Archive of Our Own

"Grandma!"

With his luggage parked at the entrance, Euijoo came running to hug the woman by the side, who was clearing the tables after the lunch rush at the restaurant earlier.

"Euijoo-yah!" 

Mildly startled by the impact, she gave the tall boy a playful smack on his forearm before turning to face him fully. The young man was grinning, eyes crinkled in delight as her expression mirrored his own. Being in the arms of Grandma was something Euijoo never took for granted; the sagging skin from her old age could never hide her youthful energy that warmed his heart. 

He missed this feeling.

"Go unpack in your room first. I'll let you know once food's ready."

"Aww Grandma, you don't have to do that now—"

"Nonsense!" The elderly woman interrupted. "How can I let my grandson starve after travelling long hours to reach here?"

Euijoo knew not to push further as he acquiesced, giving a peck on her cheek before he dragged his luggage upstairs to the familiar room he inhabited during his younger days. He felt no stranger to this room, for everything looked the same as it did a decade ago when he last visited — the neatly arranged self-help books above his humble desk, the faded bedsheets signifying its usage, and even the 2016 paper calendar on the wall which was left as it was before Euijoo moved out that August.

As expected, his clothes from his teenage years were still around when he opened the closet. While the T-shirts were short enough to be baby tees now, Euijoo didn't take them out to make way for his clothes in the luggage. Instead, he stacked them at the side before getting his briefs to store next to it. With the summer heat around, Euijoo felt that the baby tees would still be suited for this weather.

"Euijoo, food's ready!" 

Just when the young man finished sorting his items in the room, Euijoo headed below as a response to Grandma's call. The inviting smell of her homemade stew was enough to stir his appetite as he approached the dining table situated near the counter. There were no customers at the moment, leaving Euijoo to enjoy his late lunch in the sole presence of his beloved grandmother.

"Aren't you gonna have something too? I know it's way past lunchtime but I feel awkward if you're going to sit there while I'm eating alone."

"Oh don't mind me, my dear." Grandma sweetly smiled. "Let this old lady watch her favourite grandson eat the food she has made specially for him."

Euijoo hummed in response, chewing slowly as the rich flavour bloomed on his tongue. It was a stark contrast to the sad salad bowls he used to eat at his desk while responding to emails. As he finished the bowl, the quietness of the restaurant began to settle into his bones. It felt foreign for Euijoo who had the relentless ticking of a corporate clock in his head, which then got replaced by the steady, rhythmic rush of the tide outside.

When a group of customers walked into the restaurant, Euijoo was quick to insist on cleaning up before Grandma could offer her help. While she attended to them, he headed to the open-air deck to admire the view and clear his head. The humid breeze hit him instantly, carrying the sharp scent of salt, though his gaze was soon snagged by a flash of red on the beach. 

"My boy, you seem distracted."

Euijoo turned to see Grandma standing next to him, who was seemingly looking out for the object of Euijoo's attention at the coast. Rubbing his nape in reflex, Euijoo was unsure if he could admit it — that he had been staring at the topless man in red shorts, his skin glistening like a strawberry shimmering with morning dew. Nevertheless, he couldn't resist asking, "Who is that man over there?"

"Ah, Nico? He's a lifeguard here. If he's not at the coast, likely you'll see him on the sea with his board. Sometimes he drops by the restaurant to help me out during the dinner rush. He always refuses to let me pay him.. that boy..."

While Euijoo continued to absorb all this new information, he also wondered if he had the guts to approach a man as beautiful as Nico. Not that Euijoo would try, because as soon as he realised Nico was waving at his direction, Euijoo let out a cough and excused himself to return to his room. If Nico had been any closer, he would have seen Euijoo's ears match the bright red of his shorts.

True to Grandma's words, the lifeguard appeared at the restaurant during the dinner rush. Although Euijoo had committed himself to support Grandma while he was living here, he wasn't sure if he could stay committed when there was a gorgeous man out there distracting him from his work. It was exaggeration on his part, because that Nico guy was just helping out with serving the customers' food while Euijoo stayed rooted in the kitchen to wash the dishes, so there were few opportunities for them to exchange any eye contact. If anything, Euijoo was the one who couldn't help himself from taking a peek outside to admire the man.

Once the crowd started to fizzle out, the plates also began to stack at greater heights, and it was at this moment that the lifeguard entered the kitchen with the dirty dishes. 

"Oh, new face!" 

Euijoo turned his head to the voice, giving the man a polite smile before he shifted his attention back to the dishes in the sink. While it would be common courtesy to say a few words after that remark, Euijoo didn't dare to say anything, lest his mouth decided to fail him and started to spout something that he would cringe in his dreams later. The lifeguard didn't push for a response either, as he placed the dishes next to the sink before leaving the kitchen. It was only then that Euijoo could feel the tension leaving his body, before he picked up speed to clear the dishes just so he could go back to his safe quarters upstairs. 

When Euijoo was down to clearing the last plate, he registered how quiet it was, which led him to glance outside and noticed how orderly the tables and chairs had been arranged. The guy that piqued his interest was also no longer there, and for a second Euijoo felt disappointed he couldn't exchange a few words, but he shrugged the thought immediately as he stored the dish back to its place.

Euijoo sighed as his body surrendered to the comfort of his bed after a much needed shower. There were still a few months left, he thought, before this soul-searching mission of his would end. He would have to start thinking about what else he could do here to help him reach enlightenment and move on to the next step in his career.

