Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 47: Maldives Part 5

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The last day in the Maldives dawned quietly, the early morning light painting everything in soft pastels. Narae woke up to the gentle rustling of palm leaves outside her window and the sound of waves lapping against the shore. For a moment, she lay still in bed, her eyes half-closed, soaking in the peacefulness of it all. This had become her morning routine: waking up to this serenity, the feeling of absolute calm that washed over her in this place.

But today, the peace was tinged with sadness. Today was the last time she'd wake up to this view, to the sound of the ocean right outside her door. With a soft sigh, Narae pushed herself up and gazed out of the window at the beach, which was still empty, save for a few early morning joggers. It felt like the island was still asleep, holding on to the last remnants of a dream, just as she was.

Her mother was already up, packing their suitcases in the room next to hers. Narae could hear the sound of zippers and the soft thud of clothes being folded and placed neatly into bags. With a reluctant sigh, Narae climbed out of bed, pulling on a light sundress and nice sandals. She stepped into her mom's room, smiling as she saw her mom trying to close an overstuffed suitcase.

"You might need some help with that," Narae said, grinning.

Her mom laughed, straightening up. "I think we might have gone a bit overboard with the souvenirs."

"Just a little," Narae agreed, stepping in to help. Together, they managed to zip the suitcase shut, pressing down on it with all their weight. "There. Now we just need to hope it doesn't burst open on the plane."

They shared a laugh, the sound light and easy, as if trying to dispel the melancholy of their departure. The morning passed in a blur of last-minute packing, double-checking drawers and closets to make sure nothing was left behind. Narae kept finding herself pausing, looking around the room, wanting to imprint every detail in her memory. The view of the ocean from the balcony, the way the sunlight streamed through the curtains, the faint scent of saltwater that clung to everything. She wanted to remember it all.

By late morning, they were ready. The suitcases stood by the door, their room was tidy and empty, and there was nothing left to do but take one last walk along the beach. Narae slipped on her sandals, her mom doing the same, and they headed out. The sand was warm beneath their feet, the sun already high in the sky. They walked side by side, the waves gently crashing at their ankles.

Narae felt a lump form in her throat as she looked out at the horizon. The ocean stretched out endlessly, a vast expanse of blue that seemed to go on forever. This was her favorite time of day on the island—the way the sun glinted off the water, making it sparkle like a sea of diamonds, and the way the world felt open and full of possibilities.

"I'm going to miss this," Narae said quietly, her voice almost lost in the sound of the waves.

Her mom looked over at her, a soft smile on her lips. "Me too. But we've had a wonderful time, haven't we?"

Narae nodded, a smile tugging at her own lips. "Yeah, we have. It's been... perfect. Almost like a dream."

They continued walking, soaking in the sights and sounds one last time. Narae's eyes lingered on the shells scattered along the shore, the tiny crabs scuttling in and out of the sand, the way the palm trees swayed gently in the breeze. Every detail seemed to stand out more, as if her mind was determined to capture everything, to not let a single moment slip away.

After their walk, they headed back to the resort to collect their bags. Narae's heart felt heavy as she watched the familiar surroundings fade into the distance as their taxi took them to the airport. She pulled out her phone, wanting to distract herself from the growing ache in her chest. Mark's chat was the first to pop up. His message from last night, full of teasing and light-hearted flirting, had made her smile.