Chapter Text
I take another sip of my iced coffee, the condensation slipping between my fingers as I check my phone. A message pops up from Mark—my co-worker, my friend, and unfortunately, my cousin.
Mark [3:45 PM]:
Your plane got delayed???
I sigh and type a simple reply. Yes.
Almost immediately, another message follows.
Mark:
Want to stay another night? In case it gets delayed until tomorrow.
Another sigh. Another Yes.
I was supposed to be flying home an hour ago, but due to some unknown issue, my flight has been pushed back at least four more hours. So here I am, stuck in the airport lounge, a floor-to-ceiling window beside me revealing the stretch of blue sea that surrounds the island.
There’s nothing much to do except scroll through my phone or check my iPad for work updates. But I don’t feel like doing either. Instead, I watch the passengers that keep passing me by, their conversations merging into a low hum of activity.
And then, my eyes meet his.
At first, it’s brief, just a passing glance. He’s sitting at the grand piano in the center of the lounge, his fingers above the keys.
And then he smiles.
It’s not just any smile. It’s a knowing, teasing kind of grin, like he’s already decided I’m part of some game he’s playing. And before I can react, his fingers press against the keys.
A familiar melody spills into the air. This Is What Falling in Love Feels Like by JVKE.
I exhale slowly.
He’s playing for attention. Maybe not mine specifically, but he enjoys the way the music pulls people in. A few passengers stop to listen, some swaying slightly to the rhythm. I remain seated, unimpressed, tapping my fingers lightly against my cup.
He glances at me again, and this time, he subtly tilts his head—an invitation.
I don’t react.
His expression flickers with amusement, as if my indifference is more interesting than anything else happening around him.
When the song ends, a small crowd claps, and instead of acknowledging them, he stands from the piano bench and walks straight toward me.
I blink.
Before I can fully process what’s happening, he’s already pulled out the chair across from me and made himself comfortable.
“Hi,” he greets casually, his smile still very much in place.
I hesitate, shifting slightly in my seat. “…Hi.”
“What’s your name?” His tone is light, conversational, like we’re old friends catching up rather than strangers who locked eyes across a crowded airport.
I adjust my posture, making it clear I’m not exactly comfortable with this interaction. “Jeno.”
His grin widens. “Hi, Jeno. I’m Na Jaemin.”
I nod.
For a moment, he studies me. Then, just when I think the conversation might end there, he launches into another question.
“Are you traveling for work or fun?”
I hesitate again. There’s something about his presence, persistent, effortlessly confident that makes it hard to ignore him. “…Work.”
He hums, seemingly waiting for me to elaborate. When I don’t, he leans forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. “I’m glad you asked me why I’m here, Jeno.”
I frown slightly. “I didn’t ask.”
Jaemin laughs. “Well, now that you have that curious look, I might as well tell you.”
I don’t have a curious look . But I let him continue.
“I’m a pianist,” he says, his voice filled with a certain kind of pride. “I just finished my world tour five months ago, and I figured I needed a break. Something different. So here I am, spending a couple of months in paradise, escaping the routine.”
He pauses, then shoots me an expectant look. “And you?”
I glance down at my nearly melted iced coffee before answering. “I’m here for business.”
His expression falls flat. “That’s it? No dramatic backstory? No I’m escaping my past and starting a new life ?”
I shake my head. “Just business.”
Jaemin sighs as if he’s personally offended by my lack of enthusiasm. “What kind of business?”
For some reason, I don’t mind answering. Maybe it’s the way he looks at me. Curious, genuinely interested. So, I tell him.
He listens carefully, nodding at the right moments, and when I finish, he leans back in his chair, looking thoroughly entertained.
“So let me get this straight,” he says. “You’ve come to this island multiple times to buy the Mahalo Hotel, but you’ve never actually stayed there?”
“It’s always fully booked,” I reply simply. “But I know how much tourists love it, so I’m not really worried about whether it’s a good investment or not.”
Jaemin shakes his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “That’s ridiculous. How do you trust something you’ve never experienced?”
Before I can respond, he suddenly sits up straighter, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “You know what? Stay at my place.”