Euijoo woke up to the humid air surrounding his room, his electric fan barely helped to evaporate the sweat on his skin. No longer feeling comfortable to sleep in any further, Euijoo got up for a quick shower and reached for the first baby tee and jorts he found in the closet. While he wasn't one to expose his skin so easily, his exposed navel very much welcomed a breather from this summer, and Euijoo could tell that this was going to be a usual occurrence while he was still here during this season.

Seeking relief from the sticky indoor heat, Euijoo slipped into his sandals and wandered out of the house, though the air outside was thick with the smell of saltwater and warm sand. He naturally drifted down towards the shore, stopping near the edge of the water where the tides washed over his toes. He was so absorbed in watching the light glint off the waves that he didn't notice the lifeguard chair nearby — or the man descending its high-density plastic steps — until a low, mellow voice spoke up from behind him.

"You're that guy from Mrs. Byun's kitchen last night, right? Name's Nicholas, though people usually call me Nico since it's faster that way."

The lifeguard extended his hand for a cordial handshake, inviting Euijoo to introduce himself. While Euijoo reciprocrated the gesture, he kept his eyes trained on the man's face, because noticing anything below Nicholas' chin would be too distracting for Euijoo to form coherent sentences — not when Nicholas was currently topless in front of him.

"Been a while since we saw someone new in this beach town outside tourist season. You here for a vacation or something?"

"Yeah, kinda..." Euijoo rubbed his nape, eyes briefly strayed towards the man's scar which resembled the rippled ridge of a wave pushing the sand up the coast.

"Hope you enjoy it here. Feel free to stop by Maki's shop if you wanna surf sometime, or just—" Nicholas suddenly craned his neck before shouting "Hey, hey, hey!"

The lifeguard didn't have time to wrap up the conversation as he immediately made a run towards a young boy who was about to approach a penguin waddling near the artificial nest. Euijoo witnessed how Nicholas carried the boy in one swoop before Nicholas walked away from the area with the boy in his arms, eyebrows furrowing as his mouth moved to what Euijoo assumed was a warning when he also noted the boy's fallen face. 

Euijoo continued to watch from a distance as Nicholas brought the child back to a middle-aged woman sitting under a nearby beach umbrella. From where Euijoo stood, he could still see the stern yet patient way the lifeguard spoke to the pair, gesturing softly towards the penguins before giving the kid a gentle pat on the head. After ensuring the child's safety, Nicholas turned and jogged back across the hot sand, wiping a light sheen of sweat away from his forehead before he stopped a few feet away from Euijoo.

"Sorry for that earlier. Dillan tends to approach those African penguins when left unsupervised."

"Are people not supposed to approach them?"

"Not too close, at least." Nicholas smiled. "We intentionally block out that area just so people won't startle these animals near their nests. Once these penguins flee, it's unlikely they'll come back to protect their eggs and chicks, making them even more vulnerable to extinction."

Euijoo let the silence linger as he absorbed this newfound information, though he also noted the striking contrast to Nicholas' otherwise easygoing nature as he explained earlier. Euijoo was convinced Nicholas was passionate about life in this coast, and he wouldn't mind listening to more facts and stories from Nicholas when another passing beachgoer called out a friendly "Good day, Nico!".

The lifeguard acknowledged the greeting with an effortless nod and a casual raise of his hand. Euijoo blinked, looking between the departing beachgoer, the mother-son pair from earlier, and the man standing next to him.

"Also, I'm surprised you know all these people."

"Just the residents here." Nicholas chuckled. "It's a small town after all. Plus we don't usually have tourists around unless it's for the Sonic Festival... which is happening in two months' time."

Nicholas' unreadable expression was hard to ignore when the man mentioned the said festival, and while Euijoo anticipated Nicholas to elaborate further, the lifeguard bore a smile at him instead.

"It's almost lunch and I'm feeling hungry now," Nicholas said while rubbing his stomach. "Would you do the honour of inviting me to your grandma's restaurant?"

"Oh, uh... of course! You're always welcome to stop by."

"Nice. Let me grab my shirt real quick and we can head there together."

Without waiting for a reply, Nicholas dashed towards his post to grab his flimsy sleeveless top that was hanging by the bar. Euijoo also noted another man coming close to tap Nicholas on the back, who then occupied the chair. They seemed pretty close with the way both of them were laughing before Nicholas gave a farewell wave and ran towards Euijoo.

"Is that another lifeguard?" Euijoo let his assumption out loud.

"Not exactly. Maki does help me keep a look out while I'm on breaks in between my duty. Otherwise, Taki's the other lifeguard here who'll take over my days off. Also, Maki runs the surf shop right there."

Nicholas pointed to the humble shack that was situated 7 o'clock from the guard post. For a split second, Euijoo thought how lucky Maki was to have a clear view of topless Nicholas guarding the coast from his shop. And the view of the coast itself, of course.

"So," Nicholas spoke, bringing Euijoo's attention back to him. "What made you come back here?"

Lips pursing, Euijoo contemplated with every step they make towards the restaurant. While Nicholas didn't press for an answer, they were one crosswalk away from the place and Nicholas had to comment his observation.

"A lot must've happened before coming here then, if you're taking that long to answer."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you wait." Euijoo sheepishly scratched his head. "I was struggling to find how to start."

"Don't need to apologise for that." Nicholas smiled. "If it helps, I can share that I've moved multiple places before settling here for two years now."

