Hidden Mate

4. Stranded

During his stay in the village, Jay always reflected on his wife's behavior. But the funny thing is, Jay never resented her. He saw Hazel's anger as an expression of her care but in a different way.

Jay felt comfortable next to Hazel. Her anger and chatter were like entertainment amid the chaos of his life, even though he was also curious about why Hazel treated him like that.

Before he told his family about bringing Hazel to Seoul, Jay was called by the management.

"Why are you calling me at this time of night?"

"Why are you angry? I haven't even called you in the weeks you've been there. How's that? Have you gotten better? Have you consulted about your mental health?"

"That's easy business. I still have a week left, anyway. You gave me two months, right?"

"No. You have to come back next week."

So, taking Hazel to Seoul was the best choice.

"Why do I have to do it?" protested Hazel.

She had just returned from a patient's home visit. When she got off the bike, Mrs. Song asked her to take Jay for a walk around the village to see the sea.

Mrs. Song saw Hazel's sardonic gaze at her husband. "Hey! What's that gaze? Did I ever teach you that?"

"Go away! The sunset there is beautiful," Mrs. Song continued. "You're going to Seoul anyway. There's no stunning scenery like this!"

Watching Hazel and her mother continue to argue, Jay opted for a shortcut. "I can walk there myself, Mom."

"No!" Mrs. Song picked up the broom she was carrying.

"Okay!"

Reluctantly, Hazel took her husband to the pier to see the sea like her mother had said. Even the mother deliberately did that so that Hazel and Jay could approach each other again after a long separation.

"My Brody, Jay!"

"What are you doing there?" Hazel was surprised to find her younger sister on the pier.

"You're so noisy!" grumbled Elsa. "You're his wife, so you should accompany him, and he never fishes anyway!"

"That's right!" Jay agreed.

The long-haired beauty grumbled at this. Hazel felt like the movement of her life was becoming more claustrophobic as he appeared in front of her. And now Hazel had to accompany him around the island?

"Uncle!" Elsa called out to the fisherman who was going out to sea.

"Hi, Elsa! Oh, there's Hazel too." Then the fisherman's eyes narrowed to take in the handsome figure beside Hazel.

"Hello, sir! I'm Jay."

"He's Hazel's husband. Did you forget?" Elsa confirmed.

"No need to remind him!" snapped Hazel as the fisherman tried to remember.

"Alright, you guys go up first!" said Elsa, who the couple obeyed. "Uncle! Please take my brother fishing!"

Hazel widened her eyes. "Hey! Aren't you coming?"

"Why not? You should experience a different atmosphere." Elsa stuck out her tongue, then turned back to the fisherman. "Please take care of this couple, uncle!"

Hazel panicked. "Hey, aren't you in too?"

"Why would I bother a married couple?"

Hazel couldn't understand her sister's behavior. She held back her unexpressed anger as Jay happily waved goodbye to Elsa.

"Thank you, Elsa. We'll go enjoy the sunset while fishing!" Jay put his arm around Hazel.

"Enjoy your time together!"

Boom!

"Argh!" Jay winced in pain as his body fell to the boat floor due to Hazel's powerful push.

As the boat started to move, Hazel closed her eyes along with the sea breeze that continued to blow her hair. Foolishly, she only realized that this must have something to do with her sister's ridiculous plan. But he was already on the ocean. There was no way to escape.

"Is closing your eyes a way to calm down?" Jay tried to follow Hazel.

"Are you crazy?!" Hazel punched the man's thigh. "I'm neutralizing my emotions, turd!"

Jay just smacked his lips. It seemed like he was not allowed to do anything. For the fishing case, he even asked the fisherman to help him until he finally did it himself and landed a big fish, but his wife didn't care anything.

"Argh! How is this?" the fisherman complained.

"What's wrong, sir?" asked Hazel.

"The boat engine died."

"Huh?!" the couple shouted.

"We'll have to spend the night on the other side of the island."

"Uncle!" Hazel squealed. "You can pull over. Why can't you go back to the village?"

"The engine died. The remaining power can only take us as far as Gapa Island." The fisherman pointed out a small island on the other side.

The woman screamed silently. Hazel was so frustrated that she wanted to grab the steering wheel even though she couldn't control the boat because she didn't want to be stranded with her husband.

However, Jay kept her from being rash.

"Don't be stubborn, Hazel! You can't even steer it. What if you insist on doing it and it becomes a disaster?" Jay emphasized.

"That's right, Miss. It's safer for us to pull over in the meantime. I'll fix up the ship so we can return tomorrow morning."

Hazel ran a hand through her hair, which was messy in the wind, while venting all her worries.

"What your husband says is true, Miss," the Fisherman continued. "Besides, you have your husband to take care of you. Don't worry."

Hazel turned her head lazily, aiming at Jay as he winked at her. It was irritating.

But the fisherman's words had absolutely no truth to them. On the way to the inn he'd been told about, Jay repeatedly screamed as he heard the sounds of animals and ocean waves crashing against each other in the dim atmosphere of the island. He was also clutching Hazel's arm tightly.

What a coward!

"No! I'm not scared!" said Jay. He squared his shoulders. "I'm just not used to lonely places. You know what? My life has always consisted of glorious things... Argh!" he shouted, wrapping his arms around Hazel. "What is it?"

Hazel chuckled. "A coward always talks too much."

"Is this the inn?" Jay confirmed that traditional home.

But Hazel only shot him a sarcastic look. "How long are you going to keep holding my arm?"

Jay then released the tight grip. "Alright, let's book a room right away!"

They were at a traditional inn. A building with a thatched roof and stone and clay walls.

"We booked two rooms. Why are you giving us this?" Hazel confirmed again with the innkeeper's old lady.

"She said you're husband and wife." The fisherman said that you were husband and wife.

Hazel exhaled loudly, then looked at a confused-looking Jay. The woman signaled with her eyes for Jay to change rooms.

Jay cleared his throat. "Thank you very much, Granny. We'll sleep well."

Hazel widened her eyes. Her eyes became very round when Jay accepted the room instead.

"I heard you're a married couple who were separated for a long time because you had to earn a living. So, I hope you can relax this time and make children," The old lady concluded kindly, while Hazel just gaped, speechless.

"Thank you, Granny." Jay waved his hand. "Come on! We have to make children."

Pow!

Jay collapses to the ground after receiving a devastating blow from Hazel.