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The sounds of luggage shuffling began after the airplane had finally stopped on the runway. Every soul was excited to be free from the cabin filled with cramped seats after hours of flight. Yet, among the sea of tired faces, there were two whose eyes lit up despite the fatigue.
With passports in hand, the two walked through the unfamiliar airport with silent excitement. The speakers made announcements in different languages while passengers lined up for customs.
When the officer gestured the two blondes to the front, they had to force their steps to be smaller than what they were feeling at the moment.
The customs officer didn't even raise an eyebrow when they handed over their passports, slightly funky grins resting on their lips.
Because she had seen this almost a hundred times by now.
"What's the purpose of your visit?"
It was like a key that opened a box ready to explode.
"Honeymoon."
Len said it almost too quickly, and Rin tried her best not to let out a snicker.
Like in so many romance books or shows, the couple would finally come together, dressed in gorgeous wedding outfits, walking down the red carpet and sealing their love story with a kiss.
And after that, the end credits would roll, closing the story with they lived happily ever after.
But at least one bonus chapter had to be opened before moving toward the end.
Thus began the honeymoon.
Planning for something was always exciting in the beginning, and the same went for both the wedding and the honeymoon.
They could have a wedding on the beach, in a hotel, in another country, or simply at a ceremonial venue rented just for the occasion.
It was decision after decision.
Ideas clashed and piled onto blank pages as endless possibilities blossomed, until everything finally began to narrow down into a plan that was doable—for them, and more specifically, affordable.
As the plan slowly grew more complicated and closer to reality, the time spent on niche details became the most exhausting part.
Which led Rin and Len into arguments more than a few times.
They ended up hosting it at a banquet hall, just like most of their friends had done. However, at Rin's request, they both took ballroom dancing classes. As magical as it sounded for newlyweds to have their first dance at the wedding, even though they both had an idea of how it should look, the actual execution of dancing elegantly was far beyond their knowledge.
After that one magical night ended, after stepping out of their dazzling white outfits, it was finally time to taste the fruits of their labor.
Rin was like a ball of energy the night before their flight, during the flight, and even after the two stepped out of customs.
This was the time they could focus on each other, with no one else getting in the way—
"Hey, sorry, dumb question... you see that arrow pointing downward on the sign for the airport transit station that goes to the central city... so does that mean we keep going straight, or do we need to take an elevator down a level?"
Len's question jolted Rin out of her little bubble of excitement. She stared at him for a good two seconds, trying to make her remaining brain cells work.
It sounded like a dumb question, and she hated that she didn't have an answer either.
"Um... are there other signs that might give us a hint about what the arrow means?"
That was the best she could come up with.
Even after staring at the directory for minutes, they still had no clue how to get to the transit station.
"Maybe it's time we ask the staff..." Len mumbled. Their two exhausted brains weren't smart enough to figure this out alone.
"You want to be the one to ask?" Rin replied, not taking her eyes off the directory.
"No... I don't wanna."
Despite his reluctance, Len had already started looking for a staff member who seemed free... and, more importantly, approachable.
After years of being with Rin, he knew she was the type to try figuring things out on her own, only asking for help once she hit a truly worrying dead end.
So he'd try his way and let her be.
"Excuse me, where can we find the airport transit station?" he asked politely, approaching a staff member who was directing travelers to line up for bag checks.
"If you're taking a plane, it's this way," the staff replied, pointing toward the line.
"No, no... I meant the transit," Len said, panic creeping in as Rin silently stepped beside him, having finally given up on figuring it out herself.
"Taking a plane, it's this way." The staff emphasized his answer, pointing again. This time, he looked confused, maybe even irritated. Whether that was Len's imagination fueled by anxiety or not, he couldn't tell.
They were both speaking English, right? What was so difficult about the question?
The conversation went back and forth, nearly identical questions and answers repeating several times, until they finally received directions to the transit station.
And it turned out to be straight ahead.
Len barely hid his irritation in the way he held Rin's hand as they walked away, and Rin clearly noticed.
The train to the central city was packed with travelers, but they were lucky enough to find two seats next to each other.
They held their luggage in front of them carefully, their bodies pressed together in the crowded space.
