JD 50

Hakyung quickly knelt down beside the boss.

“Grandma, I want to marry the boss. Please give us your blessing!”

Despite having just lectured that it was too early, her eldest grandson clearly hadn’t heard a word. Grandma pressed her trembling blowhole and shouted.

“You—you little pig!”

At her lion-like roar, Hakyung hunched his shoulders. Muheon reached out an arm as if shielding him from her, which only left Grandma more dumbfounded. Her childish grandson looked even more smitten, his eyes dripping with honey for that man.

Sighing in disbelief at the two fools, Grandma backed down a step.

“First, go to the sea. Then, meet the boss’s parents. We’ll talk after that.”

“Can’t we just get it over with now?”

“Tch!”

Startled by her terrifying expression, Hakyung shrank and hid behind Muheon. Feeling the warmth of the man at his back, Muheon allowed a faint smile before speaking.

“My parents passed away when I was young.”

“Oh my… is that so?”

“Yes. That’s why I inherited the business early.”

The calm way he said it made Grandma feel even guiltier. Hakyung’s eyes widened too—he hadn’t known about the boss’s parents either. Their matching reactions made Muheon chuckle quietly inside, but he wasn’t about to waste this opportunity.

It was true that his predecessor, an elder imugi, had passed not long after his birth, and the business had been passed down early.

But unlike what they imagined, it hadn’t been a loveless or difficult life. Still, he had to gently press on the soft spots of Hakyung’s family to get what he wanted.

“I see… You’ve had a hard time.”

“Yes. So I’ve wanted to marry for a long time. But I hadn’t found the right person… maybe I was waiting to meet Hakyung all this time.”

He even added a soulful gaze for effect. Anyone from the West Sea who saw this would have collapsed in shock from the performance, but Muheon wasn’t even slightly embarrassed. One might say shamelessness was an imugi’s greatest trait—his expression didn’t waver at all.

Without saying much, it somehow felt like you could understand the lonely, desolate life he’d lived—and how meeting Hakyung had filled it with joy.

Hearing his heartfelt words, Hakyung tightly gripped his large hand, eyes misty.

So that’s why the boss had always seemed so grim and fearsome—it was because he hadn’t been loved.

Hakyung’s parents had passed early, too, but he’d never felt lonely thanks to Grandma’s love. But the boss… had no one.

Then I’ll be the one to love him a lot, from now on.

It was a sweet, thoughtful promise. And just like that, whatever fear Hakyung had left of the sea was gone.

“Well… I understand how you both feel. So first, go to the sea. Then we’ll decide.”

“Grandma, seriously!”

“Tch!”

Hakyung hadn’t thrown a tantrum like this since elementary school, but Grandma remained unmoved. It wasn’t just Hakyung—Muheon was also clearly caught up in the heat of the moment. But once they’d actually spent time in the sea, they might realize just how different they were. They needed to see reality for themselves.

Even with his lips jutting out in a pout, the answer was still no. Unlike a sulking Hakyung, Muheon agreed with her words.

“Understood. I’ll make sure Hakyung can safely adapt to the sea, and stay by his side until you can rest easy.”

He was already mercilessly pressuring Sang-oh to make it happen.

Grandma’s heart softened once more at his steady, sincere demeanor—but she didn’t show it. If she gave even a hint of approval, her bulldozer grandson might sprint to the registry office that very day.

So, with a half-blessing from Grandma, they began their return. Hakyung couldn’t sit still in the passenger seat, bouncing with excitement.

“Boss, when are we going to the sea? And how many days off do I need? I only have one vacation day left—is that enough?”

“It’s fine. When would you like to go?”

“Tomorrow’s okay too! Ah! Wait—no! Let’s go in three days!”

Just when Muheon looked like he might steer toward the sea, Hakyung backpedaled. Muheon’s brow lifted slightly.

“Why?”

