His peaceful rest, stretched on for some time. Kwon taekjoo would sleep through the night until he woke up naturally,
Then get up to eat and enjoy some time on the beach to help with digestion. After a refreshing shower, he would feel drowsy and take a nap whenever he liked, later waking to read books or watch movies.
In the evening, he would drink with Zhenya and get lost in deep conversations that often led effortlessly to sex. Kwon Taekjoo would only manage to pull himself together late in the afternoon.
He wondered if it was really right for him to spend his days so peacefully, especially on an island that wasn't Ajinoki and belonged to someone else. Anxious thoughts and worries would sometimes take over his mind, but over time, they had lessened, largely because Zhenya never left his side, not even for a moment.
Kwon taekjoo felt a strange sense of calm knowing that, with Zhenya by his side, they could overcome any challenge though thing would undoubtedly be more chaotic with him around.
No, it wasn't just that they could get through anything… they definitely would.
Whenever he realized how he felt about Zhenya, it surprised him. He had always rejected the idea of having a companion because he enjoyed traveling alone, and that hadn't changed. But what had led him to trust Zhenya so much? These days, it felt far strange when Zhenya wasn't beside him.
Kwon Taekjoo was lost in thought, staring at the back of Zhenya's head when Zhenya suddenly turned around. Their eyes met so unexpectedly that Kwon Taekjoo jumped without realizing it.
Zhenya tilted his head at Kwon Taekjoo's unusual reaction.
"Taekjoo? What are you thinking so hard about?"
"Ah, nothing. Ready to head back in?"
Kwon Taekjoo quickly stood up and walked toward the water. The waves were at the perfect temperature, so they had been surfing together since the morning.
He grabbed the surfboard he had carelessly left in the sand and dove back into the sea. Zhenya stared at him for a moment in confusion before following him.
Kwon Taekjoo lay on his board and paddled forward with strong strokes. The warm water flowed smoothly around him.
How much time had passed?
Suddenly, Kwon Taekjoo noticed a dark silhouette gliding beneath his board. As he pursued it, he could make out the unmistakable shape of a stingray, almost two meters long.
Kwon Taekjoo had seen countless sea turtles and stingrays during his stay on the island, so he wasn't too surprised. Stingrays didn't try to attack or approach humans.
The stingray, swimming gracefully, slowly approached the surface of the water. Without warning, it flicked its tail, sending a powerful splash of water directly into Kwon Taekjoo's face. He turned his head to avoid it, but it was already too late.
"Agh."
Kwon Taekjoo barely managed to stay steady on his board, which wobbled quickly, threatening to tip ove at any moment. He didn't even have time to fix his hair, which now completely covered his face. By the time he regained his composure, the stingray had already swum far away.
The smiling face of Zhenya soon appeared in his shaky field of vision.
"Taekjoo, of all the creatures, did a stingray almost drown you? Your hair looks like seaweed soup the little woman makes us."
The genuine amusement on Zhenya's face was obvious. Kwon Taekjoo couldn't believe he had accepted such man as a lover. It was was almost laughable to think he had ever felt comforted or relied on him.
Clearly, he had let himself get carried away with romantic illusions because, in his eyes, Zhenya was still nothing more than a big child.
"Stop smiling and get ready."
"What, you want to make another bet?"
"Do you really not feel motivated to do anything unless there's a reward? We're just here to have fun, idiot. The wave's coming!"
Shouted Kwon Taekjoo before quickly standing up on hi board.
Zhenya followed closely behind him. Soon, a wave that had formed in the distance lifted them up.
The strong buoyancy kept them steady, and they effortlessly maintained their balance on the boards as they reached the crest of the wave. The wind blew pleasantly against their backs, pushing them forward.
They both rode the wave with natural grace, taking turns in the lead. When they were about to collide, they veered off course, exchanging glances and smiles with each other.
Kwon Taekjoo had once heard that a lasting relationship required sharing hobbies and interests, and he and Zhenya certainly checked that box.
In fact, Kwon Taekjoo wondered if anyone else could keep up with his pace, besides Zhenya.
As they approached the shore, the waves began to weaken. Kwon Taekjoo causally jumped off his board and dove back into the water. They repeated the same ride over and over until the sun began to set.
Kwon Taekjoo had felt as light as a feather while surfing, but stepping out of tje water, he felt heavy and sluggish. He tossed his board aside and headed towards a hammock, wrapping himself in a beach towel and stretching out his limbs.
Zhenya soon joined him, setting under the hammock and even pulling on the edge of Kwon Taekjoo's towel to dry his face.
