Ch.162Because It’s Summer (5)

Recently, I’ve been meeting Hamin more often on weekends, but school was still undoubtedly the main place where we saw each other.

So naturally, once summer vacation started, the frequency of our direct meetings was expected to decrease. I understood. Neither Miss Ban Doyoung nor Do Hamin had enough money in their pockets to travel a two-hour distance each way every day just for the purpose of dating.

I could completely understand that, and actually thought it was fine. After all, part of teenage romance is creating memories from the slight disappointments that come from having tight budgets.

Like buying a single popsicle and sharing it between two people, or sitting side by side on a station bench until the first morning train arrives because you don’t have enough money for a taxi. Those simple events often create the warmest memories that last the longest time.

It wouldn’t hurt to build up a couple of memories that would make future Miss Ban Doyoung reconcile with Hamin after a marital argument about who was more at fault, saying, “Back then, we were happy even without money.”

So I decided that during summer vacation, when meetings with Hamin would inevitably decrease, I would focus on the quality of our events rather than the quantity of our meetings.

“Hamin, it’s finally summer vacation! I’m sure you’ve already made some plans for dates with Miss Ban Doyoung during the break? Like going to a water park, a splash show, or a summer festival!”

“Huh? Ah, well…”

“Of course, if funds are tight, the neighborhood swimming pool or park fountain would be fine too! Or if nothing else works, staying at your place for a day or two would be good!”

When I asked if he had any special plans for when we met during summer vacation, his response was:

“Um… I signed up for supplementary classes during summer vacation.”

“…What?”

Sure enough.

This bastard Hamin answered just like that.

“Shit! You should have told me that in advance!”

“Eek…! I’m sorry! But you should be used to this by now!”

“Oh, really! I was going to ask you to watch the ‘Mari★huana’ movie screening with me during Tuesday lunch! I had already completed the electronic questionnaire at the blood donation center using your resident registration number!”

“Were you planning to drain my blood again just to watch a movie? Wait, how did you even get my resident registration number?!”

Even though he’d grown taller and his face had become more masculine as his baby fat disappeared, even though he’d scored perfect marks in all subjects to become the top student in school and received an academic excellence award in front of the entire school on closing day, Hamin was still the same Hamin I had known from the beginning.

“You bastard. I bet when you go to college, you’ll sign up for summer sessions from your freshman year and won’t hang out with Miss Ban Doyoung. In college, you could legally engage in ‘supplementary learning’ with her!”

“Don’t twist the meaning of supplementary learning! And it’s only about four periods a day! Besides, by signing up for supplementary classes, I have a reason to come to your neighborhood during vacation! I can also continue taking kendo lessons from you!”

“…Ah, now that I hear it, that makes sense. Good job. I’ll give you a hug as a reward.”

Anyway, thanks to this arrangement, even though vacation had started, the frequency of meeting Hamin hadn’t changed much from when we were attending school. If anything, the one difference was that he came to my house earlier since his supplementary classes ended earlier.

“The beach…?”

“Yeah, since we’re going to greet Miss Miso’s parents, how about we also visit the beach while we’re there? It is summer vacation after all.”

“Come to think of it, they said they’re having the wedding at the beach. So Miss Miso is from the coast.”

On the day before the first weekend of summer vacation, I suggested a trip together to Hamin, who had come to my house after finishing his supplementary classes.

“But… is it okay for me to join? In a way, I’m completely an outsider on this trip…”

“My family’s eldest son and Miss Miso have already given permission. Mom and Dad actually insisted that I bring you along since they can’t go themselves. They want you to keep me from causing trouble.”

“Ahaha…”

Not a single person objected. I could tell how much trust Hamin had earned in our household by the fact that no one showed reluctance or gave a halfhearted acceptance with a sour face.

And conversely, I could also see how much Miss Ban Doyoung was treated like a leaky bucket in this household. Well, I’m sure it’s not because of me.

“Therefore, Hamin, will you come with us? No, come with us. No, you must come with us.”

“Your invitation went from a request to mandatory participation in an instant?”

“You didn’t consult me about your summer supplementary classes, so why do I need to consult you about going to the beach? Stop arguing and come along. Before I strip your shirt off.”

“W-when you put it that way, I have nothing to say…!”

And that’s how Hamin ended up joining this trip as Miss Ban Doyoung’s guardian substitute, becoming part of the family of Miss Miso, who had become part of our family.

…

Around the time I could feel the salt-laden breeze touching my hair, we arrived at the guesthouse run by Miss Miso’s parents.

