Tú Corea, mi mundo.

Character Continuity / Visual Reference · Alex: 28, Spanish, bright natural orange hair, clearly visible well-kept beard, consistent facial features. Warm, spontaneous and affectionate, but genuinely nervous about asking Seo-yeon to marry him. He wears a simple T-shirt and comfortable trousers at home. · Han Seo-yeon: 27, South Korean actress, long dark-brown hair, expressive dark-brown eyes, delicate features and a naturally warm smile. At home, she has minimal makeup or none, with her hair loose and slightly tousled after sleeping. She wears comfortable, simple home clothes. Reserved when overwhelmed, but sincere and affectionate with Alex. · Relationship continuity: Alex and Seo-yeon are an established couple. They spent the previous evening together at Seo-yeon's apartment after attending a gala. Alex has been thinking seriously about their future for some time. His proposal is not a reaction to the gala or a decision made overnight. · Ring: A delicate platinum ring with a small, elegant diamond. Understated, timeless and consistent with Seo-yeon's personal style. · ⸻ · SCENE 1 — BEFORE SHE WAKES · LOCATION: Han Seo-yeon's apartment, bedroom and living area, inside. · TIME: Early morning, approximately 7:00 AM. · LIGHTING: Soft morning light filters through the curtains, mixing with the warm glow of a small lamp. · SETTING: The apartment is quiet. The previous evening's belongings are neatly set aside. A breakfast table is prepared for two in the adjoining living area. · Alex is already awake. · He sits on the edge of the bed, looking at Seo-yeon as she sleeps peacefully beneath the covers. Her hair falls loosely across the pillow, and one hand rests near his. · He smiles, then glances toward the small ring box on the bedside table. · His smile fades into a nervous expression. · He picks up the box, opens it, and looks at the ring. · ALEX (thought): · Must've run this conversation through my head a hundred times by now. · He closes the box. · ALEX (thought): · Somehow every version in my head sounded way less terrifying than this. · He looks back at Seo-yeon. · He isn't doing this because he's afraid of losing her. He isn't trying to prove anything to anyone. · He simply knows that when he imagines the life he wants, she is there. · Alex carefully puts the box in his pocket and stands. · Before leaving the bedroom, he looks at her one more time. · ALEX (thought): · Guess when you know, you just know. · He takes a quiet breath and heads to the kitchen to finish preparing breakfast. · ⸻ · SCENE 2 — GOOD MORNING · LOCATION: Han Seo-yeon's apartment, bedroom, inside. · TIME: Morning, approximately 7:30 AM. · LIGHTING: Gentle natural daylight fills the room. · SETTING: The apartment is beginning to wake up. The smell of fresh coffee and toasted bread drifts in from the kitchen. · Seo-yeon slowly opens her eyes. · For a moment, she looks confused by the unfamiliar angle of the room. Then she remembers where she is. · She turns toward the other side of the bed. · Empty. · She sits up, pushing her hair away from her face, and hears a quiet clatter from the kitchen. · SEO-YEON: · Alex? · ALEX (off-panel): · In here! · She smiles to herself. · A moment later, Alex appears in the doorway, carrying two mugs of coffee. · ALEX: · Morning. · SEO-YEON: · You're already up? · ALEX: · Been up for a bit. · She studies his face. · SEO-YEON: · Sleep badly? · ALEX: · Not exactly. · SEO-YEON: · Very suspicious answer. · ALEX: · It's an honest one. · He hands her a mug and sits beside her on the edge of the bed. · She takes a sip, then leans against his shoulder. · SEO-YEON: · Slept well, by the way. · ALEX: · Good. · SEO-YEON: · You make a comfortable pillow. · ALEX: · Glad I could be of service. · She laughs softly and rests her head against him again. · Alex kisses the top of her head. · For a few seconds, neither speaks. · Then Seo-yeon looks up at him. · SEO-YEON: · You're being weirdly quiet. · ALEX: · Am I? · SEO-YEON: · You usually have at least one terrible joke before breakfast. · ALEX: · Saving them up. · SEO-YEON: · For what? · Alex looks at her, then quickly looks away. · ALEX: · Breakfast. · She narrows her eyes, amused. · SEO-YEON: · Okay, you are definitely