With both eyebrows raised, Euijoo's round eyes were as visible as the surprise he was feeling when Nicholas shared his origin. While it was known that Nicholas wasn't born here given the time Euijoo spent during his teenage years, Euijoo was caught off guard by the fact Nicholas had never stayed here for a decade at least. If anything, Euijoo believed that Nicholas was a native here with the way he looked as one with the coast — blond streaks of hair that captured the glowing rays of the sun, and the occasional sweat and water on his skin that reminded Euijoo of the waves that resided on the sand.

"I would share more, but we're here already." Nicholas reached out for the handle before opening the door for the two of them. "Let's get our lunch first and we continue."

"Euijoo! Oh, Nico is here too!" 

"Hi Mrs. Byun!" Nicholas waved behind Euijoo as he stepped in to the store. "Hope you don't mind me having lunch here."

"What a silly thought!" Grandma chuckled. "I'm always happy to see you here. You know I would let you eat here for free with the number of times you've been helping me with this restaurant."

"Oh, please don't." Nicholas waved both hands in quick motions. "You see, I'm trying to impress your boy by paying for our first date."

Euijoo whipped his head so fast he felt the strained on the neck, and it didn't help that Nicholas had a cheshire grin on his face while Euijoo widened his eyes, as if trying to communicate "What nonsense are you talking about?".

Grandma only let out a delighted laugh, waving her hand dismissively at Euijoo's panicked expression.

"Well, if it's a date, then I definitely can't interfere! Go sit down, you two — I'll bring out two bowls of the seafood stew before the afternoon rush starts."

"Mrs. Byun, you're the best," Nicholas said smoothly, flashing her a brilliant smile before sliding into the booth seat near the window. He ushered Euijoo to the seat opposite him, his eyes sparkling with clear amusement.

"Come on, darling. Unfortunately, I can't pull the seat out for you, so this is the most gentleman thing I can do for you now."

Euijoo swallowed hard, his cheeks burning as he stiffly walked over and slid into the opposite side of the booth. He leaned forward, keeping his voice down to a harsh whisper so Grandma wouldn't hear from the kitchen.

"First date? Are you insane? We met literally yesterday!"

"Correction." With elbows resting on the table, Nicholas leaned in too, closing the distance between them until Euijoo could smell the salt and faint sunscreen on his skin. "We met yesterday, but today you agreed to let me walk you to lunch. In my book, that's progress."

"I didn't agree to a date!" Euijoo argued, though the sheer audacity of Nicholas' confidence was making his heart hammer against his ribs. "I thought we're just getting food while I answer your questions."

"And we are," Nicholas grinned, his expression softening into something surprisingly sweet. "I just like calling things what I want them to be. Plus, look at you. You've been the most energetic I've seen so far today, as compared to when we were walking earlier — whatever that was making you look so gloomy."

Euijoo opened his mouth to defend himself, but the words died in his throat because Nicholas wasn't entirely wrong. Truly, Euijoo felt his body fired up, but he didn't exactly dislike the feeling. It definitely felt lighter than when his head used to fill with deadlines, client expectations or the overwhelming dread of his existential crisis.

Before Euijoo could formulate a comeback, Grandma returned with two steaming bowls of stew, placing between them along with a side of fragrant rice.

"Eat up, boys," she warmly invited, giving Euijoo's shoulder and affectionate squeeze. "And Nico, don't tease him too much. My grandson is a sensitive city boy."

"I'll be on my best behaviour, Mrs. Byun," Nicholas promised solemnly, though the mischievous glint in his eyes said otherwise.

As Grandma walked back towards the counter, Nicholas picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the seafood, before he let out an appreciative hum as he did a little wiggle. Meanwhile, Euijoo took a sip of the broth, letting the familiar comfort settle his nerves before meeting Nicholas' expectant gaze.

"So," Nicholas began, setting his chopsticks down and resting his chin on his palm shortly after, "back to my question: what brought you here?"

"I quit my job," Euijoo murmured, the confession feeling lighter than it usually did. "Analyst at a Big Four consulting firm. Worked 12 hours daily, chased a promotion I thought would make me happy… and then woke up one day realising I hated every second of it."

Nicholas listened without interrupting, his previous teasing demeanour absent as he let Euijoo continue.

"I didn't know who I was beyond the title." Eyes strayed further from the direct contact, Euijoo found solace in tracing the rim of his glass. "I was lucky that Grandma invited me to help her out here. I suppose this is one way I can find myself, I guess. Though I have no idea how one even starts doing that."

"You don't 'find' yourself like you lost your keys in the sand, Euijoo," Nicholas said softly, his voice grounded and steady. "You just start living, and let the rest catch up."

Nicholas offered a small, reassuring smile, reaching across the table to tap Euijoo's knuckles lightly.

"And if you need a guide while you're here… I know another guy who can help."

Euijoo imagined a slight burn on where Nicholas touched, though he also furrowed at the suggestion. "Why would Nicholas bring in another guy?" was the question in his head, but soon enough Euijoo also thought it would be good idea, because something about Nicholas was distracting him from finding his purpose here.

"Oh, and do you know how to surf? Or swim, at least?"

The next time Euijoo met Nicholas was when the latter brought him to the shack near his post during his off duty. It was a long while though since he met the lifeguard, because Euijoo went to explore other parts of the town as he helped his grandma in running the restaurant. Mrs. Byun recently advertised delivery service to her customers, and within short notice Euijoo was assigned for the job. At first, the service was offered to customers living on the same street, but it eventually expanded to other areas when Mrs. Byun's regular gas supplier gifted her his well-used bicycle upon hearing about the new service. Euijoo had an inkling that the man was infatuated with her, but he decided against intervening in their love life — why would Euijoo do that when he hadn't been in a relationship since the first year of his corporate job? Blame his work for killing the romantic side within him.

