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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 57 – A Different Welcome
Zayra stared the road while Ryu held the box with the Bolivianita stone.
"Ryu... there is something I want to ask you."
She said without looking at him.
He looked up, curious.
"What is it?"
She turned her face and looked at him gently.
"I know your family will be tired from the trip... I'd like to go and welcome them myself."
He blinked, surprised by the suggestion.
Watched her for a moment, as if evaluating the scene before it happened.
"Us? But they always come with a driver."
She laughed, slightly nervously, and replied.
"I know, but this time I want to do it. I just ask for your support, okay?"
She didn't explain further, but looked at him with a pleading expression that he found charming.
A blush rose to his cheeks.
He looked away, caught between surprise and a timid vulnerability.
He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
He nodded slowly, with that contained gesture he used when something moved him more than he would admit.
She smiled, found it very sweet to see how Ryu had reacted to her request.
She didn't say anything,
but looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
***
The air inside the vehicle was cold, and the silence was only broken by the faint hum of the engine.
Outside, the city lights flickered, but inside, the atmosphere was dense, charged with unspoken thoughts.
She drove calmly, but with that focus she always showed when something mattered to her.
He, next to her, was quiet, watching her subtly.
He thought about the delicate mix of nervousness and determination that only someone like her could show,
and a silent respect grew within him.
He had learned not to ask too many questions when Zayra had that strange glint in her eyes.
She was nervous and in her mind, she prayed.
"God, please help me make everything go well..."
She breathed to maintain composure.
When they arrived at the airport, it was almost ten at night.
They were both waiting, and after a few minutes, he saw them first.
His mother, Mrs. Min Seo-Yeon, impeccable and reserved in expression, walked with an elegant stride.
His father was at her side, sober and discreet.
His older sister, Seo-Yeon, was next to her husband, both very elegant.
And Min-jun, the youngest, was relaxed, with his eternal expression of 'this is a game.'
***
Zayra took a few steps forward, trying not to show her nerves.
She stopped at a fair distance, neither too close nor forced, and bowed respectfully.
Her heart didn't stop pounding, and her mind kept reminding her.
"Breathe, don't mess it up."
She knew Ryu's family was not like those of her previous partners.
In Bolivia, it was easy to tell if someone liked you a smile, a tender gesture, or a kind look was enough.
But in front of Ryu's family, nothing was so clear, the expressions were gentle, the gestures measured,
and silence could mean both approval and discomfort.
The silence hung heavy in the air, like a curtain hiding their true intentions.
The gazes measured, the smiles were timid, almost like a visual whisper that barely hinted,
and every gesture could be a sign of welcome...
or an invisible barrier.
That made her nervous, a harmless mistake for her could be a lack of respect for them.
That's why she thought twice about every movement, word, and smile.
Although she tried to appear calm,
inside she felt like she was walking on delicate ground where one false step could break the courtesy.
Ryu snapped out of his thoughts and watched her out of the corner of his eye, noticing the slight tremble in her fingers.
He wanted to take her hand to support her,
but the presence of his parents and the formality of the moment prevented such open gestures.
Instead, he inclined his head discreetly, as if silently telling her she was doing well.
When their eyes met, his, usually cold and precise, softened barely.
It was a brief moment but enough for Zayra to breathe a little slower, smile, and say.
"Good evening, welcome to Bolivia. I hope your journey was good."
Everyone nodded politely.
Then, more determined, Zayra turned to Mrs. Min Seo-Yeon and spoke calmly.
"Mrs. Min Seo-Yeon, this stone came out of my father's mine today. I thought it was special."
She handed her a small, carved wooden box.
Mrs. Kang received it with both hands, surprised by the detail.
She opened the box unhurriedly, as if she knew the moment held significance.
Inside the box was a raw Bolivianita, with fine dust still on the edges.
She offered a slight smile and said.
"Thank you."
She remained silent, observing the stone.
Her eyes, trained in jewelry, caught the nuances from gold to violet, free and asymmetrical shapes, partial transparency.
Rare color, uncut, but harmonious.
Mrs. Kang took the stone with both hands.
Her long, slender fingers carefully brushed the rough surface.
"It's a stone that hasn't passed through commercial hands..."
She murmured, more to herself than to the others.
"It's rare, valuable."
For an instant, her expression revealed nothing.
Only her eyes, dark and attentive, seemed to be measuring something invisible.
Then she nodded with a slight, almost imperceptible gesture, and added in a serene voice.
"A brooch, perhaps... or even a new line."
Zayra tried to read her reactions but found nothing clear.
This caused her some discomfort, and suddenly, an unexpected memory popped into her mind,
reminding her of a valuable lesson her grandmother taught her in childhood.
[Flashback]
Eight-year-old Zayra felt hurt because her father didn't react to her Father's Day gift as she had hoped.
Her grandmother, with a sweet smile, told her that the intention matters, not the reaction.
"Giving with love is like planting a seed that grows over time, even if you don't see it immediately."
[End of flashback]
Years later, seeing the serene face of Ryu's mother, she remembered her grandmother's message.
She reminded herself that her intentions were the best, so she chose to smile, bow gently, and say.
"Your welcome.
I'm going to get the car,
Ryu, I'll call you when I'm outside."
He replied.
"Sure."
His eyes followed her as she walked away, noticing that she looked more relaxed.
***
When she disappeared into the crowd, Ryu approached his mother and spoke to her in Korean, very softly.
"엄마, 그거… 그녀가 직접 고르러 갔어요."
(Mom... she went to choose it herself.)
Ryu's eyes reflected not only pride but a contained emotion he barely allowed out.
Mrs. Kang looked at him for a second.
"직접?"
(Personally?)
Ryu smiled and added.
"오늘 광산에 갔어요." (She went to the mine today.)
She lowered her gaze to the stone once more.
Ryu watched her in silence, feeling a knot in his chest that he allowed to loosen for the first time.
That was worth more than any plan.
It wasn't about nerves.
It was about what he couldn't say.
About how Zayra did these things without expecting anything in return.
"It's called Bolivianita."
He added, in Spanish, lowering his voice.
The mother slowly closed the box.
"It's not polished."
She said in a low voice, more to herself.
"But it doesn't need to be."
The older sister, Seo-Yeon, tilted her head slightly, her eyes widening a little, reflecting genuine surprise.
She touched the stone with her fingertips, not daring to hold it fully.
"You went to the mine?"
She asked, with a smile that mixed astonishment and respect.
"Yes."
Replied Ryu.
Min-jun poked his head out from behind his sister's shoulder.
"Hyung, did you know she goes into mines for you?"
"Min-jun..."
His sister sighed, smiling.
"I'm serious. If that's not love, I don't know what is."
Ryu didn't answer, lowering his gaze with a faint smile.
His look became softer, like a tacit pact forming in the silence.
Mr. Kang Ji-Ho observed the stone between his fingers.
"It's a gift with intention."
"And meaning."
Added Mrs. Min Seo-Yeon, her eyes still on the box.
Just then, Ryu felt his cell phone vibrate.
Message from Zayra.
"I'm outside. I'm waiting for you."
"Let's go,"
He said.
They all walked toward the exit.
In silence.
But with something different in the air.
Ryu paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the door through which she would appear.
In his chest, a mixture of doubt and determination grew, preparing the ground for what was to come.
Outside, Zayra waited without imagining that this moment would mark a before and an after.