##𝗡𝗖𝗧︐ 𝑠 jisung.ㅤ/ㅤO1.
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angelsfat3 · 1 month ago
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ⓘㅤ 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄. ⠀⠀( 我爱上了一个童话。)
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𝓢ummary “ ✉. A beautiful boy in love with something that he swore was just his dream or his imagination, ended up finding it many years later in the same place.
⠀،،⠀Genre. ’ Sci-fi, drama, love, au.
( 𝒄/𝒘. )───Mermaids, impossible love(?), destiny, accidental reunion.
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The soft light from the lamp gently illuminated Jisung’s room.
In his bed, with the blankets all wrinkled and his little stuffed animal hugged tightly, the boy listened intently to the warm voice of his mother.
She, so beautiful and affectionate, sat beside him, stroking his hair as the words flowed from her mouth like a whisper full of tenderness.
“Once upon a time,” the mother began, “there was a deep and mysterious ocean where the mermaids lived. They were beings as ancient as the waves themselves, always protecting their home and their young with all their power. Each mermaid had a special melody that they sang to the sea, calling their little ones when they felt lost or sad. And always, always, they were ready to defend them, even with their own lives. No one could harm them.”
Jisung, with his little eyes shining but heavy with sleep, squeezed his stuffed animal with a smile on his lips, fascinated by his mother’s stories. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself be carried away by the peace her words brought him, imagining that world of blue waters and magical creatures.
“And so, my dear,” she continued, lowering her voice even more, “the mermaids took care of their little babies, always near the water, always watchful, hating to see humans with their children because they feared they could do awful things to them.”
“Like in the Little Mermaid movie, mommy?” Jisung asked, yawning a bit.
“Yes, my dear,” the mother replied, gently closing the book and stroking her son’s cheek. “No matter how big the storms were or how far they swam, they always found their way back because the love for their little ones never fades.”
Jisung, his voice soothed by tiredness, barely managed to whisper, “Like mommy...”
The mother smiled softly, kissing his forehead. “Yes, my love, like mommy. Now, it’s time to sleep.”
With a sweet sigh, she adjusted the blankets and caressed his cheek one last time. “Goodnight, my dear, sleep well. I love you.”
And with those words, the boy let himself be enveloped by sleep, feeling that, perhaps, in some faraway corner of the sea, mermaids really did exist and watched over those who needed them.
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The sun shone with a soft, warm glow as the car made its way down the road toward the beach.
Jisung, sitting in his car seat in the back, swung his little legs excitedly, humming a made-up song while his favorite stuffed animal rested beside him.
The sky looked different that day; the clouds resembled cotton candy, fluffy and almost magical. In the distance, the sea sparkled as if someone had scattered diamonds across its surface, and the waves rolled in a mesmerizing rhythm, so perfect they seemed unreal.
“It’s such a beautiful day,” Jisung’s mother said from the front seat, admiring the view.
“Perfect for making memories,” his father replied with a smile.
When they finally arrived at the beach, Jisung darted out of the car with his bucket and shovel, but his mother quickly stopped him.
“Hold it right there, young man! You can’t go out without your sunscreen.”
The little boy pouted as she took out the bottle of sunscreen and began covering every inch of his skin. “Mommy, it’s too much...” he whined, but she paid no attention.
“I don’t want you getting sunburned, sweetheart.”
When she finished, Jisung looked like a little white cloud, his face covered in cream and his arms glistening. His father, who was wrestling with a large beach umbrella, couldn’t help but laugh. “Honey, I think you overdid it. Now our kid looks like Casper.”
She raised an amused eyebrow. “Oh, really? Well, I’d rather have him look like this than get burned.”
The father shrugged as he finally secured the umbrella in the sand. “At least, if he gets lost, I can just tell people I’m looking for Ju-on.”
She laughed but shot him a warning glance when she caught the double meaning in his words. “Watch what you say in front of the boy.”
Jisung, oblivious to the exchange, had already started running toward the water’s edge, laughing out loud as his little bucket wobbled in his hand. The sand felt soft beneath his feet, and the waves seemed to call to him with their constant murmur.
“Mommy, Daddy, look!” he shouted, turning around briefly to make sure they were watching before starting to dig with his shovel, determined to build the best sandcastle.
His parents watched from a distance, his mother smiling tenderly while his father settled under the newly planted umbrella. “Our little one has all your energy,” the father remarked.
“And all your curiosity,” she replied, intertwining her arm with his as they both watched their son, who was now laughing uncontrollably as the waves splashed around his tiny feet.
Jisung ran joyfully across the sand, leaving tiny footprints behind him. His bucket and shovel bounced in his hands as he ventured closer to the shoreline.
