Take this!" Yurim laughed, splashing water straight at his face.
Rian blinked, water dripping from his hair, his expression caught between disgust and disbelief. "What…" he muttered, wiping his face.
But when he looked at her again, his breath hitched.
Her hair glowed faintly under the fading sun, and her laughter carried a warmth.
He turned away quickly, forcing a frown.
Noticing his sudden silence, Yurim's laughter faded. "I'm sorry, Rian…"
He glanced at her, confused. "For what?"
She hesitated, then spoke softly. "If you hadn't met me… you could've saved your grandmother." Her eyes dropped to the sand. "I made things worse. I dragged you into this. I'm really sorry."
For a long moment, only the waves answered.
Then Rian spoke, his voice low and rough.
"When I was a kid, it used to rain hard at night. My parents would go out to work, and I'd sleep next to my grandmother. She held me tight… her hands were warm."
He paused. A faint smile crossed his lips—then disappeared.
"One night, I woke up and heard her crying. I didn't understand why. When I asked about my parents, she said they'd come home soon."
He stared at the water. "But they never did."
Yurim stayed silent.
"As I grew older, I stopped asking. I already knew."
His voice wavered slightly. "She was all I had left. Then she started changing—talking to herself, locking herself in my father's room."
He swallowed.
"One day, I saw her kill a girl. I don't even know why. I ran… but she found me." His jaw tightened.
"She hugged me, crying, begging me not to leave. I was scared—but she was still my grandmother. I thought she'd stop."
He looked back at the sea, his voice barely audible. "Now she's gone too."
Yurim's eyes burned. She wanted to reach for him—to say something—
But—
"Wow! It's so beautiful!"
Mira's bright voice cut through the moment as she ran toward the water, splashing carelessly.
"I've been stuck in that boring house for so long!" she laughed. "I'm so happy, Yurim!"
She spun and went deeper into the waves.
Yurim watched her for a second, then turned back to Rian.
"Who said you're alone now?" she said quietly. "I'll be your best friend. I don't know if I'll ever return to my world—but I know this: not everyone here is a monster. We'll take care of your grandmother's house together, until we find a way to send me back."
She hesitated, then added lightly, "Or maybe… you can come to my world instead?" Her hand rested gently on his shoulder.
Rian looked at her for a moment, then exhaled through his nose. A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Whatever," he muttered.
Before Yurim could reply—
"Help! Rian! Yurim!"
Mira's scream shattered the calm.
They turned.
Mira was struggling in deep water, arms flailing as the waves dragged her under.
"Mira!" Yurim screamed.
Rian tore off his jacket and ran straight into the sea.
Yurim rushed forward—but then—
"Yurim… Yurim…"
A soft, melodic voice brushed against her ears—beautiful, otherworldly, unreal.
Her eyes widened as the world blurred.
"Yurim… come to me…"
The voice echoed again, closer this time—inside her head.
Her breath caught. She tried to step back, but her body didn't obey.
Her feet moved on their own—slow, dreamlike—away from the sea, toward the dark line of trees beyond the shore.
Her gaze dulled as the waves roared behind her.