Chapter Text
"I'm starting to think going on a vacation was a bad idea."
Haejoon speaks, but it's like Eunyung isn't listening. The man is too enthralled and dazzled by the sights of Jeju island to be paying the man next to him any attention. He has his hand stuffed into Haejoon's pocket so that they're walking in sync, while an ice cream is carried in his free hand. And on the other side of Haejoon, his arm is doing all the heavy lifting with the mass amount of shopping bags they've slowly acquired over the day.
Looking back on it, he's not even sure why he agreed to it. It was probably seduction. He was probably seduced. Probably. Okay, maybe he liked the idea of a vacation. But he wasn't expecting Eunyung to want to do so much. It was as if he'd never gone on holiday before... oh. Oh.
"C'mon sunbae, don't be such a bore!" Eunyung glanced at him and grinned widely.
It was the first time Haejoon had ever seen him so happy.
His hair was still curled, he supposed it was just the style he was going for these days, and he'd bought one of those touristy caps to wear on top. As for the rest of him, he wore a pastel pink t-shirt and white shorts since the weather was quite sunny and warm today. It practically felt like summer. And Haejoon felt like he was dying.
Not sure whether it was the beauty of his boyfriend that was making him faint or the glare of the sun, he signalled for them to stop. Of course he was glad Eunyung was getting to experience so much and genuinely having fun. But he couldn't keep up with all this activity all the time.
Eunyung must've seen the tired look on his face, because he did a complete 180° and said, "Actually let's head back, I was feeling tired anyway. What should we eat for dinner?"
Haejoon felt relieved after that.
They'd spent so much time going around the island, trying all the hotspots, eating new foods, buying trinkets and new accessories, that there hadn't been a single moment of just peace. Haejoon suddenly felt himself missing the quiet environment of their house. Their small apartment back in Seoul, luxurious enough for only them, a place that they'd made into a home. A home that he hadn't pictured himself missing. Because the last time he'd missed his home that much had been...
"Ah! Don't we have reservations somewhere?" Eunyung blurted out as they walked back to their hotel.
"Oh right, at that restaurant near the beach. I booked it for us."
"Eh~? You did?" The blonde seemed surprised. "Wow sunbae, you've really changed. You're quite the gentleman now, aren't you?"
He smiled back at the other teasingly, to which Haejoon merely rolled his eyes and smiled in response.
Eventually the two made it back to their hotel room and got dressed. Haejoon had a hard time trying to organise all the new stuff they'd magically acquired so he'd given up and thrown most of it on the bed. He'd deal with it later.
Surprisingly enough, he'd actually wanted to make a single special moment out of this vacation. It may have seemed like he wasn't enjoying it all, or that he hadn't truly approved of it in the first place, but he had an ulterior motive. Just one romantic scene is all he asked for. Just a single moment of them on the beach together, with the perfect amount of lowlight, the waves crashing nearby, and the sound of their voices as company.
Haejoon wasn't a huge romantic. He really wasn't. But he wanted to make it special for Eunyung. He thought that he at least deserved it. For all the hard work he did, for how much he tried every day, how he strives to keep going, to keep moving forward. Haejoon wanted to reward him for it while showing how much he cares. Which is why he couldn't let anything mess up their moment.
"Hey sunbae, are you done getting ready?"
He hears Eunyung's voice call out from the other side of the door as he's about to open it.
Haejoon calls back just as he's finished putting on his dress shirt. It was nothing too fancy or expensive, just a simple black button-up with the top button undone since the collar had been irritating his neck. "Yeah, what about you-"
Before he can finish his sentence, the words are knocked right out of his mouth. Eunyung walks into their room, his blonde curls freshly styled up into a high bun with a few cute accessories attached to his hair. It's not as many as he'd worn back in high school during that time he'd been trying (on purpose) to piss off the dorm supervisor, and the accessories were a lot more subtle and cuter than those ones. He was dressed in opposing colours to Haejoon, a white shirt with a pink neckscarf tied around his neck. Haejoon might've been going crazy but he could've sworn there was a certain shine to the other's lips.
