Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 428

Fifth Vital – Episode 429 (428/502)

429. Isle of Joy

“Hello, Uncles.”

“Okay, Jisang. Goodbye.”

“Really! That’s great, right?”

The three men smiled contentedly as they watched the father and son walking away, closely connected.

“Of course. As someone raising children myself, I can really empathize with that.”

Park Junseok, a father himself, understood the feelings of parents better than anyone.

“It wasn’t even my child who went missing, but my heart was pounding with worry.”

“Hyung [older brother/friend], isn’t that just because your BP (blood pressure) is high?”

“Never mind that. Anyway, the drone idea was brilliant. That’s Tae-kyung for you.”

“Right. How did you even think of that?”

“I just remembered seeing a news story about a child being found by a drone at a stadium overseas, so I looked into it and went from there.”

“Seriously, it’s no exaggeration, when everyone here was calling out to find the dad, and then the kid’s dad came running, I got goosebumps.”

“Even though people say it’s a tough world, seeing things like this makes you think it’s still a world worth living in. Don’t you think?”

“Hyung is right. But what time did they say our boat leaves? Shouldn’t we be heading over soon?”

“That’s right! We have to catch our boat.”

Lee Jaehyun, who had been completely absorbed in the child’s situation, had forgotten all about their boat.

“Check the time.”

“Oh! We’re in trouble.”

Lee Jaehyun, checking the boat schedule on his phone at Tae-kyung’s prompting, spoke with an urgent tone.

“Why? Did it already leave?”

“No, not yet, but there’s not much time left! Run!”

The three men took off towards the terminal, each vying to get ahead.

“Hey! Jaehyun, how much time do we have left? Can’t we just walk?”

Unlike the swiftly moving Tae-kyung and Lee Jaehyun, Park Junseok struggled to run and shouted after them.

“No way. Hyung, think of it as burning belly fat and run!”

“I didn’t even get to eat properly today, I’m exhausted…….”

“We’ll grab something delicious when we get there, so just run for now.”

Thanks to their frantic sprint, the three managed to board the boat to the island just in time.

The passenger ship, large enough to transport cars, was filled with people heading to the nearby islands.

“Wow! Awesome.”

The three men, catching their breath, gazed at the expansive sea view from the deck.

“How long has it been since I’ve seen the ocean? It feels like my chest is opening up, and I can finally breathe.”

“Jaehyun, if your chest actually opens up, you’ll die.”

Park Junseok said seriously to Lee Jaehyun, who was snapping pictures with his phone.

“Hyung? I’m a doctor, remember? Anyway, sometimes you can’t even take a joke.”

“Hey! I was kidding, kidding. Don’t be so serious. I also feel like my chest is opening up, and my mood is refreshing. Good! Good.”

Park Junseok, who had been grumbling about the island trip until this morning, was now enjoying the scenery with more enthusiasm than anyone else.

“See? Isn’t it great to be here?”

“I’ll admit it. It’s really good.”

“It’ll be even better when we get to the island. Tae-kyung, what do you think?”

“I’m good too. It definitely feels like a real trip, and I already feel like I’m relaxing.”

“Tae-kyung, Jaehyun. Let’s take a picture together, the three of us.”

“That hyung is at it again with the pictures. Ah, stop taking pictures. I’m okay, so just take one with Tae-kyung.”

“You grumpy guy. Just take one. I’m telling you, all that’s left are pictures. People live on memories.”

“I’ll keep it in my mind’s eye, so you take all the pictures you want, hyung.”

“Uncle!”

While Park Junseok and Lee Jaehyun were bickering about photos, a cheerful voice called out.

“Uncle?”

The three men turned to the approaching voice and saw Jisang and his dad walking towards them.

“Jisang?”

“You’re on this boat too?”

“Yes. I’m going home with my dad.”

“Home!?”

“You live here?”

“My family lives on the island.”

When Tae-kyung and Lee Jaehyun asked, Lee Junhyuk nodded and greeted them.

“Ah! Is that so?”

“Yes, my dad, mom, and younger sister, our whole family lives on the island.”

“So, Jisang lives on the island?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Amazing.”

The child shrugged and replied to Tae-kyung’s comment.

“It must not be easy for a young person to live on an island. You’re amazing.”

“It’s nothing. Are you three here on vacation?”

“Yes, we heard there’s an island with beautiful scenery, so we came to relax.”

“We live on Isle of Joy… Which island are you heading to, by any chance?”

“Isle of Joy? Did you just say Isle of Joy?”

Lee Jaehyun reacted with surprise to Lee Junhyuk’s words and asked.

“Ah. Yes.”

“We’re on our way to Isle of Joy too.”

“Is that so? It seems like our family and you three were destined to meet?”

“I guess so.”

From Jisang picking up Lee Jaehyun’s card at the terminal to finding the child’s father, the four felt that this was no ordinary coincidence.

“It’s not just because I live there, but Isle of Joy has really amazing scenery and delicious food, so if you explore, you’ll feel like your trip was worth it. You won’t regret it.”

“Hearing that from a local makes me even more excited.”

“Have you decided where to eat lunch or dinner yet?”

“No. I saw a few places online, but I was thinking of walking around and choosing a place that looks good.”

“Could you recommend a good restaurant if you know one?”

Park Junseok, who was eating the *bbopgiyeot* [Korean honeycomb candy] that the child had given him, perked up at the mention of food and asked.

“This hyung, his eyes light up at the mention of food. Stop taking the kid’s candy.”

