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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 47 – A Lesson Learned and an Unexpected Accomplice
47.1. What isn't said also teaches.
Ryu thought that, finally, things were beginning to align.
There was a calmness in his chest; he observed the landscape, so vast and green, that no longer felt foreign to him.
Until her cell phone rang, and she answered.
She listened in silence, and her expression hardened, showing genuine concern.
"Is everything okay?"
Ryu asked, putting his fork down on the plate.
"Ryu" she said firmly.
"I need to go. It's an emergency."
He looked at her, noticing the seriousness of the situation and asked.
"What happened?"
"A friend… her husband beat her.
She's scared, she wants to report it and she has no one.
She needs me."
Ryu looked at her with a mix of surprise and worry.
"He beat her? Is she okay?"
She was highly focused, as if analyzing everything she needed to do.
She looked at Ryu and said.
"For now, yes, but it's urgent.
If I don't act fast, it could be fatal."
He nodded, more serious now.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
Zayra shook her head, a slight smile touching her lips.
"Thank you, but no.
It's a delicate matter. She wouldn't feel comfortable."
Ryu lowered his gaze, processing the situation.
She squeezed his hand for a second before leaving.
Ryu remained seated, thinking about Zayra's strength and determination.
As he tried to organize his thoughts about her friend's situation, an idea began to form in his mind.
"How can I show Zayra that my whole heart is with her?"
***
The hotel seemed quieter than usual.
Ryu found himself walking aimlessly through the garden and sat down on a bench near the pool.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange, when he noticed movement in the event hall.
From outside, he saw hotel staff laying down carpets of red petals.
They were setting up tall candles that were beginning to be lit, candelabras glowing with soft light,
and a long table adorned with fine glassware and white flowers.
The scene looked straight out of a romantic drama, yet it felt intimate and real.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" a voice said beside him.
It was an older staff member, the same woman who had told him where Zayra was the other day.
She stopped next to him, looking toward the hall.
"What is all this?" He asked.
"A marriage proposal."
Ryu barely frowned.
"A proposal… here?"
She smiled.
"Of course. Sometimes it's simple, sometimes it's significant.
The basics are flowers, candles, a nice dinner.
It's not the luxury, it's the intention."
He watched the scene and finally asked.
"What if it's not done?"
She looked him in the eyes as if warning him about something very important.
"The bride gets upset; she feels she's not important to him.
A young, strong Bolivian woman doesn't marry out of necessity.
She marries for love. She wants to see that her heart is worth giving."
At that moment, the couple entered.
She wore a light dress, her hair down.
He wore a dark jacket.
They walked hand-in-hand to the center of the room, in front of the decorated table.
Then, he gently knelt on one knee.
He took out a small case, opened it, and delicately held her left hand.
She brought her other hand to her face, deeply moved, and nodded.
He smiled, took the ring from the case and carefully placed it on the ring finger of her left hand.
As if delivering his future to her.
The scene had a warmth that crossed the glass.
He blinked a couple of times and slightly lowered his gaze,
as if he didn't know how to react to something so public and emotional.
"Oh, how lovely…" The woman beside him whispered, a hand on her chest.
Ryu continued to watch, motionless.
These kinds of scenes were common on television, but seeing it live felt curious.
***
He questioned himself.
"Do I have to do the same for Zayra?"
He tensed slightly.
For him, the custom was very different.
Here, everything was about display and symbolism.
He had to find a middle ground that respected Zayra and his own roots.
He cleared his throat and timidly asked the woman.
"Is it necessary for the man… to kneel?"
She smiled sweetly, as if speaking to a curious grandchild.
"Yes, it's a custom deeply rooted since the colonial era.
Today, it's done out of respect, affection, and to honor the partner."
The woman continued to look at the couple and then added.
"Besides, if the man doesn't do it, the woman might feel offended,
thinking he doesn't value her enough to honor the commitment."
Ryu nodded, saying nothing more.
Suddenly, he felt a pressure.
Not to marry… but to do it right.
He lowered his gaze, biting his lower lip for a moment.
"It's not enough to say, 'We're getting married.' I must show her my whole heart."
As the couple disappeared behind the doors and the workers began to close the hall, Ryu remained still.
