By Zephyria 
After strolling through Parc Monceau, they drove around the city. Looking at the city from inside the car wasn’t so bad.
Perhaps it was because he had revealed his long-held feelings, but Yoon Joo-ho seemed a bit tired. He leaned deeply into his seat, quietly lounging with Song Hyun-soo’s hand clasped in his.
They moved towards the Canal Saint-Martin, which had relatively fewer tourists compared to the city center, and spent a leisurely time sitting at an outdoor cafe.
Song Hyun-soo ordered white wine, and unexpectedly, Yoon Joo-ho ordered milk.
Although he had been the closest person to him for a year, Song Hyun-soo had never seen Yoon Joo-ho drink milk, not even at home, let alone in a place like this. He wasn’t even someone who drank lattes.
Moreover, he didn’t smoke either.
He explained that his mouth felt dry today, so he didn’t feel like smoking.
Watching Yoon Joo-ho drink milk through a straw, Song Hyun-soo concluded that he wasn’t in a normal state.
He suggested they return to the hotel and rest, but Yoon Joo-ho insisted he was fine. He said he had already made dinner reservations at a fancy place.
“It’s our last night. Are you saying we should just go back to the hotel like this?”
As he said that, pulling Song Hyun-soo’s hand, he didn’t seem to be unwell, at least physically.
But it was clear that something was holding him back.
Yesterday’s first trial verdict might have deeply affected him. It was the starting point for his long struggle against his parents to finally come to an end.
Under the pretext that they weren’t dressed appropriately for the restaurant’s dress code, Song Hyun-soo was first dragged to a boutique. And together, they changed into fancy clothes. The two of them in the mirror, standing side by side, looked like a happy couple about to go on a special date.
Because Yoon Joo-ho seemed lively and cheerful, Song Hyun-soo didn’t say anything about the numbers on the tags or the unnecessary shopping.
After leaving the boutique, Yoon Joo-ho even opened the back door of the car for him. Was I being too sensitive? He really seemed fine.
The restaurant Yoon Joo-ho chose was located in another hotel, not far from the hotel they were staying in. It had a grand and classic atmosphere, yet it was romantic. Most of the people occupying the tables on Friday evening were couples.
Even there, Yoon Joo-ho barely touched his food, saying he had no appetite. He only stirred his coconut water with a straw and took small sips.
He couldn’t help but worry.
He was determined not to be persuaded by anything Yoon Joo-ho said now.
Not wanting to ruin the dinner he had prepared, he finished the meal anyway. And in front of the hotel, they had to argue again.
“I’m telling you, let’s just go to the hotel.”
“You said you wanted to ride the Bateaux Mouches.”
“I don’t want to anymore. I don’t want to ride it.”
“Don’t lie.”
Song Hyun-soo tried to resist by pulling his hips back, and Yoon Joo-ho dragged Song Hyun-soo’s arm.
It was a standoff between Song Hyun-soo, who wanted to return to the hotel, and Yoon Joo-ho, who wanted to walk to the Seine River pier and ride the Bateaux Mouches.
“You’re the one who’s lying, Song Hyun-soo.”
“What am I doing?”
“You’re not okay. Something’s wrong, isn’t it? But why are you pretending to be fine?”
“Is it weird if I skip a meal because I don’t have an appetite? Don’t you know I’m a picky eater?”
“You didn’t smoke or drink either.”
“Shouldn’t you be praising me then?”
A man walking ahead with an indifferent expression, and a man behind him, putting on the brakes and struggling not to be dragged along. Passersby looked at them and smiled as if they were amused. They had faces that said, “What a cute couple.”
“Your boyfriend’s fine. He’s not going to die. So let’s go on the boat.”
Resisting any further wouldn’t make him listen. He usually listened to Song Hyun-soo about most things, but he was someone who didn’t compromise on things he had firmly decided on. Even that stubbornness was mostly for Song Hyun-soo’s sake.
It was the same now.
He was being stubborn for Song Hyun-soo, who had wanted to ride the Bateaux Mouches.
Having given up on persuasion, Song Hyun-soo walked alongside him.
Yoon Joo-ho put his arm around Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder with a satisfied look and ruffled his hair.
“Good thinking. Why waste your energy?”
They walked down towards the Bateaux Mouches pier. Just the two of them, without any bodyguards. Just like the night they had arrived here.
It was quite chilly at night, but as they walked, their body temperature gradually rose, making it perfect weather for a stroll.
“Paris must be really small.”
“Why?”
“Because it doesn’t take that long to get anywhere.”
At the end of Avenue George V, the two crossed the crosswalk.
“Yesterday, it didn’t even take us two hours to walk down from Montmartre to Le Marais. Even though we were taking pictures and looking around.”
