episode_0114

He held onto my waist tightly, his eyes wide open in the water to prevent me from sinking.

Like a sharpened knife, a bad memory cut through my throat.

Unable to bear the eerie feeling, I struggled to pull Siwoo out of the water.

“Hey, hey! Come out. Come out! Jung Siwoo!!”

Turning his body sideways and standing upright on the pool floor, Siwoo finally emerged from the water and took a deep breath.

“Could you have suffocated and died…? Why didn’t you come out?”

“If I didn’t, you would have almost swallowed water.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“You’re the one. Why were you so scared? Do you have a bad memory related to water?”

Unable to admit that I died drowning in my past life, I looked straight at Siwoo and clenched my throat.

“Ah… yeah. Deep water is a bit scary….”

“Tell me sooner. Is shallow water okay?”

“Yeah. It’s okay.”

“You just screamed a moment ago.”

“That’s because water got in my nose too much….”

Siwoo sighed and gently stroked my head.

“You should have told me about that. Even though we’re similar, we’re not exactly the same. I can vaguely understand that too.”

He was genuinely worried about me. He knew that my fear of water was not fake.

“I didn’t really want to go swimming… but I didn’t force you to come, did I…?”

Oh no. This is not good. Siwoo’s happy memories should not be tainted and ruined.

I straightened up and raised my voice.

“No! Absolutely not. I really wanted to come. I mean it!”

Pushing me away from his embrace, he locked eyes with me.

For a moment, he looked through my gaze to see my sincerity. Siwoo sighed heavily, slumping his shoulders.

“Sorry. I won’t play such pranks again.”

“Yeah. Thank you…. I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier.”

“Don’t apologize.”

With a serious look in his eyes, Siwoo tightly grasped my shoulders. It was firm, but it didn’t hurt at all.

“It was my fault for not noticing. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s natural for a boyfriend.”

What is he saying?

If I don’t speak, will he be able to figure out my true identity?

Will he know that I came here because of the wind of death three years later?

No.

The Jung Siwoo from three years ago cannot know what will happen three years later.

Even though I can understand it now, it is impossible to know that far ahead—.

“I should have noticed when you hesitated to come out of the changing room….”

It was a completely different approach, a completely wrong interpretation.

Nevertheless, he was trying to find the answer in my actions.

He was trying to read my sincerity in every small action that could be missed.

It’s not surveillance.

It’s to take care of me. He’s just looking at me to do anything for me.

I can’t be annoyed or irritated.

Because that’s how Siwoo loves.

‘Even I kept doing that to Siwoo…’

I’m clearly a fool. Pretending not to know even though I know. It’s natural to be obsessed when you start dating Jung Siwoo.

“I mean it. I can do anything for you. So…. Tell me anything. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it for you.”

Drip, drip.

Water droplets fell into the pool from our hair.

Watching the small ripples spread, I looked at Siwoo.

Time passed slowly.

“I hope you rely on me…. Because you’re my boyfriend.”

Staring blankly at Siwoo, I cursed inwardly.

Damn bastard. He’s so damn cool….

The past me, who could never do it to Chaewon, showed a side that could be seen because I taught and influenced Siwoo.

Yes, this was similar to the envy I felt towards Song Seonghyuk.

The only difference is that Song Seonghyuk was a shining rival who ignited my fighting spirit….

Jung Siwoo was the pitiful past version of myself that evoked my sympathy.

The Siwoo I raised is now threatening me.

I admire him and love him. It’s unstoppable. I am just being pulled along by my heart.

Suddenly, the loosened hair tie fell onto the water with a splash.

“Hey!”

I got annoyed for no reason and splashed water at him with all my might, but Siwoo just stood there taking it.

“If you don’t dodge, I’ll keep splashing you!”

Not content with just getting hit, he spread his arms wide open.

“If that makes you happy. Feel free.”

I took the bait and charged at him. So I threw my body into the water instead.

“…I didn’t ask you to do that with your arms wide open.”

At Siwoo’s bewildered words, I retorted sharply.

“Shh, be quiet!”

***

As we cooled off in the water and grilled some meat, Siwoo candidly brought up the thoughts he had during our earlier swim.

