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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.
Content Warning: The topic of adult entertainment is discussed or mentioned, in this chapter.
Chapter 64 – Bachelor Parties
64.1 A Poorly Wrapped Gesture.
Mariano's apartment smelled of grilled meat and stir-fried kimchi.
Laughter filled the air amidst glasses and Paceña beer.
Ryu was seated between Mariano and Min-Jun, feeling surprisingly comfortable.
It was his bachelor party, and he didn't find it as complicated as he had imagined.
His shoulders, usually tense, were relaxing almost without him noticing;
this simple detail surprised him more than any word spoken that night.
For a moment,
he forgot the strict rules governing his life in Seoul and allowed the light atmosphere to envelop him.
"Let's toast."
Mariano said, raising his glass.
"To the new member of the family."
"Cheers!"
The voices resonated.
A faint gleam appeared in Ryu's eyes,
reflecting a silent acceptance that he rarely showed.
Even Min-Jun, with his usual sarcasm, hadn't made any overly offensive jokes.
Everything was going well, or at least how Ryu liked it.
***
Until the door burst open.
"My friend!"
Antonio yelled, stumbling, a bottle of liquor in one hand and a huge smile on his face.
"Congratulations! I brought you a little gift because you're getting married!"
Behind him appeared a young woman in a short, sparkly dress, clearly ready to put on a show.
She carried a speaker in her hand and a professional smile.
There was an abrupt silence.
Ryu was surprised; he didn't know when this man had started considering him his friend.
In his country, this was unthinkable.
Ryu clenched his jaw and, with slightly trembling fingers, dropped his glass onto the table, without looking at Antonio.
A fleeting bewilderment that cultural shock he already expected overtook him,
yet it still made him uncomfortable.
Min-Jun stopped swirling his glass.
Bruno immediately stood up and walked toward Antonio and the dancer with firm steps.
Although what he said wasn't heard, a nod, a couple of dry words,
and a contained tone were enough for Antonio to raise his hands, still laughing as if he didn't understand the problem.
Ryu took his cell phone, choosing to stand up and walk out onto the terrace.
He felt this was too much to process.
A rapid beat in his chest reminded him how much he missed the predictability of his world in Seoul.
But this new family, with its imperfections, was now his reality.
He exhaled deeply, controlling his breathing to not show discomfort.
Rested a hand on the railing, trying to keep calm.
Watching what was happening inside out of the corner of his eye.
Antonio left with the same energy with which he entered,
bottle in hand and confused by the alcohol and the rejection of the dancer.
Bruno saw them out and returned to sit down.
Ryu blinked slowly, admiring Bruno's silent effectiveness,
a leadership that didn't need to raise its voice to command respect.
That scene reminded him that not everyone in this new circle understood his codes,
but some did respect the order he valued.
He let out a faint, barely audible sigh,
which indicated that the weight on his chest was lessening.
***
Mariano approached Ryu.
"Ryu, I'm sorry about this."
He said in a low tone.
"Nobody expected this to happen, you know?
Antonio… sometimes he tries to make good gestures, but he doesn't understand the cultural differences.
For him, this is normal, not bad intention."
Ryu looked down, remembering the conversation with Zayra.
"At these celebrations, surprises sometimes appear that no one planned."
He pressed his lips together and nodded slowly,
accepting this messy affection that, although uncomfortable, was sincere.
Hans Camila's German husband frowned and muttered softly.
"Sehr unangebracht" (Very inappropriate)
Ryu exhaled slowly, wondering what he would have done in Seoul.
A slight puff of air escaped his lips, relieving some of the tension.
But here, he thought, it's different.
It is a matter of mutual respect, something he had to learn to interpret in this new context.
He nodded with a slight smile.
"It's fine. It's no big deal."
"Thank you."
Mariano said, visibly relieved.
As the music started, Ryu briefly looked at his brother.
Min-Jun raised an eyebrow and whispered to him,
"Hyung... it wasn't that bad."
Ryu gave him a slight nudge.
"Behave."
In the distance, Hans commented in his heavily accented Spanish,
"I think this is complicated."
Bruno gave a nervous laugh.
Zayra's brothers just shook their heads in resignation.
Ryu sat down with the others again.
He made no comment, and the atmosphere slowly returned to its rhythm.
As he raised his glass and thought.
"Sometimes, things don't come in the right wrapper.
But they can still be gestures of affection."
He toasted, this time with a greater awareness of the culture around him...
And of how much he was still learning to navigate it.
