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she whispered. “I’m just kidding! I can walk fast. I can walk – ahh!”  
    Without uttering a word of warning, Tae Hyun’s arms had already slipped behind Yoori’s back and underneath her knees.  In an instant, he was carrying her again. 
    “This is fast becoming an annoying trend,” Yoori muttered, her eyes forming into annoyed slits.
    He laughed and pulled her closer against his body. The scent of his cologne surrounded her. “Trust me, slowpoke. Before the day is over, you’re going to wish I never let you go.” He finished that statement with a wink and a laugh that tickled every fiber within Yoori’s body. 
    Ignoring the warm current that electrified her, Yoori rolled her eyes at his words.  She suddenly pushed at his chest and made an abrupt jump from his arms. As soon as her feet landed on the grass, she looked back at Tae Hyun, stuck her tongue out at him and ran ahead. 
    “I don’t need you to always come to my rescue, Prince Charming,” she voiced playfully, pulling up the long hem of her skirt. She picked up speed. “Now hurry up, slowpoke! Show me the surprise before the sun sets!”  
    Though there was pain shooting up her legs, Yoori refused to show it. Tae Hyun had good intentions but she was sick of being babied. The stubborn feminist within her had had it. She could take care of herself; she didn’t need him coming to her rescue all the time.  
    Amused with her dramatic display of independence, Tae Hyun merely smiled and laughed. Placing both of his hands in his pockets, he caught up with her. If the expression on his face gave any indication, he was definitely pleased with her behavior.  
    “Eh, for what it’s worth,” he began, nudging her occupied arms. “After holding you for a bit, my arms aren’t hurting anymore. I think touching you may have healed my pain.”  
    Yoori snorted disbelievingly.  Now she knew he was bullshitting her. “That’s surprising, seeing that I ate three big plates of lasagna for dinner.”
    His smile persevered. “I guess my own three plates offset it.”  
    They smiled warmly at one another, the hatchet on their stupid argument burying instantaneously.  Side by side, they continued to walk as they neared the bank of the lake. Tae Hyun had his hands in his pockets and Yoori’s hands were still holding up her skirt. In the distance, Yoori could hear the ducks splashing around in the water. She could also hear faint sounds of kids screaming in glee as they chased after one another. It was a euphoric sound to her. Everything was so carefree. She felt at peace.
    “Tae Hyun…”  
    “Hmm?”  
    “Thanks for a really fun day,” she voiced quietly, the warm and appreciative tone in her voice as genuine as the sun shining above them.  “I really enjoyed myself.”
    Tae Hyun sighed at her words. “Don’t be in such a rush to say your thanks, Choi Yoori. The day is far from over.”  
    Just when Yoori was about to nod in agreement, a white wooden boat distracted her. It sat peacefully on the field of grass ahead of them, beckoning them to use it as the magnificent sun illuminated the soft shine of its paint. 
    Yoori smiled disbelievingly at Tae Hyun. He had already approached the boat. He began to pick it up and push it into the lake. In the middle of doing this, he grinned and extended his hand out to a mystified Yoori.
    She was in love with his surprise.
    She shifted her gaze from the boat to Tae Hyun. To her, he had never appeared more otherworldly. His features glowed under the gold/pink hues of the glorious sun, making it appear like the beauty of this world was created for him to inhabit.
    Wonderment suspended over her. She assumed that his surprise would have something to do with eating ice cream at the dock or something crazy like shooting ducks with guns. She never anticipated  this . 
    It was much more…romantic.
    Not that she was complaining of course! It was a nice change to be treated like a princess—especially when