JD 48

After brushing off the salty air of the sea, the two of them sat on a bench nearby. Hakyung, thrilled about his new sneakers, bounced excitedly as he opened the lunch bag.

“Tada!”

“Ooh, looks delicious. Thanks for the food.”

Muheon smiled, eyes crinkling as he picked up an inari sushi with his chopsticks. He always ate what Hakyung made without complaint, but today, he seemed to be enjoying it even more than usual.

Sitting close beside him, Hakyung also dug into the lunch he’d made, finishing it off nicely.

You really don’t know something until you experience it. Who could’ve imagined he’d ever be eating lunch while facing the sea breeze like this? Even a year ago—no, just three months ago—he could never have pictured it.

“How is it? Still think you won’t be able to digest it?”

“Nope! I feel like I’ll digest it super well! With you here, Boss, I’m not scared of the sea at all anymore!”

He was so confident, he felt like he could dive into the ocean at any moment. Of course, if someone told him to actually jump in, he couldn’t.

Still, the once-deflated Hakyung had transformed into a bold river dolphin. That’s when Muheon took out a box he’d carefully carried in his coat. It was the very same one Sang-oh had brought him.

Just looking at the box, it was obvious something valuable was inside, and Hakyung’s eyes widened.

“What is this?”

“You said you were curious about what Gi Sang-oh brought.”

At Muheon’s response, the blowhole on Hakyung’s head twitched.

Oh my god—he met my grandma, and now he’s giving me a ring?!

As Hakyung’s heart pounded wildly and his mind filled with fantasies of proposals, he barely stopped himself from leaping forward to open it. But he was an adult river dolphin now—not a kid who’d get giddy over surprises.

Ahem, ahem! He cleared his throat and held out his left hand—back of the hand up, naturally.

“…?”

Muheon raised an eyebrow at the sight of his trembling fingers. Don’t people usually hold their palm up when expecting something?

He gently turned the hand over himself and placed the box on Hakyung’s palm.

“Open it.”

“Um… okay.”

Was his guess wrong? Or was he supposed to put it on himself?

With a puzzled look, Hakyung carefully opened the box. He was so nervous about scratching the pretty case that his hands shook.

Inside was a round, pearl-like object that shimmered with an odd light.

“This is… um…?”

Hakyung lifted the pearl-like thing cautiously. He couldn’t help but feel a bit let down that there was no ring hidden underneath.

Was this actually not a pearl but some kind of calming pill? Like a sea-version of a herbal sedative?

He glanced at Muheon with undisguised suspicion. Explain. Now.

“If you take this, you’ll be able to live in the sea without any discomfort.”

“Wait… what?”

“Gi Sang-oh searched the entire ocean to get this.”

“Hold on, hold on! Boss! I don’t understand! What is this again?”

“If you take it, you’ll be able to breathe in seawater.”

“No way! That’s not possible!”

Shoving the box back at Muheon like it was cursed, Hakyung scooted backward on the bench—only to be reeled right back in by the man’s hand. But Hakyung didn’t stop resisting.

He’d only just managed to dip his toes into the sea, and now he was being told to live in it?

Seeing Hakyung puffed up with indignation, Muheon gave a sheepish smile. He should’ve been calming him down—but the baby pufferfish look was just so cute, he wanted to see how far the tantrum would go.

Barely holding down the smile tugging at his lips, Muheon asked again.

“Why don’t you understand? Were you planning on never going to the sea again? Even while dating someone born from it?”

“T-that’s not what I meant!”

“Then take it.”

Seriously? Hakyung gave a helpless laugh. He hadn’t realized his boss could be so pushy. …Though that stubbornness was also kind of cute. Probably the love-goggles talking.

Still, he was too scared to take some mystery pill right here and now.

So he carefully tucked the box into his pocket.

“I’ll take it when I’m mentally ready. I will take it, I promise! It’s not like I don’t want to go into the sea with you, Boss. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks for accepting it.”