“Well… there’s a lot to prepare, right? My clothes’ll get wet, my shoes too, I’ll need snacks…”

Hakyung mumbled evasively under Muheon’s stare. Honestly, he could prep all that in one night.

What he really wanted to prepare… were adult items. From what he’d heard, same-sex couples were better off with some help. Especially since the boss was “special,” he was determined to be thoroughly ready this time.

I won’t chicken out again. Lately, Muheon wouldn’t go beyond kissing, and Hakyung was growing increasingly frustrated.

“Okay. Let me know when you’re ready.”

“Don’t you need to prepare anything?”

“Not really…?”

“Ugh, seriously!”

As Hakyung suddenly fumed and pouted, Muheon tilted his head but showed no further reaction. That was just how moody river dolphins were.

***

“Geowong ajusshi! I’m heading out! You don’t have to finish the ledgers today—you can leave them!”

“Okay. Travel safely.”

“Yes! Geunrim hyung, I’m heading out!”

“Be careful! If you see my brothers, say hi for me, okay? And hurry back so we can check out that new café I found!”

Maybe I’ll recognize Geunrim’s brothers by their hair, too, Hakyung thought, nodding at the sight of Geunrim’s blazing red hair.

Off to the sea with Muheon for a whole week, Hakyung was sent off with a noisy farewell by his coworkers.

Even though he hadn’t been at the company long, and was disappearing for a week, no one seemed annoyed. Their genuine words left Hakyung overwhelmed with gratitude.

Bowing repeatedly, he climbed into the car. This time, Sang-oh was driving instead of the boss.

“Thank you, Sang-oh ajusshi.”

“No need to thank me… ahem!”

Blushing at the polite greeting, Sang-oh glanced nervously at Muheon in the mirror. The boss seemed displeased by Hakyung’s lengthy goodbyes and furrowed his brow.

Not wanting to test Muheon’s patience, Sang-oh quickly started the engine. The sooner the lovers had their alone time, the better.

The trip to the sea wasn’t far. Somewhere near Incheon, Hakyung stepped out into the cool breeze, heart pounding with excitement.

There was a time when just the salty air would’ve sent him fleeing. But now, somehow, it was fine. All thanks to the boss. With his backpack full of supplies, Hakyung beamed—and Muheon’s mood lifted along with it.

“Let’s go.”

Sang-oh, now also serving as their sea guide, was the first to dip his feet in the water.

Muheon followed, holding Hakyung’s hand. But as his shoes met the water, Hakyung hesitated and stepped back.

Seeing this, Muheon returned and stood beside him, silently waiting. He recognized the fear on Hakyung’s face and didn’t rush him.

He simply stayed by the dolphin’s side, offering quiet encouragement. After a long moment of dipping his toes in and out, Hakyung braced himself and declared:

“Okay—I’m going in for real now! Don’t let go of my hand!”

“I won’t. Don’t worry.”

Hearing Muheon’s firm voice, Hakyung gripped his big hand tighter and stepped forward.

Can I really breathe in seawater…?

Just as that anxiety hit, a shimmer flared before him—and suddenly, they were under the sea.

The water had only reached their knees, but in an instant, the entire world changed.

Startled, Hakyung opened his mouth—then clamped it shut again.

He had expected a rush of salty seawater, but his whole body remained dry.

What the hell is this? It was like something out of a movie.

In this magical, unexplainable moment, Hakyung’s mouth slowly fell open again. But instead of water rushing in, he only heard laughter—Muheon’s and Sang-oh’s.

“Surprised?”

Muheon pulled him into a hug. Without replying, Hakyung waved his arms and legs to express his amazement.

Amused by the little dolphin’s antics, Muheon nodded.

“Go ahead, you can talk now.”

“Pwah!”

Hakyung exhaled so hard the air seemed to ripple. He’d been holding his breath in fear, even knowing there was no water. The sight of the nervous little river dolphin made the two sea-born men chuckle with shaking shoulders.