Suddenly, something caught his attention—a rocky area at the far end of the beach where the waves crashed harder, forming small crystal-clear pools among the stones.
Without a second thought, he began running toward it, his giggles filling the air. The waves played with his feet, making him jump with delight every time the cold water brushed against his ankles.
“Jisung!” His mother’s voice called out from a distance. He stopped for a moment, turning to look at her. “Don’t go too far, sweetheart!” she shouted, a mix of love and concern in her tone, waving her hand to warn him away from the rocks.
“Okay, Mommy!” he replied in his tiny voice, though he didn’t stop heading toward his destination.
When he reached the rocks, Jisung bent down to peer into the pools between them. The water was so clear he could see tiny fish swimming and snails clinging to the wet surfaces. His eyes lit up as he watched the little creatures move, fascinating and mysterious.
Then something else caught his attention—a glimmer beyond the waves past the rocks.
He frowned slightly, trying to focus his gaze. There was something moving in the water, something that seemed to appear and vanish as if it were playing hide-and-seek.
“What’s that?” he murmured to himself, taking a small step forward, ignoring the waves splashing against his feet and the droplets sprinkling his cheeks and forehead.
The glimmer appeared again, this time closer.
Jisung laughed with excitement, thinking it might be one of the magical fish his mother mentioned in her bedtime stories. Without fear, he sat down on a flat rock, letting his bucket and shovel drop beside him. His legs dangled over the water as he watched intently, waiting for the mysterious creature to resurface.
Jisung sat silently, his small hands resting on the rock and his feet barely skimming the water's surface. His little heart pounded with excitement as he waited for whatever he had seen to appear again.
And then, he saw it.
From within the waves, a figure began to emerge. First came a small hand, followed by a face peeking just above the crystal-clear water.
It was another child, about his age, but there was something different about him. His hair was sleek and shiny, as though made of wet silver threads, and his eyes were wide and curious, the color of the sea on a sunny day.
Jisung blinked, astonished. The other child didn’t move, watching him from the water as though deciding if it was safe to come closer.
“Hi!” Jisung called out, his cheerful voice accompanied by a toothy grin.
The water child didn’t respond but also didn’t retreat beneath the surface.
He seemed curious, though his hands gripped a nearby rock tightly, as if ready to disappear at any moment.
Jisung beamed, leaning forward a little more. “Do you want to play? I’ve got a bucket and a shovel,” he offered, pointing to his toys beside him.
The other child tilted his head, his sea-colored eyes sparkling with something Jisung couldn’t quite understand.
Finally, the boy seemed to relax, releasing the rock and swimming closer. As he reached the water’s edge, Jisung noticed something that left him speechless. A tail.
A long, beautiful, scaly tail shimmered beneath the water, its iridescent colors shifting between purple, green, blue, and silver with every movement.
Jisung froze for a moment, unsure what to say.
“Are you... a mermaid?” he whispered in awe, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the magic of the moment.
The water child hesitated but eventually nodded slightly, a shy smile playing on his lips.
“I knew they were real!” Jisung exclaimed, jumping up on the rock. His enthusiasm was so contagious that the water boy couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, a sound like the murmur of waves.
Without hesitation, Jisung grabbed his bucket and filled it with water. “Let’s build a sandcastle together! It’ll be the biggest one ever,” he declared, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
The water boy hesitated, but seeing the innocent, joyful look on Jisung’s face, he decided to come closer. He pulled himself onto the rocks, his shimmering tail glinting in the sunlight.
The two began to play, laughing as they built wobbly towers and water-filled moats. Jisung chattered non-stop, sharing stories about how his mom had told him about mermaids, while the water boy listened quietly, occasionally nodding or letting out a soft giggle.
It was a magical moment. The world around them faded, leaving just the two of them, the crooked sandcastle, the waves crashing against the rocks, and Jisung’s endless questions about mermaids.
For a brief moment, it felt like the world was made only for them: a human boy and a child of the sea, sharing a fleeting, magical connection beneath the perfect sky.
But in the distance, a voice began to call.
“Jisung! Where are you?”
Jisung looked up, recognizing his mother’s voice. “That’s my mommy!” he explained quickly to the water boy. “Wait here, don’t go, okay?”
But the water boy had already started to retreat. The distant voice had changed his calm expression to one of fear and alarm.
“No, wait!” Jisung tried to reach for him, but in the blink of an eye, the ethereal child slipped into the depths, disappearing beneath the waves.
“Jisung!” His mother’s figure appeared, running across the sand, her face full of worry.
Jisung stood by the water, tears welling in his eyes. “Mommy, Mommy, you scared my friend...”
“Friend?” she asked, kneeling to embrace him. “What friend, sweetheart?”
“My friend... he was a mermaid, like the ones in your stories.”
