Auntie Ji An and Mom will be spending the night with Neighbor Song while we are away. I feel a bit nervous about the trip. I’ve never been with anyone but Jason. I still don’t even know the name of Hae-in ex fiancée. Hae-in rented a car. It is a sleek black Honda. I try to relax on the drive to the cabin, but I am a ball of nerves. I think Hae-in is nervous too because he is talking a lot for him. I smile, nod and listen, at least I try to, but my mind is racing over every flaw I have documented about myself. I’m even feeling a little sick to my stomach. Buried beneath all of that though is fear.

The cabin is near the water. A frozen mist creeps through the trees. We park. We go inside. In Korean dramas this is where the tumble to the bed begins. I set my bag on the floor and look around. The space is small and cozy. Just a bed, a sofa and a kitchenette. There is door by the bed that must go to the bathroom. Hae-in comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. My heart major flutters. He is kissing my neck and goose bumps rise on my arms.

I feel myself uncoiling. He seems to melt into me and I into him. There is no tumble. Gently, he picks me up and takes me to bed.

*

I wake up in Hae-in’s arms. My heart is tight. How am I going to leave him now? How? I want to stay with him. I want to not leave him, but I have to in 8 days. I have to. There is summer. Summer is so very far away. Tears start sliding from my eyes.

Hae-in’s eyes open. He sees my tears and pulls me close. “What’s wrong?”

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“We are going to be so far apart.”

“I know, but we aren’t far apart now.”

“No we aren’t.”

His eyes are full of tender light. His fingers run through my hair and he whispers, “Saranghae.” In English, this means I love you. In Korean it has more meaning. He is telling me he wants to abide with me for life.

More tears fill my eyes. I whisper back, “Saranghae.” The smile he gives me radiates through me. I didn’t know love could feel like this. The kisses we share are long and deep.

*

It is Christmas. Auntie Ji An’s house is not decked out like ours is back home. For her Christmas is a quiet day of thanksgiving. A traditional Korean meal is on the table. Hae-in and I have been able to spend the entire day together. We have been able to sneak off from time to time for some stolen kisses and that makes them even sweeter. We are side by side at the table lost in our own world, while the chatter of the ladies surround us. From time to time I notice a glance in our direction. They are happy we are happy.

When the meal is finished we open our gifts. I struggled with what to give Hae-in. It is obvious what my gift is, a painting. He grins when I hand it to him. I watch his face closely as he opens it. I see his eyes widen and then he looks at me. “This is the view from the lighthouse.”

I nod.

“It is beautiful.” He leans over and hugs me. My heart is singing. Giving art to someone is a terrifying process, because if they don’t like it, it hurts an artist’s soul.

He hands me a small box. I hope I like it, I am picky and what I think shows on my face. I open the box, inside is a smaller box. Inside that box is a heart charm with the word Jeju engraved in Korean characters. I love it!