Scarlet Strings.

The Balcony Across From Mine

Seung-Il, never one to let a romantic moment pass without interruption, clapped his hands together. "Alright, lovebirds, as much as we all enjoy watching you two make heart eyes at each other, I believe we have some wine to taste."

Scarlet groaned, while Ha-Joon just smirked, unfazed. The group moved to the winery's main tasting room, a charming rustic space with stone walls and wooden beams. Large windows overlooked the vineyards, offering a view so stunning it felt like a painting.

Lorenzo's team guided them through the tasting, explaining the delicate balance of flavors in each wine. Scarlet savored each sip, enjoying the subtle differences between the varieties, the bold richness of the reds, the crispness of the whites, the delicate sweetness of the dessert wines.

Ha-Neul, though mostly silent, seemed to appreciate the experience. He swirled his glass with practiced ease, his gaze thoughtful as he examined the color and aroma of each wine.

Mr. Kang, always the businessman, asked detailed questions about production and distribution, while Mr. Wi and Mr. Rogers reminisced about past trips to Tuscany. The mothers, meanwhile, seemed far more interested in the idea of taking home a few bottles.

As the tasting progressed, Scarlet found herself growing warm and pleasantly lightheaded. Ha-Joon noticed immediately, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Maybe slow down a little?" he murmured.

She grinned up at him. "Are you saying I can't handle my wine?"

He chuckled. "I'm saying I'd rather not have to carry you back to the car."

Scarlet huffed but leaned into him nonetheless. After the tasting, the group took a final stroll through the vineyard, the sun now high in the sky. The laughter was easy, the conversation flowing as freely as the wine had.

As they reached the end of the vineyard path, Scarlet paused, taking it all in. The beauty, the peace, the people she loved surrounding her. Ha-Joon, standing beside her, noticed the way her expression softened. "What are you thinking about?"

She turned to him, smiling. "That I don't want this trip to end."

He took her hand, bringing it to his lips. "Then let's make the most of every moment."

And as they stood there, in the heart of Tuscany, with the golden fields stretching out before them and the sky an endless expanse of blue, Scarlet knew, this was happiness. This was love. And she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

***

The grand farmhouse mansion stood in the middle of the rolling Tuscan hills, bathed in the soft glow of the moon. The night air was cool, carrying the distant hum of cicadas and the rustling of vines in the gentle breeze. Inside, the house was silent, everyone had collapsed into deep, exhausted sleep after the long day of horse riding, pottery making, and wine tasting.

Everyone except for one man.

Ha-Neul.

It had become his routine. While the others drifted into sleep as if they had no worries in the world, he found himself awake, eyes wide open in the dark, unable to quiet his thoughts. And so, like every other night, he stepped out onto his balcony, the quiet solitude of the open air offering him the only peace he could claim as his own.

The wooden floor was cool beneath his feet as he walked forward, his gaze drawn almost instinctively to the balcony across from his. Ha-Joon and Scarlet's. They were there, wrapped in each other's arms, asleep. Scarlet's head rested against Ha-Joon's chest, her breath steady and peaceful, her fingers lightly curled into the fabric of his shirt.