"Yeah I'm done, what time do we need to be there for again?" Eunyung speaks, then looks up to realise the other isn't listening. "Sunbae?? Helloooo?"
He starts walking up to him and Haejoon resists every urge within him to grab the blonde by his face. "Uh, it's in like, fifteen minutes so. We should probably. Get going."
"Right..." Eunyung stares at him suspiciously. "Don't tell me you're sick now. I told you not to be so close to me!"
"Eunnie, that was ages ago. I'm not sick." He deadpans as they walk over to the door, bickering as they slowly make their way to the restaurant.
The evening passes by almost a little too well. It feels wrong. They get there on time, they enjoy their food, they talk about anything and everything and reminisce on old times that used to give them so much anxiety, but now it was laughable to look back on. Haejoon brought up work a few times, just to test the waters. He could sense that Eunyung wasn't happy with his current role. But he wouldn't admit it to anyone. It didn't feel right for him to be working so hard on something he didn't even enjoy. But what could Haejoon do?
Eunyung asked him about his own work, and Haejoon gladly told him about how boring it could get at the office. He told him about the mass amounts of paperwork, how silly some of his seniors could be, how Juwan managed to always mess up on a case somehow even if it was a tiny mistake, which made Eunyung laugh a lot. When he saw the blonde laughing in the low light of the candles on their table, Haejoon smiled. He seems happier now.
"But sunbae, did he really do that?" Eunyung giggled as they were walking back along the shore. "You could've helped out our precious little Juwan, y'know. He looks up to you so much. Though I'm surprised he'd follow you into the same profession given everything he warned me about while studying together..."
Haejoon turned his head, "What was that?"
Eunyung paused. "Hm? Oh, nothing." He smiled and waved his hands in dismissal.
The two went back to a comfortable silence, strolling along the beach as the waves moved in quiet strokes. Eunyung felt himself getting sleepy, and leaned his head to rest on Haejoon's shoulder.
"Hey, Haejoon-sunbae."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for everything."
Haejoon stopped in his tracks. He felt Eunyung's slow steady breaths against his neck as the other closed his eyes.
"Eunyung..."
"I mean it. You didn't have to keep being near me. You could've left at any moment. But you stayed and I... I didn't even think anything of it at first. Because I was always acting so selfishly. And I never realised just how much you actually cared. Because no one's ever treated me this way. No one ever.."
They stay standing there, on the beach, as a gentle wind passes them by. It's dark out now. There's barely anyone around apart from a few other tourists.
"You weren't being selfish. You were just.. trying to protect yourself. I know."
"Heh, I did a pretty shitty job at that, didn't I?" Eunyung sighs, "I always thought that I could do it on my own. I never thought I'd make it this far though, so thank you..."
Haejoon looks beside him to see Eunyung has fallen asleep on his shoulder.
Idiot...
I should be thanking you.
He stares up into the darkness of the sky, littered with tiny shining lights and a moon that reflects its shine upon them. Haejoon sighs.
I'm gonna have to carry him again, aren't I?
By the time Eunyung had woken up, Haejoon had already done all the packing for them. They were heading out later that day but still had one activity left on their schedule. Eunyung wasn't the type to sleep in. Even he was surprised that he'd slept that long. It reminded him of how he used to be, except, he wasn't that person anymore.
Rubbing his eyes and looking over to see Haejoon getting dressed put a smile on his face. When he suddenly remembered everything he'd said last night on the beach though, he felt slightly embarrassed. He did mean it, truthfully, but Eunyung still couldn't get used to saying stuff like this out loud. He'd never had someone to learn that from. To be emotionally vulnerable and honest with others. Especially someone you're dating and living with.
Yet he loved the new experience. Trying everything for the first time, he kept and cherished the moments close to his heart. He tried to be more open to the romanticism of it all, the touchy-feelyness that he'd usually abhor. Eunyung carefully watched Haejoon from where he was, sitting up on their bed. The other had taken off his shirt and was grabbing one from nearby. It wasn't like Eunyung hadn't seen him shirtless before, but this time, he began to notice little things.
