North: How much is your love?

Epilogue: Our places :)

I gazed intently at the scenery outside as we drove through the city's suburbs. It wasn't snowing, but snow still blanketed everything in white. Rooftops, trees, and even the roads were all covered in a blanket of white. It's a shame we couldn't see the snow fall at the right time because winter is almost over.

"Where would we end up if we just kept driving?"

"Bergen."

"Wow, that's quite far, isn't it?"

"That's right."

"North, can I put on some music?"

"Okay."

 

I turned my head to look elsewhere, listening to the gentle melody playing on the radio. The car sped along the suburban road, and the beautiful scenery along the way, combined with the soothing music, made me feel incredibly relaxed. All my accumulated fatigue seemed to vanish completely. It felt like I could continue living like this with this person forever… I turned to look at the driver and smiled.

"You're a really good driver."

"Really?"

 

"Yes. But the first time I rode in your car, I was so scared," I began to tell my story.

"I drive fast."

"Yes, but I'm used to it now."

"But lately I've been driving slower."

 

"Because you're scared, right?"

 

“…”

"Haha," I replied with a dry laugh. Inwardly, I felt embarrassed again. I really liked it when he said he was willing to change for me, "You used to race cars, right?"

"Hmm."

"Are you not competing anymore?"

"It's gone."

"Actually, I'd like to see how you race."

"Do you want to see it?"

"Yes, but…" I hesitated for a moment, "It's better not to do that, because it's dangerous… Will there be many girls watching?"

"Hmm." Johan smiled slightly, "I don't have time to race anymore."

"But I haven't been that busy lately."

"Time spent with you is even more precious," he said, then reached out and gently pinched my cheek. I turned around and smiled brightly at him.

"Spending time with him is always the best thing."

 

The car continued rolling until it stopped at the side of the road. Before us stretched a vast expanse covered in white snow. In the distance, a hill could be seen, resembling a small village.

"Snow!" I exclaimed excitedly and hurried out of the car. As soon as I stepped outside, the air immediately became much colder than the warmth inside. "This is the first time I've ever seen snow."

"Be careful not to fall," Johan warned as I started running toward the open field. Hearing him, I stopped and slowed my pace. I bent down, sat on the ground, and gently touched the snow.

 

"Wow, that's great! Do you want to play?"

 

"Play?"

"Yes!" I sat down in a pile of snow, my hands clutching the soft white snow. Turning around, I saw Johan looking at me with gentle, loving eyes. I took out my camera and started taking pictures of the surroundings. "The snow here is like something out of a snow globe."

 

My comment made Johan frown slightly.

"Actually, it's like when you go to the zoo and enter the Snowdome."

"Hmm."

"But Snowdome certainly doesn't have scenery like this," I said excitedly. "The entrance fee to Snowdome is expensive, and it's just cold there."

 

I got up and walked towards a nearby small village. The houses and buildings here look quite unusual, but I think they're very beautiful. The more I look at the trees, the more they seem like something out of a movie or a photograph. I secretly took a picture of Johan while he was looking away and then quietly smiled. Just looking at the picture makes me smile. He really has made my heart flutter so much…

 

After admiring the scenery and taking plenty of photos, we returned to the city, as we had to return the rented car on time. We had only planned to rent the car for one day before going elsewhere. Prior to that, we had booked and stayed at a hotel in the city centre, then rented a car.

 

"Thank you for taking me out. The scenery is truly amazing." I said with a radiant smile, then bowed my head and continued looking at the photos on my camera. I felt like I had smiled so much that both my cheeks were aching.

"Would you like to take a walk around the city?"

"Hmm."

 

We strolled around the city together, stopping at attractions and taking souvenir photos.

Then we stopped to eat and drink until night fell, and the weather became much colder than before.

 

"It's so cold."

"Do you want to hold my hand?"

"Yes." I smiled, took my hand out of my pocket, and grasped his hand, walking alongside him. It's so warm… I love your hands because they're always so warm. Could we hold hands like this for much longer?

 

"Fog?" My eyes widened in surprise as fog suddenly enveloped us. I had read somewhere that fog could appear at sunset on certain days, but I never expected to witness this firsthand.

Oh…

 

We walked to the edge of a chest-high wall, beyond which lay the sea. From here, the city in the distance was also visible, but the thick fog obscured everything. I also saw light emanating from that direction, making it look like a city straight out of a fairy tale. A scene like this is probably impossible to find anywhere else in the world.

