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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 79 — Three Days Until the Wedding
79.1 What if I take you to my world?
Zayra walked by his side, calm, with her hands clasped behind her back.
Ryu watched her out of the corner of his eye.
After so many days of tension,
seeing her like this made him feel that balance was slowly returning.
She had told him about the wedding dances,
the hora loca, the tamborita, and Bolivian traditions in a cheerful and slightly timid tone,
fearing that her customs might be too much for his family.
But Ryu hardly spoke; in silence, he organized each custom in his mind,
knowing that to understand her, he had to enter a world that was still foreign to him.
His brow furrowed slightly as he processed each tradition;
with the air turning cooler and the night enveloping them, it was his turn.
He stopped. She looked at him with curiosity.
"Zayra..."
He said in a deep, deliberate voice.
"I've been thinking a lot about what you told me."
She arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms with a slight smile.
"About which part? Because I talked quite a bit."
Ryu smiled a little, looking down.
"About our wedding. And what comes after."
Zayra frowned slightly.
"Did the hora loca scare you?"
He shook his head, amused.
"No. Well… a little. But that's not it."
He paused.
"I decided to take charge of the honeymoon."
She looked at him in surprise.
"Really?"
Ryu nodded.
"Yes. You and your family organized everything; you integrated me and looked after me."
He looked her straight in the eyes.
"It's time for me to show you my world."
The silence grew thick; as he took her hand, his fingers tensed just a bit, a gesture he didn't even notice himself.
A warm breeze brushed Zayra's face, as if the Toborochi tree were listening to them.
"To Korea?"
She asked softly.
"Yes."
He replied.
"I want it to be there. There are things, places, and people I want to show you."
She stood still; for an instant,
her heart leaped at the thought of a month in Korea, in Ryu's world.
Zayra looked down, pressed her lips together,
and then looked at him with a special glint in her eyes.
"That sounds… wonderful."
Ryu nodded serenely,
though his fingers trembled as he held her hand.
"Then, Korea it is. This time, I'll take care of it."
He said with resolve.
She stepped closer and rested her head gently on his shoulder.
She whispered.
"Thank you, oppa."
He looked at her sideways; the word resonated like a bridge between their cultures and drew a sincere smile from him.
As they walked under the moon peeking through the trees, Ryu was already mentally planning the places he would take her.
79.2 Promises Under Warning
The golden afternoon fell over the trees while Zayra, standing by the half-open door, watched him from afar.
Impeccable as always, he was reviewing documents on his laptop.
She entered in silence, sat beside him, sighed, and remarked.
"There's one detail we haven't talked about regarding the wedding."
Ryu slowly closed his laptop.
"I'm listening."
"We're going to have to say vows."
She raised a hand immediately, anticipating his reaction.
A lump in his throat and clenched fists,
revealed how difficult it was for Ryu to talk about feelings in public.
"They don't have to be poetic; just say what you feel out loud in front of everyone."
She added in a soft tone.
His neutral expression hid the tension in his shoulders, which she perceived.
"¿And you thought of telling me this three day before the event?"
"It wasn't out of malice, I swear."
She said quickly, her eyes wide and honest. "
A lot of things happened… remember?"
The last few days had left silent marks, visible in his tension and evasive glances.
"You have three days."
She added gently, looking at him with pleading eyes that disarmed him.
"Just say you want to take care of me and stay with me.
That's enough."
Ryu finally looked at her.
"I don't like talking about feelings with strangers."
Without breaking eye contact, he tightened his hands on his thighs, holding back a torrent of emotions.
"And you think I do?"
She replied with a small, bitter laugh,
sighed, took his hand, and spoke.
"I've opened a space in my world for you, willingly, not out of duty.
I just want you to show me that you've chosen this too."
He pressed his lips together, his fingers playing nervously with the edge of the table in the silence.
He intertwined his fingers with hers, a simple gesture full of commitment;
he looked down and gave a slight nod.
"Three days."
He said.
Zayra smiled with relief.
He intertwined his fingers with hers again and added.
"So… should I write something?"
She smiled and said.
"Say it however you want; as long as it comes from you, it will be fine."
Ryu looked at her, this time with a softer expression.
"You're a better negotiator than I thought."
She smiled, getting up from the bed.
"I'm Camba. And we are getting married… for real."
He looked away, but couldn't hide a slight smile at the corner of his lips. "
Then, I must promise not to run away."
"At least not until dinner is over."
She joked, leaving the room.
79.3 Three Steps to Get Married and One Not to Run Away
The room was silent, interrupted only by the dry tapping of a pen.
Ryu, facing a blank sheet of paper, sighed as if he were facing a war report.
"First, learn how to waltz…"
He murmured, staring at the ceiling.
