Chapter 16: Jjunie
Since no one was around anyway, Doyeong stepped out of his pants like he would when going from his room to the bathroom.
He left them on the beach like a shed snakeskin as he entered the sea.
He threw himself into the water as if embracing it.
After washing lightly, he swam slowly.
The sky was blue, and so was the ocean.
Doyeong submerged his head completely before rising up and sweeping back his hair.
Transparent droplets rolled down his body clad only in black underwear.
Just then, something passed by his side.
When he instinctively turned, Gamal was gliding past like a water snake - completely naked.
Though submerged, her uncovered body undulated clearly beneath the transparent water’s surface.
Doyeong was so astonished he asked:
“What are you doing?”
Gamal looked at him.
“Swimming.”
“Can’t you see I’m wearing underwear? Why are you completely naked?”
He’d shown restraint precisely because there was a woman present.
“The Captain should take everything off too.”
As she said this, Gamal leaned back and waved her arms.
Though the water was transparent enough to see everything, her utter nonchalance made it feel less indecent.
Her white, smooth skin gave the impression of a boiled egg.
Doyeong found himself in a strangely thoughtless state.
Turning away, Doyeong watched the back of Gamal’s head as she swam past like a dog and said:
“Sorry, but I’m civilized.”
“The Captain keeps harping on about being civilized. Doesn’t seem that great to me.”
“Where did you even learn the word ‘harping’? Are you really that bad at French? And why isn’t it great?”
Doyeong asked while washing his face with seawater, not looking at Gamal.
“Too many things to know and do.”
Splash splash.
Gamal kicked backward as she answered.
“But at least I’m not lonely.”
“Then would I stop being lonely too? If I became civilized?”
“Better than living alone on this island at least.”
Doyeong raised his head to gaze at the ocean, one hand on his hip as he swept back his hair.
Standing nearly naked before the open horizon gave him a liberating feeling of freedom from worldly troubles.
“But I’m not lonely anymore.”
Her suddenly serious tone made Doyeong turn around.
“Because the Captain is here.”
Having swum backward to shore, Gamal now sat where the water lapped at her waist.
Like a mermaid accidentally beached in shallow waters, her dazzling white upper body was exposed as she looked at him.
Her wet black hair clung to skin that shone whiter than sunlit sand, her eyes glowing beautifully.
The moment stretched until water droplets rolling down Doyeong’s neck reminded them of time’s passage.
Suddenly making a fierce expression, Doyeong came striding through splashing waves toward her.
Even his muscles seemed angry as they rippled.
“Why are you...”
The shadow fell over Gamal as she spoke in surprise.
The next instant she was lying back as Doyeong kissed her.
He lay stretched atop her body while gentle waves washed between their tangled legs and receded again.
The weight pressing her down felt pleasant.
Instinctively, Gamal wrapped her arms around Doyeong’s neck.
When he pulled back roughly from the kiss:
“Do you say such cute things to all the men who come here?”
Gamal’s eyes rolled slightly before answering:
“You’re my first Captain.”
Doyeong kissed her again.
He couldn’t define what he felt for this enigmatic vampire.
Resentment, pity, suspicion, affection - a whirlpool of emotions drove him forward.
The campfire crackled.
Doyeong stared at Gamal’s profile illuminated by the flames and thought:
‘It’s hard to believe she’s keeping me here with some ulterior motive.’
There were circumstances, but they seemed more personal than related to him.
He suspected someone of poor character might be pursuing Gamal.
If so, given how long she’d lived on this island, that person was likely also a vampire.
It seemed she was preventing him from leaving to protect him from whatever that stalker might do.
Truthfully, it wasn’t surprising that such obsession followed her.
Despite her appearance, she was irresistibly cute and lovable.
“My name is Doyeong.”
Doyeong suddenly declared.
Gamal turned to him, confused:
“But you’re the Captain?”
“That’s my rank, you idiot.”
The catharsis of finally saying this felt like a weight lifting.
“Rank?”
Gamal tilted her head.
“I’m a soldier.”
“Soldier? Warrior?”
“Similar.”
Gamal nodded.
“That’s how you could fight me.”
Doyeong smiled bitterly.
“Though I lost miserably. I guess the gap between humans and Luas can’t be helped.”
“I tried hard.”
Doyeong retorted incredulously:
“You think I didn’t?”
“Very hard. Every day.”
Gamal was serious.
“Why? If you’re a vampire, physical prowess should come naturally. Why push yourself so far?”
Gamal looked like she’d slipped up and sealed her lips again.