 

I stood still, mesmerised by the scene before me for a long time until the fog began to dissipate. Instead, the setting sun gradually appeared. The sky began to turn orange, a breathtaking picture of the transition between day and night. It was so beautiful it took my heart away. I will remember this moment forever. I will remember the image of myself standing here, gazing at this beauty with the person I love most. I will cherish it deeply…

 

“Let’s take a picture,” I said after we had finished capturing the surrounding scenery. We took a picture together and continued admiring the view until the sun completely set. I posted a photo of the two of us together against a vibrant orange sky and the setting sun. And then, I saw that Johan had also posted a photo. But it wasn't a couple photo, nor a landscape photo. It was a photo of me from behind, holding the camera, engrossed in photographing the sky.

 

I was a little surprised that he chose to photograph me instead of a couple photo or a landscape shot. But when I read the caption, I couldn't help but smile. The caption read: "My view :)"

 

"This is what you call a starry night sky, right?" I asked.

 

It was almost ten o'clock at night. We hadn't returned to the hotel yet because I was busy strolling around and sightseeing. I'd heard that Norway is a city that never sleeps, and that was probably true. Even at this late hour, the lights were still shining brightly, making the whole city look magical and enchanting.

 

I looked up at the Norwegian night sky, where the stars twinkled, filling the entire expanse. We sat together in the exact same spot where we had watched the sunset that afternoon. If there are stars, it means the sky is clear. That's a good sign; we might see the aurora borealis. I took out my phone and snapped a picture of the starry sky before turning to photograph the person sitting next to me.

 

"I think I understand now."

"Understand what?"

"Why does Ter like taking pictures of Hill so much? I always wondered why she took so many pictures; Hill looks the same every day."

"So what now?"

"I want to keep it to look at," I said, smiling shyly. "And I'll never get tired of looking at you."

 

"You're quite good at flirting," Johan said before turning to look at me. A gentle breeze blew, causing his hair to sway slightly. That only made the person beside me even more attractive. Yes, that's right...I think I understand now. If I could gaze at him, I could look all day without getting bored. Perhaps I could look at him for a lifetime and never find a flaw.

 

"But now I can look at you more," I joked, gazing directly into Johan's eyes. 

 

Normally, I wouldn't dare look for more than five seconds, but through the photos, I felt like I was lost in his gaze.

 

"Oh, so that's cheating."

"What kind of cheating?" I asked, frowning slightly.

"Stare at me."

“…”

"Have you ever dared to look me in the eye?"

"Do you enjoy confusing me?"

“…”

"Then… you’re a cheat too."

"That's why I love you so much."

 

I'm the kind of person who always believes in love. I'm not a complicated person; I love simplicity because it lasts longer. I love waking up each day and having him hold me in his arms. I love waking up early and making him coffee every morning. I love waking him up with a good morning kiss. I love loving words. Just the thought of you saying you love me more, just one sentence, but it holds so much meaning because it's an emotion from the heart. It's everything I feel, and it's reserved only for this one person. I love you more… that’s all.

 

I want to see you happy every day. I love your smile, I love the way you call my name, I love the way you care about me, I love the way you enjoy the coffee I make, I love the way you hold your pen when you write, I love the way you roll up your sleeves—simple yet captivating. I love the way he walks. I love the way he's determined to do something. I'm captivated by his scent, always wafting through the air whenever he holds me close. Those strong arms are always waiting to embrace me, gently stroking the hair that falls across my face. Those hands softly pinch my cheek, his eyes filled with love as he follows me, his deep, warm voice resonating whenever he speaks or whispers in my ear.

 

Those eyes mesmerised me, the high, straight nose, the sharp lips, the fair skin, the tattoos on his arms and waist. The physique of a sports enthusiast. The first time I saw Johan was through a photograph.

A handsome young man, so attractive that everyone turned to look. His hair wasn't styled with gel; it was simply left natural, as he preferred. He wore small black hoop earrings with a cross design, a dark shirt, long pants, and blue sneakers. He smiled at the camera as if he knew he was being photographed secretly.

 

At the time, I just glanced at the photo without giving it a second thought. To me, he was just a popular senior at school, always surrounded by rumours. Someone who always had a lot of people around him and probably would never notice someone like me. But he came back… and waited for me for three years. If it were me, I would never have dared to imagine that someone like him would like someone like me. That's absolutely impossible. Why would someone who has everything be interested in someone who has almost nothing?

 

But then he walked into my life. He acted as if he were just an ordinary man. And then he said to me… He was the one who belonged in my life. He started with small gestures, like offering a helping hand and showing concern, care, and attention to me. At first, it all seemed unclear, but with each meeting, he made things clearer. Then he hugged me, gently whispering that I was where he found peace. He expressed that he loved me, that I was the most important thing in his life… And say " I love you right" on the day I need to hear those words most.

