when it’s starless, i will follow you to the moon
a dubchaeng marine biology au !
Dahyun is a marine biologist and Chaeyoung is an artist with a knack for sketching the waves!
(A/N: This is my first fic so apologies for the clunky formatting and/or spelling errors!)
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Dahyun has always known what she’d do with her life. from the way she would almost seem to gravitate to water on beach trips as a child to the way she was awe struck the first time she was taken to the aquarium, she knew. So it wasn’t much surprise to anyone when she moved to Jeju island right after college to pursue her studies. She found solace in watching the sun set over the shore after a long day of diving.
Chaeyoung, on the other hand, always found her way back to the ocean, no matter how hectic life became. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the tides called to her, a constant amidst the chaos in her life. It wasn’t surprising to anyone when Chaeyoung would up and disappear after a stressful evening to the sandy shores of Jeju Island.
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As of late, Chaeyoung had been struggling. She had just opened an art studio in the heart of Incheon to showcase her work, a dream she should be celebrating. Yet, to say she was stressed would be an understatement. There's only so much creative inspiration an artist can produce in such a short amount of time, and Chaeyoung felt she was falling short. From late-night drives to clear her head to picking up journaling again as her therapist had suggested three years ago (better late than never), Chaeyoung was stuck.
This explains the abruptness of her trip to Jeju Island —she needed to clear her head. Ever since she could remember, the ocean had always been her biggest muse, a source of inspiration that never failed her. It was what she needed now.
She booked a last-minute flight, the shortest route from Incheon to Jeju, and spent the hour-long journey staring out the window, her thoughts as turbulent as the clouds below.
Upon arrival, she took a taxi from the airport, the driver friendly and talkative, contrasting with her need for quiet reflection. The winding roads of Jeju, flanked by volcanic rock and lush greenery, did little to calm her mind, but the sight of the ocean in the distance began to soothe her.
The trek down to the shore from the small motel room she rented (which was less than ideal, but it would do) was tiring. She sighed in relief as she sank into the sand to rest with her sketchbook, gazing upon the ocean.
After a few minutes of rough sketching and admiring the view she had so missed, Chaeyoung's attention shifted to a woman in a wetsuit perusing the water's edge—presumably a diver of some sort.
She found herself watching the woman for a few short minutes before shifting back to the rough sketching of the lapping waves.
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Dahyun was content. She had mustered enough money to buy herself a small beach house along the shores of Jeju to aid in her ongoing studies of the tides, which meant she was rarely ever in the city anymore.
Every evening, she found herself in the waters or along the shores, admiring the glisten of the waves as the rays of the sun reflected against the cool water. Dahyun was always at peace when she was doing what she loved. However this trip to the shore was a bit different.
After a grueling day of diving—(and borderline baking in the sun)—Dahyun was worn out. She sighed as she kneeled slightly to pack away her flippers and diving mask, unzipping the legs of her wetsuit to feel the sand against her feet before trudging up the slope of sand to head home.
Only then did she notice a woman nestled among a cluster of rocks, diligently scribbling in a notebook. Her steps faltered as she debated whether to approach her. After all, she could use the socialization after leaving her friends in the city. Humming softly to herself, she decided to walk toward the woman.
"Hi," Dahyun said awkwardly as she drew near, waving her unoccupied hand.
The woman startled, quickly hiding her sketchbook as if afraid of prying eyes.
Dahyun chuckled softly. "Sorry for the scare— just saw you up here and thought you might like some company..."
The woman's eyes scanned Dahyun before she shifted slightly, relaxing a bit. "I guess company wouldn't hurt."
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After a while of conversation, Dahyun had become well-acquainted with the woman and learned her name was Chaeyoung. Chaeyoung was an up-and-coming artist who had just opened a studio in the city and was feeling the pressure of producing new work.
Dahyun observed the gears turning in Chaeyoung's mind as she sketched, sighing and huffing with frustration.
"You know," Dahyun said, her tone tinged with concern, "I'm not an expert in body language, but you definitely look stressed."
