Red Dress | SUNGJOY

Epilogue

Five Years Later — Jeju Island Reunion

...

The ocean breeze carried the sound of waves crashing gently against the shore of Jeju Island. Standing proudly near the beach was the familiar seaside house owned by Yuta Nakamoto—the same beach house where the group had shared countless memories before. But this time. There were a lot more children.

⸻

The backyard had turned into a full playground. Children were running everywhere. Sand buckets, toy shovels, and beach balls were scattered across the yard. Five-year-old Hong Joo ran across the sand barefoot, her bright red dress flowing behind her.

Her name meant "Red Jewel." Sungjae had insisted on it when she was born. According to him, her mother's famous red dress moment was too iconic not to pass down somehow. And Hong Joo proudly loved wearing red because of it.

"Appa look!" she shouted excitedly.

She held up a slightly lopsided sandcastle. Sungjae crouched down beside her dramatically.

"Whoa." He gasped. "This might be the greatest castle ever built."

Hong Joo giggled proudly. Behind them, the other kids were busy playing. Seven-year-old Sakura, daughter of Sana and Yuta, had appointed herself the leader of the children.

"Felix! You're supposed to guard the castle!"

Six-year-old Felix, son of Jackson and Youngji, saluted seriously. "Yes captain!"

Nearby, the twin boys Haru and Hiro—Sana and Yuta's four-year-old twins—were trying to dig a hole to the center of the earth. Meanwhile little Faith, Jackson and Youngji's three-year-old daughter, was happily filling everyone's shoes with sand.

From the patio, the adults watched the madness unfold. Sungjae sat beside Sooyoung while holding a cold drink. Sooyoung leaned comfortably against him. Five years later she looked just as beautiful, though now she carried the calm confidence of a mother.

"Hong Joo definitely got my energy," Sungjae said.

Sooyoung laughed. "She gets her stubbornness from me."

Across the patio, Lisa sat comfortably on a lounge chair with a pillow behind her back. Her hand rested on her pregnant belly. Two years into marriage with Mark, she was finally taking a break from her busy career. Mark placed a plate of fruit beside her.

"You should rest."

"I am resting."

"You chased the kids earlier."

"I walked!"

Everyone laughed. Jackson pointed toward the kids.

"Look at Felix commanding the troops."

Youngji shook her head.

"He got that from you."

"I'm proud."

Yuta looked at the chaotic yard with satisfaction.

"My beach house has never been this loud."

Sana smiled warmly.

"That means it's full of life."

⸻

Later that evening, the entire group gathered by the shoreline. The kids ran along the water while the adults walked slowly behind them. The sky over Jeju Island turned orange and pink as the sun began to set. Hong Joo ran back to her parents and grabbed their hands.