The sky looked like it had been painted in soft watercolors—clouds lazily streaking across hues of peach and blue, the sun slowly beginning its descent. The ocean shimmered under the golden light, waves gently crashing onto the shore just a few steps away from the private pool attached to their villa. Everything felt unreal, like they had stepped into a quiet dream they didn’t want to wake from.
It had taken months to finally get this honeymoon. Work, schedules, comeback promotions, Aera’s deadlines and meetings, the impossibly full lives they lived—somehow they had always found reasons to postpone this. And yet now, in the quiet lull of paradise, it felt like it had come at exactly the right time.
Their villa was tucked into one of the more private corners of the island resort—modern, elegant, and open to the view of the ocean. The large patio stretched out into a small infinity pool that spilled visually into the sea. Beyond it, soft white sand met the waves.
Aera sat at the edge of the pool, legs dipped in, her shorts rolled slightly at the hem and one of Joshua’s oversized tees brushing her thighs. She had towel-dried her hair earlier, now slightly messy from the breeze. Her fingers absentmindedly skimmed the water’s surface as she watched her husband swim a few laps in the crystal-clear pool.
Joshua had been in the water for a while now, hair slicked back, bare-chested and sun-kissed from the afternoon light. He paused halfway through a lap, standing and running a hand over his face as water trickled down his neck and torso.
“Why aren’t you getting in?” he called over, voice playful, eyes soft with that gaze that always lingered longer when it was just the two of them.
He swam closer to her, stopping only when he could rest his arms on the ledge right beside where she sat. His hands dripped with cool water as they came to rest near her knees.
The sound of waves, wind, and soft rustling palm trees filled the silence between them.
“I still can’t believe we’re here,” he said, quietly this time—softer, almost like a confession meant just for her. “Feels like everything slowed down for us today.”
He tilted his head, smiling that smile that never failed to make her heart flutter. “You look like you’re thinking about something,” he teased gently. “What is it, Ari?”
Aera simply smiled. “Nothing.”
Joshua didn’t say anything at first. He just watched her for a beat—her soft smile, the one that said so much without a single word. It curled at the corner of her lips with quiet contentment, like the world was finally quiet enough to feel at peace.
He rested his cheek on his folded arms, still perched at the pool's edge beside her legs. The breeze moved strands of her hair across her face, and her feet gently swayed in the water below, sending small ripples across the pool.
“Nothing, huh?” he murmured, voice low with amusement. “That little smile says otherwise.”
He reached out, fingers brushing the side of her calf, not playful—just gentle, like grounding himself in the moment.
“You know, I used to think I knew all your ‘nothings,’” he continued with a faint grin. “But even after all these years, sometimes it still feels like I’m discovering a new version of you.”
The sun was beginning to dip lower now, casting a golden glow across her skin, and for a second, he just admired her—his wife, his Ari, who had walked with him through everything and was still here beside him, toes in the water, heart wide open.
He exhaled a laugh under his breath, more out of wonder than amusement.
“Come on,” he said, lifting his chin slightly. “Get in with me. Just for a bit. I’ll keep you warm.”
He leaned forward just enough to trail his wet fingers lightly up her arm, cool against her sun-warmed skin.
“Ari,” he coaxed again, soft and teasing. “Don't make me come up there and carry you in.”
Aera laughed softly. “You can't keep me warm in the water, Shua.”
Joshua’s smile widened as soon as he heard her soft laugh—light, familiar, the sound that always made everything feel a little easier, a little brighter.
He tilted his head at her, feigning offense with an exaggerated pout. “Excuse me? Are you questioning my husband powers right now?”
He pushed himself up a little higher in the water, his arms now fully resting on the pool’s edge as he looked up at her with mock seriousness. “I absolutely can keep you warm. I’m very good at that, thank you.”
She giggled again, and his heart did that small leap it always did when her eyes crinkled like that.
“You just don’t trust me,” he added dramatically, pretending to sulk, then let out a soft sigh. “Seven years together, and she still doubts me.”
Then, without giving her too much warning, he flicked a bit of water toward her bare legs with a smirk, watching her jump slightly at the sudden cold.
“See? Now you have to get in. You’re already wet.”
He rested his chin back on his arms, expression turning warm and boyish. “Come on, Ari. I’m serious though. This... this is our only real time off in forever. I want to make memories with you.”
He tapped the spot right in front of him in the water, inviting. “Just a little bit. I won’t splash. Promise.”
His eyes softened, and his voice dipped, quiet and sincere now. “Besides… I’ve never had a moment like this with just you. No cameras. No noise. Just us. Let me have all of you here, even if it’s just for a swim.”
Aera smiled again. “You know I don't know how to swim, Shua...”
Joshua let out a soft laugh, eyes crinkling as he watched her smile.
“You’re really sticking to that line, huh?” he said, amused, water dripping down his shoulders as he leaned closer. “You’ve said it three times now.”
He reached out again, this time his palm resting flat against her shin, thumb brushing over her skin like he was memorizing her—here, in this light, in this moment. “And I hear you, I do. But I also hear the part you’re not saying.”
He tilted his head, smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You kinda want to, don’t you?”
She didn’t answer right away, just kept smiling at him in that soft, unbothered way that made his heart feel like it had been wrapped in sunlight.
Joshua exhaled slowly, like he was trying not to fall even more for her, even after all these years.
“You don’t have to swim,” he said again, quieter this time, looking up at her like she held the whole world. “Just let me hold you. That’s all.”
He stood up fully in the water now, chest glistening in the golden dusk light, his hands reaching out toward her with an open gentleness that felt impossible to resist.
“I’ll stay right here. Arms around you. Feet on the floor. I won't even move.”
He smiled, eyes never leaving hers. “Come be in the water with me, Ari. Not to swim. Just to be with me.”
The wind picked up slightly, tousling her hair. And the sea kept whispering in the background, waiting—like the whole world was on pause, waiting to see if she would say yes.
Aera moved forward a bit on the edge, her voice soft as she asked, “How?”
Joshua’s eyes lit up instantly the moment she shifted forward, just a little—but enough to tell him she was giving in. His grin grew boyish, proud, but still laced with the same gentleness he always reserved for her.
“Like that,” he said softly, nodding with encouragement. “Just slide in slowly. I’ll be right here.”
He stepped even closer now, water lapping around his waist, arms already half-raised to catch her. “Put your hands on my shoulders if you want. Or just take my hands. Either way, I’ve got you.”
There wasn’t a hint of rush in his tone—only calm patience, the kind that made her feel like she could do anything, just because he believed she could.
“I won’t let go,” he added, quietly. “Promise on every single year we’ve been together.”
He looked up at her like she was the most precious thing in this whole beachside paradise, and extended both hands toward her again.
The water shimmered between them. The sky glowed pink and amber above them. And the way he looked at her—it was like she was the entire moment.
As soon as her hands settled on his shoulders, Joshua’s hold instinctively tightened around her waist—steady and grounding.
“Easy,” he whispered, watching her every move, eyes never leaving hers.
Then, as her body slowly eased into the water, she felt it rise—past her thighs, her waist, all the way up above her stomach. She sucked in a quiet breath at the sensation, but true to his word, Joshua never let her falter. The pool’s floor was smooth under her feet, but the water felt vast, foreign… if not for the steady press of his chest and the circle of his arms around her.
He looked down at her—literally. With her height only reaching his shoulders, she felt small, surrounded, entirely enveloped by him and the calm water.
“Not so bad, right?” he asked softly, brushing a wet strand of hair away from her cheek with his fingers. “You’re doing amazing.”
His arms didn’t move from around her waist, keeping her close, secure. Her hands, still resting on his shoulders, gripped lightly—not out of fear anymore, but for balance.
Joshua smiled, dimples showing, his tone turning teasing again. “You look tiny in here,” he whispered near her ear, chuckling. “Like a little duck who wandered into deep water.”
He leaned his forehead against hers again.
“But I got you, baby duck.”
He gently rocked her side to side, just a little, creating the tiniest waves around them.
“Want to float for a bit? I’ll hold you the whole time. You don’t have to do anything.”
Aera blinked, curious. “Float? How?”
Joshua chuckled softly, the sound rumbling in his chest against her.
“Just like that,” he said gently, his hands sliding slightly—one to the small of her back, the other cradling under her thighs as he subtly lifted her a bit off her feet, letting her body rest in his arms.
“You don’t have to do anything,” he reassured her, watching her eyes carefully in case she tensed. “I’ll keep you above the water. Just trust me.”
The pool was quiet, the only sounds were the distant hush of waves and the soft lapping of water around them. Her body stayed half-floating, legs still dipping into the water but most of her weight resting entirely in his arms. Like she weighed nothing to him.