Like the faded scar on Haejoon's left side, from the day they'd first met. The dip in his back, how broad his shoulders were, how a couple of aged cuts left tiny little lines scattered across his body. How his arms seemed slightly larger than before. Has he been working out more??
Haejoon had always been a strong guy. Eunyung knew that very very well since he'd experienced it firsthand. He'd never took too much care to notice just how much strength came from his physique. Even after dating for two years, he hadn't praised him for it. Admired him for it. So only now did Eunyung realise that, damn, my boyfriend is kinda hot. Not even kinda. He is hot. Did I not know this before?
"Oh! You're awake." Haejoon turned his head to look at Eunyung sitting up on the bed.
He walked towards him, still shirtless, and Eunyung nearly had a heart attack. Did he really always look like that? Am I going insane?? There's no way I didn't notice. Then again, I'm still new to all this. Haejoon is too. God, what am I supposed to think??
Probably thinking nothing of it, Haejoon sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned in to kiss Eunyung on the cheek. He had no idea that Eunyung was secretly panicking okay not panicking from the fact that they were very very close to each other now on this hotel bed and Eunyung was wearing nothing but this touristy t-shirt and his boyfriend was sitting shirtless in front of him. He was totally fine. About. This.
Haejoon narrowed his eyes, "Are you good? Did you eat something off last night? Should I go get some medicine?"
"No, no, I'm fine! Uhm," Fuck that was so out of character for me what the fuck. "Good morning to you too I guess, or do we just speak in kisses now?"
Haha beat that idiot.
To his surprise, Haejoon smiled. "Is that something you'd like me to do?"
Eunyung froze. "Hm. Well. Yes. But, I'm not gonna say that to your face."
"You just did??"
"Shut up and kiss me you asshole."
That didn't leave any more confusion between them as Haejoon leaned forward to kiss him, and Eunyung placed his hands tentatively on the other's shoulders as he gave in. They didn't stop until someone's phone alarm went off and Haejoon was suddenly well aware that he hadn't put a shirt back on. It made Eunyung laugh to see the blush rise to his tan face, as he pulled him in again for one last kiss before they had to go.
"Remind me who's idea this was-" Eunyung barely gets through his sentence before gagging and covering his mouth with his hand.
Haejoon looks over at him with concern and lightly pats him on the back. "Sorry.. I didn't know you were the type to get seasick.."
The blonde waves his hand in dismissal, "It's fine I.. didn't know... eithe-"
Before he can say anymore, Eunyung hurls over the side of the boat. There is a tired and nauseating expression on his face as he comes back up. Haejoon uses a small towel to clean up the other's mouth and stays close by his side. He seems genuinely worried about the other, both of them dressed in their wintery coats since they'd been told it would be stormy today.
Haejoon turns his head back to call out to the owner of the boat, "Excuse me, ahjussi! Is there any chance we could turn back?"
The old man that had been kind enough to take them on the journey yelled back as he was lifting up a piece of rope. "No can do! We're too far out now, you're gonna have to stick to it I'm afraid."
Eunyung grumbled, "Great. Ugh, I think I'm gonna hurl again-" He made a gagging noise before moving his head over the side once more.
The ahjussi came over from their left and laughed, "Your friend never been on a boat before?"
"Ah, no... we're both from Seoul. I've come to Jeju before with my mother, but it's our first time coming together." Haejoon smiles awkwardly.
"I see... well, it'd be best to stay down below the deck for now then. I'll see if I can get this ol' thing to turn around." He smiled to reveal a tooth-gapped grin and Haejoon felt relieved by the old man's kindness.
He nodded his head, "Thank you ahjussi." Then turned to face Eunyung, his hands hovering around the other. "Let's get you downstairs."
"Ughhhhh...."
With a little bit of difficulty, Haejoon guides Eunyung down below the deck and makes it back to the small cabin area they'd been shown to place any belongings they had in. It was only supposed to be a short trip before they headed back to check out of the hotel, but it sure was feeling a lot longer with Eunyung now seasick.
Haejoon carefully sat the other down on the single bed that was in the small cabin and looked around for a bucket. He brought something of a similar caliber that he found nearby and gave it to the other to use if he threw up again. He was gently patting him on the back and sitting close by his side when a sudden noise came from above.
