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"Mark." The woman calls her son into the living room, her tone different from her usual playful self. It was serious and urgent. And it made Mark worry.

He steps into the living room, hair messy for he had just woken up from a long nap. He slowly blinks his eyes, rubbing away the sleep. "Mom? What is it?" He sits across from her and his father, clearly confused.

"Your father and I have been keeping in touch with your grandfather, and he needs a bit of assistance in his home."

"Unfortunately, your mother and I are too busy with work to be able to properly take care of him, but you are on summer break. So we're sending you to Jeju to take care of him."

Mark groggily raises an eyebrow. "But...school..."

"I know." His mom sighs and holds his hand, smiling softly. "Your dad and I arranged for you to attend the local college, only a couple miles away from grandad's house. I know it's sudden but dear, it's the best we could think of till something else comes up. He really doesn't want to leave Jeju and we can't force him to do anything. I know it's inconvenient but it would be so much better for him if you were there to help out." His mom gives him a pleading look, one which she knew her son couldn't say 'no' to. One which landed him on a plane to Jeju's small airport, by himself.

Mark stares out the window, the clouds and ocean passing by, a steady rhythm of blues and whites. Maybe, if he squinted really hard, he could make out a cargo ship crossing the Pacific. But for most of the non-stop 20 hour flight, Mark just saw the endless blue waters.

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"I swear, how on earth did I get a child like you." Donghyuck's mother mumbles to herself as she drags her son away by the collar of his shirt.

"He threw the rock first!"

She sharply turns her head. "And it missed. But you gave the poor boy a black eye!"

"Well he shouldn't have messed with me!"

"God you only bring trouble." His mom sighs and enters their house, closing the door behind them.

"I know!" Donghyuck smiles cheekily and follows his mom out to the back where the beach was only a few meters away. "Mom, I'm going to go along the water!" He slowly makes his way down to the water, ignoring the calls from his mom for him to help with dinner.

Donghyuck always enjoyed the beach, probably more than his mom did. He'd either be in the water, or he'd be exploring the forests beside his house. Him and his mother lived on the edge of town, away from everyone else. His family, and mom especially, had always liked the seclusion from town; they liked how the ocean air was right by the window, the crashing waves lulling them both to sleep.

Donghyuck looks up from the Conch shell in his hands when the roar of an airplane flies overhead. "Huh...guess we'll be having some visitors soon." He smiles to himself and goes back to the ocean, ready to just enjoy the evening.

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