TIN 135

The sound of crashing waves felt unusually calm. The sky was crystal clear without a single cloud, and even the wind that usually howled year-round was peaceful for now. Perfect weather for sailing and the timing couldn’t have been better.

Seo-kyung stood on a rock, gazing absently at the horizon. A small boat crossed the vast, pristine sea. The fishing boat, barely big enough for two people, had now shrunk to where it was barely visible.

“Such stubbornness…”

Seo-kyung muttered softly, brushing away hair flying in the wind. Her roughly cut hair was disheveled. She scratched the back of her head in slight irritation, but the departed boat showed no signs of returning.

‘I want to go to that island.’

The man who said those words left less than an hour later, aboard that boat floating on the sea. Although Seo-kyung had lent him the boat, seeing him off left her with an uneasy feeling.

Maybe I should have tried to stop him.

Seo-kyung thought this while staring wistfully at the boat’s wake. The vessel that had initially disappeared with each blink now seemed to move at a snail’s pace, though she knew it would soon vanish completely.

“City people, really…”

Just stay one more day, she had said. What was the rush? Since they’d met by chance, he could have at least kept her grandmother company, who was always lonely.

“There’s nothing there anyway…”

She knew why the man wanted to go to the island. To find Ji-soo, or ‘Yoon Ji-soo’ as he had called her.

‘…Sister Ji-soo?’

Yesterday, Seo-kyung had met him here. A suspicious man standing dazed by the darkened shore. Well, at first she had thought that he was a woman…

‘How could Sister Ji-soo…’

Honestly, she thought he was a ghost at first. His still figure seemed so surreal, and the familiar face she encountered next was too familiar. She thought Ji-soo, who had only existed in the albums stored in the cabinet and in her childhood memories, had returned from the dead.

However, the person was neither Ji-soo, nor a ghost, not even a woman. Just a suspicious-looking young man, if anything, one with quite an appetite who devoured three bowls of seaweed soup after seemingly starving for days.

Something had felt off about him. He was unexpectedly heavy for his appearance, and when she carried him on her back, she couldn’t feel any breasts. She had wondered if he was just flat-chested, but to think it was because he was actually a man.

When he removed his wig right in front of her, she had an “aha” moment. The Adam’s apple protruding from his neck was unmistakable proof of his masculinity. Looking more carefully in disbelief, she began to notice the differences from Ji-soo one by one.

Though his face was slender and his neck thin, his bone structure was definitely that of a man. He was quite tall, and despite being thin, his shoulders were broad enough not to appear frail. It was just that his features were so beautiful that he appeared androgynous when his clothing was ambiguous.

His youthful face, which didn’t match his age, played a part too. At twenty-five, he looked far too young. His clear eyes even triggered an inexplicable protective instinct, which was why Seo-kyung had brought him home without feeling too much suspicion.

Of course, she never dreamed that a familiar name would come from his lips.

‘Do you know Yoon Ji-soo?’

“Sister Ji-soo…”

Of course, I know her. How could I forget that person?

Although she told the man she didn’t remember, Seo-kyung actually remembered the past quite clearly. Six was young, but it wasn’t too young to remember particularly impressive moments.

It wasn’t just the important moments that came to mind—rather, it was the mundane every day things that stuck with her more. How Ji-soo would secretly eat the carrots she disliked, the embrace that comforted her after grandmother scolded her, the gentle hands washing her hair during baths, and the precious life that moved within that round belly.

“…”

Seo-kyung narrowed her eyes with a small sigh. Now there was no trace of anyone on the shore. Even the long trail left by the sputtering motor had long been erased by the rolling waves.

“He really does look like her.”

He really did look a lot like her. Not just his face, but even his retreating figure.

And perhaps even the way of saying goodbye.

‘I need to go before it’s too late.’

Despite Seo-kyung’s attempts to stop him, the man insisted on going to the island. When asked how he planned to get there, he hesitated briefly but drew a line, saying he’d figure it out himself. Since he seemed determined enough to swim if necessary, Seo-kyung reluctantly offered to lend him an old fishing boat.

‘That’s fine. I won’t be able to return it.’

It was a declaration that he wouldn’t return, and there was a certain determination in those words. Just like when Ji-soo left this house. Drawing a line as if unable to impose any further, and when finally forced to accept help, offering thanks with an apologetic face.

‘…Thank you.’