suspicious. · ALEX: · Come on, I made you something. · He stands and offers her his hand. · She takes it, still smiling, and follows him into the living area. · ⸻ · SCENE 3 — BREAKFAST FOR TWO · LOCATION: Han Seo-yeon's apartment, dining area, inside. · TIME: Morning, approximately 7:45 AM. · LIGHTING: Warm natural sunlight falls across the small dining table. · SETTING: A simple homemade breakfast for two: eggs, toast, fruit, coffee and tea. The apartment feels peaceful and lived-in. · Seo-yeon stops when she sees the table. · SEO-YEON: · You made all this? · ALEX: · Don't sound so shocked. I can cook. · SEO-YEON: · You can make breakfast. · ALEX: · That's where cooking starts. · She laughs and sits down. · SEO-YEON: · It looks really nice. Thank you. · ALEX: · You're welcome. · They begin eating. · At first, the conversation is ordinary. They talk about the gala, how tired they were when they got back, and how Seo-yeon almost fell asleep before they finished their tea. · SEO-YEON: · I remember all of it, for the record. · ALEX: · You closed your eyes mid-sentence. · SEO-YEON: · I was thinking. · ALEX: · With your eyes closed? · SEO-YEON: · I'm very talented. · ALEX: · Clearly. · She reaches across the table and brushes a crumb from his beard. · SEO-YEON: · You've got something here. · ALEX: · That explains why breakfast tasted so good. · She shakes her head, smiling. · Alex looks at her hand resting near his. · He places his hand over hers. · Seo-yeon notices the change in his expression. · SEO-YEON: · Alex? · He looks up. · ALEX: · Can I tell you something? · Her smile softens. · SEO-YEON: · Of course. · Alex takes a breath, but the words don't come immediately. · For once, he seems to have no joke ready to rescue him. · ALEX: · I've been thinking about us. About what I actually want my life to look like. · Seo-yeon listens without interrupting. · ALEX: · When I first came to Korea, I just thought I was looking for somewhere different. Somewhere I could start over without dragging all the old stuff with me. · He gives a small, self-conscious smile. · ALEX: · Didn't expect to meet you. · SEO-YEON: · Glad you did, though. · ALEX: · Same. More than I really know how to put into words. · He squeezes her hand. · ALEX: · I don't know exactly what the next few years are gonna look like. Don't know where work takes us, or how messy things might get. · SEO-YEON: · Neither do I. · ALEX: · But I know I want to figure all that out with you. · She looks at him, suddenly more attentive. · Alex's fingers tighten slightly around hers. · ALEX: · And I know I don't want to keep treating our future like something that might happen someday. · He pauses. · ALEX: · Because whenever I picture mine, you're already there. · Seo-yeon's eyes soften. She doesn't speak, but her thumb moves gently over his hand. · Alex takes another breath. · ALEX: · There's something else. · He reaches into his pocket. · Seo-yeon looks down as he places a small box on the table between them. · For a moment, she simply stares at it. · Then she looks at him. · SEO-YEON: · Alex... · He opens the box. · Inside is a delicate platinum ring with a small diamond. · Seo-yeon's lips part slightly. Her hand rises to her mouth, and she looks from the ring back to him, visibly stunned. · Alex lets out a nervous breath that almost becomes a laugh. · ALEX: · Had a whole speech planned out, you know. · SEO-YEON: · You did? · ALEX: · A really good one, too. · SEO-YEON: · So what happened to it? · ALEX: · You woke up. Then you looked at me. Guess my brain decided that was already enough excitement for one morning. · A quiet, disbelieving laugh escapes her. Her eyes are already shining. · Alex's expression turns tender and serious. · He takes the box in one hand and reaches for hers with the other. · ALEX: · Seo-yeon, I love you. · She looks straight at him. · ALEX: · I love the life we're building, even the boring parts. Having breakfast with you. Listening to you complain about my jokes. Knowing I can call you at the end of a rough day. · His voice grows quieter. · ALEX: · I want more of all that. The hard days, the boring days, the days neither of us has a clue what we're doing. I want to come home to you. I want to build a home with you. · He