Ch.3838. My Heart Will Go On

Even though I’ve signed a lease, there are restrictions on the use of certain facilities. For example, the specialty restaurant on the second floor.

While the regular dining hall is free, there’s an additional cost per person to use the specialty restaurant.

So what’s the point of leasing the whole ship? When I asked this, the captain replied, “The lease cost is for operating a ship route that wouldn’t normally be sailed.”

So paying for the lease is one thing, and the cost of using VIP facilities is another matter.

I would have thought leasing includes all such amenities in the price calculation, but the captain explained that doing so would make the cost much higher than normal.

Simply put, if they calculated the price assuming all two hundred people would use all VIP facilities… it would literally cost “millions.”

Unless this school trip was entirely cruise-based, how could they justify such an enormous expense for just one night’s stay?

The idea of leasing a ship isn’t something ordinary people would think of in the first place, but it seems even the Hwail Group decided there was no reason to let all students use the VIP facilities.

No matter how much money Hwail Group has, that would be a bit much. In fact, there’s no reason to do so.

Anyway, after accepting this explanation, I and the students of Class A had dinner at the specialty restaurant thanks to the captain’s goodwill.

The homeroom teacher and most students seemed satisfied, and dinner ended successfully.

Other classes’ students did look at us with envious glances during the meal, but that’s neither here nor there.

“Phew.”

After finishing dinner, it’s now 8 PM.

Evening roll call is scheduled for 10 PM, so there’s still plenty of time.

Most students and teachers went to experience various events hosted by the cruise, while I came out alone to the deck to get some fresh air and help with digestion.

Since most activities were taking place inside the cruise, the outside was eerily quiet.

The only sound was the occasional waves breaking against the ship.

With the swooshing waves as background music, I walked until… I reached the bow of the ship.

“…”

There’s nowhere further to walk. I looked up at the sky from the empty deck.

Unlike in the city where there’s too much light, the stars in the night sky are incredibly clear.

Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen stars like this. The last time I saw the Milky Way was before elementary school, so it’s been nearly twenty years.

…Suddenly realizing this made me feel a bit melancholic. Enough with the self-pity. I took my hands out of my pockets and turned around.

But there was an unexpected person standing before me.

“Oh, Siwoo?”

The female student who casually murmured my name was none other than Hwa Nabi.

She’s covering her mouth, so she seems surprised, but actually I’m the one who’s shocked. I thought no one was here, then suddenly turned around to find someone standing there.

“What? Why are you here?”

“Ah… well. I came out for some fresh air after dinner, and I saw a familiar back view. So I followed, and sure enough, it’s you, Siwoo.”

“Well, I understand, but don’t do that next time. What if it wasn’t me?”

“Don’t worry. It’s not like I wouldn’t recognize you of all people.”

“……”

I was genuinely concerned… but I just got counter-punched.

Unable to respond to this sudden attack, I watched as Nabi smiled and approached the bow of the ship.

She leaned against the railing, which came up to about her chest, and looked down at the night sea.

“Wow, it’s really beautiful here. Don’t you think, Siwoo?”

Nabi turned to face me, and at that moment, a sea breeze blew from the distance.

Despite the sudden wind, rather than being startled, Nabi closed her eyes and enjoyed the breeze for a moment.

Her long pink hair fluttered in the wind.

…When the wind finally died down, I realized I’d been watching Nabi, forgetting to speak.

After a while, I finally opened my mouth.

“…Aren’t you cold?”

…The sea at night is colder than you might think. To my concerned question, Nabi nodded.

“You’re right, it is a bit cold. I should have brought a jacket.”

Nabi crossed her arms and carefully rubbed her upper arms. It seems she wasn’t just saying it.

I took off my school jacket and handed it to her.

“Here, put this on.”

“…What about you?”

“I’m fine.”

When I was broke, I often had to shower with cold water in the middle of winter, so this level of cold is nothing.

Nabi reluctantly shook her head.

“No, you wear it, Siwoo. I can go inside.”

She’s still as stubborn as when we first met. Without further argument, I placed the jacket I was holding onto Nabi’s shoulders.

“This time you don’t need to button it up.”

“What? What does that mean…?”

I was referring to the incident from a few days after we met, when Nabi’s school shirt got wet in the rain and became see-through.

Nabi seemed to realize it belatedly, as she stopped mid-sentence, her face turning bright red, and slapped my shoulder.

“Oh, really. Siwoo. Are you a pervert? Why are you bringing up something I’ve completely forgotten?”

“Sorry, it just came to mind. I didn’t mean to.”

Actually, I did mean to, but if I admitted that honestly, she’d hit me more, right? Nabi glared at me briefly, then sighed softly.

“Fine, who could stop you anyway.”

That’s what I’ve always wanted to say to you. But since I was the one who teased her, I quietly agreed.

As I maintained my silence, Nabi suddenly made an unexpected comment.

“Standing here reminds me of that movie.”

“Movie?”

Only after following Nabi’s gaze did I catch her meaning.

As she said, we’re standing at the bow of the ship, and there’s a scene in the movie Titanic set at the bow. But it’s not just any scene.

It’s the famous “Titanic pose” scene, which would definitely be among the top three iconic scenes in romantic movie history, and Nabi was referring to that.

“Ah… you mean Titanic?”

“Yes, you know it too?”

“Of course. It’s a movie you’d have to be living under a rock not to know.”

“Oh? Really? That’s surprising. When I asked my friends, none of them knew it. How do you know about it?”

