Page 68 of From Paris to Seoul

But before figuring all that out, they decided to take a road trip across Japan—living in a van, exploring one city after another, making music along the way, and experiencing a kind of freedom neither of them had ever known.

It wasn’t the high-pressure, fast-paced life they used to have, but that was exactly the point.

Truthfully, it had been one of the easiest decisions Seo-yeon had ever made. She had spent too much of her life worrying about what was expected of her. Now, for once, she was choosing whatshewanted.

And what she wanted was this.

Baekhyun.

Her own quiet life.

The freedom to justbe.

“Next stop: Ginzan Onsen,” Seo-yeon announced as they caught sight of the picturesque little hot spring village. “Oh, it looks so pretty! I knew it was famous for its winter scenery, but I didn’t realize autumn here would be just as beautiful.”

After circling for a while to find parking, they finally secured a spot and strolled through the village.

Baekhyun nudged her toward a small shop in the middle of town, and Seo-yeon immediately knew why.

Every time they arrive somewhere new, Baekhyun sends postcards to his family—short updates with little sketches in the margins. So far, his dad has received only one.

Seo-yeon had started doing the same, writing to her parents, even though she wasn’t sure they ever read them.

As they sat in a cozy little café in Ginzan Onsen, sipping matcha lattes and scribbling on postcards, Baekhyun glanced at the one in her hands. “Writing to them again?”

“Yeah,” Seo-yeon murmured, tapping her pen against the edge of the card. “I don’t even know why I bother. I should be careful not to send them too many, or they might figure out where I am. But… I still don’t want them to think I don’t care.”

Baekhyun leaned back, studying her face before replying. “Maybe not now. But maybe one day, they’ll understand. And I’d like to meet them too, when you’re ready.”

She sighed, giving him a small smile before setting the postcard aside. When she looked up again, Baekhyun was sliding another one toward her.

The front showed a picturesque shot of the lantern-lit streets of Ginzan Onsen at night. “What’s this?”

“Just read it.”

She picked it up and turned it over.

There was only one sentence.

I love you.

Seo-yeon blinked, a gentle flush rising in her chest as she looked up at him.

Baekhyun met her gaze with a small smirk. “What? I’m sending postcards to everyone—including you.”

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Well… I meant it,” he admitted, his smile reaching his eyes before his lips.

Seo-yeon rolled her eyes, but her fingers curled around the postcard, tucking it safely into her bag. “I’m keeping this forever.”

Baekhyun grinned. “You better.”

As Seo-yeon idly glanced at her phone, she noticed the numbers climbing on the screen.

“People are actually streaming it,” she said, sounding a little dazed.

Baekhyun grinned, peeking over her shoulder at her phone. “Of course they are. It’s a good song.”

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