Ch.4343. At the Beach, Water Play Cannot Be Missed [Illustration]

The euphoria of linking arms for the first time in my life was short-lived.

Soon I came to my senses and exchanged small talk with Hwa Nabi, and before I knew it, a full hour had passed.

Though I felt a bit disappointed that there were still many places we hadn’t explored, rules were rules. Our nature park tour was over.

The morning schedule of day one concluded with everyone meeting at the designated spot. We had lunch at a restaurant along the way, and then the entire Class A, including myself, boarded the bus heading to our lodging to complete the afternoon schedule.

The afternoon schedule consisted of just playing briefly at the beach and then having some recreational activities, but anyway…

After traveling a bit further, we arrived at the beach in front of our hotel.

As we got off the bus with our luggage, the first things that caught our eyes were the golden sandy beach and the waves of the Jeju sea.

“There aren’t as many people as I expected.”

“Yeah, maybe because it’s a weekday?”

As my classmates had just observed, the beach was remarkably empty. Apart from a few couples, there was hardly anyone around.

The reason was probably because it was the off-season with very few tourists.

Well, whatever the exact circumstances, it was good for us. We wouldn’t have to worry about other beachgoers.

I wasn’t the only one thinking this way—my classmates looked excited as they gazed at the sea. They seemed eager to play on the beach right away.

Our homeroom teacher, who had been silently watching the excited students, spoke up.

“Kids? Playing is fine, but first go unpack your luggage at the hotel. There’s plenty of time, and you all know which rooms you’re in, right?”

Just to be sure, the teacher repeated the instructions that had been given on the bus earlier.

Boys on the 7th floor, girls on the 8th floor, teachers on the 9th floor. Come find us if anything happens. Don’t stay up late, go to bed early… the usual clichés.

But hormonal high school students in the midst of puberty were unlikely to heed adult warnings. Things would definitely get chaotic one way or another.

As proof, some students exchanged glances as soon as the teacher finished the speech. They seemed to be plotting something suspicious.

Though it would probably just amount to sneaking into the girls’ rooms at night or smuggling in some alcohol. At that age, just being together is fun, so anything they do would be enjoyable.

“Alright, dismissed! And kids, playing at the beach is fine, but you need to be back at the lodging by five o’clock!”

Two whole hours of free time. How generous. After briefly admiring the teacher’s magnanimity, I immediately headed to the hotel to check my assigned room.

Passing through the entrance of the luxury hotel that probably cost over 100,000 won per night, I took the elevator to the 7th floor.

I was in Group 1, so room 701. I opened the door marked 701. Since we had each been given key cards, there was no issue with access.

But the moment I entered the room, one impression struck me immediately.

“What a mess.”

It was to be expected, but high school boys wouldn’t bother tidying up a room. Especially one they’d only stay in for a day or two.

Looking around with a different kind of amazement, I saw that our room was nothing short of a pigsty.

Suitcases and bags were showing off their presence on beds and shelves, and clothes—presumably shed by my roommates—were scattered all over the floor.

“Huh.”

Seeing the mess, I felt a cleaning instinct stir within me.

The urge to make this chaotic hotel room neat and tidy.

But I couldn’t just touch other people’s clothes or bags as I pleased.

What if they misunderstood? It was better to leave things as they were.

Having reached that conclusion, I was about to turn away… when I hesitated.

“…”

…But maybe I could at least organize the bags a little?

Just as I was about to move my hand—

-Buzzz.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I quickly took it out to check who was calling.

ㅡ[Hwa Nabi♡]

The caller ID still felt awkward to me.

I answered the call with slight reluctance.

[Ah, hello? Siwoo?]

“Oh, what is it?”

[Where are you right now?]

“Me? I just got to the hotel. Why?”

[Really? That’s perfect. Um, I have an urgent matter right now. Could you help me?]

“An urgent matter? What is it?”

[…It’s a bit difficult to explain over the phone. I think I need to talk to you in person. Could you come out to the beach in front?]

“Huh? I can, but what’s this about? Is it something you can’t say in front of others?”

[Ah, anyway. It’s really urgent. So you’ll come out, right? I-I’ll hang up now!]

Hwa Nabi, who had been strangely stuttering, abruptly ended the call, leaving me staring at my phone screen with a bewildered expression.

“What’s going on?”

She seemed genuinely flustered, so it must be something urgent. But I couldn’t even begin to guess what it might be.

Maybe she dropped her wallet? There would be no other reason to suddenly call and ask to meet in person, and if that were the case, it would indeed be serious. A chaebol heiress’s wallet would be a major concern.

-Buzzz.

Hwa Nabi♡ [Oh, I forgot to mention, please change into your swimsuit before coming out! It’s important!]

“…What is this really about?”

I wondered what kind of situation required meeting in swimwear in broad daylight with no onlookers around…

But pondering here wouldn’t give me any answers.

I’d find out when I got there.

*

So I headed out to the beach in front of the lodging.

Back to the shore.

As I walked along the sandy beach looking for Hwa Nabi, I spotted some familiar faces.

The boys from our class were having a wrestling match led by Lim Hansol, while the girls were huddled under parasols, chatting away, presumably to avoid the sun…

I could see all these familiar faces, but ironically, Hwa Nabi—the one who had called me—was nowhere to be seen.

“Where did she go?”

She called me out but disappeared somewhere. I couldn’t even call her since I’d left my phone behind just in case.

“Sigh.”