After all that talk about money, he didn’t even promise to pay it back in the end. The reason was as she had guessed, and Seo-kyung didn’t consider it ungrateful. She was just curious about his story.

Why was he dressed like that?

Though his clothing choices weren’t her business, there was definitely something odd about his appearance. He seemed uncomfortable in the skirt, suggesting it wasn’t just a matter of unique taste, and the wig and sunglasses made him suspicious. All these elements indicated he was disguising his identity.

“What kind of family…?”

Even grandmother was tight-lipped about why Ji-soo left. It was probably something beyond the comprehension of Seo-kyung, who made her living gathering seaweed by the shore. Perhaps that was why she sometimes found herself making baseless guesses, thinking, despite knowing better, that maybe it was because of her beauty.

These thoughts would come unbidden when looking at Ji-soo’s photos after growing up. Beautiful people often meet tragic fates—the world surely wouldn’t leave someone so beautiful alone. Even to young, naive Seo-kyung, those blue eyes were captivating.

And hadn’t that man inherited all of those features? The only difference was that while Ji-soo smiled brightly, the man’s expression was as cold as a doll’s.

“…Tsk.”

After standing by the shore for a while, Seo-kyung decided to return home before it got too late. The man had already left, and she had too much work to dwell on a mere day-long encounter.

The walk from the sea to home wasn’t long, so despite her leisurely pace, the gate soon came into view. Seo-kyung quickened her steps and opened the unlocked door.

“Grandma.”

“Oh, Seo-kyung, you’re back?”

As she entered the yard, her grandmother greeted her warmly from her seat on the wooden platform. Her kindly smiling face was the same as always, but underneath lay a hint of loneliness.

“Did you see him off well?”

Unlike Seo-kyung who went to the shore, grandmother had bid him farewell from home. She cited having too much work to do, but Seo-kyung knew it was because she couldn’t bear to watch another person’s retreating back.

“Yes, he was quite good at driving the boat.”

“That’s good. I hope he arrives safely…”

The island where Ji-soo had hidden was nearly an hour away. Even with the boat’s navigation system, it was natural to worry whether he would be able to find his way.

“He’ll manage somehow. He seemed quite determined.”

But Seo-kyung had a vague faith that he would succeed. Sometimes you could sense things without seeing them. To Seo-kyung, that man seemed like someone who would never give up until achieving his goal.

“He’s Ji-soo’s son, isn’t he?”

“Hmm…”

Grandmother just smiled without answering. Since Seo-kyung hadn’t really expected an answer, she simply sat down on the wooden platform instead of pressing further.

But no sooner had she sat down than a loud noise came from the gate.

BANG BANG BANG!

“…What’s that?”

Startled by the rough knocking, Seo-kyung rose from her seat. Grandmother too was blinking in confusion at the disturbance. Meanwhile, the person outside knocked again.

BANG BANG!

“Is anyone home?”

It was a gruff male voice. Furrowing her brow, Seo-kyung slowly approached the gate. 

“Who is it?” she asked, and a monotone response came from beyond the gate.

“I’m from the Sae Group. I have some questions.”

“…Sae?”

It was a name no Korean wouldn’t know about. The corporation that saved South Korea in place of an incompetent government. The true owner of the country and the only family said to own the sea routes.

“Why would Sae…”

“Seo-kyung.”

Grandmother had somehow approached behind the confused Seo-kyung. She grabbed Seo-kyung’s arm and spoke firmly.

“Go inside. I’ll handle this.”

“…”

The uneasy feeling intensified. Seeing her grandmother’s coldly set face, Seo-kyung instinctively shook her head.

“No, I’ll go.”

Though she’d rather have pretended not to know, she’d already responded. So Seo-kyung strode forward and opened the gate. While remaining cautious just in case, fortunately, the man outside politely bowed his head in greeting.

“Excuse me. I’m this person.”

“…”

What he courteously extended was a business card with the ‘4HAE’ mark. Henry Mark. After confirming this name, Seo-kyung asked as calmly as she could manage.

“What brings you here?”

“We’re looking for someone. We request your cooperation.”

Henry then handed over a paper flyer. It had someone’s photo along with the amount offered as a reward. Seo-kyung was first shocked by the enormous number, then her eyes widened as she recognized the man in the photo.

“Have you seen him?”

“…”

It was the man who had just left by boat. The child of Yoon Ji-soo, with those same piercing blue eyes.