Jeju International Airport
Since it was the summer break, the whole airport was filled with people coming to Jeju Island. Among these people were the group of Baki Hanma.
Sally, Sujin, Vin Jin, Warren, Max and Derrick looked at the place with excitement. A smile formed on Seongji Yuk's face seeing them so happy. He was carrying little Yenna in a baby stroller.
Baki said to them with a smile, "Boys and girls, don't get all excited here. We are just at the airport."
Max scratched his head, "There are so many people here..."
Derrick smirked, "Jeju island is one of the best tourist spots to visit, after all. Many foreigners visit here every year."
Vin Jin adjusted his sunglasses and looked around. "I've never been on a trip like this before," he said quietly. Warren nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It all feels like a dream."
Sujin turned to them with a bright smile. "Then we better make this trip count! We need to try all the local food and visit every place we can."
Sally pulled out her phone. "I already made a list of places we should visit. There's Seongsan Ilchulbong, Manjanggul Cave, and oh! We have to try the black pork barbeque."
"Black pork?" Max's eyes widened. "Is it really black?"
Derrick laughed. "It's just a special type of pork raised here on the island. It's supposed to be really good."
As they came out of the airport, a car was already there waiting for them. The driver was in the arrivals hall holding a sign with Baki's name. They approached the driver. The driver introduced himself, "Nice to meet you, Sir. I am Seo-joon. Are you Mr. Baki Hanma?"
Baki nodded, "Yes."
Seo-joon said again, "Sir, I have been sent by The Villa Jeju hotel. May I see the confirmation email, Sir?"
Baki took out his phone and showed the confirmation email. Seo-joon looked at it carefully and smiled. "Perfect. Everything is in order. Please, let me help you with your bags."
Behind, everyone was shocked by seeing all this, especially seeing the luxury sedan behind the driver. "So extravagant!"
Max whispered to Derrick, "Dude, that car looks expensive. Like, really expensive."
Derrick whistled low. "That's a Genesis G90. Those cost more than most people make in a year."
Warren pulled Vin Jin aside. "Hey, are we sure we can afford this? This seems way too fancy."
Vin Jin shrugged. "Baki-hyung said not to worry about money. He's paying for everything."
"But still..." Warren frowned. "This feels weird. I'm not used to this kind of treatment."
Seongji overheard them and spoke up. "Baki wanted to do something special for everyone. Just enjoy it. You all deserve a good vacation."
Everyone got in the car. The inside was even more luxurious than the outside. The seats were leather and incredibly comfortable. There was plenty of legroom. Sally ran her hand over the smooth surface of the seat. "This is nicer than my bed at home," she muttered.
Sujin smiled, "Hehe! I wonder how good the hotel is going to be."
During the drive, Seo-joon talked about many things. "If you're looking for beaches, Hyeopjae and Hamdeok are the best. The water is crystal clear. For hiking, definitely check out Hallasan Mountain, though it's a full day trip."
"What about food?" Max asked immediately.
Seo-joon grinned at the rearview mirror. "Our hotel can provide that but, there's a great seafood restaurant near our hotel. They serve fresh abalone and sea urchin. And you must try the Jeju tangerines. They're in season right now and incredibly sweet."
"What else should we see?" Sally leaned forward.
"The Seongeup Folk Village is interesting if you want to learn about traditional Jeju life. There's also the Teddy Bear Museum, though that's more for kids." Seo-joon paused. "Oh, and if you like nature, the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is beautiful. It's especially nice in the evening."
Sally was taking notes on her phone. "How far is everything from the hotel?"
"Nothing is too far. Jeju is a small island. You can drive across it in a few hours. But I recommend taking your time. There's a lot to see along the way."
They passed through areas with strange black rocks. "Those are volcanic rocks," Seo-joon explained. "Jeju was formed by volcanic activity. That's why the landscape looks so unique."
Max pressed his face against the window. "Wow, I've never seen rocks like that before."
"You'll see them everywhere on the island," Seo-joon said. "People use them to build walls. They're called doldam."
Vin Jin looked out at the ocean in the distance. The water was a deep blue, darker than he expected. "The sea looks different here."
"It's the cleanest water in Korea," Seo-joon said proudly. "Jeju is famous for its clean environment."
Unknowingly, they had reached the hotel. Sujin and Sally peeked at the large five-star hotel. The building was modern with white walls and large glass windows. Palm trees lined the entrance. A fountain sat in the center of the circular driveway.
Sally muttered, "Are we really going to live here for the next few days...?!"
Warren looked at the dazed Sally with a smile. Since 'that' incident, Sally has become someone who often hides her true feelings. So, seeing her genuinely happy and surprised made him glad.
Sally grabbed Sujin's arm. "Pinch me. I think I'm dreaming."
"If you're dreaming, then I'm dreaming too," Sujin replied.
Everyone got out of the car. Staffs came out to carry the luggage. They were all wearing neat uniforms and smiled politely. "Welcome to The Villa Jeju," one of them said with a bow.
Vin Jin watched nervously as they took his worn backpack. "Uh, be careful with that. It has my expensive glasses."
"Of course, sir. We'll take good care of it," the staff member assured him.
They walked into the lobby. The ceiling was high with a huge chandelier hanging in the center. The floor was polished marble that reflected the light. Comfortable sofas and chairs were arranged in groups. Soft music played in the background.