Muheon, not asking for more, pulled Hakyung onto his thigh and pressed kisses all over him. Hakyung giggled from the ticklish affection.

After a while of enjoying the affection, Hakyung let out a soft yawn.

“Boss, I’m sleepy. I think it’s from extreme emotional stress.”

“Is that your way of dissing me for bringing you to the sea?”

“My boss is so sharp-witted.”

Grinning like a rascal, Hakyung nuzzled Muheon’s shoulder. It made for a perfect nap pillow. Watching Hakyung get into full nap mode, Muheon simply patted his small back.

The rhythmic pats lulled Hakyung into a deep sleep.

In a short dream by the sea, little Hakyung clung tightly to something large and black as they glided through the ocean together. Strangely, it wasn’t scary or anxiety-inducing. It was so warm and safe, he wanted to stay there forever.

***

Now back in his dorm, Hakyung sat on his knees, getting scolded by his grandma.

“G-Grandma, that’s not what I meant…”

—“If that’s not what it was, then what was it?! Were you just doing whatever you pleased? Planning to suck him dry and toss him aside? What do they call that these days—oh right, a hit-and-quit it?”

“Hit and—what?! I never even did the boss—no! That’s not what I meant!”

A few minutes earlier, Hakyung had been sitting around agonizing over that weird sea-pill from the boss when he’d decided to call Grandma for advice.

She didn’t like sea beastmen in general, but she’d been kind to the boss and didn’t object to them dating—so he thought it’d be safe to talk to her.

But as the conversation went on, it spiraled into something he hadn’t expected.

He thought she’d take his side, but instead she scolded him.

She said it was natural for the boss to help out in the countryside, and that Hakyung shouldn’t act like that wasn’t enough. That even if he was younger, in a relationship both people had to step up equally—and why was he acting like only he could be comfortable while the boss had to shoulder the burden?

She hit him with one valid point after another—it felt like his bones were crumbling under the truth.

Still on his knees, Hakyung lowered his head and muttered,

“…Sorry.”

— “What’re you sorry to me for? You should say sorry to the boss for making him feel unappreciated!”

“…Okay, I will.”

— “That’s right. It’s the little things that pile up and rot everything. If you want to stay with him long and happy, you have to respect each other’s differences and try to understand them.”

Maybe it was the wisdom of her years, but her words sank deep into his heart.

Hakyung truly wanted to be with his boss for a long time. His love for the boss definitely outweighed his fear of the sea.

Even though the call ended with him getting totally steamrolled, his heart felt lighter than ever.

Maybe he’d been waiting for someone to tell him it was okay to take the pill. That it was okay to trust the boss and go into the sea with him.

Realizing he still had a long way to go before being a true adult, Hakyung opened the box.

The pearl-like pill still shimmered with that strange glow, pulling his gaze in.

“Whew… I’m doing it. I’ll take it. I have to take it, right…?”

Muttering to himself, less and less certain, he shut his eyes tight and swallowed the pill.

It was bigger than he expected, but instead of chewing, it melted like jelly the moment it touched his tongue and slipped right down his throat.

There was a faint fishy taste, but it wasn’t especially bitter or gross.

He barely felt like he’d taken anything at all, and he let out an awkward laugh into the air.

Now he just felt embarrassed for getting so worked up.

Tomorrow, he’d proudly tell the boss he took it.

The part where Grandma tore into him like a drill sergeant? That could stay a secret.

***

The next morning, feeling as light as if he’d had a tooth pulled, Hakyung bustled around prepping breakfast.

The menu: seaweed soup, shrimp pancakes, grilled croaker, and abalone stew.

Muheon, who had come to the dorm early for breakfast, glanced between the table and Hakyung.

Noticing the curious gaze, Hakyung grinned and patted his belly.

“Boss, I took the pill!”

“…You already did?”

“How’s that? Pretty cool, right? Bet you fell for me all over again!”

At Hakyung’s confident words, Muheon nodded big and slow. So that’s why the breakfast table was full of seafood…

Smiling brightly, Muheon basked in the adorable surprise from his lover.