As the two young men entered Maki's surf shop, Euijoo was greeted with the view of the wooden beams that were warped by years of sea air, draped in rash guards of various colours. The rows of heavily waxed boards caught his attention next, as the coconut smell against the fiberglass was hard to ignore.

"Hey, Maki!" Nicholas waved at the said man who was wiping his boards.

"Yo, 'sup man." Both guys extended their hands out for a dap. "Now who's this new face here?"

"Euijoo, Mrs. Byun's grandson," Nicholas introduced, leaving a casual hand on Euijoo's shoulder.

"Oh, you!" Maki pointed at Euijoo when the realisation hit him. "She talks about you almost all the time. Also, sorry for the mess here — I'm trying to get a head start on inventory before the festival crowd hits us next month."

While Maki wiped the grime on his hands with the rag, Euijoo could feel the hand on his shoulder tensed before that same hand returned to Nicholas' side.

"Did the town council reach out to you again this year?" Nicholas asked, his voice stripped of all its usual playful cadence.

Maki sighed, tossing the rag on the counter before he got the next surfboard to scrape off the old wax.

"Yeah. They're expecting a larger crowd this year — something about the developer pushing for a bigger stage since they received greater sponsorships this time round."

Euijoo stood awkwardly, feeling out of place as the conversation didn't seem to be something he was privy to.

"Oh, and they're planning to build the stage right over the east dunes since it's the only stretch flat and wide enough for the capacity they want."

"What!?" Nicholas' jaw tightened. "That's where the penguins nest. If they start drilling steel and blasting subwoofers over that sand, it'll completely destroy the habitat."

"I know, man." Leaning against the counter, Maki replied sympathetically. "But you know how this festival is the council's biggest profit yearly. They're starting to tell the locals it's just temporary, so they aren't taking any environmental complaints for now."

It was only when Euijoo started to fidget on the spot did Nicholas realise his presence again, and soon enough Nicholas forced a smile at Euijoo before turning to Maki again.

"Anyways, I'm guessing you're not free to teach Euijoo how to surf then?"

Maki nodded. "Yep, sorry about that. Feel free to take the boards from that section though, if you still wanna surf."

Nicholas turned to Euijoo before he spoke, "Maki's the best when it comes to surfing, but if you don't mind, I can still teach you some."

Euijoo didn't object to the offer, but he didn't enthusiastically agree to it either. The idea of having topless Nicholas in close proximity in the waters had Euijoo's cheeks heating up against his will. Euijoo wasn't sure he could handle all that while Nicholas was teaching him.

"I'm fine with anything, actually." Euijoo decided on a convenient response, though Nicholas took that as an invitation to step up as he grabbed both boards tucked under each arm.

"Don't forget the rash guards." Maki handed a pair to Euijoo who was empty-handed. "The summer heat can be brutal."

Taki was sitting at the post when Nicholas leaned the boards against the high chair, stripping his top to put his rash guard on, before leaving his shirt on the chair.

Okay, so topless Nicholas was nothing as compared to the compression-fit rash guard he was wearing as it clutched tight to his skin. Euijoo felt this was more sensual given how his eyes travelled to follow the lines on Nicholas' body, as if marking a path to a destination yet known to Euijoo.

Smirking, Nicholas raised an eyebrow at Euijoo. "As much as I love that you're checking me out, we only got a few more hours before the sun's down."

Euijoo immediately put the rash guard on, averting his eyes away while Nicholas chuckled. Though Euijoo took off his cotton tee too quick to Nicholas' liking, the latter caught a glimpse of the city boy's bare slender waist which had him whistling in appreciation.

"That waist of yours is crazy, not gonna lie," Nicholas confessed. "Slash positive, by the way."

"Okay, enough." Euijoo grabbed the surf board for his own use. "Can we start now, Sir? Like you said, we only got a few hours."

"Sir… I actually like the sound of that."

Euijoo sighed.

As they stopped by the shore, Nicholas eventually got down to teach Euijoo to surf. Starting off with the correct position to stand on the board, they eventually moved on to the sea where Euijoo attempted to surf, after observing a demonstration by the lifeguard. Euijoo was nowhere near mastering the waves, spending far more time swallowing seawater than actually standing. Nevertheless, he found himself genuinely looking forward to every next attempt — the intoxicating freedom in letting the tide knock him over was a refreshing contrast to the rigid perfection expected of him in his corporate life previously. Each failed attempt was met with Nicholas' bright, unrestrained laugh, a sound that began to settle warm and deep in Euijoo's chest. With seawater dripping from the blond-streaked hair and sunlight catching the curve of his smile, Nicholas was almost impossible not to stare at.

Euijoo brushed his fluttering heart aside as adrenaline from the sport.

On the days when the tides were too high for surfing, Nicholas would bring Euijoo near the penguins for routine checks. The artificial haven that was mostly maintained by the lifeguard was well cared for, save for the occasional rubbish the birds mistook for nesting material or dragged in after hunting out at sea. That prompted Nicholas to offer Euijoo the opportunity to help out as well, given the increasing frequency of rubbish found on land as more tourists came in preparation for the festival.

"It's unfortunate when these penguins start to consume the rubbish during this period, so as much as possible I'll try to clear them early together with Maki and Taki rotating shifts."

There was sadness in his voice as Euijoo watched Nicholas pick up the chips packaging.