"What the-" Eunyung started, but quickly covered his mouth, too sick to continue.
The other man looked up in confusion, the noise had sounded like a thud, then a splash. As if something had gone into the sea. Haejoon knew his instincts weren't always correct, but for the most part they hadn't done him wrong, so he rose from the bed and looked back at Eunyung reassuringly.
"I'm just gonna go check on the ahjussi, I'll be back in a sec." He gestures towards the door before walking to leave.
Just as he was, Eunyung tried to call out. "Wait, but-" Another wave of nausea hit him as the boat rocked, and Haejoon hadn't heard him at all.
"Ahjussi? Are you up here?"
Haejoon called out as he made his way up. It wasn't a particularly big boat that they were on, it had just enough space for a few people to board. There was a central component from where the ahjussi steered the boat, a small area up front, and a bit more space in the back. There was quite a bit of random clutter about the back of the ship which Haejoon carefully navigated by stepping over fishnets and hooks that were scattered around the floor.
Eventually, he made his way into the control room. He peeked his head in and called out, "Ahjussi-"
His eyes widened. There was no one there.
Haejoon turned his head to look outside the windows, "Ahjussi? Ahjussi! Are you around here?"
With growing concern, he went out to check the sides of the boat. He couldn't find the old man anywhere. There wasn't a single sign of the guy.
"Fuck." Haejoon cursed out loud. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, what am I supposed to do??"
Quickly trying to assess the situation, he searched around the place with his eyes. The steering had been left empty, there was a navigation system connected to the boat but seemed a little old and pixilated and was probably not easy for someone like Haejoon, who wasn't a ship owner, to understand. Glancing at the outside, he noticed a bunch of rope had been abandoned near the right side of the ship. And as he peered over the edge, he could've sworn he saw it.
Something sinister in the water. Gazing up from his own reflection. A dark imagery. He didn't know what. All he knew was that the splash they'd heard earlier was real, and that either the ahjussi had gone overboard for whatever reason, or something had taken him. Holy fuck, this is insane. I don't believe it. I can't believe it. FUCK WHAT DO I DO?!
Just as Haejoon was being sent into an internal panic, he noticed the clouds begin to take a dark form on the horizon. And he heard a small clutter of noise from the steps, turning behind him to see Eunyung had come up from below the deck. Oh great just great.
"Haejoon-ah, what's going on?" Eunyung barely managed to stumble his way over, being caught by Haejoon on his way.
The man kept his hands around the other, "I can't find him. I don't know what happened but.. we have to get out of here somehow. I'm gonna check for a flare. You should stay below for now."
Eunyung shook his head stubbornly. "I'm staying with you."
"You idiot, you can't do anything if you're sick like this!"
"I don't fucking care, I'm staying up here." He spoke fiercely, as Eunyung always did, and Haejoon merely sighed. He couldn't say anything to convince him.
So he situated Eunyung in the control room and told him to look out for any signs of communication on the ancient-looking dashboard. Haejoon meanwhile, looked around the back for a flare that they could shoot to signal for help. He at least knew roughly what they looked like, usually red guns with some kind of explosive in them that shot up and dispersed in the air.
He wasn't having much luck with finding one, and the storm seemed to be getting heavier. The boat began to rock even more, sky darkened by all the clouds, waves crashing into them every now and then. Haejoon was practically soaked by this point, having taken off his coat so he could move around better. Though the seawater and rain seeped through his skin he did his best to hold on and keep searching. And to his surprise, he managed to find one.
Just as he looked up, and saw a huge wave coming for their boat.
He glanced back at the control room where Eunyung was sitting.
Fuck.
Without much time to think, Haejoon rushed over to grab Eunyung out of there. He didn't have time for words to explain, all he had to do was throw himself around the other as the boat began to tip itself over.
They were succumbed to the ocean's waters, lost in the sea. As the waves had crashed and sent the whole thing upside down, Haejoon had managed to grab the flare gun and Eunyung together. The boat was washed away from them as Haejoon opened his eyes to see they were underwater. Still holding tightly onto Eunyung, he lifted and swam them up to the top. Eunyung gasped loudly, breathing in the air as Haejoon lifted his free arm and shot into the sky.
