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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 32— As if the World Stood Still
32.1 Biocentro Güembé
The next day, Ryu picked her up early with a different kind of smile.
The doubt and tense formalities were gone, now he seemed to look for every excuse to be close to her.
Zayra, for her part, also began to relax, as if she could finally enjoy herself without the past holding her back.
That morning they went to the Biocentro Güembé, and Ryu couldn't stop observing the vegetation.
He touched the leaves with great curiosity, tilting his head slightly, fascinated.
His eyes narrowed, capturing the green in his memory,
and the slight arch of his eyebrows betrayed the emotion he almost never showed.
"I've never seen anything like this in Korea,"
he said, picking a flower shaped like the Bolivian flag.
"In my country… the green is different."
Zayra laughed.
"Here, the jungle embraces you, whether you want it to or not.
That flower is called Patujú.
If you look closely, it has the same colors as our flag."
Ryu looked at the flower as something unique.
They both enjoyed the atmosphere and nature, seeing toucans,
local monkeys, and different types of exotic birds and animals.
By the afternoon, the heat was stifling. But Ryu and Zayra barely felt it as they entered the pools of the place.
They both laughed, played, and talked as if that world belonged only to them.
32.2 Samaipata
That Friday, they went to Samaipata.
The valleys of Santa Cruz were different from what Ryu had seen and experienced in the city.
The road was full of curves, the weather was less hot than the day before,
and the view of some very curious cliffs was breathtaking.
Zayra guided him to the top of the fort, and upon arriving, Ryu stood still in front of the immensity.
"Did your ancestors build this?" he asked.
"The ones from this area," she replied with a soft smile.
"This place is a Pre-Hispanic center carved into the rock, an altar... a stone scream that has not been silenced."
Ryu sat down beside her, in silence.
He took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill his chest.
His shoulders dropped as if the place had taken an invisible weight off of him.
For a moment, his fingers brushed the stone ground, an almost unconscious gesture,
as if seeking to connect with something greater than himself.
"In Korea, we don't have carved mountains."
She laughed, not knowing that he was completely serious.
They took photos, and in one specific part, the guide told them they could shout because the echoes could be heard.
Zayra shouted,
"It feels so good to be alive!"
Ryu looked at her, surprised.
During lunch, Ryu observed the atmosphere.
When Zayra laughed with the guide, a brief knot tightened in his chest before he could understand why.
He picked up his glass and swirled the ice in circles, avoiding looking directly at them.
A muscle in his jaw tensed… and for a second, his fingers gripped the glass as if it were the only way to stay still.
32.3 Espejillos
A couple of days later, they walked through Espejillos.
After a long walk under the scorching heat, they finally reached the pools with waterfalls.
The water was calm and the heat was relentless.
Suddenly, Zayra took off and put away her clothes, staying in the bikini she was wearing.
Ryu blinked twice, swallowed, and felt a strange heat rise to his face.
He looked away for a second, not out of lack of interest, but to regain control.
"Are we allowed to go in?"
Zayra laughed.
"Why do you think I told you to come with your swimsuit on?"
Zayra jumped into the pool.
"Ryu, come on, the water is delicious!"
She said as she swam.
He reflected.
"How can she move with such freedom? It's as if the whole world revolves only for her…"
Ryu hesitated, feeling his heart beat fast.
He took a deep breath and slowly let his hands touch the edge of his shirt, gathering the courage to take it off.
He took a deep breath, and a small smile, more for himself than for her, formed on his lips.
It was the smile of someone who knows they have just crossed an invisible line.
With a sparkle in her eyes, Zayra splashed water at him.
Ryu froze for an instant, surprised, but a laugh escaped him and he returned the attack,
turning the moment into an impromptu game.
Later, when they were both sitting on one of the rocks, Zayra noticed the full backpack.
Thermos, fruit, chocolates, repellent… Ryu had planned everything.
The scene made her laugh, a Korean CEO with the soul of a boy scout.
"Do you always organize every detail like this?" she asked, laughing.
"Only when it's important." He replied, serious, but with a slight curve to his lips.
She looked down, amused.
Her life in the countryside had taught her that things rarely go the way you want, which is why she didn't get worked up.
But seeing him so meticulous, trying to protect them from any unforeseen event, seemed sweet to her.
"This is how he shows he cares about me." She thought and felt a soft warmth in her chest.
Ryu watched her with curiosity.
His gaze softened for a second, and the angle of his smile revealed an affection that was difficult to hide.
He adjusted the strap of the backpack on his shoulder, as if that small adjustment was enough to cover up how much he cared.
She realized he was watching her, smiled, and jokingly said.
"Oh, my dear city boy."
Ryu tilted his head slightly, and the corner of his lips trembled before curving.
His thumb absent-mindedly brushed the handle of the backpack, a nervous gesture that disguised the warm flutter in his chest.
And suddenly he thought.
"She's right… I'm lost. But if it's with her, I'd choose to get lost in this world again and again."
Amidst laughter, they shook the water off their clothes.
Zayra smoothed Ryu's hair before a photo.
He watched her for a second longer than normal, his jaw slightly tense.
The sound of the waterfall covered his doubts.
"Is this right? I shouldn't… but I want her close."
Ryu let his fingers brush hers, he hesitated.
His breathing became heavy.
He saw her smile, carefree, and that was the breaking point.
He leaned in slowly, his eyes searching hers, as if asking for permission with his gaze, and he kissed her.
It was a real kiss. Soft, tender, and full of intention.
Zayra felt the surprise and then the heat that rose to her chest.
"Wow… he's an amazing kisser."
She thought, not wanting to pull away.
They separated for a moment, both with red cheeks.
Ryu looked away, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart.
Zayra played with her fingers and, with a small sigh, gently rested her head on his shoulder.
They stayed under the waterfall, enjoying the moment, as if the world was just theirs.
When Ryu took her hand, the warmth was so absolute that she almost believed that nothing could break that moment…
Until duty and desire began to collide in his chest.