episode_0118

“Yawn.”

She slowly opens her eyes.

It’s already 4:40 in the afternoon.

Although she finished work at 4, Seo Yerin, who leaves work at 5, was resting on the employee lounge massage chair.

“I should start heading out soon.”

In just five minutes, Seo Yerin arrives in front of the company and waits for me, now dressed in casual clothes, as she rushes over.

“You’re here!”

“Let’s go.”

She called me here, but for what?

“Do you have a place in mind to go?”

I thought we were just going to hang out, so I wondered if there was something else planned, but Seo Yerin checked the time on her phone, grabbed my hand, and started running.

“Hurry! The bus is coming!”

“The bus?”

I thought she was just saying that, but it seems like she really has somewhere in mind to go.

There’s hardly anything fun to do around here in this rural area.

Last time, I went to a PC bang in the city with my roommates, but it seemed like it had been around for 20 years.

However, the bus we boarded with Seo Yerin wasn’t heading into the city; it was an internal bus circulating within the Gold One hotel grounds.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I don’t have money.”

“It’s not something that costs money, so don’t worry.”

Seo Yerin goes along humming a tune. Before long, we get off the bus, and where we arrive is…

“…a water park?”

***

I look around dazed, feeling like I’ve just woken up from a drunken stupor.

A water park adorned with numerous people and vibrant decorations.

It was December, so it was still cold outside, but the indoor water park was bustling with activity.

I heard that employees at Gold One can enter ski resorts or water parks for free, but I honestly didn’t expect to end up here.

“Well, this is unexpected.”

I had to rent a swimsuit separately.

Unfortunately, even that wasn’t free.

Not wanting to show my body to others, I chose a black rash guard and board shorts.

It felt much better than wearing a swimsuit for the first time.

Since they close at 9, I’ll only have about three hours of fun, but that’s more than enough.

“Thank goodness tomorrow is a day off.”

Maybe Seo Yerin suggested this outing because she’s off tomorrow too?

“…”

Feeling uneasy with the rash guard clinging tightly to my body, almost like it was self-blame, I couldn’t shake off the discomfort.

Like what Big Brother said.

In the end, maybe I never truly loved Oh Yoonji?

Seeing how I’m not strongly opposed to hanging out with Seo Yerin like this.

If I still harbored feelings, I wouldn’t have gone on a date alone with another girl.

“But…”

My mind was in turmoil, but before I could dwell on it further…

“Woojin!”

A voice calling me enthusiastically.

As I turn to see Seo Yerin in the same brand of black rash guard, all my doubts seem to melt away.

If asked to name one of Seo Yerin’s strengths.

I couldn’t think of anything except one.

She’s beautiful.

That’s it.

But what’s important is.

It’s too much.

To the point where other things seem insignificant.

“Wow…”

Yes, I know that if I gasp or stare too intently, Seo Yerin will become even more confident. Yet, she exuded a charm that could only be followed with my eyes.

Beautiful people are everywhere.

Charming individuals are easy to find.

But those who are both beautiful and charming are rare. They’re mostly found on TV.

I could have mentioned that her chest seemed a bit bigger. With the tight rash guard, her figure was definitely accentuated.

“How do you like my braided hair?”

It took some effort, but she purposely braided her hair before coming. I wondered how she did it alone, but apparently, one of the staff members helped her.

“It looks nice.”

I couldn’t say anything else. Her fresh smile compelled me to react in a single way, somewhat forcefully and even aggressively.

No, she made it inevitable.

“Hehe!”

That was nice, thoughtfully folding her arms, Seo Ye-rin points directly to the waterslide.

“That ride is almost out of operation time! Let’s hurry!”

“How do you know that?”

“Seoa said she came with her boyfriend last week and bragged about it. I heard it then.”

“Is she fighting with her boyfriend or getting along well?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. This time, her boyfriend…”

Casually chatting while consciously ignoring the sensation of Seo Ye-rin’s chest on his arm.

Only after standing in line for the waterslide did I recall that I had been thinking about Big Brother and Yoon Ji until just now.

“This feels a bit eerie.”

Fatal attraction, they say.

A woman so captivating it’s lethal.

It seemed like it could be none other than Seo Ye-rin.

She appeared indifferent, which was both intriguing and off-putting.

“Are we riding this together?”

“Yeah, looks like it.”

Pointing at the waterslide, Seo Ye-rin says. Looking at the sign next to it, the large tube is divided into front and back sections.

“I want to sit in the front!”

“Feel free.”

