The resort room settled into quiet much earlier than expected.
Hauena had gone to bed first, curled beneath the soft white sheets, exhaustion from travel pulling her into sleep without protest. Tomorrow demanded an early start. Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak waited for them, and she had insisted they greet it properly, with sleepy eyes and shared wonder.
Suho remained awake.
She had told him to sleep early. Had even glared at him when he mentioned work, lips pursed, eyes sharp with that familiar mix of care and complaint. He had softened it with a smile, told her it was just one email. Important. She had sighed, understanding winning over annoyance. She knew his life. She knew responsibilities followed him like a shadow. Without arguing further, she turned toward the bed.
The glow of his laptop painted faint shadows across the room as he reread the email he had drafted for the lawyer. Every sentence felt heavier the second time. He had already spoken over the phone earlier, but this email made everything… real. Finally, in a way, words spoken could still be avoided.
Now, alone with the screen, he read the mail once more.
Then he inhaled deeply and pressed send.
The soft whoosh of the email leaving felt louder than it should have in the silence. He stared at the glowing screen afterward, waiting for clarity to appear, for doubt to dissolve.
Nothing came, only confusion. Only weight.
Slowly, he turned his chair and looked at her.
She was sleeping peacefully, hair spread over the pillow, lips slightly parted, her face calm and untroubled. Happy. Safe. Like nothing in the world could reach her right now.
His chest tightened. His heart raced, eyes burning as tears threatened. He blinked hard, swallowing it down, refusing to let them fall.
He closed the laptop gently and stood up, taking careful steps toward the bed. She looked beautiful. Glowing even in sleep. And all he could think was how badly he didn't want to take this away from her.
But the choices placed before him were never the ones he wished for. He had to choose one path. And he knew choosing one would wound another. Yet leaving either would tear him apart, too.
The thoughts tightened, spiraled, pressed at his chest. He closed his eyes, swallowing the anxiety down, refusing to let it rise loud enough to wake her.
Moving carefully, he climbed onto the bed, careful not to disturb her, hovering over her frame. Her face was peaceful, lashes resting softly against her cheeks, breath slow and even. A small, helpless smile tugged at his lips.
He leaned down and pressed a feather-soft peck to her forehead.
"I'll make these five days the most memorable for you," he whispered, voice barely there.
She stirred.
His heartbeat stalled for a breath.
Her eyes fluttered open just a little, squinting in the dim light. He froze, then offered her a small smile, gentle and affectionate, the kind that belonged only to her.
"You done working?" she mumbled, half asleep.
"Hmm," he hummed softly.
Without another word, she reached for him, fingers curling into his shirt, tugging him closer. "Then come," she murmured, wrapping her arms around him.
He let himself be pulled in.
Settling against her, he leaned into her embrace, fitting there as if it was where he belonged. Her warmth seeped into him, her familiar scent filling his lungs. He closed his eyes, breathing her in, letting the steady rhythm of her body anchor him.
Slowly, his nerves loosened. The noise in his head dimmed. The weight of choices faded into the background.
For now, there was only this. Her warmth. Her arms. The present moment. And wrapped in that quiet, he finally drifted into sleep.
Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak
"Woah… good morning…"
Hauen's voice rang out, bright and unfiltered, as the sun slowly climbed up from the edge of the world, spilling gold across the sky.
They stood at Seongsan Ilchulbong, wrapped in the early morning chill and warmth all at once. The peak was alive. Youngsters laughing, college students whispering secrets, couples leaning into each other, and elders standing quietly with hands clasped. Everyone existed in their own small universe, untouched by the others.
And so did Hauen.
She stretched her arms wide, breathing in the moment, eyes shining as if the sunrise had been waiting just for her. She wasn't aware of the crowd, didn't care about who was watching. She was simply there, living.
Suho smiled.
He stepped closer, standing just behind her, his hands resting gently around her, holding her as the morning light unfolded before them. He had watched this sunrise many times before. From this very spot. Yet today felt different.
This time, the world felt quieter. His heart felt lighter. The constant noise in his mind softened, replaced by a rare, unfamiliar peace. For this brief moment, everything eased. Everything made sense.
The golden rays brushed against her face, casting a soft, almost divine glow. Her hair danced lightly with the breeze, sunlight threading through it like a blessing. He found himself watching her instead of the sun.
She lifted her camera, clicking pictures of the vast sky, the glowing horizon, sealing the moment into memory.
Then suddenly, she turned the camera toward them.
"Smile, Teddy."
His lips curved instantly, effortlessly. She chuckled and captured the frame. An aesthetic little universe of just them.
"Whoa… this came really well," she said, inspecting the screen.
"One more," she added.
This time, Suho wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, resting his chin on her shoulder. She laughed softly and clicked again.
Then he kissed her cheek.
Click.
They both chuckled, leaning closer to the screen as they scrolled through the photos, laughing at crooked angles, wind-tousled hair, and the way the sunlight seemed determined to make everything look magical.
Suddenly, Hauen pushed her lips forward, tilting her face just a little, eyes sparkling. A very clear request.
Suho laughed under his breath. "Yaa… not this," he said, glancing around. "There are so many elders here. They won't like it. We're in public…"
Her face fell instantly into dramatic heartbreak.
He laughed again. "Mihane… but—"
"You said you'll fulfill my fantasies," she cut in smoothly, tugging at the invisible thread he had handed her earlier.
"I will," he smiled, helpless. "But not here. I'll give you a thousand in private. Let's take this picture in private."
She glared. "In private, we don't get this sunrise."
He sighed, amused. "Hauena…"
"I want it here. Not in private," she declared.
When he didn't immediately give in,
"Fine. Forget it. I don't want it," she said, pulling his arms away, turning dramatically sulky as she walked off to click pictures of the view and her own selfies.
He laughed softly, surrender written all over him.
"I really married trouble," he muttered under his breath.
He followed her, tugging her back gently into his arms. "Okay. Let's do it. But click immediately, okay?"
To be continued...