.jpg)
Jiyu stood atop a steep hill and looked down. Against the backdrop of the deep blue sea, she could see the white yachts lined up densely at the pier and the apricot-colored houses with terracotta roofs nestled along the sheer ridges of the mountains.
But none of that caught her eye. The sound of her own heartbeat was so loud that she couldn't even hear the surrounding noise.
The thought of spending two days alone with Hunter made her swallow hard and lose her breath whenever their shoulders brushed or he gave her a casual glance.
Every time it happened, she had to fight with all her might to keep from blushing. She was terrified that he might realize what she was thinking.
‘If Hunter finds out...’
Her heart would surely shatter, like waves crashing against the cliffs of Cap d'Ail.
So she must never, ever let him find out that she loved him.
During the time she hadn't seen Hunter, she spent every night unable to sleep, replaying the events of that day over and over in her head. Whenever she recalled his reaction, she wondered if her demand for money and her offer to become his jinx in exchange had wounded him.
But the milk had already been spilled.
Even if she suddenly told him she loved him now, she didn't think Hunter would believe her. She would have felt the same if she were in his position.
And even if he did believe her, nothing would change.
In the literary works Jiyu had read, maids who loved the master's son or commoners who loved nobles ended up with unwanted pregnancies, were abandoned, and eventually met tragic ends in places like red-light districts. The children they bore could not escape a life at the bottom.
Of course, she lived in a different era than when those stories were written. However, she had experienced enough tragedy over the past two years. She no longer wanted to live a life that could be shaken to its roots by someone else.
Hunter was still the ‘master's son,’ and she was his jinx, his sister's tutor, and a debtor who owed him money.
Living on the generosity of the Hamilton family, she couldn't feel dignified in this unilaterally skewed relationship. Jiyu was not so shameless or unrealistic as to covet Hunter's love on top of everything else.
If only she could cut out her feelings like a surgical procedure.
Her heart had seeped in slowly over a long time, like a gentle drizzle. It couldn't possibly be easy to sever it all at once.
‘Maybe... it's okay to just like him in secret.’
Time cannot be turned back, but it flows constantly.
‘If I wait, a day will come when this love fades.’
Jiyu let out a resigned sigh. Until that day came, the minimum safeguard she could use to protect herself was to keep these feelings as her own secret.
Only by bearing the burden of a love that was bound to be arduous and a result that was bound to be painful alone could she preserve at least her friendship with Hunter when this love finally ended. It was also the only way to avoid betraying Lauren's generous kindness.
No matter how much she thought about it, that was the right decision for everyone.
‘So be mature, Jiyu Parker. Being an adult means taking responsibility for your own emotions.’
Having steadied her heart, Jiyu sternly reprimanded the part of her that cried out in pain. Then, with a slightly sorrowful smile, she followed in the direction Hunter was leading.
Monte Carlo, with its historic five-star hotels famous for casinos and streets lined with expensive luxury boutiques, was a city that Ae-jeong would likely have enjoyed more than Jiyu.
Since she had little interest in casinos or shopping, Hunter guided her primarily to historic landmarks. It was a simple system: she would point out a place she wanted to visit from the guidebook, and he would take her there.
Because they had been dating in secret until now, they had never wandered around crowded places together in broad daylight. Perhaps that was why it felt awkwardly like a real date.
Since she had visited often since childhood, she knew well where everything was, but Hunter didn't seem particularly interested in the history of Monaco or the behind-the-scenes stories of the landmarks.
Wanting to do something, Jiyu would tell him the summaries she had read in the guidebook whenever they arrived at a landmark. Feeling as though she was just rambling to herself without a response, she would suddenly look up, only to find Hunter staring intently at her. When she tilted her head as if asking what was wrong, he would eventually respond with a detached, "Hmm," completely out of context.
After they had visited almost all the landmarks in Monte Carlo that could be seen on foot, Hunter suddenly spoke.
"I'm hungry. Let's eat."
"Oh, should we? Wait, in the guidebook—"
"Follow me."
Hunter covered Jiyu's hand as she opened the book and set off without telling her where they were going.
The place he took her for an early dinner was a yacht restaurant anchored on the sea.
