➴ beach。

@choi seungcheol. ( Another entry for Doyo's notebook! )

Undated.

Another night was lost in thinking about you. It was nothing tragic, really, it was just my dramatic , hah. Photos really hold great memories, huh? It was just one photo, it was just of me, I was looking at the camera with my straight long hair down, bangs covering my forehead, bright eyes, and lovely smile, wearing our school uniform. I was full of life. You weren't even in the frame, but... you were the one who took it. You said, with the laugh I fell inlove with, "this is about you, baby!"

Yeah. It was just me, who are we fooling, though? Everything about me was, no, still is about you. Looking at the version of me that you created, a happy, loved, and alive younger me, reminded me of everything you did to make feel cherished, to make me smile, and glow. I desperately wish we didn't need to part, I wish we could have grown together, but all that happened was we grew apart.

Perhaps, the only time I will stop thinking about you is when I stop breathing. However, I'm afraid, even my ghost would be haunted by the ghost of you.

My heart aches with hope that someday we'll find our way back to each other, that it will be you and me in the end.

@huh yunjin. “Just look at me darling, and forget them.” Chanmi jests, accepting the bottle she had offered and taking a sip before Yunjin could even explain it’s contents. If there was something about the latter, it would be her eager preparedness for situations like this. Sometimes Chanmi unconsciously relied on the younger just because she knew that she was capable.

“You’re so cute. Always ready. However, we can always call someone over to get us drinks. I hope? With our combined charm.” She smiles, chuckling ever so slightly at her own comment.

Mirroring her movements, Chanmi also reclined in her seat, letting the pleasant warmth of the sun wash over her body as she listened to Yunjin’s litany about what she had been up to and her plans.

“Santorini? Mykonos? It’s really pretty there I agree…and the women too. You’re right. I’m sure you can leave the estate to a caretaker and investments can be managed in the comfort of wherever you are. However, if you move then who will entertain me in this city??” Raising an eyebrow she glances at the latter.,

“Perhaps I can visit you when I get bored. You’d merely be what.. sixteen hours away?”

@kim chanmi. "i just can't believe i have to see this with my own eyes." yunjin muttered to herself before turning to look at chanmi with a smile, offering out the water bottle that she held tightly in her grasp. "it's a margarita, since there are no bars close enough to where we're sitting for us to even think about getting beachside drinks."

maybe yunjin felt a little spoiled after all of her crisis travelling, but it wasn't a proper beach day if she didn't get to have a margarita beside the ocean.

she ran a hand through her long red hair and leaned back in her chair with a pleased sigh, closing her eyes for a moment before pushing her sunglasses up onto her head so she could look at chanmi. "well, nothing too crazy. i'm thinking about going back to greece for a few weeks—if i didn't have to stick around to take care of the estate and all of my investments, i'd move there i think. warm weather year round? yes please. and the *women*."

@huh yunjin. Yunjin had always been an adorable companion. Especially at times like this when they both agree on something and while Chanmi is a master of wearing a facade, masking how she felt about certain things, it only took one look at the younger female who sat beside her, chair to see her disgusted expression. This almost makes the woman smile in amusement.

This situation called for a drink later. When she felt more relaxed as they had just arrived. Her mind still swirled with matters about her art studio.

"Yes my dear, she looks like a popsicle that I wouldnt dare eat." Chanmi comments, nitpicking at the way the bathing suit clung to the stranger's body. It did her no justice and not to mention the colors were hideous.
"But not everyone has good taste. These people exist to serve as constant reminder of that fact." Chanmi's tiers lifted only slightly to hint at a smile.

"No matter, dont let one ugly bathing suit spoil your beach day, Yunjin. Now tell me what have you been up to these days?"

@kim chanmi. yunjin stretched her arms up as she leaned back on the chair she had been lucky enough to claim when she had gotten to the beach, glad that she was wearing sunglasses so nobody could see her staring. to be fair, it's not as though she was wearing a full mask, and so her expression of general disgust was relatively visible to everybody else, but she couldn't look away—never before had she seen a bathing suit so ugly in her life.

thankfully she brought a water bottle with her that held a cocktail.