I blink. “…What?”
“I live in one of the bungalows at Mahalo Hotel,” he explains, as if that makes his offer any less insane. “You should stay there with me. That way, you can actually experience the place before deciding if you want to buy it.”
I stare at him, waiting for him to say just kidding .
He doesn’t.
“…Are you serious?”
Jaemin laughs. “Why not? Worst case scenario, you turn out to be an axe murderer, and I die on the most beautiful island on Earth. But that’s still totally worth it.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “You don’t even know me.”
“That’s the fun part.”
His expression is so confident, so completely sure about this, that against my better judgment, I actually consider it.
“…I’ll pay for each night I stay,” I suggest.
Jaemin grins. “Deal.”
And just like that, I find myself sharing a cab with a stranger, on my way to a place I was supposed to buy but never even stepped foot in.
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When we arrive at the hotel, more specifically, Jaemin’s bungalow, I can’t help but wander around, taking in the details.
The bungalow is simple but charming. Outside, two wooden chairs and a small coffee table face the ocean, perfectly placed for watching the waves roll in. The salty breeze rustles the curtains through the slightly open window, carrying with it the distant laughter of tourists enjoying the beach.
Inside, the space is modest but comfortable. A king-sized bed sits against one wall, neatly made but showing signs of being lived in. On the inside, there’s a small sofa facing the TV, a microwave on the counter across the sofa, and a bathroom tucked in the back, complete with a shower and a freestanding bathtub that seems almost too luxurious for a place this simple.
“You’ve been living here for almost two months?” I ask, glancing at Jaemin, who has casually settled onto the sofa.
He nods, stretching his arms over the backrest. “Yeah. It’s not much, but I like it.”
I hum in response, still eyeing the space. It’s clear he’s made it his own. There are books stacked near the bed, a pair of sandals lazily kicked off by the door, and an open notebook resting on the table beside an empty cup. There’s something peaceful about it.
Jaemin suddenly sits up. “Wanna meet the owner?”
I blink, slightly caught off guard. “Now?”
“Yeah, why not?” He grins. “You’re trying to buy this place, right? Might as well know the person behind it.”
I hesitate for a second, but then nod. “Sure.”
The sand is warm beneath my feet as we make our way toward the main hotel area. The Mahalo Hotel sits slightly behind the beachfront, nestled between tall palm trees. As we walk, Jaemin greets nearly every staff member we pass, calling out their names, waving enthusiastically.
It’s clear he’s familiar with them, and even more obvious that they like him. The bartender at the beachside bar salutes him with a grin, a housekeeper near the entrance gives him a small bow, and the receptionist, a young woman with a flower tucked behind her ear, laughs at something he says.
For someone who’s only been here for two months, he’s blended into the place seamlessly.
I, on the other hand, keep quiet, offering small nods when people glance my way.
We walk past the pool area, where guests are lounging with drinks, then through the open-air restaurant, where the scent of grilled seafood lingers in the air. Eventually, we find the owner, Anton, in the hotel’s garden holding a small plot filled with fresh herbs and vegetables.
Jaemin is the one to call out first. “Anton!”
The elderly man, dressed in a loose white shirt and khaki shorts, looks up from where he’s crouched, tending to a row of basil plants. His weathered face breaks into a smile.
“Jaemin, where have you been? You missed lunch,” he says, his voice carrying a warmth that’s unfamiliar to me.
Jaemin raises both hands in mock surrender. “I was at the airport. Had to make sure my fingers didn't forget how to play.”
Anton chuckles, shaking his head. “You and that piano.”
I stand a few steps behind, observing their interaction. Jaemin talks to Anton like they’re family, and it’s clear Anton sees him as more than just another guest.
Then, suddenly, Jaemin gestures toward me. “Anton, I want you to meet my friend, Jeno.”
The moment Anton’s eyes land on me, his expression shifts. The easy warmth from before is gone, replaced with something more formal.
“Yes, I know who he is,” Anton says, his voice noticeably different from when he was speaking to Jaemin.
I step forward, intending to introduce myself properly, but before I can, Anton clears his throat and turns back to Jaemin.
