16.
1044 Words
The Choice He Made
The next few days passed quietly.
Too quietly.
Jin Woo stayed in the town longer than expected. He did not return to the capital immediately. even though he knew he should.
Instead, he spent his time near Ara.
At the market.
On the small hill.
Walking beside her in the evening.
It felt like he was trying to hold onto something… before it changed.
Ara noticed it.
“You’re avoiding something” she said one afternoon.
They were sitting under a tree, away from the noise of the town.
Jin Woo looked at her.
“I am thinking.”
“That’s not the same thing,” Ara replied.
Jin Woo smiled faintly.
“You always see through me.”
Ara crossed her arms.
“Then stop hiding things.”
Jin Woo sighed softly.
“I have to go back to the capital soon.”
Ara’s expression became quiet.
“I knew that”
“They won’t call me again politely,” he continued.
“This time, it may not be a request.”
Ara looked down at her hands.
“So… what will you do?”
Jin Woo did not answer immediately.
Instead, he asked,
“Ara… if I choose a difficult path… will you stay with me?”
Ara looked up at him, surprised.
“What kind of question is that?”
“A serious one.”
She frowned slightly.
“You’re making me nervous again.”
Jin Woo moved closer.
“I just need to hear it from you”
Ara looked straight into his eyes.
“I have always been with you.”
She paused.
“Even when you had nothing”
Jin Woo’s gaze softened.
“And if I lose everything?”
Ara didn’t hesitate.
“Then we start again”
The wind passed through the leaves above them.
For a moment, everything felt still.
Jin Woo slowly reached for her hand.
“Then I’m not afraid anymore.”
Ara looked at him carefully.
“You’ve already decided haven’t you?”
Jin Woo nodded.
“Yes.”
Ara waited.
“I’m not going to the palace to accept anything.”
“I’m going there to end this properly.”
Ara felt a strange fear in her chest.
“Jin Woo…”
He squeezed her hand gently.
“Trust me.”
Ara was silent for a moment.
Then she nodded.
“I trust you.”
—
That evening, the sky was painted with soft orange light
Ara was closing her stall when Jin Woo appeared again.
He had a small wooden box in his hand.
Ara looked at it curiously.
“What is that?”
Jin Woo didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he placed the box on the table.
“Open it.”
Ara slowly lifted the lid
Inside, there was a simple hairpin.
It was not made of gold.
Not decorated with jewels.
But it was beautifully crafted.
Ara touched it carefully.
“It’s… very pretty”
Jin Woo smiled.
“I saw it in the market”
“And I thought of you”
Ara looked at him.
“You always say that”
“Because it’s always true”
Ara smiled softly.
Then she picked up the hairpin.
“Put it on for me”
Jin Woo stepped closer.
His fingers were gentle as he placed the hairpin in her hair.
For a moment, his hand stayed there.
Close to her.
Ara’s breath became softer.
“Does it look okay?” she asked quietly.
Jin Woo looked at her.
“It looks perfect”
Ara’s heart warmed at his words.
“You didn’t have to buy me anything” she said.
Jin Woo shook his head.
“I wanted to”
Then his expression became more serious.
“Ara…”
“Yes?”
“When I come back next time…”
He hesitated.
Ara waited patiently.
“…I want to marry you”
The world seemed to stop for a second.
Ara blinked.
“Marry… me?”
Jin Woo nodded.
“I don’t want to wait anymore”
Ara’s eyes slowly filled with emotion.
“You’re saying this so suddenly.”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”
Ara let out a small breath.
“What if things become difficult?”
“They wil” Jin Woo said honestly.
“But I still want this”
Ara looked at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled softly.
“You really are stubborn.”
Jin Woo laughed quietly.
“Only about important things”
Ara stepped closer.
“You’re not going to change your mind?”
“Never.”
Ara nodded slowly.
“Then… I will wait”
Jin Woo looked at her gently.
“You always do.”
Ara smiled.
“Because you always come back.”
For a moment, they stood very close.
The air between them felt warm and quiet.
Jin Woo lifted his hand and gently touched her cheek.
“Ara…”
She lookedup at him.
Before she could speak, he leaned in and kissed her
This time, the kiss was deeper.
More certain.
Not just a feeling…
But a promise.
Ara held onto his sleeve lightly, as if she didn’t want him to move away.
When they finally separated, her face was warm and slightlyred.
“You always do this when I can’t argue” she said softly.
Jin Woo smiled.
“Good.
Ara laughed quietly.
Then she looked at him again.
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning”
Ara’s smile faded a little.
“That soon…”
Jin Woo nodded.
“I’ll come back”
Ara looked at him seriously.
“You better.”
“I will.”
They stood together as the last light of the day slowly disappeared.
Neither of them wanted to leave.
But time was moving forward.
And so was something else…
Something unseen.
Something waiting quietly in the distance.
As Jin Woo walked away that night, he felt it again.
That strange feeling.
As if someone… somewhere… was watching.
He stopped for a moment and looked around.
But the street was empty.
Only silence answered him.
Jin Woo frowned slightly
Then he continued walking.
Unaware that the path he had chosen…
Was already beginning to change everything.
- Writer
