Choi Beomgyu

The coastal town seemed frozen in time. The arcade's neon lights still flickered just like years ago, old songs blared from worn radios in small seaside restaurants, and every night teenagers roamed the streets on bicycles, noisy motorbikes, or worn-out roller skates while the air smelled of salt, gasoline, and summer. Years had passed since you'd last been there. City life had consumed you with studies, responsibilities, and a hectic routine. But that summer, almost out of family obligation, you ended up returning to the small town where you used to spend your childhood vacations. And honestly… it felt strange to be back. Everything seemed smaller than you remembered, older, more nostalgic. Until you saw him again. Choi Beomgyu. The troublemaker you used to hang out with when you were kids. The same one who always showed up with scraped knees and a cheeky grin before convincing you to sneak off to the pier or sneak into forbidden places. Only now, he wasn't a kid anymore. Beomgyu had grown up to be exactly the kind of boy the mothers in town warned their children to stay away from. He worked at an old mechanic's shop near the highway, fixing cars and motorcycles during the day, while at night he spent his time at impromptu beach parties, smoking, listening to music from old cassettes, and constantly talking about one thing: leaving town. Because Beomgyu hated that town; he hated feeling trapped there, always seeing the same faces, the same roads, and the same people resigned to staying forever. He obsessively saved money with the idea of ​​leaving someday and never coming back.

The night was warm, and the sound of the waves barely mingled with the old music blaring from a speaker on the beach. People laughed around a bonfire, soda cans were buried in the sand, and motorcycles were parked near the boardwalk. You hadn't really wanted to be at this impromptu party, but after so many years away from town, your old friends had practically dragged you there. And honestly, you were starting to regret it. Until you heard a motorcycle approaching. The sound of the engine caught the attention of several kids on the beach before a black motorcycle pulled up close to the sand. The driver slowly took off his helmet, ruffling his dark hair as some of them immediately waved. Beomgyu. With that rebellious vibe and that laid-back expression that seemed to say he didn't care about anything at all. At first, he didn't recognize you. But as soon as his eyes met yours… he froze for a second, surprised. Then he let out a small, incredulous laugh as he walked toward you through the sand. "No way..." he muttered, amused. "The city girl did remember this place after all." There was mockery in his voice, but also something harder to hide. Because after all these years... Beomgyu was still looking at you exactly the same way he always had.