She looked at him with a tender smile, stroking his hair. “Oh, my little one, you know mermaids only exist in movies and fairy tales. Come now, don’t wander off like that again, alright?”
But as she carried him back, Jisung couldn’t take his eyes off the ocean. He knew it hadn’t been a dream. He had met a mermaid.
The journey back to where his parents were was silent. Although his mother continued talking to him, making sure he was okay and patting him on the back, Jisung could barely hear her. His mind was fixed on what had just happened.
Would he see his friend again? Why had he disappeared so quickly?
When they arrived, his father looked at them from the shade of the large umbrella, putting down the magazine he had been reading. “There’s my little Gasparín,” he said with a smile, though his tone showed he was a little concerned. “Where have you been, champ?”
“Playing…” Jisung answered quietly, hugging his bucket to his chest.
“Who were you playing with?” his father asked, while his mother sat him down on one of the towels.
Jisung hesitated before answering. He knew that if he told the truth, they might not believe him, just like his mother hadn’t. “With someone near the water,” he murmured finally.
His parents exchanged a quick glance, as if evaluating the situation. His mother smiled and stroked his cheek. “Well, sweetheart, next time make sure you don’t wander so far, okay? We don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Yes, mommy…” Jisung replied, though his mind was still elsewhere.
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The afternoon passed quietly, but Jisung didn’t stop looking at the waves, hoping to see that flash of shimmering scales in the water again. Even when his father tried to distract him by building a much larger sandcastle, his mind remained in the same place.
As the evening fell, the sky began to take on shades of orange and pink. The waves became softer, reflecting the colors of the sunset like a mirror.
While his parents packed up their things, Jisung stayed sitting by the shore, his empty bucket beside him.
“You’ll come back, right?” he whispered to the ocean, as if the water could hear him. “I want us to be friends forever…”
A small wave rolled up to his feet, as if responding. And even though there were no signs of the water child, Jisung smiled.
In the depths of his heart, he knew that someday they would meet again.
As he walked away with his family, glancing at the sea one last time, a barely perceptible figure peeked from the waves.
It was him, the boy with the iridescent tail, watching him from a distance. His eyes reflected curiosity and a touch of sadness.
When Jisung was out of sight, the water child submerged again, his figure fading beneath the waves.
The ocean held secrets no adult could understand, but Jisung, with his pure heart and infinite imagination, had managed to glimpse one of them.
When they got home, the afternoon had faded, giving way to night. The sound of the waves still echoed in Jisung’s mind, like a distant echo he couldn’t shake off.
Although his mother had tucked him in and put him to bed, he couldn’t stop thinking about that water child, with his iridescent tail and eyes as deep as the ocean.
He lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his small fingers clutching his stuffed animal, but his mind was still traveling to the beach, to the water, to the child he had met for just a moment.
“Why did he disappear so quickly? Is he okay? ... uhm...” he murmured to himself, unable to stop the questions swirling in his head.
Suddenly, his soft, tender voice broke the silence of the room. “Mommy...”
Jisung’s mother was in the hallway, finishing putting away some things from the beach trip, but when she heard his call, she peeked into the room, smiling gently at seeing him awake. “Can’t sleep, my love?”
Jisung lifted his head from the pillow and looked at her with those big eyes, as if his soul were searching for deeper answers. “Mommy... can you tell me the mermaid story again?”
His mother paused for a moment, looking at her son with affection. She saw him hugging his stuffed animal tightly, as if he needed something to feel closer to the safety and comfort only she could provide.
“Of course, sweetheart, I’ll tell you the story again,” she replied softly, moving closer to the bed and sitting on the edge, her smile barely hiding her concern. “Do you want to hear the part about how they protect their babies? Or about what they’re like?”
Jisung nodded, moving his head up and down, almost eagerly. “Yes, that one... the one you told me last time... the one about... uh... their babies!”
His mother began, her gentle and calm words filling the room with a familiar melody.
“Mermaids, my dear, are very special creatures. They live deep in the sea, and just like human mothers, they always take care of their children with great love. They know the ocean is a dangerous place, but their babies are born strong and agile. Mermaids have a very deep connection with the water, and the sea always protects them. It’s like an invisible cloak that wraps around them. No one can separate them from their home, because the sea is their home. And even though the ocean can be vast and mysterious, the mermaids always take care of each other, protecting their little ones until they’re ready to swim on their own, just like whales protect their babies.”
Jisung curled up in the bed, hugging his stuffed animal tighter as his mother continued telling the story, her voice creating a bubble of calm around him. But as he listened, Jisung couldn’t help but imagine his water friend, his figure gliding in the depths of the ocean.
Would he be okay? Was he also being cared for by the sea and his mother?
