“Sea district, sea district...”

Hana repeated the phrase, lost in deep thought. She was on her way to the shore for the second time, and a young woman questioned the decision. Hana tried it for the first time, but she quickly chickened out. She hoped that maybe someone would accept the job, but no one in the Central Urban Area wanted to work for Saya. It is a fine society, where nearly everyone is acquainted with each other. That is bothersome since wealthy people know her story and refuse to associate with her in any way, the last of the Ya family.

Ironically, Hana had never been there. She travelled around the world, visited European countries, studied in the United States, and a few years ago returned home.
Weeks had passed, and yet, she was nervous. It is mainly a fishing area, where the average and lower working class situated. The corporate offices, companies, and other markets are located in the central city. Such infrastructure had led to the massive class gap between the Sea District, the Central, and the Urban areas. Almost like separate worlds collide on shared land.

Because of that, the people of Hana’s society have had various prejudices towards the locals. And they were not the best, to say the least.
It is believed that they are abominable pigs that know nothing except their own district. Awful and bad-tempered, ready to steal or forcibly fornicate or even kill...

“That’s just absurd, it’s not even sea but ocean -” Hana tsked. The ridiculous amount of shit she heard from all around her could’ve easily brainwashed anyone.
Hana refused to believe in everything, as she would rather see for herself. It was too late to turn back as she had already reached the area.

Mentally, Hana prepared for anything, a slight cold chill running down her spine.

Come on, Hana! Suck it up!

Unlike last time, she was without Dominic, completely alone. Hana was not sure what exactly she feared, but once she stepped on the streets where trees had smashed some vehicles, she realised that the most recent storm damaged the district. It was a new experience for Hana as she walked through the streets, seeing how people tried to repair what could be fixed. Seeing those people made something inside her snap; pity and sorrow.

Unlike the rumours she heard...

The folks who saw the young woman gave her an unusual look. They have not seen her before, since all of them knew each other. They were not able to look away, as they were enchanted by her beauty. Tall with lovely ginger hair and piercing purple eyes.

Their stares made Hana feel uneasy, just like the sudden cold wind. She gazed up, and the once blue skies were hugged by dark clouds. Holding a pile of papers with job offers, she gripped them tighter, feeling chilly.

Rapid wind, which came from behind, took her off guard, and some papers escaped her grasp.
“Shit -” Hana hissed before picking up the pace, attempting to catch papers. The wind seemed to speed up as she started to seek more air in her lungs. At some point, the papers flew to what seemed to be a playground. But it seemed to be under some renovations since Hana noticed how some attributes, like a broken swing, were removed from the grassland. Not so far away, a pile of tree branches, along with other nuisances.

“Oh no, please don't be stuck-” Hana wasn’t able to finish her mutter as antiwish happened regardless. One of the papers tropped its flying journey on someone’s back. Hana cursed under her breath as she was ready to burn in flames of embarrassment.

The person turned around, and as it turned out, it was a towering, young man. His tanned, nearly dark complexion took Hana by surprise. She was a tall lady, but this stranger was even taller. She had to significantly raise her head to search for his face, which looked annoyed.

“Uh, excuse me  - I didn’t mean to bother-” Hana started, her voice soft and tender like honey. However, she was not able to finish as the man interrupted her.

“Such a pain...” He gazed down at the woman in front of him then at the paper that made its final destination to the damp sand, between them standing. The woman seem to continue her unneeded dialogue when Sung-min squated and picked up the job offer. “...what’s this?”

Hana stopped speaking abruptly, realising that the man in front of her didn’t care. Instead, his attention was focused on the job offer.
“I am looking for a housekeeper.”

“Lady,” said Sung-min, rising up in front of her like a giant tree, “you seem to make a mistake in the announcement - that’s too much money for the work you’re offering.” He huffed, narrowing his eyes and observing this strange creature. The first thing he thought of that reminded him of her was dandelions. Her sunset orange, long hair was curly and fluffy, resembling the softness of the bloomed flower.

“I understand why you’d think so, but I can assure you - it’s not the case. This is how much the employer offers.” Hana sighed, feeling somewhat pround for her professionalism. In reality, she would take it back to this fella for giving her an attitude. But she was an adult and had her emotions to be kept in check.
The sudden change in his eyes and face ignited two following emotions in Hana: hope and some fear. Seeing the stranger in front of her, getting excited over the offer, made her uncomfortable. To add more uncertainty to her heart, the stranger hastily looked around searching for a specific person, but seemed to fail to find them.
To make matters less awkward for herself, Hana attempted to continue the conversation.

