The plane touched down on Jeju. The evening sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink. Hyuk helped Minjun out, and they walked slowly toward the exit. The sea air greeted them with a coolness full of salt and freedom.
They found a taxi and drove to a small house by the coast that the secretary had rented. The house smelled of wood and clean sheets. Outside the windows, only the sound of waves could be heard.
Minjun took off his coat, sat on the sofa, and allowed himself to smile for the first time. His heart was still clenched with fear, but Hyuk was by his side.
"We'll get through this," Hyuk said, wrapping his arms around his shoulders.
Minjun snuggled closer. His body was filled with anxiety, but a warmth spread inside him. They lay there, listening to the sound of the sea outside the window. Hyuk stroked his hair, and Minjun closed his eyes, feeling the peace he had so desperately needed.
He whispered softly:
"Thank you... to you. And to him too..."
Hyuk looked at him with slight surprise, but Minjun continued, almost inaudibly:
"The secretary. Without him... we wouldn't have this."
He ran a hand over Hyuk's chest, felt the steady beat of his heart, and allowed himself to get lost in that sound. For the first time in a long while, the night promised to be peaceful.
***
Jeju greeted them with the sound of waves and the smell of the sea wind. The first few days felt like a dream: the small house by the coast, the narrow streets, the quiet markets with fruit and fish. Everything was unfamiliar, but this very feeling of being in a foreign place became a kind of freedom for Minjun.
He would wake up to the sun's rays streaming through the thin curtains, and the first thing he would hear was Hyuk bustling in the kitchen. The faint smell of toasted bread, the gentle voice calling him for breakfast - this became their ritual. Sometimes they would walk barefoot on the beach, holding hands, and listen to the sea breathe in sync with their steps.
Minjun still woke up at night from anxious dreams - his father's voice, the cold corridors of the house, the order to "forget the alpha." But as soon as he touched Hyuk's shoulder, as soon as he breathed in his pheromones, his heart would calm down.
Time flowed gently, like an endless sea.
***
Three Months Later
Winter in Jeju was mild. The morning was cool, but the air was filled with the scent of tangerines from the nearby orchards. Minjun held his coat in his arms while Hyuk helped him fasten his scarf.
"Are you cold?" Hyuk asked, touching his cheek.
"A little... but I'm okay," Minjun smiled, placing a hand over his stomach. It was visibly rounded now, and every little thing reminded him: a life was growing inside.
They drove to a local clinic. White walls, calm light, the quiet voices of the nurses. Minjun was slightly nervous as they waited for the appointment. He kept squeezing Hyuk's fingers, and Hyuk gently intertwined theirs, sending him calming signals.
"Everything will be fine," he whispered. "I'm right here."
Minjun nodded, taking a deep breath.
When the doctor called them in, Minjun's heart beat faster. He lay on the couch, listening to the soft whir of the machine. A gray flicker appeared on the screen - a small figure, not yet fully understandable, but so familiar.
"Here he is," the doctor smiled. "Your baby."
Minjun covered his mouth with his hand. His eyes stung with tears. Next to him, Hyuk squeezed his hand so tightly, as if afraid to miss this moment.
"Look," the doctor continued, pointing to the screen. "Everything is developing well. The heartbeat is regular. And... congratulations. It's a boy."
Minjun flinched, then laughed through his tears. Hyuk leaned in closer, pressing his forehead against his temple.
"A boy..." he whispered. His voice trembled, but it was filled with immeasurable joy. "Our son."
For a moment, time stood still. The sound of the machine, the doctor's quiet voice - it all became background noise. There was only the screen, where a tiny life breathed in unison with them.
When the doctor printed the ultrasound photo and handed it to him, Minjun took the paper carefully, as if afraid to tear it. On the image, the tiny outlines seemed like a miracle.
Hyuk wrapped an arm around his shoulders, covering his fingers with his hand.
"He's already a part of us," he said softly. "And I'll do everything to make sure he and you are safe."
Minjun placed the photo on his chest, pressing his cheek against Hyuk's shoulder. His heart was still beating fast, but at that moment, it was full - with love, with hope, with faith.
In the evening, they sat by the window, listening to the sea. Minjun took the photo again, looking at it as if for the first time. Hyuk hugged him from behind, holding him close.
"Thank you..." Minjun whispered.
"For what?" Hyuk asked in surprise.
"For being here. For this moment. For him," he touched the photo again. "And for the fact that I can dream of a future."
Hyuk kissed his temple, and silence fell in the room - not an empty silence, but a full one. The sound of the sea, each other's breathing, and a small photo that had now become the most precious thing.