Chapter 156: Huh? (3)

 

Han-gyeol and I were sitting alone on the beach, waiting for the sunrise.

 

No matter how much we looked around, there wasn’t a single person in sight.

 

It felt as if everyone had cleared the area just for us.

 

Maybe, as a group, they decided to avoid this spot for our sake.

 

“Han-gyeol, it feels like we’ve rented out the whole beach!”

 

“Right? With no one around, I feel so good, too…”

 

Sitting here with Han-gyeol, just the two of us, made me incredibly happy.

 

As we listened to the gentle crashing of the waves, we waited for the sun to rise.

 

Why did this feel more exciting than when we watched the sunrise in Gangneung?

 

My heart was beating faster than usual, and I could feel my pulse quickening.

 

“It must be because I love you even more than back then~”

 

As if Han-gyeol had read my thoughts, he answered immediately.

 

“Huh?! How did you know what I was thinking?!”

 

“Because there’s nothing about Eun-ha that I don’t know~ I can tell everything just by looking at your face.”

 

It was amazing…!

 

How could he read me so accurately?

 

Does love make telepathy possible?

 

“Eun-ha.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Because of you, I’m so happy. I think I might be the happiest person in the world.”

 

“Really~? Tell me, when are you the happiest?”

 

“It’s hard to pick a specific moment. I’m just always happy. Just having you by my side is more than enough.”

 

“Then I’ll make you even happier from now on.”

 

“No, I’ll make you happier, Eun-ha.”

 

“I’m already super happy right now~ Hehe.”

 

When I laughed, Han-gyeol looked at me lovingly.

 

“Why are you so beautiful?”

 

“To get all of Han-gyeol’s love!”

 

“Yeah. I’ll love you more and more every day.”

 

He gently ruffled my hair.

 

That touch always made me feel good.

 

It was warm, and it filled my heart with joy.

 

“I feel like I could do anything for Eun-ha.”

 

“Really~? Then bring me the sun that’s about to rise.”

 

“Sure. How hard could that be?”

 

“What~? You’d even pluck the sun for me?”

 

“Of course. How hard could it be~?”

 

Han-gyeol replied with such a relaxed expression, as if he truly meant it.

 

Was it a metaphor?

 

Or did he have another way to “pluck” the sun?

 

“Is that even possible?”

 

When I asked again, Han-gyeol nodded confidently.

 

“How?”

 

I tilted my head in curiosity, and Han-gyeol pointed toward the sea.

 

“First, we have to wait for the sun to rise.”

 

“Oh, yeah. That makes sense, right?”

 

“Eun-ha, if I bring you the sun, what will you give me in return?”

 

“Hmm~ Then I’ll bring you the moon next time!”

 

I answered brightly, but I still had no idea how he planned to pluck the sun.

 

I couldn’t even guess.

 

“That sounds great. Oh? Look, the sun is rising. Eun-ha, look quickly.”

 

Following the direction of Han-gyeol’s pointing finger, I turned my gaze.

 

The sun was rising from below the horizon.

 

Its warm rays wrapped around Han-gyeol and me as it fully emerged.

 

I shifted my gaze from the sun to Han-gyeol.

 

“The sun’s up now, so pluck it for me.”

 

“Okay, watch closely~”

 

Han-gyeol slowly stretched his arm toward the sea.

 

Then, gently, as if handling something fragile, he reached out and grasped the sun.

 

So this is how he meant to “pluck” it.

 

As expected, the real sun—

 

“Got it.”

 

“Huh?”

 

When Han-gyeol fully clasped his hand, the sun, which had been floating above the horizon, disappeared.

 

Startled, I jumped up from the beach in shock.

 

“What?! Where did the sun go?”

 

“Huh? You asked me to pluck it, didn’t you? It’s in my hand.”

 

“No… Han-gyeol? What are you even saying…?! Wait, what’s happening to your hand?! Why is it glowing?!”

 

Light, resembling sunlight, was seeping through Han-gyeol’s fingers.

 

What on earth was happening here…?

 

“Well, if I grabbed the sun, of course it’s going to glow.”

 

“No, no… I mean, how can a person even grab the sun?”

 

“Huh? Like this?”

 

“Wait, are you telling me the sun is actually in your hand right now?”

 

“Yeah, it is.”

 

I was dumbfounded.

 

I couldn’t believe it.

 

“Doesn’t it burn?”

 

“Not really. It’s not that hot.”

 

“But the surface temperature is supposed to be 6,000 degrees…”

 

It was still unbelievable.

 

But Han-gyeol smiled brightly as he spoke.

 

“If you don’t believe me, do you want to hold it too?”

 

“Is that… even possible?”

 

“Probably. Sit down; I’ll put it in your hands.”

 

Swallowing hard, I sat back down.

 

“Hold out your hands. Make sure you don’t let it slip away.”

 

“Okay, okay… I’m ready.”

 

I stretched out both hands and held them out to Han-gyeol.

 

Carefully, he opened his hand above mine, slowly revealing the sun.

 

When his hand was fully open, I stared at the small, round sun resting on my palms.

