"What do you guys think about going to the beach before work?" Jake's suggestion made them all perk up with interest. Sunoo clapped his hands, already excited about the idea of spending time together with his Hyungs, Jungwon, and Niki. "Harin could join us too."
"Of course, I'll let her know," Jay muttered, glancing at Y/N. "What do you say?"
Caught slightly off guard, she put her hands under her thighs and looked at Jay, her cheeks faintly tinted with surprise. "The beach? Yeah, sure, I'm up for it."
His lips curled into a satisfied smile at her agreement. "Great, it's settled then." And with plans in place, they managed to pack a few things before they stepped out of the place, wishing Jay's grandmother a good day. They wanted her to enjoy her quiet morning while they were off to spend their day off in a more fun way.
"Are you planning on swimming?" Y/N's question made them pause before Heeseung let out a mock gasp.
"No, we're just going to build sandcastles all day." His response made her roll her eyes before Jay nodded, answering her question. "Why? Are you scared of the water?"
"I'm not scared of the water. But I don't have clothes for swimming with me." She spoke, fidgeting with her fingers. "But I can just watch you guys have fun in the water."
Jay walked closer to her, making her gulp. "If you'd like to swim, we'll go get a swimming suit for you. The boys can go to the beach and we can follow up later after finding a swimsuit for you. Do you want to swim?"
The thought of swimming made her stomach sink because being in the water after she tried to drown herself a few days ago was overwhelming. She wondered if the ocean would understand her fear, if the waves would remind her of that dark moment. She felt a lump in her throat but managed to nod, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think I want to try."
Then the two of them were inside the store, surrounded by rows of swimsuits in every color and style imaginable. Jay seemed unfazed by the whole thing but Y/N felt awkward trying to find something she'd be comfortable in. "Do you like anything here?"
She picked out a few options and hesitantly showed them to Jay. "I'm not sure... What do you think?"
"You'll look great in any of them. But I like the blue one the most, it's pretty." His reassuring smile made her heart swell with warmth. "You can try it on, I'll sit there and wait for you." She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. As she changed into the swimsuit and looked in the mirror, she could see the contrast between her trembling hands and the calm waves depicted on the fabric.
But she knew she wasn't the same person she was a few days ago. She had chosen to fight, to find her way back to the surface, just like the waves that persistently crashed against the shore.
"It fits well. I'll take this one." When she stepped out of the fitting room, he stood up and the two made their way to the counter to pay when he held out his credit card. "Wait, I'll pay for it."
"Don't worry, it's a gift for you." He smiled, his eyes reflecting genuine happiness. "I'm trying to cheer you up, Y/N." His words made her realize that he noticed the flicker of pain that had been lingering behind her eyes, even as she tried to smile.
"Thanks." That was all she managed to say, feeling a lump in her throat.
The two of them soon found themselves joining the others, stepping onto the warm sand, the ocean waves crashing in the distance, only for Y/N to notice an unfamiliar presence among them, making her grow nervous. "Hey! Did you get a swimsuit?" Sunghoon asked and she nodded, glancing at the girl standing across from her.
"Hi," She smiled, extending her hand for Y/N to take. "I'm Harin. You're the new worker, right?"
Y/N's initial unease was softened by Harin's warm and welcoming smile. She shook her hand, her friendly demeanor beginning to ease her tension. "Yeah, I'm Y/N," She replied, feeling a bit more at ease now. "It's nice to meet you, Harin."
"Likewise, Y/N. We're all like a big family here. You'll get used to everyone soon." Her eyes sparkled and she grinned, throwing her arm over Jay's shoulder as the latter smiled, holding her close. "Are you excited to hit the waves?"
Y/N chuckled nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I mean, I can float and all but I've never been much of a surfer or anything." The early morning sun painted the sky with hues of pink and gold, creating a picturesque scene that seemed almost too perfect to be real while the girls went to change into their swimsuits.
"I heard you live with Jay. How are you finding it?" Harin asked, making conversation as they waited for the others to return.
"It's good. He's very welcoming and friendly." She smiled, looking down at her feet. "I have no one in Busan, but he seems to promise that my life will be better in Busan. And I'd like to trust him."
"Busan is beautiful. I can never understand how it can feel both calming and exciting at the same time," Harin said, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "The ocean is so calming and vast, like it holds endless possibilities. And Jay... well, he has a way of making people feel at home. I think it's the fact that I have him and the others that make me realize that I truly belong here."
Sunghoon's voice made them turn around when he laughed, "Don't watch train to Busan just because you took the train to Busan, Y/N." She smiled, shaking her head in disbelief before Jay approached them with the others, his eyes glued on her. She could swear his jaw tightened, and it made a shiver run down her spine. "Come on, guys, whoever doesn't ride a wave will have to treat us to dinner."
And before they knew it, everyone was running with their surfboards toward the glistening shoreline. Harin was already out in the water, effortlessly balancing on her board, waiting for the perfect wave to catch. The rest of the group was similarly engaged, some riding waves expertly, while others had comical wipeouts that sent laughter echoing across the beach.
"Hold my hand." When the two of them got into the water, he held his hand for her to take, making her nod and intertwine her fingers with his. "I'll help you get on the board." Her hand in his, she could feel the gentle pull of the waves against her legs, the saltwater scent filling her senses.
"You should go surf with them." She muttered, glancing at him, trying not to let his shirtless figure distract her. His wet abs and his wet hair made him look better than he already did, and she could feel her cheeks heat up. As much as she wanted to concentrate on the waves, his presence beside her was impossible to ignore.
"And leave you alone?" He squeezed her hand gently, a small smile playing on his lips. "You don't know how to swim and I don't want to see you floating around. Besides, I want to stay like this for a while." He rested his head on the board, his eyes fixed on the horizon while he made sure she wouldn't fall.
Y/N felt a gentle fluttering in her chest that she couldn't quite explain before she reached out her hand and touched his hair. He looked at her when she brushed a strand of his wet hair back from his forehead, her fingertips lingering against his skin. "A few days ago, I stood across the beach and thought of ending my life. Life didn't seem promising and I was struggling to get out of that darkness. I still do, but I'm glad I didn't jump into the water that day."
Jay's gaze held hers for a while, reading all the unspoken emotions in her words. "I'm glad you didn't, too. Now you're here and that's all that matters."
The sound of their friends' laughter and the crashing waves seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of them in their own universe. The sun-kissed beach, the sound of the waves, and Jay's hand in hers. Life suddenly seemed filled with possibilities she had never imagined before.