Joshua looked down at her, his gaze impossibly soft. “See? You’re already doing it.”
He shifted slowly, swaying them in the pool like a gentle cradle, water moving with them. “You’re floating, Ari. You’re safe.”
Then, a teasing smile pulled at his lips again. “Now all that’s left is for me to teach you how to swim... by the time we leave Maldives, you’ll be diving in before me.”
He raised his brows dramatically. “Gold medal incoming.”
Aera shook her head. “I'm not learning how to swim. Not at all.”
Joshua burst out laughing, the kind that came straight from his chest—the sound warm, affectionate, and completely entertained.
“There it is,” he said through a grin, gently adjusting her so she was upright again in the water, still wrapped securely in his arms. “The classic Ari final decision.”
He looked down at her with a look that was half fond, half amused. “Not maybe, not we’ll see, just a full not at all.”
His nose bumped hers, water trickling down his jaw as he leaned in just slightly. “You do realize we’re standing in a pool right now, and you’re floating in my arms, right?”
He smiled wider. “That already counts as your first lesson. No take-backs.”
She rolled her eyes and he laughed again, leaning back just enough to admire her face—eyes bright even in her stubbornness, lips fighting a smile.
He squeezed her gently. “Okay, okay. No swimming. Not unless you change your mind.”
Then he lowered his voice, teasing again, “But just so you know… I’ll be here every time you accidentally decide to learn.”
He dipped his head closer, lips brushing her temple softly, lingering. “And every time you just want to float.”
The moment hung there, soft and golden, water swaying gently around them—Joshua holding her close like the whole world was only ever meant to be this quiet.
Aera frowned playfully. “I don't think this is called floating. It's more like... I don't know... picking me off the floor?”
Joshua grinned the second she said it, that boyish, amused smile spreading slow across his face as he looked down at her in his arms.
“Oh wow,” he breathed out a laugh, shifting slightly to hold her even closer. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
He tilted his head, mock thinking. “Hmm. Not floating. Just me picking you off the floor.”
He looked absolutely delighted.
“I mean,” he added, dramatically raising one brow, “you’re technically not wrong. You are off the floor. And I am doing all the work.”
Then he leaned in, forehead gently pressing against hers again, nose brushing hers, smile softening. “But I like it,” he murmured. “I like holding you like this. You feel... light. Peaceful.”
He gave a small squeeze, his thumb tracing lazy circles over her back underwater. “You feel like mine.”
He paused, then grinned again, playful tone sneaking back in. “Even if I am just a glorified pool crane, apparently.”
He looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes, dipping her slightly with a gentle sway in the water before bringing her right back up into his chest.
Aera gripped his shoulder tightly when he dipped her. “Josh! Don't pull that stunt on me!”
Joshua immediately let out a loud laugh as she clung to his shoulder, her voice laced with panic and mock outrage.
“Okay, okay!” he chuckled, tightening his grip so she was steady again, no more dipping, no more games—for now.
He looked down at her, completely entertained by how quick her expression had changed. “You should’ve seen your face, Ari!” he teased, eyes crinkling. “You looked like I dropped you into the Mariana Trench.”
Still laughing, he brought one hand up out of the water to gently push her wet hair away from her face, his touch light, affectionate.
“Relax, I said I wouldn’t let anything happen, didn’t I?” he said, his smile softening into something sweeter. “You really think I’d drop you? On our honeymoon? In this setting? That would be a crime.”
He dipped his head just slightly, kissing her forehead, lingering there. “But wow… your panic face is adorable.”
Then he smirked again, whispering near her ear, “Kind of makes me want to dip you again just to see it.”
He pulled back to see her glare forming, hands still clutching his shoulders, and he quickly raised both hands defensively—though still keeping one around her waist.
“Okay! No more stunts. Promise. Pool crane mode only. Floating service only.”
His eyes sparkled. “You’re the boss, Mrs. Hong.”
Aera smiled softly. “Anything, just don't kill me or drown me.”
He chuckled under his breath, voice full of affection, “That’s such a dramatic Ari thing to say.”
Still, his grip didn’t ease—not even a little. If anything, it grew more secure, one arm wrapping tighter around her waist as his free hand came up to rest gently between her shoulder blades. They were now in the shallower end again, the side she’d been sitting on earlier. The water here barely brushed above her stomach, nowhere near threatening.
“I would never,” he said, gaze unwavering. “You could walk across this whole pool, and still I’d be holding you like you’d fall into the ocean.”
He tilted his head, brushing her nose lightly with his own. “Not letting anything happen to you. Not in water, not in life.”
His eyes flicked toward the deeper side of the pool, the stretch of it that faded into a perfect view of the beach, sun-kissed and quiet. It wasn’t deep enough to drown her—but deep enough to make her nervous, maybe.
“Even that side over there,” he said, nodding toward it. “Not scary. Not if you ever wanted to go. I’d carry you the whole way and back.”
He looked down at her again. “Or we can just stay here,” he added softly. “Where you feel safe.”
Then, with a teasing grin starting to push back into place, he added, “Unless you want me to dramatically princess-carry you into the deep and reenact some romance movie.”
He raised a brow, eyes gleaming.
“I mean, it is our honeymoon. Drama is acceptable.”
Aera laughed. “Not that type of drama please.”
Joshua laughed with her, eyes crinkling as her giggles echoed off the water’s surface.
“Yeah?” he teased, giving her waist a gentle squeeze. “You mean no slow-motion twirls in the water with background violins? No dramatic kiss in the rain—or I guess, chlorine?”
He leaned in, bumping his forehead against hers lightly, voice turning playful and warm. “You’re right. That’s not really our kind of drama.”
His hands shifted slightly, now resting just above her hips, anchoring her against him. “Our kind of drama is you yelling my full name when I leave empty bottles on the kitchen counter,” he added, smirking. “Or accusing me of betrayal when I finish the last piece of your favorite chocolate.”
He leaned in, whispering near her ear, “Or threatening to divorce me because I watched an episode of your show without you.”
He pulled back just enough to see her face, his own lighting up.
“That’s the real chaos I signed up for.”
Then, softer again, he murmured, “But I love it. All of it. Even the dramatic ‘don’t kill me’ stuff. Even the stubborn not-learning-to-swim forever vows.”
His smile lingered, then he tilted his head. “Wanna just stay in this corner for a while? I’ll hold you. We’ll float.”
Aera smiled gently, her eyes sparkling in the golden light. “We? We will float? How?”
Joshua looked down at her, the smile returning instantly—tender, a little amused, but completely enamored.
“There she goes again,” he murmured fondly. “Asking the real questions.”
He gently readjusted his arms around her, moving one to support her lower back while the other slid beneath her thighs again. The water swirled softly around them as he lifted her just slightly off her feet—again, nothing dramatic, just enough to make her feel like she wasn’t carrying herself anymore.
“This,” he said softly. “This is how.”
Her body was still mostly upright, but now gently supported by the water and his arms, her weight feeling feather-light between the calm waves and his steady hold.
“You’re not doing anything. You’re just here. Letting go.” He looked into her eyes, voice soft and sure. “That’s floating.”
The pool shimmered around them, golden from the sunset, and Joshua began slowly turning in a small circle, letting the water move with them, letting her feel the calm rhythm of it all.
“You float,” he said, “when you stop trying to do everything on your own.”
His eyes searched hers for a moment, something deeper hiding just beneath the playful surface. “That’s all this is. Letting yourself be held.”
He smiled again, barely a whisper of a grin, like he was telling her a secret.
“And you’ve got me. Always.”
Aera laughed softly, shaking her head in amusement. “That’s me floating. Not we.”
Joshua blinked once. Then twice.
And then—he burst out laughing.
“Oh wow,” he said through a grin, head dropping to her shoulder for a second as his body shook gently with laughter. “You really got me there.”
He leaned back just enough to look at her, eyes gleaming with amusement. “You’re technically right,” he said, lifting a brow as if offended on behalf of his own logic. “You’re floating. I’m the one doing all the work.”
He gave her the softest bounce in his arms—just enough to make her giggle.
“But hey,” he added, holding her a little closer, “if you’re floating, and I’m holding you… isn’t that our moment anyway?”
His voice dipped again, more playful now, more him.
Then, unable to resist, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You’re floating. I’m floating you. We’re floating. Let me have this one, Ari.”
He rocked them gently again, her back still supported against his arm, the pool water calm around them, warm with sunlight.
“No more arguing. Just float with me,” he whispered. “Even if it’s technically just you.”
Aera smiled up at him, eyes soft with affection. “You’ll do anything to prove yourself right.”
