Despite having to hold back his irritation at their undeniable skill, he remained patient as the surfer who had checked their records excitedly asked Junghyun:
“How long have you been surfing? Seems like you’ve been at it for quite a while.”
“About 7 years.”
“With 7 years of experience and surfing this well, why haven’t I seen you around before?”
“I usually go further up north. I also spend more time at indoor surfing places.”
“Up north? Aren’t the waves weaker there?”
“That’s why I go there.”
“Ah, just practicing your form. Hey, it’s getting close to sunset – aren’t you going to eat? If you’d like, we could go together…”
Being a surfer himself, the man seemed quite taken with Junghyun’s surfing and was becoming rather forward. Jaehyuk quickly put his arm around Junghyun’s shoulder and gently cut off the conversation.
“I’m sorry, but we’re on our honeymoon.”
Only then did the man remember the widely discussed news of their marriage from the past week and caught himself.
“Ah… right. I apologize. You both surf so well, I got carried away. I work at that shop over there. We have new boards in stock, so please drop by.”
“That’s great. I was just thinking about buying new boards. As a couple.”
Jaehyuk looked down at Junghyun while still holding him, silently telling him to play along. Junghyun immediately caught on and smiled brightly.
“That sounds nice. Couple boards. The most expensive ones.”
“You two really suit each other well. There aren’t many days left when you can surf in the ocean, so enjoy it to the fullest.”
“Thank you.”
After politely responding to the man’s kindness, the two watched as he walked away carrying his organized board. Then they suddenly separated from each other and began drying themselves with their towels.
“I’d like to surf a few more times.”
“The sun is nice but it’s getting cold. The water temperature is still quite low, so let’s stop for today. We’ll come out again at dawn tomorrow.”
“Are we going in already?”
“Sunset is coming earlier these days. It’s better to head in soon.”
At those words, Junghyun looked up at the sky and nodded in agreement.
The sun was still up, but the temperature was slowly dropping and the sun was getting lower. And as Jaehyuk had said, today the water temperature was low. If the sun suddenly set, both air and water temperatures would drop sharply, potentially causing hypothermia.
That was the scary thing about winter seas.
So surfing any more would be dangerous.
“Alright. Let’s go get dinner then.”
Immediately heading to the hotel.
Seeing Junghyun’s enthusiasm suggesting he would order the most expensive menu, wine, and dessert, Jaehyuk naturally carried both his own and Junghyun’s boards, taking large strides ahead. Then, as if it were completely natural, he decided on the menu first.
“For dinner, we’re having seafood ramen. Extra large seafood ramen, and since I’m in a good mood, let’s add grilled shrimp.”
At this one-sided menu decision, Junghyun, who still had a towel on his head, loudly protested.
“Come on! Do you know how much money I spent yesterday? Yesterday you completely fleeced me, and today we’re having ramen?”
“You want to eat ramen, don’t you?”
Well, of course…
“Yes I do! I desperately want it! After surfing, the first things I crave are sweets and ramen! Hot ramen loaded with seafood, with spicy peppers and bean sprouts, that I can just inhale! Just thinking about it makes me crazy! But still! Do you know how much I spent yesterday?”
Junghyun stomped his feet, demanding to know what would happen to his credit card bill. But Jaehyuk’s attitude remained firm.
“So, you don’t want to eat it?”
When Jaehyuk asked if he really didn’t want that ramen with seafood, bean sprouts, and spicy peppers, Junghyun’s energy instantly deflated.
“No, I mean, I do want to eat it.”
Just imagining the smell of ramen made his mouth water and his head spin. Junghyun hurried to follow behind Jaehyuk, who took large strides forward while speaking.
“Then it’s settled. It’s getting cold, so shower right away, change your clothes, and come out.”
“Then at least add grilled scallops!”
“No. Too expensive.”
“I’m going to add them. Grilled scallops and grilled octopus.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Just no. No alcohol either. No drinks. Just water. We’re only eating ramen with the basic side dishes. No extra noodles either.”
“Wow, unbelievable. What happened to the scale of the Hanju heir? Yesterday you had 12 servings of meat, amberjack, and stir-fried octopus as side dishes?”
“That was because you were paying.”
Jaehyuk walked briskly toward the shower area, thoroughly getting back at Junghyun for yesterday. As the wind grew chillier, he took the towel that was hanging on Junghyun’s shoulders and placed it on his head.
“Dry your hair properly. You’ll catch a cold.”
“I’m fine. I’m really healthy. I rarely catch colds.”
“Still, be careful. You might pass it to me if you do get sick.”
As Jaehyuk carried all the boards and luggage in his left hand while stroking Junghyun’s head with his right hand, Junghyun made a slightly strange face.