"Actually, I've been wondering…" Euijoo tentatively spoke. "Why do you feel so much for these penguins?"

Euijoo noted the slight lift of the right corner of Nicholas' lips.

"Remember when I told you that I used to move a lot previously?" Euijoo nodded. "It wasn't really my choice back then — my dad's job meant a new area every few years: Taiwan, the US, among many others. I never really felt like I belonged anywhere, or that any place belonged to me."

He crouched by a low rock ledge, kneeling near the burrow entrance to gently clear a stray strand of nylon fishing line away before it got tangled with a penguin's webbed foot. A tiny, dark head popped out from the shadowed crevice, twitching its beak in curiosity before setttling back on its nest.

"I came here when it's time for me to choose a place I could call my own," Nicholas continued, keeping his voice low so as not to startle the birds. "Even then I was completely lost, and the lifeguard gig seemed to be a perfect reason for me to stay in one place for some time. But then I started paying attention to these guys."

Nicholas stood up, brushing the sand off his knees as he turned to watch more penguins returning to their respective burrows as the sun slowly descended for the day.

"Somehow, seeing these guys going back to their nests every single day without fail made me wonder how devastating it would be for them to have their homes taken away against their will. I just feel that I still have it in me to protect their habitat before it becomes completely unliveable for them."

The sea breeze did nothing to carry the heavy atmosphere between the two men at the quiet coast. Euijoo felt that no amount of words could ease and reassure Nicholas that his devotion to fulfilling this personal promise of his was not in vain — not when his face carried the weight of someone who fought to find his place in this world.

Fortunately, Euijoo's stomach made its awkward presence known by rumbling loud enough for Nicholas to catch that. Chuckling, Nicholas swung his arm to rest on Euijoo's shoulder, using that as leverage to guide Euijoo to the bustling streets, while his other hand carried the bag of trash to dispose at a nearby bin eventually.

"Come, let's get some food."

Dinner this time round was based on Nicholas' recommendation, which was a barbeque bistro that fit the summer night. They also ordered a few drinks, sharing laughs over who grilled the best skewers between them as the smoky aroma filled the open-air seating area.

With the night still too early to retire to bed, they drifted down toward the shoreline for a stroll to let the cool night air clear their heads. Euijoo stuffed his hands into his pockets, listening quietly to Nicholas who rambled about the fun facts he discovered while observing the penguins. Illuminated only by the pale flow of the moon reflecting off the dark waves, they walked far enough to the deserted area of the beach, and this realisation led Nicholas to stop his tracks.

Nicholas kicked off his sandals before his gaze landed on Euijoo with eyes flashing a dangerous spark that made Euijoo shiver a little.

"You know," Nicholas murmured, a michievous grin breaking across his face. "I think now's a good time for you to let loose some more."

Before Euijoo could process what that even meant, Nicholas grabbed his wrist and took off running straight towards the waves.

Crazy. That was all Euijoo could think about as he let himself get dragged by Nicholas to the beach. No sane man would want to dive in the waters during this chilly night, but because it was Nicholas, Euijoo didn't have the heart to say no, especially with those eyes of his. Somehow along the way, Euijoo had haphazardly removed his top and sandals just as Nicholas did, all while they headed closer to the sea.

"Crazy..." Euijoo muttered, more directed at himself for agreeing to this, though Nicholas chuckled as he caught on the word.

"Aww, it's not that much of a big deal!" Euijoo's eyes narrowed while Nicholas still had that child-like smile on his face.

"I can't believe a lifeguard is saying that to a civilian."

"You know we're not just a lifeguard and a civilian here."

Euijoo was expecting Nicholas to continue and clarify what they were, but Nicholas was too absorbed in getting Euijoo into the sea as he continued to drag the man along. The first dip to the cold waters had Euijoo reeling back, which earned a cheeky smile from Nicholas who then pulled him harder and submerged in the sea together.

"Nichol!" 

Euijoo shouted after rising up for air, sputtering the water out. Nicholas had his head rolled back as he laughed, but his lifeguard's instincts kicked in when he realised Euijoo had been coughing out longer than he expected. 

"Hey." Nicholas cradled on Euijoo's face, gently pushing the sides of his nose to urge the latter to blow his nose as well. "You good?"

"Yeah, it just stings a little." 

Euijoo blinked the seawater away before he was hit with the realisation of how close they were. Nicholas' hands were still holding delicately on Euijoo's cheeks, and while Euijoo could feel the coolness emitting from Nicholas' silver rings, they barely helped to cool his warm skin as his blood continued to flow to his head at this intimate contact. 

Neither of them spoke. The ambient noise of the crashing waves seemed to mute, leaving only the rhythm of their shallow synchronised breathing in the quiet night.

Nicholas also didn't pull away. Instead, his gaze traced from Euijoo's round eyes down to his parted lips before searching his eyes again. The waves rolled past them, lifting their floating bodies together until their chests gently brushed beneath the water. Euijoo held his breath as Nicholas tilted his head forward, though the latter's voice broke the tension between them.

"Do you wanna try skinny dipping?"

"What?"

"Skinny dipping," Nicholas repeated. "Be naked underwater. You should try when you have the chance."

Euijoo splashed the water towards Nicholas' face as he remarked, "You're being ridiculous, Nichol."

Shaking his head to disperse the water away from his face, Nicholas chuckled before his fingers reached for his own waistband.

"I can strip first if that helps you to feel less nervous."

"Wait, don't!" Euijoo grabbed Nicholas' wrists before the latter made another move. "We really don't have to do this."