At that moment, Zhenya's phone started ringing from the lounge chair. Zhenya simply handed Kwon Taekjoo a bottle of beer as if he hadn't heard it.
Kwon Taekjoo took the bottle in his hands and said.
"It looks like someone's calling you."
"No need to answer it."
"How can you be so sure without even checking who it is? It could be something important."
"It's because you're here, Taekjoo."
"…what?"
Kwon Taekjoo frowned in confusion. Was Zhenya implying that Kwon Taekjoo was the only thing he considered important? Or was he suggesting that Kwon Taekjoo was the main source of all his worries?
Given Zhenya's arrogant nature, the latter seemed more likely.
However, after spending so much time together on this island, the way Zhenya looked at him and spoke felt unexpectedly romantic. Kwon Taekjoo was convinced his brain had turned to mush from being in the water too long.
"But you never know. What if something's wrong with your family?"
"A problem? What kind of problem? If the old man finally kicked the bucket, would that count?"
Zhenya Immediately answered his own question.
"No, that wouldn't be a problem—it would be a solution, Taekjoo."
Kwon Taekjoo was speechless for a moment. How could Zhenya consider his father's death not a problem? Did he really have no emotional connection to his family at all?
Then again, it wasn't exactly hard to believe. After all, the Bogdanov family had once gone as far as attempting to sacrifice a six-year-old child to preserve their dignity.
Their obsession with increasing their influence had led them to impose arranged marriages on their children, even to this day.
If Zhenya had been viewed his entire life as nothing more than a tool for their ambitions, it made sense that he felt no affection for his own family.
In the heart of Kwon Taekjoo, it weighed heavily that Zhenya had put down his first roots in such a harsh and inhumane land, growing up without the slightest protection or affection.
Kwon Taekjoo often criticized Zhenya for lacking basic human qualities, but when he thought about it, Zhenya had been raised in an environment where even a semblance of normal upbringing was impossible.
He had practically been abandoned by his family, yet they still sought him out whenever they needed something from him. How could his own blood treat him that way? Their behavior was despicable.
It made Zhenya seem almost pitiable again. As Kwon Taekjoo silently ruffled Zhenya's hair, Zhenya gave him a confused look and asked,
"Taekjoo?"
Kwon Taekjoo continued gently running his fingers through Zhenya's tousled hair. Zhenya's throat seemed to tremble slightly as he calmly accepted the caress. His gaze, fixed on Kwon Taekjoo, ignited with a fiery intensity.
"Hey, I heard that you lock yourself away
on Ajinoki Island every time the anniversary of your mother's death comes around."
"Who said that?"
"Does it matter?"
"Uh, I dont know, I never really thought of it that way. I guess it could seem like that to someone looking to confirm their own misguided ideas."
"You don't need to feel so embarrassed. Maybe you haven't realized it, but you could instinctively be driven to isolate yourself. No matter what kind of person your mother was, it's natural to think of her and miss her simply because she was your mother. How do you think the concept of filial piety came about?"
"Embarrassed? Missing someone? Me?"
Zhenya repeated Kwon Taekjoo's words as if he had heard something strange. Had he really never experienced such emotions? Every time Kwon Taekjoo looked at him, he wondered how many basic human feelings could be absent in a person.
Perhaps Zhenya struggled to define or give meaning to his emotions like others could, even if he felt them the same way. There was no other way to explain the naive and innocent devotion he had towards Kwon Taekjoo.
Kwon Taekjoo felt a pang of bitterness thinking that Zhenya was nearing 30 and still wrestling with emotions most people learned to name and understand as they grew.
Kwon Taekjoo delicately traced a finger along Zhenya's salt-crusted lashes and said,
"Anyway, next time, take me with you."
"Are you seriously suggesting we go to my Island together? That's new, but Taekjoo, considering what you do, are you sure you can promise that?"
"I'll do everything I can to make it happen."
"Uh… alright, if you say so. Then, I hope the anniversaries of my relatives, happen more often."
"Do you even hear yourself, idiot?"
Hearing Zhenya's childish remarks, Kwon Taekjoo pinched his cheek. He couldn't believe this was the man he had been pitying and worrying about.
He was convinced he was the only person in the world who would care about Zhenya. Kwon Taekjoo was far too soft-hearted when it came to him.
As Kwon Taekjoo let go of Zhenya's cheek, he noticed it had turned bright red… maybe he had pinched too hard. Guilt washed over him as he gently rubbed Zhenya's cheek.
Despite this, Zhenya continued to look at Kwon Taekjoo with quite contentment. In moments like this, when he kept his mouth shut and stayed still, Zhenya was an angel, just as Kwon Taekjoo's mother always called him.