The owner standing behind the counter recognized Hunter. Seeing as he asked Hunter to give his regards to his parents, it seemed to be a place the Hamiltons visited often.
Stepping onto the deck, Jiyu looked around in admiration. A few tables covered in white tablecloths were scattered about, and cheerful jazz music flowed from somewhere. The open sea view beyond the deck was magnificent.
To have dinner alone with him in such a romantic restaurant. It really felt like a date.
For the first time in a long while, Hunter ordered normal food instead of an athlete's diet and ate to his heart's content, just as he had when he was younger. Afterward, they put their heads together to discuss where to go next and looked through the photos they had taken.
A lazy smile lingered on his lips more often than usual. Jiyu also relaxed a bit.
She could clearly feel that this trip was a true vacation for Hunter as well. Realizing that they were spending a time that was ordinary yet special made every moment feel bittersweet, like the dark chocolate mousse served for dessert.
By the time dinner was ending, the sky grew dark even though it wasn't yet time for sunset. Perhaps because it was the coast, the weather was fickle. Only a couple of hours ago, the sunlight had been so strong it made her head hot, but now blue-gray rain clouds covered the sky.
While heading back up the hill, Jiyu suddenly looked back and let out an exclamation.
"Wow..."
The gas-lamp style streetlights all lit up at once. The lights leaking from the residences lined along the sheer ridge sparkled like the bulbs on a Christmas tree. It was as beautiful as a scene from a tourist postcard.
She thought her mother would love it if she took a photo and sent it to her.
"Um, Hunter...?"
Hunter, who was walking beside her, silently tilted his head toward her—so that she wouldn't have to raise her voice, as she wasn't particularly loud.
Her heart pounded uncontrollably. She became acutely aware of these small habits of his that she hadn't noticed before.
She saw herself mirrored in Sienna, who used to analyze and assign meaning to every casual action Hunter made in the Aster School cafeteria.
Fearing her voice would tremble, she bit her lip and swallowed hard, and then he reached out his hand.
"Give it to me. I'll take it for you."
Startled, she blinked and looked up at him.
"H-how did you know?"
Hunter gave a short laugh and tapped her forehead with his index finger.
"It's written all over your face."
Jiyu covered her forehead with her palm and looked up at him with suspicious eyes. A sense of anxiety washed over her. Had she been found out already?
Hunter narrowed his eyes and chuckled.
"Why that expression? Did you commit a crime against me?"
"N-no! What crime would I...!"
Jiyu couldn't look directly into those blue eyes that seemed to pierce through her thoughts and cast her gaze downward. If only she were wearing a hat, she could have hidden her flushed face.
A low laugh seemed to echo above her head, and then he muttered.
"Ha, damn. I can't take it anymore."
Hunter grabbed Jiyu's chin and lifted it. Startled, she widened her eyes and gasped, and then he tilted his head and pressed his lips against hers. The guidebook fell from her hand and tumbled across the ground.
Pressing his lips softly, Hunter pushed through her parted lips. Jiyu closed her eyes tight. With her chin held, she couldn't even move and leaned her head back.
It was a slow, ticklish kiss.
She was swept away as helplessly as she had been during their first kiss in the photo booth at the Spring Fling. Her wandering hands gripped the hem of her dress. The strength left her knees, and her breath grew short.
When Hunter slowly pulled his lips away, a trembling sigh escaped from her lips, her eyes still closed.
Whether the kiss had been long or just a moment—she couldn't even tell.
Staring at Jiyu with deep, sunken eyes, Hunter bent down to pick up the guidebook. Then, he took the phone out of her bag pocket.
"Why... why, suddenly?"
Jiyu asked in a cracking voice as she opened her eyes. It was the first time they had kissed in broad daylight in front of people.
Without warning.
Like a real couple.
"Aren't you taking the photo?"
Hunter didn't answer and instead wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Then, he extended his arm holding the phone.
With a bewildered expression, Jiyu just blinked and watched him adjust the angle of the background reflected on the screen. Then, she discovered her own face on the screen—flushed red, with dazed eyes and a vacant expression.
Startled, Jiyu covered her face.
Had she always made such a foolish face after kissing?
.jpg)