Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Stranded by the Storm
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We were crawling up the winding mountain road, our nerves frayed to the breaking point.
"The last one's surprisingly tame, huh?"
I tapped the watch on my wrist and broke the silence from the passenger seat.
"Yeah. We just have to make a heart shape with our arms."
Sea, gripping the wheel tight, stared straight ahead as she replied.
"But where are we supposed to see any stars when we can't even see the road?"
Sure enough, outside the car was nothing but pitch-black darkness.
This spot called 1100 Altitude— we'd frantically searched it up after the mission alert— was the highest drivable road on Jeju Island.
No streetlights or city glow anywhere nearby, so on a clear night, the stars supposedly poured down from the sky like a dream.
But that only held true on cloudless days.
The higher we climbed toward the 1100 Altitude rest area, the thicker the fog grew, swallowing everything.
The car's front end felt buried in the white haze.
And then raindrops started pattering on the windshield.
At first, I thought it was just a light drizzle midway up the mountain.
But the downpour exploded in seconds, slamming the glass so hard the wipers couldn't keep up.
The rain hammered the windows relentlessly, the drops fattening by the minute.
Sea cranked the headlights to max, but with visibility shot, she finally hit the brakes.
Pressing on like this was suicide.
"This isn't working. Let's head back down."
Sea muttered in a voice tight with tension, yanking the wheel hard.
On the narrow road slick with rain, the tires spun wildly before finally turning the car around.
We were scrambling to descend when faint red and blue lights flashed through the murk ahead.
"Kids! You'll crash if you go down now. Can't see five meters in front of you."
A cop in a raincoat pounded on the driver's window, yelling urgently.
His patrol car was parked dead across the road entrance, blocking it completely.
"Head to the lodge nearby. Wait out the rain, then go."
Cold wind and rain lashed in through the brief crack in the window.
Sea clenched the wheel, shoulders hunched.
"What do we do? Are we stuck here?"
Her voice trembled faintly under the roar of the rain.
"Let's check the place the cop mentioned. Turn around slow."
Sea rolled up the window fast and eased the car around with care.
We had no choice but to head for the rundown lodge the cop pointed out.
"This the last room left, right?"
The lady who seemed to run the place nodded.
"Rooms aren't the issue right now. Let's just get inside. I'm freezing."
The rain was insane.
Even sprinting from the parking lot soaked us through completely.
And that wasn't all.
In the chaos, Sea's carelessly zipped suitcase popped open, dumping everything into a puddle.
What was supposed to be a chill wrap-up to our Jeju trip turned into hell overnight.
I scanned the room we'd snagged in a rush.
The heater was on, but drafts whistled everywhere.
Old wood scent seeped through the rattling window frames.
Sea had wiped off with a towel in the bathroom and was now bundled in a thick blanket.
"Hey. You can't wrap up in a blanket with wet clothes. You'll soak it."
"It's fine. I took them off."
"What? Your suitcase spilled earlier— everything's soaked. So what're you wearing under there?"
"Uh... nothing."
Sea replied calmly, lips chattering.
"You're nuts. No spare clothes at all?"
I wanted to lend her something, but mine were drenched too.
I hadn't even brought a suitcase, let alone extras.
Then it hit me.
"Oh. There's one unopened outfit in the trunk corner."
"What is it? Whatever— grab it quick."
"It's a tuxedo. The one I bought at the department store before coming."
"What?"
Never thought I'd need it, so it'd sat bagged in the rental trunk.
I dashed back through the torrent to fetch it.
"Damn, soaked again."
Luckily, tucked inside my jacket, the plastic wrap was intact.
We split the tuxedo pieces.
"This shirt alone should work for me."
Sea held up the oversized white dress shirt.
"Only one pair of pants. Try 'em on and come out."
Sea shuffled to the bathroom, wrapped in the blanket.
I stripped off my wet stuff, toweled roughly, and squeezed into the vest and slacks.
When Sea emerged, she doubled over laughing at me.
"Oh man. What the hell are you wearing? Vest perv."
I had bare skin under a black tux vest and long suit pants.
Mortifying, but her getup was worse.
"Funny, huh? You sure that's decent? Panties showing and all."
Sea wore just my tux shirt.