“I have some things to take care of,” he says briskly. “We’ll talk later.”
Then, without another word, he leaves.
Jaemin watches him go, frowning slightly before turning back to me. “Well, that was weird.”
I nod, a strange tension lingering in the air.
But Jaemin, ever unfazed, simply claps his hands together. “Anyway! Wanna explore the hotel? We can walk around until sunset.”
“…Sure,” I say, still glancing in the direction Anton disappeared.
Jaemin takes me through every part of the hotel, acting as if he owns the place.
We start at the front desk, where he chats briefly with the receptionist. Then, he takes me through the restaurant, explaining how the menu changes daily based on available ingredients. The kitchen is partially open, allowing us to peek inside, and Jaemin grins as he tells me how each morning, guests get a different breakfast because the chef only uses fresh produce from the garden.
“Wait,” I interrupt. “So if there aren’t enough ingredients, does that mean the guests don’t get breakfast?”
Jaemin laughs. “Anton makes sure that never happens. There’s another huge garden on the hill we passed earlier. This one is just for immediate use.”
We continue walking, passing by the pool area, where tourists are lounging, some playing water volleyball, others sunbathing. The entire atmosphere is warm and lively, a stark contrast to the cool professionalism of hotels in the city.
As we make our way back to the bungalow, Jaemin suddenly stops me. “Wait here.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”
He grins. “Just wait.”
A few minutes later, he returns with two cocktails and a small plate of snacks. “To accompany the sunset,” he announces dramatically.
I shake my head, but accept the drink. “You really like this place, don’t you?”
Jaemin hums in agreement, taking a sip of his cocktail. “It’s peaceful.”
And as we sit there, watching the sky turn from blue to orange to deep purple, I realize I haven’t thought about work once today.
🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️
After freshening up with a quick shower, Jaemin finds me again. “Wanna have a barbecue?”
I don’t even hesitate this time. “Yeah.”
We head back to the hotel, where guests are gathering around grills by the poolside, chatting and drinking. The scent of roasted meat and seafood fills the air, and the warm glow of string lights overhead adds to the cozy atmosphere.
The food isn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it’s satisfying. I go through five plates before I even notice that Jaemin has disappeared.
Just as I’m about to leave, he appears behind me.
“Where were you?” I ask, eyeing him suspiciously.
He laughs. “Talking to the chef. He wanted my opinion on tomorrow’s breakfast menu.”
I frown. “…Why?”
Jaemin tilts his head. “It’s kind of a tradition here. The kitchen asks for guest input sometimes.”
“That’s… weird.”
He grins. “This whole place is weird. But that’s what makes it fun.”
And oddly enough, I find myself agreeing.
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While I stayed at his place, Jaemin never let me sit still for too long. Every morning, the moment I’d open my eyes, he’d be standing there—grinning, already planning our next adventure.
“You didn’t come all the way here just to waste time doing nothing,” he told me on my first morning at the bungalow, arms crossed as he stood in front of me. “It would be a crime not to explore this place properly.”
I had no real argument against that.
The first day, Jaemin dragged me down to the beach for water sports. We started with jet skiing, the salty wind whipping against my face as I struggled to keep up with him. He was effortlessly good at it, speeding across the waves while I tried not to flip over.
“Try to keep up, Jeno!” he called over his shoulder, laughing as he turned sharply, making a spray of water splash against my face.
Later, he convinced me to try surfing, which was an entirely different struggle. I wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t good either, wiping out more times than I could count. Every time I fell, Jaemin just grinned and offered a hand to pull me back up.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted, my muscles aching from the constant battle with the ocean. But Jaemin? He looked energized, as if he could go for another round.
On the second day, Jaemin decided we should explore the island’s hills.
“We’re going to the highest point,” he said, tossing me a backpack before I could even protest.
The hike was long, the humid air making it even harder to breathe, but when we finally reached the top, the view was worth every step.
The entire island stretched out beneath us. Golden beaches, lush greenery, and the endless blue of the ocean meeting the horizon.
Jaemin stood beside me, a satisfied smile on his face. “See? Worth it.”
I nodded, silently agreeing.
