Spring has come again.
Yoon Seoyeon hates spring.
To be precise, she hates spring on Jeju Island—the place where she lives and works. Jeju Island is famous for its spring, filled with cherry blossoms covering the countryside, hillsides, and mountain peaks. When spring arrives, the island transforms into a paradise within South Korea, with soft pink hues blanketing every road.
For Seoyeon, spring had always been just another season, nothing special—just one of the many cycles of life for ordinary people.
That was until she graduated from university.
Geology—surprising, isn't it? But that was Seoyeon's passion. Since she was young, she had always enjoyed logical thinking and science-oriented subjects. However, fields like Mathematics and Chemistry felt a bit too heavy for her, so she chose Geology—a science that combines multiple disciplines yet isn't overly competitive.
Jeju Island is a haven for this field, with its distinctive volcanic terrain and rich coastal geology. So, after graduating, Seoyeon moved to Jeju Island, quickly secured a job, and found a place to live. Everything was quite stable—except that spring had now become unbearably troublesome, never the same as before.
Seoyeon lived alone in a small rental house in a village near Hallasan Mountain—a place that turned into a "fairyland" every spring. Above, the sky was filled with white clouds; on the tree branches, pink "clouds" of cherry blossoms.
In March and April, cherry blossoms bloomed, painting the sky pink. Looking up, all she could see were cherry blossoms. The wind carried the petals down like rain—poetic, romantic, a true paradise of love.
But Yoon Seoyeon was allergic to pollen.
She had never known that her body would react this way to cherry blossoms until she first set foot on Jeju Island in spring. Almost immediately, she experienced a sore throat, watery eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. At first, she thought it was just fatigue from moving or that the island’s cool breeze was slightly harsher than the city’s. Only when her face turned red and swollen did she panic and rush to the hospital—where she received the diagnosis: "pollen allergy."
Poetic? More like a nightmare.
Every day, Seoyeon had to walk along a long road covered with fallen cherry blossoms from the towering pink trees on both sides to catch her bus. She had to wear a hat, sunglasses, and a mask. On windy days, she even had to take medication to endure the discomfort caused by the tiny pollen particles floating in the air.
"Aren't you hot?"
As soon as Seoyeon entered the office, Nien teased her from nearby, quickly reaching out to remove her hat and glasses.
"Ugh, leave me alone, so annoying." Seoyeon grumbled.
"So feisty—no wonder no one wants to date you." Nien teased again.
Nien was Seoyeon's only close friend from university. They had studied at the same school and now worked at the same company.
Seoyeon was always glad to have Nien as a friend, but sometimes, she just wanted to punch her in the face for teasing her to the point of frustration.
"Wanna go drinking tonight? I’ve been in a terrible mood these days." Seoyeon sighed, asking Nien.
Spring might be beautiful with cherry blossoms, but her health issues drove her crazy. She couldn’t focus on analyzing minerals and ores in the lab when her nose and eyes kept leaking, despite all her efforts to cover up while commuting.
"Let’s do it another time. I have plans with my girlfriend tonight." Nien sighed in reply.
"Haiz, okay, have fun."
Spring wasn’t just the season of cherry blossoms—it was also the season of love.
But after 25 springs, Seoyeon still didn’t know what love felt like.
For Yoon Seoyeon, spring was the season of gaining weight. She had a "bad" habit every spring: going to work, coming home feeling miserable, buying loads of beer and snacks, then watching mukbang videos while munching away. While everyone else around her was posting pictures of cherry blossom dates, dining out, and walking hand in hand with their partners-
Yoon Seoyeon wondered why she was still alone.
During this time of year, she became overly sensitive. Her heart felt fragile, easily moved by small things, prone to emotional outbursts. She ate more than usual to fill the void of loneliness. Watching others enjoy their relationships made her feel envious and pitiful.
She worked in a boring, academic field, surrounded by bookish men and women. But deep down, she was still a young woman in the prime of her youth.