"Trust me." Nicholas rested his palms on Euijoo's shoulders. "You're going to feel absolutely free once you overcome this. If not, you can punish me and I can grant you a wish."

Euijoo rolled his eyes.

"Fine." The man resigned, deciding that he would humour Nicholas this time.

It would be lie to say Euijoo wasn't nervous. While he knew that it was pretty dark to see anything underneath the waves, the idea of baring in front of a man as beautiful as Nicholas had his nerves acting up.

"Don't look down," Euijoo warned.

Nicholas responded with a light chuckle.

"Promise me," Euijoo asserted, his fingers already hooked on the waistband.

The edges around Nicholas' eyes softened as Nicholas affirmed, "Promise."

Taking a deep breath, Euijoo slowly lowered his shorts, all while his eyes were on Nicholas, ensuring that the latter didn't stray his gaze. Euijoo also noted from his peripheral vision how Nicholas' shoulders sank below the waterline, before his right arm swung up by his side, causing a splash close to Euijoo.

"See?" Nicholas raised his shorts above his head. "It's so easy."

Euijoo similarly brought his shorts above water, as if to prove that he committed to the act, albeit with less splash as compared to Nicholas. While Euijoo was proud he had the guts to do something past him couldn't imagine himself doing, the growing shyness was hard to ignore as Nicholas gazed at him with a smile as radiant as the moonlight reflecting them. As Euijoo became increasingly aware that Nicholas wasn't about to give up in maintaining eye contact with him, Euijoo eventually turned away, finding his loving eyes a little too unbearable to hold without catching deeper feelings.

"I don't like this." Euijoo was quick to put on his pants, despite the currents going against him.

"Wait, really?" Eyes widened, the skin between Nicholas' eyebrows formed a small trench as he furrowed. "Why?"

"Well, it's just not for me." Euijoo shrugged his shoulders, though he also averted his gaze away for a second. "At least I managed to clear this as one of the weird experiences I've tried in my life."

Nicholas didn't push further, shrugging his shoulders as he accepted Euijoo's reasoning. Eventually, they returned to the coast to retrive their tops and sandals, before sitting on one of the larger rocks as their damp shorts continued to cling on their skin. Watching Nicholas stare solemnly at the dark horizon where the ocean met the midnight sky, Euijoo felt a curiosity stirring inside him.

"Don't you ever miss the places you lived previously, like Taiwan and the US?" Euijoo asked softly, voice barely audible against the waves crashing to the shore.

"I do." Nicholas answered in a heartbeat. "Though that's just nostalgia for me. A lot of things have changed and I feel I've outgrown those places."

Nicholas then turned his head to face Euijoo, lips curling up a little.

"It's also precisely why I'm making this coast my new home, but who knows, maybe I'll outgrow myself from here in a few years as well."

Euijoo observed the faint moonlight trace the sharp profile of Nicholas' face. "And until then?"

"I'll stay right here. This place gave me an anchor of my choice." He said with conviction. "I'll be here, Juju."

Euijoo didn't comment on the nickname, eyes back on the sea as he let the chilly wind to cool his warm cheeks.

Over the next few weeks, the abstract threat they had discussed at Maki's shop concretised into a grim reality. Local petitions led by Maki and Taki continued to be flatly ignored, dismissed by town representatives who cited non-refundable sponsor contracts and projected tourist revenue. Euijoo found Nicholas sitting on the wooden steps behind the surf shop, staring blankly at the stack of rejected appeal forms with shoulders slumping under the weight of exhaustion.

"They've already started setting up the stage." Nicholas' voice was hollow. "The committee won't even grant us a 10-minute audience and think we have nothing better to do."

Nicholas buried his face in his cupped hands. "God, this is so frustrating." 

Euijoo could tell Nicholas was holding back his tears as he sniffled, bringing his forearm up to rub his eyes in an attempt to prevent any tears from trickling down his cheeks.

"Hey," Euijoo tentatively spoke as he placed his hand on Nicholas' shoulder, quietly encouraging the latter to face him. "We can work something out together. There's no need for you to figure this out alone."

"But why would you?" Incredulous at the suggestion, Nicholas quickly turned to Euijoo. "The tourists would be a big help to Mrs. Byun's business."

"True, but..." 

Euijoo lowered his hand that was on Nicholas' shoulder, eventually reaching for his hand before giving it a firm grip. Meanwhile, Nicholas observed in silence, patiently waiting for Euijoo to explain himself.

"You care about the coast. You care about the beings that live here, even if they're incapable of voicing their thoughts."

Nicholas furrowed, "Even so, I don't see why you would go out of the way to help when you're not going to be here for long."

"I still haven't decided yet on that," Euijoo instantly retorted. "But that's beside the point! I care because you care, and I want to help you protect this place which has been your home all this while."

"But still, why would you care?"

"Because I like you, idiot!"

Euijoo huffed at the revelation, though a second later he felt the blood rushing to his head as he realised the words that came out from him. Looking away to watch the waves, Euijoo raised both of his palms to cover his ears, hoping that would help to cool the heat that was emitting from those organs. With covered ears, he could still hear the man next to him chuckle, before it evolved into a full-blown laughter that filled the afternoon.

"Wow..." Euijoo turned back, unamused, noticing Nicholas was bending forward as he held on his stomach, before he came up again to wipe the corner of his eyes that was filled with tears of laughter.

"It would've been less painful if you reject my feelings with words, rather than laughing at my confession."

