17. Signs of a Typhoon
After that night, things became a little awkward with Junhyuk. However, I didn't have time to dwell on it since a typhoon was approaching.
As we got closer to Mindanao, the weather, which had been pleasant for two days, seemed like nothing but a fleeting dream. The boat swayed violently.
Fortunately, we had already secured our belongings beforehand, as the clouds started to thicken. Otherwise, everything would have fallen to the floor or broken. Even so, I couldn't let my guard down. Every time the boat rocked, the shelves creaked and groaned, adding to my unease.
In the pitch-black sea, the only thing visible was the ominous dark clouds. The light drizzle soon turned into a heavy downpour.
While inspecting the deck with Leo, cold rainwater poured down Se-ah's face.
As the waves, which had been crashing like a Viking ride, calmed for a moment, the door to the passenger cabin slowly creaked open. The boss, his face pale as a sheet, peeked out and shouted toward the control room.
“[Kevin, how many minutes until we reach land?]”
“[About 30 minutes.]”
“[You said 30 minutes last time too, didn't you?]”
“[That's correct.]”
“[Then what is this? Why isn't the time decreasing?]”
Kevin, with a gloomy tone, responded to the panicking boss.
“[That’s because we’ve been in the same spot this whole time.]”
“[T-Then, what does that mean?]”
The widening pupils of Boss Nam were clearly visible even from afar.
“[For now, since it’s dangerous, please stay inside. I’ll inform you after we take additional measures. Please also tell the people in the cabin to stay in a safe place and not move.]”
“[O-Okay, got it.]”
Watching Boss Nam hurriedly retreat inside, Se-ah, who had been organizing the deck, vaguely sensed it as well. Something was definitely going wrong.
Even if the ship swayed because of the rough waves, the fact that it wasn’t moving forward at all indicated that there was a serious issue — whether it was with the ship or with the sea.
As the rain pelted her face like sharp needles, Se-ah brushed back her drenched hair and called out to Leo, who had a grave expression.
“[Leo, what’s the problem?]”
“[Well… I’m not completely sure. We’ll have to hear it from the captain. But when we tried to forcefully change direction earlier, it looks like the rudder broke completely. The ship, which tilted to the right, hasn’t straightened out since.]”
Se-ah, who had only been thinking about the swaying motion, finally noticed that the ship was indeed tilted. The angle wasn’t steep yet, but it could worsen at any moment.
To make matters worse, the wind that had briefly calmed down started blowing in the same direction as the tilt.
“[What? That sounds serious. Shouldn’t we go to Kevin right now?]”
“[I was about to do that since it looks like the deck is somewhat in order. Coco, you should head back to the cabin. It’s too dangerous out here. Something bigger feels like it’s coming.]”
Leo’s anxious gaze quickly turned toward the rain-stopped sky, which had suddenly cleared. It wasn’t a good sign.
While the surroundings remained shrouded in darkness, the clouds above the ship cleared, revealing a deep navy sky dotted with stars. This was no fortunate break — it was the 'eye of the typhoon' they’d only ever heard about.
Seeing the eye of the typhoon in person filled Se-ah with a mix of awe at nature's grandeur and a growing fear that they might never return home.
Of course, being drenched despite wearing a raincoat didn’t help, but the creeping anxiety made her whole body tremble.
Her pale lips quivered as she bit them hard, her gaze fixed blankly on the sky.
Thud.
Suddenly, a warm weight settled on her wet shoulder.
“I was wondering where you went. How long have you been out here? Stop and go inside.”
Junhyuk, having brought a blanket, carefully draped it over Se-ah's shoulders, pointing toward the cabin.
His unexpected kindness left Se-ah's eyes wide in surprise. Up until now, he had been cold and distant, only helping with the bare minimum and pretending not to care.
The warmth radiating from the blanket, and from his touch, made him seem unfamiliar for a moment.
“You should go inside too, Do Junhyuk. It’s dangerous out here.”
Even if the waves had calmed for a while, the wind could pick up at any moment. Unlike Se-ah, who was fully prepared with a life jacket under her raincoat, Junhyuk was only wearing slacks and a single shirt.