“Mommy... do mermaids ever become friends with humans?” he asked, unable to resist the curiosity consuming him.
His mother fell silent for a moment, thoughtful.
“Mermaids are very careful, sweetheart. They’re very shy, and although sometimes they can interact with humans, they usually don’t because they’re afraid. That’s why the sea keeps them away from us, as a way to protect them. But in some stories, there are humans who have a special connection with them... a bond so strong that, even if the sea tries, it can’t separate them. They might even be more than friends, just like your daddy and I... according to some stories.”
Jisung furrowed his brow, trying to understand. Something in those words resonated deeply in his heart. Perhaps, without knowing it, he had made that connection.
“Do you think I could be friends with a mermaid, Mommy?” he asked in a quiet voice, almost as if afraid of the answer.
His mother smiled sweetly, stroking his hair tenderly. “You never know, my dear. Maybe one day the sea will bring you to your friend, if it’s meant to be.”
Jisung remained silent, his eyes beginning to close, but still with that strange feeling that something else was coming.
The sound of the ocean continued to vibrate in his mind, and the vision of the boy with the mermaid tail stayed alive in his thoughts.
“Good night, my dear,” his mother said, giving him a kiss on the forehead. “Sleep well, my love.”
“Good night, Mommy... will I ever see my friend again?” he murmured, his voice already sleepy.
“Maybe, sweetheart... maybe.”
And as Jisung closed his eyes, the real world seemed to fade away for a moment. In his mind, the sea whispered, and somewhere, beneath the waves, his friend waited for him.
________________________
The art classroom was quiet, save for the soft sounds of other students working, though for Jisung, it was merely distant background noise, almost nonexistent.
Jisung, however, was completely absorbed in his world. His headphones were his refuge, blocking out all distractions as his music filled the silence and his hands moved instinctively across the canvas.
Before him, on the canvas, a figure was beginning to take shape: a young man emerging from the water, his bare torso glistening under a silvery light mimicking the moon. Dark, wet strands of hair framed a face with soft yet intense features, and eyes that seemed to pierce through whoever gazed upon them. His iridescent mermaid tail shimmered with vivid, luminous hues.
“Just as beautiful as 13 years ago...” Jisung murmured to himself, as if the painting could respond.
His fingers added the finishing touches, delicate strokes of light across the scales of the tail, trying to capture the iridescent brilliance that had fascinated him so much.
He was so focused that he didn’t notice the figure standing beside him, watching curiously.
Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder, making him jump. Jisung turned quickly, seeing his friend Jaemin standing there. He turned his head again, but the music still resonated in his ears, isolating him from the world outside.
With a sigh, he took off his headphones, pausing the music just as Na finished speaking.
“What?” Jisung asked, still slightly disconnected from reality.
Jaemin looked at him, pointing at the canvas with a teasing smile. “I was saying, that painting is incredible. Who is it? Your secret new muse or something?”
Jisung blinked, glancing slightly at the painting. For a moment, he thought about lying, about coming up with something simple, but no words came out. Instead, he shrugged and tried to deflect the attention.
“Ah, just... an idea I had,” he replied vaguely, forcing an awkward smile as he picked up the brush again to correct a shadow on the young man’s arm. The figure of the merman seemed to gaze back at him, like a secret only he could understand.
Jaemin tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. “An idea? Jisung, this looks like more than an idea. There’s so much detail; it’s like you know him.”
Jisung felt a faint blush creeping up his cheeks but kept his eyes fixed on the canvas. It wasn’t something he could easily explain, and sometimes, even he wasn’t entirely sure it had really happened. Still, the memory was so vivid he couldn’t deny it. “It’s just a character. Something I came up with while telling my lil brother a fairy tale.”
Jaemin tilted his head further, studying the painting closely. “Then why does it look so—”
Jisung let out a sigh and stepped away from the canvas, placing the brush on the table. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just a painting.”
Jaemin frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the response, but he didn’t push further. Instead, he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I won’t press you, but it’s impressive, Jisung. Really. That level of detail… wow. I didn’t know you were this passionate about art.”
Jisung didn’t reply, but his eyes wandered back to the canvas.
He knew the figure he had been painting all too well. It was an image he had carried in his mind since childhood, a memory he had never been able to forget.
“Thanks, I guess. It’s just something I wanted to put on paper.”
Na nodded, though his gaze still reflected curiosity. “Well, keep at it, dreamer. Though, if you want my opinion, you should go for a darker background—something to make the moonlight really stand out.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jisung replied, turning his attention back to the canvas.
As Jaemin walked away to let him continue working, Jisung lifted the brush again, adding the finishing touches to the painting. Though he tried to convince himself it was all just a product of his imagination, deep down, he knew there was more truth in that image than he was willing to admit.