“Anything? Ari!” he said, eyes wide, placing a hand dramatically over his chest like she wounded him. “Excuse me, I am a man of logic, grace, and humble reasoning—”
She raised a brow, and he cracked instantly, breaking into a sheepish grin. “Okay fine,” he admitted, chuckling. “Maybe I do like being right.”
He shifted his grip slightly, pulling her just a bit closer, until her head could rest easily against his shoulder. The water lapped softly around them as they floated slowly near the shallower edge.
“But only with you,” he added under his breath. “With you, I have to win. It’s a matter of pride.”
Then, with a boyish smirk: “You’ve got a very smug victory face, Mrs. Hong, and I can't let you wear it too often.”
He leaned his cheek lightly against her temple. “Though between us…” he whispered, “I kinda like when you do.”
Silence settled between them for a moment—warm, full, familiar.
The ocean breeze rustled the palms in the distance. The sky was deepening into a violet-orange, and in Joshua’s arms, she didn’t feel like she was floating anymore.
She felt like she was home.
Aera’s smile deepened as she rested her head closer to him. “Put me down, you'll get tired.”
Joshua’s arms stayed right where they were—secure around her, not budging an inch.
He looked down at her, eyes narrowing just slightly in playful defiance. “Nope.”
“I’m not tired,” he said calmly. “And even if I was, I’d still carry you.”
He adjusted his grip again, just a little, making sure she was perfectly balanced in his hold—like she weighed nothing, like this was exactly where she was meant to be.
“You forget I’ve been working out for years for this moment,” he teased, grinning. “What do you think all those muscles were for? The gym didn’t know, but I did.”
Then, with a lower voice—quiet, sincere—he added, “Let me hold you, Ari.”
His smile softened. “I hold everyone else up all the time. The guys, the fans, even my own head some days. But with you…” He glanced down at her in his arms, like she was the only thing in the world. “With you, I just want to hold what I love.”
He leaned in, nose brushing hers again. “So no. I’m not putting you down yet.”
He grinned again, brighter this time. “Unless you want down.”
Aera looked at him curiously, a small smile playing on her lips. “I want down means? I want to be put down?”
Joshua blinked at her for a second, clearly not expecting the question.
Then his lips twitched. “Wait… are you asking what that means?”
She gave him an innocent look, still in his arms, and he immediately started laughing again—quiet and breathless, water rippling softly around them.
“Ari,” he said between laughs, resting his forehead against hers, “you’re literally in my arms right now and asking me what ‘I want down’ means?”
He pulled back slightly, smile wide. “Yes. It means ‘I want to be put down.’ You say it when you’re ready to stop being carried like a baby.”
He raised a playful brow. “...Are you ready to stop being carried like a baby?”
Then he grinned, eyes teasing. “Be honest. You like this, don’t you?”
He gave her a soft little bounce in his arms again. “You’re totally living for the ‘float me like a princess’ experience.”
Aera’s cheeks flushed slightly, but her smile grew warmer, eyes twinkling with shy amusement.
Joshua’s head fell back in laughter, loud and delighted, his grip on her tightening protectively as her words echoed around them.
“Oh my God, Ari—” he managed between laughs, “complicated phrases? Babe, I literally said ‘I want down.’ That’s, like, baby talk level.”
He looked back at her with wide eyes, completely amused, absolutely smitten.
“Your brain stops?” he repeated, grinning like she was the funniest person alive. “Because I speak in complete sentences?”
He brought one hand up and lightly tapped her forehead. “What’s going on in here, huh? Is there a tiny gremlin in there just pressing pause every time I say something remotely basic?”
Then he leaned in, whispering conspiratorially near her ear, “Is this why you stare at me blankly sometimes when I use big words like... ‘microwave’?”
He was full-on teasing now, his chest shaking slightly with held-back laughter.
But then, with zero warning, his tone dipped—warm, loving, teasing still, but deeply affectionate.
“I like your brain, by the way,” he said quietly. “Even when it stops. Especially when it stops because of me.”
He leaned back just enough to look at her, gaze soft now.
Aera laughed softly, eyes bright. “I know what a microwave is, Shua.”
Joshua burst into another round of laughter, this one even more dramatic as he threw his head back again, water splashing gently around them.
“Oh, thank God!” he exclaimed between laughs. “The marriage is saved!”
He looked down at her, grinning like an idiot, eyes bright with pure joy. “I was so worried for a second,” he teased. “Thought I’d have to explain appliances one by one.”
Then he leaned in, forehead resting against hers, still smiling as his voice dropped to something softer, more playful.
“But just so we’re clear… you don’t know what ‘I want down’ means,” he murmured, lips brushing the edge of her cheek.
“And your brain does stop when I talk.”
He kissed the corner of her mouth then, quick and sweet. “Which is fine. Honestly, I think it’s cute.”
Then, without pulling away, he whispered, “...But you still can’t escape the fact that you’re floating. Technically. In my arms. And liking it.”
He gave her a small sway in the water again, smirking. “Admit it.”
Aera shrugged with a gentle smile, eyes playful but soft. “Perhaps.”
Joshua froze for half a second, lips parted slightly, then broke into the softest smile—eyes warm, amused, and completely wrapped around her little shrug.
“Perhaps,” he repeated, as if tasting the word like it was something new and precious. “Wow.”
He gave a small laugh, then leaned in, resting his forehead against hers again. “That’s basically a love confession, Ari. You just admitted you like being carried around like royalty.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting their noses brush lightly. “You’re lucky I like spoiling you.”
Then, without breaking the moment, he whispered, “I’m never letting you forget this. The girl who said she’d never get in the water is now floating in my arms and... perhaps enjoying it.”
He kissed her forehead. “You’ve officially lost the argument.”
He gave her one last gentle sway, like a lull in the current.
“And I’ve officially won honeymoon day one.”
Aera smiled warmly, the hint of a laugh in her voice. “What can I say? You spoil me too much. I'm your spoiled wife.”
He looked at her like he’d never get used to hearing those words. Like they weren’t just a statement, but a gift.
“My spoiled wife,” he repeated softly, almost reverently, as if the phrase was sacred. His thumb traced slow, lazy circles against her back under the water, his eyes fixed on hers.
A smile curled on his lips, but it wasn’t the teasing kind this time. It was warm. Completely full.
“You have no idea what those words do to me,” he whispered, eyes flickering between hers. “My wife. Mine.”
He leaned in slowly, closing the little space between them, pressing a kiss to her lips—gentle at first, soft and slow like a secret passed back and forth.
But when she didn’t pull away, he deepened it just slightly, just enough to let her feel how much weight those three simple words carried for him.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers again, breath still warm against her skin.
“You’re not just spoiled,” he murmured, smiling again. “You’re my favorite person to spoil.”
Then, with a playful glint returning to his eyes, “And you’ve officially lost all rights to complain about it ever again.”
Aera laughed softly, shaking her head with a fond smile. “This doesn’t mean you’re spending too much here.”
Joshua blinked—once, twice—then broke into the most dramatic gasp possible, his mouth falling open like she’d just accused him of a financial crime.
“Too much?!” he echoed, clutching at his chest like her words had physically struck him. “Excuse me, ma’am, I am a responsible adult and a budget-conscious husband.”
“…Who may or may not have upgraded our villa suite because the bathtub looked ‘emotionally healing’ in the pictures.”
Then, with a sheepish grin sneaking in, he added, “Also maybe booked the boat tour, and the sunset dinner, and that floating breakfast thing you like, and—okay, maybe I’m spending a little.”
He looked at her, eyes softening instantly, the teasing fading just enough to let something real slip through. “But it’s not about the money, Ari. It’s about you. About making you feel like this is the dream you deserve.”
He kissed the tip of her nose gently, then pulled back with a crooked smile.
“That being said,” he added, playfully, “if you wanna pull out your wallet and spoil me for once, I’ll allow it.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Buy me a coconut or something. Make me feel exotic.”
Aera laughed, her eyes shining with warmth. “Exotic? Shua, I pay half on the trip and you pay half. Okay?”
Joshua grinned the moment she started laughing—his favorite sound in the world—and then tilted his head, giving her the most exaggeratedly unimpressed look he could muster.
“Half?” he repeated, as if the concept personally offended him. “Ari… I just carried you around the pool like a princess. Do princesses split the bill?”
But before she could reply, he softened, eyes warming into something deeply affectionate.
“I know,” he said, voice lower now. “I know you always want to share everything. That you’re independent. That you’ve worked hard for everything you have.”
He leaned in closer, nose brushing hers, the smile on his lips still playful but laced with genuine love.
“And I love that about you. That you insist on paying half. That you won’t let me spoil you too much without fighting back.”
He paused, letting the water rock gently around them, her body still relaxed in his arms.
“But you should know,” he whispered, “you could never be a burden. Not to me. Not ever. Spoiling you… taking care of you… it’s not about money. It’s about love. It’s about wanting to.”
