Summer, 2009 – Jeju Island
In the height of summer, the skies above Jeju Island were a brilliant, flawless blue, as if they'd been washed clean by waves time and time again. The ferry cut through the emerald waters, leaving a trail of foamy white spray as waves shattered against the volcanic rocks. Crystals of sea salt clung to the deck railing, catching the sunlight and glittering like tiny shards of glass.
A fourteen-year-old boy leaned against that railing, staring out at the horizon. The sea breeze tousled his golden curls into a messy halo.
The coastline stretched like a pale golden ribbon, wrapped delicately around the dark green volcanic rock. White seabirds occasionally skimmed over the waves, their cries echoing faintly over the surf. Ouyang Guang kicked at his damp white sneakers. His shirt hem flapped in the salty wind, revealing the silver buckle of his light blue jeans—a skull-shaped accessory, a so-called "trendy piece" that Chen Zheng had insisted on him wearing.
"This damn wind is always picking a fight with me," Ouyang Guang muttered, tugging at his collar. The sea breeze clung to his skin like a stubborn film of salt. His fingertips brushed against the cool jade pendant hanging around his neck—a white jade Guanyin, a parting gift from his mother.
"Keep the pendant on. And don't wander off."
He ran a hand through his golden curls. His amber eyes, half-lidded, reflected his exhaustion. Just beneath his right eye, a small mole—like a teardrop—lay partially hidden beneath the shadow of his thick lashes. Eyes that should have been bright and clear, like a young deer's, now looked dull and disinterested. Through the glass behind him, the muffled voice of their homeroom teacher droned on, explaining tomorrow's itinerary. Sweat clung to the back of his white shirt in a thin, sticky film.
For the thousand-and-first time, Ouyang Guang regretted agreeing to this graduation trip.
So far, it had been nothing but one boring stop after another. Every day, he was herded around with the rest of the class, dragged from tourist sites by He Ziqi, He Zilin, and Chen Zheng. Each evening ended with him sighing over tables full of kimchi.
He could still taste that sour tang of kimchi from the hotel breakfast earlier—like a sponge soaked in vinegar lodged in his throat. He frowned, thinking back to the hike around the volcanic crater on the first day, when He Ziqi had stuffed a kimchi rice ball in his mouth. The rice had been dry and cold, the kimchi bitter and far too salty. Nowhere near as good as the spicy stir-fried squid rice balls from the convenience store back home.
"The volcano was impressive, sure. But if I have to eat one more meal with kimchi, I'd rather be home gnawing on Mom's stir-fried chicken feet."
He absentmindedly rubbed the ring on his finger, his gaze drifting to a distant orange grove along the coastline. Reaching into his pocket, he unwrapped a tangerine candy and popped it into his mouth. The citrusy sweetness washed over his tongue, momentarily cutting through the lingering taste of pickled cabbage. He remembered the oranges he'd swiped yesterday—juicy, sweet and sour. At least that had been fun.
"I should've just faked being sick…"
He didn't even finish the thought before the sudden noise behind him broke the calm.
"Guang!"
The door to the cabin slammed open, sending a flock of resting seabirds scattering. A red-haired boy, He Ziqi, leaned halfway out the door, grinning like a delinquent, one sharp canine exposed in his smile.
"Come on, we're docking soon! There's seafood stew made by haenyeo! Fresh octopus and squid bubbling in the pot—oh, and your favorite, spicy stir-fried shrimp!"
"Not interested."
Ouyang Guang didn't even glance at him. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing his collarbones and a hint of blue-veined skin. His face made it clear how much he loathed seafood—and wasting time at some fishy-smelling street stall didn't help.
Still, when he heard "spicy stir-fried octopus legs," his Adam's apple gave an involuntary twitch.
"Quit pretending," a boy with dyed blue hair, He Zilin, walked up behind He Ziqi, lazily spinning his sunglasses between his fingers. "Who was it yesterday who cleaned out the entire shelf of spicy squid rice balls at the convenience store?"
The memory of that savory, chewy snack surfaced again. Ouyang Guang's ears flushed red, but he forced a dismissive tone. "I was just starving."
He thought back to last night: Chen Zheng running wild between shelves with his neon green hair shining under the lights, He Ziqi sneaking sips of soju and getting scolded by the cashier, and himself crouched in front of the fridge, staring at the rice balls for a full ten minutes—then buying four and lying, "I only ate one," when he split them with the others.
"Exactly!"
Right on cue, the green-haired Chen Zheng popped up beside them, sea water still dripping from his bangs. "A-Guang, check out my new hairstyle! Jeju Island Limited Edition—Lime Sparkle!"
Ouyang Guang raised an eyebrow. "You sure it's not just 'Forgiveness Green'?"
"Don't even start!"
Chen Zheng's shoulders slumped as his soaked green hair clung to his face. He looked like a parrot caught in the rain. "The stylist said green represents Jeju's spring, but when I video-called my mom, she asked if I was cosplaying Plants vs. Zombies."
He Ziqi burst into laughter, his red hair whipping in the wind. "No, no—more like a Digimon! One of those… what's it called? Patamon!"
"Go to hell!"
Chen Zheng chased after him with two clumsy steps before He Zilin blocked the path, pushing up his sunglasses and flashing a mild smile.
"Alright, alright. Honestly, green's still better than someone's red—it's like traveling with a walking tomato."
"Who the hell are you calling a tomato?!"