A fleeting smile crossed his face at the irony of a chaebol facing unknown traditions.
"Then, see a lot of people he didn't know. And now… vows."
He clicked the pen shut, turned on his phone, and saw the notes app open and empty.
As if the universe were pushing him, he remembered the toast.
That peculiar and very Bolivian conversation.
"Oh, and after taking off the garter, you'll have to throw it to the bachelors,"
Zayra had said with total nonchalance.
"The what?"
He had asked, completely uncomfortable.
"Don't worry, I'll wear a second garter: I'll let it drop, you pretend to take it off and then throw it.
The bouquet is for the single women; the garter is for the single men."
Ryu had looked at her in surprise at such a public act.
"And that's normal?"
She had looked at him amused and said.
"Here, it is. Love, you already signed the contract.
Welcome to Bolivian traditions."
He could only nod. Once again, overwhelmed.
***
"This isn't a marriage; it's a gala military training."
He sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose.
He leaned back, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Without warning, memories surfaced: her free in the sunflower fields,
the wind on the motorcycle where he felt safe without being in control.
Her bravery in the mine and how she faced him without losing dignity;
she chose to be by his side, defending him and caring for him with unique gestures.
The last conversation, where Zayra gave up demanding more than he could give, respecting his beliefs without reproach.
All of that was the reason to say yes.
The hardest conversation was when she, with a half-smile, said there would be no Catholic wedding.
"I know it's not your faith, and I don't want to force you or ask you to change."
She didn't demand or blame; she simply yielded in silence.
"She didn't ask me..."
He whispered.
"And that… is what affected me the most."
He closed his eyes for a moment, processing the depth of Zayra's gesture;
he understood that true sacrifice wasn't in words, but in silence.
He took a deep breath and picked up the pen with determination;
he didn't need a perfect waltz to take the most important step of his life.
79.4 One Family, Two Worlds.
Two days before the big celebration, the Kang family dinner took place in a luxurious restaurant in the city of Santa Cruz.
The dim lights created a warm and discreet atmosphere.
Ryu, calm, watched his mother cut her food while he sipped water, preparing to talk about the wedding with them.
His fingers gripped the glass, a reflection of a greater responsibility than he let on.
His father watched in silence with an evaluative gaze.
Min-Jun, the youngest, seemed entertained by the decor but was watching Ryu out of the corner of his eye.
Ryu placed his chopsticks on the white ceramic.
"There's something I need to tell you about the wedding."
He spoke in a calm but firm tone.
"Zayra and I want you to feel comfortable at the wedding."
Everyone fell silent, attentive.
He cleared his throat and said.
"The civil ceremony will be at the same venue as the celebration."
His mother nodded gracefully.
His father limited himself to listening without interrupting.
Ryu measured every word with precision; in his family,
speaking too much was never a virtue.
He commented.
"Only your presence is required, without any additional participation."
His mother gave a slight nod.
"I understand."
She replied with a slow voice, maintaining a measured smile.
"After that, the party begins."
Ryu continued.
"In Bolivia, celebrations don't end early."
Min-Jun let out a low whistle, barely audible.
"They don't end early?"
"No."
Ryu smiled.
"Just in case, it's not necessary for you to stay until the end."
"Could you explain that part in more detail?"
Seo-Yeon asked calmly, maintaining a slight smile.
Ryu replied.
"According to Zayra, from midnight onwards, the atmosphere becomes intense and noisy for some."
His mother looked at him understandingly.
"Thank you for warning us."
"I will take note of that."
His father said with a firm and controlled voice.
"There will be Bolivian and Korean food."
Everyone smiled gratefully at that gesture.
Then, Ryu chuckled.
"There will also be varied music. The hora loca, live Bolivian singers, and maybe mariachis."
Seo-Yeon let out a slight, barely perceptible smile.
She asked with contained interest.
"Could you tell me what the 'hora loca' is?"
Ryu cleared his throat to hide his own curiosity and bewilderment at such alien traditions and explained,
"It's when a band arrives with dancers on stilts, with ribbons and balloons."
Min-Jun narrowed his eyes with a playful smile, looking at his brother.
"Hyung, are you going to dance… a waltz in front of everyone?"
Ryu looked away. His breathing became more measured, regaining control with effort.
He remained silent for a moment, gathering the composure he always showed. His sister let out a controlled laugh.
"So that will be your first dance as husband and wife."
"Don't tease."
He said, suppressing a smile.
Min-Jun raised his hands in surrender with a discreet expression.
"I'm just saying I need to record it; it doesn't happen every day."
His mother smiled discreetly.
"Thank you for the explanation; we will be present and will leave when the time comes."
Ryu nodded gratefully.
"We want you to feel respected and free to act in your own way."
For the first time that night, the tension dissipated enough to allow for a shared smile.