She wanted to love and to be loved.
Kim Yooyeon held the wedding invitation from her closest friend, traveling all the way to distant Jeju Island—only to find herself lost in an endless plateau of cherry blossoms.
At 29, Yooyeon had lost count of how many weddings she had attended. All her friends and family had taken turns getting married. Only she remained single.
She had always been fine with it, prioritizing her career over love. But this spring, when Park Sohyun—the friend who had once promised to stay single forever—handed her a wedding invitation, Yooyeon suddenly had a realization.
She was officially "left behind."
At least, that’s what she told herself.
With her stunning looks and charming personality, many people lined up to pursue Yooyeon. But she always turned them down. She had high standards, was picky, and refused to settle. No one ever met her expectations, so naturally, since she never gave anyone a chance—she remained single.
She was still okay with it. But a small part of her felt lonely. She didn’t crave love, yet seeing everyone paired up while she stood alone made her feel slightly melancholic.
Yooyeon had taken an entire week off for Sohyun and Xinyu’s wedding and planned to use the time for a solo vacation—a reward for herself after countless repetitive, dull days in bustling Seoul.
At 7 p.m., she was walking along a highway, starving. Her phone had died, leaving her unable to contact anyone. This mountainous area had no convenience stores or places to charge her phone.
That was the price of getting off at the wrong bus stop. Yooyeon couldn’t understand why the bus stations on this island were so ridiculously far apart. Now, she was completely lost, unsure of where she was or what to do next.
She walked until her legs ached. Only when she saw another bus stop in the distance did she feel a glimmer of hope. If she had known, she would’ve just stayed at the previous stop instead of exhausting herself like this. But hindsight is 20/20.
Yooyeon sighed in relief as she sat down on the bus stop bench, finally giving her legs a break. Soon, a bus arrived. She stood up, ready to board. But life never goes as planned—
After the last passengers got off, the bus turned off its lights and drove away without even opening its doors for her.
"Huh…?" Yooyeon could only gape in disbelief.
"That was the last bus, unnie. At this time, buses go back to the depot and don’t take passengers anymore. Buses here stop early."
Yoon Seoyeon had just gotten off that bus, about to head home and crack open some ice-cold beer, when she noticed the beautiful woman staring blankly at the departing vehicle. Normally, she wouldn’t meddle in other people’s business—but this time, she spoke up.
"Also, you should put your jacket on. Pollen isn’t good for your skin. If you have sensitive skin, you might get a rash." Seoyeon added, noticing the woman had taken off her cardigan, likely from walking in the heat.
Yooyeon took a few seconds to realize the stranger was talking to her. She couldn’t tell her exact age, but she guessed the girl was younger. Despite the hat and mask covering most of her face, her large, expressive eyes and long black hair peeking from beneath her pink cap made her look as delicate as the cherry blossoms around them.
"Thank you… But can I ask—how do I get to town now? I got off at the wrong stop. I didn’t expect the bus stations here to be so far apart." Yooyeon asked while putting on her cardigan as advised.
"It’s past 8 p.m. now. There’s no way to town. Wandering the highway at this hour is dangerous. This is the countryside—after dinner, everyone just turns off the lights and sleeps." Seoyeon replied.
"I think you should come with me to the village. I remember there’s a guesthouse there. You can stay overnight and head to town in the morning."
Yooyeon had no choice but to follow Seoyeon. She didn’t know anything about her, but she believed she was a good person. Besides, it was easier to trust another woman in a situation like this.
"I thought it was here…" Seoyeon muttered, looking around. But there was no guesthouse in sight.
Yooyeon was just as confused. She was exhausted and starving, just wanting a place to rest as soon as possible.
Seoyeon sighed. She didn’t like trouble, but now that she had taken responsibility, she had to follow through.
"Why don’t you stay at my place tonight?"