Then—because he couldn’t help himself—he grinned again and added, “But still no. You aren’t paying even a single cent. But you can buy me a coconut like I said.”
Aera smiled softly, eyes twinkling with a hint of teasing. “I will if that’s what you really want.”
Joshua’s eyes lit up like she’d just handed him a trophy.
“A coconut?” he gasped, placing a hand over his heart. “For me? On our honeymoon? Wow.”
He looked around dramatically, as if addressing the heavens. “She really said: ‘I do… and I’ll buy you a coconut.’ What a woman.”
Then he looked back down at her, the teasing smile still there but softer now—melted around the edges with affection only meant for her.
“You’re seriously going to be the reason I smile for the rest of my life, you know that?”
He dipped his head, pressing a light kiss to her jaw, then to her temple. “You don’t even have to do anything big, Ari. Just exist next to me, laugh like that, and promise me coconuts every once in a while.”
His grip shifted, and slowly—carefully—he lowered her back down to stand on her own feet in the shallow end, hands still resting on her waist. The water hugged around them both, warm and calm.
“And later…” he murmured, leaning in close, lips brushing her ear, “when we’re on the beach, I’m buying you something sweet.”
He pulled back with a mischievous smile. “And it’s not going to be a coconut.”
Aera chuckled softly, eyes bright. “You’ll be dragging those heavy bags back full of whatever you buy.”
He pulled back, laughing softly, "Was that even a question? My wife is just meant to be carried around by me. Nothing else."
Still holding her close, he shifted slightly in the water, hands slipping from her waist to her arms, then slowly down to lace their fingers together again beneath the surface. The water was cooling slightly now, but between them, it still felt warm—soaked in the kind of comfort only years of love could create.
He began to sway them again, lazy little movements like a slow dance, chest to chest, no music, no beat—just the soft lapping of water and the sound of her laugh still echoing in his ears.
“You know,” he murmured as they moved, “we could just keep dancing like this.”
He tilted his head, gaze steady on hers. “No people, no shoes, no cameras. Just you, me, and this water you allegedly hate.”
He then gave her a light twirl—his hand still in hers—as if they were in some grand ballroom instead of a private pool on a Maldivian evening. And when he caught her again, pulling her back into his arms with an effortless spin, he whispered near her ear, breath warm, “You're mine. Right here. Right now. And I love it.”
She smiled at him, giggling softly. “What was that?”
Joshua smiled instantly at the sound of her giggle—his favorite sound in the world, hands down. He cocked his head innocently, still holding her hand as their bodies gently bobbed in the water. “That?” he echoed, pretending like he had no idea what she was talking about. “That was called a twirl, Mrs. Hong.”
He raised their joined hands again as if ready to spin her all over again, his expression impossibly pleased with himself. “You know… ballroom romance, spontaneous elegance—pool edition.” Then he grinned, completely dropping the elegant act. “Pretty smooth, right?”
He moved closer, pressing their joined hands against his chest now, and leaned in until their noses brushed again, eyes full of playful warmth. “Admit it—you were impressed.”
And then, with the most boyish smirk: “You giggled. You only giggle like that when your heart skips.” He kissed her cheek with a satisfied little hum. “Caught you.”
She smiled wider. “You know me too well. That's dangerous.”
Joshua’s smile deepened—slower now, quieter, almost smug but soft around the edges. “Dangerous?” he echoed, voice dipping to that low, amused murmur he reserved only for her. He gently traced his thumb across the back of her hand, still holding it over his chest like a promise.
He leaned in, lips just beside her ear now, and whispered, “Knowing you too well is my superpower.”
Then he pulled back slightly, meeting her gaze head-on, a glint in his eyes. “I know exactly when you’re about to roll your eyes. I know when you’re pretending not to laugh. I know when you’re annoyed but secretly enjoying it,” he counted off on his fingers, dramatically. “I even know what you're craving before you know.”
He smirked, brushing the tip of his nose against hers. “And yeah… it is dangerous.” Then, teasingly, “Because now I can mess with your head for the rest of our lives.”
He gave her the most innocent expression—completely unserious, completely in love. “But don’t worry.” He cupped her cheek gently, his voice lowering again. “I only use my powers for good.”
She raised an eyebrow and smiled softly. “Then now is a good time to use them?”
Joshua let out the softest laugh, low and warm—like the sound curled straight from his chest and settled into the air between them. He tilted his head slightly, the corners of his mouth curling upward, gaze fixed on her like she’d just handed him his favorite puzzle.
“Ohh,” he murmured, amused and touched all at once. “So now you want me to use them?”
Their hands were still laced, resting against the surface of the water, and he gently pulled her even closer—until there was no space left between them, just soaked fabric, warm skin, and the hum of something that felt like it could go on forever.
“Now, of all moments,” he whispered, brushing his nose lightly along her cheek, “you’re giving me full permission?”
Then he leaned back slightly, just enough to search her face—smiling, soft, a little playful, but undeniably sincere.
“My wife,” he said under his breath, as if the words still stunned him every time. “Asking me to use the one thing I’ve spent seven years sharpening to perfection.”
He brought his hands to cup her face gently, water dripping from his fingertips as he tilted her head ever so slightly. “Alright, then. I’ll use them now.”
And then he leaned in—not rushed, not teasing—but slow and steady, like he had all the time in the world. Like he knew her too well.
And when his lips finally met hers, it was gentle. Thoughtful. Confident.
The kind of kiss that said, “I know your favorite silence.” The kind that said, “I know when you’re pretending to be okay.” And more than anything, the kind that said, “I know you. And I love you exactly as you are.”
When he pulled back—barely—his breath still mingled with hers, and he whispered, smiling, “Power successfully used.”
She blushed, looking away shyly. “That wasn't what I was pointing to.”
Joshua stared at her, still close, still holding her like she might drift away if he let go—even though they both knew she wouldn’t. Then, slowly, the most smug, lopsided grin spread across his face.
“Oh really?” he said, eyes narrowing slightly as his voice dipped low, amused and curious. “Then what exactly were you pointing to, Mrs. Hong?”
He gently nudged her nose with his, still smiling, still watching her blush deepen with every heartbeat. “Because if that wasn’t it…” he trailed off, raising an eyebrow, “now I’m dying to know what I just got completely wrong.”
His hands slid down to the sides of her waist under the water, thumb tracing slow circles. “You gave me a green light and I went full husband mode,” he teased. “Kissed you like I was unlocking a secret level or something.”
Then he leaned in, closer again, voice warm against her cheek. “Was I off by a mile, Ari? Or just a few kisses early?”
He pulled back slightly to study her face—still flushed, still glowing. “I’ll fix it,” he whispered, “if you tell me what you really meant.”
She muttered softly, “You said you know what I crave before even I know. I was asking that.”
Joshua blinked, and for the first time in the past hour, he actually looked a little… speechless. Then his lips parted into the softest, most genuine smile—none of the teasing now. Just warmth. Quiet, glowing warmth that radiated through his entire face like a sunrise.
“Oh…” he said, his voice barely above the water’s hush. “That’s what you meant.”
She muttered it so softly, but he heard every syllable. And it hit him straight in the chest.
He moved closer again, this time slower, gentler. His hands slid from her waist to her back, palms resting flat, anchoring her to him.
“Well then,” he murmured, brushing his lips along her hairline, “let me see if I still know.”
He pulled back slightly, tilting his head as if scanning her—like he was tuning into something deeper.
“You’re not craving food,” he said, smiling thoughtfully. “Not right now.”
He tapped her chin softly. “You’re craving… calm. Warmth. Not too much noise. Something that feels like home. Something that makes you feel held.”
Then he gave her the faintest little smirk. “You crave peace, but you don’t know how to ask for it out loud.”
He leaned in again, pressing a kiss to the center of her forehead.
“And right now, I think you just want to stay here. No talking. No teasing. Just me and you and water and sky.”
He pulled her into a slow, quiet hug, resting his chin on her shoulder as he whispered against her ear, “Did I get it right, Ari?”
She whispered back, “I guess.”
Joshua smiled against her shoulder, a breath of a laugh leaving him as she whispered. He tightened his arms just slightly, holding her there in that quiet, sun-warmed stillness like she was something precious—something that couldn’t be rushed.
“You guess?” he murmured, lips brushing her skin with the faintest touch. “That’s basically a yes in Aera language.”
He didn’t press, didn’t pull back to look at her. He just swayed with her gently, letting the water hug around them like it understood, too.
“I’ll take that,” he whispered. “That’s enough for me.”
There was no performance in his voice now. No teasing. Just a kind of steady, grounding love—simple and certain, like the waves lapping quietly just beyond the pool’s edge.