Only then did he look down and murmur something to himself, barely audible.
"I need help."
And for the first time since he arrived in Bolivia, he didn't know where to start.
47.2 – Good things cook slowly.
Night descended upon the hotel like the shadow of a blooming Toborochi tree.
Silent, warm, and laden with promises.
The dim lights outlined the cobbled path between the cabins,
while the scent of wild jasmine enveloped the air with an almost nostalgic sweetness.
Ryu walked aimlessly, as if searching for something he didn't know how to begin building.
His hands were in his pockets, and his gaze was fixed on the ground.
Zayra hadn't returned. She had sent him a message:
We filed the report, but she has no one else.
Her mom arrives tomorrow, until then, I can't leave her alone.
Kisses.>
***
Ryu wasn't troubled by the situation.
He was troubled by the invisible Bolivian rhythm.
In this country, things happened with more heart than logic.
He sat down on the lobby sofa, letting his gaze sweep the floor as he breathed deeply.
Until a familiar voice broke the silence.
"And Zayra?"
It was Camila.
Her loose hair fell over her shoulders,
and her expression radiated the sincere energy of someone who genuinely cares.
"She's not here…"
Ryu replied.
"She went to help a friend. I don't have many details."
Camila pursed her lips, understanding.
"Are you okay?"
He hesitated, lowering his gaze, he wasn't sure if he should consult her about his doubts.
He had seen his sister-in-law on several occasions,
always smiling and radiating the aura of a person who works in the health field.
***
Without knowing why, he decided to trust her.
He looked her in the eyes and said.
"It's nothing serious, I'm just figuring out how to handle an important situation."
Camila sat next to him, with that special delicacy of people who know how to truly listen.
"What is it, Ryu?"
He kept silent for a few seconds.
His fingers fiddled with the edge of his watch, avoiding her gaze.
And finally, he added in a low, firm voice.
"I've decided I'm going to propose to Zayra."
A pause slipped between them, a deep and continuous breath.
"I already spoke to my parents… But I don't know how to do it.
I don't want the proposal to seem like a simple agreement."
She was silent for a moment.
And then a smile broke through her lips, though her eyes shone more than usual.
"So… you're going to marry my sister?"
she whispered, her voice slightly choked with contained emotion.
"Ryu… you don't know how happy that makes me."
He blinked, surprised by her genuine reaction.
But then he remembered the proposal he had witnessed, and his surprise turned to worry.
Ryu tensed his shoulders and looked away, searching for words,
as if confessing something and finally said.
"I saw a proposal today.
With candles, flowers, petals, candelabras… does it have to be like that?"
Camila sketched a confident smile and looked at him with complicity, raising a finger as a sign of secrecy.
Ryu immediately understood that beyond candles and petals, what mattered was the sincere gesture.
He looked at her, resigned.
She tried not to laugh at his resignation.
She wondered if her husband Hans had felt that way when they got married.
So, with the determination that characterizes her, she said.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
I know what flowers she likes, what music moves her, and how her eyes light up when she's surprised.
We'll make it unforgettable."
Ryu looked at her surprised and said.
"Would you really do that?"
He felt a slight relief in his shoulders and allowed a fleeting smile to cross his face.
For the first time, the idea of the proposal no longer seemed so overwhelming.
She looked at him, smiling, and said.
"Of course. I'm doing it for her and for you, because I know you love her and you need to do it right.
And one more thing…"
Camila raised a finger and winked at Ryu, signaling that he had to keep the secret.
He nodded, understanding without the need for words. But he couldn't help but question her.
"What if she gets sad while waiting?"
Camila smiled mischievously, but also with a touch of the wisdom only sisters have.
"Let her wait. Good things cook slowly, right?"
He let out a laugh the first one in the day.
"Thank you, Camila."
She stood up, smoothing her pants with a pat.
"You're not alone anymore, Ryu.
I'm your accomplice…. For me, seeing her happy will be the best gift you can give me."
And with a final smile, she walked away down the hallway that led to her cabin.
Ryu let out a soft sigh, relaxing the tension in his shoulders.
With Camila as his guide, at least he wouldn't have to face everything alone.