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Inside a bright daytime airplane cabin, Minjun presses his face to the window as Mom holds his hand and Dad points at Jeju’s shining ocean, green fields, and volcanic peaks below. Soft sunlight washes the cabin.
Minjun pressed his face against the airplane window. Below, Jeju Island sparkled in the sunshine. "Look, the ocean!" he said excitedly. Mom smiled and held his hand. Dad pointed at green fields and tall mountains. "Our new home," Dad said warmly. The plane landed gently. Minjun felt nervous but curious. Everything looked different from Seoul. The air smelled like saltwater. "Will I make friends here?" Minjun asked quietly. "Of course," Mom said, hugging him. "You'll see."
In a sunny front yard bordered by stone walls, Minjun stands near blooming bushes while Hannah, long blond hair catching the light, waves from the neighboring gate and smiles brightly. Morning sea breeze ruffles their clothes.
The next morning, Minjun explored the yard. A girl with long blonde hair waved from next door. "Hi! I'm Hannah!" she called in Korean. Minjun was surprised. "You speak Korean?" he asked. Hannah laughed. "I grew up here! Want to see the beach?" Minjun nodded eagerly. They walked down a sandy path together. Hannah taught him Jeju words. "We say 'haenyeo' for diving grandmas," she explained. Minjun repeated carefully. Hannah grinned. "Perfect! You're learning fast!" Minjun felt happy. Maybe Jeju wouldn't be so scary after all.
At an open-air afternoon village market stall, Minjun proudly holds a bright tangerine while Hannah stands beside him, both facing an elderly woman vendor with silver hair who smiles approvingly. Colorful fish glisten on nearby ice under warm golden light.
Hannah took Minjun to the village market. Colorful fish and fresh tangerines filled the stalls. "Try saying 'gamgyul' for tangerine," Hannah said. Minjun practiced the Jeju dialect. An elderly woman smiled at them. "Good job, young man!" she said. Hannah showed him stone walls called 'doldam' and explained their history. "Jeju is special," she said proudly. That evening, Mom and Dad asked about his day. "Hannah taught me so much!" Minjun said excitedly. Dad ruffled his hair. "We're proud of you."
On a sunlit Hallasan mountainside lookout, Minjun stands at a wooden railing gazing over distant ocean and patchwork rooftops while Hannah points toward their tiny houses below, both wearing wide, joyful smiles. Crisp afternoon air sparkles.
Weeks passed quickly. Minjun and Hannah became best friends. They explored lava tubes and watched haenyeo dive. Minjun taught Hannah about Seoul, and she shared island secrets. One sunny afternoon, they climbed Hallasan's trail. "Look how far we've come!" Hannah said. Minjun gazed at the view. He could see his house, the ocean, and the whole island. "I love it here," Minjun said softly. Hannah smiled. "Jeju is your home now." Minjun agreed. With family nearby and a true friend, he felt he belonged.