Let the Busan´s waves wash over us

The ocean felt the same as when he left it.

Hoseok was walking along one of the Busan´s beaches, the salt in the air stinging in his nose. The rose coloured sky presented a beautiful picture in the coming dawn. He was surprised not more people occupied the beach. An occasional runner, a couple with their dog walking hand in hand and a lone figure sitting close to the swaying waves.

Hoseok sometimes wished he was just like them, even now in the sweltering heat of the august´s weather he had to wear his mask and a hat. But then the pride and happiness of what he achieved comes back and he throws himself back into his work, to become even better.

The couple now far behind him, the echo of the dog´s barking barely above  a whisper in the crashing loudness of the ocean. Last of the runners passed him by some fifteen minutes ago. So, it was only him and the figure now.

He was close enough to realize it was a girl, or rather a young woman.

And she was crying.

Hoseok hesitated a few moments, swaying on his feet. To move or not. Before he hurriedly closed the distance remaining between them and knelt.

„Are you alright?“ He asked, only too late realizing the person might not understand him. Because the eyes that were now frightfully looking into his were as if someone poured the ocean into them. The blue-grey of the stormy sea hidden behind the veil of tears, glowing as if lightning struck somehwere behind the irises. Hoseok flushed and stuttered once again, this time in english: „Are you ok?“

The young woman hastily dried the still flowing tears, choking out a laughing sob when they just wouldn´t stop. „Would you believe me if I said yes?“ she croaked, voice hoarse. Hoseok made a split second decision, pulling his mask down and shaking his head. „No.“

She snorted, her gaze curiously taking in his bare face. „Something happened? Are you hurt?“ She smiled kindly at him. „I´m just lonely I guess.“ He cocked his head to the side.

„Why? No friends?“ He inquired carefully. Her soft expression turned bitter. „Yeah, no friends.“ Her gaze lost in the ocean, she shook herself, turning back to him. A furrow settling on her forehead, like she didn´t understand what was Hoseok still doing here.

„Why?“ He was feeling flustered, uncertain of his english, but also what made him question a complete stranger. „I´ve been here more than a month,“ she looked away from him again. „But my colleagues are more prejudiced against foreigners than I thought possible.“ Hoseok didn´t understand. „I don´t look like a typicall asian girl.“

„Because you are not asian?“ He huffed, lifting one ironic eyebrow.

„I meant I´m not petite like them, or slim. They are not very friendly, mildly said.“ She scrunched her nose, Hoseok found it cute.

„They... they think I don´t understand what they talk about. Surprise! I actually understand when someone calls me ugly.“ The little round tears started falling once more, making the air appear aven saltier. Hoseok´s heart clenched. Why would people hurt each other like this? He reached out with his hand, softly catching the droplets of ocean from her face.

„Why think you are ugly? When even crying you look this beautiful, like my ocean does.“ Wide eyes and flushed cheeks were the response for a minute. Then her lips opened and a warm laughter shook the air around them. The sound so infectuous, Hoseok´s own lips stretched into huge grin. „Good one, Hoseok-shi.“ He froze.

„Oh.“ She realized her mistake. „You know who I am?“ His shoulders tensed. A look of horror flashed over her face for two seconds, then her posture slumped again, looking into the ground a sigh left her lungs.

„Yes, once you were without the mask.“

„Then why not saying?“ He didn´t know if he should be angry, but he was becoming uncomfortable.

„I was... I didn´t know what to do at the beginning and then I... I, I didn´t want you to leave if you realized I´m a fan.“ She clenched her fists, pulling her knees closer to her chest, trying to protect herself. The sound of the waves was deafening. The sky becoming purple with dashes of orange. Soon the cloth of the deepest blue strewn with diamonds of stars will fall upon them. Hoseok contemplated what to do when she spoke again. „I´m so faraway from everything that I know. Literally half a planet away from my family and I just... What I wanted.... was just a friend.“

„Good.“ Came a reply from him, strartling her, head snapping his way. „Cause I´m going to be one. A friend.“ He grinned his sunshine smile at her confused expression. He can do this. He can. Be a friend.