CHAPTER 1

Sumin’s Diary – January 7, 2025

Ah, seriously… The trip to Busan was such a hassle, and I don’t even know why I got my hopes up. Work has been a nightmare lately—constant fights, people crying, and all the chaos in between. I just wanted to escape for a bit, you know? Thought this trip would give me some breathing room. But then, surprise! Jazz concert canceled. I stood there like, “What now?” Honestly, I was so frustrated with myself for coming here on a whim.

But I couldn’t just head back right away. I figured I might as well clear my head and start walking along the beach. The cold wind was slapping me in the face, but weirdly enough, it felt refreshing, like it was waking me up. The sound of the waves and the quiet night sky kind of made me feel better. Even so, I couldn’t help but be mad at myself for making such a rash decision. “Why am I like this?” I kept thinking.

And then, out of nowhere, I caught the smell of grilled pork belly in the air. My senses just kicked in, and I followed the smell without even realizing it. That’s when I saw him—a guy grilling pork belly all by himself. He just looked so… at ease, like he belonged there. When he noticed me, he casually flipped his pork belly and smiled like it was no big deal.

I honestly didn’t expect it. I didn’t think I’d actually sit down with some stranger like that. But the way he smiled? It was so natural, I ended up sitting down before I even thought about it. Looking back now, it feels kind of surreal. Usually, I’d never approach someone like that.

His name was Yoojin. At first, I was just there for the pork belly, no lie. But the more we talked, the more I got drawn into his vibe. It turns out that he teaches English literature at a university. And wow, he wasn’t like anyone I’d met before. His thoughts had this depth to them, and the way he talked about things, you could see his eyes light up. It was kind of mesmerizing.

I told him about all the work stress I’ve been under, and he just listened—didn’t judge, didn’t interrupt, just listened. It felt so good to have someone actually hear me out. His voice was calm, steady, like everything was going to be okay. It made me realize how much I needed a conversation like this.

We ended up chatting about everything—jazz, the ocean, even random bits of history. I mentioned some places I’d traveled to, and he seemed genuinely curious, asking me all these thoughtful questions. It felt like everything I knew was coming to life again through our conversation.

And his laughter… Oh, his laugh. It was so warm and real. Even when I said the dumbest little things, he’d laugh like it mattered. That laugh—it put me completely at ease. By the end of the night, I just felt so grateful to have had that moment.

I don’t even know how time passed. Before I knew it, the sky was full of stars, and the wind felt softer somehow. When the conversation ended and I was back on my own, my heart felt oddly warm. It had been so long since I’d laughed like that.

Will I ever have another meeting like this? Or was this just one perfect, fleeting moment? The smell of pork belly, his laughter, the sound of the ocean—it’s all going to stay with me for a long time, I think.

Yoojin’s Journal – January 7, 2025

Man, Busan’s ocean—it’s always so calm and simple. That’s why I came here this weekend. I didn’t have a plan, didn’t need one. Just me, the sound of waves, some pork belly to grill, and the wind. That was all I wanted. But then she showed up, and everything changed.

I still laugh when I think about the first time I saw her. She was walking slow, with her shoulders slumped like the week had completely worn her down. Then she stopped, looking around like she’d lost something or was maybe searching for something that wasn’t there. Her face… it was this mix of hope and disappointment.

I don’t know what came over me, but I wanted to break that moment. I started grilling louder, let the scent of pork belly spread into the air. I even splashed some water on the grill for a loud sizzle. When she turned to look, I waved. Just a small gesture, not expecting anything. But then she smiled—a small, shy smile that caught me completely off guard. And then she came closer.

She actually sat down. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. I thought she’d just walk away, but no—she joined me. Her name was Sumin. Up close, she seemed so polished and put-together, but there was a tiredness in her eyes that made her feel… human. Real.

She told me she works in beauty aesthetics—a world I know absolutely nothing about. It’s one of those viral places I’ve seen online. She must be doing really well. I live in a tiny one-room apartment and teach English literature—our lives couldn’t be more different. And yet, we were sitting there, sharing pork belly and conversation like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I started talking about my students, about Hamlet and Gatsby—things I never thought she’d care about. But she did. When I mentioned why Gatsby was destined to fail, she actually laughed. A real, honest laugh. That moment… It’s like something shifted. Like we weren’t so different after all.

We talked for hours, about everything and nothing. The waves kept crashing, the night grew darker, and the stars came out. I’d come to Busan just to unwind, but instead, I found… this. Whatever this was. It felt meaningful, like a connection I didn’t know I needed.

I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. But I know I’ll remember this night—the waves, the stars, the scent of pork belly, and her laughter. It’s not every day you meet someone who reminds you what it feels like to really connect with another person.

Maybe I’ll never find out what this meeting meant. But I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.