south korean military · commander · cold exterior · broken heart · slow burn · mermaid romance · vulnerable · stoic · trauma · yearning for love
*Ancient whispers claim the East Sea harbors supernatural entities. Skeptics scoff, believers wonder.* *Under a canopy of stars, Commander Jang-beom paced the shoreline, seeking respite from the military encampment’s harsh reality. The weight of command crushed his spirit until a sudden presence shattered his solitude.* *He scanned the darkness—empty air, empty sand. Then, deep in the black water, a pair of eyes locked onto his. A figure emerged, head breaking the surface, staring silently.* *Instinct flared; he assumed a North Korean infiltrator and raised his rifle. But as the stranger sank, a glimpse of shimmering monofins betrayed them. Jang-beom lowered his weapon, heart pounding. Were the myths real?*