Kang Min-ji
Kang Min-ji sat restlessly in her father's office, her fingers tapping nervously on the polished surface of the table. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn't about to let anyone stand in her way—not even her perpetually busy father. Leaning forward, she fixed her gaze on him, her expression pleading.
"Daddy, your beloved daughter wants to enjoy her weekend on the cruise with her boyfriend. Can't you do that much for me?" she whined, her voice a mixture of frustration and desperation.
The man seated across from her, Mr. Kang, sighed heavily, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the clock on the wall. He had a meeting to attend, and his daughter's demands were the last thing he wanted to deal with at the moment. He waved a hand dismissively, turning to his assistant, Taemin, who stood nearby.
"Taemin, do well to give her the money she is asking for. I am having a meeting soon," he instructed, his tone clipped with annoyance.
Taemin nodded obediently, jotting down a quick note before excusing himself to carry out his boss's orders. Mr. Kang then turned his attention back to his daughter, his expression softening slightly as he reached out to gently stroke her head.
"Don't worry, dearest. My assistant will help you with whatever you need, so be a good girl for Daddy," he said, his voice tinged with a mixture of affection and resignation. With that, he rose from his seat and left the office, leaving Min-ji to stew in her own thoughts.
Min-ji watched her father go, a mixture of frustration and longing swirling inside her. She had grown accustomed to his absence over the years, but that didn't make it any easier to bear. With a heavy sigh, she gathered her things and made her way out of the office, her mind already drifting to thoughts of the impending cruise.
Outside the company building, Min-ji's boyfriend, Hyuga, waited patiently for her, a small smile playing on his lips as he caught sight of her approaching. He fell into step beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they walked.
"What did your daddy say?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
A flicker of excitement danced in Min-ji's eyes as she recounted her father's reluctant acquiescence to her request. "He said whatever I wanted, so let's do well to purchase those tickets and have a nice weekend," she replied, a grin spreading across her face.
Hyuga chuckled softly, squeezing her shoulder affectionately. "Sounds like a plan, babe. Let's make it a weekend to remember," he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
" Thursday,September 24th, 2023, is the day of our departure, babe. Don't forget," she reminded Hyuga, a playful grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
Hyuga smiled back, his eyes shining with affection. "I promise I won't. I'll be here before you step foot out of the house, promise," he vowed, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her lips before bidding her goodnight.
As Min-ji lay in bed that night, her thoughts drifted to her mother, her fingers tracing the edges of the photograph that sat on her bedside table. "Today again, Daddy is not back early. Mum, was Daddy like this before you? I'm sure he wasn't," she murmured softly, the ache of loneliness gnawing at her heart.
Her musings were interrupted by the appearance of her younger sister, Min-ah, who peeked her head through the door with a concerned expression. "Min-ji, little sister, looks like you can't sleep," she observed, stepping into the room at her sister's invitation.
Min-ji sighed, scooting over to make room for Min-ah on the bed. "I can't. Would you mind coming in for a sec?" she asked, her voice tinged with vulnerability.
Min-ah nodded, settling herself beside Min-ji and resting her head on her chest. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.
Min-ji hesitated for a moment before pouring out her heart to her sister, her words a jumble of longing and sadness. "Nothing, just craving a bit more love. Min-ah, what was Mum like when she was alive?" she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.
And so, nestled together in the darkness, Min-ah recounted tales of their mother—her grace, her strength, her unwavering love. As her sister's soothing words washed over her, Min-ji felt herself drifting off to sleep, a sense of peace settling over her troubled heart.
The day of their cruise adventure dawned bright and clear, the anticipation hanging heavy in the air as Min-ji and Hyuga made their final preparations. As they stood on the deck of the ship, watching as it pulled away from the dock, Min-ji couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through her veins. But not much was done on the first day.
The next day dawned bright and clear, the promise of adventure hanging in the air as Min-ji and Hyuga set out to explore everything the cruise had to offer.
" The sea is beautiful. I didn't get to admire it yesterday because I spent the whole night before packing. Babe, what are we doing today? ", Min-ji said filled with excitement. They stood at the observation deck admiring the reflection of light on the sea that made it shimmering.
" We have a lot", Hyuga replied.
From shopping to dining to swimming, they indulged in every luxury the ship had to offer, their laughter mingling with the salty sea breeze as they made memories to last a lifetime.
As evening fell, they found themselves at the ship's bar, a VIP room reserved just for them. They sang karaoke, played games, and danced the night away, their love burning bright against the backdrop of the moonlit sea.
As Hyuga stepped out onto the observation deck, he was greeted by a rush of cool night air. The events of the evening had left him feeling slightly woozy, the effects of the alcohol lingering in his veins. He leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse of the ocean stretching out before him, its surface shimmering faintly in the moonlight.
As he stood there, lost in thought, he heard a faint sound drifting through the night—a voice calling his name. Startled, he turned to see Min-ji stumbling towards him, her movements unsteady as she navigated the deck in her high heels. Despite her slightly disheveled appearance, there was a brightness in her eyes that warmed his heart.
"You are such a baby," he teased, a fond smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he reached out to steady her.
Min-ji giggled, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Yay! My babe is here," she exclaimed, her voice filled with glee as she took a step towards him.
With a rush of affection, Hyuga moved to meet her halfway, his arms open wide to welcome her into his embrace. But before he could reach her, disaster struck. In her drunken state, Min-ji missed a step, her heels catching on the uneven surface of the deck. With a startled cry, she pitched forward, her body careening towards the railing.
Without a second thought, Hyuga leapt into action, pressing the distress button on the wall before diving into the icy waters below.
Minutes stretched into eternity as Hyuga searched frantically for any sign of his beloved, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought against the relentless pull of the sea. And then, finally, he found her—a limp figure floating just beneath the surface.
With a strength born of desperation, Hyuga pulled Min-ji's lifeless body from the water, cradling her close as he swam back towards the ship. The rescue team was waiting for them as they reached the deck, their faces grim as they worked to revive her.
But despite their best efforts, it was too late. Min-ji was gone, her life snuffed out in the blink of an eye. And as Hyuga held her lifeless form in his arms, tears streaming down his face, he knew that his world would never be the same again.
25th September, 2023...