Len gazed out the large glass window as the scenery passed by. It was lightly raining outside the airport. Even as he watched paved roads and houses, everything felt... different. It was a strange, special feeling. Seeing things he knew of, but presented in a way he had never seen before.
Rin leaned her head against his shoulder without a word. She could tell he was trying to focus on anything else to steady himself after the earlier encounter.
She wasn't going to bring it up in a cabin full of strangers. Instead, she stayed close, focusing on getting them both safely to the hotel.
Their destination wasn't the bustling central city, but a quieter countryside town. With roads paved with ancient cobblestones, a tall cathedral with spiked towers standing at its center.
They transferred trains again, finally gaining some quiet time to rest and enjoy the scenery as the city faded into wide green fields.
By the time they arrived at their destination, the sky had begun to dim. Rin looked around in fascination. Foggy twilight filtered through the station's high glass ceiling, making everything feel more romantic than usual.
They slowly stepped out of the station with their luggage, humid wind brushing their faces as they breathed in their first taste of foreign air.
"Almost everyone's gone. Looks like we're the only ones left," Rin said, scanning the long road outside the station. There were hardly any people around. Most likely due to the late hour and the heavy rain earlier.
"Well... probably a bad idea to do all this traveling in one day. We arrived when both we and the town are pretty dead," Len let out a humorless laugh. He was clearly exhausted. Probably from the uncomfortable interaction, the travel, and maybe even the gloomy weather.
"We didn't think this through well enough, huh?" Rin said, offering a tired smile.
"It's not like we have much experience traveling anyway," Len shrugged, glancing down at his luggage wheels that were bumping over the wet, uneven cobblestones.
Rin watched him, then looked up at the clearing sky, thinking of how to cheer him up.
Just then, the town's mechanical clock rang, notifies them of night's arrival.
Twilight dyed the sky into the color of wine. The damp pavement glistened beneath the streetlamps, inviting the inexperienced two onto the stage where the first chapter of their honeymoon began.
"I think it's the perfect time..." Rin gently set her luggage down and raised her arms as if holding an invisible partner.
"Whoa—what are you doing?" Len quickly grabbed her luggage handle, worried someone might take it, even though they were likely the only ones there.
"...Casting some magic on you."
Rin hummed a sweet tune, swaying gently as she slid her left foot toward her right, her steps chasing each other. She stepped forward, turned her shoulders and hips, crossed one foot behind the other, then stepped back and forward again, forming a graceful turn as she danced alone on the wet cobblestones.
Chassé 'n' Whisk 'n' Natural Turn.
The waltz steps from their wedding.
Rin extended her hand, smiling expectantly.
"...Why are you suddenly waltzing?" Len asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"We're on our honeymoon, remember? Empty street, sunset, rain's stopped, and we both know how to waltz. Isn't it obvious we should do something cringey but romantic? And how can I finish a throwaway and oversway without my partner?" she laughed.
"You really do see the world through a pink filter, don't you?" Len shook his head, already stepping forward and taking her hand.
"A golden filter, to be exact. I've casted honeymoon magic on you, so you'll let yourself be stupid with me," Rin giggled, leaning into him.
Their chests touched, fingers intertwined. Len bent his knees and gently lowered her, and Rin trusted him completely as she leaned back, her neck stretching into a perfect line.
He rotated them back into closed position, just like they'd practiced for weeks.
"Maybe some wine will help your magic work better," Len muttered, supporting her by the waist. Twilight lit his face, making it hard to tell whether the redness in his cheeks came from the light... or something else.
"How about some honey mead?" Rin teased as he pulled her upright and retrieved their luggage.
"Perfect. I'll take it," Len sighed, a smile finally returning.
They walked toward their hotel as Rin hummed the same tune from their wedding.
This time, Len hummed along.
Once they got settled, the rest of their days were filled with impulsive ideas.
They visited local historical buildings and museums they hadn't even known about. The two mimicked the postures and expressions of people in old portraits, filling their phones with silly photos of themselves alongside a whole roll of beautiful scenery.
Another day, they hopped onto a boat while strolling along the river that ran through many streets. It felt like they were traveling through the town's bloodstream.
And one thing Rin did consistently was stop at an ice cream shop or bakery at nearly every corner and alleyway. It was as if she were determined to try every sweet flavor the town had to offer.
