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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 76 — Plans for a Wedding Joining Two Worlds
75.1. Disappointing News
The afternoon in Santa Cruz felt cooler.
Both went out to the cabin porch,
where the scents of the earth felt more vivid than usual.
Suddenly,
Zayra looked at her phone screen as a message arrived from her mother.
"Daughter, there are 7 days left until your wedding and almost everything is ready.
I need you to talk to Ryu about our customs that might make his family uncomfortable.
And about the Catholic wedding...
I'm sorry, but it won't be as we expected.
I love you, my girl."
She sighed, slowly lowered her phone,
and traced the rim of her cup with her fingers.
"Are you okay?"
He asked, watching her intently as they shared the afternoon.
She nodded with a half-smile.
"Yes, I was just thinking about what my mom told me."
She paused, lowering her voice slightly.
"We wanted to have a small Catholic ceremony in the hall before the civil wedding...
but... it's not going to be possible."
He frowned slightly.
"Why?"
She replied in a tone heavy with disappointment.
"The differences in our beliefs make the paperwork complicated.
I don't want you to feel pressured to give in on something important to you."
Ryu remained silent for a moment,
absorbing her words with that reflective calm that characterized him.
"I wasn't prepared for this discomfort."
He thought.
His hand tightened into a slight fist inside his pocket.
"Thank you... for not putting me in that situation."
He finally said, his tone sincere and soft.
Looked away for a few seconds, avoiding any display of vulnerability.
"I feel like it's not worth forcing something if you barely know my world."
She added with a nostalgic smile.
"We'll have the civil ceremony; it will be beautiful. Just you, me, and those who love us."
"The essence is the same uniting in front of everyone is what matters most."
He said as he stepped into the cabin to get something.
***
She stood up to take a better look at the Toborichi tree a few steps from the cabin.
Reflected on the news, which seemed to have affected her more than she expected.
To her, Catholic masses weren't the most entertaining thing in the world;
she remembered getting distracted or even falling asleep once, only waking up when it ended.
But then, a memory heavier than the rest surfaced.
Her 15-year-old self with her grandmother Carmen, who said,
"Child, one day you will walk down this aisle to marry a great man."
She laughed then, at the time, she didn't even think about marriage.
Now, without knowing why, a tear rolled down her cheek.
Ryu, who had returned to the porch, watched her for a moment.
He approached her gently.
"Zayra… are you okay?"
She quickly wiped her tears and let out a small laugh, more automatic than sincere.
"You know; I was never the most attentive person in mass.
Who would've thought I'd get like this now?"
She shrugged as if it were nothing,
though her breathing betrayed her.
Ryu didn't answer immediately.
He took a step closer.
"I don't think this is a 'small' thing for you."
He paused.
"If you want to talk about it… I'm here."
***
She placed her hand over her mouth, as if deciding what to reveal and what to keep hidden.
"I don't want to make him uncomfortable... but I can't hide something that affects us both."
Still, she feared her words might be a burden he'd prefer to avoid.
He looked down for a second, pressing his lips together before looking back up with a serene, warm smile,
as if to reassure her that, though they were different, he was right there with her.
"You aren't alone… together we will make it work our own way."
He said firmly and calmly.
She felt an invisible weight tightening in her chest.
She moved her hand away and confessed,
"I won't lie to you; it hurts to leave this behind.
I always believed I'd have a Catholic blessing at my wedding."
Ryu stayed silent for a few seconds.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he organized his thoughts;
his frown gave way to an expression of respect and a shadow of concern.
Exhaled slowly, letting the air go as if releasing an invisible weight.
He didn't share her faith, but he understood how important that lost blessing was to her.
He reflected:
"Even if I don't understand, her pain is real."
"You don't have to carry that alone. We will find our own way to do it."
He said, his voice steady.
Suddenly, she felt a warmth in her chest, remembering why she fell in love with him. She smiled and took his hand delicately.
"This is also a blessing: that you are here. Besides,
I would never force you to change something so personal."
Ryu looked down, surprised that she would sacrifice so much for their future together.
He squeezed her hand, his heart beating faster. In the silence, he understood that the true blessing was being together.
"Thank you for loving me like this,"
He whispered.
She nodded slowly,
a soft lump in her throat and a determined smile on her lips.
***
Zayra settled onto the sofa, gathering her courage.
