TCBW C86

Chapter 86

“…It smells… really fishy.”

Suhoe’s words came out with a wrinkled nose as he gazed from the distant horizon of the sea back toward the sand. Dowoon nodded slightly, an unspoken gesture of agreement.

He must’ve expected more.

He studied Suhoe’s face carefully, worried he might be disappointed. But to his surprise, the expression he saw there was not disappointment at all. It was awe — the kind of wonder only someone beholding something miraculous for the first time could wear.

So he’s not disappointed?

“You said it smelled fishy. You don’t like it?”

“That’s not it! I’ve smelled it before.”

“You’ve… smelled it before?”

“Well, not in real life like this. But I have. So it’s fine.”

“….”

It was such an ambiguous answer that Dowoon furrowed his brow for a brief second, but he didn’t press further. He could have asked — a dream, perhaps? — but chose not to.

Not because he wasn’t curious, but because at that moment, he wanted to focus only on watching his wife.

“Wow…”

Unlike Dowoon, whose gaze stayed fixed on Suhoe, the Omega couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sea — the glimmering waves stretching before him. Seeing with his own eyes the vastness he had only ever heard described in words filled him with indescribable joy.

“Now that I see it,” Suhoe murmured, “I realize how small my imagination was.”

The expanse of blue shimmered before him, far grander than anything his mind had ever been able to conjure. He stood there, spellbound, staring out over the water. Then, spotting the soft, sun-warmed sand at his feet, he tugged on Dowoon’s sleeve like a child eager to explore.

“Let’s go closer! Look — there are people swimming over there.”

Without complaint, Dowoon let himself be pulled along. His eyes lingered on his wife’s figure as the sunlight wove gold through his dark hair, the sea breeze brushing against them both.

“Be careful from here on,” Dowoon said gently.

“I’m fine.”

Their footsteps sank into the loose, grainy sand. Suhoe giggled at the ticklish feeling beneath his toes, walking faster, almost skipping. Dowoon held his arm loosely — protective, yet unwilling to restrain that bubbling excitement.

They stopped only when the cool, foaming waves reached their feet. The faint hiss of the tide, saa—, brushed against their ankles and filled Suhoe’s ears. He smiled softly.

The wet sand sparkled like gold dust under the sun. His eyes followed the ripples that danced and broke into liquid light on the horizon. But Dowoon’s gaze never left Suhoe.

“Dowoon-ssi,” he said after a while, voice quiet, “are you… not having fun?”

“Why?”

“Well… it feels like you’re just watching me.”

Suhoe laughed a little, trying to make light of it, but Dowoon turned his head away, caught off guard — like a boy caught staring when he shouldn’t.

“Of course not.”

“I knew it. Must’ve been my imagination then.” He grinned, his voice warm and teasing. “Ah, I really like it here. How about you?”

Even as he spoke, Dowoon couldn’t bring himself to look back. He only turned his head toward the sea — sharing the same horizon Suhoe was looking at.

And for the first time, he let the scenery fill his vision. The vast blue stretched endlessly, untamed waves colliding against surfers scattered like dark brushstrokes on water. It was beautiful — powerful and alive. Dowoon thought quietly that he’d been right to bring him.

The wind played through his shirt, thin fabric fluttering gently. Watching him, Suhoe thought how lucky he was to be here with him — to see this together.

People said that wide, open places could heal old wounds. Maybe that was true. Maybe here, by this sea, Dowoon could finally leave behind the pain that haunted him.

And maybe… that’s right, Suhoe thought.

Then, with a faint start, he realized something: the scent filling the air — that faint, salty-sweet note under the ocean’s tang — smelled just like Dowoon’s pheromones.

It was strange, but comforting.

It smells the same as him. Almost exactly. Though… maybe a little different. I can’t tell why.

The faintly briny scent was oddly familiar, almost nostalgic. Suhoe inhaled deeply, trying to distinguish the subtle difference, but couldn’t.

“Hm…”

“What is it?”

He closed his eyes, sniffing lightly, but still couldn’t pinpoint it. Finally, he shrugged and leaned into Dowoon, resting his face against his chest. Surprised by the sudden closeness, Dowoon caught his shoulders, worried he might be unwell.