His fingers firmly brushed the glass with renewed strength,
a small sign of silent commitment to this family he was slowly beginning to understand.
But deep down, Ryu knew this farewell was only the beginning of many challenges to come.
As the party music began to pick up pace, across town,
the sound of female laughter and clinking glasses announced the bachelorette party, Bolivian style.
64.2 A Very Thoughtful Sister-in-Law.
The soft music of a Latin-pop playlist resonated in Alejandra's apartment.
Dim lights created a warm atmosphere, and in the center of the table,
typical Bolivian dishes shared space with wine bottles and natural juices.
Zayra was surrounded by friends, including Rubí, always cheerful and joking, and her sister-at-heart,
Alejandra, who had prepared everything with affection.
Camila, her younger sister, had to leave as she had surgery to attend.
Amidst laughter and anecdotes, Zayra glanced toward a figure observing the scene with calm and elegance.
Seo-Yeon, Ryu's older sister.
Although she maintained a polite smile, her posture was more reserved.
A subtle, barely perceptible arch of her eyebrow betrayed her surprise at the informality of the gathering,
though she didn't let it reflect in her expression.
Zayra approached delicately.
"Seo-Yeon… can we talk for a moment?"
Asked, with a soft smile.
Seo-Yeon nodded elegantly, her steps firm and measured,
as if every movement were part of a learned ritual.
They walked to the small balcony adorned with warm lights.
Outside, the Bolivian night offered a starry sky and a gentle silence.
Zayra was thinking about how to tell her sister-in-law about the special show without making her uncomfortable.
So she took a deep breath and, without further ado, said,
"I want to tell you something…."
She paused, unsure how her sister-in-law would react,
but she always believed it was better to face an uncomfortable truth than to be taken by surprise.
She inhaled deeply, smiled sheepishly, and spoke frankly.
"I know bachelorette parties are different where you come from,
and I'm not a fan of some customs here either."
She looked away and commented.
"After dinner, they will probably bring in a special show,
like a dance or a surprise presentation for the bride."
Seo-Yeon blinked once; a slight tremor in her pulse momentarily betrayed the calm she projected,
as if the news had stirred something within her.
Her fingers grazed the edge of the railing as if seeking support.
It wasn't a pleasant surprise, but she didn't react with scandal.
She maintained her composure.
Zayra noticed the tension in her sister-in-law, her jaw clenched.
In her mind, she remembered a saying:
"I prefer a moment of blushing (embarrassment) than several yellow (wary) moments."
For her part, her sister-in-law was reflecting.
Why her brother felt the urgency for her to stay at Zayra's bachelorette party until the end.
A slight tightening of the lips indicated that, although she didn't fully understand,
she accepted the importance of her presence for Ryu.
"It's not something I enjoy…."
Zayra continued, looking at her with a smile that was more embarrassed than happy.
She sighed and, now calmer, explained.
"Here, they do it as a gift with no ill intent, a joke to test if you are still firm on getting married,
even if it sounds ridiculous.
I don't want you to feel uncomfortable;
if you prefer, you can leave after dinner without being judged."
Seo-Yeon inhaled deeply, gathering strength not to let the surprise turn into judgment,
firmly maintaining the composure her education had imposed on her.
Zayra sighed and added.
"If you stay, I'll do everything so you don't feel invaded;
I will even talk to him so he doesn't approach you."
Seo-Yeon lowered her gaze for a moment,
silently acknowledging Zayra's effort to include her in this different world,
then looked up with a warmer expression.
"Thank you… Zayra."
She said in a low but firm voice.
She lowered her gaze for a moment, took a deep breath,
and looked up with a small but genuine smile that illuminated her usually controlled face.
"I truly appreciate your honesty.
And telling me beforehand… It makes me feel cared for."
Zayra smiled, relieved.
It was important to her that Seo-Yeon knew that, even though their worlds were different,
the human connection could be above the differences.
"I want you to feel welcome here, like my sister.
And not out of courtesy, but truly."
Seo-Yeon nodded.
Then, with a slight smile, she picked up her glass and toasted with Zayra under the soft light of the balcony.
"Then… I'll stay a little longer.
For you."
She said softly.
She raised her glass elegantly, and a new gleam of acceptance shone in her eyes,
a silent sign that she was willing to build that bridge between their two very different worlds.
Zayra said nothing, just returned the smile.
That night, the mutual respect between two women from different worlds,
had sealed something much stronger than simple courtesy.
The clock was ticking, and with it, a decisive moment was approaching,
capable of transforming that farewell forever.