The two hoped and waited for what felt like ages before they spotted a helicopter coming to rescue them. Haejoon sighed with relief, what a fucking nightmare.
An ambulance had been called and they'd been treated as soon as they reached the shore. The Jeju police had also come to investigate, and Haejoon had informed them of how their boat driver had gone missing. He told them how he wasn't sure what happened, and how they'd both been downstairs and only heard a noise before he'd gone to see what was wrong.
The police thanked him for their time and headed off to talk to some other locals that had gathered, possibly those that knew the poor ahjussi who'd gone missing. Haejoon and Eunyung sat in the back of an open ambulance, a blanket each thrown over them, and some treatments done to any small wounds they'd gotten from the force of the ship being hurled over them. Impressively enough, Haejoon hadn't actually gotten badly hurt. Even though he'd been the one to brunt most of its force.
They stayed quiet for a while, Eunyung drinking the hot tea a kind paramedic had given him for his stomach to feel better. He only spoke up after finishing it and placing it to the side.
"That sure was fucking crazy, wasn't it?" He stared blankly at the ground.
"Not as crazy as some shit we've already been through. Almost." Haejoon replied back.
That earned a light laugh out of Eunyung. Then he fell silent again.
Haejoon turned to look at him, and saw a slight furrow in his eyebrows.
"You shouldn't have thrown yourself over me. You could've gotten seriously hurt. Or worse."
"Hey at this point, I'm sure I could handle it-"
"No you can't!"
To both of their surprise, Eunyung yelled. He seemed shocked at even himself. He opened his mouth for a second, hesitated, then began speaking again.
"You aren't some kind of superhuman, okay? You can't just throw yourself into every problem headfirst, and expect yourself to come out okay every single time." Eunyung glances away almost shyly, "I don't want you to keep getting hurt because of me."
That last part he says so quietly Haejoon almost doesn't hear it. But he does. So he wraps an arm around Eunyung, placing his own blanket around him too.
"I'm sorry for scaring you. I just reacted on instinct. I thought I was gonna lose you." He replies softly.
Eunyung leans his head slowly against Haejoon's shoulder. "I'm not that easy to get rid of, don't you worry."
They place their hands over each other's, then link them together as Eunyung continues to rest his head against the other's shoulder. It only takes a little while until Haejoon feels brave enough to speak up again.
"This might sound insane."
"You're insane, Goh Haejoon."
That earned Eunyung a long, exasperated sigh from the other which made him smile a little. Then Haejoon was back to being serious.
"I swear I saw something in the water." Haejoon narrowed his eyes and stared at the ground. "I don't know if it was a person or a creature, but I saw it. It almost looked like... like..."
He didn't want to say it. He knew what it might mean if he said it.
A tight grasp could be felt on his hand, "Hey. Look at me."
Haejoon complied, turning his head to look at the other. Eunyung faced him now, with a sincere expression on his face.
"I believe you. But we don't know what it is you saw. So that doesn't mean it's what you think it is." Eunyung spoke with complete honesty in his voice.
It left Haejoon almost dumbfounded. "Y-Yeah... you're right." He looked back down. "Sorry for ruining our vacation."
"Oh please, you didn't ruin anything." Eunyung replied, still holding the other's hand. "Actually it got me thinking. After I'm done with that role when I get back, I think I'm gonna try for a main one instead."
Haejoon glanced over at him in surprise, "Really?"
Eunyung turned and smiled back. "Yeah. I wanna live more sincerely from now on. Put all my hard work into what I think would benefit me the most. You taught me that, sunbae."
He leaned his head against the other's shoulder again. Haejoon felt glad.
Though he may not know what kind of monster he'd witnessed, he knew it was most likely all in his head. It was probably a person or an object floating in the sea. It didn't mean anything. He was okay. They both were.
Eunyung sighed a long and tired sigh. "Can we go home now sunbae?"
"Yeah." Haejoon smiled. "Let's go home."