Life Story

Soohyun and Ari returned and sat down at the table with Travis. Their eyes briefly lingered on him and Mijoo, who were laughing together. It caught them off guard—especially Soohyun, who didn't expect the two to hit it off so quickly. He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure if he should feel relieved or suspicious. 'She's probably just being nice,' he thought, though a small part of him felt unsettled.

"So, Travis, when did you come to Korea?" Soohyun asked, leaning forward slightly as if trying to get a better read on him.

"I was born here. Raised here, basically lived here all my life," Travis replied casually, picking up a piece of fruit from the table.

"Oh, I thought you moved here or something. So you were telling the truth earlier when you said you live here?"

"Yeah, I was."

Soohyun nodded, taking a moment to process the response. "Have you enrolled in the army?"

"I just got discharged, honestly. About a month ago. I came here for a bit of a break before heading back to the city. Might enroll in college once I'm settled."

"You're twenty, right? Man, sounds like you've got your life all figured out. Me? I'm still trying to decide what to do with mine. For now, I'm just gonna wing it."

Travis chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "That's not a bad approach, especially in a place like this. Quiet, peaceful… I wish I could stay here forever."

He shifted his attention to Ari, who had been unusually quiet. Her eyes were glued to her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. "Yo!" he greeted, a lighthearted smile tugging at his lips.

Ari raised her head just enough to give him a glare sharp enough to slice through steel before returning to her phone without a word.

'Well, that's rude,' Travis thought, the corner of his mouth twitching. He straightened his posture, mentally preparing for his next move. 'Guess it's time to use the easiest yet most effective skill in the world.'

After dinner, the atmosphere was relaxed, and Travis found himself enjoying the company. Mijoo, especially, had a way of laughing at his jokes that made him feel at ease. Normally, he would've been suspicious—thinking she was faking it—but when he checked her emotional bar, it rose higher, confirming that her laughter was genuine.

He glanced at Ari, but the numbers were obvious.

[ Love: 3%

Interest: 6% ]

'If it weren't for this system, I would've spent my whole life here feeling insecure,' he thought with a hint of relief.

Once dinner was finished, Travis helped with the dishes, a quiet comfort settling over him as he washed. Soohyun then suggested showing him around town, which he gladly accepted.

"So, y'all don't wear masks here, do you?" Travis asked as they walked outside.

"No, the only ones who do are the folks working at the vaccination center on the other side of town," Soohyun replied casually.

'Guess that pornhwa's here,' Travis mused.

"So tell me, what's up with Ari? Why's she so moody? I didn't even do anything to her... I think," Travis said, brow furrowed in confusion.

"Oh, she's been like that since I got back. Don't know what's up with her. She used to be so cheerful," Soohyun replied, shaking his head.

"You sure you didn't do anything wrong? Maybe, I don't know, forgot a promise? You know, childhood friend stuff?"

"Nah, not that I remember. Man, I need a drink. Let's grab some from the shop by the main road."

They strolled down the familiar road, the peaceful sound of their footsteps matching the quiet hum of the town. When they reached the main street, they grabbed drinks before heading to a quiet spot near the sea, the view stretching endlessly before them.

Taking a sip of his drink, Soohyun broke the silence. His voice was quieter now, tinged with something deeper.

"My parents died in a ship accident a couple years ago... Since then, I kinda lost my passion," he confessed, eyes distant. "I wanted to be a professional swimmer, but after that, I just... lost the drive. Ironically, I work as a lifeguard now."

Travis listened closely, his heart heavy for his friend. "I'm sorry to hear that, man," he said quietly, placing a hand on Soohyun's shoulder.

Soohyun gave a small, sad smile. "Yeah. It's tough. But, you know, I have Mijoo and Ari. They're like family to me. I want to help them out financially."

"That's really noble," Travis said, impressed by Soohyun's resolve.

"So who are they, really? Mijoo and Ari?" he asked, shifting the conversation to something lighter.

"They're family friends, but now, they're the only family I have. I'm trying to make sure they're set, you know? No one else has their back like I do," Soohyun said, his gaze soft but determined.

"That's admirable," Travis commented. "Maybe you should consider a new job in town. Have you thought about that?"

Soohyun paused, considering the suggestion. "No, but honestly, that sounds like a good idea." He smiled gratefully.

"Man, we're out of drinks. I wanted to get drunk tonight," Soohyun chuckled, shifting the mood back to a lighter tone.

"I'll go buy some. Wait here," Travis said, standing up and heading back to the shop.

When he returned, he handed Soohyun a fresh drink.

"You got anyone you like? I mean, you've got two hot women in your life. Who are your childhood friends? Man, I wish I were you," Soohyun said with a half-envious laugh.

"It's not like that, bro. I see them as siblings now, but hey, you never know. It's not like I don't get... hard thinking about them," Travis replied with a grin. "So it's still an open discussion."

"Man, you're lucky," Soohyun laughed, shaking his head.

They continued drinking well into the night. Soohyun, as expected, became thoroughly drunk, while Travis remained clear-headed. It was convenient, but also a little strange.

When Soohyun could barely walk, Travis picked him up, supporting his friend as they made their way back to the Lodge. As they neared the door, Travis heard a loud moan from inside.

'Huh?' he thought, pausing in his tracks.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he slowly opened the door. What he saw made his blood rush to his dragon.

TO BE CONTINUED