dive into you | lee jeno

seven

daewangam park

nari was stumbled upon preparing for another day out by her cousin. slipping through screen door, he crossed his arms in curiosity.

"aren't you gonna eat first?" haechan asked as he comfortably sat on the floor of the lady's bedroom, who was busily brushing her hair in front of the mirror.

despite of gossiping on her plans, he let her be.

"in the restaurant? no thank you." applying some powder on her face, nari easily finished her grooming. "how do i look?"

pretty was an understatement if haechan would be asked. his cousin's visuals was never below average because she had an effortless beauty. it may be that she could be a favorite by the world for she was an impeccable human being.

"do you even have to ask? of course, you're breathtaking!"

nari simpered, slipping her sling bag over her shoulder, "you're just saying that so i won't leave the house crabby on you."

she was initiating a battle of banter, he knew, still he gasped out of disbelief, "mwo? ya, naega eonje? when did i ever pretend?"

"too many to mention," leaving a soft chuckle, nari ruffled his hair and said, "take care of the house. i'll probably be late tonight so don't worry about me. annyeong!"

sliding through the door, nari was immediately gone.

as another sublime afternoon visited ulsan, jeno was patiently drawing characters on the sand he stood using his right foot at as he waited for his company to come.

the happiness that embarked the crazy night of push and pull between him and nari lodged on their faces. while writing the name of the attraction they were visiting today, jeno was foolishly smiling.

so did nari. her giggling footsteps were accompanied by a huge grin.

jeno was by the fence that divided the beach from the road, therefore, the spirited lady swung half of her body over the divider and startled him, "you're early!"

"hey," he faced her right away. glancing at his watch, he realized they were both early. "and you're just right in time."

"dangyeonhaji! i can say we're both excited," nari shrugged while she watched him circle the fence to stand in front of her.

"considering the time we've arrived, i agree with you. by the way, is it troublesome if we walk to the hotel's parking lot? the beach didn't have a parking so i thought—" his brooding talk was overpowered by nari's keenness. 

"it's certainly fine! you've forgotten what i said last night, i'm upset," nari clutched on her chest to fake her hurt in which jeno found cute.

he twisted his keys around his index finger, "it's not like that."

"oh it is," she chuckled.

"now, we go to my car. my skin's burning. i didn't know afternoons in the south could be this hot!"

"you'll get used to it."

a thrilling adventure awaited the rest of nari and jeno's summer in ulsan.

+++

the ride was short and brief because daewangam park was close the beach. however, the surge of tourists was beyond their control. jeno had to circle around the almost full parking lot to find a spot for his car. nari was shocked as well, claiming that it was only this time she saw a great amount of single day tourists in this attraction.

of course, a beaming sunny day would be taken advantage of.

once out of the car, nari's lips parted in awe of the sweeping crowd. "tell me, are we really in ulsan?"

to prove that they were, jeno poked her arm twice, "we are."

the entrance to the park was even more compelling as visitors — in groups or by family — prepared hiking their way up the sensational top of daewangam. while jeno and nari flowed with the people, there were kids running next to them as these children raced to the dino playhouse across the strip of restaurants and cafes where the marker of daewangam park stood.

against the blazing sun, both of them wore their caps to hide a bit from the piercing heat.

"this is quite a long walk, you know," nari told beforehand, stopping by the pavement.

jeno tipped his cap's bill, "my legs are designed to endure such exercise."

"how i wish i was tall like you." she shrugged the thought off within a second and proceeded to trek the mountain.

when nari said it would take a lot of time, the young lad thought it was another gag but he underestimated her!

his legs were worked up like going up namsan tower by foot however, thankfully, the rock formation was downhill. a path of wood and steel railings led to the infamous historical site of ulsan.

even from the beginning of the bridge, the serene blue sea, fading in the clear horizon, gleaming as it was struck by the sunlight, fed the eyes of the incheon boy.

the sight of the sea stole all the praise his mind could think of at this very moment.

reaching the end of the bridge, jeno and nari were met by two massive rock formations adjacent to each other while sound of waves began to conquer daewangam.

clutching onto the railing, the local of ulsan served her company a proud grin, "welcome to daewangam, jeno!"

his heart lit his face only visible to nari. copying what she was doing, jeno also leaned as he captured with his eyes the magnificent view of the sea.

it was more captivating under the sun.

to preserve this memory, he fished out his phone from one of his pockets and took a picture of the scenic wonder of nature. apart from the natural beauty daewangam had presented, jeno also captured a stolen picture of nari.

according to him, it was best to store things that were breathtaking.

"let's stay for a while," jeno insisted to which the local agreed upon after putting his phone back in his pocket.

as they admired the twittering birds passing beyond their eyes across the sky, nari opened a legend infamous in daewangam, "i assume you know king munmu, yeah?"

"definitely! a korean who doesn't know him isn't a korean."

"this rock we're standing on is where they scattered his ashes. upon his death, they believe that his wife shortly died after. like him, she was lost at the sea too and became a dragon that protected the waters where her husband was."

jeno was all ears on her story that sparked curiosity in him, "do you believe in it?"

nari glimpsed at him for a second, "i do. the queen of munmu succeeded on finishing what was expected for her as a consort. she housed the kingdom like her husband even in the afterlife. without their guidance, the kingdom would fall from its unification. besides, if you love someone or something, you'd follow wherever he or she or it goes and fulfill your promises to them."