The Unexpected Harbor
Ever since they had left the car and driven down to Yeosu, one place had been on my mind.
“I’d love to see the breakwater,” I said.
The deepest spot along the sea that could be reached from land.
“The breakwater?”
It was a completely unexpected reply, and Woo-jin’s sharp eyes narrowed on me in an instant.
I had spoken on impulse, and it was all because of him.
Because my dad loved fishing, family trips often took us to the coast. Unfortunately his fishing skills weren’t particularly impressive, but I still treasured the memories of laughing together, playing in the waves, and watching the sea.
And that was an instant I could never get back.
I was about to take back my words, thinking they were too frivolous.
“If you don’t like it, we can just go somewhere else—”
“The closest one is only about twenty minutes on foot.”
Woo-jin had already taken out his phone and was searching something, his gaze now dropping to my shoes.
“We can walk?”
It wasn’t stilettos, but at least the pumps had heels. Still, I nodded firmly, convinced it was fine.
“Yes, it’s okay.”
“Then let’s go.”
Woo-jin turned with a cool wave. My steps followed, faster than before, and a little flutter of excitement stirred inside me.
We walked in silence along the promenade that followed the coast.
Many people had come to enjoy the early summer on the beach, and thanks to them I briefly felt like one of the crowd.
The path was paved with uneven stones, making it hard to walk, but Woo-jin’s pace had slowed compared to his usual brisk stride. He had probably buried himself in work all this time, so enjoying the sea and a walk like this wasn’t such a bad thing after all. I let out a quiet breath of relief.
When the promenade ended and we entered the old town, the scenery changed quickly. Crowded old buildings and narrow alleys appeared. Two stray cats crossed the road and vanished almost immediately.
“Oh, there it is!”
I pointed toward the breakwater visible in the distance. Gray concrete blocks, covered here and there with moss, stretched long toward the sea, and at the end stood a red lighthouse.
I forgot that Woo-jin was right beside me and ran toward the breakwater.
The afternoon sun warmed the waves that kept crashing against my feet, the horizon where sky met sea impossible to distinguish.
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A heavy wave of homesickness surged with the breaking surf. I forgot to breathe and stared at the sea.
Woo-jin waited silently beside me. It was an old harbor with nothing much to see, yet he didn’t seem to mind at all.
When Mom gets better, when Mom wakes up, let’s come here together.
Swallowing the emotion that burned painfully in my throat, I made my promise.
One day I would see the sea, eat something delicious, and laugh while talking about Dad.
So for now, I wouldn’t cry. Everything would be okay.
After slowly circling the old lighthouse, I felt a little embarrassed and turned to look at him. He stood a short distance away, arms crossed, waiting for me.
“There’s nowhere you want to go, Mr. Representative?”
“Oh, so now you’re asking me?”
Woo-jin’s slight, playful words made my cheeks flush.
Looking at him by the sea felt different from the usual Woo-jin. He seemed softer, joking, even laughing.
“That’s not what I meant—”
“Shall we eat dinner then?”
Woo-jin glanced at my wristwatch, and I checked mine too.
5:30 p.m. We had left Seoul early for lunch, so it was time for dinner.
“Should we head back to the resort? Or tell me what you’d like to eat and I’ll look it up.”
I pulled out my phone. Woo-jin pointed at the coast with his finger.
“There’s plenty down there.”
My eyes followed his finger.
Along the coast, restaurants were just beginning to turn on their lights for evening business. Plastic tables and chairs were laid out in front, and vendors in aprons were calling out to customers beside blue tanks where fish swam.
“You want to go there?”
I blurted it without thinking.
Would he even fit in with a place like that? Besides, he hated noisy places.
“I told you to try to feel like you’re on vacation.”
Yet he acted as if he hadn’t heard me at all and asked back instead.
“Can’t you eat seafood?”
“No, I can eat it just fine.”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
Woo-jin jerked his chin toward the coast. With no choice, I walked beside him to the seaside.
“Look at this handsome guy! Fresh striped mullet came in today.”
“Pretty sister, the hamo is really fresh today. I’ll give you a great deal.”
Since it was still a bit early for dinner, the vendors’ calls focused on us. Their foreign appearance must have drawn extra attention.
While I shrank in embarrassment, Woo-jin walked slowly, taking in the shops.
“Newlyweds? You two don’t look like a matched couple at all.”
Then his steps halted. The vendor who had been flashing a thumbs-up toward us stood at a fish restaurant.
“Let’s try here.”
It was no more worn-down than any other place, nothing special. But what had caught Woo-jin’s eye?
When his steps stopped, the vendor’s face lit up. I hesitated—should I say “no” first to the merchant or “yes” to Woo-jin?
“Just looking at you two, I can tell you’re destined for each other.”
At the vendor’s excited words I chose to answer “no,” but Woo-jin opened the door and stepped inside. I lost my chance to speak.
“You decide everything.”
The vendor’s mouth hung open at the large order. As we sat at a low table inside the shop, I whispered a light reprimand to Woo-jin.
“You’re enjoying yourself as if you’ve caught a fish.”
Woo-jin answered casually. I was speechless, and he poured water from the bottle into my cup without a second thought.
“Who did you go with back there?”
With the sound of pouring, the right amount of water filled our cups.
“The breakwater.”
Woo-jin’s head bobbed up and down as if answering.
“I never went there. When I was little my dad loved fishing and often walked the breakwater.”
“Oh.”
The man let out a short sound. At the same time the sharpness in his eyes softened.
I told him the honest truth.
“It was good to see it again. Thank you for coming with me.”
“It was nothing. I got to enjoy the scenery too.”
In front of my eyes the old scene of the past reappeared. It felt as if the beautiful memories I had forgotten because reality was too harsh had been restored.
My heart began to flutter with an unknown emotion when the vendor approached with a large tray.
Plates appeared one after another with a clatter, filling the empty spaces on the table.
From the neatly sliced sea urchin and abalone to the tightly sliced and boiled conger eel and striped mullet sashimi, crab and squid dishes, plus fried items—far too much food for two.
I stared at him as if to say “what’s this?” but Woo-jin shrugged once and picked up his chopsticks.
The man who looked like he belonged only in a high-end restaurant or fine dining somehow looked elegant even at this plastic-sheeted low table.
Or rather, nowhere in the world would he look out of place. He had the power to make any space his own.
“Is it to your liking?”
“Yes, it’s really delicious.”
I nodded at Woo-jin’s question. The seasonal seafood was fresh and flavorful. I briefly forgot why I was here and ate until I was full.
I watched him eat, sometimes pretending not to notice the sea urchin or abalone. I even minded when my chopsticks kept moving toward the dishes that were getting closer to me.
After the meal we moved to the counter. The amount on the receipt made me frown, but Woo-jin handed over his card without a word.
The vendor, seeing an unexpected windfall, grinned and entered the numbers into the card reader. Then he winked as if offering a favor.
“If you leave now the sunset will be magical. This is the best sunset spot in town.”