Yooyeon froze at the unexpected offer. She hesitated—she had never even spent a night at a friend’s house before, let alone a stranger’s, in a completely unfamiliar place.
"That’s great, thank you."
The weather was starting to turn cold. Nights were much colder than the daytime since this island was surrounded by the sea and high mountains. With no other choice, Yooyeon decided to trust and follow Seoyeon. She had nothing to lose anyway and reassured herself that there was no need to worry.
"I'm Seoyeon, 25 years old." Seoyeon introduced herself first. She could sense that the air between them was still filled with caution.
"I'm Yooyeon, 29 years old."
They stopped in front of a two-storey house in the village. Seoyeon opened the door, and Yooyeon followed her inside. Without saying a word, both quietly went upstairs, passing by other rooms to reach Seoyeon's, which was at the far end.
"I live with the homeowner. They're already asleep at this hour, so we have to be quiet, but once we’re in my room, we can talk normally." Seoyeon said, setting the bag of food on the table. She pulled back the curtains, letting the dim glow of the streetlights filter through the small window beside the bed, casting an oddly romantic hue over the room.
Yooyeon silently took in her surroundings. The small room contained only a single bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a tiny coffee table in the center. Next to it was a bathroom—just as tiny.
Seoyeon removed her hat and mask, immediately tossing them into the laundry basket. Only then did Yooyeon clearly see her face. She was beautiful—fair skin, plump cheeks, a straight nose with a small, charming beauty mole, and soft lips that curled just enough to be kissable.
Except for the fact that her eyes were filled with tears.
Yooyeon felt a bit bewildered and quickly asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm allergic to pollen. My eyes tear up, and my throat hurts when I'm around too many flowers."
"But you see," Seoyeon gestured toward the window, "it's impossible to avoid in this season," she added while grabbing a towel to wipe her face.
Yooyeon glanced outside. Each gust of wind sent cascades of pink petals tumbling down like a storm. As old blossoms fell, new ones bloomed. Spring would last until all the flowers had withered, but that wouldn't be for at least another month.
"That sounds inconvenient." Yooyeon commented.
"I'm used to it. It'll pass when the season ends."
"You should take a shower and relax. I'll make some instant noodles," Seoyeon said briskly, setting a pot on the stove. She hadn’t anticipated Yooyeon's presence tonight, so on the way home, she had only bought one portion of tteokbokki and a lot of beer. It wouldn’t be enough for two people to eat, but there was certainly enough alcohol for both to get drunk.
Yooyeon immediately went to shower. It was her first time staying over at a stranger’s house. Though she wanted to help Seoyeon cook, she feared she might get in the way or make her feel uncomfortable. After all, she was just a guest staying for one night. The best thing to do was to remain quiet and not overstep—by tomorrow morning, they would be strangers again.
In Seoyeon’s bathroom, there was a toothbrush, a face towel, and various bath products—all distinctly feminine.
Yooyeon guessed that Seoyeon was still single. Just like her.
When Yooyeon stepped out of the bathroom, Seoyeon had already set up the table, with two chilled cans of beer.
"Were you out viewing the flowers alone?" Seoyeon asked, breaking the silence. She assumed Yooyeon was a tourist. This season, many visitors came to this island to take photos and admire the blossoms.
"I was here for a wedding and decided to travel a bit as well." Yooyeon replied.
"At first, I planned to stay in town, but I got lost and ended up here. I didn't expect the flowers here to be so abundant and beautiful."
As she spoke, she began eating, and Seoyeon did the same. As expected, the atmosphere became friendlier and more relaxed over food.
"Tomorrow is the weekend. I have the day off, so I can take you where you need to go—so you don’t get lost again." Seoyeon offered.
"That’s too much trouble for you."
"It’s nothing, really. I usually just sleep the whole day anyway—such a waste." Seoyeon laughed.
Yooyeon opened both cans of beer. The sound was immensely satisfying—the pop of the tab, the hiss of carbonation, and the gentle fizz of tiny bubbles. So refreshing.
