Chapter 27: The Sea Part 1

The scorching sunlight of the afternoon beat down relentlessly.

Inside a café, cooled by the gentle hum of air conditioning, we were sipping our drinks, one sip at a time.

“By the way, why were you so embarrassed today? I totally saw your face turn red when you saw the swimsuit.”

I replied with a calm expression.

“Not really.”

Yuna smirked and rested her chin on her hand.

“Do you even know how to swim?”

“I’m probably better than you.”

As we were exchanging meaningless banter, “Ahem…”

The café owner’s cough echoed from the counter.

We had, admittedly, been sitting there a bit too long with just two cups of Americano.

I slowly got up from my seat.

“Hey, let’s get going.”

“Already?”

“It’s been two hours. Besides, if we’re going tomorrow, we need to pack.”

“Fine.”

As we stepped outside the café, the blazing summer air hit our faces like a hot gust of wind.

Yuna raised her hand to shield her forehead as if trying to block the sunlight.

“It’s so hot. Perfect weather to play at the beach.”

“Is it?”

As we walked toward her house, no particularly significant conversation passed between us.

Occasionally, Yuna would fiddle with her hair or the collar of her shirt as she muttered beside me.

“By the way…”

She finally spoke up.

“You don’t have to walk me home, you know…”

“Really? Alright, I’ll go.”

“Wait, what? You’re just leaving like that?”

I shrugged and replied.

“You said it wasn’t necessary.”

At that, Yuna immediately pouted.

“You’re so mean.”

As we continued our lighthearted conversation, we eventually arrived in front of Yuna’s house.

“Go inside.”

“Okay. Remember, we’re leaving at nine tomorrow, so don’t oversleep.”

With a wave, Yuna went into her house.

***

When I returned home, a discontented face was there to greet me—Harin’s.

“Oppa, have you packed your bags?”

“No.”

“Of course, I knew it.”

Harin pointed to the living room with her finger.

There was a bag neatly placed.

“I packed everything—sunscreen, swimsuits, towels, a change of clothes, toiletries, and even some snacks.”

“I was going to pack it myself.”

“It didn’t seem like you would do anything, Oppa.”

At times like this, having an overprotective younger sister isn’t so bad.

As I was thinking that, Harin looked at me with slumped shoulders, like a puppy left out in the rain.

“I wish I could go to the beach with you too…”

“It’s a school trip, so it can’t be helped.”

Her sulky expression made her look so pitiful.

Seeing the adorable girl acting like that, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

I opened my palm and gently patted Harin’s head.

“Uhihi…”

Harin purred in delight, sounding like a contented cat.

‘Seriously, she’s not even a cat.’

After enough head pats, I lightly brushed the nape of her neck with a soft touch.

“Hiccup!”

Based on past experiences, Harin was particularly sensitive to even the smallest physical affection.

Before she could start saying things like, [Oppa, please take me to the beach when you get back!], I decided to wrap this up quickly.

With a warm smile, I looked at Harin.

“Thanks for packing my bag.”

“Y-yeah…”

Her face melted into a blissful expression.

She might be the most dangerous “heroine” around, but at least she’s easy to handle.

Once again, I opened my palm and slowly patted her head until she seemed fully content.

“Purrrr.”

‘She’s way too easy to please.’

***

The shimmering sunlight danced on the sparkling waves.

Far away, the sound of the tide mingled with the laughter scattered along the shore.

This wasn’t just a simple vacation spot.

Every summer, this place became a hotspot where youths gathered to enjoy their freedom.

Normally, it’s the guys who try to take the lead in approaching the girls.

But for some reason, the atmosphere here was the exact opposite.

“Do you like sashimi? Should we buy you some later?”

“What about crab or grilled clams? Which do you prefer?”

Women in revealing bikinis swarmed around me, their advances overly aggressive.

Barely holding onto my sanity, I stammered a reply.

“Uh… No thanks. My friends are waiting for me.”

As I tried to escape hastily, “Dohyun! The teacher said to gather quickly!”

A familiar voice snapped me out of my daze.

I turned to see Yuna glaring at me disapprovingly.

“I was just about to head over.”

“What were you doing wandering around alone? The teacher said we’re taking a group photo right after we arrive. Why are you acting on your own?”

“I just wanted to grab a drink.”

That’s when it all happened.

I was on my way to the convenience store when I got caught up in this mess.

“Then why were you talking to those girls?”

Yuna moved closer, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“They just approached me.”

“So you got hit on by girls?”

Her tone had a sharp edge to it.

‘Why is she getting mad at me when I didn’t even do anything?’

I gestured irritably toward the sandy beach.

Most of our classmates were already gathered there.

“Because of you, everyone’s waiting.”

Yuna grabbed my arm and began walking briskly toward the beach.

I had no choice but to follow her lead.

Under the parasol set up on the sand, I sat quietly, watching my classmates play.

‘Ah, youth.’

“Kyaa! Stop splashing water like that! We’re not kids!”

“Too bad. If you don’t like it, splash back!”

Laughter filled the air, accompanied by the gentle sound of waves.

Despite the lively atmosphere, I couldn’t bring myself to join in.

I enjoyed swimming, but I wasn’t fond of the beach.

The sticky feeling of saltwater and the lingering salt on the skin—those were things I couldn’t stand.

“Hey, Dohyun!”

Jinyoung, drenched from swimming, approached me with excitement.

Droplets of water from his body left small marks on the sandy ground.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

At his question, I shrugged and replied.

“I just don’t feel like it.”

Jinyoung shook his head in disbelief.

“Hey, what do you mean by that? You’re supposed to have fun at times like this.”

