Chapter Text
It was the heat that bothered him the most. That sort of sticky, humid, engulfing heat that devoured everything and made the sand scorching hot and clothing completely optional. Jeonghan missed the scent of the ocean waves, the feeling of the salted breeze curling through his hair. He hoped that his return to the island would go mostly unnoticed. Maybe it was possible that he could spend two months with his maternal grandmother quietly and peacefully.
After taking two planes and a ferry to get back to his childhood home, Jeonghan was beat beyond belief. It felt like his shirt was stuck to his skin with sweat, and that his legs could give out any second. All he wanted was a cool bed and a long nap. He dragged his suitcase behind him as he walked down the sidewalk that was lightly dusted with sand. A couple holding hands passed by and entered a restaurant near the rocks at the edge of the beach.
The sun was beginning to set when Jeonghan finally reached his grandmother’s cottage. Jeonghan wasted no time in walking up the old, sturdy door, and knocking three times. Soon after, his grandmother appeared with a beaming smile on her face. “Little Jeonghannie, you’re here early, aren’t you?”
Jeonghan could feel his heart melting at the sight of her curly, greying hair, and the crows’ feet etched into her skin. He placed his suitcase down and embraced her in a warm hug. “Hi, mumma.”
It wasn’t long before Jeonghan had unpacked his suitcases and was completely unconscious in the guest bedroom. It would belong to him for the next two months. Exhausted as he was, Jeonghan’s grandmother woke him for dinner. He joined her at the table and ate with his eyes mostly closed. Soon after, he crashed back into bed and slept for the remainder of the night.
The next morning, he miraculously woke before noon. After a shower and breakfast, Jeonghan decided to walk around town to see how much everything had changed since he had been gone. It was a calm Tuesday morning, and most of the town was busy with their normal activities—fishing, swimming, working, or attending the college that was on the island, but further inland.
Jeonghan’s grandmother had suggested he explore at some point, so he figured he should go ahead and learn where the best relaxing spots on the island were, and if some of them from his childhood remained the same. First though—the beach.
Jeonghan carefully walked past the grassy rocks as he padded down the sand bar. The sun was reflecting off the water straight into his eyes, so he pulled down his sunglasses. In the distance, he could make out a pair of figures surfing and playing the water. They seemed to be his age, Jeonghan guessed. As he got closer, one of the figures stopped and stared at him. Suddenly, the tide crashed onto shore, and the figure came running as fast as they could out of the water toward where Jeonghan had been standing. They were shouting his name, “Yoon Jeonghan? Yoon Jeonghan! Is that you?!”
Jeonghan smiled at Soonyoung, who was soaking wet and covered in seaweed. “Hello, Hoshingie.”
Soonyoung—Hoshi, as he was now known throughout the magazines and articles, reached out to hug Jeonghan, who grimaced at the cold, wet feeling of the younger’s arms around him. “Ahg—hi—please, let go—”
Hoshi released his friend, then laughed as he turned to the other figure and shouted. “It’s him! I was right!”
The other figure waved back from his seated position on his surfboard, then proceeded to paddle over. Jihoon’s shaggy brunette hair was stuck all over his head. “Jeonghan. We didn’t expect you to be back so soon.”
“Well,” Jeonghan shrugged and brushed his own hair away from his face out of habit. The white top he was wearing was dotted with sand and seawater from Hoshi’s hug. “I guess I missed you guys.”
Hoshi and Jihoon shared a knowing look with one another. Hoshi shook his head like a dog to try and rid his hair of some of its water. “Yeah, mhm. We’ll just take this as a late wedding gift, since you know, you couldn’t be bothered to show up!”
Jeonghan blushed furiously in embarrassment. It was true—he didn’t attend Hoshi and Jihoon’s wedding last summer. It wasn’t entirely his fault; the wedding was the same week as his exams. If he had gone, he probably wouldn’t have his attorney’s badge in his suitcase right now. Jeonghan was glad that his sunglasses hid the look in his eyes.
“I know, I know. I’m the worst. How about I take you both out to dinner tonight to celebrate?”
Jihoon shrugged, and turned to trek back into the water. Hoshi agreed, and they set a time and place to meet later in the evening. Jeonghan thought he recognized the name of the restaurant, but shook it off. The rest of his morning was spent exploring, catching up with old friends from grade school, and unpacking. Jeonghan stopped back at his grandmother’s for lunch, who seemed hellbent on sharing all the new island gossip with her grandson.
