Chapter 194

Jaegyeom returned to the house where the three family members lived just after noon.

"Jaegyeom, what happened yesterday? You didn't answer your phone all day."

When Jaegyeom came home after staying out all night without a word, Jeongju and Mesani rushed to the entrance. Jaegyeom made up an excuse about working overtime because he was busy.

"Ju-ya, can you bring me a backpack?" Jaegyeom said as soon as he entered the house.

"Why do you suddenly need a backpack?"

Jeongju's eyes widened at the unexpected request.

"Well... I'm supposed to go somewhere tomorrow, so l need to pack in advance."

"What? Where are you going?"

Jaegyeom silently rubbed the back of his neck.

Unable to find a reason to refuse Yoon Taehee's proposal to "consider this another moment of insanity and come along," Jaegyeom ended up being pushed into going to Geoyeo Island with the two of them.

While looking into boat schedules, Yoon Taehee said it wouldn't work today and suggested leaving tomorrow.

There were only two ferry departures to Geoyeo Island per day - one in the morning and one at noon - so it was impossible to reach the island today even if they left immediately. They decided to pack their bags and depart tomorrow morning.

Jaegyeom made up a story about having to go on a business trip.

"A business trip? You're going on business trips now?

What for?"

"..."

It was to confirm if this cursed immortality was truly connected to mermaids.

But he couldn't bring himself to tell the truth. Nothing was certain yet. After a moment's hesitation, Jaegyeom vaguely said, "Just... seems like there's something to investigate."

"Where are you going?"

"Hm? Uh... some island, they said..."

"It's not dangerous, is it?"

When Jaegyeom silently nodded, Jeongju looked relieved.

Jeongju brought out a backpack. Jaegyeom fetched a few changes of clothes from his room and started packing. Learning that Jaegyeom would be away from home for several days, Mesani looked glum. Yoo Namsaeng sprawled on top of Mesani's head, watching Jaegyeom pack.

"My lord, when will you return?"

"..."

"My lord?"

Mesani asked again in a gloomy voice, but Jaegyeom, lost in his complicated thoughts, didn't register Mesani's words. His mind was in turmoil and his heart was troubled. This was the first time a clue to breaking the curse of immortality seemed so tantalizingly close.

A few days ago, when Yoon Taehee mentioned he was looking for a way to break the curse, Jaegyeom had been furious. Having firmly believed he could end his life in two months, he felt betrayed that Yoon Taehee had arbitrarily twisted their agreement. But truthfully, at that time, the option of breaking the curse hadn't really resonated with him, and he hadn't expected him to actually find a method.

However, as always, Yoon Taehee had presented Jaegyeom with a problem beyond his scope.

The curse of immortality might be connected to mermaids. And if it truly was related to mermaids, there might be a way to reverse the immortal body. If so, it would mean they could break the curse and live normally like others, as Yoon Taehee had said.

As the hazy hypothesis that they might be able to break the curse of immortality became a tangible possibility approaching reality, Jaegyeom grew unsettled. Now, rather than being angry at Yoon Taehee for changing his words, he just felt conflicted.

If it was really possible to break the curse...

His hands, which had been neatly folding clothes, gradually slowed. Despite being able to die in just two months, Jaegyeom still hadn't found a reason to keep living. Yoo Namsaeng had said reasons weren't important for living, but Jaegyeom was still unable to find his bearings. The answer that no reason was needed to live on was very simple and clear, but on the other hand, it felt as vague as grasping at clouds.

If I could break the curse and live normally, what would become of me?

"Jaegyeom, do you have something on your mind?"

Just then, Jeongju, who had been helping pack nearby, gently asked while placing a hand on Jaegyeom's shoulder. Jaegyeom, who had been sitting lost in thought in the middle of packing, flinched.

"Huh? Oh... no..."

Only then did Jaegyeom notice the three faces huddled together, looking at him. Snapping out of his daze, Jaegyeom ran his hand through his hair as if pressing it down, trying to brush off the question with a deliberately calm expression.

"What worries... I don't have any."

"But why have you seemed so low on energy lately?"

"I'm just tired because of work, that's all."