Kwon Taekjoo leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to Zhenya's forehead.
Kwon Taekjoo was about to get up from the hammock when Zhenya's hand shot out and grabbed his arm. His face was filled with suspicion.
"Taekjoo. What's going on?"
"What?"
"You're being strangely affectionate again. Don't tell me they've assigned you another mission early."
"Who the hell do you take me for? I was just trying to be a good lover,"
Kwon Taekjoo grumbled, scolding the skeptical Zhenya while pulling his arm away. It was his way of signing Zhenya to get up too.
"I'm sweaty from playing all day. Let's soak in some hot water."
Zhenya chuckled and followed Kwon Taekjoo back to their room. Along the way, Zhenya's phone rang constantly, but he ignored it. Kwon Taekjoo couldn't help but feel concerned. After all, persistent calls usually indicate something more urgent.
Kwon Taekjoo woke from his sleep to the sound of a faint noise. However, he kept his eyes closed because he could sense Zhenya's gaze fixed on him from the side. He remained perfectly still, staying calm. In the end, Zhenya gave him a soft kiss on the forehead before getting out of bed.
Kwon Taekjoo waited a few moments after Zhenya closed the bedroom door before opening his eyes. Sitting up, he rubbed the spot on his forehead where Zhenya's lips had touched.
After picking up the robe he had carelessly thrown on the floor, he made his way to the door. He didn't exactly suspect Zhenya of anything, but he still wanted to know what he was doing at this hour of the night.
The silence around him allowed him to catch fragments of Zhenya's voice through the door.
Kwon Taekjoo silenced his breathing and focused intently on Zhenya's voice. It was clear he was talking to someone, and his tone, usually calm and cold, was now laced with tension.
"Why are you so curious where l am? Since when have you been so interested in me?"
Who could be so insistent about Zhenya's whereabouts? They were speaking in Russian, which suggested it could be someone from the embassy. But it didn't make sense for them to call at this hour, as it was still only 5 a.m. in Korea.
Moreover, the way Zhenya had asked, "since when have you been so interested in me?" Sounded almost like a complain. It was a familiar retort he often used with Kwon Taekjoo when being sarcastic.
In any case, it was obvious from Zhenya's tone that he was speaking with someone who was curious about his recent activities, and that surely limited it to a select group of people who knew him personally. Was it Olga?
"No matter, bazim."
But an unexpected name came from Zhenya's mouth. Bazim was Zhenya's
second older brother,
Bazim Vissarionovich Bogdanov. He was one of President Lomonosov's closest advisors and an old friend. He had been the one bombarding Zhenya's phone with calls during their stay on this Island?
There was no way his interest was solely out of concern for his younger brother.
Bazim was a politician through and through. He likely prioritized the interests of his nation above all else. More precisely, he would serve the president to
secure his position and authority. And to do that, he had to eliminate any threats
to the current government—such as factors that might disrupt Russia's diplomatic relationships with over countries.
Knowing all this, Kwon Taekjoo could easily discern the true reason behind Bazim's persistent calls. It seemed Bazim had found out. About what happened in Cuba.
Cuba had long been an ally of Russia. The recent terrorist attack had destroyed the Cuban government's main source of funding, and a Russian had stepped in to help a key suspect escape. For Bazim, managing this disaster would have been a challenge in itself, but the fact that the Russian in question was his own brother only makes things worse.
Kwon Taekjoo could only imagine how awkward Bazim's situation must be.
It wasn't even the first time something like this had happened. Kwon Taekjoo himself was a Korean NIS agent, and Russia was far from an ally to Korea.
The things Zhenya had done for Kwon taekjoo's sake had caused all kinds of problems for his own country. That's why Kwon Taekjoo had always insisted that Zhenya stay out of government affairs.
Even if it were true that his own country and family had abandoned him long ago, Zhenya's track record was anything but simple.
Zhenya would receive a call from home like this every time he acted against Russian's interests. There was no doubt he had been monitored and interrogated since he had come to live in Korea.
For the moment, Russia might have considered it safer to keep Zhenya out of the country, but there was no telling when they might demand his return if he continued with his antics.
And even if Zhenya chose to ignore the summons, they could always force him back by charging him with various crimes.
Kwon Taekjoo was fully aware of the risks, though he had tried to downplay them as mere attempts to control Zhenya. Despite Zhenya's apparent indifference to his situation, Kwon Taekjoo could no longer ignore the troubling thoughts that weighed on him.
He couldn't stand to see Zhenya continue to isolate himself further.