A breeze passed, brushing through damp hair and skin, and Joshua’s hand slid up to cup the back of her head gently.
“I’ll stay like this as long as you want,” he murmured. “Until your heart feels full again.”
“Even if that means floating here forever.”
She slowly let herself float up just a tiny bit, though she knew she couldn’t, still holding onto him.
Joshua felt it the moment she shifted—barely, gently—her body lifting just the tiniest bit, like she was testing the water’s patience… but still holding onto him, still anchored by his hands.
He looked down at her, his smile stretching into something helplessly fond, endlessly tender.
“Ohhh,” he whispered, voice dipping with exaggerated awe, “look at you. You are floating.”
He didn’t move to let go, not even a little. His arms stayed right where they were—supporting her beneath the surface like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“You’re holding on like your life depends on it,” he teased, “but technically… this counts.”
His hand gently brushed across her lower back under the water, steadying her even as she barely lifted herself off the pool floor. “Ari, this is revolutionary. You might be a swimmer now.”
He looked right into her eyes, expression soft, proud, glowing. “Next thing I know, you’ll be diving off a boat and swimming with dolphins.”
She laughed lightly. “I can't float. It was a fail attempt.”
Joshua let out a warm, breathy laugh the moment her soft voice came through, filled with that familiar blend of honesty and self-mockery.
“A fail attempt?” he repeated, still smiling as he looked at her. “That was adorable. You lifted like… half a centimeter off the pool floor. That counts for something in my book.”
He pulled her a little closer again, one hand sliding protectively to her back, keeping her perfectly supported without even thinking about it.
“Besides,” he added with a tilt of his head, “you were never trying to float alone anyway.”
He leaned down, brushing his lips softly against her forehead before murmuring, “You were holding onto me the whole time. That’s why it worked at all.”
Then he chuckled again. “Also, I’ve decided your version of swimming is clinging to your husband like a koala and calling it a lesson.”
His arms tightened slightly around her.
“If you just wanna stand here with me for hours, pretending to float while holding onto me… I’m good with that.”
Then, with a cheeky grin: “Though next time, I am charging coaching fees. In kisses.”
She laughed and smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.
Joshua’s expression melted the moment her laughter reached him again—soft, real, and followed by that familiar smile as she gently rested her head on his shoulder.
His arms instinctively shifted to cradle her closer, hands firm at her back as he held her like she weighed nothing at all. The kind of hold that said, I’ve got you. Always.
For a while, he didn’t say anything.
He just let them drift there in the warm water, her breath slow against his neck, her cheek pressed into him like it was the only place that made sense in the world.
Then, slowly, carefully—without a word—he began moving.
The water swirled quietly around them as he walked them both toward the deeper side of the pool, the edge closer to the open beach, where the water deepened just enough to reach her shoulders if she stood.
But Joshua didn’t let her stand.
He lifted her just a little higher, kept her suspended in his arms as they moved through the still water, his touch protective and calm.
“You trust me?” he asked gently, his voice low near her ear, not testing her—just wanting to hear her say it.
Because even if she didn’t float, and even if she never wanted to try again, she had already done the one thing that mattered most:
She whispered softly, “Uh huh but that's deep, Shua.”
Joshua chuckled softly the second her voice reached his ear, all quiet concern wrapped in that familiar pout.
“Uh huh but that’s deep, Shua.”
He stopped walking instantly—just enough to let the ripples settle around them—and looked down at her with a gentle, amused smile.
“I know,” he said, one brow raised playfully. “But you’re not even touching the floor, Ari. I’m still holding you. You’re not going anywhere.”
He gave her a little squeeze, swaying slightly in the deeper water with her still secure in his arms, like she was just part of him now.
“You think I’d let go of you in the deep end?” he asked softly, nudging her temple with his nose. “You married a drama king, not a fool.”
Then, as if to prove his point, he shifted his arms again—tighter, steadier, pulling her even closer. Her head rested just under his jaw now, her body floating fully, her toes far from the floor.
“This is literally the safest spot in the entire ocean,” he whispered with a grin. “Me. Holding you. In my arms. I’ve got you, Ari. Always.”
Then, mock serious, “Besides, this is the honeymoon. A little emotional depth is expected.”
She frowned slightly. “Uh..no?”
Joshua blinked, utterly scandalized.
“No?” he echoed, eyes wide. “You didn’t get it?”
He pulled back slightly to stare at her, jaw dropping dramatically. “Ari. That was top-tier pool pun material.”
He placed a hand over his heart like she’d just betrayed him on national television. “I said emotional depth is expected… and we’re in the deep end.”
He looked at her with pure mock pain. “That was gold, woman. Comedy gold.”
Then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he leaned in again—closer this time, mischievous grin creeping onto his lips.
“You ignored the pun on purpose, didn’t you?”
He bumped her forehead with his, then whispered in a warning tone, “You’re lucky you’re cute. Otherwise I’d dunk you for that.”
He paused. Thought about it.
“…Actually, you are cute.”
His grip shifted slightly, just enough to make her squeal at the hint of dipping lower—but not letting her fall.
“Want to rethink your answer?” he asked with a dangerous smile.
She laughed softly. “I wasn't ignoring!”
Joshua stopped mid-motion, holding her still—barely keeping the smug grin off his face.
“Ohhh?” he said slowly, like she’d just given him the plot twist of the evening. “You weren’t ignoring it?”
He narrowed his eyes, suspicious but entertained. “Then what was that ‘uh… no’ huh? Sounded exactly like someone dodging a pun attack.”
He gently lifted her higher in the water for a second—teasingly threatening to dip her again—and then brought her right back close against him, his nose brushing her cheek.
“Wait,” he whispered with playful intensity, “were you… trying not to encourage me?”
His eyes widened dramatically. “Were you protecting the world from my dad-joke era?”
He placed a hand to his chest. “Ari. That’s betrayal and censorship.”
But the smile on his lips was impossibly soft now, no real offense taken—just adoration tucked into every inch of his voice.
He kissed her cheek quickly, then muttered against her skin, “Next time you ignore one of my genius pool puns, I am dipping you. Not enough to traumatize… just enough to make a point.”
“You’re lucky I’m in love with you.”
She smiled sheepishly. “I wasn't. I just didn't get it.”
Then he blinked. Once. Twice. And collapsed into laughter.
“Oh my God, Ari,” he wheezed, hugging her close, resting his forehead against her shoulder. “You really didn’t get it? You thought I was just being—what? Randomly poetic in the middle of the pool?”
He looked up at her with so much affection it was almost unbearable. “You’re unreal,” he whispered, grinning so wide his cheeks ached. “And somehow… that makes it even better.”
Still laughing softly, he shook his head. “I’m out here crafting high-quality husband material and my wife thinks I’m just saying deep stuff because we’re standing in water.”
Then, cupping her cheeks with both hands and giving her the most serious expression, he said, “Ari. I love you more every day. Even when—no, especially when—you miss my jokes.”
He kissed her nose, then rested their foreheads together, grinning.
“You’re my favorite confused person.”
She smiled and looked at him, a little sheepish. “I love you too but please Shua, I’m literally standing on my toes and my feet are really cramping bad.”
Joshua’s entire expression crumbled the moment she said it.
“You’re what—?!” he blurted, already moving before she even finished the sentence.
Without hesitation, his arms wrapped securely around her waist and lifted her right off the floor, pulling her into him so fast it made the water splash gently around them.
“You’ve been standing on your toes this whole time?” he repeated, eyes wide, completely scandalized. “And your feet are cramping?! Ari—baby—!”
He pulled her in even closer, one hand holding her safely under her thighs while the other slid down to gently rub at her calf under the water.
“You should’ve told me the second it started! You really just… suffered quietly like a sweet little mermaid in distress?”
She looked up at him with that sheepish, innocent face—and he completely melted.
“Oh my God,” he whispered with a sigh, pressing a long, affectionate kiss to her temple. “I left you standing in the deep end. You were in pain, and I was over here making dumb puns.”
But his hands were already moving, carefully massaging her foot under the surface while holding her tight against him, cradling her completely like she weighed nothing at all.
“You're not touching the floor again,” he muttered. “I don’t care if we stay in this pool for three hours—you’re not touching anything but me. Ever again.”
Then, with a soft smile and a whisper near her ear: “My poor little crampy dolphin.”
She smiled warmly, resting her head closer to his chest. “Shua, don’t worry. You’re still the best. Pun or no pun. Cramps or no cramps. Also, it’s my foot, not my leg.”
Joshua froze mid-leg massage again, blinking slowly at her words like they were hitting him in real-time. There was a beat of silence… and then:
“Ari,” he said, voice absolutely flat, “I was giving your leg a TED Talk on pain relief. Meanwhile your foot—the actual victim—is down there suffering in silence?”
