Jeju International Airport was packed. Summer break had brought half the country to the island, and the terminal buzzed with noise and movement.
Baki's group moved through the crowd together. Sally, Sujin, Vin Jin, Warren, Max, and Derrick all looked around with wide eyes. Seongji walked beside them, pushing Yenna in her stroller. He watched their faces and smiled to himself.
"Boys and girls," Baki said with a grin, "don't get all excited yet. We're still at the airport."
Max scratched his head. "There are so many people here."
"Jeju is one of the best tourist spots in the country," Derrick said, glancing around. "Foreigners come here from all over the world."
Vin Jin adjusted his sunglasses and looked around slowly. "I've never been on a trip like this before," he said quietly.
Warren nodded. "Yeah. It feels like a dream."
Sujin turned to them with a bright smile. "Then we better make it count. Local food, every landmark, all of it."
Sally already had her phone out. "I made a list. Seongsan Ilchulbong, Manjanggul Cave, and we have to try the black pork barbecue."
Max turned to her. "Black pork? Is it actually black?"
Derrick laughed. "It's just a special breed raised here on the island. Supposed to be really good."
When they stepped outside, a driver was already waiting in the arrivals hall. He held a sign with Baki's name on it. They walked over.
"Nice to meet you, sir," the driver said with a polite nod. "I'm Seo-joon. Are you Mr. Baki Hanma?"
"Yes," Baki said.
"I've been sent by The Villa Jeju hotel. May I see the confirmation email?"
Baki took out his phone and held it up. Seo-joon checked it carefully and smiled. "Perfect. Everything is in order. Please let me help with your bags."
Behind them, everyone had already spotted the car parked at the curb.
Max whispered to Derrick, "That car looks expensive. Like, really expensive."
Derrick let out a low whistle. "That's a Genesis G90. Those cost more than most people make in a year."
Warren pulled Vin Jin aside. "Are we sure we can afford this? This feels way too fancy."
Vin Jin shrugged. "Baki-hyung said not to worry about money. He's covering everything."
Warren frowned. "Still. I'm not used to this kind of treatment."
Seongji had overheard them. "Baki wanted to do something special for everyone," he said simply. "Just enjoy it. You all deserve a break."
They got in the car. The inside was even better than the outside. Wide leather seats, plenty of legroom, and a quiet that felt deliberate. Sally ran her hand over the armrest and muttered, "This is nicer than my bed at home."
Sujin laughed. "I wonder how good the hotel is going to be."
Seo-joon talked during the drive, relaxed and easy. "For beaches, Hyeopjae and Hamdeok are the best. The water is crystal clear. If you want to hike, Hallasan Mountain is worth a full day."
"What about food?" Max asked immediately.
Seo-joon glanced at the rearview mirror with a grin. "There's a great seafood place near the hotel. Fresh abalone and sea urchin. And you have to try the Jeju tangerines. They're in season and very sweet."
"What else should we see?" Sally leaned forward.
"Seongeup Folk Village if you want traditional Jeju life. Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is beautiful, especially in the evening. Nothing is too far. You can drive across the whole island in a few hours, but I'd recommend taking your time."
They passed through stretches of black rock along the roadside. "Those are volcanic rocks," Seo-joon said. "Jeju was formed by volcanic activity. The whole island looks like this."
Max pressed his face against the window. "I've never seen rocks like that before."
"You'll see them everywhere," Seo-joon said. "People use them to build walls. They're called doldam."
Vin Jin looked out at the ocean. 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, and there was genuine pride in his voice.
Before long, the car slowed and turned into a driveway. Sujin and Sally pressed close to the window. The building was modern and white with large glass windows that caught the afternoon light. Palm trees lined the entrance. A fountain sat in the center of the circular driveway, and hotel staff were already moving toward the car.
Sally stared at it. "Are we really going to live here for the next few days?"
Warren looked over at her and smiled quietly. Since the incident, Sally had gotten good at keeping her feelings locked down. Seeing her genuinely caught off guard made him glad.
Sally grabbed Sujin's arm. "Pinch me. I think I'm dreaming."
Sujin smiled. "If you're dreaming, then I'm dreaming too."