“Hey. Just in case. If we ever go to the beach together again, never wear that swimsuit.”

I knew exactly what he meant. He didn’t want anyone else to see me because he wanted me all to himself.

But did I have that kind of exposure in mind?

I wouldn’t show that much skin to anyone else.

My body belongs to Austria. The keeper of the national treasure is Jung Siwoo.

“I showed it to you because it’s you.”

“…I know, but just in case. Just in case.”

I approached Siwoo as he grilled the meat and narrowed my eyes.

“Why. Are you jealous?”

“Jealous? It’s not jealousy. I just don’t want other guys to see you.”

“Oh. What’s wrong with them seeing? They’ll all think, ‘Did that bird save the country in a past life…’ when they see you.”

Although he grumbled, Siwoo’s face was sincere.

He probably just thought to himself, ‘That might be interesting…’ a moment ago.

“Anyway, since Siwoo said not to wear it, if we go somewhere together, I’ll wear a rash guard. Where’s my girlfriend? You listen so well. Right?”

“…Yeah. You’re amazing.”

“Amazing? Can’t you compliment me with nicer words?”

“Amazing. Beautiful Min Chaewon.”

Considering Siwoo’s vocabulary, his expression was truly lacking.

It seems that the swimsuit Min Chaewon had on earlier had quite an impact.

Or maybe it was because of what happened earlier.

I felt bad for ruining the mood for no reason.

“Oh, but the smell of the meat is really good. Where did you get it?”

“I went to buy it with Kang Hwi.”

No wonder he’s been going out a lot lately. It was all to help Siwoo.

“Although it hits the spot… isn’t this a bit of a cheat?”

“Honestly, if you said any meat was delicious, you would have eaten it.”

He says everything is delicious. He must think I’m a fool who can’t speak his mind in front of Jung Siwoo.

“Oh, really?”

When I glared at him with a venomous look, Siwoo sent a subtle glance and smiled.

“I say it’s not, but you must have hit the spot.”

Although I was annoyed that he saw through me, I was grateful for his consideration. I soon put away the venom in my eyes and leaned my cheek on Siwoo’s left shoulder.

“I wanted to feed you what you like the most.”

Drip, drip. Even though it was night, the rain continued to fall without a break. The sound of the swollen stream was quite threatening even in the distance.

“Hey, have you ever been swept away by a rapid before?”

Siwoo still seemed concerned about what happened earlier.

I shook my head.

“No. In a river. I almost drowned once.”

Actually, I did drown.

“Really? When?”

“Not too long ago… quite recently.”

“I had no idea at all.”

“It’s okay. Shallow water is nothing to worry about now. It’s just the deep water that’s a bit scary.”

Siwoo mumbled, expressing a mix of emotions.

“If I knew it would be like this, I should have just gone on a quiet vacation.”

“Oh, come on. I said it’s okay.”

“Well… honestly, I was amazed by the greatness of nature when I went to see the water earlier. I understand now why they say never to go into the valley water when it rains.”

“Am I… shaking because I’m scared of the valley water flooding?”

“It feels a bit shaky…”

“Really?!”

It was just because Siwoo was leaning on his shoulder, making his heartbeat faster and feel like trembling.

I reassured Siwoo’s worries and teased him to cook the meat well.

“I… really wanted to come here. Even if it rains.”

“Why?”

Why did he already forget what he said he wanted to do?

“You said it yourself. You wanted to play a duet for your hands together.”

“Oh.”

Playing in the water together, having a barbecue, and playing a duet in a special atmosphere.

I might have completely forgotten about it because of my work earlier, so I should take the lead now.

I shouldn’t always rely on Siwoo to lead.

Our relationship is something we build together.

I can’t just be led around.

“I really prepared hard, you know? I was really sincere too, right?”

I was proficient in solo pieces, but I was a novice in duets.

I never thought I would sit in the same chair with someone and play together in my whole life.

So when this opportunity came, I practiced with all my heart.

Instead of fidgeting or waiting for Siwoo’s call as usual, I was sitting in front of the piano.

“Get ready. I even prepared a special outfit for when we play.”