“Jiho, I want to buy your ring.”

Yi Soo said, looking up at Jiho.

Honestly, it was quite burdensome that Jiho kept paying for everything every time.

Even though Yi Soo received a generous allowance, it was still difficult to keep up with his spending, but she felt that they should buy couple rings for each other.

“It’s a gift from me. Of course I should buy it.”

Jiho shook his head with an expression that said it was nonsense.

“You always spend all the money. That’s too burdensome. Since they’re couple rings, it’s right that I buy yours and you buy mine.”

Just the hotel costs for this trip were all paid by Jiho, and considering the pre-paid admission fees, it would be a considerable amount, but it was frustrating that he adamantly refused to accept it.

“You already gave me this as a gift.”

Jiho raised his wrist and waved the bracelet Yi Soo had given him as a birthday present.

“That was a birthday gift.”

“I think I’ve told you before? I really have a lot of money… So don’t feel any burden. There’s so much I want to do for you, but I’m holding back in my own way.”

Jiho chuckled lightly and grabbed Yi Soo’s hand, walking with big strides.

Though it was hot enough to reach 30 degrees during the day, as the sun began to set, a cool breeze blew as if it were a lie.

It was cool enough to wear long sleeves.

“Now we should go see the Arc de Triomphe.”

Jiho tried to change the subject by bringing up something else, but it didn’t work on Yi Soo.

Yi Soo frowned and said,

“How can I not feel burdened when it’s burdensome?”

“Then make up for it by treating me better. Think of me more. Like me more. And only look at me. That’s all I want from you.”

Jiho released their interlocked fingers and wrapped his arm around Yi Soo’s waist.

He pulled the waist he had encircled with his right arm close, hugging Yi Soo tightly and pressing his lips deeply against her forehead.

“I’ve wanted to say this for a while, but from now on, don’t stop me from doing what I want to do for you.”

If Yi Soo were a girl who was overjoyed to receive such gifts, how would it be?

Would it be good or would it lack charm? Thinking about it, I’m not sure.

“How can you do that?”

“Get used to it. I don’t regret giving anything to you, so you should receive it comfortably without feeling burdened. Okay?”

“…”

Yi Soo pouted her lower lip and silently stared at Jiho.

If she agreed, she was worried about how Jiho would act in the future, but if she kept refusing until the end, she felt Jiho would be hurt.

Neither answer was satisfactory.

“Hm? Answer me.”

Jiho unwrapped his arm from her waist and stood right in front of Yi Soo.

Yi Soo let out a small sigh and reluctantly opened her mouth slowly.

“Even so…”

Jiho, who had been staring intently, tilted his head.

Jiho’s lips pressed deeply against hers with a smacking sound before pulling away.

Surprised, Yi Soo covered her mouth with the back of her hand and looked at Jiho.

“Don’t say that.”

Yi Soo’s eyes widened, conscious of the busy street with many people passing by.

Fortunately, people were just going about their business and didn’t pay much attention to the two of them.

“Give me the answer I want. Or I’ll do it longer this time.”

Jiho smiled mischievously while gazing intently at Yi Soo’s lips.

Seeing Jiho’s expression that said he could do it as much as he wanted, Yi Soo blinked her eyes and opened her surprised mouth slightly.

“What?”

“Don’t say ‘Even so’ again, give me a different answer.”

Seeing Jiho’s determination to hear what he wanted, Yi Soo couldn’t say anything.

Jiho reached out and pulled down Yi Soo’s hand that was covering her mouth.

He bent down and found Yi Soo’s lips again.

As he held them longer than before, he could feel Yi Soo’s body stiffening, conscious of their surroundings.

Yi Soo pushed Jiho’s shoulders.

“I said I’d do it longer.”

Jiho said, barely parting his lips.

Jiho looked at Yi Soo, who was glaring at him with her lips tightly shut.

Feeling her resolve to not give the desired answer until the end, Jiho smiled a little.

Seeing her face that looked like she would really get angry if he did more, Jiho took a step back.

“Okay. Let’s go for now.”

Jiho interlocked fingers with Yi Soo’s hand again.

Yi Soo sighed deeply and walked down the Champs-Élysées street stretching towards the Arc de Triomphe, following Jiho.

Though the conversation ended awkwardly, it didn’t seem like a longer talk would lead to a conclusion.

Yi Soo enjoyed the scenery of the glamorous street as they passed by eye-catching stores.

Just walking down the street was exciting enough.

As they walked, looking around left and right, they soon arrived right in front of the majestic Arc de Triomphe.

“Do you want to go up to the observation deck too?”

“Yes.”

“Won’t it be tiring? We have to walk up the stairs.”

“It’s okay. We’re only going to see this and then go back to the hotel anyway.”

Jiho nodded and squeezed Yi Soo’s hand tighter.

It seemed like he was encouraging her, so Yi Soo also gripped their interlocked hands firmly.

The cool touch of Jiho’s ring between Yi Soo’s fingers felt strangely good.

‘Right, it’s fine if it feels this good. Why fuss over it? Give up. Just give up.’

To get to the observation deck, they passed through an underground passage and trudged up 284 spiral stairs.

The stairs were so narrow that if someone stopped midway, everyone behind would have to stop too, so they climbed all at once without resting even though it was tiring.

Jiho climbed right behind Yi Soo, gently pushing her back with his large palm.

“Ugh. My legs are shaking.”

“I thought so. We’ve been standing for over 5 hours except for that short rest earlier.”

Just when I thought it was over, it wasn’t.

Yi Soo paused briefly at the intermediate rest area with a souvenir shop and restrooms.