She nodded, sheepish again.
He stared a second longer. Then, without a word, he gently adjusted his hold, turned around, and began walking them back toward the shallow end—his arms still securely around her, feet moving steadily through the warm water as the deeper edge faded behind them.
“Alright, that’s it,” he muttered, half defeated, half dramatically offended. “Pool privileges: revoked.”
She giggled softly against his shoulder.
“You had one job, Ari. One. Say ‘my foot hurts.’ Not ‘I love you, but I’m on my toes’ and leave the rest to my overactive imagination.”
Still, his grip stayed gentle as he reached the edge of the shallow side, where she had originally been sitting. The sun was dipping lower now, casting a soft golden hue across the surface.
He bent slightly to let her sit comfortably on the pool’s edge again, then crouched in the water right in front of her, hands resting on her knees as he looked up at her with a playful pout.
“You’re lucky you said I’m still the best husband,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “Otherwise I was one minute away from holding a grudge all the way back to Seoul.”
He gave her shin a little affectionate pat. “You're not supposed to endure me, Ari. You're supposed to annoy me back.”
Joshua shifted closer, rising just a bit in the water so he was eye level with her where she sat on the pool’s edge. He brought one hand down and took her foot gently in his palm, cradling it with such care it was like she’d just admitted it was made of glass.
He started rubbing slow, careful circles into her arch—not just to soothe the pain but to keep it away. His thumb moved with purpose, steady and mindful, like this was something he’d been trained to do his whole life.
He looked up at her again, eyes full of quiet understanding now.
“You didn’t even tell me all this time,” he said softly, half guilty, half in awe. “You just let me splash around and be annoying while your feet were staging a quiet rebellion.”
Still rubbing gently, he leaned forward and kissed her knee, eyes flicking up to meet hers again.
“We’ll stay out of deep water from now on, okay? No more toe torture. Just sand. And sunshine. And you, sitting comfortably with no underwater betrayal.”
Then, teasing lightly again—just enough to make her smile:
“But if your feet cramp even in the Maldives, then I think your body’s just dramatic like you.”
Joshua’s lips twitched the second she squirmed, her foot flinching a little in his hand.
He froze mid-circle, blinking innocently.
“Oh? This?” he said, pressing lightly again on the arch, smirking as she pulled her foot back half a centimeter. “Right here?”
She gave him a warning look.
“Okay, okay,” he laughed, soft and easy, rubbing slower now—more soothing than playful. “No tickling the royal feet. Got it.”
Joshua exhaled through his nose, gaze thoughtful as he held her foot in both hands now, less for massage and more just to keep her grounded.
“You jumped into the pool with me,” he said, half smiling to himself. “Fully forgot your feet would betray you, just because… I asked.”
He shook his head, squeezing her foot gently.
“You really are something else, Ari.”
Then, resting his arms across her lap as he leaned his chin on them, gazing up at her with soft wonder:
“Thank you. For trusting me—even with cramping feet and a suspicious pool.”
Joshua blinked. “Back... there?”
He glanced over his shoulder toward the deeper side of the pool—the water still calm, kissed golden by the setting sun, gentle ripples dancing where they’d floated earlier.
Then he turned back to her, surprised—but not in the way that stopped him. Surprised in the way that warmed him.
There wasn’t a trace of teasing in his voice this time. Just softness. Careful awe.
She nodded sheepish-innocently.
He studied her for a moment—her damp hair sticking to her cheeks, the faint blush from earlier still on her skin, that mix of quiet courage and absolute trust shining through her eyes—and then his expression shifted into something so full of love it nearly broke him.
Without saying a word, he stood, offered his hands out, and once she took them, he helped her gently slip back into the water.
No sudden movements this time. No teasing.
Just him, carefully wrapping his arms around her again, like it was second nature.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered as she floated back into him, her arms looping naturally around his shoulders. “Always.”
And together, they drifted back toward the deeper end—her feet no longer touching the floor, her chest pressed gently to his, her trust wrapped around him like the water surrounding them.
The sun dipped lower, casting golden flecks over the surface, and Joshua held her like he never wanted to let go.
Just warmth. Trust. And the quiet comfort of being exactly where they belonged.
“You can put me down you know.”
Joshua looked at her, arms still securely around her in the middle of the gently lapping water, and raised an eyebrow with a little grin. He leaned in slightly, playful, but warm.
“Can I?” he said, tilting his head. “Because last time I did, someone ended up standing on her toes with cramping feet and didn't tell me.”
She gave him that sheepish smile again, and he let out a soft laugh, dipping his head for a second like he couldn’t handle how adorable she was.
Then he met her eyes and said, more gently, “I can put you down anytime, Ari. But only if you actually want me to.”
Still holding her, he began to lower her slowly—letting her feet find the pool floor at a comfortable depth, the water brushing just under her shoulders this time.
The moment her feet touched, his hands didn’t move. They just rested lightly at her waist, still protective, still there—just in case.
“There,” he said quietly. “Back on your feet. No toes. No cramps. Just you.”
And then, grinning a little again, he added with a soft nudge of his nose to her cheek:
“Still holding on to me, though. I call that progress.”
Joshua had just started to relax, his hands loose at her waist as she stood on her own in the water—when he felt her shift again. Just a little.
He pulled back to look at her, suspicious.
“It just felt deep that time… it still does.”
And there she was, back on her tiptoes. Again.
The sheepish tone. The small smile. The tiny rise in height.
Joshua just stared at her for a long, dramatic second, blinking like she’d just told him the sky wasn’t blue.
No response. Just that guilty little smile again.
“Ari, love of my life…” he said, leaning forward like he was about to tell her a deep secret. “Are you physically incapable of telling me you’re uncomfortable like a normal human being?”
He groaned—laughing as he did—then immediately wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the floor again, easy, automatic, no questions asked.
“You know what?” he said, adjusting her with mock seriousness. “That’s it. You are banned from standing on your own in water.”
He looked at her with mock scolding. “You had one job. And it was ‘stand flat.’ What do you do instead? Start toe ballet in the deep end.”
He kissed her nose, eyes warm now.
“You’re lucky you’re my wife. Anyone else? I’d let them sink just out of spite.”
Then, with a smirk: “I’m taking you to the kiddie pool next time. Two feet deep. Sandals mandatory.”
“It can't be anyone else you know. Everyone is taller than me.”
Joshua paused at her words, the water gently rippling around them.
He held her tighter, his arms still around her waist as they floated near the edge of the deeper end. Her feet weren’t touching the floor anymore, and she had that small, sheepish look again—half teasing, half honest.
He smiled, slow and warm.
“Exactly,” he said, leaning his forehead to hers. “It can’t be anyone else.”
His fingers trailed slowly along her back, drawing small shapes under the water.
“I don’t want taller. I don’t want different. I want you, Ari. Even if I have to carry you every single time we step near a pool. Even if your feet cramp the moment water touches them. Even if you have to float forever and hold on to me like a baby otter.”
He tilted his head and kissed the side of her temple gently.
“You being the tiniest person in every room just means there's always more of you to protect. More of you for me to take care of. More of you I get to hold.”
He pulled back just slightly, looking at her with that impossibly soft, completely in-love gaze—the one he reserved for moments like this, when her words were playful but her heart peeked through.
“There’s never going to be ‘anyone else,’ Ari.”
His voice dropped, serious and full of quiet devotion.
“You’re it for me. Whether you’re standing on your toes, floating in my arms, or sitting two feet below everyone else at the dinner table.”
A pause. Then, playful again—
“…Actually, please keep sitting lower. It makes feeding you from across the table a lot more efficient.”
“I'm not that short as much you're exaggerating.”
Joshua’s grin stretched impossibly wide the moment she said it.
He looked down at her—literally down—his eyes flicking to where the top of her head sat, resting barely at the height of his shoulders.
“Oh really?” he said, arching a brow. “Ari, love… you’re exactly that short.”
He reached one hand up and gently flattened it on top of her head, then gestured to his own shoulder with exaggerated drama. “Your head is here, my shoulder is here. This isn’t me exaggerating. This is geometry.”
Then, smiling softer, he leaned down a bit so their foreheads almost touched. “And I love it. I love every centimeter of it.”
He lifted her slightly in the water again just to be annoying, raising her till her eyes were level with his, grinning.
“There. Now you’re tall. Happy?”
And before she could answer, he planted a quick kiss on her nose and added with a teasing smirk,
“But the second I let go, my pocket-sized wife returns.”
“You are that short. And I’ll keep reminding you. Because nothing makes me feel stronger than carrying around someone who literally fits in my arms like she was designed for it.”
He tightened his hold a little.
