“Did you plan to sleep alone tonight?”

Yuri was about to say, ‘Of course,’ but hastily closed her mouth. Jeho’s expression became as cold as a brisk, chilly wind. Did she seem too ungrateful after he helped with the move?

“Um, the bed is too narrow for both of us to sleep together. So…”

An excuse-like explanation flowed from Yuri’s mouth. Jeho, who seemed to be pondering something for a moment, took Yuri’s hand and led her.

“Then let’s go buy a bed first.”

“Now?”

Yuri looked at Jeho with a bewildered face.

“If we want to receive it by today, it seems we have to go now.”

“Wouldn’t it be strange for both of us to go buy a bed?”

Even eating outside was avoided due to their secret relationship, and when they went to Gangneung, they wore disguises, even using wigs. But going to buy a bed together was a big deal. Moreover, how often would they come and sleep together to change the bed?

“I’ll buy a bed by myself later. Let’s just go…”

Yuri couldn’t finish her sentence and let the words trail off. Saying ‘Let’s just go’ didn’t come out easily. Trying to spend the night alone after sending him off, one side of her heart felt chilly. Had she become accustomed to being with him without realizing it?

It shouldn’t be like this from the first day of independence…

Yuri nibbled on her lower lip thoughtfully. Jeho, as if reading her mind, sat down on the bed with a relaxed gesture.

“Okay. Let’s try it here for today. To see how uncomfortable it is.”

“For today, you want to…”

“Oh, sorry. I misspoke. Let’s try sleeping here for today as an experiment.”

Instead of asking, ‘You’re really not going back home?’ Yuri pushed Jeho out of the bed. Then, she silently spread the bedsheet.

Thinking about sleeping together with him on this small bed, she felt strangely excited. On the first day of independence, spending the night together didn’t seem so bad.

Am I crazy? What am I thinking right now?

Yuri was startled by her own absurd thoughts. Compared to a few months ago, she seemed to have changed into a completely different person. If she fell deeply for him, what would she do? She was suddenly terrified.

He would eventually return to the United States. How would she live alone later? It was just the beginning, but she was already shaking like this…

Feeling emotionally confused, her hands, which were spreading the sheet, became rough. Watching her, Jeho gently took the sheet from her hands.

“I’ll do it.”

After covering the bed with the sheet and arranging the blanket, Jeho finally placed the pillow. There was only one pillow.

Even when sleeping alone, whether in a house or a villa, Jeho always put up two pillows. It seemed like he was looking at the difference between him, preparing for a future together, and her, preparing to be alone.
Eventually, on that night, the two of them lay down on the single bed. It felt like the breath would be stifled between the wall and Jeho, but surprisingly, Yuri felt a sense of stability.

Although the pressure that made it impossible to move properly wasn’t pleasant, it wasn’t bad. Yuri even thought, maybe that’s why cats like confined spaces. However, even if that were the case, he, whose toes extended beyond the bed, must have been uncomfortable.

“Isn’t the bed uncomfortable?”

“Not at all.”

Although Jeho said so, Yuri couldn’t believe it.

“The mattress seems hard, maybe because it’s old.”

Even from Yuri’s perspective, Jeho, who only slept on premium mattresses, seemed more likely to feel that way. Even if she didn’t know anything else, she muttered to herself that she should buy a new mattress. But above her head, she heard Jeho’s voice.

“Compared to sleeping in a sleeping bag, this is nothing. Whenever I have free time, I often go hiking. Usually, I plan a week-long itinerary, spreading a sleeping bag on the hard ground and sleeping. I walk for several days like that.”

“I didn’t know you liked hiking.”

Yuri looked up at Jeho. It was hard to imagine a man with a city-like feel carrying a backpack and walking in the forest. Jeho smiled gently and swept Yuri’s hair that had fallen over her face.

“I like the feeling of harmonizing with nature… If I keep walking, I sometimes get fresh inspiration. The next hiking plan is at Arches National Park in Utah, where you can see the breathtaking red rocks that you can’t find in Korea.”

With a light kiss on Yuri’s lips, Jeho whispered as if to himself.

“The sunset, sinking down over the cliffs, is truly fantastic. Let’s go together someday.”

Jeho naturally said, ‘Let’s go together someday.’ It was like last time in Santorini, and this time too. It might just be something he says, but every time he does, her heart flutters with fleeting hope.

And at the same time, it felt bitter. How long would this relationship last? It was just a relationship like a prank with an apparent end.

“Sure. Let’s go together someday.”

Knowing that such a thing wouldn’t happen, Yuri said it calmly. It was a futile dream, but for now, she was satisfied with the sweetness and happiness of this moment.