I should have brought my phone. Finding her was proving more difficult than expected, which was quite troublesome. She could have at least waited somewhere easy to find.

“Just wait until I find you.”

I’d have a word with her for making me go through this trouble.

With that thought, I walked a bit further and arrived at a spot slightly away from the lodging.

I was now standing at the boundary between the golden sandy beach and a rocky area. It felt strangely surreal.

“Where are you?”

Just as I was looking around, thinking there was nowhere else to search—

-S-Siwoo?

Suddenly, I heard what sounded like someone calling my name.

“W-what?”

Was I hearing things? Just as I was about to doubt my own hearing—

“…Is that you, Siwoo?”

From behind a large rock, a familiar pink head of hair peeked out.

I was startled and took a step back, but then relaxed when I realized who it was.

“…Nabi?”

“Y-yes. It’s me.”

The person hiding behind the rock was, needless to say, Hwa Nabi. But she was concealing most of her body behind the rock, with only her face showing.

Additionally, for reasons I couldn’t understand, she was looking at me with wary eyes, as if checking my reaction. Even though she knew it was me.

“So, what are you doing there?”

“I-I was just, preparing myself mentally?”

I had no idea what kind of mental preparation she needed, so I moved forward to see what she was hiding. This made Hwa Nabi look terrified, but I paid no attention and walked toward her.

After checking behind the rock myself, I understood why Hwa Nabi was hiding.

“……”

“Ah….”

Facing Hwa Nabi, who was standing there with her mouth agape, I was momentarily speechless.

I couldn’t help it—the sight before me was so shocking…

“…Don’t stare so intensely.”

Hwa Nabi said that while covering her chest with her arms, but I just stood there, dumbfounded, staring at her.

Hwa Nabi was wearing a bikini.

And not just any type—a pink bikini with black straps around the edges.

…Maybe she was matching it with her hair color? The sight before me was so shocking that I had such an absurd thought.

“…H-how do I look?”

Hwa Nabi, who had been fidgeting, suddenly asked. Finally coming back to my senses, I gulped and answered.

“Oh, it suits you well. But… why were you hiding here?”

“B-because I was embarrassed. This is my first time wearing something like this…”

Hwa Nabi seemed genuinely embarrassed, even stuttering.

I’m not just saying this, but she looked frighteningly beautiful, and it suited her perfectly. There was no need for her to be embarrassed, but… if it was her first time wearing such an outfit, it was understandable.

Bikinis inherently involve bold exposure, so it’s natural for someone unaccustomed to feel embarrassed.

“It’s okay. It really suits you well, so you can be confident.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Th-then, on a scale, how many points would you give?”

“Huh? Points?”

“Yes. If you could rate it out of 100, that would be nice…”

“…If 100 is the maximum, then obviously 100.”

“Ah… really? That’s a relief.”

Hwa Nabi let out a small sigh after hearing my evaluation.

Eventually, she looked up at me and smiled softly…

“…”

To be honest, I thought my heart would stop. It’s true what they say—a woman can look completely different just by changing clothes…

And perhaps because she seemed much more demure than usual, Hwa Nabi’s aura felt different.

How should I put it? She looked more mature than usual, much more so.

I took a step forward.

“…So, what was the urgent matter after all?”

Surely she didn’t call me just to show off her new swimsuit. I asked, but Hwa Nabi just fidgeted strangely, avoiding my gaze.

Then, she suddenly spoke loudly.

“Ah… the urgent matter? It’s fine now. It’s been resolved.”

“…What?”

I rushed here, putting everything aside because her voice sounded so urgent, and now she says it’s resolved? I asked again, incredulous.

She seemed to know she was being embarrassing, refusing to meet my eyes even though she knew I was staring at her.

After making me worry so much… if she acts like she doesn’t know anything and avoids my gaze, I can’t help but feel annoyed.

So, I grabbed Hwa Nabi’s wrist.

“…Huh?”

She made a sound as if she was taken aback. She couldn’t quickly grasp what was happening.

And while she was in a daze, I…

“S-Siwoo? What are you—eek!”

Pulled her into the seawater.

-Splash!

A spray of water rose between us with a loud sound. Half-soaked in an instant, Hwa Nabi looked at me with shocked eyes.

“S-Siwoo? What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

What else? It’s revenge for making me worry. No words needed here. Refusing further conversation, I splashed water on her with my hands.

“Ah! Wait, Siwoo! I’ll get all wet!”

“Swimsuits are meant to get wet!”

“T-that’s true, but my hair will get wet too!”

“I don’t care! That’s not my problem!”

“Oh, really. Siwoo! Are you going to keep doing this?”

“If you’re upset, you can do it too!”

Just as Hwa Nabi, who had been enduring my water attacks, was about to counterattack, I quickly ran toward the shore to escape.

“Hey! Siwoo! Where are you going! Stay there!”

“Heh, would you stay if you were me?”

She glared at me when I mocked her, then started chasing after me. And so, a chase began on the midday beach. Hwa Nabi was “it,” and I was the escapee.

Since I was fleeing with my back to the enemy, I was subjected to one-sided attacks from behind. But I didn’t stop running.

“Siwoo! Stop running away and come here!”

Though her words urged me to give up, her face was blooming with a smile. While pretending otherwise, she was enjoying herself inside.

“I’m really not going to let you off easy if I catch you!”

She was already soaked from head to toe from all the water. So there was no point in continuing to run away, but I didn’t stop.

“Catch me if you can!”

“You think I can’t?”

Because right now, even this kind of play was incredibly fun.