 

Worrying about me and missing me became a part of his everyday life. He became the person I always wanted to see, the owner of the voice I longed to hear, the warmth I craved, the person to whom I wanted to give my heart. All my emotions are encapsulated in my concern for him… I’ve never felt so much before. Thoughts of him swirl in my head 24 hours a day, every minute ticking by. And then he reappeared one day when I least expected it, clarifying our relationship. He said he loved me again, making me want to say "yes" a million times, to tell him I love him a million times. And then I realised, I can’t live without this man…

 

He was the one who once took off his coat on a freezing cold day to warm me up, something no one had ever done for me before. He was willing to stand in the rain to pick me up, even though he himself got soaked. And he was also the one who made me want to brave the rain just to see him. He ate a dessert he didn't like just because I made it. He hates hot weather, but still made the effort to come and meet me. He used to be a smoker but quit because I asked him to. He refused to drink alcohol just so he could get me home safely. He used to be a womaniser, but he gave it all up for me. 

 

He started working harder because he said he wanted to be someone I could trust. He always makes time for me, no matter how busy he is with work. He was willing to take me to the movies and then work all night without a break. He pays attention to every smile of mine. He listened to every word I said and was willing to go anywhere I wanted. He's willing to do anything just to keep me from crying, to always have a smile on my face. Everything he did for me, I don't know what to call this feeling…

All I know is that it was LOVE…

 

"Have you ever been to Norway?" I asked, my eyes still fixed on the stars in the sky.

"Yes, there have been a few times."

"Have you ever seen stars more beautiful than tonight?"

"Already."

"Really? Is there any place with a more beautiful sky and stars than tonight?"

"There is no star more beautiful than this one… The one who is right beside me."

Those words left me speechless, my eyes still fixed on the sky, but my heart was deeply moved. When I turned, I met his gaze, a look so resolute, as if he had no intention of leaving me.

 

"The sky is much nicer now, don't you think?"

"Yes... That's right."

"The stars are beautiful too, but how can you be so beautiful?" Johan said, gently running his hand through my hair. Those eyes, the eyes I'd always been captivated by, now gazed at me with such adoration. He said the sky and the stars were beautiful. But he didn't look up at them; his eyes were only for me…

 

"Yes, the sky and the stars tonight are the most beautiful things."

The sky and the stars, when gazed upon together, will always be the most beautiful moment. And they will forever remain as beautiful stars and skies in our memories.

 

"Can we go and admire the sky and stars like this in many other places?" I tightened my grip on his hand, not wanting to let go.

 

"Sure."

 

I really liked the gentle smile he gave me, and when his warm hand reached out to stroke my head, I couldn't help but smile broadly.

"Yes."

...

We woke up early to catch the ferry to the island where we would watch the aurora borealis. At first, I was a little hesitant about which city to choose for aurora viewing because we had several options, but in the end, we decided to take the ferry to the island. The trip took quite a long time.

 

Upon arrival, the homeowner said that we might see the aurora borealis around 9 PM today.

"I'm so excited, we're about to see the aurora borealis," I said, my eyes glued to the photo I'd taken with my camera.

"You've been excited ever since we arrived at the airport."

"Yes, I'm so happy right now, my heart is racing." I feel very excited right now. I feel like I have a lot of energy even though I only slept a little last night.

"How much energy do you have?"

 

"It doesn't matter, because I can recharge myself."

 

"Recharge?"

"Like this," I said, and immediately hugged Johan. He seemed a little surprised, but then hugged me back.

"Am I a charger?"

"Mm." I said, then hugged him tighter, seeking warmth from his body, "The battery's fully charged."

"But I haven't yet." Johan leaned down and whispered in my ear, then gently lifted me up and carried me back to bed.

 

"Ah." I gasped as the other person suddenly kissed me quickly. Trying to catch my breath, I returned the kiss: "No... wait, it's still early."

"Can't I hug you in the morning?"

"You can hug me, but only hug, okay?"

 

"Hmm, what else do you think I would do?"

 

"You're a pervert."

“…”

“Just a little…” I felt a little uncomfortable. With him acting like that, how could I not think about it? And then he picked me up and put me down on the bed.

"Brother... why?"

"Hmm..."

“Um… honey, I… uh.” I fell silent as he kissed me again. This time it was a gentler, longer kiss than before.

"So what if it's not in the morning?"

"…Huh."

Johan smiled gently, kissed my hand, then hugged me. Last night we had stayed up late stargazing and had to get up early for the train, so we lay down for a while. The scent of the person holding me made it easy for me to fall asleep. When I woke up, it was already night. Johan was the one who woke me up.

