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This light novel is inspired by the beautiful landscapes and culture of Bolivia. However, the characters, events, and situations portrayed are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental. This content does not intend to represent or reflect the historical, social, or cultural reality of the country. The author disclaims any legal liability arising from the interpretation of these elements.
Chapter 8 — Duty, Home, and Destiny
Part 1.8. Ryu and Duty
The hum of the air conditioning filled the hotel's executive lounge, but Ryu barely registered it.
He sat up straight across from his father, watching the setting sun paint the Bolivian sky in hues of orange and crimson.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mixing with the silent tension that hung between them.
"Have you been treated well?" Mr. Kang asked, his tone sober yet measured.
"Yes, father," Ryu responded. Gripping the mug gently between his hands, he felt the cool ceramic contrast with the pressure building in his chest.
A silence followed.
***
Finally, his father turned his gaze to him, allowing the golden light of dusk to illuminate his strong profile.
"I never thought I'd see your uncle Hyun so far from home again…" he said in a softer, almost nostalgic voice.
"He married an indigenous woman and has devoted his life to protecting these lands.
That's why your marriage to his daughter, Zayra, isn't just an agreement; it's a strategic partnership."
Ryu lowered his eyes, letting the weight of those words settle in.
His mind drifted back to fragmented memories of his childhood in Seoul, to his uncle's guidance,
to the image of a man who chose duty and passion over comfort.
When he first heard the name Zayra, he paid it little mind.
"I didn't know if this was going to happen… so there was no point in dwelling on it," he told himself.
Ryu tightened his grip on the mug until his knuckles turned white.
The name 'Zayra' resonated like an unexpected echo. A buzz of anticipation ran down his spine, a blend of fear and curiosity.
***
His father continued:
"You don't need to fall in love right now. Just respect her.
Do it for your family name and for those who have placed their trust in you.
For Hyun, for your mother, for this company… and for yourself."
Ryu nodded slowly. His heart beat strongly, knowing that fulfilling this duty would not be easy.
Every step he took would be laden with expectations and judgment, and yet he had to carry it out with integrity and respect.
"What will she be like? Will she respect my privacy, my family… my silence?" Ryu thought, pressing his lips together.
The name lingered in his mind, and for the first time, something that wasn't duty or strategy began to stir within him, curiosity and fear.
While his mind was still on the name Zayra,
far away from him, she was making her way home, unaware that her destiny had already been set.
Part 2.8. Home Sweet Home
Meanwhile, at Zayra's home, the warm air of eastern Bolivia embraced her face with scents of damp earth,
freshly baked rice bread, and wildflowers.
She stepped out of the vehicle with a firm stride, though inside her heart felt as if it were tumbling.
Five years had passed since she had last been home, and every corner spoke to her of memories she believed were long gone.
Opening the door, she was welcomed by an embrace that felt like home, safety, and a comforting lap.
Her mother's voice, Siraya, sounded both warm and firm.
"My beautiful girl!"
The smell of corn and the oven made her close her eyes for a moment.
She allowed herself to feel, after so much time, that she was safe, that she was home.
The hug lasted longer than she expected, and Zayra felt her mother's warmth and presence reconnect her to the roots she had left behind.
"The sun rose differently today… as if it knew you were coming back," Siraya said, letting a smile of ancient wisdom escape her lips.
Zayra sighed, allowing her body to relax for the first time since she had landed.
The guilt of having left, of the years she was gone, mingled with the joy of reuniting with those who had raised and loved her.
"You look thinner," her mother said, examining her with the eyes of both a mother and a guardian.
"I hope you're not skipping meals because you're carrying the weight of the world."
Zayra let out a soft laugh and nodded, but offered no words.
She simply allowed herself to be led down the hall with its cool floor and wooden columns,
toward the study where her father was waiting.
Every step was a silent return to her roots, to what she had left behind and now had to face again.
***
Zayra lowered her voice. "Mom… last night I dreamed of Ñande Yara."
Siraya paused for a moment. It was a subtle movement, but a flicker of reverence appeared in her eyes. "The god?"
Zayra nodded. Siraya asked no more questions.