"Maybe you should call it a day and head home. I can walk you," Dahyun offered.
Chaeyoung glanced up from her work, meeting Dahyun's gaze and letting out a small sigh as she closed her sketchbook. "Yeah, maybe you're right,"
She says as she stands to her feet, her knees wobbly from how long she had been sat, needing to grasp onto dahyuns arm for some support which in turn heats her cheeks up immensely. She composes herself before heading towards the exit ramp with dahyun close behind.
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The walk was much more enjoyable than Dahyun had expected for escorting a stranger home. Perhaps it was because she hadn't had a proper social interaction in months, or maybe it was her naturally extroverted personality-but let's be honest, it was probably the first reason. Dahyun found herself laughing at Chaeyoung's comments and, to her surprise, making Chaeyoung laugh as well-a sound she was quickly growing fond of.
When they arrived at the small, dingy motel, Dahyun scrutinized the place as if assessing the risk of being mugged. Her thoughts were interrupted by Chaeyoung's frustrated grunts. "Goddammit," Chaeyoung muttered, struggling to fit the key into the lock.
Dahyun approached with a small frown. "Hey….. hey," she said, trying to draw Chaeyoungs attention away from her struggle. Chaeyoungs frustrated gaze meeting her own.
“If the lock isn’t working, you could come back to my place. It’s just a ten-minute walk from here,” Dahyun suggested, watching Chaeyoung’s reaction. She noticed the faint blush on Chaeyoung's cheeks, even in the fading light.
“Oh—yeah, sure,” Chaeyoung replied, her voice soft.
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From that point on the pair were practically inseparable. They took morning walks to the beach, with Dahyun talking Chaeyoung’s ear off about sharks—especially tiger sharks, which she had come to learn were her favorite.
“They are just so cool, Chaeng!” Dahyun exclaimed, swinging her bag of diving gear as she walked beside the shorter woman. “They can literally turn their stomachs inside out!”
Chaeyoung sighed slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. “You’re such a nerd,” she said in mock annoyance, turning her head slightly to hide the growing blush on her cheeks—a reaction that had become quite common since she met Dahyun.
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The two spent countless nights together at Dahyun's beach house, waking up early in the morning to walk to Chaeyoung’s favorite café—something that had become a cherished routine for them—just to chat for an hour or two.
“My muse has always been the ocean,” Chaeyoung mused as she sipped her iced latte, gazing out the window at the few cars passing by on the remote road. “Ever since I was a kid, I’d always find my way back here.”
She turned back to Dahyun with a slight smile. “I’m glad I found my way back this time because now I have you.”
The soft words had Dahyun turning her head to hide her blush this time.
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Months passed with the pair living together. Chaeyoung had taken a break to return to the city to check on things—a hellish experience for Dahyun—but she soon came back to the beach house, as if it were where she truly belonged.
It wasn’t surprising to either of them when they shared their first kiss. They stood together on the balcony, Dahyun’s jacket wrapped around Chaeyoung to shield her from the chilly ocean breeze as they stared out at the water. It was a perfect first kiss for both of them.
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Their relationship blossomed almost comically fast, with them saying their ‘I love yous’ only a month after their first kiss. With anyone else, Dahyun would’ve found Chaeyoung’s romantic nature corny, but with Chaeyoung, it felt perfect—as if it were meant to be.
Dahyun was broken out of her thoughtful state by Chaeyoung’s soft voice coming from the nape of her neck, where the younger girl had buried her face.
“Dahyunnie?” Chaeyoung hummed softly, tilting her head up to get the older girl's attention.
“Yeah…?” Dahyun responded curiously, bringing a hand down to swipe the stray hairs from Chaeyoung’s face.
“I think you’re my muse now.”
Dahyun’s heart stuttered at the soft words. She closed her eyes and sighed in content. There were two things she was sure of in life, the ocean, and Chaeyoung. Her Chaengie.
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notes!!: I apologize if the formatting is clunky, this being my first fic im still trying to determing my style and what not.
I hope you enjoyed !!