"Oh no, no." Nicholas quickly waved. "I'm not rejecting your feelings. I just find this whole situation funny, and you look so cute confessing your feelings this way. How can I not like you more than I already am right now?"

"You like me?" Euijoo pointed at himself in disbelief. "Like actually?"

"Yeah." Nicholas nodded. "Thought I was being obvious with how I treated you. But it's fine by me if you don't see me that way because I know you're going to leave eventually."

Euijoo frowned at his words, because what did Nicholas mean by that? If Euijoo didn't confess his feelings, would that mean he might never know about Nicholas' feelings towards him even after Euijoo left this place? The disappointment that was filling up his chest was becoming more apparent that Euijoo had to take a deep breath before exhaling these negative feelings away. Even so, he felt they should consider another time to talk about these things, after they were done with resolving the current situation that involved the coast.

"Whatever," Euijoo muttered, heat still lingering on his face. "We'll figure out about that later. Right now, we save your beach."

For Euijoo to speak with such conviction was one of the rare moments he should record in his life diary, especially as someone who was groomed to never question the system. It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous, given how he also noted the skepticism clouding Nicholas' eyes, but when Nicholas accepted the hand that reached out to him, Euijoo knew he did the right thing as he pulled the man up to stand next to him.

"Lead me to the committee. I'll do the talking."

For the few crossroads they had past, Euijoo had his eyes concentrated on his phone, absorbed in the information he found on the net as his mind mapped out any loopholes he could take advantage. Being the gentleman Nicholas was, he walked on the outer side of the pavement, all while ensuring Euijoo didn't knock himself on the light posts while he was so engrossed in his phone. When Euijoo almost hit himself on the traffic light, Nicholas pulled him back harsher this time, seemingly annoyed.

"Okay, now I'm a bit pissed that you're not even trying to give me any attention when I'm next to you."

"Oh, sorry." Euijoo tucked his phone back in his pocket. "I was researching about this festival for a bit to see how we can tackle this."

"Alright then, what's the plan?"

Euijoo laid it out for Nicholas: rather than asking them to stop the festival, Euijoo would convince them to consider rearranging the setup such that it minimised the harm impacted on the penguins' habitat. He would also threaten the committee to report for their negligence to protect the endangered wildlife, all while showing his LinkedIn profile with his credentials and past associations with audit, which would then be helpful in making a case to communicate with their main sponsor.

"Oh, okay cool." Nicholas said. "I've no idea what that means but if you're confident enough to even secure a time with them, I say that's still a win."

Nicholas then pointed at a burly man situated close to the stage, who was observing the stage construction as the workers transported the materials onsite. With a nod, Euijoo understood that was the man he had to convince for negotiations to pull through. Euijoo straightened his non-existent collar of his cotton tee, taking a slow breath as he stepped closer to the stage.

The man, wearing a safety neon vest over a sweat-stained polo and holding a thick clipboard, barely glanced up before he recognised Nicholas next to Euijoo.

"You again," the man grunted, adjusting his helmet.

"Mr Lim, listen—"

"Enough, Nico. We're on a schedule."

"And you won't be anymore the moment I report this for negligence to protect endangered wildlife." Euijoo jumped in with a voice so crisp Nicholas was convinced it could cut through the noise of the power tools.

Nicholas watched Euijoo introduce himself, extending his phone displaying a verified LinkedIn profile, and while Euijoo's introduction was too long to capture in Nicholas' hyperactive brain, the latter did capture phrases such as "senior compliance analyst" and "corporate risk assessment". Mr Lim's unamused expression had Euijoo diving straight into the points building his argument: potential liabilities involved, the PR damage it would cost on the town's finances and reputation when left unaddressed, and even suggestions for alternative arrangements to ensure the festival could proceed without much hiccup. Throughout this entire exchange, Nicholas observed Mr Lim's defensive stance morphing into an anxious one as his Adam's apple bobbed occasionally with what Nicholas assumed he was swallowing large lumps of saliva.

"You're bluffing," Mr Lim said, though his voice lacked conviction.

"I don't bluff about audit reports," Euijoo replied with a faint, polite smile. "I know the tourists are here, your committee wants to make money, and it wouldn't make sense to shut the festival at this point. Either you lose money now by making adjustments to the stage setup, or lose a lot more later when the town's reputation suffer as a result.'

Euijoo then took out his phone again, showing Mr Lim a group photo.

"I believe these people are the ones behind sponsoring this whole event?"

Too shocked by the turn of events, Mr Lim dropped his clipboard as he moved closer to scrutinise the picture. When he realised that Euijoo was indeed familiar with the funders, Mr Lim had no more words to refute any of Euijoo's arguments.

"I'll do something about it." Mr Lim picked up his clipboard. "You better not do anything rash while I'm making changes here!"

Giving a final burst of dominance, Mr Lim then walked away, not sparing another look at the two men who had victorious smiles on their faces. It was an exhilarating feeling, Euijoo reflected, after successfully negotiating something that was out of his own volition. Past Euijoo couldn't have imagined that current Euijoo would actually advocate for something he believed in, now that he had a renewed purpose to anchor on. Perhaps this moment solidified his life mission moving forward.

"Euijoo, that's amazing!" Nicholas slapped his shoulder in excitement before he grabbed ahold of it and gave it a few shakes, swaying Euijoo's body as a result. "Okay but I didn't expect you to know the sponsor personally like that."

"Calculated guess, though it surprises me that could be the person. I was really trying my luck since I only have the company's name as the main sponsor." Euijoo then sighed. "Even so, I have to admit I should've done this much earlier… we could've prevented all this in the first place."

