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This light novel is inspired by the beautiful landscapes and cultures of Bolivia and South Korea. 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 either country. The author disclaims any legal liability arising from the interpretation of these elements.
Chapter 31 — When the Heart Chooses
31.1 Between Sisters, Truths Are Spoken
Zayra was walking down the path, a smile still on her lips.
Ryu's gift bag hung from her hand, light in weight but with a heaviness that beat in her chest.
Just then, as she walked under the dining hall terrace, a familiar voice made her stop.
"And what's with that little smile…"
Camila said, raising an eyebrow conspiratorially.
"Sister!"
Zayra hugged her immediately.
"I haven't seen you in days."
"I know. I missed you so much.
I'm sorry, the hospital has me enslaved, and there's no shift that leaves me free.
But at least you're enjoying your vacation, right?"
Zayra shrugged, half-smiling.
"More or less."
Camila's gaze dropped to the bag her sister was carrying.
"And what's that little gift?"
She asked, in a playful tone.
Zayra didn't answer, but her red face gave her away.
"So Ryu gave it to you."
Zayra looked at her, surprised, knowing her sister knew her better than anyone.
"How do I know? Because you're happy.
If it had been another man, believe me, you wouldn't be smiling so much."
***
They sat on a bench next to the terrace, away from the hustle of the dining hall.
"Sister,"
Zayra sighed.
"I don't know what I'm going to do."
Camila became serious. "What are you talking about?"
"It's just… I like Ryu. A lot.
But Yandé also confessed to me.
And he gave me a deadline to give him an answer."
Camila frowned.
"Hold on. Yandé confessed to you? And have you ever liked him?"
"Not really,"
Zayra said, sighing. She felt a little guilty for not being able to reciprocate Yandé's feelings.
She looked at her sister and continued.
"I've always seen him as an older brother.
Someone very important to me. But never as a partner."
"Then it's easy, Zay."
Camila said, as if it were obvious.
"You tell him the truth with respect. That you can't reciprocate his feelings. That's it."
***
Zayra was quiet for a moment. Suddenly, childhood memories came to her.
[Flashback]
She and Yandé in the community, doing what they both considered "adventures" by following animals in the forest.
The times they both got into mischief, and Camila would follow them everywhere to play with them.
How they climbed trees, laughed, and played during the summer holidays.
It was Yandé who taught her how to ride a horse, milk a cow,
and many other things only those who live in the countryside know.
How he would take care of her and make sure she was always okay, and how he would always agree with her.
[End of flashback]
"Wow, the truth is I've been through a lot with Yandé," she thought.
After a pause, she replied.
"I don't want to hurt him."
Camila looked at her with affection.
"But life isn't about getting everyone to like you."
She replied softly.
"And you know that hurting with sincerity doesn't hurt less than giving false hope with silence."
Zayra fell silent. The silence between them was dense, but necessary.
"So tell me…"
Camila resumed, with the look of a bloodhound.
"What happened with Ryu in the end? Did he just give you the gift and leave?"
Zayra blushed even more.
"He also told me that he wanted to be with me, by my side. But… he was more ambiguous…
I don't know how to take it.
I just told him to let me think about it."
"Oh, little sister…"
Camila sighed, crossing her arms.
"It seems to me that you already know what you feel. The thing is, you're scared."
"What?"
"Yes, scared. How much longer are you going to let fear run your life?
I know Sebastian was a disaster and that it hurt you. But you're brave.
It's just that when it comes to love, you hide. It's always been that way.
You fight for everything else your community, your job, your people.
But in love, you freeze up."
Zayra looked down. She propped her elbows on her legs, holding the bag tightly.
"And… do you think I'm in love?"
Camila stared at her, laughing.
"I don't think, I know. You know it too.
You just don't want to accept it, because you know what it implies."
Zayra swallowed. Her heart was beating as if in response.
Camila leaned closer, this time with a mischievous smile.
"Besides, sister… forgive me, but Ryu is not bad-looking.
And here, you know, someone else could snatch him up at any moment.
So you better decide what you want to do, because there's also competition for us."
Zayra looked up. There was something in those words that hurt… because they were true.
Camila squeezed her hand.
"And you know what?
This time, for the first time in years, I feel like you could be truly happy.
Don't ruin it out of fear."
She was quiet for a moment, then continued.
"And one more thing, Ryu won't wait forever.
He might go back to his country soon. So what will you do?"
Zayra fell silent. She felt a pressure in her chest, as if it was telling her that time was flying.
She looked straight ahead, as if she could see the answer floating in the air.
She closed her eyes and took a breath.
"If I don't do it now, I might lose him forever."
On the terrace, Yandé heard the sisters' conversation.
