PON 05

Chapter 5

Jeong-oh couldn’t answer. She only smiled faintly, lips tightening as if to swallow a sigh.

Jaemoon, sharp as ever, didn’t even need an explanation. The way she avoided his eyes told him everything — who had brought the strange man to Cheongho Island, and how. He clicked his tongue and glanced at the old woman lying in the bed.

“Don’t tell me it was Kkotmae’s stubbornness again? That woman’s been shallow for looks since she was young.”

Jeong-oh chuckled.

“Exactly. If my teacher were just a little more handsome, Grandma wouldn’t have married Grandpa and suffered all her life — she’d have lived easy with him instead.”

Jaemoon, who knew well enough that the old woman had been his first love, widened his eyes.

“You little rascal! Who’re you teasing now?”

He gave her a playful smack on the back, and Jeong-oh burst into laughter. Seeing her finally smile, he grumbled that she looked much better that way and shouldn’t go around looking like a corpse. Then he grabbed her by the arm and all but forced her to her feet.

“I’ll look after Kkotmae. You’ve got your own work to do.”

“The restaurant’s closed until tomorrow.”

“You’ve got plenty else to take care of, don’t you?”

He was right. Even now, Jeong-oh had mouths to feed and bills to pay — the burdens of a family head. Yet because of her grandmother… and the strange man who had fallen from the sky into their lives, she hadn’t done a single thing.

Pushed outside by Jaemoon, she went looking for the man who had carried her grandmother all the way here. But the clinic was empty. A nurse told her he’d gone out through the back.

When she stepped outside, she froze.

The man was standing at the cliff’s edge, the sea wind tearing at his hair — one more step, and he’d fall straight into the waves.

Her eyes widened in panic.

“Hey—!”

He turned with an easy smile, sunlight catching on his pale face.

“You came?”

The sight of him, relaxed as ever, sent confusion spiraling through her. The man took a step toward her, unhurried, almost playful.

“Come this way. It’s dangerous over there.”

He shrugged and obeyed without argument, strolling closer. The first thing he asked, once he was beside her, was:

“Is your grandmother okay?”

“Thanks to you.”

“Good.”

He smiled, lazy and content.

Why had she thought he was going to jump? The thought seemed absurd now, looking at his calm expression. The sea breeze swept through them, tangling both their hair. He brushed his own aside with a dry hand, eyes narrowing on her face — and suddenly reached forward.

Startled, Jeong-oh stepped back, but the man only tapped his finger against his lips.

“You’ve got something there.”

Her face flushed. She wiped her mouth quickly, embarrassed.

“Grandma will need some time to wake up. Let’s go get something to eat.”

She turned away before he could answer, but when she looked back, he was following her obediently.

“Good heavens, is he an actor or something?”

The only Chinese restaurant near the Cheongho clinic — Cheongho Ban-jeom — was packed. Everyone in town seemed to be there, gawking at the stranger.

Rumor about the man had spread fast. Wherever he went, heads turned. But he seemed completely unfazed, ignoring the stares as he followed Jeong-oh into a side room.

“Never seen such a handsome face in my life.”
“Isn’t he that one from the morning drama?”

The old women crowded the doorway, whispering.

He, meanwhile, studied the photos of food on the wall like a curious child.

“Pfft, he’s much better looking than that actor.”

Rattle!

Thud!

The restaurant owner, Yeong-sook, marched over, shooed the gossiping women away, and slammed the door shut.

“Can’t hear myself think! Jeong-oh, close the door and eat in peace.”

She set a water bottle on the table and eyed the man shamelessly.

“So this is the guy?”

Jeong-oh scratched her cheek.

“Yes, well…”

“Lord, but he’s a fine-looking one.”

Jeong-oh gave a small, awkward smile. Instead of leaving, Yeong-sook plopped down and fired another question.

“Foreign, right? Any idea where he’s from?”

Jeong-oh cut her off quickly.

“One jjambbong and one jajangmyeon, please.”

“All right, all right.”

Finally, Yeong-sook left, locking the door behind her to keep the old women from peeking in again.

A peculiar silence lingered. Jeong-oh fiddled with her chopsticks, sneaking a glance at the man.

To her surprise, he picked up the chopsticks with ease and lifted a slice of pickled radish. She’d half expected him to ask for a fork.

Then again, she reminded herself, it was no longer strange for foreigners to handle chopsticks — or to eat Asian food at all.

A few minutes later, Yeong-sook returned with steaming bowls of jjambbong and jajangmyeon.

Jeong-oh sipped the spicy broth first. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him awkwardly stir his noodles.

“Here, give me that.”

Unable to watch, she took the bowl, mixed it quickly, and handed it back.

He stared at the black-sauced noodles for a moment, then took a bite.

His eyes brightened.

“It’s good.”

The way he said it — mouth full, genuinely delighted — made her laugh.

“Didn’t think something that black could taste good.”
“First time trying it?”
“Yeah. First time.”
“Even though you don’t remember anything?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. Just eat.”

He slurped happily.

A moment later he pointed at her bowl.

“Can I try that?”

She blinked mid-bite.

“It’s spicy.”

“I can handle it. Just a little.”

Sighing, she spooned a small portion of noodles, squid, vegetables, and broth into an empty bowl.

“Here. Just a taste.”

He leaned forward, took a bite — and instantly his face contorted.

“Ugh! My tongue’s on fire!”

His complexion flushed crimson as he stuck out his tongue and fanned his mouth. She pushed a plate of yellow radish toward him. He grabbed it and chewed desperately.

When color finally returned to his face, Jeong-oh hid her laughter behind a cough.

He stared at her like she was a monster, watching her calmly down spoonful after spoonful of the fiery broth.

“This is food? Feels like torture.”
“You really are a foreigner.”

She couldn’t help but laugh again — and caught him staring.

“What… why are you looking at me like that?”

He tilted his head slightly, as if she were something rare. His gaze was so intent it felt like he was studying her pores.

Then he said softly:

“First time I’ve seen you smile.”

She froze.

He raised his hands, stretching his fingers at the corners of his eyes, miming her usual scowl.

“You’re usually like this.”

Then he broke into laughter, a pure, boyish sound.

Despite herself, Jeong-oh laughed too. For a while, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of shared laughter — light, unguarded.

When she finally came to her senses, she cleared her throat and bent over her bowl again.

Yeong-sook brought out fried dumplings “on the house,” but Jeong-oh didn’t touch them. The man devoured them all.

By the time they left, both had peppermint candies tucked in their mouths — Yeong-sook’s final act of hospitality.

They walked side by side toward the clinic, a few steps apart. The sea stretched endlessly beside them, glimmering under the sun like crushed jewels.

Seagulls cried above. The wind smelled of salt and warmth.

Jeong-oh stopped and turned. The man halted as well, following her gaze with curiosity.

She hesitated for a long moment before speaking — words that had been circling her tongue since the restaurant.

“Don’t tell anyone what you saw earlier.”

Even without explanation, he understood. He shrugged.

“No one understands what I say anyway.”

“Guess that’s one good thing about your English.”

She let out a small breath and studied him again. His expression was open, expectant, as if waiting for more.

She hesitated once more. She knew she’d regret it.

But still—

“Just for a while,” she said quietly. “Stay at our place. For now.”

The man’s eyes widened, gray irises trembling in the sunlight.

For the first time since he’d appeared, he looked truly… human.