Back to Yesterday

Description

Baekhyun's never been to Hawai'i.

Foreword

People of all ages and nationalities roam the beach, and he hears the same mishmash of languages that he heard at the airport. He also hears his name and stops, sinking a bit further into the warm sand. A boy about his age jogs across the street, a towel over his shoulders. He has a pleasant smile, although he may not be able to help it—his lips seem to curve naturally, like a cat’s. His clothing is casual, revealing faint tan lines around his upper arms, and rather than sandals, he’s barefoot.

“Hi. I’m Jongdae. Auntie Kim is my actual aunt. The room you’re staying in is my cousin’s.”

Baekhyun’s surprised again at the fluent Korean. “Oh…”

“She told me you’re exploring. I can show you around, if you’d like.” He starts walking, and Baekhyun follows. “Just for the day, though. I’m going back to the mainland tomorrow. School.”

Baekhyun has a little bit of trouble walking on the sand. He should have changed into sandals; he feels like half the beach is in his socks already.

They walk around a pile of large driftwood. Every so often, there’s another pile. Jongdae says they’re set for bonfires, because the wood is plentiful, and it means not chopping down healthy trees. “So how do you like our island so far?” he asks.

“It’s very pretty.” Baekhyun’s never seen palm trees in person. They don’t even look like a tree should, to him; he’s used to deciduous trees like oak or conifers like Christmas trees. “I really didn’t expect so many Koreans.”

“My mom’s only third-generation American. Her great-grandparents came here for plantation work. Family and friends followed.” He shrugs. “It’s a common story here. There really aren’t many ‘native’ Hawai'ians, anymore, but we all try to preserve the culture however we can.” He grins at Baekhyun. “My little brother’s pretty passionate about it. About the only other thing he’s as passionate about is surfing.

“Oh, there he is.” Baekhyun follows Jongdae’s finger and spots a surfer barreling down a wave on a comparatively diminutive surfboard. Everything seems to be going smoothly, but they suddenly pitch sideways, falling into the water, and are rolled over by the wave. “He’s alright,” Jongdae assures. “He’s fallen more times than he’s ridden all the way in.” Sure enough, a head of dark hair pops up, bobbing a moment, then disappears again.

The surfer stands up and wades through shallower water, and Baekhyun gapes.

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