“Josh? Would you mind if I said something?”
Joshua smiled the moment she spoke—her voice light, innocent, the way it always was when she was about to say something unexpected.
He tilted his head slightly, eyebrows raising with quiet curiosity. “Hmm?”
Then, soft and easy, “Of course not. What is it, baby?”
He looked at her with that gentle, familiar warmth in his eyes—the kind that said she was the only thing that mattered right now.
“Say anything you want,” he added with a small, encouraging squeeze around her waist. “You know I’m all ears when it’s you.”
“My foot is cramping again.”
Her tone sheepish, her expression apologetic.
Joshua stared at her for a second—completely still. And then—his whole face collapsed into disbelief.
He groaned, head dropping dramatically to her shoulder as his arms pulled her in tighter, one hand already slipping beneath the water to reach her foot again.
“You’re literally the most adorable menace,” he muttered into her neck, exasperated but completely in love. “Why do you say it like you just accidentally dropped a spoon?”
He pulled back, cupping her face gently with both hands, gaze playful but full of concern.
“Baby. I need you to understand something very important.”
“If any part of you ever cramps again in my presence, you are legally required to tell me before it starts staging a protest in your bones.”
He shifted her slightly in his arms, floating her effortlessly closer to the edge.
“I’m starting to think the water hates you,” he muttered, glancing at her foot. “This is a feud now. Me versus pool.”
Then, with a small, teasing smirk—
“Or maybe it’s just jealous I get to carry you so much.”
Joshua instantly tensed the moment she laughed—then yelped.
The sound of pain in her voice snapped him into action like instinct.
“Ari?!” he gasped, already tightening his arms around her, one hand slipping beneath the water to support her foot more carefully. His other arm wrapped securely around her back, holding her steady against him.
“Hey, hey—breathe. I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” he said quickly, all playfulness gone in an instant, replaced with full-on concern.
His fingers moved gently over her arch and heel, carefully trying to find the spot that had tensed. “Is it sharp? Where exactly? Here?”
She winced, and he softened his touch, murmuring, “Okay. Okay. I’m here. Just relax your leg a bit—don’t tense up more, yeah? Let me help.”
He turned with her still in his arms, moving toward the edge of the pool so he could settle her down just enough that her back rested against the pool wall and her legs could float more freely.
Once he had her there, he cupped her cheeks softly, eyes scanning her face.
“Talk to me, baby. Is it easing up? Do I need to carry you out of the pool? Blink twice if yes,” he added with a teasing edge, trying to make her laugh through the pain.
But even then, his voice was gentle, steady.
“That cramp is killing me for sure.”
She laughed lightly, but it was clear the pain lingered.
He exhaled like he was actually about to file a report against the pool.
“That’s it,” he said, dead serious, scooping her up even tighter in his arms. “You’re out. You’re being medically evacuated from the crime scene.”
He began walking through the water with zero hesitation, gently but efficiently making his way toward the pool steps.
“I swear,” he muttered under his breath as he carried her, “next time we’re choosing a hotel with a heated foot spa, not a pool. No more traitorous water.”
Once at the shallowest part, he carefully sat her down at the edge, then crouched in front of her in the water—his hands already cupping her foot again, this time very gently.
“Let’s fix this, okay?” he murmured, voice low and soothing now. His thumbs moved slowly along the arch of her foot, focusing with full husband-level seriousness.
“And after this,” he added with a tilt of his head, “we’re going to your chair, I’m wrapping you in a towel, putting your feet on mine, and we’re going to sit there like angry cats watching the sunset until your foot calms down.”
His eyes flicked up to hers, gentle and laced with concern.
“I’m sorry, baby. I should’ve been watching for it. I’ll do better next time.”
He leaned in and pressed the softest kiss to her ankle.
“My poor, tiny warrior. Betrayed by her own toes.”
“I’m not watching a sunset on a chair right now, Shua, when the pool is here.”
Joshua froze mid-foot rub, staring at her like she’d just declared war on logic.
Then leaned back slightly, water dripping from his hair as he gave her the most incredulous look.
“…Your foot is cramping like it’s being haunted, you just yelped like a cartoon character, and you still want to stay in the pool?”
She gave him that sweet, stubborn smile—the one that always came right before she insisted on doing something mildly reckless and absolutely her.
He looked around, hands still cradling her foot.
“Alright,” he sighed, full of reluctant affection. “Fine. Sunset from the pool it is. But.”
He raised a finger dramatically. “Only if you sit in my lap. Entire time. No standing. No tiptoeing. No cramping. Deal?”
He gave her foot one last gentle massage and leaned in closer.
“You’re the only person I know who’d rather battle aquatic pain than sit on a comfy beach chair.”
Then, grinning, “God, I love you.”
He stood up, offering both hands out to help her back in with him.
“Let’s float and judge the sun together, you tiny rebel.”
“I wasn't planning on going into the pool even. Now I'm in, I ain't going out.”
He stared at her like she’d just recited her villain origin story.
“Ari,” he said, gripping her hands tighter, “do you hear yourself?”
He tugged her gently back into the water, effortlessly pulling her against him again, one arm sliding around her waist like it belonged there—like she belonged there, always.
“You didn’t even want to come in. You forgot you get cramps. You’ve almost drowned your toes. Twice. And now you’ve declared full emotional war on the poolside chairs.”
He lowered his voice dramatically, leaning in close.
“Is this your way of saying you’ve joined the water tribe?”
She smiled up at him, completely unbothered, and he just shook his head, smiling helplessly back.
“Fine. If you’re not getting out, then I’m not letting go.”
With that, he adjusted you easily in his arms, guiding you to float against him again—your head tucked just under his chin, your legs relaxed, your feet absolutely nowhere near the pool floor.
He looked up at the golden-pink sky beginning to paint itself across the horizon, then down at you.
“You and your dramatic life choices,” he murmured into your hair, fond and exasperated. “I married a full-time menace.”
And with that, the two of you floated together—still in the pool, still wrapped in each other—watching the sunset from the middle of your accidental war zone. Exactly where you both wanted to be.
You stayed in the same position, head resting in his arms, then poked his shoulder silently, with a smile.
Joshua felt the light poke on his shoulder and glanced down immediately, finding you still tucked perfectly against him—head resting under his chin, arms loosely around him, that same soft smile on your face.
His eyes narrowed just slightly in suspicion, but the corners of his mouth curved up instantly.
“...What?” he asked, voice low and teasing. “That was a suspicious poke. That wasn’t a normal poke.”
He shifted a little, his arms hugging you closer in the water, brows raised as he tilted his head to try and see your expression better.
“You’re up to something,” he added, mock serious. “That’s the face you make right before saying something that makes me either melt or suffer.”
He gave your side a gentle nudge with his fingers underwater, making you squirm slightly.
“Which one’s it gonna be, huh? Emotional sabotage or sneak attack affection?”
His smile softened, eyes locked on yours.
Joshua followed your finger slowly as you pointed—straight toward the deeper side of the pool.
He blinked. Once. Then again. Then slowly turned his gaze back to you, completely expressionless.
His brows lifted just a little as he stared at your very innocent smile—too innocent. Suspiciously innocent.
“You want to go back there?” he asked slowly, like he was confirming a medical diagnosis. “After all that drama? After your foot betrayed you? After you literally declared war on the laws of physics?”
He sighed, like a man truly, deeply in love with a tiny, stubborn hurricane.
But even as he said it, he was already turning, adjusting his grip on you, starting to walk again—because of course he’d do it. Of course he’d take you wherever you wanted, even if it meant risking Crampageddon: Part II.
“I swear,” he muttered, carrying you effortlessly as the water deepened around him, “you could ask me to carry you across lava and I’d start checking the heat resistance on my shoes.”
Then, softer—closer to your ear, with a grin he couldn’t hide:
“But if your toes start drama again, Ari… I’m putting you in floaties.”
You smiled up at him, still stubborn.
“I know they will. But it will be worth it.”
Joshua stopped mid-step, standing chest-deep now as he looked down at you—still cradled effortlessly in his arms, still wearing that soft, trouble-making smile.
“I know they will. But it will be worth it.”
And then—laughed. Loud, warm, disbelieving laughter that echoed lightly off the pool walls and into the open air.
“You…” he said between laughs, “you are unbelievable.”
But he was already moving again, gently, steadily, carrying you toward the deeper side with zero hesitation—like your declaration had only made him hold you closer.
“And when they do cramp up again,” he said, stopping near the far edge and turning to face the horizon with you still nestled against him, “I want you to remember this moment.”
He looked down at you, fondness spilling from his expression.
“The exact second you chose pain for the pool. Again.”
Then, with a soft, helpless chuckle, “You really would walk into fire if someone dared you nicely, wouldn’t you?”
