Harbor

Chapter 1: Gentle Pull

The small fishing village of Seorak lay before Min Hwan like a forgotten painting—serene and untouched by the chaos of city life. As he parked his car by the entrance, the scent of saltwater mixed with the earthy aroma of pine trees welcomed him. For a brief moment, standing there with the wind brushing against his face, Min Hwan let himself be reminded of childhood summers in Seorak. But the memories were bittersweet. His grandmother's presence felt close yet distant, a constant reminder of the life he left behind for Seoul's cold ambition.

Exhaling deeply, Min Hwan grabbed a small bouquet of chrysanthemums from the passenger seat. It was Chuseok, the time to pay respects to ancestors, but his visit felt more like an escape from the weight of his professional failure. "Halmeoni, I'm sorry," he murmured to the bouquet, his guilt bubbling beneath his calm exterior.

The road to the gravesite was steep, lined with the village's rice fields that stretched endlessly, catching the golden hues of the afternoon sun. At the top of the mountain, his grandmother's grave stood alone, shaded by a gnarled pine tree. He placed the flowers on her grave and bowed deeply, feeling the silence settle around him. "I wish you were here," he whispered, his voice catching in his throat. "Seoul... was too much. I stood up for what I thought was right, but... I lost everything."

As the sun dipped behind the mountains, Min Hwan walked back down the path, the world darkening into dusk. The harbor glistened in the fading light, boats gently swaying in the calm water. Lost in thought, Min Hwan absently twirled his car key around his finger, gazing out at the horizon. The next moment, the key flew from his hand and landed with a faint splash in the water.

"Aish, seriously?" he groaned, his heart sinking. Min Hwan instinctively leaned over the edge of the harbor, staring helplessly at the dark water below.

"You planning on diving in?" a deep voice interrupted his panic. Min Hwan looked up to see a tall figure standing a few feet away, arms crossed, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

It was Kyung Won, the village chief. He exuded a calm confidence, with broad shoulders and a wind-tousled mop of hair. His voice was soft yet commanding, the kind that made you want to listen, even when he was clearly poking fun.

"Chief Genius," Min Hwan muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me?" Kyung Won raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing," Min Hwan sighed. "My car key... it's down there. I need it to get into my car."

Kyung Won crouched down beside him, peering into the water with mock seriousness. "You're out of luck. I think the fish might've claimed it. Might as well offer a prayer to the ocean gods."

Min Hwan gave him an incredulous look. "How are you so calm about this?"

Kyung Won grinned. "You city folk, always in a hurry. Just give it a night. The tide might return your key in the morning."

"I can't wait until morning!" Min Hwan snapped, his frustration bubbling over. "I need to get my luggage, and I—"

Kyung Won stood, dusting off his hands. "Fine, fine. I can try to help you break into your car." He fished a few metal wires from his pocket.

Min Hwan stared at him. "Why... why do you have those?"

Kyung Won winked. "Do you want my help or not?"

Reluctantly, Min Hwan stepped aside, watching Kyung Won work. Within minutes, the trunk popped open. Kyung Won looked up, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

"Thief," Min Hwan muttered, though there was a faint smile on his lips.

Kyung Won shrugged, ignoring the jab. "Let's get your things to your grandmother's house. You'll be staying there, right?"