“……”

I had no answer to that question. If I honestly said I watched it before you were even born, I’d just sound crazy.

As I remained silent, struggling for words, Nabi pointed to the railing at the bow and said:

“Siwoo, do you know the Titanic pose?”

“Yeah, I know it.”

Anyone who’s seen the movie even once, or even those who haven’t, would know the Titanic pose.

The woman stands with her arms spread wide, and the man stands behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder and embracing her from behind.

But why is she asking? I stared at her, unable to understand her intention… until I looked into Nabi’s eyes and caught on.

Of course, my guess could be wrong. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, so I decided to trust my instincts.

“Um, Siwoo. About that…”

“Shh.”

I stopped Nabi as she was about to speak, placing my index finger gently on my lips. A quiet gesture asking for silence.

“Give me your hand.”

I extended my right hand, palm up. It’s a courteous gesture often seen in romance movies when the male lead is about to escort the female lead.

Nabi stared blankly at my palm for a moment. She seemed unable to grasp the situation quickly.

“…Huh?”

But soon her face bloomed with a smile. She had realized I was recreating the famous scene from Titanic.

Nabi made no attempt to hide her smile as she placed her hand on top of mine.

I gently pulled her hand, bringing us closer together. Now the distance between us was just an arm’s length.

“Now close your eyes.”

As soon as I said it, Nabi quickly closed her eyes. According to the movie, I should have had to urge her once more before she closed her eyes, but whatever.

“Don’t open them in the middle.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

Good answer. I carefully took Nabi’s hand and slowly guided her to the very front of the bow.

“Hold the railing, and keep your eyes closed.”

For a perfect recreation, she should step up onto the bottom rail, but that’s only possible in movies. For us, just mimicking it closely is enough.

“Do you trust me?”

“Heh, yes, I trust you.”

Now for the highlight. I gently gripped Nabi’s wrists and slowly lifted them.

“Stay just like that.”

Since she was relaxed, she easily followed my lead, spreading her arms wide. We had perfectly recreated the scene from the movie.

I lightly held Nabi’s waist, rested my chin near her shoulder, and said softly:

“You can open your eyes now.”

Due to our position, I couldn’t see Nabi’s face from the front, but I could tell her earlobes had visibly reddened.

I quietly admired Nabi’s ear and profile from behind as she swallowed dryly and finally opened her eyes.

“So, how does it feel to be the heroine of the movie?”

“…Hmm, I don’t think I feel like I’m flying though?”

“Well, that’s because we’re standing on the deck, naturally.”

“Tsk, way to ruin the mood.”

Though she’s grumbling, she still has a smile on her face. Despite everything, she seems to be enjoying recreating the famous scene from Titanic.

“Siwoo, why aren’t you singing the song?”

“The song? I don’t mind singing, but are you sure?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Well, if I sing even one verse, then we’d have to share a passionate kiss afterward. That’s what happened in the movie, don’t you remember?

As I silently looked at her, a blush gradually rose to Nabi’s cheeks.

It seems she’s just now realizing what her words implied.

“Ah… right. Then I’ll cancel that request.”

But it’s too late to cancel. I just thought of a good prank. I whispered into Nabi’s ear as she tried to avoid my gaze.

-Come, Josephine, in my…

I had barely started the tune when I got an immediate reaction. Nabi, who had been half-leaning against me, suddenly jolted her entire body.

“Wh-what? Wh-why are you singing when I said not to?”

Why am I singing? To see you react like this, of course. Hiding those thoughts, I continued with the few remaining lines of the song.

-…flying machine Going Up. She goes…

“…Siwoo? Are you serious?”

-Up, she goes…

“……”

That’s as far as the male protagonist in Titanic sings. Even if I wanted to sing more, there are no more lyrics.

So the prank ends here. Now I just have to wait with anticipation to see what reaction I’ll get. I eagerly observed Nabi’s expression.

But… her reaction is different from what I expected? I thought she would either get angry and tell me to stop joking, or look down at the ground with a bright red face, but it’s neither.

Nabi was staring at me with dreamy eyes.

…A face that seems to be asking for something.

“…”

This is a big problem… I only meant to tease her, but somehow it’s turned into something serious. It’s such an unexpected reaction that I unconsciously gulp.

“…Close your eyes.”

At my request, Nabi quietly closed her eyes, and I continued my thoughts.

…I had her close her eyes because I felt like I might just go for it if we kept looking at each other, but now what? It wasn’t my intention, but now that I’ve drawn the sword, I need to cut something—that’s the immediate challenge.

But my gaze remained fixed on Nabi’s delicate lips.

“……”

This is really bad. This is definitely a severe case. Why am I focusing only on her lips and nowhere else? For the sake of my half-gone sanity, I needed to pull myself together.

Not the lips yet, if I do it here… I really won’t be able to handle the aftermath.

Then,

…somewhere other than the lips should be okay, right?

-Smooch.

“…Huh?”

Nabi, who had been in a daze, suddenly opened her eyes. Then, with a face that showed she didn’t understand what had happened, she touched her forehead and asked me:

“…What did you just do? No, where did you do it?”

“…What do you mean ‘where’? Did you fall asleep and dream?”

“What…? Dream?”

“Yeah, you suddenly fell asleep. You must have been really tired. Let’s go get some rest.”

“…What are you talking about? That’s impossible. Siwoo, where did you just kiss me? …Wait. Where are you going? You’re not really leaving, are you? Siwoo, Siwoo? …No! Where are you going?!”