“It’s a shame. It would have been nice if we could have brought wood-fired pizza on the cruise ship.”

Due to her sincere love for food, Se Hee expressed her disappointment even after eating plenty of pizza.

Se Hee’s footsteps looked heavy as she boarded the Decona Ho empty-handed.

“According to cruise ship regulations, outside food is not allowed.”

Kyle, who was following behind, made a troubled expression.

Later, he even thought about changing that regulation, as Se Hee’s gloomy face bothered him so much.

“Ah… That’s right. Do you know what tonight’s event party is?”

Se Hee’s eyes suddenly sparkled.

There was no way Kyle, who received reports from the event department every morning, wouldn’t know today’s schedule.

However, not wanting to dampen her excitement, Kyle pretended not to know.

“Well?”

Kyle asked back with a nonchalant expression.

“Fireworks party on the ship! Did you really not know? Quite a lot of people were looking forward to this event. I guess you don’t pay attention to such things since it’s a business trip?”

“Looks like you were looking forward to it?”

Kyle calmly responded to Se Hee’s coy question.

“Of course. Actually, I’ve never properly seen such a spectacular sight in my life. Now that we’re here, we should definitely watch it. And I have a partner to enjoy it with.”

Se Hee looked up at Kyle with an expression full of affection.

That gaze made Kyle’s heart flutter greatly.

He felt possessive enough to want to own this moment entirely for himself.

“You’ll go with me, right? We agreed to do all events together.”

Se Hee smiled brightly and naturally grabbed Kyle’s arm as she climbed the last step.

Placing his hand on top of Se Hee’s, Kyle looked down at her with a gentle gaze.

“If you wish, gladly.”

Kyle’s pleasant low voice resonated all the way to Se Hee’s heart.

With a strong reverberation.

It wasn’t the first time she heard his voice.

Nor was it the first time she heard that response.

Yet it makes her heart flutter every time she hears it.

Does Kyle truly know?

The fact that I’m so deeply fallen for you.

Se Hee’s expression, completely immersed in tender emotions, quickly turned red.

A smile slowly spread across Kyle’s lips as he gazed down at Se Hee.

She was beautiful.

She was lovely.

The person who restored to him that precious emotion he thought he had lost.

Lee Se Hee.

Do you truly know?

The fact that I’m so deeply fallen for you.

Kyle’s aqua-colored eyes were filled with the image of Se Hee’s happy face, blushing shyly.

Behind the two, the blue Mediterranean Sea was slowly turning into a beautiful sunset color.

* * *

With the corners of her mouth pointing towards the sky, Se Hee couldn’t contain this feeling, that emotion, and was even humming while preparing for the event in her cabin.

Her heart was so full of anticipation that it felt like it would burst at any moment.

However, while not having dresses was a problem before, having too many dresses was also a problem now.

“Which one should I wear?”

They were all beautiful and luxurious.

Actually, there wasn’t a specific dress code set for this time, but choosing an outfit as the partner of Kyle, not just an ordinary man but a perfect one, made her nervous.

The dress she liked the most had already been worn.

Hmm…

After contemplating, Se Hee decided to choose a slightly daring dress.

A violet-colored bustier-style dress.

When she put on the shoes that came as a set with the dress, she looked as elegant as a model.

Se Hee admired her reflection in the mirror once again with a satisfied expression.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

A bright smile immediately bloomed on Se Hee’s lips.

She could tell who it was without needing to be told.

How does he know the time so accurately?

As if he had calculated when she would be ready.

After checking her outfit in the mirror one more time, Se Hee slowly opened the door.

The moment she saw Kyle standing in front of the door, Se Hee was stunned.

Goodness.

The color of Kyle’s vest visible under his black suit was also deep violet.

As if they had matched as a couple.

Even though they hadn’t mentioned it, the fact that they chose the same color inexplicably stirred up a tingling feeling.

Could they possibly be telepathic?

Although it was a much more luxurious material than her dress, Kyle had the ability to perfectly pull off even that which could have been burdensome.

“It suits you so well.”

“You look truly beautiful.”

The two spoke simultaneously without anyone going first.

And they burst into laughter at the same time.

It was a moment when everything felt simply happy.

Kyle, who had stepped aside by the door, extended his arm for an escort.

Instead, Se Hee took Kyle’s hand rather than his arm.

Kyle looked at Se Hee, startled.

“I wanted to walk holding hands.”

Se Hee looked up at Kyle intently.

Do you know?

How warm and reassuring this large hand of yours is?

As if he had heard all of Se Hee’s inner thoughts, Kyle nodded silently.

Then he squeezed Se Hee’s hand even tighter.

Suddenly, Se Hee’s eyes turned red.

Se Hee blinked, quickly composing her emotions.

Holding hands, with their shoulders side by side, Se Hee headed towards the deck where the fireworks party was being held with Kyle.

On the deck where the event was taking place, several people could be seen looking for positions with a better view of the sky to secure good spots.

There were hardly any empty tables to be seen.

“Look at this. So many people have come, right? I’m sure Evans Cruise will be a big success. They seem to know exactly what people will like.”

When Se Hee praised, Kyle’s shoulders unconsciously rose with pride.

After all, it was he who had consulted with the event team about all the events taking place on the cruise ship.

Se Hee’s praise sounded as if it was directed at him.

“Since Kyle is tall, you’ll be able to see well from anywhere.”

Se Hee said, sounding envious.

“Should I give you a piggyback ride?”

He asked playfully.

“Really? Would that be possible?”

“Absolutely.”

Kyle wrapped his arm around Se Hee’s waist as if he was about to lift her up right away.

“Wh-what are you doing? I was just joking.”

Se Hee waved her hands and glared at Kyle.

A piggyback ride in such a beautiful dress outfit.

