"Beneath the Setting Sun"

The waves gently kissed the shore, retreating and returning in an endless rhythm. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the sea, making it shimmer as if liquid gold flowed over its surface. Slowly, it descended into the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The cries of distant seagulls echoed faintly in the air, and the scent of saltwater clung gently to the breeze.

A teenager stood at the water's edge, lost in thought. His black hair danced with the wind, framing his delicate features that looked almost ethereal against the backdrop of the setting sun. The cold breeze made his fair skin glow, as if the moonlight itself had settled upon freshly fallen snow. His deep brown eyes held a silent tale—one that words could never capture. His lips, tinged pink from the chill, pressed together as if holding back a storm within.

Clutching his black hoodie over his white shirt, he wasn’t just shielding himself from the cold but from an unease he couldn't quite name. There was a strange hollowness in his chest, as if something important had slipped away without a sound. His breaths were slow, but his heart pounded restlessly. Thoughts swirled like tides in his mind—memories, fears, a longing he couldn’t voice. The kind of loneliness that doesn't come from being alone, but from feeling unseen.

Just then, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts. An elderly woman stood near the road, carrying a heavy bag that looked too large for her small frame.

"Hyeon! How long are you planning to stand there? It’s getting late, and this cold isn't good for you. Come on, let's go home."

Snapping out of his thoughts, Hyeon turned toward her, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Coming, Grandma!" he called back and jogged over, quickly taking the heavy bag from her hands.

"Did you eat properly today? And you didn’t forget your medicine, right?" he asked gently, concern lacing his voice.

His grandmother chuckled softly, a sound that carried warmth even in the cold air.

"Yes, dear, I ate well and took my medicine. But tell me, how was school? Weren’t you supposed to play in a football match today?"

For a brief second, something flickered across Hyeon’s face—an emotion too fleeting, too complex. A shadow of disappointment? Regret? Pain? But almost instantly, he masked it with a practiced smile.

"It was great, Grandma. I had a lot of fun."

His grandmother gave him a knowing look but said nothing, choosing silence over confrontation. She reached for his hand, hers wrinkled and cool, but full of love. Together, they walked home—his heart still heavy, but comforted by the rhythm of her steps beside him.

At Home

Their small but cozy home greeted them with warmth. The lights were soft, the air inside smelled faintly of lavender and old books. After putting away the groceries, Hyeon and his grandmother prepared a simple dinner together—rice, some stir-fried vegetables, and warm soup. As they cooked, laughter occasionally bubbled between them, small and quiet, like fragile sparks in a cold night.

At the dining table, they sat across from each other, their conversation soft and gentle. Hyeon listened to his grandmother talk about the neighbors, about how a cat had snuck into the garden again, and about how she planned to knit him a new scarf soon. He nodded, smiling, his eyes soft with affection and unspoken gratitude.

After dinner, Hyeon cleaned the dishes meticulously. Then, like every night, he prepared his grandmother’s bed—fluffing the pillows, smoothing the sheets, setting her medicine and a glass of water on the bedside table.

"Here, Grandma. Your medicine," he said, handing it to her with a fond smile.

She took it obediently, then looked up at him, brushing a hand affectionately over his cheek.

"You're a good boy, Hyeon. Your father would’ve been so proud."

That caught him off guard. For a moment, his breath hitched, but he simply nodded, blinking the sudden sting away from his eyes.

He helped her lie down, covered her with the warm blanket, and whispered:

"Good night."

Then, bending low, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead—the kind that spoke of a thousand unsaid emotions.

Later, in his room

Hyeon took a warm shower, letting the steam curl around him like a gentle embrace. The mirror fogged up, and for a moment, he traced random patterns on the glass, his thoughts still clouded like the air around him.

In his room, the soft hum of a heater and the ticking of a small clock filled the silence. He lay in bed, the blanket pulled up to his chin, eyes staring at the ceiling.

His mind wandered back to the football field, to the empty stands, to the way he’d stood frozen in place while the game played on without him. To the feeling of being out of place—even in a crowd. To the gaze of someone he’d noticed across the field—someone who made something stir within him that he didn’t fully understand yet.

He tried to untangle the knots in his heart. But thoughts turned into whispers, whispers into silence.

And before he could make sense of anything at all… sleep slowly pulled him under, like a tide returning to the sea.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***