“They say it’s six times smaller than Seoul.”
“Six times?”
They turned in front of the Alma Bridge and went down the stone path next to the river. It was the path leading to the pier. It was already completely dark, and there were a few people heading to ride the Bateaux Mouches.
“It’s easy to find. It looks like we can just go straight down this path.”
Song Hyun-soo said in an excited voice, looking at Google Maps.
“You were so stubborn about going to the hotel, but now you’re excited again?”
When he smiled at Yoon Joo-ho, he smiled back. He suddenly grabbed Song Hyun-soo’s arm and led him to the edge of the road, towards the river.
“Why? We still have to go further down that way.”
“Just come with me.”
On the way to the Bateaux Mouches pier, there were several boats of various sizes docked along the pier. Yoon Joo-ho walked towards one of the ships that had its gangway open.
It was a large, three-story yacht with bright lights.
“Wh-what is this?”
“You said you wanted to take a cruise on the Seine.”
“I did. But we were planning to ride that one.”
Song Hyun-soo raised his index finger and pointed far to the left. A large cruise ship was waiting in the distance in the darkness. It was the Bateaux Mouches. The one Song Hyun-soo had even booked in advance.
“Who knows when someone might recognize us. Can we have a proper date there?”
“Still… the reservation…”
“It’s our first trip together.”
“……”
“I want to have a real date with you too. Without being disturbed by anyone.”
Yoon Joo-ho grabbed Song Hyun-soo’s arm again. An employee waiting in front of the gangway checked some reservation information and then guided them onto the ship.
Once on board, the interior was much more spacious than it looked from the outside.
There was a large bar on the first floor, and a wide deck stretched out in front of it. After receiving champagne, which was provided as a welcome drink, and going to the bow, the Eiffel Tower was right in front of them.
As the two boarded, the ship slowly began to leave the pier.
Relaxing and cheerful jazz music played, and the lighting was dimmed, perhaps at Yoon Joo-ho’s request.
The two sat side by side on the sofa at the bow. Song Hyun-soo was still in a daze. Looking up, it seemed that the second floor had a terrace with a view and comfortable rooms.
“Did you… book this in advance?”
“I did. And you wanted to ride the Bateaux Mouches without knowing…”
Yoon Joo-ho lightly flicked the tip of Song Hyun-soo’s nose.
The fact that he had been thinking and preparing for this for a long time to spend quiet time alone was impressive. He didn’t even seem to be looking forward to the trip to Paris…
The yacht passed by the Bateaux Mouches, which was still waiting. People who had boarded in advance were moving around the ship with excited gestures, looking at the night view of Paris and taking pictures.
It would have been fun even if they had ridden the Bateaux Mouches. But as Yoon Joo-ho said, they wouldn’t have been able to spend quiet time without being disturbed.
“Is that the one you wanted to ride?”
Yoon Joo-ho said to Song Hyun-soo, who was looking up at the Bateaux Mouches.
“No. I just wanted to see the night view from a boat. It’s not like I specifically wanted to ride the Bateaux Mouches.”
“Shall we go up to the second floor?”
Yoon Joo-ho got up first and held out his hand. Going up to the second floor revealed an even more private space. It didn’t seem like they would be seen by people on the outdoor sofa on the side of the deck with a roof.
An employee followed them up, set up a new bottle of champagne, and then returned to the first floor at Yoon Joo-ho’s request. They could be completely alone.
Yoon Joo-ho seemed to be putting the champagne to his lips this time. But that was only for the first sip. He only slightly moistened his lips, and after that, he was only pretending to drink. He brought the glass to his lips, but it didn’t decrease at all.
“Today’s already the last night.”
“……”
“Was it fun?”
Yoon Joo-ho’s affectionate question didn’t reach Song Hyun-soo’s ears.
The ship, which had departed from the pier in front of Place de l’Alma, slowly changed direction in front of the Pont Alexandre III. It seemed to be going back and forth within a distance where they could see the Eiffel Tower.
Song Hyun-soo put his glass down on the table in front of the sofa and turned his body completely to face Yoon Joo-ho.
“Song Hyun-soo, what’s really going on?”
“What?”
“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
“Why are you like this again?”
“Don’t scare me and just tell me.”
“Tell you what.”
“I’m ready to overcome anything with you.”
“Overcome what?”
“You’re not eating, you’re not drinking, you’re not smoking. And you were drinking milk earlier… I’m not stupid, you know? Just tell me. It’s scarier when you don’t say anything.”
Yoon Joo-ho sighed and put down the glass he had only been pretending to drink from. Then he leaned deeply against the back of the sofa and stared at Song Hyun-soo.
“I went to buy a ring after the wrap-up.”
The story started in a completely unexpected direction.