"On weekends, I usually hang out with friends, but lately, less and less. They’re all spending time with their partners. Even my best friend just got married. So, from now on, I’ll probably be doing nothing but sleeping on weekends too." Yooyeon shared.
"You're so pretty, unnie. You must have a boyfriend." Seoyeon asked, watching her closely.
She was beautiful. Seoyeon adored her but kept it hidden.
"No, I don’t like men."
"And I don’t have a girlfriend either." Yooyeon added, then immediately felt that her words were unnecessary. No one had asked, yet she had laid it all out. Embarrassed, she chuckled awkwardly.
"Oh." Seoyeon smiled. Her face flushed pink. This time, she couldn’t hide her excitement. But why was she so happy?
"I… don’t have a girlfriend either." Seoyeon admitted.
Yooyeon immediately understood what Seoyeon was implying.
They were two single women. And knowing that the other was like them, a subtle shift occurred—a shift toward flirtation. Even without prior dating experience, both instinctively knew how it worked. It was in their nature.
She found the girl across from her incredibly endearing. With the warmth of alcohol, the longing for affection built up over the years, and the undeniably romantic atmosphere of spring, Yooyeon truly wanted to get to know Seoyeon more.
Some people, the moment you meet them, you don’t just want friendship—you want something more.
For Yooyeon, Seoyeon was one of those people.
"I'm really glad I met you." Yooyeon said, taking the last sip of her beer.
"If it weren’t for you, I’d still be wandering out there right now."
Seoyeon also finished her beer. One can wasn’t enough to get her drunk, but it was enough to put her in an utterly content mood.
"You should get some sleep, unnie. You must be exhausted from traveling all day." Seoyeon said, moving the table aside.
"What are you doing?" Yooyeon asked.
"I'm making space. I’ll sleep on the floor."
"No, you take the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor."
They stared at each other. But they wouldn’t fight over who got to sleep on the floor.
There was a better solution.
"Then… let's just share the bed."
That night, Seoyeon had the best sleep of her life.
Even though her posture was anything but comfortable—her back ached, her neck was stiff, and her legs couldn’t fully stretch out—she still slept soundly.
There was a scent.
A floral fragrance.
She knew she was asleep, her eyes shut tight, but her senses felt unusually sharp. Her nose picked up the scent vividly.
It was definitely the scent of flowers.
Seoyeon had never directly smelled flowers before. She had never been gifted flowers and never thought of buying any. Besides, she was allergic. But right now, she could even feel something soft brushing against her nose, as if she were touching an actual bloom.
It smelled so good.
At some point, Seoyeon’s face had nestled into the crook of Yooyeon’s neck. The fragrance she sensed was the scent of her skin.
A dream or reality, it was wonderful either way.
Seoyeon shyly pulled back; she had woken up, but Yooyeon was still asleep beside her, her t-shirt pulled up, revealing her soft belly and fair skin. Seoyeon couldn’t understand how she and Yooyeon had slept, the bed a mess of tangled sheets and pillows. Her head was nestled into Yooyeon’s neck while her own pillow was clutched in Yooyeon’s arms, who was sleeping soundly.
“Why are you up so early?” Yooyeon murmured, slowly opening her eyes and seeing Seoyeon sitting on the bed, her messy hair untamed.
“What time do you need to go to town? I’ll take you.” Seoyeon said, still embarrassed from the situation, even though only she knew about it.
“Actually, I don’t feel like going anymore…” Yooyeon sat up, neatly adjusting the two pillows, then placed a hand on Seoyeon’s shoulder, gently pushing her back down into bed. It was still early, and she wanted to savor this moment a little longer.
“If you’re not going, then stay with me.” Seoyeon whispered with a smile. Seoyeon couldn’t resist the temptation—soft, warm blankets, the comforting warmth of the person beside her—everything was relaxing her into a state of calm.