This too seemed connected to whatever was keeping him on the island.
To change the subject, Gamal asked:
“So the Captain’s name is Doyeong?”
“Yes. Doyeong de Fer.”
“Doyeong de Fer...”
Gamal mouthed the name before beaming.
“It’s cool.”
Doyeong felt an unexpected pang in his chest.
When he simply stared at her intensely, Gamal tilted her head.
“Doyeong?”
Doyeong abruptly stood up.
“Bedtime.”
“Already?”
“We’ve eaten and brushed teeth. Nothing else to do anyway.”
A pity indeed.
The moment Doyeong half-awoke, he realized Gamal was sitting beside him, watching.
It was truly baffling.
‘What are you really doing?’
Lately, Gamal didn’t even try hiding her infatuation.
A five-year-old could conceal their feelings better.
Dawn hadn’t broken yet - it felt like he’d just fallen asleep.
This meant Gamal had stayed awake watching him.
Should he call this creepy or endearing...
Then -
Thud.
Something like a stone hit the log cabin’s exterior wall.
Gamal startled and turned.
She quickly rose and slipped outside without a sound.
Click.
The door closed softly.
Doyeong opened his eyes suspiciously and looked back.
Rustling sounds faded outside as presence vanished.
Doyeong frowned.
He considered following but waited instead.
Soon, Gamal returned.
Feigning sleepiness, Doyeong asked:
“Where’d you go?”
“Bathroom.”
Gamal innocently lay back down.
Doyeong turned away, wide-eyed in the dark.
Now he was certain:
‘There’s someone else on this island.’
Over next morning’s meal, he asked:
“What’s on the other side of the island anyway?”
Gamal, mid-bite, widened her eyes.
She swallowed before answering:
“Nothing.”
“Really?”
Doyeong didn’t press further.
After cleaning up, he casually remarked:
“Let’s go exploring.”
“Huh?”
Gamal blinked.
Doyeong stood decisively.
“To the other side.”
Gamal jumped up.
“No! There’s... a scary beast.”
“You just said there was nothing.”
“I lied so you wouldn’t worry. It’s huge and fierce.”
Her tone resembled adults scaring children into bed.
Doyeong looked skeptical.
“Never heard any beast cries.”
“Human ears can’t.”
Any beast large enough to warrant such warning would’ve been audible even to human ears.
Doyeong shrugged.
“Tired of staying near camp. Let’s go. Besides...”
He eyed Gamal up and down.
“The most dangerous animal here seems to be you.”
Gamal hesitated but knew further objections would seem suspicious.
Doyeong was already packing her crossbody bag.
“Let’s go.”
Before she could protest, he set off.
“Doyeong, wait!”
Gamal hurried after.
Unsurprisingly, the forest remained unchanged from their last visit.
No traces of anything beyond ordinary wildlife.
“Let’s go back.”
Gamal urged cautiously.
Doyeong glanced back.
“We have time.”
‘Should I break his leg again?’
Gamal briefly considered before dismissing it.
Even if last time was an accident, she couldn’t intentionally hurt him.
Moreover, he’d notice and be furious.
She hated when Doyeong got angry.
Ahead, Doyeong pushed through foliage unhesitatingly, as if knowing the path.
Gamal grew anxious.
“Doyeong, sunset.”
Doyeong observed the orange-tinged sky.
Though having a vampire guide prevented getting lost in darkness, anything dangerous would remain invisible to him.
Reluctantly, he conceded.
“Let’s return.”
Passing Gamal, he started back.
She followed, relieved.
“What should we eat?”
“Meat.”
“Doyeong loves meat.”
“You don’t?”
Rustle.
After they left, bushes shook.
A mud-caked bare foot emerged from the foliage.
“Goodnight.”
“You too.”
They exchanged curt goodnights.
Silence fell.
Gamal listened to Doyeong’s breathing gradually steady.
Once certain he slept, she crept toward the door.
Doyeong quietly opened his eyes - fully alert.
He maintained steady breaths to avoid detection.
Click.
The cabin door closed behind Gamal.
Doyeong waited, then suddenly rose and called outside:
“Gamal.”
A startled rustle preceded Gamal emerging from bushes.
“Doyeong? Awake?”
He gestured where she’d come from.
“What were you doing?”
“Bathroom.”
When Doyeong moved to check, Gamal subtly blocked him.
“Where are you going?”
“Where do you think?”
Doyeong pushed through the bushes.
Gamal followed, asking:
“Not too dark?”
“I know this path.”
Suddenly, Gamal retreated a step.
