Valley (3)
Sizzle—! As thick slices of pork belly hit the scorching charcoal grill, a cheerful sound rang out, accompanied by appetizing white smoke billowing up.
"Ugh, damn... we really have to grill all of it ourselves?" Park Geon, tongs in one hand, wiped the sweat beading on his forehead with rough swipes, his voice thick with grievance. Beside him, Juwon silently sliced the meat with scissors, his face set in grim determination.
"Hey! The meat's burning—flip it quick!"
On the spacious platform in the middle of the yard, the kids—fresh from showers, clean and fluffy in short-sleeved shirts and shorts—huddled together, chopsticks at the ready, just watching the meat sizzle.
"Ah, the smell is insane. It's making my head spin."
Nam Siu, his hair still damp, craned his neck toward the grill and smacked his lips. Drained from the day's water play, a ravenous hunger gripped them all—they could've gnawed on raw meat right then.
"Alright! First batch done—serving it up!"
Finally, Park Geon set down a piled plate on the platform.
"Woooah—!"
"Thanks for the food~"
Five pairs of chopsticks danced through the air, sparing the grill masters. Crispy pork belly drained of fat, wrapped with fresh lettuce from the garden and salty soybean paste. Waves of happy sighs erupted as the flavors filled their mouths.
"Mmm!! Guys, this is crazy! Sooo good!!"
Dasom stuffed a fist-sized wrap into her mouth until her cheeks bulged, scrunching her face in bliss.
"Eat slower. You'll get indigestion."
Ji Yoon burst out laughing at Dasom, who was making a fuss with paste smeared on her lips.
"There's tons more meat, so don't rush. Those guys are grilling anyway."
Sitting side by side with Siu, Isul subtly placed two well-cooked pieces on his plate. Her loose white plain tee and unbound hair carried a richer, softer scent than before—pleasantly intoxicating.
"Thanks. But you eat some too, don't just give it all to me."
"I don't eat much anyway. Those two will devour most of it."
Isul pointed her chopsticks at the pair by the fire, and Park Geon—catching it like a ghost—grumbled from across the grill.
"Hey, when do we eat? I'm starving over here!"
"Please. We saw you sneaking bites with the tongs. Just grill."
Her blunt cutoff made Park Geon and Juwon flinch, averting their eyes mid-chew.
As the platform buzzed and the bought meat dwindled, plates of grilled goodness stacking up—
Creak— the inner room door slid open. Park Geon's grandfather emerged, beaming, two glass bottles in hand.
"Aigoo, my puppies are eating well. Meat alone'll choke you—wet your throats with this."
The large bottles sloshed with some mysterious liquid.
"Whoa! Grandpa, is this grape juice?"
Dasom, sprawled full-bellied on the platform, sat up with sparkling eyes. Grandfather chuckled heartily, pouring the red liquid into empty paper cups.
"Yup. Grandma fermented—er, juiced—grapes from the back hill nice and ripe. One sip after meat, and your belly settles right down."
"Ooh, pretty color. Cheers!"
Trusting innocently, the kids downed the red elixir in one go. Siu tilted his cup back to wash away the lingering oil.
"Hmm...?"
Siu's brow furrowed slightly. Sweet, rich grape on the tongue—but as it slid down his throat, a strange heat prickled warmly inside.
"Whoa, Grandpa! This juice? Super sweet and tasty, but it packs a tangy kick!"
"Haha! Good, right? Drink up!"
Grandfather's knowing smile lingered as he set the mystery bottles on the platform and slipped back inside.
This isn't just juice, is it?
As Siu stared blankly at his empty cup, a denser wave of Isul's scent—mingled with a faint sweetness—wafted from beside him. Turning, he swallowed dryly without thinking.
Isul's pale cheeks glowed a pretty peach tint, likely from the drink. Her usual sharp edge softened into something vulnerable and disheveled. Her dark eyes, faintly glazed with alcohol, fixed on him.
"...It's kinda hot."
Fresh summer night breeze stirred, but the platform air hung strangely thick and warm.
Then, as if to cool off, Dasom bolted upright.
"Guys!! The watermelon we chilled in the stream earlier—where is it?!"
"Oh yeah, watermelon! Siu, grab it quick!!"
"Why me again!"
Grumbling but eager to cool his flushed face, Siu headed to the stream. Soon, a chilled melon cracked open with a crack on the platform, kicking off round two.
Filling oily bellies with cool, sweet watermelon slowed their movements noticeably. Early rise, intense daytime play, fullness, and the tipsy haze from Grandpa's "adult drink" all hit at once.
"Ah~ too full to move..."
Dasom patted her bloated tummy and flopped onto the vast platform. Like dominoes, Juwon and Chaerin, Park Geon and Ji Yoon sprawled out one by one.
Siu sank into a corner, heavy-limbed. Naturally, Isul lay carefully right beside him, back to the platform.
"Whoa...."
A short sigh escaped Siu. Gazing up from beyond the yard's glaring bulb light, countless stars—impossible in the city—stitched the black sky. Only crickets' chirps and faint stream murmurs filled the summer night's hush.
