dive into you | lee jeno

three

name

jeno had a month in the island so he divided a few of his days for himself. but his first day was a chaos because he was lost on his way to the hotel.

luckily, a kind fellow taught him the way. his assumption told him she could be around his age but was born and raised in the island. or not. he could be wrong still he believed his initial judgment was certain.

he was thankful she was around, but it was his dismay of his forgetfulness to ask for her name.

"you have a month to see her, jeno." the young man whispered to himself after parking his car in the hotel's underground parking lot. looking for an empty spot was a cakewalk, he wondered why it was the case. shouldn't there be a lot of guests in cheaper hotels?

it was a mystery for jeno yet determined he was to uncover the realities ulsan was hiding. he continued talking to himself aloud, "that person might be a local. i could save a lot of money since i won't need a tour guide if i befriend her. yes! i like your idea, jeno."

turning off his car's engine, he prepared for an adventure and rather than proceeding with his plan prior today, he wanted to have another chance to meet that girl on the road.

she seemed to have a welcoming aura he felt soothing for him. she could be a friend.

jeno shook his head in order to clear the clouds of countless ideas about the girl. "focus, boy. you're here to have a vacation. to have fun."

he smoothly rolled his luggage to the reception who was attended by a crisp blonde receptionist briefly shorter than him. the receptionist greeted him in glee as if he was the first ever guest to arrive. jeno was precisely correct though.

"hwan-yeonghabnida! i'm renjun, your receptionist for the month. may i know how can i help you?"

who would've thought checking-in alone could be this nerve-wracking for a novice? jeno could hear the drum pounding in his chest.

"uh, ne. i have a reservation under the name of lee jeno?" he said but his nervousness shifted the information to a question.

silly, his nuna would utter if she was here.

"that sounded a bit unsure but," renjun chuckled to ease his tension then worked on his computer. "do you have your booking confirmation with you?"

jeno anxious laughter reached the ears of the receptionist, "i'm kind of nervous cause it's my first time staying in the province by myself." he soon presented his card used to successfully book his room, another gift from his parents.

"that's compelling, sir."

"yeah," jeno agreed.

"mr. lee jeno, there is. your room is on the third floor, number 321."

a bellhop appeared next to him, asking if he could bring the luggage to the room in which jeno didn't oppose. in that way, he'd worry not carrying his things with him in the elevator. that saved him more space.

"here is your key card, sir, and i may need you to sign the form then you're free to go. enjoy your stay with us at hotel dasom."

jeno returned a warm smile before finishing the write-up. once he was all set, the receptionist named renjun led him to the elevator who also pressed the button for him before leaving him on his own inside.

it was strange travelling by himself as he was used to his father doing everything for his family. was this a responsibility designed for men? to handle situations by themselves?

if so, who standardized the concept?

room 321 gave him an astonishing view of ilsan through the gigantic window. when he swung the door open, jeno's eyes fed on half of the green mountain from the right stretching to the sea across ilsan beach. it was artistically beautiful.

"i wonder how dad managed to book me this amazing room—"

his father called him right on time. swiping the green button, he placed the speaker on his ear. "ne, appa. yeoboseyo."

"have you arrived? did you like your room?"

jeno paced slowly towards the curtain to slide the curtain sideward for him to catch a better view. he soon answered, "ne, neomu joah. how did you get the best room?"

"we want the best for you, adeul-a."

"i love our family so much. i'll surely have a worthwhile vacation."

"it's also good to hear you've arrived safe and sound," although it was a phone call, jeno could imagine the smile plastered on his father's face.

"of course, appa. i somewhat got bored cause i was on my own. the radio was my only company and almost got lost on the way to the hotel." jeno chortled at his idiocy.

"mwo? what happened then?"

"don't worry, it wasn't anything serious. i would've called either of you if i totally got lost. i was fortunate to find a person who knows this island very well, so..."

his father suspired in relief, "alright."

in the middle of the father and son's conversation, the son caught a ladybird candidly flying on the sidewalk. the sound of her laughter relatively reached his room and when he focused on the tone of happiness, he saw her once more.

that was the girl he asked directions to earlier!

"ya, slow down! aren't you afraid? what you're doing is dangerous! you could be hit by a car! aish!" the man who followed her screamed a warning.

ladybird was adorable, jeno said in his head. he missed his chance again to get her name but his nickname for her, ladybird, had a nice ring to it.

jeno's ladybird.