"unnie, do you see this? neon pink and orange do not belong together, especially not in that cut of a bathing suit." yunjin whispered so nobody could hear her, clacking her long black nails against the metal of her water bottle so she wouldn't look up the bathing suit to see what brand it belonged to—she just wanted it out of her view.

@choi yoojung. something that yedam wasn't fully used to yet was having late afternoon, evening, night shifts but with his new job, that exact what he's been scheduled to do lately. thanks to that, the male has to figure out some things he could be doing during the daytime whenever he manages to wake up, as those times tend to occasionally be spontaneous. yedam had wondered about the beach here in korea as to whether or not anything has changed from since he was last there, during early teen years. that particular thought kept lingering throughout his mind during the week which led him to begin planning when he can head over there. it's highly unlikely that anything major has changed, from whatever yedam remembers but it doesn't hurt to check anyways seeing as he is the type who enjoys spending time there.

now that is where he is today, in the simple parking lot next to the beach where people could park their vehicles. he glanced around at the various people doing the same thing as him, though it's not too crowded surprisingly as yedam had managed to find a parking spot too. he didn't plan to stay for too long and wasn't sure if the water was at a decent enough temperature to go swimming. it was more done out of slight eagerness than anything which because of that, he didn't exactly prepare the necessary items to stay at the beach for long. he'd only worn summer type clothing (t shirt, shorts, whatever shoes), and walked on over to the sand.

yedam wasn't sure where to go so he subtly followed some couple as to where he could set down his towel and belongings. is it even safe to leave his things aside by itself or no? hopefully it's okay. the male headed on over to an empty ish area, setting down his towel and bag on top so said towel won't fly away, slipping off his shoes as so they don't get ruined by the water before making his way over to the ocean waves, just wanting to see how it feels, maybe he'd go swimming, he did wear the correct clothing for that anyways.

11th of July, 2024

I can't remember if I've told you that big cities reminded me of you. Maybe, it's because of how renowned you were. However, I do remember that I was just a girl in a sweater, taking cautious steps as I explore the city. I was terrified, but I was also excited to see another life, the wonders of it, and everything else. Perhaps, that's the real reason why you're like those cities to me. I was terrified, but knowing you was a bliss, but knowing more sent me to hell. I thought you were the one for me, now I can barely remember what you look like. I no longer hear your laughter or your sweet lies in my head.

I must confess, I write letters to you whenever my heart longs for your love, or when the same heart rages like the ocean when there's a storm. I loved you. I hated you. Now, I'm slowly forgetting about you. I wanted to fill this notebook with details of you and how much I truly fell in love with your soul, as you are.

I felt so much for you, now the pages are becoming empty.

Is my heart now empty of you as well? I feel no hate or love, there's only melancholy weighing me down.

This might be my last letter for you. I hope that the world will be wide enough for us to not cross paths again. I wish to disappear, just like how there's no more stories between us to be written.

- d.

Doyeon sighed and looked at the setting sun, closing her thick notebook filled with her previous letters, but this year, she only wrote on it Writing whenever the overwhelming sadness hugs her heart. Perhaps she should just throw it away. She put the notebook aside and decided to take a walk on the shore, perhaps the waves will wash away her sadness and that she could say goodbye like how the sun does.

@maria yemelyanova. ⁿᵒᵛᵃ breath. 1... 2.... 3.... Jisung kept trying to remind himself that everything would be okay, and that it was all for a school project, his work, but nothing seemed to be working. He could feel himself starting to sweat from the anxiety (the summer heat wasn't helping much) and his leg started bouncing nervously. Hands twiddling the phone around in his hand to keep his mind somewhat distracted.