Len would follow her into each bakery they passed on the way back to their hotel. They circled trays of pastries endlessly—the shapes, the colors, the crusts, the fillings, the shine...
They went places and enjoyed experiences that were both planned and completely unplanned.
Today was their last day in town. They had to catch the first train back to the central city the next morning.
And at Len's request, they stopped by a small wine cellar at the edge of town. A wooden sign hung outside, painted with the words: "Mead for You."
Even though Len was never much of a wine drinker, Rin assumed he wanted to try something new—or maybe bring something back as a gift for friends or family, so she didn't question him.
The interior of the cellar was entirely wooden. A small counter stood near a few high chairs, while shelves along the walls displayed bottles of mead and jars of honey in different colors. The whole place smelled of aged wood with a hint of sweetness.
"Hello, I made a reservation for this afternoon. For the mead tasting and special bottle service," Len said politely as he approached the elderly man behind the counter, his voice was showing a bit of nervousness.
"I've been waiting for you! I've prepared a few nice bottles for you to try. And hopefully, you'll find one you both agree on."
He retrieved several glass bottles from beneath the counter, along with two small glasses held in his large, rough hands.
Rin blinked, looking surprised.
"Wait... what do you mean by 'special bottle service'?" she asked, looking between Len and the man.
The elderly man laughed and picked up an empty bottle from the side. It had a pastel rose-gold label describing the type of mead it once contained. At the bottom were two unfamiliar names, and in the center, printed in elegant cursive, were the words: "Mead for You."
"We offer a special service for newlywed couples. You choose the mead you like, and a short one-liner for your relationship. We print it all on the label and deliver the bottle to your home." He explained.
As he spoke, Len noticed a section of the wooden wall covered with photos of couples who had once visited the cellar. Next to it was a small plaque explaining the origins of the honeymoon.
One origin described how guests would gift enough honey mead to last a newlywed couple a month. It was believed the drink brought fertility and good fortune, hence the name honeymoon.
In the corner of the display was an old photograph of a young couple. The man bore the same facial features as the elderly owner.
"That records the customers who've come here for our mead. Some still visit us to this day." The elder man said, finally looking up after explaining the service to Rin.
"So I guess the mead really does bring good fortune to newlyweds?" Len joked with a smile.
"Well, my mead can only take you so far. The rest is up to you."
The elder man poured them each a glass of light golden mead. A thin layer of condensation quickly formed on the glass.
"Here's a toast to a new chapter of your married life!"
They spent the afternoon tasting different meads and chatting with the owner about their trip. Eventually, with a gentle flush dyed their cheeks, they made their decision.
By the time they stepped outside, the sky had darkened. The moonlight illuminates the alley with a soft gold color.
They walked hand in hand, fingers entwined. A hazy filter softened the streetlights through their tipsy vision, making everything feel a little more romantic than usual.
"Hey, Len... about the one liner we chose for the bottle... why did you decide on 'To cast magic on you'?" Rin said after they have been walking in silence for a while.
"Didn't you cast your... honeymoon magic on me a few days ago?" Len gave slurred response as he turned to her.
"That's what made you decide to have that in our bottle? I was joking!" Rin stared at him, couldn't believe her ears.
She only wanted to cheer him up at that moment. All she did was a silly waltz and some cringey words riding on the high of the little scenario plays inside her head.
"Don't you remember what I said?" he asked.
"...About what?"
He suddenly stopped walking and looked straight into her eyes. Rin was now almost certain that he was more drunk than she was.
"That some wine would help your magic work better."
Before she could react, he lifted their joined hands and placed his other hand on her waist, attempting to lead her into a waltz, just like she did.
However, this time both of them were more than tipsy, dancing while stumbling like they were amateurs.
That made Rin burst out laughing.
Which she made Len stopped.
For a brief moment, his foggy mind cleared as he watched her smile glow under the moonlight. He released her hand, cupped her cheek with a warm palm, and leaned in to put his lips on hers.
THAT made Rin freeze.
"Now I've cast my magic on you," he said with a smirk.
Their cheeks burned red. Whether from the mead or the moment, neither could tell.
Their honeymoon had come to an end.
But a new chapter of their life had just begun.