Long sleeves swallowed her hands; the hem skimmed mid-thigh on her pale legs, barely.
"Nah, it's fine. Panties aren't showing anyway. I rinsed 'em and hung 'em to dry."
"That's even worse, you idiot."
I couldn't believe it.
"Don't worry. Unless you forcibly hike it up, no one's seeing."
Sea flapped the long sleeves dismissively.
"Whatever. Do you. I'm too wiped to care."
We took quick turns showering with the hot water.
Side by side on the bed, we flicked on the tiny TV in the room's center.
Cranked the volume to drown the howling storm.
But the weird tension lingered.
Now seemed right to address yesterday.
Words stuck like glue, though.
After mentally rehearsing, one line slipped out.
"Hey. About yesterday."
I stared at the TV screen.
"What, grabbing my chest?"
Sea toweled her wet hair casually.
Her bluntness burned my neck.
"Uh, word it nicer. But seriously, not on purpose. I panicked and froze."
"I know. You just wouldn't let go."
"Sorry, for real."
I ducked my head, wishing for a hole to crawl into.
"Kidding. But it did hurt. Might be bruised."
Sea tugged the loose collar aside.
A faint red mark lingered on her pale skin from yesterday.
Seeing it up close stiffened me up; I froze.
I whipped my head away, staring at nothing.
"What now? Want me to grab some ointment from the lady?"
Sea set her towel on her lap and fixed me with a stare.
"And you'd apply it?"
"No, I mean—"
I stammered; she chuckled.
She buttoned up loosely and waved it off.
"It's not that bad. Don't sweat it."
The banter faded into heavy quiet.
Rain drowned the TV; the air grew thick.
We avoided eyes, gazing blankly out the window.
"Man, what about school tomorrow?"
I pivoted to break the ice.
"We planned the evening flight."
"Secretary called earlier. Booked us on the 6 a.m."
"6? We have 9 a.m. class."
"Yeah. If the flight's on time, we should make it."
Sea tapped her phone.
"Gotta leave by 5 a.m. sharp."
"In this?"
"Who knows."
Our eyes drifted to the window.
Sheets of rain battered the glass like it might shatter.
"Let's sleep. Need to be up at 5."
I hit the creaky switch; rain filled the dark room.
To shake the awkwardness, we lay back-to-back on our mats.
Soon, rustling came from behind.
"Hey. What're you doing?"
Cool air slipped under my blanket instead of an answer.
"You won't eat me. Just cold."
Sea burrowed in like it was nothing.
I twisted to shove her out.
"Crazy. It's cramped. Scoot."
"Don't be petty. Window side's freezing with the draft."
As she pressed closer—
Flash.
Boom!
Daylight whiteness flooded the room, followed by a deafening crack.
"Eek!"
Sea dove into my chest with a yelp.
Her arms locked around my waist like a lifeline.
"Hey, Han Sea."
I missed my chance to push, hands hovering uselessly as I froze.
"Damn... that scared me."
Her tough talk didn't match her trembling body.
Always acting strong, but real scares showed her true colors.
Seeing her shiver melted the tension from my shoulders.
I couldn't bring myself to shove her away.
I lowered my arms gently.
And patted her back softly over the thin shirt.
"It's okay. You're good."
Suffocating silence stretched minutes in the dark.
"Can you let go now? Kinda suffocating."
I grumbled awkwardly.
"Suffocating my ass, drama queen. Can't you hear my heart pounding? Still spooked."
Slide.
"Hey. What's with your leg."
"What."
"Why's it on mine."
Her bare, cool leg— pants long gone— draped over my suit pants.
It conjured all sorts of flustered images.
"Can't see anyway. Close your eyes and sleep."
"Eyes closed doesn't stop feeling bare skin. Move it."
"God, so stingy. Lend me one leg."
"Fine, but why am I the one tense from your skin while—"
"Yours are warm. I want 'em. If it's unfair, strip and rub up too."
"Shut up with the crazy talk."
She had zero plans to pull away.
Her arms tightened, body molding closer.
In the tight blanket, breaths mingled raw.
Her soft warmth seeped hot through my vest.
"Hey, Yoon Dojin."
"Yeah."
"Asleep?"
"Like I'd sleep with you clinging like this."