Chapter 202: The Last Night of the Group Trip!

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I was sipping champagne, swaying happily in a tipsy daze, when Jia unnie approached me with a worried look.

“D-Da-jeong, are you okay? Here, drink some water.”

“Ehehe, there’s two Jia unnies… I’m twice as happyyy…”

I gulped down the water she gave me like a baby bird being fed, then immediately clung to her embrace.

With two unnies, my happiness doubled too.

“CEO Kang, what should we do? Da-jeong seems pretty drunk…”

“She didn’t drink much, so she’ll sober up soon. Let’s lay her down somewhere to rest.”

“But where can we even lay her down…?”

I could vaguely hear CEO Kang and Jia unnie’s voices, but they sounded muffled, like listening underwater.

Honestly, it was like ASMR—so soothing. Hehe, Jia unnie really has the sweetest voice in Blue LUV.

I just wanted to drift off to sleep like this.

“Unnie, maybe we should take her outside? Some fresh air might help her sober up.”

“Mmm, that might be better. The boat’s not rocking much, and there’s barely any sun.”

Just as I was about to close my eyes in Jia unnie’s arms, I suddenly felt something shaking me.

Ugh, I wanna sleep…

Who keeps waking me up?

Don’t disturb a sleeping lion’s whiskers…

“Da-jeong, wanna go outside for some air?”

“Uuuh, nooo… Da-jeong wanna sleeeep…”

This time, Ra-hee unnie tried to coax me, but I didn’t want to let go of this warmth. I shook my head vigorously and, as if refusing to release her, tightly gripped Jia unnie’s sleeve.

“Oh? But if you come, you might even see dolphins. Don’t you wanna see dolphins?”

“Dolphinsss…?”

“Yeah, dolphins.”

That sweet offer instantly perked me up. Dolphins?! The legendary creatures you only see at aquariums?!

“So? Wanna see them?”

“Mhm, wanna see dolphinnnss…”

Finally, I stopped resisting and pulled myself out of Jia unnie’s arms, rubbing my eyes and nodding weakly.

Though my body felt limp from drowsiness, I had to push through for the dolphins.

“I’ll carry her. She might stumble otherwise.”

“Sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. It’s part of my job as manager.”

Soon, something warm wrapped around me again, and I felt like I was floating in the air.

Clunk— clunk—

A heavy, metallic sound echoed, and a refreshing breeze swept over me.

Not the chilly air-conditioned air from before, but a warm, pleasant wind.

“It’s still pretty bright out.”

“It’s summer. It won’t get dark until around 8, right?”

Chae-yoon unnie and Yuna’s voices faded as I was gently set down. Then, something soft cushioned my neck and the back of my head.

“I’ll take care of Da-jeong. The rest of you go enjoy the view.”

Jia unnie’s voice was right in front of me now.

“You sure, unnie?”

“Of course. If dolphins show up, let me know. I’ll bring Da-jeong to see them.”

“Okay, we’ll be back!”

“Mhm.”

After their back-and-forth, silence fell, and sleepiness crashed over me harder.

Maybe staying awake was hopeless after all.

Rustle—

“Da-jeong, unnie will wake you if dolphins appear, so rest easy.”

“’Kayyy…”

Just as I thought that, Jia unnie brushed my hair and spoke softly.

Her tender voice filled me with relief, and before I knew it, I mumbled a reply and surrendered to sleep.

***************

Someone shook me awake.

This time, my consciousness returned clearly, unlike the previous haze.

“Da-jeong! Da-jeong! Dolphins! Dolphins!”

“Dolphins…?”

“You said you wanted to see them, right?! Hurry, or you’ll miss them!”

Chae-yoon unnie’s urgent voice snapped me out of my daze.

At first, the word dolphins didn’t register, but then—

“D-Dolphins?! Wh-Where?! I wanna see!”

“Over there! Hurry! Unnie, come on!”

“Got it.”

Still half-asleep, I stumbled after Chae-yoon unnie’s pointing finger.

The cool breeze gradually cleared my head, and memories of before I fell asleep resurfaced.

Gasp…!

Wait, what happened after I drank champagne?!

Did I really fall asleep on Jia unnie’s lap?!

“Oh, Da-jeong’s awake? Feeling better?”

“Uuu, I’m so sorryyy…”

The CEO, standing at the deck’s edge, greeted me.

Overcome with embarrassment, I instinctively hid behind Jia unnie.

