I'm Yours

Chapter 3E ~Extra~ : Whispers Under the Moon

     The night air was cool and clear, a gentle breeze rippling across the lake as a full moon cast its silver light, transforming the city into shades of soft blue and shadow. Han Tae Seo stood alone on the bridge, the moonlight glinting off the lake below. His gaze was steady, though his mind was nowhere near the water; it was on Park Da Yeon. Even before he saw her, he felt the familiar pull of her presence. The soft rustle of her Hanbok in the stillness of the night made his heart race, and a tender smile tugged at his lips as he turned to see her approaching, her steps graceful and serene.

“Da Yeon-ah,” he greeted softly, his voice filled with warmth that was reserved only for her.

She met his gaze, her eyes reflecting the same quiet joy. Without a word, she slipped her hand into his, her fingers curling around his as if they belonged there. “Tae Seo,” she murmured, her lips curving into a gentle smile. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d wait.”

“How could I be anywhere else?” His tone was tender, the depth of his feelings showing in every syllable. “We promised, didn’t we? Nothing else matters when I’m with you.”

They stood in silence for a moment, simply holding hands as they took in the view of the lake, both savoring the quiet and the peace that settled around them. After a while, Tae Seo turned to her, his expression earnest as he studied her face, taking in every line and curve as if committing it to memory. His fingers traced a gentle line along her jaw, brushing a few stray hairs away from her face.

“Da Yeon,” he began, his voice dropping to a murmur, “I don’t think I could ever find the words to tell you how much you mean to me.” His eyes searched her face, as if trying to convey the depth of his love. “Sometimes, I think… if words could hold this, I’d tell you every day, in every language there is.”

She looked at him, her gaze soft and knowing. “Tae Seo, you don’t need words. I feel it every time I’m with you.” Her hand reached up, resting gently on his cheek. “You don’t have to say anything.”

A quiet laugh escaped him, and he looked down, almost shyly, taking her hand as they walked further onto the bridge. They leaned over the railing together, shoulders brushing, each touch grounding him in a way he could barely comprehend.

After a few moments, he took a deep breath. “I think about our life together, Da Yeon,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of longing and excitement. “A home filled with love, laughter… children who carry your kindness and warmth.” He paused, meeting her gaze, vulnerable. “I want to grow old with you, to watch our family grow. I want you by my side, for every single moment, until… until death separates us.”

She blushed, smiling shyly. “You think our children will be as kind as you are?” she teased lightly, though he could hear the emotion in her voice. “And how many little dreamers are we talking about, my ambitious one?”

He grinned, his boyish charm breaking through. “At least three. Two sons, strong and steady, and a daughter who has your beautiful smile and gentle spirit.” He shifted closer, his voice growing softer. “You’re the only one I see in my future, Da Yeon. There’s no one else. There never could be.”

Her heart melted, and she reached out to him, her fingers brushing against his cheek as her eyes softened. “Your dreams are big, Tae Seo,” she whispered, “but that’s one of the things I love most about you. I want that life too… with you.”

They stood there in silence, their words lingering in the air like promises. Gently, Tae Seo lifted a hand to her cheek, marveling at the softness of her skin beneath his touch. He leaned in, pressing a light kiss to her forehead, lingering as if to seal the moment in his memory. His lips then found her cheek, brushing gently, and then her jawline, sending a shiver down her spine.

His lips moved to her neck, where he felt her pulse quicken, and his heart seemed to swell, feeling as if he were holding the beauty of the entire night within him. He murmured against her skin, his voice barely above a whisper, “You’re everything to me, Da Yeon… there could never be another.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, her heart beating in rhythm with his. Her hand moved to his face, her fingertips tracing his features as if she could memorize every part of him. “You’re my world, Tae Seo. My only one.”

Their lips met in a gentle, lingering kiss, filled with all the love and dreams they shared. Each kiss was a promise, a whisper of their future together, unspoken yet deeply felt. His arms held her close, and she could feel his heart racing as if it too were speaking the words he couldn’t find.

As they pulled apart, Tae Seo rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. “I want to be the man who gives you everything you deserve, Da Yeon. Someone you’re proud of.”

She cupped his face, her gaze fierce with love. “You already are, Tae Seo. You’re already the man I want by my side, the one I’ll build this life with.”

He kissed her again, a softer kiss this time, savoring every second as if it would never end. Everything around them faded; it was only the two of them, bound by a love that felt as endless as the night sky.

As they strolled back along the bridge, hand in hand, Tae Seo’s heart was full. For the first time in THIS life, he felt complete, as if he’d found his place in the world... by her side, sharing a love that could withstand lifetimes.

When they reached the end of the bridge, Tae Seo stopped, pulling her close for one last embrace. He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there as if sealing the memory of this night in his heart. “I wonder how long it will be before I’m free to see you again,” he murmured, the sadness in his voice unmistakable. “I’ll be counting every moment.”

“I will too,” she replied, her voice filled with the same longing that mirrored his own. She reached up, brushing a last, lingering kiss to his lips before slowly letting go of his hand.

He watched her until she disappeared into the shadows, the memory of her touch, her words, and her warmth lingering in the cool air. He stood there for a long time, the moon shining above, his heart full of the certainty that he’d found the woman he could love beyond all measure.

     Nearby, hidden in the shadows, Hong Si Wan, Tae Seo’s loyal friend and servant, watched in surprise, his eyes wide. He murmured to himself, “Well, who would have thought the young master was such an expert in romance? I think there’s much I could learn from him after all!”

With a sly grin, Si Wan shook his head, quietly returning, content that his young master’s happiness was in safe hands for the night.