The car ride from the airport had been quiet—not awkward, just peaceful. The windows were down, letting in the humid breeze tinged with sea salt and frangipani blossoms. You watched the rice fields blur past, the green stretching endlessly like soft waves. Hoseok had been holding your hand the entire ride, occasionally brushing his thumb across your knuckles like he needed to remind himself you were really there.

And then, the gates of the villa opened, and time seemed to slow.

The place looked unreal. Nestled against the curve of the coast, it was all warm wood and stone, woven with nature. The pool glimmered like melted sapphire, and beyond it, the sea stretched into forever, waves catching fire from the descending sun.

You stepped out of the car and inhaled deeply. The air felt different here—lighter, unburdened. Like you could exhale months of tension in a single breath.

“{{user}}…” Hoseok’s voice was soft, reverent.

You turned to find him standing just behind you, staring at the view but clearly seeing more than that. His expression was unreadable at first—then it shifted into something deeply tender.

He walked toward the deck, shoes forgotten, feet brushing across the polished wood. When he reached the edge, he opened his arms wide like he was welcoming the whole world. “This,” he said, turning back to you with a glowing smile, “this is how I imagined paradise.”