Joon-ho moved to the window, his eyes scanning the darkness outside. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, just the swaying trees and the faint glow of the streetlights. He turned back to Min-ju, who was checking on So-yeon.
"Do you see something?" Min-ju asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Joon-ho shook his head, shutting the window. "No, it's just the wind. You're being paranoid since the day that stranger bumped into you."
He moved to Min-ju, gently holding her shoulder to raise her up. "How about we freshen up and get some rest? We can deal with this in the morning."
Min-ju nodded, feeling a mix of relief and unease. She knew Joon-ho was right, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
As they left So-yeon's room, Joon-ho's arm around Min-ju's shoulders felt like a protective shield. But Min-ju's mind was already racing ahead, wondering what could be going. She was both confused and scared.
~~~
Minutes later, Min-ju walked into the bedroom, already freshened up, and smiled as she saw Joon-ho on bed, his laptop set before him. He was wearing his contact lenses, and his fingers moved freely on the keys as he typed away.
"Hey, what are you doing?" she asked, sitting down beside him as she tried her best to shove away her unease.
Joon-ho looked up, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Just doing some research," he said, his voice relaxed.
Min-ju leaned in, curious. "Research? At this hour?"
Joon-ho shrugged. "I couldn't sleep since you're feeling uneasy. Remember, this trip was suppose to make you relax. So, I wanted to see if I could find any information about your novel. Maybe someone's been talking about it online."
Min-ju's heart skipped a bit but masked it up. Her eyes sparkled with feiged interest. "And did you find anything?"
Joon-ho's expression turned thoughtful. "Not yet. But I did find something strange. A forum post from an anonymous user, mentioning a novel with a similar plot to yours. And the post was made months ago, after you started writing."
Min-ju's mind raced. "That's impossible. I didn't share my work with anyone. This is what makes it even more strange."
Joon-ho's eyes locked onto hers. "I know, Min ju. But what if it's just a mere coincidence?
"I'm not sure, honey." Min ju muttered, quite sceptical.
Joon-ho nodded. "Maybe I should dig deeper. See if I can find any other connections."
Min-ju nodded, her eyes fixed on the laptop screen as Joon-ho continued his search. She tried to focus on the words, but her mind kept wandering back to the strange occurrences. She felt a sense of unease, like they were missing something.
As the minutes ticked by, Min-ju's eyelids began to droop. She tried to fight it, but the warmth of Joon-ho's shoulder and the gentle hum of the laptop soon lulled her into a peaceful sleep.
Joon-ho didn't notice at first, too engrossed in his research. But as the silence stretched out, he turned to Min-ju and smiled. She was fast asleep, her head resting on his shoulder.
He gently wrapped his arm around her, gently lifting Min-ju's sleeping form and laid her down on the bed, covering her with a blanket. He smiled, watching her sleep peacefully, before turning back to the laptop.
He continued his research, scouring the internet for any other clues. But as the hours passed, he found nothing more except for the mysterious forum post. He began to think that it was just a coincidence, someone who had stumbled upon a similar idea.
Eventually, Joon-ho ruled it out as a mere coincidence. He shut the laptop, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. They had a long day ahead tomorrow, returning to Seoul and getting back to their normal routine.
He changed into comfortable clothes and slipped into bed beside Min-ju, wrapping his arms around her. She stirred, snuggling into his embrace.
"Goodnight," he whispered, feeling his eyes grow heavy.
"Goodnight," Min-ju murmured, already half asleep.
As they drifted off to sleep, Joon-ho's mind was finally at ease. He had found nothing concrete to support Min-ju's fears, and he was convinced that it was just a coincidence.
The next morning, they woke up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. They packed their bags, said goodbye to the beautiful island, as they headed back to Seoul.
Getting to the airport, Joon ho returned their rented car and they sauntered into the airport.
As they settled into their seats on the plane, Min-ju let out a sigh of relief. The trip was over, and they were headed back to the familiarity of Seoul. Maybe this unsettling feeling will fade away back home.
Joon-ho took her hand, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Hey, what's wrong? You look a little down."
Min-ju shook her head, trying to brush off the lingering unease. "I don't know. I just feel like we left something behind on that island."
Joon-ho squeezed her hand. "We'll always have the memories. And who knows, maybe we'll go back someday."
As the plane took off, Min-ju gazed out the window, watching the island recede into the distance. She felt a pang of nostalgia, but Joon-ho's warm hand in hers reassured her.
So-yeon, who was sitting across from them, suddenly piped up, "Eomma, Appa, can we get some snacks?"
Min-ju and Joon-ho laughed, and the tension was broken. They spent the rest of the flight chatting, snacking, and enjoying each other's company.
As they landed in Seoul, Min-ju felt a sense of relief wash over her. They were home, and everything would go back to normal.
But as they made their way through the airport, Min-ju couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Joon-ho noticed her unease and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Hey, let's get home and rest. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
Min-ju nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Joon-ho. She knew that he would always be there to protect her and So-yeon.
As they stepped out of the airport, the cool Seoul air enveloped them, and Min-ju felt a sense of familiarity wash over her. They were home, and everything would be okay.