Ch.154Chapter 25. A Slightly Changed Daily Life (6)

Oh my God.

I never thought a day like this would come for me.

I didn’t have a girlfriend, nor did I have any female friends to go to the beach with.

I’ve gone with friends before, but I didn’t really care about swimsuits then. I was more focused on eating and drinking.

…Come to think of it, what are minors supposed to do at the beach?

If you’re an adult, you can just drink all night and grill meat. Is it the same minus the alcohol?

While I was lost in these thoughts—

“Jieun!”

Hayun’s face suddenly appeared between the curtains.

“Eek!?”

I screamed a bit late and tried to cover myself, but Hayun just tilted her head.

“Oh, you’re already dressed?”

Did she really stick her head through the curtain when I might not have been fully dressed?

No, thinking again, maybe I was taking too long inside.

This is a store. Staying too long in the changing room would inconvenience others. Though it’s not like there’s only one changing room.

But I did have my reasons.

What I’m wearing now is essentially no different from underwear.

…Yes, I know. Logically speaking, people who call swimsuits underwear are a bit strange. Not exactly close-minded, just weird people who have issues with others swimming in swimsuits.

Still, even if they have different purposes, objectively speaking, isn’t the amount of coverage almost the same? No, maybe swimsuits actually cover even less. That’s just how they’re designed.

“Can I come in?”

Hayun was asking, but she was already entering the changing room as she spoke.

…Aren’t two people not supposed to be in a changing room together?

Actually, I remember hearing something like that when shopping for clothes before. I didn’t try it myself, of course, but someone followed another person in offering to check their clothes, and the staff shouted in horror, “Please use the changing room one person at a time!”

I don’t know if something had happened before or what.

Plus, Hayun and I are already celebrities, and there have even been photos of us kissing in the news and newspapers. The possibility of something “inappropriate” happening in the changing room isn’t zero.

At worst, it would just be kissing, but still.

“You don’t need to be so self-conscious.”

As if reading my thoughts, Hayun smiled slightly.

Her cheeks were already flushed pink. So she did come in with strange thoughts after all.

“The others are changing, and besides, we’ve rented this store.”

We didn’t pay to rent it; it was possible because Dalia’s parents run this franchise.

But shouldn’t we be even more careful because of that? If the others are changing, it means someone else can’t change right now.

…The ones still outside must be Rose, Dalia, and Delphinium. That’s why they didn’t stop Hayun.

But unlike me, who was already having strange thoughts despite Hayun having just entered, Hayun herself seemed quite composed.

“Come on, put your hands down and straighten your shoulders. I can’t see if you’re like that…”

“Can’t I just pick something and take it? You’ll see it when we go anyway.”

“No.”

Hayun replied with a slightly stern expression.

“If the size is wrong, something bad could happen while swimming.”

“…”

That was a valid point.

Even though where we’re going probably won’t have other people, it would still be a disaster. No matter what, I didn’t want to show that kind of sight to my friends.

After hesitating, I sighed softly and slowly lowered my hands.

It’s not like I’ve never been in underwear in front of others. It was unavoidable when changing into gym clothes, and above all, I’ve lived with Jihye my whole life. Though my relationship with Jihye has become awkwardly embarrassing lately, it wasn’t my “first time.”

No, more than that, I’ve even bathed with the girls. Not that I’ve seen them directly, of course.

But somehow, the swimsuit still felt embarrassing.

Maybe it’s because I think swimsuits and underwear are completely different. Well, underwear is something you don’t need to look at for long, but a swimsuit…

It’s basically saying, “I’m going to play in front of you wearing this.”

As I straightened my shoulders—I could see myself in the black bikini. There was a mirror in front of me.

It feels a bit strange to say this about my own body, but this outfit is embarrassing in many ways. At least the magical girl costume covers what needs to be covered, but a swimsuit reveals the stomach, thighs, and buttocks quite a bit.

Moreover, this swimsuit Hayun picked for me was a truly “standard” bikini. Both top and bottom were made up of triangles, showing a bit of the underside of the breasts and clearly revealing the cleavage.

To be honest, it looks pretty. It definitely suits me well. It was chosen by Hayun, who has known me for a long time.

But still.

Thinking about getting water and sand on it somehow makes it strangely shameful.

“…It suits you well.”

Hayun, who had been speechless looking at my body, blushed and bowed her head before speaking.

“Hey, why are you reacting like that when you’re the one who came in?”

When I spoke with disbelief, Hayun covered her face.

“No, more importantly.”

I deliberately spoke confidently to hide my embarrassment. This has become a complete habit now. It’s the best method for dealing with people who keep trying to invade my personal space with various actions.

Besides, embarrassment is usually felt most strongly before taking action.

After you’ve already shown something, it doesn’t matter as much anymore.

As I took a step closer, Hayun quickly backed away.

But how much space could there be in a changing room? Hayun couldn’t even take a full step before her back hit the wall.

I moved right up to her. My body touched Hayun’s slightly, but I didn’t mind much.

I lifted her chin and looked straight at her bright red face as I spoke.

“So why haven’t you changed? I picked something out for you.”

Before entering the changing room, we naturally picked swimsuits for each other. Somehow, the swimsuits chosen for me by Hayun, Jihye, and Ju-a were all similar to what I’m wearing now.

But since I wasn’t the only one who picked such things, Hayun must have been holding a swimsuit too.

This store has three changing rooms. It’s not a large store, so the number is appropriate, but not enough for all of us to change at once.

Hayun, therefore, was waiting for us to change.

“Why, did you want to come in like this? Did you want to see me in a swimsuit when the others weren’t around? Is that why you came in without saying anything, because you wanted to catch me in the middle of changing?”

As I whispered, Hayun pressed her lips together and couldn’t say anything. The corners of her lips trembled, and her eyes became a little moist. Sweat began to form on her forehead.

“Is this—what you wanted?”

As I asked this, bringing my face closer to Hayun—

Swoosh.

The curtain at the entrance of the changing room was suddenly pushed aside.

Although there was lighting inside, it was still a bit darker than outside, but as soon as the curtain disappeared, the inside became brightly lit.

I turned my head stiffly to look, and there stood Jihye and Ju-a, already changed into their swimsuits. Behind them were Rose, Dalia, and Delphinium.

Rose was just about to burst into laughter, while Dalia and Delphinium were covering their faces with their hands. Dalia as if extremely embarrassed. Delphinium with her hand on her forehead as if finding it pathetic.

Ah, I could also see Pang Pang in the back. Pang Pang had a confused expression, not knowing whether to be happy or shocked at the sight of us. She was frozen stiff with a swimsuit in her hand.

“…”

I could feel my face turning bright red again. No, my already flushed face was now burning hot.

I turned around, went to the corner of the changing room, and crouched down.

Then I banged my head against the corner where the two walls met.

Right, of course.

A curtain is just a curtain, and there are gaps above and below it, so sounds from the changing room can be heard outside almost perfectly.

The girls outside probably had no reason to wait for me to change. They could already tell what was happening inside.

“I want it.”

Jihye said as she entered.

“I wouldn’t say I don’t want it either.”

Ju-a added.

Hayun had been sitting against the wall with her face covered by her hands since the moment I backed away.

“Hmm? Hmm? I’m in a swimsuit too, how about it? If you want to continue, I can substitute.”

“That should be decided fairly. I’m a bit interested too.”

No, please don’t do this.

And why do four people need to be in the changing room?

I wish they would leave.

And give me about five minutes alone.

If we’re already like this a month before going to the beach, what will happen when we get there?

…Can I handle it?