 

It was the size of a ping-pong ball, but it was unmistakably the sun.

 

Yet, it wasn’t hot at all.

 

Instead, it felt warm and calming, putting my mind at ease.

 

“This… this makes no sense!”

 

“Phew, good. It’s not leaving your hands either.”

 

“Would it leave someone else’s hands?”

 

“If the sun doesn’t like them, it’ll leave. Didn’t you know that?”

 

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if I did…?”

 

Even as I listened to Han-gyeol, my mind was spinning.

 

The sun on my hands rolled around playfully, as if it were trying to entertain me.

 

“I think it likes you. Look, it’s even showing off.”

 

“Ha… ha ha… I guess that’s nice…! Wait, what?”

 

As Han-gyeol and I stared at the sun, it began to emit a brighter light.

 

“Han-gyeol? Doesn’t it seem like the sun is getting brighter?! Is it going to explode?!”

 

“Huh? Why is it acting like this?”

 

The sun suddenly floated into the air and began to merge with me.

 

“Han-gyeol, what is this…?”

 

“They say it happens when it really likes someone. This is my first time seeing it too.”

 

“Wha-?! Am I going to burn to death?!”

 

“Don’t worry~ You won’t die.”

 

Han-gyeol laughed innocently.

 

Still… no matter how reassuring he sounded… this was—

 

“This doesn’t make any sense—!!!”

 

Finally, I screamed loudly and opened my eyes wide.

 

The scene in front of me had completely changed.

 

What? Where am I? The sun? Am I okay? Did I already burn up? Is this heaven?

 

“Eun-ha…? What’s wrong?”

 

“Han-gyeol?”

 

It was Han-gyeol, standing by the bed.

 

As soon as I saw him, I shouted.

 

“Han-gyeol, the sun! Where’s the sun?!”

 

“The sun? What sun?”

 

“You know—the one you grabbed in your hand! It was about the size of a ping-pong ball!”

 

“Are you talking about the sun…?”

 

“Yes, yes! The sun!”

 

“The sun is outside the window…? Also, how would someone grab the sun? Its surface temperature is 6,000 degrees. Did you have a dream?”

 

“A dream…?”

 

Could a dream feel this vivid?

 

Still dazed, I glanced out the window to see the sun floating normally above the sea.

 

“Haha… of course. That scared me.”

 

“What kind of dream did you have to be this startled?”

 

“I don’t know… it’s the first time I’ve had a dream like that… What kind of dream even was that?”

 

“You must be tired from sleeping in a different place. Come on, let’s get ready. We need to head out soon.”

 

“Oh, yeah. Right… I need to get a grip…!”

 

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I headed to the bathroom.

 

Even while washing my face, I couldn’t shake the memory of that dream.

 

When I came out of the bathroom, I hesitantly asked Han-gyeol, still unsure.

 

“Han-gyeol.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Can you check if my body feels hot?”

 

“Are you feverish? Let me check—!”

 

He reached to touch my forehead, but I quickly dodged.

 

“Careful—!”

 

“What?!”

 

“Um… I might be really hot.”

 

Han-gyeol looked at me with a deeply concerned expression.

 

“Are you seriously sick? How hot could you even be…?”

 

“Like… 6,000 degrees…?”

 

“What?”

 

“Uh, nothing?”

 

Despite my warning, Han-gyeol touched my forehead without hesitation.

 

Since he didn’t immediately pull his hand back, I figured I wasn’t 6,000 degrees after all.

 

“That’s weird… You don’t seem to have a fever.”

 

“Right?! Haha… hahaha…! I must’ve been out of my mind for a second.”

 

“Are you sure you’re okay? Should we stop by the hospital before leaving?”

 

“No, no, I’m fine now—! Phew… Thank goodness.”

 

“Are you really okay? Tell me honestly. We can delay the flight if we need to.”

 

Han-gyeol seemed really worried.

 

I mean, of course—after all the nonsensical things I’d been saying about holding the sun and being 6,000 degrees, who wouldn’t be concerned?

 

“I’m really fine—! I was just half-asleep.”

 

“You’re sure?”

 

“Yep! Sorry for worrying you.”

 

“Phew… You really scared me.”

 

“Hehe. Let’s get going! We have to hit that barbecue place you like one last time.”

 

“Yeah. Let’s pack up and head out.”

 

After reassuring him, we left our lodging.

 

As we drove out of the underground parking lot, the bright sunlight wrapped around us warmly.

 

For a moment, I panicked again, thinking I had stolen the sun.

 

“Today’s the sunniest day of the trip,” Han-gyeol said, glancing out the window.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. It’s been great all along, but today feels extra sunny. Makes me want to stay one more day.”

 

“We can always come back~”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“Next time, should we bring our families?”

 

“That sounds good—! After Gangneung, let’s hit Jeju Island next.”

 

It must’ve been such an amazing trip that it inspired that strange dream.

 

Still, it was such a vivid dream that I doubt I’ll ever forget it.

--- The End OF The Chapter --

 

[TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 10 chapters ahead of the release: https://www.patreon.com/taylor007  

 

Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: https://discord.com/invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ]