of some profusely blooming nameless wildflowers and picked a few. It was Taeryeong who had told him not to prepare a bouquet. Had that bothered him? Kang-joon chuckled as he handed Taeryeong a plump bouquet of wildflowers, about the size of a regular bouquet.
“Even as I give this, it feels a bit odd. Both the location and the bouquet. It feels like I was too stingy with money.”
Taeryeong smiled gently and carefully took the wildflowers, then pulled out a few stems. After tucking a white wildflower into the tuxedo’s pocket in place of a handkerchief, she met his gaze and smiled softly. There was no better answer than this. Kang-joon stepped back a few paces, straightened his posture, and solemnly spoke to Taeryaong.
“I, Seo Kang-joon, pledge to love only Joo Se-hee for my entire life.”
Just like that? So suddenly? Taeryeong’s eyes widened, a smile spreading across her face. But at his persistent, dark gaze demanding an answer, the smile vanished from Taeryeong’s face too. Her small hand holding the wildflower bouquet tightened. Now that it was just the two of them, now that she stood before him as Joo Se-hee. She wanted to confess to him too. Taeryeong hugged Kang-joon’s waist, met his eyes, and smiled. The moment she confessed her feelings, which she could pledge countless times, was happy yet sorrowful.
“I, Joo Se-hee, pledge to love only Seo Kang-joon for my entire life.”
And so, Taeryeong didn’t know. That the smile on her lips was so sorrowful it brought tears to her eyes. Kang-joon pulled Taeryeong into a tight embrace. He said nothing, just held her close and remained still. Only the pounding of their hearts echoed, and the surroundings were silent. In Kang-joon’s comfortable embrace, Taeryeong slowly closed her eyes and listened. The flowing time was quiet and peaceful. After a long while, the two opened their eyes. They met each other’s gaze and filled their eyes with each other’s current appearance. Kang-joon tenderly called Taeryeong.
“Joo Se-hee.”
Even though the dazzling sunlight filled the air, his black eyes gazing at her were deep and intense.
“Stay by my side forever.”
Taeryeong’s lips, which had been about to move as if to speak, finally closed again. Even though she knew how to stay by this man’s side, she was determined to leave. Did she have the right to answer him then? Instead of answering, she tightly hugged Kang-joon’s neck and initiated the kiss.
The unspoken words swirled in her mouth before disappearing. I love you, Kang-joon. But I can’t stay by your side. Now, Taeryeong understood what it felt like to be afraid from loving too much. She was so afraid that his gaze, his heart, his love for her might change when he learned about the real Joo Se-hee. That’s why she was so terrified.
________________________________________
They walked hand in hand along the narrow path through the wheat field. They stopped to fully enjoy the blowing wind and listened to the sounds of water and birds. When their eyes met, they smiled at each other and kissed. The slow passage of time in the quietness was wonderful. At the end of the path was a sheer cliff and a river flowing below. Taeryeong floated the wildflower bouquet Kang-joon had picked for her, one by one, down the river. As if letting go of her feelings for this man little by little. Everything that flowed by was simple and ordinary. They returned the way they came and had janchi-guksu (feast noodles), which the guesthouse provided for free, for a late lunch. They drove, and when they saw a beautiful spot, they got out and walked hand in hand, silently. Following their hearts, wherever their feet led them. By the time they arrived back at the villa, dusk was falling. Taeryeong’s first thought was to shower. Her slightly sweaty skin felt sticky. But Kang-joon took her wrist as she headed to the bathroom and slowly turned her around. When their eyes met, his eyes burned with a fervent heat, her heart pounded, and her chest trembled. She understood the meaning of that gaze.
“I want to wash up.”
This was all Taeryeong could say, the only excuse that came to mind. And she really did want to wash up. But the hand gripping her wrist pulled her closer and closer.
“I’m dirty. I’ve been sweating, and my clothes are uncomfortable...”
Taeryeong couldn’t finish her sentence. She was in her husband’s arms, and she felt the soft touch of his lips as he gently kissed her.
“I’m dirty too, and I’ve been sweating.”
At his low, laughing murmur brushing past her ear, Taeryeong looked up as if spellbound. His black eyes were burning red. His gaze, tightly binding her, left her unable to move. Her strength drained away under his gaze, which slowly caressed her from head to toe like a touch.
“So it’s okay, Joo Se-hee.”
At that one phrase, everything truly seemed to be okay. With a sigh of resignation, Taeryeong rested her forehead on Kang-joon’s shoulder. She slowly closed her eyes as his face drew closer again.
“You endured a lot and waited a long time, didn’t you?”
With that self-deprecating murmur, Kang-joon’s lips met hers. It was the beginning of their second night, a little early.
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