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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 44 The Spicy Challenge.
44.1 An Unexpected Apology
The silence in the vehicle was heavy.
Ryu adjusted the rear-view mirror for no reason, while Zayra bit her lip hard.
The tension was so evident that even the hum of the air conditioning seemed loud.
Zayra stared out the window, clenching her hands in her lap.
Finally, she turned to Ryu and, in a thin voice, said.
"I'm sorry... for putting you through that bad time.
It was me who insisted on coming."
Ryu shifted his gaze to the steering wheel.
His fingers drummed barely on the wheel,
a gesture almost imperceptible in him until they finally stopped.
***
The following words ran through his head.
"I'm not used to hearing apologies for these kinds of things...
Especially not from someone like her."
His jaw remained tense, but seeing the sincerity in her eyes, he sighed and softened his expression.
"I accept your apology.
I don't care what happened, the important thing is that you're safe."
Ryu felt a strange warmth in his chest. It wasn't anger, or annoyance... it was something he couldn't identify.
He questioned himself internally.
"Since when does the way she looks at me affect me so much?"
A slight blush crossed Zayra's face.
"Wow, I thought he'd be really mad at me,
but it turns out he was more worried about my safety."
She nodded, relaxing her shoulders a little.
She delicately took his hand and said:
"Thank you for accompanying me and supporting me with this.
I truly appreciate it."
Ryu turned his head slightly to look at her.
A slow, more than normal, blink gave him away, as if he were over-processing those simple words.
And he questioned himself:
"Thank me... for being by her side?
That should be obvious.
But it feels different coming from her."
***
Ryu didn't knew, Zayra would have expected a different reaction from him.
However, seeing how he was taking things made her feel a way she had never felt in her life.
His gaze stayed on the road, and he whispered.
" Zayra, I will always be there for you."
Zayra was moved.
It was the first time she was with someone who, despite her wrong decisions, didn't judge her.
She looked toward the window and smiled.
Without warning, a calmness flooded the atmosphere.
There was no need for more words, just the company they kept for each other.
44.2 Don't Underestimate the Little Worms.
Minutes later, the vehicle stopped in front of a local restaurant.
The place was simple, with polished wooden tables and colorful tablecloths.
Glass containers filled with small chilies in green, yellow, and red tones shone in the display cases.
Zayra smiled faintly.
"I'm going to the restroom.
Will you wait for me?"
"Mm."
Ryu nodded, maintaining his usual seriousness.
While waiting, his eyes fixed on the chili jars.
The small, colorful little chilies looked harmless, even appealing, with their tempting shine.
A waitress, with a warm voice, noticed his curiosity.
"Young man, those are Aji gusanito.
They're very spicy.
If you want to try them, I recommend small portions."
Ryu raised an eyebrow.
"Spicy?"
"Oh, too spicy!"
She laughed, putting a hand to her cheek.
"Here we say only the brave ones try them."
***
Ryu observed them, analyzing the glass jar in his mind.
"They look like disguised candies... they can't be that bad, can they?"
He wondered how something so small could be considered very spicy.
As he believed the spiciest chilies were found in his country.
At that moment, two young men at a nearby table were laughing among themselves.
One, with a reddened face, was sweating and fanning his mouth.
The other poked fun at him teasingly.
"Oh, you're such a wuss! That's why even your wife doesn't love you, ha, ha, ha."
The other, between coughs and tears, pounded the table.
***
Ryu looked at them, thoughtful.
"Here, eating this makes you brave? What would Zayra think if she saw me eat it?"
His pride didn't allow him to think about it too much.
He calmly reached out, as if it were trivial, and chose a yellow chili.
He thought.
"Yellow... surely it's not that spicy."
He bit it with elegance, like someone sampling a fine wine.
A second later, his world burned.
He felt like his soul was trying to escape through his throat.
He coughed slightly, disguising it with an elegant clearing of his throat.
But he ended up pounding his chest as if warding off an invisible fire.
Ryu's serene expression silently cracked.
His brow arched slightly upon biting, as if trying to maintain composure even in the unknown.
His internal monologue repeated.
"It's just a fruit... It can't defeat me."
While he continued chewing it.
His lips trembled, his eyes opened a little wider than normal, and a drop of sweat rolled down his temple.
In his mind.
"W-what is this? Pure fire!"
He held his breath and feigned normality.
His knuckles were marked against the table as he discreetly gripped the edge.
His body felt very hot, and his mind kept repeating.
"This is nothing...
I've survived six-hour shareholder meetings without moving a muscle.
Surviving a simple fruit, right?"
His throat was burning, his heart was racing, and in his mind a sudden worry appeared.
"I hope Zayra doesn't come out... doesn't see me like this."
He leaned back, took a glass of water, but it didn't help.
His face was so flushed that he looked like he'd run a marathon.
Just then, the waitress appeared with a steaming plate of white rice.
"Eat this, young man, it will help you."
He looked at her with glassy eyes, unable to maintain composure.
"How humiliating... but necessary.
Better she sees me red than defeated."
He took a large spoonful, and the relief was immediate.
The fire in his throat slowly extinguished, although his cheeks were still burning.
Ryu exhaled slowly, trying to regain his dignity.
His mind gave him orders.
"Control your face. Breathe.
Don't let Zayra suspect anything."
The restroom door opened.
Zayra returned, smiling softly, and seeing him calm at the table and asked
"Ryu, is everything okay?"
Ryu looked at her with the most serene expression possible,
although a drop of sweat was still tracing down his neck.
In his mind, he told himself.
"Maintain control. Always in front of her."
He barely shifted his gaze toward the window,
recovering his straight posture as if nothing had happened and said.
"Perfectly."
She observed him for a few seconds, with slight suspicion, but chose not to say anything.
Meanwhile, Ryu thought with a mixture of pride and embarrassment.
"If I survived this... I'll survive Bolivia."