“Of course, we’d be able to see well from any position, but we have assigned seats.”

Kyle led Se Hee by the hand up one more flight of stairs towards the upper deck.

“Assigned seats?”

There hadn’t been assigned seats for the event parties until now?

Se Hee followed Kyle with a puzzled expression.

As soon as they arrived on the upper floor, an exclamation burst from Se Hee’s lips.

“Oh my goodness. Is this a designated seat just for the two of us? How did you manage this?”

Kyle smiled gently towards Se Hee, who asked in surprise.

On the deck table prepared only for the two of them, simple drinks and desserts were placed.

“I guess VVIP customers are different after all?”

Se Hee gave a thumbs up.

Kyle pulled out a chair, but Se Hee shook her head.

“I’m too excited to sit down and watch. If my legs get tired while watching, I’ll sit down.”

Se Hee’s gaze was already directed towards the sky, as if she was too anticipating.

Kyle calmly watched Se Hee like that.

At this point, she should have noticed.

Se Hee still didn’t seem to know who he was, or why he knew so much about the Decona Ho.

But she didn’t seem curious either.

She didn’t even ask about the name of the company he worked for.

Whether she wasn’t interested or pretending not to be.

Kyle was secretly curious, but he didn’t think it was important to hastily reveal his identity.

After all, she would naturally come to know as time passed.

“Welcome to the shipboard fireworks party. Today’s party will feature a spectacular show of colorful fireworks unfolding in the night sky to the rhythm of music.”

Finally, the voice of the event host was heard through the speakers.

“The order will consist of two animation music pieces for our young passengers, three movie soundtrack pieces, and then ten popular music pieces chosen through a draw by our passengers.”

The host explained in an excited voice.

“As expected of Evans Cruise Line! They’re so generous!”

Se Hee exclaimed in admiration.

Even preparing two songs would cost quite a large amount, but a fireworks festival lasting about an hour?

It was enough to make her eyes widen in surprise.

For today’s event, the Decona Ho, which had been heading towards the next port of call, began to gradually reduce its speed.

The only time allowed to stop the ship during the entire cruise schedule was for today’s fireworks event.

Eventually, the Decona Ho came to a complete stop.

As the event coordinator gave the signal, majestic music began to play.

Then, brilliant fireworks were launched into the dark sky in sync with the music.

With loud bursting sounds, the fireworks created beautiful shapes in the sky that captivated everyone’s attention before disappearing in a shower of light.

A spectacular scene that completely captured everyone’s gaze was unfolding in the night sky.

For Se Hee, who was seeing fireworks for the first time, it was a wave of emotion.

Even small fireworks that could easily be seen on beaches had never been allowed for Se Hee, so this magnificent and beautiful sight was truly a first for her.

Moreover, the feeling when the particles of light decorating the night sky in a dazzling display with music seemed to be sprinkled right above her head was indescribable.

As Se Hee watched the fireworks rising high, her head tilted back more and more, until she became so immersed that she stumbled.

For a moment, she thought she would fall over, but someone firmly caught Se Hee and helped her balance safely to lean against them.

A fresh scent strongly permeated Se Hee’s nose.

The fact that he was there beside her was once again realized to be such a joyful thing.

“Kyle.”

As she turned her head slightly, her gaze met directly with Kyle’s.

Kyle gently embraced Se Hee with his arms.

His strongly beating heart could be clearly felt.

At that moment, fireworks in the sky formed a heart shape and showered sparkling light like rain above their heads.

It was a magically beautiful scene.

“It’s really beautiful.”

Nestled in Kyle’s arms, looking at the fireworks bursting in the night sky, Se Hee said with an enchanted expression.

“Beautiful indeed.”

Kyle said, looking down at Se Hee like that.

Se Hee’s image was fully captured in his eyes.

As if drawn to that sight, Kyle’s soft lips gently descended upon Se Hee’s lips.

He explored Se Hee deeply and intensely.

Kyle’s fresh scent that had lingered at the tip of her nose now enveloped Se Hee’s entire body.

She wanted to stay like this forever.

Kyle didn’t want to let go of Se Hee, whom he held tightly in his arms.

But not wanting to disturb Se Hee who was immersed in the fireworks show, Kyle suppressed his impulse as much as possible.

The emotion swirling in Kyle’s eyes as he barely managed to separate from Se Hee was passionate.

* * *

As the fireworks display that had lasted for about an hour came to an end, the Decona Ho gently set sail.

But the two people, still lingering with afterglow, couldn’t leave the table.

Surrendering herself to the gentle sea breeze, Se Hee looked at Kyle with a languid expression.

“It’s been a happy day.”

I want to keep being together like this.

But Se Hee couldn’t muster the courage to say it today.

What state of mind was she in yesterday to have said such things?

She could only gaze at Kyle intently.

“For me as well.”

Kyle was having the same concerns.

If I suggest spending today together too, would she find it burdensome?

Kyle carefully looked at Se Hee.

“You look tired. There’s an early morning meeting scheduled for tomorrow too. Shall we head back?”

I wish you would say it’s okay, that you want to stay together longer, that you don’t want to go.

Se Hee was only shouting in her heart.

But Kyle responded with an expression clearly showing regret.

“I suppose that would be best?”

From Kyle’s perspective, it sounded like Se Hee was indirectly refusing, so he couldn’t bring himself to suggest staying together longer.

The corners of Se Hee’s eyes drooped with disappointment.

In the sky where traces of the fireworks show remained, smears of smoke left behind by the burnt-out fireworks lingered.

To Se Hee looking up at the sky, that smoke seemed just like her burning heart.

Perhaps that’s why the night sky looked even darker than usual tonight.

This is as far as today goes.

Should I be satisfied with just this?