However, that didn't turn out too well for him in the end. He had got so caught up in his head that he hadn't realized that the one he had planned to meet was approaching him. Her voice startling him back to reality and causing him to jump just a bit and his heart rate to spike up just a bit, causing the smart watch on his wrist to buzz a warning. He put his hand on his chest, to quickly calm himself, he wasn't even sure of the words that the other was saying they have gone in one ear and out the other as a ringing sound, though he could tell she looked somewhat apologetic.

"It's okay! I'm fine." His words were hurried and he scooped the bag he had set next to him and stood up shakily from his spot, and just from the movement himself, he could tell that he certainly did not look fine. "I just-- I just didn't expect so many people to be here is all." He stuttered out his words trying to speak as clearly as he could in his panic state so she'd be able to understand him, giving her a forced smile.

@han jisung. usually, maria is ALWAYS on time, she never missed an appointment, no matter for what reason, whether it's for school purposes, socializing purposes, recreational etc. she always made sure to get there at least five minutes before the allotted time that was given. however, this weekend was working against the young woman as she rummaged around the streets, trying her best to find an uber that would take her to the south side of the city, towards the murky shores of the salted beach beds. she felt a sense of peace washing over her as she reached closer. it's a long stretch - a lengthy drive and the woman had to pay double the amount to be dropped off direct. not that she minded one bit.

since she came from russia, her father and mother wasn't keen on allowing the 21 year old to drive her own vehicle just yet. even with her license in tact, she didn't know the streets of seoul that well, she could get lost, or worse yet, be in an accident and hurt herself. she was sheltered and blanketed, protected greatly by her family. she was a bit too soft and precious to them that they didn't wish for her to grow up - but it was suffocating to maria no less. she wanted to become independent, be someone that matters, work and strive and live her own life. emancipating herself away from her parents clutches. they are just too over-protective, wanting things that she didn't want.

alas, when she gets out, paying the cab, she tried to not be dwelling in such a negative mindset - wanting to at least greet the senior with a pleasant smile and positive vibes - after all, body language is a hell of a thing and it could make or break you. as she searched the area, the ding on her phone signaled that she got a text from the male that's waiting for her no less. she was a bit nervous, hand clammy as she holds the device, a few sweat droplets cascading down her features and neck - cheeks rosy with a pink hue from the summer's heat. something she's not used to while being in russia after all, it's far too cold there.

finally, her feet took her towards the bench, an apology already slipping past her tongue as she approached han jisung with a solemn look - hand still full of a bag with cold drinks and snacks for the two to enjoy with the food he brought. "i am so so so sorry, i am usually never this late and i -" maria pauses in her ramblings, looking at jisung once and glancing around and back at the male who seems a bit distressed, a knowing, yet sad smile playing on her features. "are you okay?"

@maria yemelyanova. ⁿᵒᵛᵃ It was Jisung's idea to have the outing together when the two were paired up for a school project, as his partner wasn't very good at Korean, and he wasn't the best at English. Of course, he could hold a simple conversation but when it came to anything that's importantly needed for the project, he struggled a lot. Jisung was a patient guy and had a lot of perseverance so he was sure that doing the project with Maria wouldn't be that bad, and they would somehow find a way to make it work, however, with the time alotted Jisung had suggested that the two have a friendly outing to get to know each other better.

You see, in his mind, it was the perfect way to be able to understand someone better, if you got to know their mannerisms and their way of speaking of course it would be easier to understand the other. Jisung had a very clear mind in set when he had made the arrangements for the two to hang out at the beach. He took an Uber on the way, the male not very fond of driving himself, before waiting on an empty bench, a sack of food that he had just ordered next to him.

Pulling his phone out, he could feel his hands start to get clammy at just the thought of meeting another person. This was going beyond just his work so he didn't have that blanket of protection over him, he felt a bit more vulnerable. He glanced around the area of the beach, trying to find his partner, but with the much more expected bodies there he couldn't make anyone out. So he sent her a text.

to: maria [project partner]
- hey! i just wanted to let you know i'm here. i'm on a bench that is kinda off on its own! ^^;