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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 65 – Shh.. Don't Say Anything Improper.
65.1 How Far Respect Goes.
Zayra watched out of the corner of her eye as Ruby stealthily slipped toward the door.
That behavior was not unfamiliar to her.
She stood up silently and followed her.
When she reached the hallway, it was already too late.
Ruby, euphoric and slightly tipsy, had just opened the apartment door.
"Ta-da!"
She exclaimed, hugging the newcomer.
"I brought you a friend, my gift for your last night as a single woman!"
Zayra blinked.
The man was tall, handsome, dressed in an open jacket, tight jeans, and an uninhibited smile.
He was carrying a bottle of beer in one hand, clearly having been drinking already.
Zayra held back a sigh, took a step, pulled out a bill, and discreetly extended it to him,
saying in a low but firm voice,
"Please, avoid approaching the foreigner."
The young man watched her for an instant; his smile remained, but his gaze turned serious.
He took the bill in silence.
"Alright, relax."
He replied with a slight shrug, and entered the apartment.
Zayra took a deep breath and followed him.
She sighed and thought,
"I just hope everything is fine."
She didn't notice that several girls,
including Seo-Yeon, were watching her from the doorway with silent attention.
"Did she pay him to protect me?"
A slight tremor tensed her jaw before she recovered her impeccable posture.
"No one had ever done that for me."
She felt a pang of something new.
Gratitude? Discomfort? She couldn't name it.
***
The music volume increased.
Ruby returned to the living room, dragging a chair to the center.
"The fun has arrived!"
She shouted.
"And the star of the night is Zayra!"
"No, thanks."
Zayra said immediately, raising her hands, trying to back away.
"Oh, come on! Don't be boring!"
Ruby insisted, already quite drunk.
Before Zayra could react, Ruby gently led her to a chair.
The dancer positioned himself in front of her, starting a sensual and perfectly rehearsed dance,
while Zayra, uncomfortable, could barely maintain eye contact.
Laughter erupted amid applause, some girls animated, others amused.
The lights spun on the walls, the music vibrated on the floor, and the air smelled of sweet alcohol and cheap perfume.
But Zayra didn't enjoy a single moment; her smile was an act, tense and forced.
After a few minutes, she quietly got up, discreetly escaping from the oppressive atmosphere.
"Excuse me."
She said, stepping aside.
***
The dancer continued with his show, oblivious to everything.
But then, without warning, he made a move that cut through the air.
He approached Seo-Yeon, who was sitting silently in a corner,
lips pressed tight, hands clasped in a tense lap.
Seo-Yeon's fingers squeezed hard, turning white, as she barely averted her gaze,
as if the space around her was shrinking, almost suffocating her.
Zayra saw it instantly. In a blink, she stood firmly between them.
Her hand remained steady, still, as if marking an invisible boundary.
"I paid you not to approach her."
She told him, with the same firmness and composure she had shown earlier.
Seo-Yeon was surprised by the speed with which Zayra reacted.
Her back, rigid a second ago, softened slightly.
The dancer raised his hands, not losing his smile.
He took a step back, shrugging.
Zayra turned on her heels, approached Seo-Yeon with a gentle expression, and asked,
"Will you come with me to the terrace for a bit?"
Seo-Yeon nodded. Both left in silence.
She inhaled deeply; the breeze cooled her cheeks as she thought.
"Breathe... you are the eldest."
***
On the terrace, the night breeze caressed their faces.
The noise of the party was left behind like a distant echo.
The warm lights of the condo barely reached the terrace,
leaving a soft silence that seemed to envelop them.
Zayra rested her elbows on the railing, looking out at the city.
"I apologize for all this."
The wind moved a lock of her hair,
and the city shone beneath them like a sea of lights.
Seo-Yeon settled beside her. She took a few seconds,
searching for measured words, as she had been taught at home.
Suddenly, she spoke.
"It doesn't bother me… I was surprised by what you did."
She finally said.
Zayra smiled sideways.
"The least I could do.
I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable.
These things aren't fun for everyone."
Seo-Yeon looked down.
A slight knot tightened her throat, forcing her to look away from that unexpected warmth.
She was not used to someone looking out for her like this, without self-interest or protocol.
She said nothing more, but for the first time, a small, relaxed smile appeared on her face.
It was an awkward, unpracticed smile.
She felt it was foreign, but… pleasant.
"This... doesn't happen with anyone else."
And on that terrace, away from the spotlights and the commotion,
something that cannot be forced was born between them, sincere respect.
65.2 I Love You
The clock in the eco-resort lobby showed 2:11 a.m.
Ryu was standing, leaning slightly against a carved wooden column.
His serious face, with a frown, contrasted with the soft lighting of the place.
He couldn't stop looking at his phone.
"Fourteen calls, four messages... and not a single answer.
Where are you, Zayra?"
He took a deep breath, crossed his arms, and looked toward the door.
His jaw was tense.
He ran his thumb across the edge of the phone, a restless gesture that he himself didn't recognize as anxiety.
Although he didn't usually show his emotions, worry was eating him up inside.
His foot tapped gently on the floor, marking a short, tense rhythm.
The dry echo marked the seconds, too slow for his patience.
"What if something happened to her?
What if someone took advantage?
What if... she forgot about me that easily?"
He tried to calm himself,
but a pang of disappointment crossed his chest.
It was absurd, but insistent.
***
At that moment, the door opened with a gentle whoosh of the night breeze.
Two figures appeared, slightly unsteady.
Zayra's heels clicked against the marble, and the sound echoed in the silent lobby.
That sound ran down his spine like an alarm.
Ryu barely frowned when he saw his sister swaying, disappointment flashing across his face.
Seo-Yeon and Zayra, who was holding a water bottle.
Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed.
Her sister pressed her lips into a thin line, trying to maintain dignity even with the unstable steps.
"Shhh, walk straight, don't do anything improper."
Murmured Seo-Yeon, who had also been drinking, though with more control.
Ryu straightened instantly.
Zayra looked up... she saw him.
He took a half-step back, surprised by the sudden spark in her eyes.
For an instant, her expression went blank.
But then, her eyes lit up, her lips curved into a spontaneous smile, and she let out an uninhibited giggle.
"My love!"
She exclaimed, her voice sweet and full of affection.
She ran toward him without hesitation, letting the water bottle fall to the floor.
Ryu felt a dull thud in his chest upon seeing her smile at him like that, so radiant despite the alcohol.
She latched onto his arm tightly, pulled him toward her,
and hugged him around the waist, resting her cheek on his chest.
The closeness was so sudden that he didn't have time to react.
He felt her warmth penetrate his shirt as if it were skin.
His hand rose halfway, as if wanting to stop her,
but remained suspended in the air, not knowing where to rest.
Zayra closed her eyes and, in a soft, low voice, as if the world around them didn't exist,
she whispered something that struck him right in the chest.
"I love you.
I love you very much."
Ryu felt his breath catch.
He didn't know whether to hug her, push her away, or fall to his knees.
He only knew that, in that second, his life changed.
And as she clung to him, unsteady and sincere.