Pick Up the Rejected Pure Love

After arriving at Gangneung Station, we didn’t head to our lodging right away. Instead, we made our way to the beach.

As soon as the sea came into view, I looked at Han-gyeol.

“Han-gyeol, this is already so much fun! The weather is amazing too—! Should we dip our feet in before we go?”

“Let’s drop off our luggage first. We’ve got plenty of time, so let’s take it slow and enjoy.”

“Okay~ Ah, why is it so exciting to be on a trip with you, Han-gyeol? My heart’s racing!”

“Me too. But we should grab some food, so let’s head to the lodging first~”

“Yes~”

With my arm linked with Han-gyeol’s, we arrived at our lodging, which was a little ways from the beach.

“Hello, we have a reservation under Lee Han-gyeol.”

The lady, who seemed to be the owner, was really friendly.

As soon as we got into the room, we started unpacking right away.

I had packed a bunch of things, so it took a bit of time to organize.

I should stash the underwear I’ll wear on our last night in the suitcase for now—

“Why’d you pack so much stuff?”

“Ah—!”

I quickly threw myself over the suitcase to hide it.

“What’s going on?”

“N-Nothing! You just startled me, sneaking up on me like that.”

“Why’d you bring so much luggage? Want me to help you unpack?”

“I’m not a kid~ I can handle this much on my own.”

“You’re so excited for this trip, you’re acting like one.”

“Anyway—! I can do this by myself, so why don’t you just relax on the bed?”

I shoved the underwear back into the suitcase and pulled out my clothes and toiletries.

After quickly finishing the unpacking, I jumped onto the bed where Han-gyeol was lying down.

“You’re gonna get hurt like that~”

I rested my head on his arm as he lay there.

“Hehe. Ah, I’m so excited. I should’ve gone on a trip with you sooner.”

“We’ll have plenty of trips to take from now on. Where do you want to go? Not Jeju Island.”

“Hmm~ As long as it’s with you, I don’t care. But I do want to go abroad.”

“Where abroad? Japan since it’s close?”

“Hmm~ Japan sounds good, but Southeast Asia wouldn’t be bad either~”

The thought of going somewhere new with Han-gyeol is always thrilling.

“Think about it—if we can, we’ll go everywhere.”

“Sounds good, sounds good. Han-gyeol, let’s go to the Central Market now—! I’m starving!”

“Alright, let’s go get some kalguksu.”

“Ah—wait a sec, let me tie my hair~”

I reached for the hair tie around my wrist and started gathering my hair.

It’s just more convenient to have it tied up when walking around to eat.

As I held the hair tie in my mouth and started pulling my hair together, I noticed Han-gyeol staring at me.

Oh, right. He likes this.

“Hehe~ You like this, huh?”

“Well, what can I say… your neckline is just so sexy. I see it all the time, but it always catches my eye.”

“If you like it that much, want to tie my hair for me? That way, you can see my neck even more.”

“Sure, I’ll do it. Come here.”

I handed him the hair tie and turned around.

“Make it look pretty~”

“Can I do pigtails?”

“You’ll regret it~”

“Too bad~”

Han-gyeol carefully gathered my hair into his hand, lifting it up with such care.

All that was left was for him to tie it, but he took his time, moving at a leisurely pace.

“Why are you taking so long~ Hurry and tie it.”

“If I tie it quickly, I won’t be able to admire your neckline for long.”

“If you like it so much, maybe you should be the one tying my hair from now on.”

“No can do. I love watching you hold the hair tie in your mouth—it’s incredibly sexy, and I don’t want to miss it.”

“I have no idea why that’s sexy~”

“Just think of it as my personal taste. There—done.”

As soon as Han-gyeol finished tying my hair, I turned to the mirror.

“Wow—you tied it really nicely!”

“Yeah? I feel good hearing that.”

“Come on, let’s go out—!”

“Alright~”

We left the lodging and walked straight to Gangneung Central Market.

From the entrance, the delicious smell of food hit us, and we eagerly explored the market.

Shops I had only seen in videos were now right in front of me. We found the noodle place that Yoori had recommended and walked in.

“Welcome~”

“Two bowls of spicy kalguksu, please~”

“Sure~”

As soon as we sat down, I couldn’t stop smiling as I looked at Han-gyeol.

Seeing my face, he chuckled softly.

“Are you that happy? You haven’t stopped smiling.”

“Yeah! This is so much fun!”

“We haven’t even done anything yet.”

“True~ but it’s still fun. Are you having fun, too?”

“Of course~ I’m here with you.”

Maybe it’s because we’re on a trip, but Han-gyeol’s words sounded even sweeter.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop grinning.

“Han-gyeol~”

“Yeah, Eun-ha?”

“I just wanted to call your name~”

“You’ve been calling me ‘Han-gyeol’ a lot lately, haven’t you?”

“Oh—really?!”