"This is insane," Warren whispered.
They checked in at the hotel. The receptionist was a young woman with perfect makeup and a bright smile. "Welcome, Mr. Hanma. We've been expecting you. You've booked interconnected rooms on the eighth floor. All of them have ocean views."
Baki nodded. "Thank you."
"Here are your room keys. Breakfast is served from six to ten in the morning on the second floor. We also have a gym, swimming pool, and spa. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call the front desk."
She handed over four key cards. Baki distributed them among the group.
They have booked a total of four twin rooms. The girls excitedly checked their room, while the boys were having difficulty over choosing their rooms.
"I call dibs on rooming with Derrick!" Max shouted.
"What? I won't stay with Warren." Vin Jin declared.
Derrick sighed. "Let's just draw straws or something."
"I want to room with someone quiet," Warren also said. "Vin Jin, you snore."
"I do not!" Vin Jin's face turned ugly.
"Yes, you do."
The boys continued arguing. Seongji shook his head and walked to his own room. He needed to put Yenna down for a proper nap. Baki let the boys figure it out themselves.
Meanwhile, Sally and Sujin entered their room. They both gasped at the same time. The room was spacious with two large beds covered in white linens. A flat-screen TV hung on the wall. Floor-to-ceiling windows showed a perfect view of the ocean. There was a small balcony with two chairs.
"This is unbelievable," Sujin said. She walked to the window and pressed her hands against the glass. The ocean stretched out endlessly, sparkling under the afternoon sun.
Sally jumped onto one of the beds. "This bed is so soft! It's like lying on a cloud!"
She rolled around, laughing. Sujin joined her on the other bed. They both lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling.
"I can't believe we're really here," Sally said softly. "I wish Heather was here with us..."
The atmosphere turned solemn.
Sujin turned her head to look at Sally. "Let's check out the other things, okay?"
"Yeah," Sally smiled. "Let's do that."
They got up and explored the rest of the room. The bathroom was marble with a large bathtub and a separate shower. There were fancy toiletries lined up on the counter. Fluffy white towels hung on heated racks.
"I'm definitely taking a bath later," Sally declared.
Back in the hallway, the boys had finally sorted things out. Max was rooming with Derrick. Warren ended up with Vin Jin.
"Fine, but you can't snore. If you do, I will wake you up," Warren told Vin Jin.
"I was going to say the same thing to you," Vin Jin replied.
Warren and Vin Jin entered their room. It was identical to the girls' room. Warren immediately went to the balcony and opened the door. The sea breeze hit his face. He could hear the distant sound of waves.
"Vin Jin, look at this view!"
Vin Jin joined him on the balcony. They stood there quietly, taking it all in.
"This is really nice," Warren said. "Baki-hyung really went all out for us."
"Yeah," Vin Jin agreed. "We should thank him properly later."
Max and Derrick were unpacking their bags. Derrick was neat and organized, folding everything carefully. Max just tossed his clothes into the drawer.
"Do you have to be so messy?" Derrick asked.
"It's just for a few days. What's the point of being super organized?"
Derrick didn't respond. He knew arguing would be pointless.
Seongji looked at the sleeping Yenna and then at the kids with a smile. He gently placed her in the portable crib he had brought. She looked peaceful, her tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. He sat down on the edge of his bed and let out a long breath.
Baki clapped his hands outside in the hallway where everyone had gathered again. "Guys, select your rooms and everything, we are gonna go visit the Hyeopjae Beach after getting some rest, okay?"
The boys raised their hands in excitement, "YES!"
"How long do we have to rest?" Max asked.
Baki checked his watch. "Let's meet back here in two hours. That should give everyone enough time to settle in and maybe take a quick nap."
"Two hours? That's so long!" Sally complained.
Sujin elbowed her. "That's barely enough time to shower and get ready."
"Fine, fine," Sally said. "Two hours it is."
Everyone went back to their rooms. The hotel was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioning. In their room, Sally and Sujin decided to rest for a bit. Sally set an alarm on her phone.
"I'm too excited to sleep," Sally said, but her eyes were already closing.
Within minutes, both girls were asleep. The trip had been long, and the excitement had worn them out.
In Vin Jin and Warren's room, Vin Jin was also trying to nap. Warren sat on the balcony, looking at the ocean. A vague image flashed in his mind. "...Eli"
Derrick was reading a book he had brought. Max was scrolling through his phone, looking at tourist attractions. He saved several places to his photos.
"Hey Derrick, want to rent scooters tomorrow?" Max asked.
"Maybe. Let's see how everyone feels."
"It would be cool to ride around the island."
"Yeah, but some people might not know how to ride scooters."
"True," Max hadn't thought of that.
The two hours passed quickly. One by one, everyone emerged from their rooms. Sally looked refreshed, her hair in a ponytail. Sujin had changed into a light sundress. The boys wore casual shorts and t-shirts.
Baki did a headcount. "Everyone ready?"
"Ready!" they all replied.
Seongji came out last, pushing Yenna's stroller. The little girl was awake now, looking around with curious eyes.
"Let's go enjoy the beach," Baki said with a grin.
They all headed to the elevator, chattering excitedly. The vacation had officially begun.