Mesmerized by the heavens, Siu cautiously turned his head. Inches away, Isul's dewy eyes brimmed with starlight. Her slender shoulders rose and fell rhythmically; her scent mingled faintly with watermelon sweetness.
Swish— her fingertips brushed his hand on the platform, accidental... or not.
I'm losing it.
Siu froze rigid, breath held. Heart pounding like drums in his ears—alcohol? Her touch? Isul didn't pull away, slowly shifting her star-fixed gaze to him.
Their eyes locked in the air. Sweet silence brimmed, words on the tip of tongues—
"Ah, hot and stuffed... craving ice cream."
Dasom's mumble shattered the quiet.
"Girl, after all that, your stomach's got room?"
"You scarfed all the meat—how am I supposed to answer that?"
Their bickering jolted Siu and Isul; heads whipped away in unison.
What...? What was I about to say?
Shaking off Isul's flushed face haunting his mind, Siu sprang up.
"I-I'll go! Saw the mart on the way."
All eyes turned as he stood abruptly.
"Oh, yeah? Cool. But night road alone might be boring—I'll tag along..."
Park Geon started rising lazily—
"Where you going."
Ji Yoon firmly pressed his forehead, flattening him back.
"Rest of us clean up. Errands fair: one guy, one girl."
Her eyes flicked slyly to Isul. A split-second glance.
"...I'll go. Need a walk."
Isul brushed off and stood lightly. Siu, who'd volunteered to flee her lingering image, now faced a solo night stroll with her—pupils quaking.
"Okay, you two go! Chocolate for me!!"
Oblivious, friends shouted orders; shoved out, Siu left with Isul.
The path to the village's small mart. Sparse streetlights dotted the dark country road, thick grass scent blending with heat into sticky summer night air.
Siu and Isul walked side by side, exactly one step apart, wordless.
...!
Staring ahead to calm his bursting heart, Siu tensed at her steady footsteps beside him. Under streetlights, their long shadows overlapped, then drifted apart, repeating.
Chirrr— City noise gone, crickets and frogs blared in the void. In pitch-black stretches sans lights, they instinctively widened gaps to avoid bumping shoulders; under light again, distances subtly closed.
Siu strode pretending nonchalance, but his eyes kept drifting to Isul. Streetlight-glow on her profile still held that peach flush; their earlier gaze lingered, her eyes sparkling still.
I'm losing it.
Normally, he'd break such suffocating silence—but words failed him now. Only mismatched steps and thudding hearts filled the summer hush.
Far off in the dark, the village entrance super's faded yellow sign flickered into view.
"Thanks, come again~"
Ding-a-ling— Rustic bell chimed as Siu and Isul exited, black plastic bag bulging with seven assorted ice creams. Silence held; only rustling bag filled his ears—then Isul's unusually calm voice.
"Nam Siu."
"Y-yeah? What?"
Footsteps halted. Isul stopped dead in a lightless spot, staring straight at him.
"...What's your type?"
"T-type? Outta nowhere...?"
His flustered voice cracked. But Isul held his gaze, stepping closer.
"Spit it out."
Dim light hid it, but her cheeks seemed redder than on the platform.
"Uh... well..."
Siu licked dry lips, eyes to the void. "Type" conjured one clear image.
"Someone calm and quiet...?"
"..."
"Short hair'd be nice... I'm shy, so assertive's good. And... dresses well..."
His words painted her perfectly. Isul's lips parted slightly, listening.
"...What."
She ducked her head, mumbling.
"That's me."
Wind stilled; even crickets faded distantly.
"Huh? Oh, no. I mean... similar, yeah. Similar but... not exactly..."
Siu fumbled the bag crinklingly. Eyes wandered; mouth spewed nonsense in panic.
Watching his foolery, Isul sighed softly through pursed lips.
"Then why haven't you confessed?"
"...Huh?"
Her words blanked his mind. In the streetlight gap, her face faintly lit. She stared steadily, cheeks as flushed as his.
Isul glanced away, voice shrinking.
"...Can't say sappy stuff like 'I like you' or 'g-go out with me'."
"..."
"So you first."
Her trembling voice drew his eyes to her sparkling ones. Entranced, he spoke.
"At first, I liked you 'cause you're so pretty."
Behind her, in lightless dark, stars glittered endlessly on black canvas. But his gaze locked solely on her, starlit.
"Best thing about befriending Juwon? Getting close to you... Protecting me from Hyunsu? That's when it got real."
"..."
"Cool on the outside but looking out for me, your scent hitting when you're near—"
"S-stop!"
Endless praise turned her ears crimson; she clapped hands over his mouth in shock.
Her cool, faintly quivering palms on his lips. Heart thundering through his body, Siu stepped closer. Gently grasped her wrists, lowering her hands slow.
Hot summer breaths mingled between locked gazes.
"Everything you do—I love it."
"..."
"I love you, Isul."
Under the summer night's radiant stars. At last, long-circling truth touched fully.