Sirens song

Chapter 7: "Sleepless night"

As time passed and the night fell, it was now Yeosang's turn to take watch. He stood on deck, his sharp eyes scanning the vast expanse of the sea around them. Everything was quiet, with only the sound of the gentle lap of waves against the ship breaking the silence.

Yeosang leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the moonlit sea. The night was calm, the ocean stretching out into the endless dark. He shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew, wrapping his arms around himself to stay warm.

He let out a soft sigh, the solitude of the night making him feel a bit lonely. He knew that Jongho and the others were sleeping below deck, comfortable and warm in their bunks. But out here, out on the open deck, he felt isolated and alone.

He glanced up at the sky, the stars twinkling above him like small, distant diamonds. He tried to count them, to distract himself from the solitude, but he soon lost track. The quiet of the night was starting to feel overwhelming, the only sound being the soft creaking of the ship.

He thought about waking Jongho to keep him company, but he knew it wouldn't be right to disturb him. Jongho needed his rest, just as they all did. He couldn't be so selfish as to take that away from him.

Yeosang continued to stand there, staring out into the darkness. The ship rocked gently beneath him, its movement almost soothing. He tried to focus on that instead, imagining that the ship was gently rocking him to sleep.

But no matter how much he tried to ignore the loneliness of the night, it continued to weigh heavily on his mind. He had always felt a bit isolated, a bit detached from his crewmates. It was a feeling he couldn't quite shake, even when in the company of others.

He let out another soft sigh, his mind wandering from one thought to another. He wondered what the others were dreaming about, what they were thinking as they slept. He longed for the company, for someone to talk to, to share the night with.

But as the hours ticked by, he slowly came to accept that he was on his own for the night. The solitude was almost overwhelming, enveloping him like a cold blanket. He wrapped his arms tighter around himself, trying to find a small comfort in the gesture.

The wind picked up, the cool air sending a shiver down Yeosang's spine. He looked out into the inky blackness of the night, the endless sea stretching out before him. He felt small, insignificant. He yearned for something, anything to break the monotony.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how desperately he needed someone to talk to. The loneliness was beginning to wear him down, making his thoughts feel heavy and slow. He desperately wished for someone to keep him company, to distract him from the solitude of the night.

He thought about going below deck, perhaps waking Jongho after all, but the rational part of him knew that it was a foolish idea. Jongho needed his rest, and waking him up in the dead of the night just to keep him company would be selfish.

Yeosang tried to distract himself, leaning against the railing and watching the waves below. The soft sound of the water lapping against the hull was calming, almost hypnotizing. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to let the sound soothe him.

As Yeosang stood in the solitude of the night, his thoughts were interrupted by a sound coming from below deck. His eyes snapped open, his senses immediately on high alert. The footsteps were faint, but distinctive, the rhythmic sound of someone climbing up the stairs to the deck.

Yeosang stood up straighter, his focus completely on the sound of the footsteps. They echoed softly through the ship, growing louder as whoever it was grew closer. He strained his ears, trying to discern who it was.

The footsteps came to a stop, and Yeosang tensed, his heart rate increasing with each moment passed. He waited, anxiously, listening for the slightest sound. Was someone lurking on the deck, moving silently in the shadows? Or was it one of his crewmates, perhaps awakened by a nightmare or disturbance?

He didn't have to wait long for an answer. There was a soft shuffling sound, footsteps approaching silently from behind. Yeosang spun around, his heart hammering in his chest. Standing in the shadowy corner of the deck was a familiar figure, their outline backlit by the dim moonlight.

His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized who it was, the tension in his body instantly dissipating. "Jongho?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His fellow crew mate, Jongho, stood there, looking a little sheepish, as if he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't.

Jongho cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Couldn't sleep," he muttered, a slight blush creeping onto his face. "... Figured you could do with some company."
Yeosang felt a wave of relief wash over him, followed by a pang of gratitude. Jongho had come up to the deck to keep him company, sensing his need for company. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to Yeosang.

"You didn't have to do that," he replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You should be getting some rest, not keeping me company in the middle of the night."

Jongho shrugged, walking closer until he was standing next to Yeosang, leaning against the railing. "It's not a big deal," he said, a shrug of his shoulders. "I couldn't sleep, anyway. Might as well keep you company instead of tossing and turning in my bunk."

Yeosang couldn't help but feel a bit touched. Here was Jongho, willingly sacrificing his rest just to keep him company. It was as if he knew the loneliness that had been eating at Yeosang like a parasite, silently offering companionship and comfort without expecting anything in return.

"Thanks," he said, glancing over at Jongho. The younger man seemed oddly nonchalant about it, but inside, Yeosang was deeply grateful. "I appreciate it, really. I was getting pretty lonely out here."
Jongho gave him a small smile, their shoulders brushing slightly as they stood side by side. They continued to stand in silence, the only sounds being the soft rustle of the sails above them and the quiet lapping of the waves below.

The solitude of the night felt different now, less cold and intimidating. With Jongho standing beside him, Yeosang felt oddly content, the loneliness that had been eating at him less intense. It was as if Jongho's presence was like a balm to his lonely soul.

They stayed like that for a while, silently standing side by side, lost in their own thoughts.

Jongho broke the silence first, clearing his throat as he looked out into the darkness.

"Can I ask you something?" he said, his voice soft. Yeosang turned his head to look at him, his eyebrows raised slightly in curiosity. "Of course," he replied, bracing himself.

Jongho paused, gathering his thoughts. "Why do you always seem so... distant?" he asked, his tone gentle but direct. "Sometimes it feels like you're miles away, even when you're right there."

Yeosang's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. He hadn't expected such a direct question, and he wasn't quite sure how to respond. It was as if Jongho had somehow seen right through him, past his carefully constructed walls to the loneliness and isolation beneath.

He opened his mouth, intending to give a vague, non-committal answer, but no words left his lips. He found himself at a loss for what to say, his mind suddenly scrambling for something - anything - to say in response.
..

Jongho seemed to sense his discomfort, and he quickly backtracked. "Nevermind," he said, his voice gentle. "You don't have to answer. I just... I worry about you sometimes. You always seem so alone, even when we're all together. I just wondered if..." he trailed off, clearly unsure how to phrase his thoughts.

Yeosang swallowed, his heart twisting slightly at Jongho's words. He hadn't realized that his loneliness was so obvious, so noticeable. But perhaps Jongho was the only one perceptive enough to see it, or maybe the only one who cared enough to notice.
....