“Hang in there a little more. It’s not far to the terrace.”

Jiho said, looking at Yi Soo who was bent over with her hands on her thighs.

Unlike Yi Soo whose face was flushed red, Jiho’s breathing was calm.

“Aren’t you tired?”

Thinking of Jiho’s solid muscles, it seemed natural that this much wouldn’t be tiring for him.

“No. This is nothing.”

Jiho smiled as he watched Yi Soo catching her breath.

Feeling acutely that she needed to build up her stamina, Yi Soo took the lead up the stairs to the terrace.

As they climbed one step at a time, the sky began to appear above their heads.

Yi Soo gathered all her remaining strength and stepped off the stairs.

“Wow. It’s so amazing.”

The unobstructed view spread out before their eyes.

Turning a full 360 degrees, they could see all of Paris at once, with straight roads extending in all directions centered on the Arc de Triomphe.

Yi Soo went around like a child, taking pictures and enjoying the view.

They could even see the Eiffel Tower near their hotel in the distance.

“Since we climbed up with such effort, let’s take one commemorative photo.”

“Okay.”

Yi Soo put her arm around Jiho’s waist and Jiho wrapped his arm around Yi Soo’s shoulder as they faced the phone.

Thanks to Jiho bending down low, an affectionate photo was taken with their cheeks touching.

Even Yi Soo, who didn’t like taking pictures of herself much, took several photos today.

She couldn’t put down her phone with the camera on at the breathtaking view that drew exclamations.

“The weather is better than expected today, not too hot.”

“Yeah. It’s not that hot if we avoid lunchtime.”

A cool breeze blew, ruffling their hair slightly.

Jiho brushed Yi Soo’s hair that had fallen across her face with his hand.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

They had only had a bottle of water and a cup of coffee since lunch.

Yi Soo’s stomach had started making noises for a while now.

“I am, but it feels like a waste to go down right away after climbing up with such effort.”

Jiho laughed at Yi Soo who was hungry but didn’t want to go down.

“What about you? Do you want to go down right away?”

Yi Soo passed the decision to Jiho.

“Can I be honest?”

Jiho, who usually said anything was fine, seemed to be trying to say something Yi Soo might find disappointing, using the word ‘honest’.

Thinking that it must be tiring and boring to go around Paris like this when it wasn’t his first time, Yi Soo answered.

“Sure. Be honest.”

Jiho chuckled at Yi Soo who looked a bit tense.

Jiho wasn’t hungry or tired.

But the problem was that Yi Soo was clearly hungry and tired, yet enduring and pushing through.

Does she not realize it herself?

From what I’ve seen when she’s studying for exams, Yi Soo tends to put off eating and sleeping when she’s focused on something.

It seemed like she would only stop if someone told her to.

But if I said let’s go down now, I could already see how disappointed she would look, so after saying I’d be honest, different words came out.

“Let’s look around more before we go.”

“Okay.”

Yi Soo beamed brightly.

Thinking that he’d have to treat her to a really good dinner, Jiho looked in the same direction Yi Soo was gazing.

**

A few hours later.

“Yi Soo, you go in first.”

“I want to go together.”

Jiho stopped Yi Soo who said she wanted to go to the mall together to buy chocolate after dinner.

“No. You’re tired. Go in and rest.”

Jiho escorted Yi Soo to the front of the hotel and headed to a nearby mall.

He bought chocolate, beer, and snacks at the mall about a 10-minute walk away.

When Jiho returned and was just entering the hotel lobby through the huge iron gate into the hotel,

“Oh! Seo Jiho?”

A clear female voice called from behind.

Jiho’s head slowly turned towards the sound.

Behind him was a woman wearing a mask and hat pulled low, and next to her was a woman with long silver-dyed hair.

“Oh my! It really is Jiho.”

The woman in the hat took a step closer and removed her mask.

The woman next to her glanced around before saying she would go ahead and walked towards the elevators.

Jiho narrowed his eyes and tilted his head slightly as he looked at her, and the woman took off her hat.

Her goddess-like beauty shone dazzlingly under the chandelier lights.

“It’s me. Hanna.”

It was Lee Hanna, the icon of the nation’s first love and top star.

They first met early last year through an introduction by Jiho’s old classmate.

“Oh.”

Jiho seemed surprised too, raising his eyebrows slightly before lowering them.

“It’s really great to see you. It’s been a year for us, right? Are you here on vacation?”

“Yeah.”

Jiho nodded slightly as he looked at Hanna smiling brightly with crescent moon eyes.

Hanna moved very close to Jiho’s side.

“I wish I had known earlier. I finished my photo shoot today and I’m going back tomorrow.”

Hanna, who hadn’t removed her makeup, had a presence noticeable even from afar.

Korean tourists in the hotel lobby immediately recognized Hanna and couldn’t take their eyes off her.

Moreover, with Jiho next to her, catching people’s attention with his appearance no less striking than a celebrity’s, the eyes of those looking at the two were full of curiosity.

Some people were slowly taking out their phones to secretly photograph Hanna.

“I see. Well, have a safe trip back then. I should go now. People are recognizing you, you should at least put on your hat or something.”

Jiho casually said goodbye and turned to walk towards the elevators.

Hanna put her hat back on and followed Jiho to the elevator.

“Jiho, wait a moment.”

“What?”

Jiho turned around.

“Your phone number changed, can you give me your new number?”

“No need.”

Jiho glanced down at the phone Hanna held out and said.

“What?”

Hanna’s eyes widened as she asked again, the answer too unexpected.

Hanna took back her phone and gripped it tightly.

“I don’t want to make my girlfriend worry.”