* * *
A little while later, the café owner brought over two warm hot chocolates with steam rising from the cups.
Cocoa powder was sprinkled in a pretty heart shape over the white milk foam.
The rich chocolate aroma gently enveloped his nose, but Yoonwoo only hesitated, looking down at the drink.
Since he wasn’t particularly fond of sweets, he wasn’t quick to reach for it.
As if reading Yoonwoo’s mind, or perhaps to explain his choice of menu, Dojin spoke first.
A slightly embarrassed smile was on his face.
“Actually, hot chocolate is my favorite drink.”
He lifted his cup, smelled the aroma, and continued.
After seeing Yoonwoo’s expression darken at the word ‘lemon tea’ just moments ago, Dojin didn’t know why he was struggling with that memory, but he wanted to offer the drink that he himself loved the most, the one that offered him the most comfort, rather than trying to guess a menu item Yoonwoo might like.
His choice carried a small hope that something warm and sweet might thaw his frozen heart, even a little.
“My friends always tease me for having the palate of a child… but who cares,”
He shrugged and went on.
“I just wish life was always sweet, like hot chocolate. Not unexpectedly rickety like these Jeju stone walls, or cold and bitter like the winter sea.”
His words, instead of being playful, held an honesty that somehow revealed his values.
He paused to choose his words, then sent a warm look toward Yoonwoo and carefully added.
His gaze held no pity or sympathy, but only genuine concern and encouragement.
“…I wish your life, too… would be full of only sweetness from now on. So you can forget all the bitter memories.”
At that, Yoonwoo stared blankly at Dojin’s face.
He had definitely noticed. He realized Yoonwoo had reacted subtly to the word ‘lemon tea.’
And so, he had intentionally ordered a different drink.
The consideration of noticing his discomfort, asking nothing, and simply offering a different option.
He was comforting Yoonwoo in his own way, without touching his wounds.
In the face of such a small but not obvious act of kindness, Yoonwoo again felt an unfamiliar gratitude.
Normally, he wouldn’t have looked twice at a sweet drink, but he couldn’t ignore the warm hot chocolate.
It was the least he could do to acknowledge Dojin’s sincerity.
Yoonwoo slowly lifted the cup and took a sip of the drink.
It was much smoother and deeper than he expected.
It wasn’t the overly sweet taste of cheap chocolate, but a good blend of rich cocoa flavor and the savoriness of milk.
The finish was pleasantly bittersweet.
More importantly, the warmth spread gently through his body, which had been chilled by the word ‘lemon tea,’ and the tension that had been hardening him seemed to relax just slightly.
“…It’s delicious.”
A small exclamation slipped out before he could stop it.
Yoonwoo opened his eyes wide, a little surprised at himself.
“Really? I’m so relieved!”
Dojin’s face instantly broke into a bright smile.
He looked as happy as if he had been praised himself.
Yoonwoo slowly finished his cup, his feelings slightly complicated by the surprisingly palatable hot chocolate and Dojin’s delight at his reaction.
The two people watched the sky outside the window turn increasingly red, and the silhouette of the Gotjawal forest, drinking their respective drinks in a silence that was much more comfortable than before.
Dojin deliberately did not ask about Yoonwoo’s past.
Instead, he shared his own story.
He tried to maintain a light and cheerful tone as he cautiously talked about why he majored in design, the challenges and joys of the competition he was currently preparing for, and what kind of designer he wanted to be after graduation.
“Actually, I haven’t been doing design for very long. I originally thought about taking over this guesthouse, following my father. But one design magazine I happened to see completely changed my life. The work of making the world more beautiful and convenient looked so cool to me.”
He looked out the window for a moment and continued.
“So I started studying again, late though it was… but it’s not easy. Especially this recent contest win is really meaningful to me. Of course, I never would have won without Mr. Yoonwoo, but still, I feel proud, like I’ve been validated that I can continue this path. I also get excited thinking that something I create might be able to change the world, even just a little. After all, design is for people.”
