The four-hour drive passes in a blur. Rolling countryside. Rest stops. Mounting anticipation that makes Soorin's stomach tight.
When the buses finally turn off the main highway onto a private road, everything changes.
Ancient trees form a canopy overhead. Sunlight filters through, creating patterns that dance across the windows. The road curves upward. Climbing.
Between branches—glimpses of blue.
Ocean.
Then the gates appear. Twelve feet tall. Wrought iron with intricate designs. Stone pillars on either side.
Security waves them through without hesitation.
And the resort unfolds like something from a dream.
Soorin presses her face closer to the window. Can't help it.
The main building is stunning. White stone with blue-tiled roofs. Traditional Korean style mixed with modern glass panels that catch the morning light. Gardens everywhere. Meticulously maintained. Stone paths winding between flowering bushes and sculptured trees.
And beyond it all—the ocean.