“I didn’t take it, Jisang gave it to me. Right, Jisang?”

“That’s right. I gave it to the uncle. Dad, can’t the uncles come to our house?”

“I was just about to suggest that too.”

As the child said ‘our house,’ Lee Junhyuk made an unexpected suggestion, leaving the three men wondering what he meant.

“I actually run a restaurant on the island.”

“A restaurant?”

“Yes. So, I’d like to invite you three to dinner. Would that be okay?”

“Invite us? We’re not just okay with it, we’re grateful.”

“No. Please don’t.”

“My friend is right.”

Unlike Park Junseok, who was thrilled at the dinner invitation, Tae-kyung and Lee Jaehyun politely declined.

They were grateful, but they felt bad about going to a restaurant on the island, away from the city, and getting a free meal.

“Don’t refuse, please come. It might have been difficult to find Jisang without you three. I owe you a great debt.”

“You’re welcome. Anyone would have done the same. Jisang was brave and waited, we didn’t do much.”

“What are you talking about? Jisang said several times that he wasn’t scared and could wait because the uncles were with him on the boat. Please come.”

It wasn’t just a casual offer.

In fact, Lee Junhyuk had wanted to invite them to dinner even before boarding the boat, after hearing from the drone company president that Tae-kyung’s idea had helped find his son.

But at the time, he didn’t know if Tae-kyung and his friends were taking the boat or even going to the island.

Besides, he was too preoccupied with finding his lost son, so he forgot to ask after just saying thank you.

Then, he saw the three men on the deck and came over to offer them a meal.

“Our mom and dad make the best food. Uncles, please come.”

“You know kids don’t lie, right? And I can cook a bit too. So, have fun exploring and come for dinner later.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Seeing Tae-kyung hesitate, Lee Junhyuk handed over a restaurant business card with ‘Pearl in the Sea’ written on it, and Park Junseok quickly took the card and chimed in.

“It’s rude to refuse when they insist this much. Right? Jisang’s father. No, Mr. Lee.”

“That’s right. Then I’ll assume you’re coming later and be on my way.”

“Goodbye, Uncles!”

As the boat approached Isle of Joy, Lee Junhyuk said goodbye to prepare to disembark and went into the cabin, and soon after, an announcement was made.

-Attention, please.

We will be arriving at Isle of Joy soon, so please gather your belongings if you are disembarking. Thank you.

“Just looking at the business card, I get a strong feeling that it’s a great restaurant. We definitely have to go later.”

“I don’t know if we can.”

“Let’s get off first and think about it.”

“What is there to think about? Dinner is definitely at Pearl in the Sea.”

Along with a happy Park Junseok, Tae-kyung and Lee Jaehyun busily gathered their luggage to disembark.

* * *

“Jisang! Honey!”

As soon as she saw the father and son getting off the boat, Lee Junhyuk’s wife, Kim Hansol, ran over with her daughter in her arms, calling out anxiously.

“Mommy~~”

“Oh my! My baby.”

Kim Hansol, rushing forward with a worried expression, handed her daughter to her husband and checked to see if her running son was okay.

“Jisang, let mom see you. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah. I’m okay.”

“Okay? You were lost, weren’t you?”

“Oh! How did you know, Mom?”

“Is that important now? The everything store lady told me.”

Lee Junhyuk had planned to tell her when he got home, so his wife wouldn’t worry.

But a little while ago, when Kim Hansol was leaving the house, the everything store owner called and told her.

“I told you to take my phone today because there are a lot of people on the mainland.”

“I was short-sighted. I’m sorry, honey. Were you very surprised?”

“Do you even have to ask! I thought my heart was going to jump out when the lady called earlier.”

“I felt like I couldn’t breathe for a moment when Jisang wasn’t next to me.”

“How did you lose him?”

Kim Hansol, who hadn’t heard the details from the everything store owner, was curious about what happened.

“I was moving boxes, and Jisang was holding my clothes and walking, but he got separated by the crowd.”

“You too! You have to watch the kids carefully because they can disappear in the blink of an eye. How could you carry boxes when you’re going to a crowded place and need to hold his hand?”

It wasn’t just nagging.

There were many cases of missing children in crowded places, so they always had to be careful.

Above all, no parent would be emotionally okay after hearing that their child was lost and found.

“As you know, our son is so active that we have to be extra careful when we go out.”

“I know, it’s my fault. I’ll be careful in the future. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“It’s okay. You must have been surprised too. It’s good that you came back safely.”

Kim Hansol decided not to say anything more because her husband would be the most upset.

Right now, she was most grateful that her son was safe.

“Jisang, from now on, always hold mom and dad’s hands tightly when you go anywhere, and don’t run, stay close. Got it?”

“I was next to you today, but people pushed me.”

“Is that so? Mom didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be more careful in the future too.”

“Our son is so good. Honey? But why did you go to the mainland this morning? I asked the everything store lady, and she said our stuff is coming next week?”

Kim Hansol had asked when he went out in the morning, but Lee Junhyuk had only said that he had something to do and didn’t say why.

“I didn’t go for the stuff.”

“Then? But what is all this?”

Kim Hansol, holding her daughter again, looked at the box that her husband had placed on the floor and asked.

“Ah! No. Mom, don’t look.”

“Cake! What, don’t tell me…….”

Kim Hansol, seeing the cake beyond her son’s hands that were desperately trying to hide it, finally understood why the father and son had gone to the mainland early in the morning.