Sure, his solid physique was clearly visible under the drenched shirt, but in this situation, even a former marine would be at risk. Her concerned gaze was directed straight at Junhyuk.
Noticing her worried expression, Junhyuk frowned and crossed his arms, his well-built biceps swelling like they could block a needle.
“Do I look so fragile that I’d make you worry? Or do you see me as someone so incompetent that all I can do is watch you struggle by yourself?”
His tone was sharp with irritation.
“That’s not it. I’m just anxious.”
“Anxious about what?”
“The situation isn't good. The captain will give us more details soon, but it seems like the ship is damaged. And the weather is getting worse.”
Junhyuk followed her gaze to the sky, and his face grew unusually serious.
“In a situation like this, shouldn’t you be staying safe inside? What are you doing out here? Go inside, now.”
With a forceful gesture, he turned Se-ah’s body around.
Breaking free from his grip, she grabbed a life jacket from a nearby shelf and handed it to Junhyuk.
“This is my job, and you’re a guest, Junhyuk. Put it on.”
She tried to sound calm as she spoke, but her trembling hands betrayed her unease, and that anxiety was clearly transmitted to him.
“I never thought you’d take on such dangerous tasks.”
Junhyuk’s eyes narrowed sharply as he glanced at the life jacket and then at Se-ah's face.
“I’ve been through plenty of worse things, so it’s fine.”
Back when she had just moved into a rough neighborhood with poor security, she had experienced all sorts of incidents. Thanks to Marino, she never faced a major crisis, but there was a time when a storm blew out her entire window. There was also an incident where a thief broke in through the flimsy entrance door.
Having handled all of that on her own, she thought she’d be able to endure even a typhoon. But, truthfully, this particular typhoon frightened her.
Even so, she had no intention of revealing that fear in front of Do Junhyuk.
Perhaps he noticed her resolve, as he silently tore open the plastic wrap on the life jacket and put it on.
He zipped it up to the top and fastened the buckle securely. Then, he grabbed Se-ah’s arm and pulled her toward him.
“I did as you told me. So now you do as I say. Go inside right away.”
“Alright.”
Leo had already entered the control room, and there was nothing more for her to do as she glanced around the deck.
The deck, which seemed to be tilting even more than before, creaked under her cautious steps as she made her way to the cabin.
At that moment, a change in wind direction sent a powerful gust slamming against the side of the ship.
Bang!
With a thunderous crash, the eye of the typhoon vanished, and the once starry sky was instantly shrouded in a white wall of foam.
The incoming waves seized everything that had been stacked on the deck, carrying it away. Se-ah, standing there defenselessly, was also swept away in an instant.
There was no time to scream.
Saltwater rushed into her nose and mouth, and just as her consciousness began to fade, her body was yanked back. Her vision cleared slightly, and she saw the face of Do Junhyuk, filled with worry.
“Jin Se-ah, get a grip!”
With one hand gripping a pillar for support and the other arm wrapped around her, he pulled her close, almost as if shielding her with his body. He, too, was completely drenched.
At the same time, the ship began to shake wildly.
Splash! Crash!
Every time the waves surged in, it felt as if a giant were gripping the ship with both hands and shaking it. The hull echoed with booming thuds, and the creaking of the stern sounded like it might break apart at any moment.
The ship was now visibly tilting to one side.
“D-Do Junhyuk, what do we do?”
Without realizing it, Se-ah clung tightly to his arm, her voice quivering with fear.
She had always known that death was a constant shadow in life, but now that it was staring her in the face, tears streamed down her cheeks, and her entire body shivered uncontrollably.
“What do you mean, ‘what do we do’? We survive, no matter what. Jin Se-ah, you’ve survived up until now, even in this crazy place.”
He may not have had any concrete solutions, but his firm tone somehow reassured her.
“We have life jackets, and I’m sure they’ve already sent out a distress signal. It’s only a matter of time before help arrives. Plus, there’s a lifeboat. We just have to hold on as long as we can.”
“You’re right.”
Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Se-ah nodded.
Cowering in fear wouldn’t do her any good.
Even in that short moment, the ship’s tilt grew steeper.
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