swallows, nervous but certain. · ALEX: · I know it might look fast if you're counting months. But when you know, you just know. I'm not asking because I'm scared of losing you, or trying to rush you into anything. · He looks down at the ring, then back at her. · ALEX: · I'm asking because I already know what I want. · A pause. · ALEX: · Han Seo-yeon, will you marry me? · ⸻ · SCENE 4 — HER ANSWER · LOCATION: Han Seo-yeon's apartment, dining area, inside. · TIME: Morning, approximately 8:00 AM. · LIGHTING: Sunlight rests softly on the table and the open ring box. · SETTING: Breakfast has been forgotten. The coffee is cooling, and neither of them seems to notice. · Seo-yeon stares at Alex. · For several seconds, she can't find a word. · Alex waits, still holding her hand. His nervous smile begins to falter. · ALEX: · You don't have to answer right now. · She shakes her head quickly. · SEO-YEON: · No, it's not that. · She looks at the ring again. · SEO-YEON: · I just... wasn't expecting this. · ALEX: · Yeah, I kind of gathered. · A small laugh escapes her, mixed with a shaky breath. · She wipes beneath one eye, surprised to find tears there. · SEO-YEON: · I'm scared. · Alex's expression softens immediately. · ALEX: · Okay. · SEO-YEON: · Not because I don't want this. I do. It's just... this matters so much to me that I think I'm scared of exactly how much it matters. · Alex nods. He doesn't rush to reassure her or tell her not to be scared. · ALEX: · I get that. · She looks at him. · SEO-YEON: · You really want to marry me? · ALEX: · More than anything. · SEO-YEON: · Even when I'm difficult? · ALEX: · Especially then. · She gives him a tearful, disbelieving smile. · SEO-YEON: · That is a terrible answer. · ALEX: · Told you, the speech was way better. · She laughs, then takes both his hands. · SEO-YEON: · I don't need more time to know I want a future with you. · Alex goes still. · SEO-YEON: · I want to choose you too. Not because everything's easy, and not because I've got it all figured out. · She squeezes his hands. · SEO-YEON: · I want to figure it out with you. · Her eyes shine as she finally lets herself smile fully. · SEO-YEON: · Yes, Alex. I'll marry you. · For a moment, Alex just looks at her, as though he needs to hear it again to believe it. · Then his face breaks into the biggest, most relieved smile she's seen from him in a long time. · ALEX: · Yeah? · SEO-YEON: · Yes. · ALEX: · Just checking. · She laughs and reaches across the table, cupping his face with both hands. · They kiss, tenderly at first, then with the kind of joy neither can quite hide. · When they separate, Seo-yeon rests her forehead against his. · SEO-YEON: · You made me cry before breakfast, you know. · ALEX: · Technically breakfast started before the crying. · She gives his shoulder a light push. · SEO-YEON: · Alex. · ALEX: · Sorry. · He doesn't look sorry at all. · She takes the ring box from the table and opens it again, studying the small diamond. · SEO-YEON: · It's beautiful. · ALEX: · Hoped you'd like it. · SEO-YEON: · You picked it out yourself? · ALEX: · I did. Wanted something that felt like you. Elegant, simple, doesn't need to shout about itself across the room. · She looks at him, touched by the thought behind it. · SEO-YEON: · You know me better than you give yourself credit for. · Alex takes the ring carefully from the box. · ALEX: · May I? · She holds out her left hand. · He slides the ring onto her finger. It fits. · They both look down at it. · Seo-yeon slowly turns her hand, watching the diamond catch the morning light. · Then she looks back at Alex. · SEO-YEON: · I'm engaged. · ALEX: · You are. · She says it again, almost to herself. · SEO-YEON: · I'm engaged. · Alex laughs softly. · ALEX: · You sound surprised. · SEO-YEON: · I am surprised. · She leans over the table and kisses him again. · SEO-YEON: · But happy. · He presses his forehead against hers. · ALEX: · Same here. · ⸻ · SCENE 5 — NO RUSH · LOCATION: Han Seo-yeon's apartment, dining area, inside. · TIME: Morning, approximately 8:20 AM. · LIGHTING: Bright, gentle morning sunlight. · SETTING: They have moved their chairs closer together. The ring remains on Seo-yeon's finger, catching the light whenever she moves her hand. · After