“No, it’s not that,” Suhoe said softly. “It’s the sea. It smells like you… but not exactly. Why is that?”

Dowoon frowned faintly, the line between his brows deepening. His wife, he thought, had the oddest, most unpredictable thoughts sometimes.

They walked the shoreline for a long while after that. The water was still too cold to enter, but Suhoe thought even this much was perfect — the scent, the sound, the light.

Only when his stomach gave a small, embarrassed growl did Dowoon turn them back toward the car.

Even as they left, Suhoe inhaled deeply, trying to memorize the air itself — as if he could keep it with him. Who knew if he’d ever return? Or if, when he did, it would still be with Dowoon.

Under the gentle warmth of the sun, their black sports car glided smoothly along the coastal road once more.

To Suhoe’s surprise, though, Dowoon didn’t head toward any nearby restaurants. Instead, the car began climbing upward, winding through the hills.

Are we going to a mountain now?

The higher they drove, the more remote the road became. It didn’t look like a place where any restaurant could exist. Confused, Suhoe turned to him.

“Um, Dowoon — the sun’s setting. I thought we were going to eat. Are there restaurants this far into the mountains? Or… did you have somewhere else in mind?”

He asked carefully, hoping there was a plan. Honestly, his stomach didn’t care where they went — as long as there was food soon.

“Not a restaurant,” Dowoon said calmly. “Strictly speaking.”

“Then…?”

“You’ll see soon.”

See what?

As the forest thickened around them, the dimming light turned the trees into tall, shadowy shapes. The vivid greens from earlier had melted into darkness, and the once-inviting woods now seemed almost eerie.

“Mm…”

The only light left came from the car’s headlights, slicing faintly through the dusk. Suhoe tugged at his shirt collar, suddenly chilled. The car’s interior was warm, but the feeling wasn’t.

“Cold? We’re almost there.”

Dowoon’s voice was gentle, reassuring. And sure enough, as the road straightened, the trees broke apart — and before them unfolded a view that stole even breath itself.

A hilltop, the sea stretching endlessly below, the horizon blazing with color.

The sky burned with violet and gold, reflected on the water like molten glass.

“You brought me here… for this?”

Suhoe could hardly speak. The car’s windshield framed the scene like a cinema screen, too vivid to be real. Dowoon gave a short nod — yes, this was the gift he’d wanted to give.

“No way…”

Dowoon stepped out of the driver’s seat, walked around, and opened the passenger door for him.

Suhoe didn’t even thank him — couldn’t — his eyes were still fixed on the horizon, where the last flare of the sun was spilling across the sea.

“This moment,” he whispered, “I don’t think it’ll last forever… but somehow, I feel like I’ll remember it until I die.”

The western sky slowly deepened into shades of amethyst, the light folding gently into twilight. Suhoe’s words carried that same quiet beauty — honest, unpolished, and full of feeling. Even the boats turning their bows and the surfers drifting on the water looked like fragments of a living painting.

“You chose a good day,” Dowoon said, watching his wonder with a rare softness in his eyes.

As the great fire of the sun sank beyond the waves, he looked at Suhoe — still enraptured — and thought that maybe, just maybe, the gift had been worth it.

“I told you I’d give you a present.”

“Yes… and it’s perfect. I’ll never forget something this beautiful.”

The sun was gone now, but its lingering glow remained, scattered in streaks of gold and violet.

Dowoon glanced at his wristwatch.

Suhoe, unaware, continued staring at the horizon.

“The sun’s already set,” he murmured, “but I can’t look away. It’s just… too beautiful.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Hmm?”

“There’s only so much ‘small happiness’ one can talk about. Did you really think we came all this way just to see the sunset?”

Still gazing at the darkening sky, Suhoe turned his eyes toward him — confusion flickering there.

Then Dowoon slipped an arm around his waist and pulled him close.

“Ah—!”

His light body pressed against Dowoon’s chest — the two of them framed against the violet glow, like the final shot of a film just before the credits rolled.

And then, Dowoon reached out — and pressed the button.