Hwang Hyunjin || Call My Name (Under Revision)

8. A beautiful beginning

YEONA'S POV

"Hi guys!" Yuji exclaimed in a high pitch as soon as we reached everyone.

Everyone was staring at us, completely silent. Then someone simply clapped their hands and began complimenting us, and soon everyone started talking. I was a mix of embarrassment and satisfaction. I'm wearing a red bikini set, after all.

My gaze was drawn to Hyunjin, who was folding towels while Jeongin snapped photos with his camera. When I noticed Chan looking at me, I smiled shyly, thinking he probably didn't think he'd see me wearing this someday. Chan looked so great, like always. He's Christopher Bang, the sexiest man with the sexiest brain.

As I approached him, I noticed he couldn't look me in the eyes.

"What? Do I really look that stunning?" I teased, flipping my hair to show some confidence.

"Well... you look... okay," he said, trying to avoid my gaze, his ears turning red.

"Well, you look good too," I said with a grin.

"Haha yeah, thanks," he mumbled, still rubbing the back of his neck and not looking at me.

I couldn't help but smile because Chan is adorable right now.

"Yow, Chris! You look reddish, are you okay?" Seungmin approached us, holding a can of Coke.

Chan didn't respond and started acting strange towards Seungmin.

"Wait, what? Ohhh hey Chan, do you have a fever or are you blushing?" Seungmin teased, gently tapping Chan's forehead.

"C'mon! I'm hungry!" Chan groaned, dragging Seungmin away as they began arguing.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply after glancing at the beach. I wish we could always be like this. Just carefree and happy. But then I felt a chill on my right arm—Hyunjin, topless with a yellow-green towel around his neck, handed me a can of Coke. I took it from him and drank.

"Hey, you look good," I said, staring out at the sea.

"Thank you," he replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Hey, thank you again for allowing my brother to join us," he added.

"You should thank Chan instead of me," I said, and he returned my smile with a nod.

After we finished eating, everyone started playing in the water. The coolness of the water felt so refreshing. Hours passed, and the sun began to set after playing volleyball, burying ourselves in the sand, and taking pictures.

We decided to make a fire and spend the night on the beach. Everyone changed and started preparing the items. After a few hours, it was already dark, and the bonfire was lit.

We surrounded the fire with marshmallows on sticks. Chan was to my left, Yuji to my right, and next to Yuji were Jeongin and Hyunjin. Seungmin was next to Chan. Chan began playing the guitar, and we all sang, rapped, and even danced.

People started getting sleepy after a couple of hours and began finding their own spots around the bonfire. I sat, gazing at the sky. The stars looked beautiful in the dark night. The wind had calmed, and everything was quiet except for the crackling fire and the waves crashing onto the shore. I smiled and fell asleep, feeling peaceful.

I looked at a watch displayed in a store, and for no reason, my heart raced. Something about it felt right.

I entered the store and bought the watch. As the cashier wrapped it, I gently caressed the box. I stepped out of the store, and snow began to fall, making everything more magical. I shoved my hands in my pockets, rubbing them for warmth, then began walking aimlessly, not knowing where I was going. But I was so caught up in the moment that I didn't see the car speeding toward me. A horn blared, and the car was almost on top of me, but I couldn't move.

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Song recommendation: Dvwn - No problem

I woke up from the dream, sweating and breathing heavily. I tried to calm myself down as I looked around. Everyone was asleep; it must still be early. I noticed Hyunjin wasn't in his usual spot. I grabbed my towel, wrapped it around myself, and went looking for him.

I walked down the shore, wrapped in my towel, looking for Hyunjin. I spotted him sitting alone, staring out at the sea. There was something distant in the way he sat, like his mind was somewhere far away.

I hesitated but decided to sit next to him. He looked up in surprise when I did, but his smile was small, almost shy. "You're up early," he said, his voice quiet.

"Too soon," I replied, trying to keep the mood light.

We sat in silence for a while, watching the waves. It felt peaceful, but there was something in the air, something unspoken between us. Hyunjin wasn't really here with me, I could tell. His eyes were distant, lost in thought.

"Are you... having fun?" I asked, breaking the silence.

He turned his head and gave me a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, of course."

His response didn't feel like the truth, though. There was something off about it. I could feel it.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked, a little hesitant.

Hyunjin didn't respond immediately. He just kept staring at the sea. I could see it—he was bothered by something. There was a weight on his shoulders, even if he didn't show it.

"Hyunjin, are you okay?" I asked, this time with more concern.

He didn't answer at first. Then, slowly, he curled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. I could tell something was really eating at him.

Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been thinking about my brother."

I looked at him, waiting for him to say more. But there was so much emotion in his words already, I didn't want to rush him.

"Our parents got divorced," he continued, his voice shaking a little. "Jeongin... he's not the same. He used to be so carefree, but now... now he's just distant. Cold." His voice cracked, and I could see the pain in his eyes. "I didn't protect him. I couldn't fix it. And now he's just... not happy anymore."

I didn't know what to say. His words hit me harder than I expected. I could tell how much he loved his brother, how much it hurt him to see him like this. Hyunjin looked lost, like he didn't know how to make things right.

"I feel useless," he said, his voice barely audible. "I don't know what to do for him anymore."

I could see the tear fall from his eye, and my heart broke for him. This was the first time I'd seen Hyunjin like this—so vulnerable, so raw.

Without thinking, I moved closer to him and put my hand on his back. He stiffened for a second, but then he relaxed, leaning into me. The tears came then, and I could hear him quietly sobbing.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I just want him to be happy again."

I didn't know what to say, so I just held him. I couldn't fix things, but I could be there for him. "You're not alone," I said softly. "You don't have to do it by yourself. I'm here."

He lifted his head to look at me, his eyes still full of pain. I looked him in the eyes and said, "You've got me, okay? I've got you."

We sat there for a while, just the two of us, watching the sun rise slowly over the horizon. The sky was getting brighter, and for the first time, I saw a glimmer of relief in his eyes.

He wasn't alone anymore.