His words held the pure passion of a young designer.
Yoonwoo listened to his story quietly.
He wasn’t the kind of person to easily socialize, so he rarely shared personal stories with anyone outside of Joowon, and even when he was with Joowon, they mostly talked about the company, or he only heard stories of Joowon’s success.
So, he found Dojin, who spoke about his dreams and future so honestly and comfortably, sometimes clumsily but always sincerely, both curious and enviable.
His story was nothing special, but it was strangely not boring.
Rather, his pure passion and excitement for the future seemed to transfer to Yoonwoo like a small ripple.
Yoonwoo unknowingly paid close attention to Dojin’s story, occasionally nodding slightly or offering a faint smile.
His conversation was, strangely, a little comforting.
“Mr. Yoonwoo… what kind of design do you like?”
Dojin suddenly asked Yoonwoo.
His face was slightly flushed, perhaps feeling like he had talked too much about himself.
Yoonwoo was momentarily taken aback by the sudden question, but soon answered calmly.
It was the first time in a very long time that he was talking about himself, purely unrelated to Joowon.
“I like… simple and clear designs, rather than anything too flashy.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, your design is exactly like that!”
Dojin’s eyes sparkled as he enthusiastically agreed.
“Just the core, no frills! Somehow… it reminds me of Gaeul’s sleek look, too?”
As he naturally brought up Gaeul, Yoonwoo’s expression softened slightly.
“I suppose it does… maybe that’s why I prefer cats to dogs.”
“Really? I prefer dogs! Especially a Retriever!”
Dojin replied excitedly.
Yoonwoo smiled at the thought that he, who resembled a Retriever, liked Retrievers.
“I thought you might.”
Then, he summoned a little more courage and added.
“As for food… I like seafood. Especially fresh kinds.”
“Wow! Seafood! I love it too! I especially love mantis shrimp sashimi! Maybe later, we could…”
Dojin, overjoyed by the fact that Yoonwoo had shared something about himself, was excitedly pouring out words but stopped when he realized he was too enthusiastic.
He scratched his head, smiling awkwardly.
Yoonwoo once again thought his behavior was endearing.
Outside the window, complete darkness had fallen, and the café lights shone even cozier.
Only two empty hot chocolate cups remained on the table.
The conversation had stopped, but a different kind of comfortable and gentle atmosphere lingered between the two.
“Excuse me…” It was Dojin who broke the silence first.
“I feel a little regretful going back just yet. How about we go see the night sea? If we go to Sagye Beach now, there won’t be many people, and it will be quiet. The forest walk today was nice, but the Jeju night sea is truly amazing.”
He suggested cautiously, checking Yoonwoo’s mood.
He wanted to continue this atmosphere, this connection with him that seemed to have improved even if only slightly, for a little longer today.
The night sea. Yoonwoo pondered for a moment.
The forest walk this afternoon, the warm hot chocolate, and the comfortable conversation just now had certainly not been bad.
He felt like he could breathe again, even if only a little.
The fear he had felt in front of the restaurant still lingered in his memory, but now this young man who cared for him was by his side.
He was no longer alone.
Perhaps… seeing the night sea might be okay, a tiny bit of courage raised its head in his heart again. He slowly nodded.
A smile of joy bloomed on Dojin’s face once more.
The two quietly left the café.
The night air was cooler than the afternoon, but it was clear and refreshing, as if stars were about to pour down.
Dojin’s truck drove along the night coastal road again, and soon, the regular whooshing sound of the waves grew closer.
As they got out of the car, the familiar scent and the dark sea stretching endlessly beneath the navy night sky appeared before their eyes.
It was Sagye Beach.
The waves sparkled silver under the moonlight, and countless stars adorned the sky.
A completely different scene from the day—a quiet and deep night sea—greeted the two.
They stood side by side without a word, listening only to the beautiful sound of the night.
* * *
