The weekend dawned with a promise of escape. After Principal Hwang's stirring assembly, campus life had shifted—whispers of solidarity replaced gossip, and many students offered Hae‑won smiles instead of stares. But for Hae‑won and Ji‑hoon, true respite lay far from fluorescent hallways.
Saturday, 9:00 AM – The Midnight Express
Ji‑hoon's sleek black convertible purred down the coastal highway under a pale sunrise. Hae‑won leaned against the passenger door, wind flirting with her hair. In the backseat, bags of snacks—spicy seaweed chips, honey butter almonds, chocolate‑filled fish‑cakes—waited for their arrival.
"Are you sure this is big enough for two?" she asked, eyeing the sparse luggage.
He glanced back with a grin. "Grandma's cabin is cozy. Perfect for us."
The cabin—a weather‑beaten cottage on a quiet inlet—belonged to Ji‑hoon's grandmother, a kindly woman who'd offered refuge once she knew their story. No paparazzi knew its address. No schoolmates dared follow.
By 10 AM, they pulled into the gravel driveway. Salt‑sprayed air tasted of freedom.
10:30 AM – A Comedy of Errors
Inside, the cabin was charming in its outdated way: doilies on end‑tables, framed scenes of rural Korea, and a lopsided stove. Ji‑hoon flipped on the lights, only for the overhead fixture to flicker ominously. He muttered, "Classic."
Hae‑won found an electric kettle but no coffee pods. Instead, she brewed instant coffee—stirring furiously as Ji‑hoon unpacked groceries. When he tried to start the stove, the pilot light flickered out.
"My grandma said it works if you whisper sweet nothings to it," he joked, earning an exasperated eye-roll from Hae‑won.
They ended up making breakfast on a portable camping stove in the living room: scrambled eggs spiked with Sriracha, toast burning on one side, coffee cooling too fast. Despite the mishaps, they laughed until their sides ached.
1:00 PM – Beachcombing & Confessions
Armed with sunscreen and flip‑flops, they strolled along the rocky shore. Shells littered the sand, and the tide washed soft ripples around their ankles.
"Do you ever think about 'normal'?" Hae‑won asked, collecting a perfectly spiral shell.
He picked at a cluster of barnacles. "What's normal to you?"
She hesitated. "A life without headlines… without threats. Maybe a small apartment with you, morning coffee, evening walks." Her voice wavered. "Is that too much to ask?"
He smiled gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's everything I want." He paused. "But my parents… they're not going to let this go quietly."
Her chest tightened. "Have they called?"
"Not yet," he admitted. "But they will. Soon."
She leaned into him. "Then let's enjoy the quiet while it lasts."
3:00 PM – The Paparazzi Ambush
They returned to the cabin to find two men in dark jackets snapping photos through the windows.
Hae‑won gasped. "They found us."
Ji‑hoon grabbed her hand. "Hide in the bedroom. I'll handle this."
He flung open the door and strode onto the porch. The photographers turned, flashes firing again.
"Mr. Kang," one yelled. "Care to comment on your secret getaway?"
Ji‑hoon held up a hand. "No comments. Now leave."
They advanced, blocking his path. He stepped forward, voice low and commanding: "Last warning."
The men hesitated under his glare—tall, unyielding, protective. Then, with a final snap of their cameras, they retreated. Ji‑hoon didn't lower his gaze until they were out of sight.
Inside, Hae‑won watched him return, pounding heart in her throat.
He pulled her into a fierce hug. "You okay?"
She nodded against his chest. "Thanks to you."
5:00 PM – Sunset & a Storm
Clouds gathered over the inlet as they sat on the porch, sharing cold rice cakes and watching the sky darken. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
"I never thought I'd be chased by photographers," Hae‑won said wryly.
He chuckled, brushing his fingers over her knuckles. "Neither did I."
A bolt of lightning arced across the horizon, followed by a crack of thunder. Rain began to fall, first in fat drops, then in a drizzling curtain.
They retreated inside, shaking out umbrellas and dropping into the living‑room chairs. The windows steamed as the downpour intensified.
7:00 PM – A Movie Night with a Twist
Ji‑hoon set up an old DVD player and rummaged through a stack of dusty discs. He found a cheesy 1980s action flick, complete with over‑the‑top heroes and explosions.
"Perfect," he declared.
They settled onto a low futon, wrapped in blankets, sharing popcorn and the pink rabbit plushie from their first arcade date. Hae‑won let herself relax as the movie's ridiculous stunts played out.
Halfway through, the power blinked—then went out. The cabin plunged into darkness, lit only by flickering lightning through the window.
"Great," Ji‑hoon groaned. "Modern conveniences fail first."
Hae‑won pressed a flashlight he'd brought into his hand. "Cozy?"
He shrugged, then grinned in the dim circle of light. "Cozy."
They pressed their faces together, flashlight between them, and whispered movie‑style one‑liners at each other:
"You get behind me—there's a horde of lasers coming!"
"Not before I grab your hand, hero!"
Their laughter echoed off the wooden walls, mixing with the storm's rhythm.
9:00 PM – Heart‑to‑Heart
When the storm subsided, they lit candles and returned to the porch. The air smelled like wet pine and possibility.
Hae‑won leaned against Ji‑hoon's shoulder. "Thank you for bringing me here."
He slid an arm around her. "I wanted you to feel… just normal, for a bit."
She tilted her head back. "I did."
Silence fell between them, the world beyond the inlet disappearing.
Then she asked, voice soft: "What happens when this all ends?"
He held her close. "It doesn't end. Not for a long time. But with you, it'll be alright."
She closed her eyes. "I'm scared."
He kissed her temple. "That's okay. So am I."
Ending Scene – A Promise in the Rain
Rain began again—gentle, cleansing. They retreated inside, but Ji‑hoon paused at the doorway.
He turned to Hae‑won. "Promise me something."
She opened her eyes. "Anything."
He took her hands. "Promise that—no matter what comes—you'll keep believing in us."
Tears shimmered in her eyes. She nodded, brushing them away. "I promise."
He smiled, pulling her into a kiss as the rain tapped against the roof.
And in that moment—chaos outside, uncertainty ahead—they found certainty in each other.