“Go ahead and enjoy yourself.”

“Come on, let’s play together. If you don’t know how to swim, I’ll teach you.”

“Too much trouble.”

“You’re such a weirdo.”

After trying to convince me for a while, Jinyoung turned his head toward the sea and muttered.

“But seriously, whoever invented rash guards is going to hell.”

“….”

“All the girls in our class are wearing rash guards or T-shirts. Why do they cover up so much?”

Jinyoung grumbled in a voice full of complaints.

“Look at that. Is this even right?”

He pointed to a group of our classmates playing in the water, all wrapped up in rash guards and T-shirts.

Listening to his words, I let out a small chuckle.

‘Fair enough.’

“Rash guards.”

“If nuclear bombs are one of the two worst inventions humanity ever created, rash guards would definitely be the other.”

“Who even thought of making such a pointless thing?”

Of course, I wasn’t about to say that out loud.

He’d just get all riled up and start ranting.

“Got it, now go play already.”

I waved him off dismissively.

“Hey, it’s no fun just sitting around. Join in every once in a while.”

“Later.”

“Ugh, forget it. Whatever.”

Jinyoung grumbled and ran back into the sea.

I shook my head and took another sip of my drink, watching my classmates from under the parasol.

Truly, the best thing about the beach is relaxing in the shade, listening to the sound of waves.

‘Now this is what I call healing.’

My eyes drifted toward Yuna and her friends, who were laughing and playing on float tubes out in the water.

They were also wrapped up in rash guards but seemed to be having a lot of fun floating on the waves.

‘I’ve already seen everything, so it doesn’t bother me.’

I chuckled inwardly at the thought.

Further along the beach, my classmates were noisily splashing water and laughing, while kids played gleefully in the waves.

The afternoon was peaceful and lazy, perfect for letting time pass under the shade of the parasol as the cool breeze brushed against my skin.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the gentle sounds of the beach lull me into relaxation.

***

“Kim Dohyun! Are you too scared of the water to come in?”

I opened my eyes to the familiar voice yelling from the sea.

Yuna was waving at me brightly from her float tube, her grin playful and teasing.

It was a childish taunt.

I shrugged and didn’t bother responding.

The group on the float tubes drifted further away from the shore.

‘Are they going too far out?’

I glanced toward a lifeguard wearing sunglasses nearby.

Thinking there wouldn’t be much of a problem, I let myself relax again, closing my eyes to the cool sea breeze.

On the water, floating peacefully on her tube, Choi Dabin felt a surge of excitement.

The clear blue sky, sparkling waves, and the soothing sound of the ocean filled her senses.

The beach wasn’t such a bad choice after all.

‘This feels great. Anyone staying indoors on a day like this is really missing out.’

Letting out a contented sigh, Dabin leaned back and let the waves carry her.

Suddenly, Yuna pointed toward the shore and giggled.

“What’s Kim Dohyun even doing? He’s not even coming into the water.”

“Maybe he’s scared of it.”

The two of them snickered as they glanced at Dohyun, who was sitting under the parasol, sipping his drink and idly watching them.

“Your boyfriend’s a scaredy-cat.”

“He’s not my boyfriend…”

Dabin chuckled softly and started riding the waves with her float tube.

With smooth movements, she paddled herself forward, letting the waves gently lift her.

“Hey, don’t go too far out!”

Yuna called from behind, but Dabin didn’t pay much attention.

‘This much is fine.’

She was confident in her swimming skills, and the waves were calm.

In fact, being further out felt much more relaxing than the crowded shore.

‘Ah, this is perfect.’

Enjoying the waves, she gradually drifted farther from the shoreline.

At least, that’s how it seemed.

Before long, the atmosphere in the sea began to change.

“Huh…?”

The waves started getting stronger.

At first, Dabin didn’t think much of it, but the currents became increasingly forceful, rocking her tube.

Finally, a high wave surged over her.

“Ahhh!”

Her tube tipped, and Dabin plunged into the water.

Caught off guard, her body stiffened with panic, refusing to respond.

Saltwater stung her nose and eyes, making it hard to regain her composure.

She flailed her arms and managed to grab onto the tube again.

“Phew… I thought I was going to die.”

From a distance, she could hear Yuna’s worried voice.

“Dabin! Come back to the shallow water, quick!”

The waves grew stronger, pushing her further away.

“Ahhh!”

Clinging desperately to the tube, Dabin struggled against the powerful currents pulling her out to deeper water.

Panic-stricken, she gasped for breath and thrashed against the water.

“Dabin! Get back here!”

Yuna’s voice was faint and far away.

Dabin had no room to think clearly anymore.

Her hands slipped from the tube, and she sank back into the water.

“Gasp… gasp… s-someone… help…”

She managed to lift her head above the surface for a brief moment.

But another massive wave crashed over her.

“Ahhh! Gasp, gasp!”

Saltwater flooded her nose and mouth as she instinctively flailed, fighting to keep herself afloat.

The fear of dying tightened around her chest, suffocating her.

Every time she sank beneath the surface, images of her family and friends flashed through her mind.

Her eyes couldn’t open underwater.

Her panicked body refused to obey her commands.

Even screaming was impossible as the salty water kept pouring into her mouth.

The tube had already drifted far away.

She kept bobbing up and down in the water, barely keeping her head above the waves.

“S-someone… please… h-help…”

Far away, Yuna’s desperate cries for help could be heard.

[Someone fell into the water! Please help!]

The faint sound of her voice faded, and Dabin’s vision grew hazy.

As her fingers slipped beneath the waves, A warm sensation enveloped Dabin’s body, pulling her back to safety.