“Where are you now?” he murmured softly, starting to work on the details of the light on the water, as if the answer lay hidden among the strokes of paint.
Jisung kept working on the canvas until the bell signaled the end of class.
His classmates began packing their things, chatting animatedly about their plans for after school, but he didn’t rush. Instead, he stayed in his seat, gazing at his painting with a mixture of pride and melancholy.
It had been years since that day on the beach, yet the memory remained alive in his mind, as vivid as the image he was now bringing to life on the canvas.
Each brushstroke felt like uncovering a fragment of his past, and though he’d never told anyone the story, painting made him feel closer to that person.
He silently packed up his materials and left the classroom, blending into the bustling hallways filled with students. Not in the mood to socialize, he opted for the longer route home, one that passed by a small park with a fountain at its center. Jisung often stopped there to think, and today was no exception.
He sat on a bench facing the fountain, his backpack at his feet and his mind crowded with thoughts. The sound of water cascading down relaxed him, but it also reminded him of the sea—the waves.
For a moment, he closed his eyes, trying to recall the details: the dark hair, the shy smile, the shimmering scales of a tail, and the laughter they shared while building a watery sandcastle.
What if it was never real? he thought, as he had so many times before. What if it was just a dream or something my mind invented?
But then, why did it feel so real?
“What are you doing here all alone?”
The voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and when he opened his eyes, Jeno stood before him, a water bottle in hand and curiosity written across his face.
His friend—the popular basketball player.
“Thinking,” Jisung replied with a shrug.
“About what? The mysterious painting Nana told me about?”
Jisung let out a soft laugh. “Something like that.”
Jeno sat beside him, setting the water bottle on the bench. “You know, I always thought you were a bit weird, but this? This is next-level. You’re obsessed with something, and I think you don’t want to say what it is.”
“It’s not obsession,” Jisung murmured, his gaze fixed on the fountain. “It’s... a memory. Something I can’t forget.”
Jeno frowned. “A memory? What are you talking about?”
For a moment, Jisung considered telling him the truth.
He’d kept that story to himself for so long that the very thought of sharing it made him feel vulnerable. But something in Jeno’s expression made him feel that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t have to carry the secret alone anymore.
“When I was a kid, I met someone... at the beach,” he began, his voice quieter than usual. “He was a boy. He was... different. We were building a small sandcastle, but then my mom called me, and he just disappeared, like he was never there.”
Jeno stared at him, trying to process what he was hearing. “Different how?”
Jisung took a deep breath, his fingers nervously fiddling with the edge of his shirt. “He was a... merman,” he said softly.
The statement hung in the air, and for a moment, Jeno said nothing. Then he burst into laughter.
“Are you serious? A merman? Jisung, I thought you’d outgrown that story years ago, but clearly not.”
“I’m not joking!” Jisung protested, turning to face him. “I know how it sounds, but I swear it’s true. I saw him. He was right there, playing and laughing with me.”
Jeno stopped laughing when he saw the seriousness in his friend’s eyes. “You... you’re really serious?”
“I am.” Jisung turned back to the fountain, his expression hardening. “And I can’t stop thinking about him. I’ve never stopped dreaming about him. Every time I sleep... I see him in my dreams. I’ve always felt that, somehow, we’ll meet again.”
Jeno watched him in silence, unsure of what to say.
Finally, he stood, patting Jisung on the shoulder. “Well, if you believe it’s real, then I guess there’s no reason to doubt you. Maybe you should go back to that beach someday. Who knows? You might find something interesting.”
Jisung nodded but didn’t reply. As Jeno walked away, Jisung remained seated, staring at the fountain as if expecting it to reveal some hidden answer.
“We’ll meet again...” he thought, more determined than ever. “I’m sure of it.”
The walk home was a whirlwind of thoughts for Jisung. Each step echoed with Jeno's words.
"Maybe you should go back to that beach someday."
Easier said than done. What was the point of going back? The beach probably wasn’t the same, and surely, it had all been the product of a child’s overactive imagination.
So why couldn’t he let it go?
With his hands buried in the pockets of his jacket, Jisung wandered through the streets, oblivious to the bustling city around him. The world moved at its usual frantic pace, but for him, everything felt like it was on pause.
He couldn’t stop thinking about him. About everything. About what he’d seen that day. The way he’d looked at him, as if their destinies were intertwined, as if their brief moment together had bound their souls forever.
Sometimes, secretly, Jisung cursed himself for asking his mother to tell him those fantasy stories as a child. His brow furrowed at the memories that played in his mind like a movie—one that was supposed to have a happy ending.
But this was real life. Maybe Jeno was right: maybe it was time to move on. Perhaps he was clinging to a dream to fill an inexplicable void. Maybe believing he had met a mythical creature made his life less mundane.