He didn't go down to interrupt.
He just loosened his fingers from the railing, and with a sad smile, he knew he no longer needed an answer.
31.2 One Question Is Enough
The light of the sunset caressed the edges of the leaves, painting the porch in a soft gold.
Everything seemed to be in a pause… except for Zayra's heart.
Ryu was sitting at his laptop, reviewing some documents that his team had sent him from Seoul.
The fan was spinning lazily, and on the table, a glass of lemonade was melting into ice water.
Zayra settled down beside him with a slight smile,
the kind that appears when you feel you don't know what to do with your hands or your thoughts.
"A lot of work?" she asked, tapping her fingers lightly on the armrest of the wicker chair.
"Not as much as it seems,"
he replied without taking his eyes off the screen.
"Though I admit the heat does affect my efficiency."
"Welcome to Santa Cruz."
They both laughed softly.
Ryu closed his laptop and looked at Zayra.
"I'm done. Have you had dinner yet?"
Zayra was nervous and said,
"Not yet."
She thought,
"I need to clear the air now, even though I don't know how."
Her mind was racing with many thoughts, from the words she would say to the possible outcomes.
Ryu put his laptop away, not paying much attention, and said,
"Zayra, let's go have dinner. I'll take this inside."
***
He went in, put everything away,
and before leaving, he observed her sitting in the chair and noticed she wasn't her usual self.
"Are you okay?"
He asked with genuine concern.
His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and the faint crease between them betrayed the tension he was trying to hide.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as if the stillness made him uncomfortable.
Zayra looked up at the sky, then at the ground, then anywhere but at Ryu.
She bit her lower lip, nervous.
If she didn't ask now, she might not have the courage again.
And that scared her more than a negative answer.
"Ryu…"
She finally said, barely a whisper.
He looked at her, attentive.
"Yes?"
"It's silly, maybe… but I have a question."
Ryu nodded with a small smile, not knowing what was coming but feeling that it was important.
"Are you into me?"
The question fell like a small stone in the water, generating ripples that expanded in both of their chests.
Ryu's breath hitched for a second.
"I can't believe she's asking me this. I know I'm in to her…"
His heart gave a little flip, and for a second, logic and emotion mixed.
He never thought hearing that would disarm him so much.
His rational mind searched for the right way not to scare her.
He blinked slowly, looking down for a moment to compose himself.
It was rare for him to feel vulnerable, and yet, that simple question had disarmed him more than any negotiation in Seoul.
He remained silent, surprised, not because he didn't know the answer,
but because he didn't expect the question,
since he thought he had made it clear when he confessed to her under the tree.
In that instant, Zayra felt her world come crashing down.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked that."
She said awkwardly, getting up quickly from the chair as if running from her own vulnerability.
But before she could take another step, Ryu gently took her wrist.
The warmth of his skin under his fingers anchored her.
He didn't squeeze, he just held on, as if he had placed everything he didn't know how to say into that contact.
"Zayra…"
She stopped.
She didn't dare to turn around, but she couldn't move forward either.
"Yes, I'm in to you. I have for a while.
And I'm glad you asked, because it seems I didn't make myself clear when we talked under the tree."
She slowly turned towards him.
Her face was red, and in her eyes, a mixture of relief and something very close to hope shone.
Ryu looked into her eyes, without letting go of her hand.
"Yes, I like you. But you asked me for patience, remember? And I don't want to pressure you."
Zayra looked at him and was moved as she realized that he considered her more than she had thought.
It touched her heart. Her cheeks turned red, and Ryu noticed.
He took a step towards her, shortening the distance.
His usual stoicism broke just enough for her to see the emotion contained in his pupils.
His shoulders, normally straight and tense, relaxed a little.
He swallowed before continuing, aware that this moment exposed him more than he had ever allowed anyone.
"I will be patient, as you asked…."
His voice was low and firm.
"But understand this clearly, Zayra, I don't plan on letting anyone else take my place."
He took a step toward her, his eyes locked on hers, unwavering.
"I'm not going to try my luck… I'm going to build this with you. At your pace, but without letting go of your hand."
Zayra looked at him, surprised by the perfect blend of control and vulnerability.
Ryu intertwined his fingers with hers, squeezing gently, and for an instant,
everything else disappeared, as if the whole world was waiting for that contact.
The wind blew, but it only seemed to accompany the beating of their hearts.
They walked side by side, unhurried, but with the certainty that this step would change them forever.
Their eyes met, and in that shared silence, everything that didn't need words was said.
She looked at him intensely and said, "Tomorrow will be different. I will take you to places you never imagined."
He smiled, but inside, a tingle told him that something important was about to happen.
The night enveloped them while Zayra's plans for the next day remained a secret.