He brushed your wet hair back and kissed your forehead, water rippling around you both as the sun melted behind the horizon.
“I’m in love with the most beautiful, chaotic, unreasonable person alive,” he murmured.
Then he tightened his arms and whispered,
“And I’d carry her into a deep pool a thousand times over.”
"I'm surprised you didn't even scold me a little."
Joshua raised his brows slowly, lips quirking at your soft little giggle.
He stared at you with playful disbelief, the water swirling quietly around your bodies as he kept you close.
“Oh, you wanted to be scolded?” he asked, tilting his head dramatically. “Should I go back and revise my reaction? Add a lecture about your recklessness? Maybe throw in a disappointed head shake for full effect?”
He leaned in slightly, voice dipping as he teased,
“Ari. You literally warned me your foot would cramp. You still wanted to come here. You chose violence. What’s left to scold?”
Then, pretending to sigh like the most exhausted husband in the world, he added,
“Besides… you’re giggling, I’m holding you, and we’re floating in a sunset. That’s pretty much the opposite of a scolding vibe.”
His expression softened completely then, eyes resting on yours.
“And honestly?” he said quietly. “Even when you drive me nuts with your toe drama and spontaneous chaos—how could I scold you when I’m so in love with the way you always follow your heart?”
“Even if your heart leads you directly into enemy territory… like the deep end of the pool.”
He smiled against your temple.
“Now,” he said, adjusting his arms around you with that effortless ease again, “we’ve done enough floating and cramping and testing for one evening…”
He turned slowly toward the shallow end, the sky now glowing soft and amber behind you.
“Let’s wrap you in the fluffiest towel ever invented, steal hotel cookies, and sit somewhere with no water, no cramps, and all the cuddles.”
“Unless you’re planning another dramatic chaos tonight, Mrs. Hong.”
He smirked, still carrying you as he stepped closer to the edge.
You murmured, “Shuaa… the sun didn't even set fully.”
Joshua stopped mid-step in the water, turning back toward the ocean horizon with an exaggerated gasp.
Your voice was soft, a little dramatic, a little pouty—and he was already melting.
He looked at the sky like it had personally offended you, then looked back down at you in his arms.
“…You're right,” he said solemnly. “I tried to prematurely exit the romance.”
He slowly turned them back toward the deeper end again, cradling you like it was his full-time job.
“What was I thinking? Ending a pool date before the sun’s fully dipped? That’s, like, honeymoon crime.”
Then, dipping his chin to nuzzle against your forehead:
“Forgive me, sunset police. I’ll do time by holding you exactly like this until it disappears completely.”
His hand shifted to support your back as he floated with you, turning slightly so you both faced the horizon. The colors had deepened—fiery gold spilling into blush pink and quiet violets at the edges. The reflection painted his skin in golden warmth as he whispered,
“There. Perfect view. Sun, sea, and the love of my life refusing to leave the water.”
He paused for a moment, eyes soft.
“I never want to forget this.”
You smiled and said, “You won't. Unless you develop amnesia.”
He turned his head to look at you—completely silent for a beat. Then a grin slowly crawled across his face.
“…Romantic. So deeply romantic,” he whispered. “Sunsets and soft moments with a side of neurological disorder jokes. Incredible.”
He nudged your forehead lightly with his, smiling helplessly.
“I’d like to thank my wife,” he said dramatically to the sky, “for making sure that even if I forget my own name someday, I’ll remember she bullied me lovingly during a cramp-filled sunset in the Maldives.”
Then, quieter—softer—closer:
“But for the record… even if I did forget everything,” he murmured, “I’d still find you. Somewhere in me, I’d still feel this.”
He kissed your temple gently, then leaned back just enough to catch your eyes again, completely sincere now.
“You’re the kind of memory the soul keeps.”
You smiled softly and said, “Josh, you know what? You were right about one thing.”
That got his full attention.
His smile eased into something quiet as he searched your eyes, expression open, patient, waiting—like he already knew it wasn’t a joke this time, and he wanted to hold the moment carefully.
“…Yeah?” he said gently, brushing his thumb along your arm. “What was I right about?”
The sky behind you both had settled into deep honeyed pinks, the last edge of the sun kissing the horizon—and for a second, even the water stilled with you.
His voice dropped even lower, now threaded with that soft familiarity he reserved only for you:
You said sheepishly, “That we should go back and change because my feet have been cramping again and I'm dying trying to ease it for 5 minutes. And this time I mean both together at the same time.”
Joshua froze mid-step, water sloshing around his thighs as he looked down at you—still in his arms, still smiling just a little too sheepishly for comfort.
His jaw dropped just slightly. Then—
“Ari…” he said slowly, eyes wide with disbelief. “You’ve been secretly suffering in silence for five minutes? BOTH feet?!”
Your sheepish little nod was answer enough.
He let out the heaviest sigh of a man deeply in love and deeply concerned.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered, already turning immediately toward the edge again.
“You were just floating there in pain while I thought we were having a romantic movie moment. Meanwhile, you’re going through a full aquatic foot crisis like it’s fine.”
He glanced at you, and though his voice was still teasing, his arms cradled you a little more tightly now, with quiet urgency.
“Baby. I’m literally here to carry you. You don’t have to fight for your life in silence.”
He finally reached the shallowest step and gently sat you on the edge of the pool, water dripping down his arms as he stayed crouched in front of you.
Then, gently—his hands found both of your feet, lifting them into his lap like you were fragile royalty.
“You didn’t even flinch, Ari,” he murmured, looking up at you with a soft frown and the faintest smile. “You're the bravest, most dramatic, most chaos-filled person I know.”
He leaned forward and kissed the side of your knee.
“And next time? You say something at minute one, not five. Deal?”
He looked back up at you, eyes warm, hands gently massaging both your arches.
“Let me take care of you. That's the whole point of ‘us,’ yeah?”
You muttered quietly at the pain, “Oh shit. I'll die.”
Joshua's head snapped up the second he heard it—
You muttered it under your breath, voice tight and barely there, but he caught it.
And instantly, he was all business.
His hands moved more carefully now, warm and firm as they worked over your arches and heels.
“Where is it worst? Both the same? Tell me.”
You winced slightly, and his eyes softened but his jaw clenched.
“Okay. No more heroic silence. No more acting tough,” he murmured, focused completely on you now, “I’ve got you.”
He slid his arms beneath your knees and back again in one smooth motion, lifting you off the edge of the pool like you weighed nothing, water dripping from both of you.
“You are not dying over foot cramps on our honeymoon, I refuse.”
He started walking briskly toward the sunbeds and towel rack nearby, the sky now that deep purple-blue of evening setting in.
Once there, he laid you down gently on the lounger, grabbed the biggest towel he could find, and wrapped it around your shoulders—then crouched down, kneeling by your legs, both feet back in his lap.
“This is war,” he said softly, taking your left foot in his hand like it had betrayed him.
“Between me and your rebellious toes.”
Then he glanced up at you and gave a tiny grin.
“But don’t worry. I’ll win. I always do.”
He pressed a soft kiss to your ankle, then got back to carefully, methodically massaging the tight muscle again with that look of full, husband-level focus.
The sky above had deepened into velvet, scattered with faint stars peeking through the dimming light. The ocean waves in the distance softened everything around you—the world quiet, still.
And finally… finally, the pain began to ease.
Your toes uncurled slightly, your muscles stopped twitching, and the worst of it—tight, sharp, breath-snatching—slipped away, leaving only a dull throb.
Joshua felt the shift instantly. You didn’t even have to say anything—your shoulders eased just a little, the tension in your hands faded, and the tiniest exhale escaped your lips like you'd been holding it the whole time.
“…Is it fading?” he asked gently, not moving too quickly, afraid to jinx it.
When you gave a small nod, he visibly melted, his forehead dipping to rest against the side of your head, lips brushing your temple.
“Good,” he breathed, voice laced with relief. “God, you scared me.”
He tightened the towel around your shoulders and smiled.
You said it with a completely straight face—soft, serious, and somehow still dramatic in that uniquely you way.
He stared at you like you’d just whispered the final act of a tragedy.
“…Shattered?” he repeated, utterly wrecked and fighting a smile.
“My wife, who just survived a cramp battle, is now emotionally and spiritually shattered?”
You gave him a little pout, like you were the star of some silent drama film.
He burst into a soft, disbelieving laugh, pulling you closer until your face was pressed into his shoulder, his arms wrapping fully around you like a warm cocoon of affection.
“I married a menace,” he whispered into your hair. “A soft, injured, ridiculously cute menace.”
He gently kissed the side of your head, letting his lips linger there as he added,
“Shattered or not, you’re still the love of my life."
