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LOZ 86
Returning from the garden, the two changed into swimwear and descended the steep stairs carved into the cliff to a crescent-shaped private beach. Hunter dragged a two-person canoe tied to a post in a corner of the beach, seated her in the front, and leisurely paddled a lap around the peninsula-shaped Cap Ash.
Bothered by the fact that Hunter was rowing alone with the single oar, Jiyu kept looking back.
[I can row too. Give it to me.]
Hunter merely scanned her shoulders and forearms with a look of sheer disbelief.
[Look ahead.]
After spending the afternoon that way, the two returned to the infinity pool to wash the salt from their skin.
Perhaps feeling restless from a sudden lack of exercise, Hunter swam laps until he was breathless before lying flat on a beach chair to dry off.
Jiyu drifted lazily in the pool. If heaven existed anywhere, it surely must have been modeled after Cap Ash.
Resting her forearms side by side on the edge of the pool with her chin perched on top, Jiyu blinked, staring blankly at the distant sea.
‘I wish today would never end.’
She was so happy it felt almost wrong; she didn't want to go back to New York.
Right now, she was here as a "guest" of the Hamilton family, just as she had been when she was a child. But once she returned to her daily life, she would have to become a "servant" of the Hamiltons once again.
It was a magic with a time limit, like Cinderella's glass slippers. The few days spent here made her imagine what things might have been between the two of them if Alan hadn't died.
Jiyu wore a bittersweet smile. It was a futile imagination.
The best she could do was wear the magic shoes and enjoy the ball for as long as she remained here.
Jiyu glanced sideways at Hunter, who lay with his eyes closed as if taking a nap.
‘A nap with Hunter Hamilton.’
Could there be two words that suited each other less? Jiyu let out a little giggle.
Whether he had actually been asleep or not, he suddenly opened his eyes and turned his head toward her.
[Why are you laughing?]
His tone sounded like he was picking a fight, but his lips were curved in a lazy smile.
[Just... I thought you were napping.]
Jiyu smiled shyly with an embarrassed expression.
[Is that funny?]
Jiyu bit her lip and nodded.
[Where do you want to have dinner? Should we go out?]
Because Hunter's words sounded like a date proposal, her heart fluttered.
Would it be okay to be a little more greedy?
After hesitating for a moment, Jiyu spoke cautiously.
[Um... somewhere where we can see the sunset?]
Was she fourteen? She remembered having dinner facing the sunset at a restaurant on the beach in Naples, Florida. It was back when Alan was still alive. She hadn't been able to take her eyes off the sea, captivated by a spectacle she had never seen before in her life.
[The sunset...?]
Hunter arched an eyebrow. Sensing his reaction, she quickly waved her hand.
[Don't worry about it, if it's too much trouble, just—]
[The sun sets at 9:00, so come down to the lobby by 8:00.]
With that, Hunter sprang up from the beach chair. A surprised Jiyu blinked.
[Where are you going?]
He glanced at his wristwatch and muttered indifferently.
[To shower. It's 7:30 already.]
Her mouth dropped open. She thought it was only around four in the afternoon, but it was already 7:30. With the long daylight hours in Europe, it was difficult to keep track of time.
She felt a sense of regret and urgency that the day had passed so quickly. The fact that she only had thirty minutes to get ready was also a shock.
Hurriedly exiting the pool, Jiyu threw on a robe and practically sprinted across the garden. For the first time in her life, she walked faster than Hunter.
Jiyu wanted to look as beautiful as possible for dinner. But time was short. After a quick shower and barely drying her hair, she slipped into the dress Ae-jeong had picked out, applied a bit of lip gloss, and it was already 8:00.
Before leaving the bathroom, she took a quick glance at herself in the full-length mirror.
The flowy, V-neck dress that reached her calves was made of cream-colored fabric printed with tiny floral patterns. While the length was long, there was a deep slit on one side of the skirt.
It was a bold design that perfectly reflected Ae-jeong's taste. Ae-jeong had insisted that she needed at least one outfit suitable for a formal occasion, just in case, and had stuffed it into the shopping bag at the last minute.
Jiyu couldn't bring herself to refuse because Ae-jeong looked so excited. However, internally, she had felt uneasy, thinking it was a waste of money. But looking at it now, Ae-jeong had been right.
Upon arriving at the lobby, she saw Hunter's back as he stood near the entrance, looking out. Hearing her presence, he turned around.
He was wearing a pale blue button-down shirt, ivory chino pants, and a navy linen blazer over the top.
Hunter Hamilton in a shirt and blazer.