a while, Seo-yeon sits back and looks at the ring again. · SEO-YEON: · So does this mean we have to start planning a wedding now? · Alex considers it seriously. · ALEX: · Was hoping we could finish breakfast first. · She laughs. · SEO-YEON: · I'm being serious. · ALEX: · So am I. · He takes her hand again. · ALEX: · We don't have to do everything today. Don't need a date picked out this week, or tell everyone before we're ready. · SEO-YEON: · Good. Pretty sure my mom would faint. · ALEX: · Mine would book a flight before I even finish the sentence. · Seo-yeon laughs, imagining it. · SEO-YEON: · They'll be happy, though. · ALEX: · I think so. · He looks at her, his expression turning thoughtful. · ALEX: · There's one thing I'd actually like us to do before we even think about the wedding. · SEO-YEON: · What's that? · ALEX: · Find a place together. · She studies him. · ALEX: · Not because we have to. Not because being engaged means everything needs to change overnight. Just something I've been thinking about for a while. · He glances around her apartment, then back at her. · ALEX: · I like waking up next to you. Like having breakfast with you. And I really like the idea that, at the end of the day, neither of us has to say goodbye at some door. · Seo-yeon grows quiet. The thought clearly touches something she has been feeling, too. · SEO-YEON: · I'd like that a lot, actually. · ALEX: · We can take our time with it. Look around, find somewhere that feels right for both of us. · SEO-YEON: · And argue about where everything goes? · ALEX: · Obviously. Pretty sure that's part of the legal process. · She smiles and rests her head against his shoulder. · SEO-YEON: · Then let's go find our place. · Alex kisses her hair. · ALEX: · Our place. · They sit together for a while, hands intertwined, the ring glinting softly between them. · Outside, Seoul carries on as usual. Cars pass, people head to work, and the morning moves forward. · Inside the apartment, neither of them is in a hurry. · They have made a promise. The rest can come one step at a time. · ⸻ · SCENE 6 — A DIFFERENT KIND OF GOODBYE · LOCATION: Han Seo-yeon's apartment entrance, inside. · TIME: Late morning, approximately 9:15 AM. · LIGHTING: Clear daylight fills the entrance. · SETTING: Alex is ready to leave for work. Seo-yeon stands by the door with him, still glancing at her ring as if she hasn't quite grown used to it. · Alex reaches for the door handle. · ALEX: · Better head out before my boss decides I've vanished. · SEO-YEON: · You've got a very understanding boss. · ALEX: · That's what worries me. He might start expecting me to be responsible. · She smiles and steps closer. · SEO-YEON: · Alex? · He turns. · She holds up her left hand between them. · SEO-YEON: · Just making sure it's still there. · He takes her hand and kisses the ring gently. · ALEX: · Still there. · Her expression softens. · SEO-YEON: · I love you. · ALEX: · Love you too. · She wraps her arms around him, holding him close. He hugs her back, one hand resting gently against the back of her head. · For a little while, they simply stay there. · Then she pulls back enough to look at him. · SEO-YEON: · See you tonight, fiancé. · Alex blinks. · A slow smile spreads across his face. · ALEX: · Say that again. · SEO-YEON: · No. · ALEX: · C'mon, please? · She kisses him quickly. · SEO-YEON: · Go to work. · ALEX: · You're dodging the question. · SEO-YEON: · Protecting your productivity, actually. · ALEX: · Very thoughtful of you. · He gives her one last kiss and steps into the hallway. · Before the door closes, he looks back at her. · She's smiling, her left hand resting lightly against the doorframe. · ALEX: · Hey, Seo-yeon? · SEO-YEON: · Yeah? · ALEX: · Really glad I came to Korea. · Her smile becomes quieter and more tender. · SEO-YEON: · So am I. · The door closes gently. · Alex walks toward the elevator, still smiling to himself. · Inside, Seo-yeon looks down at the ring once more. Then she presses her hand lightly against her chest, letting the happiness settle before she moves. · Neither of them knows exactly what their future will look like. · But for the first time, they're not just imagining it separately. · They're choosing it together. · END OF CHAPTER 35