“Yeah. It’s been a while since you last called me by my full name.”

Now that I think about it, I really have been calling him by just ‘Han-gyeol’ more often lately.

“Huh, you’re right. Do you prefer if I use your full name?”

“Nah~ I just thought of it, that’s all. I kinda like the nickname, to be honest.”

“Han-gyeol. Han-gyeol. Han-gyeol. Hmm—no one else calls you ‘Han-gyeol,’ right?”

“Right. Only you call me that.”

“Then I’ll keep calling you ‘Han-gyeol’~”

“Go ahead~”

It made me feel really special, like it was a nickname only I could use.

“When we get married, I’ll call you ’honey~’”

“Alright. And when we’re married, I’ll call you ‘darling~’”

If Han-gyeol ever called me ‘darling,’ my heart would probably explode from beating so hard.

“Can’t you call me that right now?!”

“Depends on how Eun-ha behaves~”

“Aw, come on! Do it now.”

“I’ll do it if Eun-ha deserves it~”

“You’re so mean.”

But I still love it.

****

After finishing our spicy kalguksu, we wandered around the market.

“That kalguksu was so good. Should we have it again on our last day?”

“Sounds good. I kind of want more too.”

“You were really enjoying it, Han-gyeol. Was one bowl enough for you?”

“We’ve got other stuff to eat~ Let’s go get some ice cream hotteok now.”

Han-gyeol grabbed my hand and led me to the hotteok stand.

It seemed like he was excited too, which made me feel even better.

He was holding my hand more tightly than usual and walking faster.

Acting all excited because we’re on a trip~ I don’t even know who the real kid is anymore.

“Two ice cream hotteoks, please.”

“That’ll be 6,000 won. Please put the money in the box~”

“Sure~”

Han-gyeol placed the money in the box and stared intently at the hotteoks cooking.

Watching him like that was so adorable that I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

“Han-gyeol~ Do you like it that much?”

“Why so sudden?”

“It’s just… you seem extra upbeat today.”

“Do I? Now I feel embarrassed.”

Whenever Han-gyeol gets embarrassed, he avoids eye contact and scratches the back of his neck.

Ah—why is he so lovable?

No matter how many times I look at him, he’s just endlessly adorable.

“You’re cute…”

“Could you say I’m handsome instead of cute to your boyfriend?”

“Then stop being cute~ It’s your fault, Han-gyeol~”

“I’m sure you’re a hundred times cuter than me.”

“Really? Then take care of me for the rest of your life~”

“I already am, aren’t I?”

As we were teasing each other, the hotteok was ready.

“Two hotteoks~”

“Oh—thank you! Here, this one’s yours, Eun-ha.”

“Yum! Should we eat while walking?”

“Weren’t you planning to eat this and then find something else?”

“Let’s not just stick to the market. How about we go see the ocean? We can always come back to the market tomorrow, right? You can’t truly enjoy food if you’re too full~”

“You’re right. Let’s go to the ocean. Here—your hand.”

“My hand!”

After grabbing Han-gyeol’s hand tightly, we walked from the market toward the sea.

As the beach came into view and got closer, my heart started racing, and my face felt like it was heating up.

Thankfully, the cool breeze against my cheeks helped calm me down.

“Do you like the ocean that much? You’re all smiles.”

“It’s my first time seeing the ocean with you, so I’m extra happy!”

“I’m glad you’re so happy, Eun-ha. Look, there’s a bench. Let’s go sit there for a bit.”

Han-gyeol gently tugged me along.

Leaving our footprints in the sand, we walked toward the bench.

“Han-gyeol, wouldn’t it be nice to have our honeymoon at the beach too?”

“Going straight to the honeymoon, huh? We’ll have to go somewhere else too.”

“I want to spend a beautiful beach honeymoon with you!”

“I’d like to go wherever you’d be happiest.”

“Really? But make sure I’m not the only one getting my way.”

“Of course~ But I still want to see you this excited again.”

“I’ll show this side only to you.”

“Good. Make sure I’m the only one.”

We sat on the bench, eating hotteok while gazing at the ocean.

I like looking at Han-gyeol, but it’s also nice sharing a view, just watching the waves crash and feeling the cool breeze brushing past us.

It feels peaceful and exciting at the same time.

“Han-gyeol.”

“Yeah?”

“I love you. Truly!”

After I confessed my love, Han-gyeol responded softly.

“I love you too.”

His words made me feel so happy.

As I grinned, Han-gyeol added something else.

“Darling.”

I whipped my head around at his words.

His face flushed red, and he quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed.

“Han-gyeol, did you… just…”

“Sorry. That was too much for me.”

Suddenly, Han-gyeol jumped up from the bench and bolted forward.

“Hey—! Where are you going?!”

I quickly chased after him as he sprinted along the beach.

“Say it one more time!”

“I can’t—!”

--- The End OF The Chapter --

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