"Don't you have a photograph of your wife, the one who shared her life with you?" Hwayoung asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The question hung in the air, a gentle probe that seemed to reach deep into Seokmin's soul, stirring up emotions he thought he'd long buried.

Hwayoung's question was deceptively simple, but it held a depth of emotion that Seokmin couldn't quite decipher. "Shouldn't Areum know how her mother looks like?" she asked, her voice tinged with a gentle concern that seemed to mask a deeper curiosity.

But Hwayoung's inquiry wasn't just about Areum's need to know her mother's appearance; it was about her own desire to uncover the mystery of the woman who had captured Seokmin's heart.

She had always been curious about "Hana", about the kind of person who could have inspired such devotion in Seokmin.

And now, she found herself wanting to know more, to understand what it was about her, who had left an indelible mark on Seokmin's soul.

Seokmin's response was curt, almost abrupt. "I don't have any photos," he said, his voice clipped, as if he was shutting down the conversation before it could go any further.

But Hwayoung's curiosity was piqued, and she pressed on, her voice gentle but insistent. "What about the one you captured for the first time, in the rain?" she asked, her eyes locked on Seokmin's, her gaze searching for a glimpse of the woman who had been forever etched in his memory.

Hwayoung's smile was tinged with a playful skepticism as she asked, "Don't you have that?" Her eyebrow arched upward, a gentle challenge that seemed to dare Seokmin to deny the truth.

But Seokmin's response was immediate and emphatic. "I told you, I don't have them!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in a defensive crescendo.

He stood abruptly, his movements sharp and angular, as if he was eager to escape the conversation. Hwayoung stood too, her footsteps following his as she trailed behind him.

Her voice faltered, a hint of apology creeping into her tone. "Okay... sorry..." she said, her words barely audible over the sound of the waves.

But then, her curiosity seemed to get the better of her, and she asked, her voice tinged with a hesitant longing, "It's okay if you don't have it. At least... can you describe her looks?"

The question hung in the air, a vulnerable plea that seemed to strip away Seokmin's defenses.

Seokmin stopped dead in his tracks, his feet rooted to the spot as he turned to face Hwayoung.

His eyes locked onto hers, a world of emotion swirling in their depths as he seemed to wrestle with the ghosts of his past. The air was heavy with anticipation, the only sound the soft lapping of the waves against the shore.

Seokmin's voice was laced with incredulity, his brows furrowing in a deep scowl. "What?" he voiced out, his tone a mixture of shock and annoyance.

But Hwayoung's words cut deeper, striking a chord within him that seemed to resonate with a mix of pain and longing.

"Or... did you forget her appearance too?" she asked, her voice tinged with a gentle challenge. "Do you even remember her face?" The question hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the memories they had shared, and the ones that had been lost forever.

Seokmin's eyes seemed to burn with an inner intensity as he took a few steps closer to Hwayoung, his gaze locking onto hers with an unnerving ferocity.

The air between them seemed to vibrate with tension, the only sound the soft rustling of the waves against the shore.

Hwayoung felt a flutter in her stomach, a nervous energy that seemed to course through her veins like liquid fire.

Her heart was racing, pounding in her chest like a drum, and she was terrified that Seokmin might hear its frantic beat. She was trapped in the depths of his eyes, unable to look away, as the world around them melted into nothingness.

His eyes locked onto her face, his gaze trailing every curve, every contour, every feature. "Small eyes," he whispered, his voice barely audible, as his eyes caressed the shape of her eyes. "Her smile would bulge her cheeks and make her eyes even smaller."

His gaze drifted to her skin, his eyes drinking in the warm, golden tones. "Her skin is like the color of this sand," he murmured, his voice filled with a deep affection. His eyes lingered on her cheeks, her nose, her lips, as if he was committing every detail to memory.

Hwayoung felt a shiver run down her spine as Seokmin's eyes continued to explore her face. She didn't understand why he was looking at her like that, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of intimacy, of connection.

His gaze finally came to rest on her hair, his eyes tracing the curves of her locks. "After taking a shower, she probably intentionally leaves her hair wet," he whispered, his voice filled with a sense of wonder. "All the hair falls on one side, and it looks wavy."

As he finished speaking, Seokmin's eyes locked onto Hwayoung's, a deep connection sparking between them. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension, as if the entire world had melted away, leaving only the two of them.

Seokmin's voice was low and husky, his words dripping with emotion as he said, "In one word..." He paused, his eyes locking onto Hwayoung's, the air thick with anticipation. "She looks like this," he whispered, his chin nudging imperceptibly towards the sea.

Hwayoung's gaze followed his gesture, her eyes widening in wonder as she took in the breathtaking sight before her.

The sea was aglow with a mesmerizing blue light, the algae casting an ethereal spell over the waves.

Her smile brightened, illuminating her face with a radiant glow that seemed to match the sea's luminescence.

Seokmin felt a slow burn ignite within him as he gazed at Hwayoung, his eyes tracing the delicate features of her face. Her profile was bathed in the soft, blue light, her skin glowing with an otherworldly beauty.

