before the sunrise.

two

she's in the water the whole day.

seulgi finds solace and tranquility. waves bounce off her body. the gentle ebbs rock her surfboard when she ties on top, limps dangling on either side. she rows further from golden sands, chasing the waves strong enough to carry her back, return her to land. she sits and waits for a large push then steadies herself on stable feet, wings spread for balance as the ocean drifts her back.

a loud splash, and seulgi resurfaces after purposefully diving into the warm pacific waters, hands pulling her hair back and wiping droplets off her rosy façade. she floats for a bit, legs paddling to keep her in one spot as she gazes at the horizon. blue meets blue. both the sky and ocean appear infinite, joining together. the sun is almost white and relentless, but the breeze simmers the unforgiving heat. and seulgi smells paradise: nature, coconuts, sunscreen, tropical flowers, happiness.

as she swims back to her board, she rides the waves until the fiery sphere in the sky us replaced with the silvery moon. unlike seoul, the stars aren't clandestine; they're effervescent, sprinkling across the navy backdrop as far as the eye can see. perched atop her surfboard, one of the few souls remaining on the beach, seulgi soaks in the view she doesn't usually see in the hustle and bustle of life.

once the winds pick up, nipping her skin, seulgi wades back to shore. the sand is cool between toes when she notices a figure hunkered near her belongings. her breath catches.

"you've gained a significant tan since this morning," jaebum jests, arms folded on bent knees.

laughter mixes in the night atmosphere, and seulgi rests her surfboard next to her splayed pink towel. "and you haven't." her gazes fixes on his hoodie hanging off his head, body entirely covered.

"i don't do beaches." a pebble takes his attention, finger and thumb squeezing. "ironic, isn't it?" jaebum meets her eyes, a boyish grin rolls onto his lips.

tingles poke seulgi's cheek, but she brushes it aside while drying herself off. she wrings the towel through her hair, water streaming off her elbows.

"i guess you won't be taking me up on that surfing offer anytime soon, huh?" her nose crinkles. "i'm kidding."

"we'll see." jaebum looks faraway, the reflection of the moon disturbed by gentle ripples. "i may have to if you don't make any friends. i feel somewhat obligated to keep you company until then."

"wow," seulgi snorts, fishing a brush from her bag to comb through her locks before it dries to a tangled mess. "i'm honoured, but you don't need to. i can manage. i can befriend mark or something!" it's a futile attempt, and jaebum can read through the transparency.

"i will still feel obligated to be around." he draws random scribbles on the sand next to him. "by the way, jackson, he's sorry for switching the numbers around."

it's awkward to be standing while jaebum sits, not appearing to budge anytime soon. so she's on her bottom, a good distance between them. she drapes her damp towel over her shoulders, keeping her warm from the sudden evening chill.

"it's okay, no harm done. without him i wouldn't have known a celebrity was staying next to me." a handful of sand rains from the gaps of her fingers. she tosses a playful grin, hoping for the same expression.

jaebum chortles, head thrown back. "you might have to thank jackson, then."

silence lands upon them but not an uncomfortable kind. it's almost peaceful. the giggles of a nearby child swinging from his parents' arms catch their attention, and they share a moment of sentiment, too, smiling.

"you know me, so you must not be from around here," jaebum starts, gaze soft on seulgi when she faces him. "how did you learn to surf?"

water rolls down her calves, and seulgi glances away to the resort behind him, to the small town nearby. "i used to live here until my eomeoni received an offer in korea. i went with her. but my abeogi—" a hiccup of hesitance, and her eyes land on the sand stuck to her forearms. she picks grains away at a time, dropping back to the ground. "he stayed. i visited him every summer until he..."

from the way her voice trailed, jaebum got the gist and nods. "i'm sorry," he whispers, knowing it's intrusive of him.

seulgi musters a smile—forces a giggle. "it's okay! anyway, i've been surfing since i was little."

jaebum accepts the answer with a hum then rests back on his arms, fingers stretched on the sandy terrain. "you can ask me a nosy question now. so we're even."

"oh, no! i don't want to—" she's quick decline, but an idea stalls her.

in her moment it abrupt quietude, jaebum arches a brow.

"i mean... is it too much to ask for an autograph?"

————

her hand ghosts over the black scribble of ink on the tip of her sunny painted surfboard. jaebum's signature elicits a beam too wide to go unnoticed as she polishes.

"ooo!" someone whistles behind her, sunglasses and a streak of sunscreen over his eyes and nose. "you got his autograph!"

jolting, her shoulders hitch, and seulgi almost tips over her board.

jackson winces. "sorry!" he steps around. "i'm jackson! you must be the new surfing instructor that fell victim to my prank. i'm sorry, that was meant to only bring discomfort to jaebum."

seulgi steadies her board against the wooden pillars of the lifeguard's post. from jackson's red swim top and trunks, a white cross embroidered on the torso, she can decipher his position.

"ah, it's okay." smiling, she sticks out a hand and shakes his. "nice meeting you, jackson. i'm seulgi. and i don't know if you succeeded in that sense."

"maybe not." jackson shrugs then crosses his arms. "but i did succeed in introducing a cute girl to him! i take it the meeting went well because..." playful eyes linger on jaebum's famous insignia.

and seulgi feels heat rise to her cheeks. "he's just nice."

visibly displeased, jackson blows a raspberry. "he's not that nice, but alright. anyway, if any brats give you trouble, just come find me. i have fake shark fins to scare them." he's on the staircase, feet climbing the first two steps.

"will do, sir!" she mocks a salute, jackson's sense of humour lifting her first day jitters.

the clatter of steps grow then stop. "oh!" jackson peers over the railing. "tomorrow night there's going to be a party. everyone is invited! you can even bring your surfboard if you want to," he teases.

seulgi's eyes playfully twinkle in response. "i'll be there."

—•—•—•—

hi hello i swear i didn't give up on this! i just had no wifi for weeks but am back!! thank you for keeping my stories alive!! haha