“I really want to go see the flowers, I want to sit under the cherry blossom tree with someone, eat ice cream, take pictures, and go for a walk.” Seoyeon dreamed aloud.
“But I can’t stand the allergies, and even if I didn’t have them, there’s no one to go with me.”
“I’ll go with you, right here, through the window, okay?” Yooyeon murmured.
Yooyeon opened the curtains beside the bed. The early morning sky was clear, with white and pink clouds creating a harmonious scene, like something out of a Korean drama or a detailed Japanese anime. Yooyeon extended her hand, and Seoyeon took it. Yooyeon pulled her up and seated her in her lap. Seoyeon relaxed, lying back into Yooyeon’s arms, while Yooyeon rested her chin on Seoyeon’s shoulder.
Yooyeon’s arm wrapped around Seoyeon’s slim waist, warm and soft.
“It’s so beautiful.” Seoyeon’s eyes seemed to light up at the romantic scene outside the window.
“Not as beautiful as you.” That was the first shot. Yooyeon had fired the first shot, sending heart-shaped bullets toward Seoyeon.
She was single, and so was Seoyeon—they both wanted love and to be loved.
“I want to step into your world, is that okay?” Yooyeon spoke slowly, making sure Seoyeon heard each word clearly.
Seoyeon no longer looked at the flowers; she remained in Yooyeon’s embrace, silently gazing at her.
“You live in Seoul, I live on Jeju Island, 500 kilometers away.”
“I’m a bookworm, introverted, and pretty boring. I work with soil and rocks every day, and when I come home, I smell like chemicals. Can you handle that?” Seoyeon laughed.
After one night together, Seoyeon had to admit she liked Kim Yooyeon—a beautiful, mature woman who made her feel so protected. Even though it was Seoyeon who helped Yooyeon when she got lost, now lying in Yooyeon’s arms, she felt that this person was someone she could trust and rely on.
That was the sensation Seoyeon had, a sixth sense, with no need for proof.
Yooyeon liked her too, of course. In an unfamiliar place, receiving help from a beautiful, cute girl, then sleeping together on the same bed until morning… it was impossible not to feel something.
“So let’s keep in touch. Who knows, maybe one day when the cherry blossoms bloom, I’ll move here and live with you.” Yooyeon whispered.
“I won’t stay here forever. I think I’ll move soon, living in Seoul is better. There aren’t as many cherry blossoms as here in Seoul.” Seoyeon said.
“Then I’ll wait for you in Seoul.”
“I’m serious.” Yooyeon emphasized.
“Okay, I trust you.”
Both of them hoped that their relationship wouldn’t just be a fleeting spring romance.
They wanted it to be a long-lasting one, a love story lasting through all four seasons of the year.
The 26th Spring of Yoon Seoyeon
“You really seem to like it, huh?”
Yooyeon, holding the sheet tightly with one hand, grasped Seoyeon’s hair with the other, as Seoyeon eagerly moved in and out of her, passionately kissing her sensitive neck, where the scent of flowers Seoyeon adored lingered.
“I’m addicted to your scent.”
“I’ve loved you since the first time we met. You’re the only flower I love.”
After their first night together, Yooyeon had prepared herself to wait for a long time for Seoyeon to move to Seoul.
But she didn’t expect that, just as spring was ending, Seoyeon found a new job and moved to Seoul to live and work.
And to be with her.
Being close to each other made it easier to understand each other, and the deeper they got, the more they fell in love. Caught in the web of love with each other.
When the “spring fever” emerged again, they healed each other.
By being together, loving each other, belonging to each other.
Spring had arrived again, but this time, Seoyeon no longer had allergies, no longer felt tired, no longer lonely.
She loved spring, and she loved all four seasons of the year.
Because through all four seasons, from now on and forever, she had the most beautiful flower—one that didn’t make her cry or hurt her throat. This flower only brought sweet love.
Through all four seasons, from now on and forever.
She had her.