"Don't beat yourself to that." Nicholas reassured. "I'm just glad that we could actually do something to protect the penguins, no matter how small that effort was."

When the first day of the festival came, the stage had been relocated away from the dunes, with the sound system facing opposite of where the birds usually frequented. Maki's shop had been busy receiving customers as tourists looked forward to the surfing activities available at the beach. Euijoo was caught in the busyness as well while supporting his grandma's restaurant with the influx of new customers almost every hour. Nicholas and Taki were also dispatched together lately to monitor the safety at the coast, given the large crowd they were expecting for this week-long event.

It was hard for Euijoo to catch up with Nicholas while the festival was ongoing. On the last day, Euijoo managed to meet with the main sponsor who Mr Lim was so enthusiastic to (re)introduce to Euijoo, though Euijoo kept the conversation to a minimum given how he already left the industry. The guy, however, was of a different mind as he continued to engage with Euijoo even after Mr Lim left the two men alone to supervise another area.

"No wonder I haven't seen you lately when I visited the office. Would you want to consider joining my new branch?" Fuma proposed. "We're setting up an environmental sustainability unit to support our future CSR work."

Euijoo pursed his lips, unable to comment on his commitment just yet. Noting his hesitation, Fuma handed his name card.

"Think about it. You can give me a call anytime you're ready." Fuma gave a firm tap on Euijoo's shoulder. "I believe you'll thrive in this space, given how Mr Lim kept singing high praises about how you're advocating for the penguins while also ensuring the festival can still run."

Euijoo looked down at the card, turning it over between his fingers. Fuma wasn't entirely wrong — Euijoo thought he had the potential to explore this work, but the idea of going back to the corporate space wasn't appealing at the moment.

"I doubt I'm moving back to the city," Euijoo said, looking up with a neutral expression. "But if your new branch ever needs an independent remote consultant, we can speak more."

Blinking in surprise, Fuma then let out an approving laugh. "That's new, but we can definitely do something about that. Let's chat after we wrap up the festival."

As Fuma walked away to rejoin the festival organisers, Euijoo stood by the boardwalk with the business card in hand. Tucking it safely into his pocket, Euijoo headed towards the quieter stretch of the coastline where the festival lights softened into a distant glow. There, he found Nicholas sitting on a weathered wooden bench as the latter stared at the dark, rolling waves. It was only when he heard footsteps crunched softly on the sand did Nicholas look up. Euijoo stopped a few paces away then, suddenly acutely aware of their unresolved distance that they put a pause previously.

"How's the view of the sunset here?"

"Same old, though it feels a little different this evening." Nicholas' voice was laced with exhaustion, but he managed to offer a genuine smile as he patted the empty space beside him on the bench.

Euijoo walked over and sat down. For a moment, neither of them spoke, letting the rhythmic crash of the tide fill the space. Nevertheless, there was still an unresolved question that the two needed to address, now that the crisis had passed and they had the privilege to consider their roles in their relationship.

"Remember the sponsor of the festival?" Nicholas nodded. "He offered me a position in his new branch."

Thighs next to each other, Euijoo could feel the sudden tension coming from Nicholas, before Euijoo dared to turn his head to observe Nicholas' reaction.

"And… what did you tell him?"

"I haven't decided whether I'll be taking that up." Euijoo noted Nicholas' facial features relaxing as he shared the news. "But I would also like to hear your thoughts on this."

Nicholas averted his gaze away to his own index finger tapping on his knee, eyebrows scrunching together as he let himself be deep in thought. With a tentative reach, Nicholas rested his hand on Euijoo's, thumb rubbing circle on his smooth skin.

"First of all, I don't want to stop you from going to the city if that's what you want." Nicholas began. "But I can't lie that I'll miss you when that happens. Like a lot."

Euijoo pressed his lips together hard, before he couldn't resist to chortle, leaving Nicholas confused as he stopped rubbing circles and faced Euijoo.

"I think I should've given you more context." Euijoo opened his palm, before his fingers interlaced with Nicholas'. "I'm not going to the city, that's for sure. But I'm also not sure if they offer alternative arrangements since I need to discuss this further with Fuma. I've grown to love this coast, and I would love to stay by my Grandma's side as much as I can."

Nicholas pouted, pushing the left corner of his lips to the side as he absorbed this information.

"Of course, I've grown to love your presence as well."

"So…" Nicholas removed his hand from Euijoo's grip, palm feeling sweaty despite the sea breeze. "What are we now?"

Euijoo rubbed his nape. "Frankly, I'm not sure how to define our relationship. But I want to spend more time with you and figure it out together — if you allow me."

Nicholas leaned his head against Euijoo's shoulder, hand finding comfort in Euijoo's grasp again.

"I'd love to. Happy to be your guide as long as you want me."

Another year had passed, and it was time to prepare another major festival at the coast. This time, Euijoo had proposed to Fuma to consider including educational outreach on penguin conservation as part of the programme lineup. The online meeting went longer than expected as they refined the details, and when Euijoo finally closed his laptop lid, he heard the door clicked before he felt two sturdy arms hugging him from behind.

"I'm hungry." Nicholas nuzzled close to Euijoo's ear. "Grandma and I have prepared brunch and you're taking too long to come down."

"Sorry, the meeting overran." Euijoo took his partner's hand and gave it a peck. "Let's go. I'm sure Grandma is waiting for us as well."

The two hands, clutched together gently, gradually began to resemble each other's temperature.