“Uh, perhaps, if you have some questions, I can answer them?” Her voice pinched up a little, trying to sound optimistic. But she seemed to fail as his gaze fell on her as if she were an idiot, arching his thick eyebrows.
His navy blue eyes pierced her to the core with no mercy. The fact that he had a buzz cut added more points to his looks.

Handsome jerk....

“What’s your name? You’re not from the shore.” His voice was rich and deep, and somewhat demanding. Hana got the impression that he does not like to bullshit around, that he is a serious man, regardless of his looks. He was not asking - rather stating, pointing out that Hana is not welcome here as she is an outsider. However, she did not sense any hostility.

“S-Shin Hana. And you’re right; I’m from the central city,” she studdered. His gaze was intense enough to demand that her royal purple eyes look back. And she did not back up. Her spine straightened up; Hana could be as confident as any other man. And the stranger seemed to follow the cue as his gaze softened. He smirked, amused.

Smirked...it’s illegal being so fine!

“What about you, sir?” Hana slightly raised her brow, curious about him.

“I’m Kang Sung - min” he crossed his arms, stepping back, finding their proximity inappropriate. Sung-min was aware that he looked terrying; he did not wish to scare the lady.

“It suits you - the name I mean.”  Hana didn’t know where this audacity came from. She mentally cursed. All this living abroad certainly made her more open and oblivious to her cultural cues - it’s embarrassing.

Sung-min was taken aback. He didn’t know what to say as it had been a while since the last time he spoke with females. For the past years, he was focused on helping his old man and taking over his niche of the shore. Her compliment felt...invasive; almost uncomfortable but not unwelcoming.
Looking away, he nodded. He tried to hide his blush.

Seeing this, Hana was amused by his expression. Somehow, this small interaction relaxed her. Maybe he was not half bad...

“Damn, seeing you, Sung-min, melting like this is refreshing. Makes me believe in love again,” said the voice behind Sung-min. Hana stepped on her toes and looked behind his shoulder, and Sung-min turned around as well.
To her view appeared a man as tall as Kang Sung -min and as tanned. His hair was unattended, messy, and long. Some of it was placed in a messy ponytail at the back, and some strands fell on his tired face. He had enchanting ruby eyes, but it seemed that life had been sucked out of him. His zipper hoodie and shorts were crumpled as if he didn’t care how he looked at all. In fact, he appeared like a homeless person. Unintentionally, Hana’s face grimaced. But despite that, the man was not uncanny.

Goodness, what’s his problem?

Sung-min dismissed his friends’ comment. “Your prayers have been answered, Seo-jun.” He said casually, as he walked and gave the job offer to Seo-jun.

Seo-jun read the paper. His face suddenly brightened up, as if a child saw a candy. But a second later, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Lady-” he started, but his friend cut him off.

“Name’s Shin Hana”

“Boy, look at you!” Ji-ho nearly sang, teasing Sung-min since he and Doyoon arrived back from their break. “You sure don’t want to check your feelings box?” he smiled with mischief, poking his friend with an elbow.

“Piss off, Monkey!” Sung-min snapped before shoving Ji-ho away and leaving the playground as the small but strong sun rays played on his back. The sun was finally back, and along with that, the chilly sunset of royal purple, fire ember, and golden colours.

“The Dark Cloud is fianlly brightining up! Now isn’t that cute!” Ji-ho continued chasing after Sung-min. Doyoon and Seo-jun simply chuckled, following their friends with their eyes.

Hana observed the groups interraction, and she wasn’t able to look away. The simplicity of their conversation, their bond...Her heart ached, realising that Saya and her once upon a time were like that, before their great fall....

She missed it so badly. Hana’s throat tightened with a crying knot and difficulty breathing. But she quickly recollected herself.

I have no one but me to blame for what’s been done with Saya and me.

Seo-jun approached Hana. He asked her if there was a ‘big BUT’ in this offer; something that he must be aware of. And Hana wholeheartedly wanted to lie and spare the misery of her search.

“If you were to say yes, then your employer would be the only ‘big BUT”

Seo-jun raised his brow, confused.

“She’s a little special....”