On the third day, Jaemin asked me if I wanted to help Anton with gardening.
I expected something simple, maybe watering plants. Instead, Anton handed me a shovel and had me digging soil and planting herbs under the extremely hot sun.
“This isn’t just for show,” Anton explained as we worked. “We actually use all of this for the hotel’s kitchen.”
Jaemin, who was already familiar with the process, worked effortlessly, cracking jokes with the staff and occasionally throwing small handfuls of dirt in my direction.
By the time we finished, I was drenched in sweat, but there was a strange sense of satisfaction in it.
On the fourth day, Jaemin took me to another area of the island where I never knew this type of place existed.
“Are you serious?” I asked, staring at the rocky ledge overlooking the ocean.
Jaemin, standing beside me, smirked. “Of course. Don’t think too much. Just jump.”
I did think too much. But eventually, when Jaemin leaped off the edge without hesitation, I forced myself to follow.
The freefall was terrifying. My heart raced as the wind rushed past my ears, and then, the ocean swallowed me whole.
When I surfaced, Jaemin was already floating on his back, laughing. “See? Fun, right?”
I shook my head but couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
By now, I should’ve expected Jaemin’s next plan to be just as intense.
On the fifth day, he asked me to do freediving.
“I promise, it’s not that bad,” he reassured me as we waded into the water. “Just hold your breath and let yourself sink.”
It wasn’t just about diving deep. It was about trusting the ocean, trusting myself.
Jaemin guided me through it, showing me how to stay calm underwater, how to adjust my breathing, and how to let go of fear.
For the first time since I arrived, I felt completely weightless.
On my last day, Jaemin had only one request.
“Lunch with Anton,” he said simply.
We sat at an open air restaurant, the breeze carrying the scent of freshly grilled seafood. Anton was relaxed, chatting with Jaemin as if they’d known each other for decades.
Halfway through the meal, Jaemin suddenly stood up. “I’ll be right back,” he said, flashing a quick grin before disappearing.
I didn’t think much of it at first, but when I turned back to Anton, I realized we were alone.
For a moment, we just ate in silence. Then, Anton finally spoke.
“So, did you enjoy your stay?”
I nodded, setting my fork down. “More than I expected. The hotel, the activities. It’s all amazing.”
“But especially the food?” Anton guessed, smirking slightly.
I chuckled. “Yeah. Especially the food.”
Anton laughed, shaking his head. “That’s why I never accepted your offer before, Jeno.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
He leaned back in his chair. “I wanted someone to truly experience what this hotel is about before making an offer. And before this week, you’d never even stayed here.”
I froze, realization hit me.
Anton continued, his voice softer now. “This place means everything to me. My wife and I built it from nothing. She was in charge of the food, I handled everything else. It all started with just just a few rooms, but here we’re now”
I listened, understanding now why he had been so reluctant to sell.
He sighed, running a hand over the table. “I didn’t want to hand it over to just anyone. I need someone who understands that my hotel is something special and different from any other place.”
I took a deep breath, my decision already made.
“I understand now,” I said. “And I want you to know, if I buy this hotel, I won’t change what makes it special.”
Anton studied me for a long moment. Then, for the first time since we met, he smiled warmly.
“You can start preparing the paperwork, Jeno,” he said. “I’m ready to give you and your company 80% ownership.”
Relief washed over me, but more than that, I felt content.
Just before we finished our meal, Jaemin returned, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Sorry,” he said, sliding back into his seat. “A cute kid wouldn’t let me go.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “That sounds exactly like you.”
🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️ 🏝️
The morning of my flight, Jaemin sat on the bed, watching me pack.
“Do you have to leave?” he asked, voice quiet. “There are still so many things we haven’t done.”
I chuckled, folding my shirt neatly into the suitcase. “Yes, my work is waiting for me.”
He let out a soft sigh, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Jaemin,” I called gently.
“Yeah?”
I hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“When we accidentally meet again… would you be my boyfriend?”
He stilled, eyes widening slightly. The air between us shifted, something unspoken settling in the silence.
My heart pounded in my chest, waiting. Until finally, he nodded, slowly but surely.
And at that moment, I kissed him goodbye.