“The Lees are rumored to have another baby on the way. The whole town wishes they would just stop. They have enough little brats running around. And the Choi family have been dealing with that sickness,” Jeonghan’s grandmother waves her hand while eating another orange slice. The mischievous glint in her eyes never left. “I know them. They’re tough. She’ll be fine.”
“She?” Jeonghan questioned, mind entirely elsewhere, but trying to seem present at the dinner table.
“Mhm. You know that crazy old Choi bat, always causing some sort of trouble. She was my best friend growing up, you know. She isn’t on the island anymore, though. They transported her to the city for treatment. Now, the only one left is the youngest. Uh, I think you might know him. I can’t seem to remember his name. The family owns the restaurant down by the pier.”
Jeonghan snorted. “No idea.”
His grandmother nodded in understanding. “You were pretty young when you and your parents lived here. Makes sense.”
Jeonghan agreed, and the rest of their lunch was filled with similar chatter. Soon enough, Jeonghan’s phone started ringing. He was shocked that this island still had cell reception. After that massive hurricane last year, he wasn’t sure they’d be able to get all their technology back up and running so soon.
Jeonghan saw his mother calling, then promptly ignored it.
Later that evening, Jeonghan changed into a pair of jeans and a different shirt to meet Jihoon and Hoshi at the pier. The sun was setting, causing another one of those beautiful reflections on the ocean. Jeonghan’s hair was down now, and the breeze caused it to whip around his face in gentle waves.
When Jeonghan approached the restaurant, he paused momentarily. He remembered The Beach House. It was a restaurant he would visit every time he came home—though rarely. However, he hadn’t been back since the hurricane, and the restaurant looked completely different from the mom-and-pop diner it used to be. Now, the walls of the building were tall and sturdy, built with brick and dark wood. The sign had a fancy script font that had the name of the restaurant written in English. The main floor of the building had glass windows, while the upper portion of the building was closed off. Jeonghan could see the subtle glow of lightbulbs decorating what looked to be a rooftop dining area if he looked up.
Jeonghan stepped inside the newly renovated building and nodded in appreciation for its homey modern interior décor. He spotted Jihoon, who waved him over to their table. Once seated, Jeonghan whistled. “This place sure looks different.”
Hoshi piped up. His eyes were glowing with contentment as he sat next his husband. His white hair was styled up away from his face. “Mhm. I tell Seungcheol all the time that its obvious that the place is under new ownership. He doesn’t agree.”
“Seungcheol’s a meathead,” Jihoon piped in and took a sip from his cola.
“You’re a meathead.” Hoshi retorted.
“I hope it’s okay that we got you a soda,” Hoshi ignored his producer’s response, and turned to Jeonghan. “We’re so happy you’re back, hyung.”
Jeonghan nodded, enjoying the playful banter between his newlywed friends. “It’s fine. It feels good to be back, as much as I didn’t want to.”
Jihoon saw through that immediately. “If you didn’t want to be here, why’d you come early?”
Jeonghan laughed with a shrug and sipped his drink. “The flight was cheaper.”
Jihoon scoffed. Jeonghan continued, “Anyway, enough about me. How was your first year being married?”
Jeonghan half expected Jihoon to roll his eyes, but he had a soft smile on his face instead. “It’s been…nice.”
Hoshi looked at his lover fondly. The attraction between these two was never a secret. They had been attached at the hip for years. Now that they’d finally tied the knot, it seemed like their bond was only deepening.
Hoshi nodded with a smile. He turned as he watched someone walk toward a table and waved his hand at them. The man noticed and began walking over. Jeonghan didn’t notice until the man was standing next to him.
“Hi Hoshi, Woozi. Hi to you too, Jeonghan.”
The man was tall, from where Jeonghan was sitting. He was wearing a black suit blazer and white undershirt. His hands were in his pockets. The man’s smile was soft, dimples poking through his cheeks. His hair was parted slightly off center, and it fell in a soft curve in front of his eyes and behind his ears.
Jeonghan glanced up at him with his hands resting atop one another on the table. “Hi, Seungcheol.”