“Da-jeong, I’m sorry! I didn’t know the champagne had that much alcohol in it…”

“N-No, it’s my fault.”

Yuna, blaming herself for giving me the drink, hugged me tightly in apology.

“Da-jeong, don’t just stand there. Come here and look.”

“’Kay…”

Peeking out like a baby kangaroo hiding behind its mother, I cautiously stepped forward at Ra-hee unnie’s beckoning.

Then, stepping onto a small platform and gazing out at the vast ocean—

Splash— Splash—

“Whoaaa…!”

There, cutting through the white waves, were dolphins swimming by.

Though it was late, making them hard to see clearly, the lingering sunlight painted the horizon red, letting us catch glimpses of them.

“How is it, Da-jeong?”

“They’re so cute…! But are dolphins usually this easy to spot?”

“Not at all. I’ve only heard about them—this is my first time seeing them in real life.”

“Hehe, then we must be really lucky.”

“Guess so.”

Even Ra-hee unnie, who often strolled along this beach at the villa, was seeing this for the first time.

It had to be an incredible stroke of luck. Maybe that’s why the distant dolphins looked extra adorable.

“Bye, little ones! See you next year!”

Squeak— Squeak—

As I waved at the pod fading into the distance, they chirped back as if understanding me.

Hehe, I don’t know if I’ll visit Ra-hee unnie’s villa again next year, but if I do, I’d love to see them once more—maybe even closer next time.

“Huh? The sun’s setting.”

Just as the dolphins disappeared, the sunset faded, and night draped over the sea.

It felt like the sun had waited patiently just for us to send them off.

“Unnie, are we heading back now?”

“We should. But before that, I’ve got one last thing prepared.”

“Prepared?”

Just as I was feeling wistful, those words perked my ears up. Prepared? Was there still more to come?

“Now that the sun’s completely down, it’s perfect timing. Hold on.”

Ra-hee unnie fiddled with her phone, leaving us blinking in confusion. Then—

“Everyone, look up at the sky.”

“The sky?”

“Huh? What’s up there?”

The moment we tilted our heads—

Boom—!

“Unnie, look over there!”

“Wha—?!”

A loud burst cut through the air, followed by Yuna’s startled voice. A streak of violet light shot upward, and then—

Pop!

—exploded into a shower of sparks, painting the night in vivid colors.

“Whoa! Fireworks!”

“This is insane!”

“So gorgeous…”

“You planned this too?!”

“Ra-hee, you’ve outdone yourself.”

Everyone gasped in awe, but I stood silent, memories flooding back.

The first time I’d seen fireworks in person, I’d watched from afar, too afraid to join the crowds.

Back then, the distance made them feel like unreachable stars—beautiful, but lonely.

Yet now, here they were, bursting right before my eyes, with the people I loved most.

It felt like proof that this past year hadn’t been wasted. My chest swelled.

“So, Da-jeong? Different from the fireworks in Last, huh?”

I’d been holding back tears, but Ra-hee unnie’s question made me nod with a sniffle.

“Sniff… Yeah. Those were cool, but these are amazing too.”

“Huh? Da-jeong, are you crying?”

“What? Da-jeong’s crying?”

“Our Da-jeong is crying again?”

Ugh, no I’m not!

I didn’t cry!

Stop calling me a crybaby!

I swore I’d only cry from happiness from now on.

Because smiling is the best.

I’ve cried enough days to last a lifetime.

From now on, I’ll only laugh—that’s my promise.

“Quick, let’s take a group photo before Da-jeong starts bawling! Gather up!”

“Ugh, I’m not cryingggg…!”

As Chae-yoon unnie herded everyone together, I scurried over, protesting but obedient.

“So-eun unnie, just set the timer and join us!”

“Right! We’ve got a stand anyway!”

“Got it!”

Even So-eun unnie, the last to join, hurried into the frame as we struck poses against the fireworks.

Click—

A soft shutter sound echoed over the sea.

“Ooh, it turned out great!”

“Thought the boat would make it blurry, but nope!”

“Pfft, look at Da-jeong’s red eyes.”

“Wow, CEO Kang’s visuals today? Unmatched.”

“Everyone looks so pretty.”

“Yeah, we got a proper keepsake for the end.”

Laughter bubbled up as we admired the photo.

A little short, but so, so happy—

Our first group trip’s final night drew to a close like this.