"What time is it?"

8 PM.

"The aurora borealis!!!"

"Shall we go?"

 

"Yes," I answered immediately without much thought.

 

It was almost time to see the aurora borealis, so I went as the host suggested. We had already hired a car when we arrived. The driver was looking for a good spot to see the aurora. I was still sleepy when I woke up, but as soon as I got in the car, my eyes immediately opened wide.

We arrived at a place a little far from the village. In front of us was a lake, and the distance from the village made the area quite dark and deserted, with only the two of us in the cold. I set up my camera to photograph the aurora borealis. After setting it up, I sat down and waited.

"I'm really excited, do you think it will appear?"

"Okay, just come here and wait."

"Yes, the host told me that the weather in the northern Czech Republic is quite clear, so there's a chance we might see the aurora borealis," I said excitedly before reaching out and taking the hand of the person next to me. We waited for almost half an hour and still didn't see the aurora borealis.

"Oh, nothing yet."

"It will arrive soon."

"I need to be more patient," I told myself.

 

Things like this just require patience. Besides, sitting like this with Johan isn't bad at all. I'm even happy to sit together, hold hands, and wait together.

"It's here, it's here."

I involuntarily let out a scream of delight, thankfully no one was there. It was the aurora borealis, just like in the picture. It moved back and forth, true to its name, "the dance of the auroras": a faint white and green light appeared against the wolf-black sky before its colours faded. I felt like I was falling into a trance. Its beauty almost made my heart race. So beautiful… so incredibly beautiful.

The aurora borealis remained there for nearly five minutes until I regained my composure and hastily checked my camera to see if it was recording. I discovered that I had taken a picture, and the aurora borealis hadn't disappeared yet.

"Let's take a picture," I said excitedly, and we took a photo together. In the background, the sky held the aurora borealis. I was so happy that my heart was pounding.

It's really beautiful. It's a dream for many people. You have to come and see it with your own eyes, once in a lifetime.

"It's so beautiful. People who live here must see this almost every day."

 

"YES."

"Wow, I'm so jealous," I said, my eyes fixed on the blue light above, which lingered long after we sat down and gazed at it.

"My hands are red," I said, holding up my hands so Johan could see. I had been wearing gloves earlier, but since I couldn't take a picture, I quickly took them off and forgot to put them back on.

"Put on your gloves."

"Yes," I replied, immediately putting my gloves back on. "Thank you for bringing me here. The travel expenses must have been considerable." I said, feeling very grateful, that I knew the travel costs were very expensive, but Johan still said he would take me there.

"It's OK."

“…”

 

"It's worth it for you."

“…”

"Just seeing you happy makes everything worthwhile."

"And what about you, are you happy?"

"Of course."

"That's great, I'm glad you like it too."

"You're a really good tour guide," Johan said, gently patting my cheek.

 

“Next time, please continue to use this tour guide’s services,” I said with a wide smile. It was a smile reserved just for him; I had never smiled so much and so happily before. This kind of happiness was something I had never experienced.

 

"Can I hire this tour guide to take me on the trip of a lifetime?"

"Okay, but..."

"Hmm?"

"There is a service fee."

"How much is it?"

I lightly touched my cheek with my finger, and Johan smiled gently. When he saw me do that, he leaned in and gave me a light kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you for everything. From now on, the guide service fee will be charged per trip, so you can request a guide for another trip."

 

Johan didn't answer; he just looked at me with loving eyes, then reached out and gently stroked my head.

We sat down and talked endlessly about what had happened while still gazing at the aurora borealis. I looked at the person sitting next to me, my heart filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It was all deeply etched in my heart.

 

"I'll take you on a trip later."

 

"Isn't this supposed to be a vacation?"

"No, I mean I'm saving up money to take you on a trip," I said awkwardly, but someday I'll make it happen. "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

"With you by my side, I can go anywhere."

 

"Really?"

"YES."

"Me too."

 

"I know."

"I'll go anywhere, as long as you're with me."

 

I chuckled softly at my own words before he gently took my chin. He turned my face towards him, and his warm lips lightly touched mine. I was slightly surprised, but closed my eyes and accepted each kiss, our hands intertwined. After a moment, he pulled his lips away and gently pressed his forehead against mine.

"Anywhere?"

"Yes," I smiled, agreeing, "I want to sit and gaze at the stars with you again, stand and watch the sunset with you again. No matter where in the world we are, I want to stand and see those scenes with you again."

"We'll go anywhere, as long as we go together."

 

"Yes, we'll go together."

 

We walk together… even if the sky, the stars, the sun, or the moon change. But those who sit and watch together will always remain unchanged… forever.

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

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