Today he felt odd in many ways.
No, his heart was stirring.
And not just today, but since yesterday.
“…This is dangerous…”
When he unconsciously muttered these words, Jaehyuk, who had been stroking his head over the towel, looked at him as if asking what he had just said.
In response to that gaze, which outwardly seemed the kindest in the world, Junghyun pulled the towel lower and changed the subject.
“I’m hungry. I didn’t notice while surfing, but now I’m starving. I feel like I could bite anyone right now.”
As Junghyun rambled on, Jaehyuk paused briefly, then put the boards down on a chair near the shower room, went to a vending machine, bought a drink, and tossed it to him.
Junghyun instinctively reached out and caught the flying can, and then Jaehyuk approached again, stood the boards up, and said bluntly:
“Drink this instead of biting.”
Only then did Junghyun look down at the can and see it was hot cocoa.
Seeing it, some emotion welled up inside him.
For some unknown reason, he felt very uncomfortable.
“…I’ll drink it well.”
“Drink it, take a hot shower, and come out. Wear thick clothes.”
“Okay.”
Following him into the shower room, Junghyun silently looked down at the can.
This was the second time he had given him this can.
And in this exact same place.
* * *
His first memory of meeting him was the summer when he was twenty, when he first came to the ocean to surf.
Right after entering the same university, Seojun suddenly said he wanted to surf. Although Junghyun roughly guessed why this guy who preferred mountains over seas had suddenly changed his preferences, he pretended not to know and joined the surfing club with him.
At that time, the club president was Yoonho hyung.
He was a surfing fanatic who started surfing while studying abroad, spent all his time riding waves until he was nearly expelled, was dragged back to Korea, and re-enrolled in the Sports Leisure department.
Junghyun started surfing while hanging out with him, and when summer vacation came, Seojun said he wanted to go to the actual ocean, so they called other friends and headed to the sea together.
Junghyun already knew through Jeongmin hyung, the second son, that Jeonghoo would be vacationing here. In fact, that’s why they came here. Because he thought Seojun would want it.
The ocean, seen for the first time after leaving the indoor surfing facility, looked vast and rough.
And that was exciting.
He thought this would be fun. The fact that it wasn’t safe made it even better.
While full of anticipation to enter the sea for the first time under the hot sun, he saw that person for the first time.
He had heard the name so much that it was nauseating, and he joked, “What if I recognize him?” But when he actually saw him, he recognized him instantly and laughed in disbelief.
He absolutely didn’t want to recognize him, but he couldn’t help it.
Although there were many Alpha males around him, it was obvious at a glance that he was “Cha Jaehyuk” because he was somehow different.
Not just his elegant surfing, but even the way he walked with a towel draped over him while soaked was special.
He was an exceptionally chosen person who would stand out no matter what group of people he was thrown into.
So, at that time, Junghyun understood Jeonghoo for the first time.
If they’d met as children or adults, it might have been different, but if he had been beside him during adolescence when one becomes a slave to hormones, it would have been unavoidable.
Hormones dominate the body and sometimes even deceive the brain, driving people crazy, and that’s not something that can be controlled by human will.
Unfortunately, all the emotions people think they feel are just illusions created by hormones.
Even love is just a delusion created by hormones.
So it’s not strange to feel love when such a dominant Alpha is nearby.
Being an Omega himself, Junghyun understood and at the same time mocked him.
“Too bad, but you’ll never be able to have that man.”
Somehow feeling pleased about this, he headed to the sea with his friends, and that’s when he passed by him.
That was his first encounter with him.
And their second meeting was also at the same sea.
On the last day of the trip, after his friends had already gone back, he stayed until the end to surf. When he was coming down from the waves and stumbling because his body wasn’t yet accustomed to it, Jaehyuk caught his board.
Then he calmly spoke to him.
He said not to let your guard down until you’re completely out of the sea. That you should be careful because waves could crash over you the moment you relax.
Along with those casually spoken words, just like today, he carried the board all the way to the front of the shower room, and back then too, he handed him a can of cocoa.
Saying that he seemed like a beginner but had talent, so he should practice hard.
That’s when Junghyun realized.
This person truly loves surfing.
And he’s someone who gives his all to what he loves.
Junghyun thought he would never meet him again, but he was glad to have a good memory of him. Surprisingly, the third meeting came quickly.
After the hot summer passed and autumn came, Yoonho hyung, who already had his own shop at that time, asked him to help with the store for about a week, and since it was during the Chuseok holiday, Junghyun agreed.
Since he usually spent holidays either at Seojun’s house, alone at home, or watching baseball with friends, he started the job to earn some money. It was the third day of that part-time job.
Notes:
Chuseok – Korean harvest festival holiday
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