Because Jaegyeom had suddenly shut himself in his room a few days ago, Jeongju had been quietly keeping an eye on him ever since, unbeknownst to anyone else. Feeling uneasy and nervous, wondering if something was wrong. It seemed like Jaegyeom had some kind of worry, but while he was usually very honest and straightforward, he wasn't the type to easily share what was on his mind, tending to hold back at the most crucial moments.

Jeongju hoped Jaegyeom would open up about anything, but he wasn't the type to rely on others. He always thought things through alone, steeled his heart, and made decisions by himself. Over the long years, the boy had made himself strong with his characteristic indifference, but Jeongju read loneliness in that strength.

This time too, Jaegyeom didn't reveal his inner thoughts. Jeongju didn't pry further either. He could only wait for jaegyeom to realize on his own that he wasn't alone, that there was someone by his side whenever he looked around. Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea for him to be away from home for a while on this occasion.

"Alright, since you're going to the island for work anyway, clear your head and get some rest while you're there."

Saying this, Jeongju massaged Jaegyeom's shoulders a couple of times.

"Don't just work hard the whole time you're there, take it easy and get some fresh air too. Leave all your worries behind and think of it as a vacation. Eat lots of delicious food and see lots of nice things."

Jaegyeom paused, then lifted his head to look at Jeongju.

"Jaegyeom, you've never been to an island before, right?"

"Huh? Oh..."

"When you go somewhere unfamiliar, it feels different from before. While you're taking a breather looking at the sea, you might see things in a new light. There are things you can only know by experiencing them firsthand."

"..."

"So clear your mind completely! And take lots of pictures.!"

Jaegyeom silently fiddled with the backpack strap.

"...Okay."

After a long moment, Jaegyeom nodded. Jeongju was right. For now, this was just one possibility, and nothing was certain yet. All these thoughts were just worries. It wouldn't be too late to decide about the future after knowing for sure. When they got to that island, they would find answers to everything.

So let's think about it again when the time comes.

He tightened the straps on his backpack.

***

The next morning, Jaegyeom stepped out of the front door with his backpack on, seeing off his family members. When he opened the gate and went outside, Yoon Taehee's sedan was already waiting in the alley.

"Hello."

Yoon Taehee, who had been sitting askew on the hood smoking a cigarette, greeted as always, then looked Jaegyeom up and down intently. Wearing a long-sleeved navy and red checkered shirt over a white t-shirt, paired with jeans, Jaegyeom looked like a young college student.

Yoon Taehee smiled, almost grimacing, and said:

"Dressed like that, you look like a freshman in college."

"You look like a student too."

Yoon Taehee was wearing a charcoal V-neck short sleeves t-shirt with slacks and light sneakers. With his bangs down, he looked much more relaxed and fresh than usual. They usually met wearing formal suits, so this was almost the first time they had met outside in casual clothes.

"Well, I'm past the age for going to school."

"And I'm not?"

Jaegyeom retorted with an unimpressed look.

"Oh, you're right on time? Come on in."

Shin Jihye, who was leaning out of the back seat window, also greeted him.

Seeing Jaegyeom carrying a backpack, Yoon Taehee immediately dropped his cigarette, stubbed it out with his foot, and waved his hand near his face as he approached Jaegyeom. Taking the backpack from Jaegyeom, Yoon Taehee muttered, 'The bag's a bit heavy." Inside were several bottles of medicinal water made by Mesani. Despite repeatedly saying there was no need to worry since it wasn't a dangerous trip, Mesani had insisted tearfully, clinging to Jaegyeom. So Jaegyeom had no choice but to pack the medicinal water.

Yoon Taehee opened the car trunk to load the backpack.

Inside the trunk were a small carry-on suitcase brought by Shin Jihye, a decent-sized backpack brought by Yoon Taehee, and a box of jumbled equipment and odds and ends rolling around.

Just then, Jaegeom noticed a folded wheelchair on one side. "What's this?"

When Jaegyeom pointed at the wheelchair and asked, Yoon Taehee briefly glanced towards the back seat.

"Her legs are almost fused together, so it'll be hard for her to walk."

Shin Jihye was sprawled comfortably in the back seat as if it were her own living room. Her feet were fused together like Yoon Taehee had said, and were completely covered in mermaid scales.

In just one day, her lower body had become much closer to the form of a mermaid.