Jiyu knew how much he hated shirts and blazers. He had rarely even worn his school uniform properly.
Jiyu looked down at her own dress and felt relieved once more.
When their eyes met, Hunter gave a slight nod of greeting.
[...Sorry I'm late.]
Jiyu approached him with quick, short steps.
[Let's go.]
Hunter opened the door and gestured with his head for her to go out first.
She had expected Jerard's red convertible to be waiting in the driveway, so she tilted her head in confusion.
[Where are we going?]
[You said you wanted to eat while watching the sunset.]
[...Yes.]
[Follow me.]
Crossing the garden, the two passed the infinity pool and walked for about ten minutes along the path following the edge of the cliff. Then, they reached a space that jutted out diagonally from the cliff. It was the southernmost tip of the peninsula, the end of Cap Ash.
Looking down from the waist-high stone railing that encircled the edge, she didn't see the cliff, but only the crashing waves of the sea, making it feel as if she were floating in mid-air. A chill ran down her spine at the feeling of floating over the vast ocean without any protection.
On the terracotta floor engraved with a large Mandela pattern, a single table sat alone. A snow-white tablecloth fluttered in the breeze.
Hunter grabbed the back of a chair adorned with a flowing organza ribbon and pulled it back slightly. Then, he signaled Jiyu with his eyes to sit.
[Mr. Pembroke should have seen this.]
Hunter grinned with a triumphant expression.
Hearing the name of Walter Pembroke, the instructor of the Cotillion class she hadn't thought of in a while, Jiyu fell into a strange nostalgia. The time she spent in the Cotillion class felt like a distant memory, yet also like it was just yesterday.
As Jiyu sat, Hunter smoothly pushed the chair in.
In truth, she hadn't let her guard down, wondering if he would push the chair in too far and make her flail her arms ridiculously like he used to. But it seemed such things would no longer happen.
‘Mr. Pembroke, Hunter Hamilton has changed.’
She smiled silently.
On the table, a candle was lit atop an elegant silver candlestick protected by a transparent wind guard, and a small vase held vibrant wild orchids that looked as if they had been plucked from the garden.
A private dinner for two in a romantic setting that looked like something out of a movie.
Jiyu was dazed by a reality that was far more wonderful than she had imagined.
With a look of clear admiration, she stood with her mouth open, looking around, until she locked eyes with Hunter, who was watching her reaction with his chin resting on his hand. His lips curved with satisfaction.
Jiyu felt a bit embarrassed, thinking she had made it too obvious how much she loved it.
Just then, an elderly sommelier approached them, pushing a cart where several bottles of wine were slanted. He asked what they would like for an aperitif.
Hunter's previously composed gaze wavered noticeably. This seemed to be something that wasn't in the plan.
Although he had become an adult nearly a year before Jiyu, Hunter was strict about his diet. He didn't touch alcohol or foods that caused muscle loss.
As for Jiyu, the only alcohol she had ever tasted was a single sip of champagne and a shot of soju her mother had given her not long ago.
A moment of silence fell over the table.
Not knowing how to answer, Jiyu's eyes darted back and forth between Hunter and the sommelier.
The experienced sommelier, waiting patiently for an answer, gauged the situation and lifted a bottle.
[Monsieur Hamilton usually enjoys a 2004 vintage Dom Pérignon as an aperitif; shall we start with that?]
[Let's do that.]
Hunter answered immediately. Jiyu nodded vigorously in agreement.
With a faint smile, the sommelier popped the champagne cork and tilted the bottle into delicate, elegant crystal glasses. With a soft fizzing sound of popping bubbles, a pale golden liquid filled the transparent glasses.
Jiyu swallowed hard, staring at the champagne glass with a nervous face. She couldn't remember at all what it tasted like.
‘I think it popped on the tip of my tongue like cola.’
As soon as the sommelier withdrew, the appetizers arrived.
Hunter held out his glass toward Jiyu. She hurriedly lifted her glass and carefully reached out. He clinked his glass against hers, producing a clear, ringing sound.
However, she burst into laughter because Hunter was staring down the champagne with a solemn expression, as if he were facing a poisoned chalice.
Hunter glared at Jiyu.
[Why are you laughing?]
[I've never seen you this nervous before.]
He snorted as if he had heard something absurd.
[Nervous? Please.]
Having stared down the champagne glass with a determined face, Hunter seemed to make a great decision; he let out a sharp breath and gulped down the champagne in one go, as if it were water.
‘Is it okay to drink that much at once without knowing his tolerance? What if he gets drunk right away....’
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