A soft breeze carried the faint scent of saltwater through the air.
Jisung looked up at the sky, now painted in warm hues of orange and pink by the setting sun. For a fleeting moment, he thought he could hear the sound of the waves.
When he arrived at his neighborhood, the sky was ablaze with colors. Dry leaves crunched under his feet as he walked slowly, savoring the natural melody of the trees rustling in the wind.
At home, he opened the door cautiously, trying to shake off his thoughts. The murmur of voices greeted him as he stepped inside.
Dropping his backpack near the entrance, he headed toward the living room, where his parents sat on the couch, going over some papers.
Renjun, his four-year-old younger brother, played on the floor with a toy truck, making engine noises with his mouth.
“I think the hotel should be closer to the coast,” his mom said with a soft smile, flipping through a brochure. “Renjun will want to be in the water all the time.”
“Exactly,” his dad replied, pointing at something on the page. “Besides, it’s been years since we’ve gone. It’ll be good for everyone.”
Jisung froze, his heart skipping a beat. Were they talking about the beach?
He stepped into the doorway of the living room, where his parents continued discussing activities, hotels, and plans for their stay near the ocean.
His mom looked up and smiled. “Oh, yes. We’re thinking about taking a vacation. Renjun’s never seen the sea, and we thought it’d be a great chance for some family time.”
Jisung swallowed hard, his pulse quickening.
“And,” his dad added, “it’s time to revive some family traditions. Remember when you were little? We’d take you to build sandcastles or bury you in the sand.”
“When... when are you thinking of going?” Jisung asked, trying to sound casual. “What beach?” The questions poured out as his heart raced.
His mom pointed to the brochure. “We haven’t decided yet, but I was considering the same beach we used to visit when you were little. It’s sentimental, don’t you think? Plus, now you can take a million photos with that camera your dad got you.”
Jisung’s heart leaped.
This was too much—a coincidence he couldn’t ignore.
The universe seemed to be aligning in a way he didn’t fully understand, but couldn’t deny.
His parents continued talking, but Jisung barely registered their words. His mind was already elsewhere, imagining the ocean, the sound of the waves, and the chance that, after all these years, he might find what he’d lost. Who he’d lost.
“Jisung!” Renjun’s voice jolted him back to reality. The little boy was looking up at him, eyes wide with excitement. “Are we going to the beach? Am I really going to see the ocean?”
Jisung forced a smile, reaching down to ruffle his brother’s hair. “Y-yeah, Renjun. Looks like we are.”
Inside, his heart and mind screamed a single word: Destiny.
“I’m... I’m heading to my room. I’m tired,” Jisung mumbled, his hands twitching at his sides. His body, mind, and gaze were all in a daze.
His parents exchanged curious glances, thinking he might be secretly planning to pack. His mother turned back as he walked away.
“Not staying for dinner, sweetheart? It’s almost ready,” she called gently.
He didn’t respond as he climbed the stairs, shutting his bedroom door behind him the moment he entered. He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling as his thoughts raced.
“What the hell?” he thought, though the words felt inadequate to describe what was happening.
The beach he hadn’t visited in over a decade, the place where his strangest and most precious childhood memories were buried, was suddenly within reach again.
His eyes drifted to his desk, where a small crayon drawing of that boy hung on the edge of a worn lamp—a clumsy, unfinished sketch. The first drawing he’d made of him after returning from the beach that day.
The face he’d imagined for years stared back at him from the paper, as if daring him to seek answers.
Running a hand through his hair, Jisung let out a frustrated sigh. “This has to be some fucking joke...”
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was happening—something bigger than he could comprehend.
Finally, he got up and walked to the drawing, tracing its surface with his fingers. It was as if he were back in 2007, sketching his friend’s smile and whispering promises to the scribble that they’d meet again someday.
Hope stirred faintly in his chest. He wanted to believe—to prove to himself that it was all real.
Sighing heavily, his shoulders slumped as he wet his lips and gazed back at the drawing.
“If you’re out there... if you’re real,” he murmured, his voice barely audible, “please... give me a sign. I’m begging you...”
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The weekend arrived faster than Jisung had anticipated. The days leading up to it were a swirl of excitement and anxiety, his mind racing with countless scenarios of what he might encounter upon returning to that beach.
Every time he tried to dismiss the idea that something extraordinary might happen, a small, persistent voice refused to let it go.
On the morning of the trip, the house buzzed with activity. His mother meticulously checked the luggage again and again, ensuring nothing was missing for Renjun, while his father loaded the car with umbrellas, towels, and a cooler packed with snacks.
“Jisung, hurry up!” his mother called from downstairs.