Ouyang Guang burst into laughter, tilting his head back and revealing two small pointed canine teeth. In that moment, his usual cool, indifferent demeanor shattered like a frozen lake cracking open under spring's first thaw—letting warmth ripple through.
But the smile didn't last. A sudden chill swept over him—not from the sea breeze, but from the unmistakable sensation of being watched. It was sharp, like the crosshairs of a long-lens camera, locked onto the back of his neck from afar.
He turned slightly, about to glance over his shoulder, when—
"Ah-Guang! Move out of the sunlight! Your hair's reflecting like a damn lighthouse!"
Chen Zheng pointed a water gun at him, voice full of mischief.
Ouyang Guang ducked sideways, the silver cross earring on his left ear clinking lightly against the jade Guanyin pendant around his neck. That ridiculous blond hair had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. On their first night in Jeju, even though he'd won the poker game, he'd been dragged out of the hotel by the others to dye his hair in secret.
Now every few steps, strangers turned to stare at him—like he was some exotic creature on display. A golden-haired lion in a zoo.
"Shut up," he muttered, yanking at a rip in his pale jeans. His white sneakers crushed a tiny sand crab as he shifted his weight. "One more word and I'm jumping into the ocean."
"Ah-Guang! Don't jump!"
Chen Zheng burst out of the cabin behind him, bright green hair slick with sea water, water gun still in hand.
Amid the chaos of their teasing and shouting, a low hum echoed across the deck—an announcement that the cruise ship was docking. Ouyang Guang's laughter froze.
That sensation returned.
That sharp, invasive gaze—like a needle pricking his skin.
He pretended to adjust his earring, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. Not far off, a man in a wide-brimmed hat stood on a rocky outcrop, holding a camera pointed at the sea.
Am I imagining things? he wondered, drawing his gaze back.
"Ah-Guang! Let's go! The haenyeo aunties made seafood stew!" He Ziqi tugged at his wrist. "Spicy shrimp and octopus legs, man! Don't even try to deny it—A-Lin said you snuck into the convenience store last night and cleared out the squid rice balls!"
"I did not—"
Ouyang Guang's ears flushed red again. But as soon as he heard "spicy shrimp," his footsteps quickened before he could help himself.
Chen Zheng slung an arm around his shoulders, his green hair brushing Ouyang's nose. "You're blushing! Just admit it—you're dying to eat shrimp!"
Ouyang's ear tips glowed pink. He turned sharply, his shirt brushing the railing and riding up slightly to reveal his slim waist. "I never said I was hungry—"
Before he could finish, Chen Zheng had already hooked an arm around his neck and started dragging him toward the gangway. The sea-salt smell from his wet hair clung to the air between them.
"Come on, Ah-Guang! I heard they put rice cakes in the stew—it's totally worth it!"
The boys jostled and laughed their way down the wooden pier, but even then, Ouyang Guang squinted toward the sunset. That strange feeling hadn't left him.
Every time he looked out at the ocean, it felt like something was piercing through the wind, aiming straight for him. He scanned the area again—just tourists with cameras, capturing the sunset.
Am I just being paranoid? He tugged self-consciously at his flashy blond hair, glaring at his friends' rainbow-colored hairstyles.
He regretted going along with He Ziqi's "rainbow hair plan." Now the four of them looked like a walking color palette. Blending in was no longer an option.
Meanwhile, on the pier, the man's hands trembled slightly as he held the camera.
Through the viewfinder, he could see the boy backlit by the setting sun—his golden hair catching the light like a halo.
Sharp brows furrowed just slightly, amber eyes shimmering with lazy warmth. His lashes cast a fan-shaped shadow over his cheeks, and whenever he looked down, that faint tear-shaped mole beneath his left eye would peek out, half-hidden.
The breeze clung his white shirt to his back, outlining a slender waistline.
"This... this is the perfect idol face!"
The man's breath caught in his throat. What was meant to be a casual vacation photoshoot had suddenly become something more.
Every snap of the shutter was now dedicated to that golden-haired boy.
He held his breath, and pressed the button.
Click. The camera froze that moment in time—
The boy's hair lifted slightly in the wind, the ends curling gently, as if the sun itself had sculpted them into shape. His eyes curved into crescents as he smiled, amber irises catching the honey-gold glow of the sunset. His lashes fluttered down, veiling the mole under his eye, but they couldn't hide the spark dancing within.
His smile was bright, alive with youthful arrogance—but the faint glimpse of his sharp canines gave it a charm that was undeniably boyish and real.
The silver cross earring on his left ear swayed with his movements, a glittering thread of light trailing through the air. The diamond stud in his right ear sparkled like a star caught between his hair.
His smile radiated so much light that even the jade Guanyin around his neck seemed bathed in its warmth. The pale green jade shimmered against his collarbone, making him look like he'd stepped right out of a painting—vivid, radiant, unforgettable.
He was a fire, blazing bright enough to still the wind.
The wooden planks of the pier creaked beneath their feet. The breeze now carried the rich aroma of seafood and spice.
Chen Zheng suddenly jumped in front of Ouyang Guang, green hair standing up in all directions like a startled parrot.
"Ah-Guang, look! I'm a haenyeo now!"
He plopped a straw hat over his head, far too large—it slid down over his nose, drawing peals of laughter from He Ziqi.
Ouyang Guang reached out, about to fix the hat, when rapid footsteps echoed behind them.