Since the guesthouse was built on slightly higher ground than the beach, the view of the sparkling South Sea visible through the windows was quite beautiful.

We didn’t meet Miss Miso’s parents, who owned the guesthouse, but since Miss Miso had helped her parents with their business since childhood, she had skillfully obtained the keys and necessary supplies in advance, so there was no problem getting into our accommodations and unpacking.

“You guys rest comfortably first. My sister and I will go greet the adults first.”

“Huh? Is that okay? Shouldn’t we go too? We’re here on behalf of Mom and Dad after all.”

“That doesn’t mean we can put you in the position of in-laws.”

“That’s convincing.”

“You say that, but your face shows you’re dying to play at the beach right away.”

“That’s right, Doyoung. My parents know that you and Hamin are students from my class, so it’s fine for the three of you to rest until we get back. There’s a beach just a short walk away, so feel free to go check it out first.”

After unpacking, I was about to follow Solyoung and Miss Miso, but the two of them, being considerate of us who were more focused on the vacation aspect, allowed us to go straight to the beach. Thanks to them, we were able to enjoy the beach right after unpacking.

“Hamin, I know it’s shameless, but please take care of our siblings.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll keep that in mind, Solyoung. I’ll make sure nothing dangerous happens to them.”

“Thank you for coming with us, Hamin. You’re really reliable.”

“Of course, no matter how reliable, you can only have one of them, you know?”

“D-Doyoung! Don’t say things that could cause misunderstandings!”

So while Solyoung and Miss Miso went into town by car to meet the adults separately, we immediately grabbed our swimwear and headed to the beach, which was just a five-minute walk from our lodging.

“Wow, there are quite a lot of people.”

While Siyoung and Hamin were changing into their swimwear in the changing room, I, who had already worn my swimsuit underneath before the trip, stepped onto the sandy beach first and looked around.

Although it was still early in the vacation period, there were quite a few people at the beach as the full-fledged summer was beginning.

The most numerous were college students who had come to play during their break. It wasn’t yet peak vacation season for office workers, after all. Besides them, there were mostly families who had come for the weekend.

Just from visual observation, it wasn’t as crowded as the beaches during peak season that I’d seen on the news, but…

“Did you see that girl who just passed by?”

“Wow, look at those br—I mean, she’s really beautiful.”

“Can’t eat it but still…?”

“Wait, let me at least fill my eyes with the sight so I won’t have regrets.”

The constant murmuring of people like this was no less intense than the crowds I’d seen on the news.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh…? Me?”

“Could you give me your Pinstagram ID? I really like you.”

While I was waiting for Siyoung and Hamin, one man from a group approached me and held out his phone.

“Ah, I don’t use Pinstagram.”

“Then tell me any other SNS account you have. I’ll sign up for it.”

“Eh, ehhh…”

Normally, these murmuring voices wouldn’t have reached Miss Ban Doyoung directly. Before confessions, most people would lose confidence due to the overwhelming intimidation of Miss Ban Doyoung’s appearance and take a step back.

“Excuse me… I forgot to mention, but I’m underage. I’m still a first-year in high school…”

“That doesn’t matter. Once you become an adult, the age difference between us won’t be significant. If you’re in high school, do you perhaps use TikTok instead of Pinstagram? Seeing your pretty forehead, you seem like you’d enjoy that kind of platform.”

“W-wait…”

But things were a bit different at the beach in midsummer.

Let’s push forward just this once.

It’s summer after all.

It’s a summer memory.

Let’s be brave just this once.

That spark of romance was igniting the broken hearts of men who would normally have given up and stepped back.

“W-wait. Mister, you’re getting too close…”

“Where are you from, Seoul? I also go to school in Seoul, and I’m enlisting in the military in September. Can’t we meet just once, even if it’s just once?”

“I enlisted in July… No, that’s not what I meant.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected direct approach, I lost my timing to speak and couldn’t continue.

“If you happen to be near our school, maybe we could meet in Seoul…”

“Excuse me, just a moment.”

-Thud

“Whoa!”

I involuntarily leaned back as hands grabbed me from behind.

“…Are you okay?”

“H-Hamin…?”

Just as I was about to fall on my backside onto the sandy beach, shoulders with just the right firmness—not too hard—supported my upper body. They were the shoulders of Hamin, who had just changed into his swimsuit in the changing room.

“I’m sorry, but… this person is with me. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t hit on her.”

“…Wow, that was close.”

There was also a man beside me who had gained courage from the summer memories.