“I’m coming, Mom!” he replied, zipping up his backpack. Inside, he had packed his camera, a sketchbook, and his set of drawing pencils. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but he had a feeling he’d need them.
The drive to the coast was calm, though the tightness in Jisung’s chest never eased. Renjun, seated beside him, couldn’t stop talking about how excited he was to see the ocean for the first time. His enthusiasm was infectious, but Jisung found it hard to focus.
The trip began with soft music his mother had chosen to keep Renjun settled.
Jisung stared out the window as the bustling cityscape gave way to open green landscapes. But his thoughts weren’t on the scenery. His mind was elsewhere, fixated on meeting him again—no matter what.
Little Renjun, brimming with excitement, bombarded their parents with questions.
“Is the water really cold, Mommy?” he asked, his wide eyes gleaming.
“It depends, sweetheart. But I’m sure you’ll love it. The ocean is beautiful,” she replied, stroking his hair fondly.
Jisung barely registered their conversation. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, where the sky stretched endlessly in a vivid, dazzling blue.
The clouds, fluffy and white, floated as if carefully painted by hand. It was stunningly perfect—eerily reminiscent of that day.
When they finally arrived, the sound of the waves was the first thing Jisung noticed.
Though years had passed, the rhythmic murmur of the water was startlingly familiar. It was as if his body remembered something his mind had tried to bury.
Renjun leapt out of the car, dashing towards the sand, only to be stopped by their mother.
“Not so fast, little one! Sunscreen first.”
The scene was almost identical to his childhood memories. Would his brother see a mermaid, too?
Their mother insisted on slathering Renjun with sunscreen until he looked practically white, while their father struggled to anchor the umbrella in the sand.
“It’s always the same,” he chuckled, wrestling with the umbrella. “Why don’t they make these things easier to use?” he muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Maybe because they’re not made for idiots,” his mother teased, earning a round of laughter.
Jisung watched all of this from a distance, holding Renjun’s bucket and shovel.
He felt detached, as if part of him was already elsewhere. His eyes instinctively wandered to the far end of the beach, where the rocks formed a secluded cove.
“Jisung?” His mother’s voice pulled him back. “Why don’t you take your brother to play near the water? But don’t go too far, okay?”
He nodded, taking Renjun’s hand and leading him to the shoreline.
“What do you want to build first?” he asked, trying to distract himself from the pull in his chest.
“A big castle, like the ones in your stories!” Renjun exclaimed, his face glowing with excitement.
Jisung helped him build, but his gaze kept drifting to the water—and beyond, to the rocks. Something was calling to him, as though the sea itself was whispering his name.
“Hyung... what are you looking at?” Renjun asked innocently, his tone curious.
“Huh? Oh, nothing... just thinking,” Jisung replied quickly, forcing a smile.
But it wasn’t nothing. He knew it. Something—or someone—was there, waiting for him.
Jisung continued with Renjun, helping him build sandcastles and fill his bucket with seawater. But he couldn’t stop his thoughts from drifting back to the same place, the rocks.
The feeling that something—or someone—was watching him lingered in his mind, like a distant whisper he couldn’t quiet.
As his little brother laughed, Jisung’s focus slipped away, his mind trapped in the same loop as before, like an echo that never disappeared.
No matter how hard he tried to smile and enjoy the moment, the urge to return to that specific spot, to that place that had left such an impression on him, consumed him.
At one point, Renjun distracted him with a request to build a bigger tower, but Jisung’s response was mechanical, distracted.
“I’ll leave you to play here, okay? Mom and Dad are calling me.”
Renjun, as innocent as always, didn’t seem to notice the lack of enthusiasm in his older brother’s words. He quickly nodded, continuing to build his castle.
“Okay, Jiji. I’ll wait for you!” Renjun exclaimed, unaware of the urgency Jisung felt deep inside.
Jisung walked slowly toward his parents, making sure Renjun didn’t see him leave. When he was far enough, he took a deep breath and continued his path toward the rocks, his steps growing more determined, his heart pounding with a mix of hope and fear.
The waves gently crashed against the rocks, and the sun cast a golden glow over the surface of the water.
It was the same landscape he remembered, but something about it felt off. As if, somewhere in that sea and those stones, something was about to happen, as if the promise was finally going to be fulfilled.
He approached the edge, sitting on the rocks where the waves crashed.
He waited, his gaze fixed on the water. Each wave that came seemed bigger than the last, as though the ocean was inviting him to step deeper.
But there were no signs, no movements in the water suggesting that something else was there. Only the sound of the sea and the murmur of the wind.
Minutes passed that felt like hours, and Jisung could only feel a growing sense of disappointment in his chest.