He felt his chest constrict, his heart pounding in his ribcage as he struggled to reconcile the past with the present.

Hwayoung's gaze drifted back to Seokmin, her smile softening into a gentle, introspective curve. "Why do you love her so much, even after she left you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The question seemed to stem from a deep curiosity, a longing to understand the complexities of Seokmin's heart.

As she gazed into his eyes, Hwayoung felt a flutter in her stomach, a realization dawning on her that Seokmin's love for "Hana" was still very much alive. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, a mix of emotions swirling within her like a maelstrom.

Seokmin's response was laced with a hint of self-deprecation, a wry smile twisting his lips. "I just described her. Is this called love?" he scoffed, his tone tinged with a hint of sadness.

Hwayoung's voice was a whispered contradiction, her words dripping with a quiet conviction. "No..." she breathed, her gaze locked onto Seokmin's.

"This is called love." The words seemed to hang in the air, a challenge and a promise rolled into one.

And then, in a movement that seemed almost involuntary, Hwayoung leaned in, her lips brushing against Seokmin's in a soft, gentle kiss.

The world around them melted away, leaving only the thrum of their heartbeats and the soft lapping of the waves against the shore.

It was as if their bodies had taken over, muscle memory guiding their actions as they surrendered to the moment. Time seemed to warp and bend, stretching out the seconds into an eternity of sensation and emotion.

Seokmin's world narrowed to a singular point of contact, his senses dissolving like mist in the morning sun as he felt Hwayoung's soft lips brush against his.

It was as if time had warped and bent, transporting him back to a moment he thought was lost forever. His eyes drifted shut, his lashes fluttering closed like a surrender, as he let the sensation wash over him.

His hands seemed to move of their own accord, his fingers curling around the nape of Hwayoung's neck, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss.

The world around them melted away, leaving only the thrum of their heartbeats, the soft rush of the waves, and the gentle, insistent pressure of their lips.

Seokmin's mouth moved over Hwayoung's, his lips tracing the contours of hers, his tongue tangling with hers in a slow, sensual dance. He tilted his head, savoring every inch of her lips, his hands gripping her nape like a lifeline.

Hwayoung's hands trailed up his arms, her fingers wrapping around his biceps before sliding up to tangle in his hair, pulling him closer with a gentle, insistent pressure.

The kiss deepened, a maelstrom of sensation and emotion that threatened to consume them both.

Seokmin felt himself getting lost in the depths of Hwayoung's kiss, his soul tangling with hers in a dance that was both familiar and yet, utterly new.

His eyes snapped open, his gaze locking onto Hwayoung's as if he'd been punched in the gut by the truck of realization. The world around him came crashing back into focus, and with it, the weight of his actions.

With a sudden, jerky movement, Seokmin pulled away, his face pale, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and guilt. Hwayoung's eyes, too, had snapped open, her gaze clinging to his as if she couldn't believe what had just happened.

Seokmin turned and strode away, leaving Hwayoung standing alone, drowning in a sea of thoughts and emotions.

As he walked, Seokmin's mind replayed the scene, his conscience screaming at him for his betrayal. He knew this wasn't right.

Seokmin quickened his pace, his feet carrying him towards the campfire, where the others were seated, oblivious to the maelstrom of emotions that had just erupted.

What are you doing, Hwayoung!? He thought to himself.

Is she remembering things? Or was he triggering them?

She wished all of this hadn't happened...even if he told her everything..

Would she consider this the truth?

Or a dream? Or that he cooked up a story?

As the first light of dawn crept into the room, Hwayoung slowly emerged from the haze of sleep, her mind still reeling from the events of the previous night.

The memory of Seokmin's lips on hers lingered, a ghostly imprint that refused to fade. She couldn't explain why, but the kiss had felt... right.

It was as if her body had remembered something her mind had forgotten, a muscle memory that had taken over, guiding her actions with an instinctual certainty.

Hwayoung threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet dangling in the air as she sat there, lost in thought.

Finally, she stirred, pushing herself to her feet as she made her way to the bathroom. She flicked on the light, the sudden brightness making her squint. As she gazed into the mirror, her reflection stared back at her, a mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes.

For a moment, Hwayoung just stood there, studying her own face, searching for answers to the questions that had been plaguing her since the night before.

Her eyes, usually bright and sparkling, looked subdued, as if the events of the previous night had awakened a deeper, more introspective part of her.

Was she falling for him...?

With a quiet resolve, she shook off the introspective mood, her movements becoming brisk and efficient as she went about her morning routine.

As she stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading down her skin seemed to wash away the lingering fogginess of her thoughts.

But despite her best efforts, her mind began to wander, drifting back to the memory of Seokmin's lips touching hers.

The sensation was still so vivid, so alive, that she could almost feel the gentle pressure of his mouth, the soft caress of his breath.

Hwayoung's cheeks flushed, her heart skipping a beat as she hastily pushed the thought away.

She had plans to spend the day with Areum and Haneul, and she was determined to make the most of their time together.

With a newfound sense of purpose, she finished her shower, got dressed, and headed out to meet the girls, a bright smile plastered on her face.

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