Curious about that happiness, he often visited Taean after becoming an actor. He watched the stars, zoned out by the fire, went fishing… But instead of understanding happiness, he only accumulated longing.

“Anyway, ramen on the first day of the trip, my stomach will be ruined.”

His thoughts returned to Room 102. While contemplating ringing the bell again, all the lights in Room 102 went off. She seemed to have gone to bed.

Morning arrived.

Awakened by the loud cawing of seagulls, Dajeong opened her eyes early at dawn. She drew back the blinds to look at the sea, where the water was half-receded.

She couldn’t tell if the tide was coming in or going out. Strangely curious about it, she wondered if knowing the tides would make her stay more comfortable. Searching for a tide app, she found quite a few, seemingly used mainly by fishermen.

Just in case, Dajeong downloaded one of them.

“Ah, the water… it’s coming in.”

Caw, caw.

“Why are these guys so noisy.”

An unexpectedly serious problem was the seagulls.

She had thought seagulls were romantic creatures of the sea, but they turned out to be very noisy birds. If it’s always like this, sleeping in seemed impossible.

Anyway, this place was full of annoying things. Lee Jae-ho, and the frenzied decibels.

But why is the morning view so beautiful?

Dajeong, who had been admiring the sea for a while, turned around to look at the three suitcases in the living room. She needed to organize them. Today’s plan: organize suitcases, go to the market, take a walk.

Counting her tasks on her fingers, she chuckled at the irony. She came to clear her mind, but it seemed to be filling up even more. Was she not just creating more tasks for herself?

“Let’s live slowly, Yoon Dajeong.”

Right. First, a walk to wake up fully.

Had Lee Jae-ho woken up?

As her thoughts drifted to Room 101, Dajeong hurriedly got up, bustling about. Keeping busy would prevent stray thoughts. She hastily grabbed her coat, planning to walk in the opposite direction from the beach today. The entrance she came through had rice fields, fields, and a few houses. That path also intrigued her.

Opening the front door, a cold breeze hit her cheeks. The dawn in fall was quite chilly.

“Let’s go.”

The air was different from Seoul. Taking a deep breath, the cold air filled her lungs, bringing a refreshing sensation. She smiled for a moment, then set off along the path. There were houses and fields, a quiet rural village.

Had she walked for about thirty minutes?
“Let’s go back.”

Suddenly feeling she had wandered too far from the pension, she turned around.

The pleasant walk left Dajeong with positive energy, physical strength, and flushed cheeks. It was a beautiful autumn. Although a few troubling thoughts clouded her mind, the satisfaction of the trip was immense.

She occasionally worried about her mother, but she had no doubt that Gyeongmi would take good care of her. Worrying had always been Dajeong’s old habit.

Worrying changes nothing. Ever since that day, it had been nothing but worry, but nothing had changed. Dajeong’s thoughts drifted on the autumn breeze back to the day of her brother’s accident.

[……It has been revealed that the guests staying at the resort were high school students from Seoul Haeyul High School on a field trip. While the teachers’ accommodations were relatively intact, the building where the students were staying was almost completely burnt down…… All are presumed dead……]

She couldn’t remember how she managed to get on the plane. Parents, suddenly bereaved, flew to Jeju Island. Dajeong arrived in front of a building so burnt it was barely recognizable. Wailing. Sobbing. The acrid smell of burnt debris. People’s anger and indescribable pain.

Our tragedy was scattered across the nation as ‘news’. Watching her parents cry their hearts out, Dajeong remembered her last conversation with her brother.

‘What should I bring you?’

‘Yes! Something to eat. Something to eat.’

‘Something other than food. What do girls like? Dolls? Pins?’

‘No. I want chocolate.’

‘You eat chocolate here all the time. Reduce your chocolate. You’ll regret it later.’

Her brother, feeling a bit of a cold and sniffling, didn’t forget to gently scold her. Still, he stroked her head, eventually agreeing. How could he win against her?

‘Okay, I’ll bring chocolate too. Just wait a few days.’

‘Yay.’

‘I have something to tell you when I get back. Look forward to it.’

A few days turned into a lifetime. What did her brother want to say?

Before sinking into deep sorrow, Dajeong forcefully stopped her thoughts. Depression could quickly engulf her in darkness. She now wanted to live a brighter life. She turned her head to look at the sky and admire the autumn leaves. She even hummed a tune cheerfully.

And there, in front of the pension, was Lee Jae-ho.

Dajeong leaned against the entrance of Room 102, observing the man as if he were a painting. Then, as if to prove he was not just an image, he straightened up to face her. A soft curve rested on his lips.

“Back from your walk already? You’re diligent. I was going to join you. Why did you go alone?”

His attitude was too natural. It was as if they had a plan and she had forgotten about it. She almost apologized for going alone.

A strange man.

“Do you like morning coffee?”

Strange… Another strange day was beginning.