He looked around, hoping to see something that would break the stillness. But nothing appeared. There were no figures rising from the water, no sounds betraying their presence. Just him, the rocks, and the sea, as vast and as silent as ever.
“What the hell am I doing?” he murmured to himself, more as a form of consolation than a truth. “It was all a stupid dream from the start.”
But deep down, something was still urging him to believe, to keep waiting.
That boy from the beach, the mermaid boy, was real... right? Somehow, Jisung felt like he couldn’t give up so easily.
With one last sigh, he rose from the rocks and took one final look at the sea. As he walked back toward his parents and Renjun, the doubts and uncertainty still circled in his mind.
Jisung walked with his mind foggy, repeating over and over in his head that maybe it had been foolish to think something would happen.
The sea, the rocks, everything seemed so distant now. “What was I expecting? That something would just appear out of nowhere? A miracle?” he told himself. Soft curses slipped from his lips as he kept walking along the beach, not paying attention to the path.
He was so trapped in his own thoughts, so immersed in frustration, that he didn’t notice the figure approaching.
Suddenly, he felt a dull thud, something against his chest that made him stumble backward. Jisung quickly lifted his gaze, confused, not understanding how he had ended up colliding with someone.
He found himself face to face with a boy slightly shorter than him, which was surprising since Jisung had always been the tallest among his friends; In his words, they're all dwarves.
But that wasn’t what caught his attention immediately. It was the intensity of his gaze, those eyes that reflected a deep calm, as if he knew the very secrets of the ocean. And his hair, so strange, so bright in the sunlight, in a shade so peculiar it reminded him of water beneath the sun.
But what really threw him off was his skin. It was pale, but something more... something unusual. A subtle glow, as if it were constantly changing, so different from any other human skin Jisung had touched.
There was something about his presence that made Jisung feel as if he were standing in front of a creation of the sea itself, something that didn’t entirely belong to this world.
Jisung stood there, speechless for a second, unable to react right away.
Memories of the boy flooded his mind in that instant.
Was it him? Was it the same boy from that time? The connection in his chest made him feel as if he had known him forever.
“I’m sorry...” Jisung murmured, finally reacting, but his voice trailed off, overwhelmed by the curiosity that consumed him. His gaze remained fixed on the boy, unable to look away. He was hypnotized, and to be honest, he didn’t want to break this moment.
The boy, who seemed equally surprised, didn’t say anything right away. Instead, his gaze shifted to the ground, taking a step back as if preparing to leave.
But something in his posture, in the way he seemed to hesitate before moving, made Jisung unable to resist stepping a little closer.
“Wait...” Jisung said, more by instinct than logic. “Do we.. know each other?”
The boy looked up again, and this time, Jisung realized that his eyes weren’t just beautiful; they were... deep. Like the ocean itself. He could almost feel the water on his skin as those eyes gazed at him.
But the disbelief hit him once more. “I feel like I know you from somewhere...”
For the first time, you stared at him, sinking into his dark brown eyes as if you were deciding something in your mind.
Your expression was calm, but there was a spark of something more, something Jisung couldn’t identify, and maybe it was better that way, fearing that he no longer remembered when you used to ask him a thousand questions on the beach shore.
You leaned slightly, as if about to say a deep secret, but stopped just before opening your mouth.
“Maybe...” you replied, your voice soft and slightly hoarse, as if you had been keeping silence your whole life. “Maybe we’ve met before.”
Jisung felt something twist inside of him, as if every word fit like lost pieces of a puzzle he had never finished putting together. However, before he could process it fully, you had already taken a step back, as if afraid he would get too close.
“I have to go,” you said quickly, with an urgency that seemed out of place in your calmness.
Jisung watched you, unable to move, unable to decide whether to let you go or follow you. But you were already moving away, slipping through the crowd of the beach as if you were part of the landscape, as if you were as unattainable as the sea itself.
It was your nature after all.
Jisung stayed there, motionless, feeling the weight of the disconnection he had just experienced. Were you him? Were you the same boy from the beach, or was he just confusing things?
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⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ݁⠀⠀،،⠀⠀메모 ! ㅤ⸻ㅤ I won't deny it anymore, I fw these kinds of stories. Especially since I got carried away by Ethel Cain halfway through the story.
+ 1/5 stories to finish.︐⠀📍
⠀𝒊. ⠀─⠀ All credits to @angelsfat3 / @foschiamara⠀𝄒
. . . ₍⠀아이디어 !ㅤ⸻ㅤI'm very short of ideas lately, so feel free to leave me any requests! <⁠(⁠ ̄⁠︶⁠ ̄⁠)⁠>⠀₎⠀ ִֶָ
˖⠀⠀ ݁⠀©⠀،،⠀If you liked it you can like, follow me or reblog!!
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