They climbed out of the car. Staff members appeared immediately, moving to collect the luggage with smooth efficiency. Their uniforms were neat and their bows were polite. "Welcome to The Villa Jeju," one of them said.
Vin Jin watched nervously as a staff member reached for his worn backpack. "Be careful with that. I have expensive glasses in there."
"Of course, sir. We'll take good care of it," the staff member said without missing a beat.
They walked into the lobby. The ceiling was high, with a large chandelier at the center. The floor was polished marble. Soft music played somewhere in the background.
Warren whispered, "This is insane."
The receptionist at the front desk smiled as they approached. "Welcome, Mr. Hanma. We've been expecting you. You've booked interconnected rooms on the eighth floor, all with ocean views."
"Thank you," Baki said.
"Breakfast runs from six to ten on the second floor. We also have a gym, swimming pool, and spa. Please don't hesitate to call the front desk if you need anything." She slid four key cards across the desk. Baki picked them up and handed them out.
They had booked four twin rooms total. The girls headed straight for theirs. The boys immediately started arguing.
"I call dibs on rooming with Derrick!" Max announced.
Vin Jin crossed his arms. "I'm not staying with Warren."
"Good, because I don't want to room with someone who snores," Warren said flatly.
Vin Jin's expression darkened. "I do not snore."
"Yes, you do."
"I really don't."
Derrick sighed. "Can we just draw straws?"
Seongji didn't wait for the outcome. He took his key card and wheeled Yenna down the hall. She needed a proper nap and he wasn't going to stand in a hallway arguing about roommates. Baki let the boys sort it out themselves.
Sally and Sujin stepped into their room and both went quiet at the same time. Two large beds with white linens, a flat-screen TV on the wall, and floor-to-ceiling windows that opened up to a full view of the ocean. A small balcony sat just beyond the glass with two chairs facing the water.
"This is unbelievable," Sujin said. She walked straight to the window and pressed her hands against the glass. The ocean stretched out under the afternoon sun.
Sally dropped onto one of the beds. "This is so soft! It's like lying on a cloud!" She rolled across it, laughing. Sujin dropped onto the other one and they both lay there staring at the ceiling.
"I can't believe we're really here," Sally said. Her voice went softer. "I wish Heather was here with us."
The room went quiet.
Sujin turned her head to look at her. "Let's check out the rest of the place, okay?"
Sally smiled. "Yeah. Let's do that."
The bathroom was marble, with a large bathtub, a separate shower, and fancy toiletries lined along the counter. Fluffy white towels hung on heated racks.
"I'm definitely taking a bath later," Sally declared.
Out in the hall, the boys had finally worked it out. Max was rooming with Derrick. Warren ended up with Vin Jin.
Warren pointed at him as they walked in. "If you snore, I'm waking you up."
"I was going to say the same thing to you," Vin Jin replied.
Warren went straight to the balcony and pushed the door open. The sea breeze hit his face. He could hear the faint sound of waves. A vague image crossed his mind before he could stop it. Eli.
He stood there quietly.
Vin Jin joined him after a moment. They didn't say anything for a while.
"Baki-hyung really went all out for us," Warren said.
"Yeah," Vin Jin agreed. "We should thank him properly."
In the next room, Derrick unpacked carefully, folding each item before placing it in the drawer. Max tossed his clothes in loose and closed the drawer with his knee.
Derrick looked at him. "Do you have to be so messy?"
"It's just a few days," Max said. "What's the point?" He was already on his phone, saving photos of tourist spots to his gallery. "Hey, want to rent scooters tomorrow?"
"Maybe," Derrick said. "Depends on how everyone feels."
"It would be fun to ride around the island."
"Some people might not know how to ride one."
Max paused. He hadn't thought of that.
Down the hall, Seongji sat on the edge of his bed and looked at Yenna sleeping in her portable crib. Her chest rose and fell steadily. He let out a slow breath and let himself relax for the first time all day.
Two hours later, everyone filed back into the hallway. Sally looked refreshed, her hair up in a ponytail. Sujin had changed into a light sundress. The boys came out in shorts and t-shirts. Seongji was last, pushing Yenna's stroller. She was awake now, looking around at everything with curious eyes.
Baki did a headcount and grinned. "Let's go enjoy the beach."
Everyone piled into the elevator, loud and restless. The vacation had started.