"There's something else you need to know… a wedding in Santa Cruz isn't… quiet."
Ryu looked up.
He didn't smile, but his eyebrows tensed he was listening.
"This is an unknown world to me," he thought.
"It starts at different times for the guests."
She continued.
"And almost nobody leaves early.
The ceremony, the hall, the dancing… and then the party.
Hours that seem to never end."
He blinked.
"Hours?"
She smiled.
"It can last more than eight hours."
He didn't say anything, but his back straightened,
his body already preparing for the endurance test.
"There are things done in front of everyone."
She added.
"The vows and the first dance, for example."
Ryu's fingers closed slightly against his thigh.
He had never liked speaking important words in public.
***
"Then there's the first dance."
Zayra continued.
Ryu tilted his head.
"Dancing?"
"A waltz."
She clarified.
Silence fell immediately.
Ryu looked down, imagining the dance floor, the guests circling them, the phones held high.
His body rigid, out of rhythm.
"I don't know how."
He said finally, without drama.
He rubbed the back of his neck in slight discomfort.
Zayra laughed softly.
"I'm asking if you want to try.
It's a beautiful tradition in Bolivia and I'd love to do it with you, but only if you want to."
He thought about everything she was leaving behind for him.
He took a deep breath and said.
"Then, I'll do it."
She gave him a look full of tenderness.
"Perfect. We'll start private classes, just you and me."
Ryu sighed, feeling a spark of excitement... or perhaps just fear disguised as excitement.
"Will I be able to waltz without stepping on her toes?"
***
"And…"
Zayra hesitated.
"There's the tradition of the garter."
He looked at her.
"The… garter?"
Zayra smiled with a bit of embarrassment.
"Yes, that tradition where the groom reaches where he least expects...
but don't worry, I'll make it easy for you with a little trick."
The silence was heavy.
Ryu looked away, rubbing his thumb against his index finger a rare nervous gesture.
The mere idea threw him off.
It wasn't just modesty; it was too much exposure.
"Don't worry."
She added quickly.
"It won't be what it sounds like; I'll fix a trick that no one will notice."
He took a deep breath.
"Compared to what she is giving up, what is my discomfort?"
When he looked back at her, his eyes were serious but soft.
"It will be… a lot," he said finally.
He managed a slight smile. It wasn't a complaint, but a sincere realization.
She looked at her with affection.
"I know. That's why I'm telling you now: I don't want you to feel trapped or alone."
Ryu nodded slowly. In his mind, it was a whirlwind: music, voices, lights, and traditions that took his breath away.
Bolivia didn't just celebrate; it overflowed.
But she was there, watching over him,
protecting him, even though she was the one yielding the most.
"I'll do whatever I have to do. As long as it's with you." He said firmly.
Zayra felt a wave of relief and, for the first time in the conversation, smiled without fear.
***
75.2. Two Left Feet and a Right Heart
Ryu stood in the middle of the living room, nervous and curious.
He had never waltzed, let alone in front of someone special.
His feet felt like lead. One hand was tense on her waist,
the other holding hers, moving to a beat he struggled to understand.
She smiled at him with patience.
"Don't worry, I'll guide you step by step."
She spoke softly, reaching out her hand, and he took it firmly.
The music started and Ryu took his first clumsy steps.
Stumbled, feeling the floor creak as he searched for the rhythm.
"How do Bolivians dance this?"
He thought, unable to hide a trace of frustration.
Zayra laughed softly.
"Ryu, no one is born knowing this; everyone here practices with their partner to get it right."
Her warm hand and the way she looked at him calmed him.
Gradually, Ryu felt more secure and let himself be carried by the music, forgetting his stumbles.
"This is new."
Felt her soft hand and the slow rhythm.
He wanted to do it right for her.
Zayra noticed the change.
"You're doing better. Just feel the music, don't think about the steps."
Ryu nodded, starting to enjoy the moment.
"Slower?"
He asked with a shy smile.
"A little slower, to enjoy every second."
She replied, looking into his eyes with tenderness.
For a moment they just looked at each other, the silence filled with emotion.
Ryu's heart beat fast, nervous but happy, while she smiled encouragingly.
"It doesn't matter if I'm perfect; it matters that I try for her," he thought.
Zayra gently stroked his hand and whispered.
"I love seeing you try. That is enough."
He looked at her, determined to keep going for her sake,
while she hid a sadness she didn't want him to see.