The man stepped through the gate. None of the three dared to move; their hearts pounded in their chests, so loud it almost felt like the silence would shatter from it.
Granny noticed him first and waved cheerfully. "Oh, young man! You're here early—come in, dear," she said, brushing her hands against her apron.
He nodded politely, walking closer—but his eyes flickered toward the table, landing a bit too long on Min Hyun. That brief glance was enough to make Min Hyun shift awkwardly in his seat, pretending to sip water.
Granny followed his gaze and smiled. "Ah, these three girls," she said, motioning to them. "They took shelter on our boat last night. Poor souls got caught in that awful storm."
The young man blinked, then smiled back, though something uncertain crossed his face. "Oh... really? That must've been rough," he said, his tone light but his eyes curious—almost searching.
Jihoon tried a delicate, totally unnatural giggle that came out half strangled. Soojin nudged him under the table, forcing a smile. "Y-Yeah, it was... quite the adventure," he said quickly.
The young man chuckled faintly, glancing between them once more. "Well, you're lucky Granny found you. Not everyone's that kind around here."
Their shoulders eased just slightly. Still, none of them missed how his eyes lingered.
The relief they felt wasn't full. It hovered somewhere between safety... and suspicion.
The young man finally took what he came for—some fishing nets Granny had promised his father—and after a short goodbye, walked back down the path. Still, his gaze lingered one last second on Min Hyun before he disappeared beyond the fence.
Silence fell again. None of them spoke for a good few moments. The sound of birds and distant chatter from the harbor filled the gap, but the tension refused to fade.
Soojin exhaled softly, trying to laugh it off. "Well... that was awkward," she muttered. Then, lowering her voice, "Even though he looked normal, his stare felt... different. Like he saw something."
Jihoon scratched his head. "Yeah, that stare lasted a bit too long for comfort."
Min Hyun leaned back, rubbing his temples. "We can't just sit here hoping no one noticed anything," he said calmly but firmly. "We need to move soon."
Soojin nodded. "But where? We don't even know if those goons are still looking for us."
Jihoon sighed, his tone half-defeated. "And we're broke, remember? We spent everything just escaping."
The weight of their words settled between them like a quiet fog.
Min Hyun looked up, his expression tightening. "I'll try calling some people—see if the situation's cooled down. If it has, we'll plan our next move."
Soojin glanced toward the house. "Then let's ask Granny for a phone."
A few minutes later, Granny returned from the kitchen, drying her hands on her apron. "Phone? Oh, I'm sorry, dear. We don't have one here," she said with a kind smile. "There's a phone booth in the market, though—just a short walk away."
Granny was standing by the porch, explaining the directions for the third time while Soojin desperately tried to keep up.
"Now listen carefully, dear. You walk straight past the old windmill, turn right after the bakery with the red door—not the green one, the red one—and then go left near the fishing dock. The booth's just beside the fruit stand."
Jihoon blinked slowly. "Red... green... dock... fruit..." He looked at Soojin helplessly. "Did you get any of that?"
Soojin looked just as lost. "I think she said something about a chicken?"
Granny frowned. "No, child, fruit stand!"
Just then, a familiar voice came from the open gate. "Having trouble again?"
They turned—and there he was. The same young man from earlier, a faint smile playing on his lips, sunlight glinting off his hair.
"Oh, Taesung!" Granny said, brightening up. "Perfect timing. These girls are heading to the market for the phone booth, but they don't know the way."
He leaned casually against the fence. "I can take them there. It's on my way."
Soojin exchanged a quick glance with Min Hyun. "Oh, no, no—it's fine. We'll manage."
Taesung raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Because I just heard her say 'fruit stand' instead of 'chicken'"
Jihoon's face went pink. "...We might need a little help."
Granny clapped her hands. "Wonderful! Taesung, dear, please take care of them."
Inside, Soojin and Jihoon were still struggling with their clothes when Min Hyun's voice echoed through the small house in his best 'feminine' tone, "Come on! We don't have all day!"
Granny blinked in confusion at the tone but said nothing.
He sighed, muttering, "Huff... at this rate, we'll never make it to the market."
Just as he reached for the door, Taesung stepped forward, his hand brushing lightly against Min Hyun's resting on the frame.
"Don't worry," Taesung said with a small, reassuring smile. "I'm here now. I'll keep you safe."
For a moment, time froze.
Soojin and Jihoon, halfway out of their rooms, both stopped dead. Their eyes widened, then slowly turned toward each other with matching looks of oh no.