She placed a gentle but firm hand on her daughter's shoulder.
It wasn't indifference. It was wisdom.
She knew that some dreams needed to be shared when the fire was lit, the house was quiet, and the soul was at rest.
***
As they reached the door, she stopped and gave her a knowing look.
Her voice dropped to that tone of mothers who have lived long enough to say a lot with a few words.
"Look, my daughter… I know this marriage wasn't your plan.
But your father just wants to make sure that if the country falls apart, you'll be secure.
It's not that he doesn't trust you, it's that he knows how things are here."
Zayra lowered her gaze.
Although they had already reconciled, as she approached that study, she felt an old discomfort whispering in her ear.
It wasn't fear.
It was a slight twinge, like the feeling of knowing you once disappointed someone you love, even if that person has already forgiven you.
***
Siraya smiled, but with those eyes that spoke the truth before her mouth, and whispered to her daughter.
"Now, if this Korean boy you're going to meet turns out to be a mess…"
She paused for a dramatic effect and then added with a mischievous glint.
"You get a divorce, plain and simple. I know how to make your father see reason…" She winked.
"He's tough, but he listens to me."
Zayra raised an eyebrow.
"Great… I don't even know the guy, and I already have an escape plan included. That's what I call maternal love."
"If this were a reality show, the title would be: Married to a Stranger: Bolivian Edition."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Don't thank me yet," Siraya said, straightening up.
"First, get a good look at him. And if there's even a little spark… don't put it out because of fear.
Sometimes destiny disguises itself as a business deal."
Then, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. "Let's go. He's waiting for you."
Part 3.8. Meeting with Dad
The study smelled of freshly brewed coffee and tropical wood.
Dae-Hyun stood reviewing papers.
His eyes softened when he saw her enter, but his voice maintained its usual firmness.
"Five minutes late."
"It's good to see you too, Dad," Zayra replied, with a smile, trying to hide the mix of respect and anxiety she felt.
Dae-Hyun closed the folder and came closer, hugging her briefly but firmly.
His gesture said more than a thousand words: welcome, trust, and responsibility.
"Things are bad, daughter. And they are going to get worse," he said, as they sat down.
"Whole communities are being overrun. The land we love is in danger."
***
Zayra listened, feeling how guilt and determination intertwined in her chest.
She knew she couldn't allow her absence to have a cost.
"That's why we need to think with a clear head," Dae-Hyun said, pausing to look at her.
"Ryu isn't a stranger. His father was and still is my brother for life.
This union… I don't want it to be a sacrifice. I want it to be a door."
He paused. His eyes met hers, more serene.
"Besides," he added calmly, "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Much less afford ourselves the luxury of choosing wrong again, right? This time, it's different."
She reflected as her heart skipped a beat, reminding her that destiny had already begun to weave its path.
She took a breath and asked.
"Father, what did you say his name was?"
"Ryu," Dae-Hyun replied, with clarity.
The name echoed in Zayra's mind. "Too Korean," she thought with irony.
A shiver ran through her chest, anticipating the unknown. "He has a name… soon he'll have a face… soon he'll be real."
She reflected as a pang of nervousness came to her chest.
***
She hesitated to ask a question that had been circling in her head, but finally dared.
"Father, what if it doesn't work?"
Her father looked at her steadily, but without harshness.
"It will work. Because if Ryu is like his father… believe me, Zayra, it will."
Zayra raised an eyebrow and, in her mind, a sarcastic thought surfaced.
"Perfect… Dad says it's going to work. I say: does Dad also sign the disaster contract, or is it just me?"
***
A silence filled the room. Zayra felt something stirring inside her, a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
For the first time, the name had a face waiting to appear in her mind.
"Soon I will see him… and then nothing will be the same. My life is about to change, and there's no turning back."
She reflected as an accelerated heartbeat reminded her that destiny had already begun to weave its path.
And at that moment, without anyone knowing, a new chapter of her life was about to open,
and the study door seemed like a portal to an uncertain, bright, and dangerous future.
She didn't know that, on the other side of the city, that stranger was already thinking of her with the same mix of duty and curiosity.