Without a word, both slapped their palms over each other's mouths to stop the laugh threatening to explode.
Min Hyun cleared his throat, forcing an awkward smile. "Uh... thanks. That's... very kind."
Taesung nodded, oblivious. "Let's get going then."
As they stepped out into the sunlight, Soojin leaned closer to Jihoon, whispering, "Well... looks like someone just got a fan."
Jihoon grinned. "More like a crush in progress."
Min Hyun shot them both a glare over his shoulder. "I can hear you."
The walk to the market started quietly, with Taesung leading the way.
First, they reached a small puddle, leftover from last night's storm. Taesung stepped forward and held out a hand. "Careful," he said softly, guiding Min Hyun around it. Min Hyun's cheeks turned pink, barely muttering, "Thanks..."
A few steps later, a low-hanging branch caught Soojin off guard. Taesung reached out instinctively, gently pushing her aside. Jihoon nudged Soojin and whispered, "Look at him... treating us like delicate dolls." She stifled a laugh, eyes darting to Min Hyun, who was trying very hard to act composed.
Then they reached a tiny flower patch by the roadside. Jihoon couldn't resist plucking a small bloom and holding it up with a grin. "For your hair, lady." Min Hyun blinked, flustered, and took it reluctantly. Soojin joined, tossing a few petals over his shoulders, trying to keep it playful without embarrassing him too much.
As they approached the market, Taesung stopped suddenly. "Wait, this little stall," he said, pointing to a hair accessory table. "You should have something to tie back your hair properly."
Min Hyun shook his head. "I... really don't need—"
But Taesung ignored him, holding up a simple hair clip. "It'll suit you. Trust me."
Soojin and Jihoon exchanged mischievous looks behind him, silently urging him to accept. With a small, reluctant smile, Min Hyun let Taesung buy the clip and fasten it carefully into his hair, his fingers brushing Min Hyun's gently.
Soojin whispered to Jihoon, "I can't believe how cute this is."
Jihoon grinned. "Shh! Don't ruin the moment."
Once the clip was secured, Min Hyun finally reached the phone booth. He inserted the coins and dialed, his expression tense but determined.
"Hello... yes, it's me. Any news?"
A pause, then he listened intently. Slowly, a smile crept across his face. "So more than half of the problems are already taken care of?" He chuckled softly. "That's... fast. Should take maybe two more days to fully resolve."
Soojin peeked through the booth's glass. "Two days? That's quick!"
Min Hyun nodded, his tone calm but firm. "I'll call Jihoon's father now. He needs to know... Jihoon is still unwell. We'll need a few more days before he can move."
He dialed quickly, and after a short, heated conversation, Min Hyun hung up. A satisfied grin spread across his face. "He yelled a bit... but agreed. We've got extra time."
Soojin let out a quiet laugh. "Nice work, Hyun."
Jihoon leaned against the wall, smirking. "See? Being delicate sometimes pays off."
Min Hyun shook his head, still smiling, clutching the receiver. "Alright... time to head back before Granny starts wondering where we disappeared to."
The three of them stepped out together, Min Hyun's heart lighter now, though still careful, and the early morning sun casting soft shadows on the market stalls, flowers, and the small trio making their way home.
The morning was crisp when the trio finally stepped out of Granny and Grandpa's house, bags packed lightly and hearts a little heavier than usual.
"Thank you so much for everything," Min Hyun said softly, bowing slightly. "We wouldn't have made it without you."
Granny's eyes glistened. "You're welcome, dears. Take care of yourselves. And remember, you always have a place here."
Jihoon couldn't help but hug her tightly, whispering, "I'll never forget this... really."
Soojin, holding back tears, added, "We'll come back someday, promise."
Grandpa, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice deep but warm. "Alright, kids. Let me see you safely to the train station."
On the way, he kept up a steady stream of small talk, teasing Jihoon about being a "professional damsel" and warning Min Hyun to behave himself. The trio chuckled, but underneath it all, the farewell felt heavy.
At the station, the train waiting with a low whistle, Granny hugged each of them one last time. "Be safe. And don't forget... sometimes courage isn't loud—it's quiet, like the calm after a storm."
They waved, stepped aboard, and Grandpa's hand lingered on the rail as the train slowly pulled away, eyes following them until they disappeared around the bend.
"Is it really safe for them to return? What—or who—awaits them in Busan, hidden in the calm of the morning?"