Whether in the front or back, it’s all the same.

Boarding the tube while receiving envious and admiring glances from the waterslide staff.

I had to spread my legs since I was sitting at the back, but it was a bit strange as the person in front ended up sitting between my legs.

“Wow! This is going to be fun!”

But seeing Seo Ye-rin enjoying herself like a child made the slightly lewd thoughts I had earlier quickly dissipate.

I thought pouring cold water on a pure reaction would be inappropriate, but it was Seo Ye-rin who dashed my expectations.

Splash!

As soon as the waterslide started, she let go of one hand and playfully moved her hand behind her back.

“…?!”

The moment I felt her small, soft hand touch me precisely, I involuntarily tensed up.

“Huh.”

Though her face wasn’t visible, I could sense her smiling.

In sync with the laughter flowing like a breath, her fingers moved irregularly and swiftly, as if playing with a new toy.

“You, this…!”

I knew I shouldn’t say anything.

Even though I put force into my voice, the touch devoid of resistance made me feel powerless as a man.

Time passed quicker than I had thought.

Seeing light entering the slide as we descended, we finally reached the end.

Splash!

As the waterslide finally ended, I had to exit the pool, but…

“That was fun!”

“….”

Seeing me standing there awkwardly unable to leave, Seo Ye-rin covered her mouth and smirked playfully.

“Embarrassed?”

I bit my lip, waiting for my strength to drain away, but since the woman in front continued to stay, it seemed like it wouldn’t fade.

“Go away.”

Muttering, gesturing, Seo Ye-rin smirked and left nonchalantly.

Ignoring the oddly lingering gaze of the security guard, I managed to catch my breath and finally exit outside.

“Phew.”

Similar situations kept happening afterward. Even when we went into the hot spring together, Seo Ye-rin’s hands were not idle, intentionally hugging me when we entered the wave pool.

I thought maybe she was trying to tempt me physically since I couldn’t send photos, but it always ended there.

It was stimulating, but it never went beyond that.

It felt oddly teasing and like she was testing me for no reason, but I managed to endure it anyway.

Anyway, the water park was more enjoyable than I had anticipated.

Walking around with Seo Ye-rin naturally attracted people’s attention, but even those gazes eventually became something I could simply enjoy.

“That was too short.”

Looking at the darkening sky, Seo Ye-rin expressed regret.

Having only played for three hours in a place with plenty of attractions at the water park, it was understandable to feel disappointed.

“Since we’re resting anyway, should we come back tomorrow?”

“There’s a limit on the number of visits.”

The employees might have been free, but they couldn’t come up continuously. There was a limit to about once a week, so we had to pay our money if we wanted to go tomorrow.

“Just pay and come.”

“It’s a bit strange to come to work and spend money.”

Shouldn’t we save every penny?

Seo Yerin didn’t seem genuinely attached to the water park.

While waiting for the bus back to the accommodation, I realized something was off.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

Seo Yerin was reviewing the photos taken today one by one.

“Weren’t you supposed to give me advice?”

“…”

Although her expression remained unchanged, her finger stopped scrolling through the screen.

“Hey.”

When I called out as if scolding her, Seo Yerin immediately linked arms with me.

“Shall we have some beer? How about that?”

She tried to act cute to pass it off, but in the end, I had no choice but to agree.

We were planning to drink at the chicken place, but the chicken shop in Building C’s basement was closed for regular maintenance today.

“We can’t go out again.”

We had just returned to the accommodation, and neither of us wanted to go out again, nor was the timing right.

It was already 10 o’clock.

“Let’s just go back…”

I was about to suggest going to bed, but Seo Yerin came up with a good idea and proposed, “How about eating in our room?”

“No, that’s not the place for that conversation in the first place.”

It didn’t seem like the right topic with Yuarin around.

“Then let’s go to your room and eat!”

Seo Yerin suggested another option as if she had been waiting. I wanted to say there was no need to talk about it today, but there was also a part of me that wanted to quickly resolve the lingering awkwardness.

In the end, I went into the accommodation with Seo Yerin.

It was too early to go to sleep, so I was about to tell my roommates that Seo Yerin would be here for a while.

“Hmm?”

The room was dark.

Feeling suspicious, I went in, turned on the light, and checked the room, but no one was there.

“What’s going on?”

Wondering why no one was there, I felt a presence behind me.

“No one’s here?”

Seo Yerin followed me in.

“I told you to wait outside.”

“I thought they might allow me in if they saw me.”

Smiling with flowers on her face, Seo Yerin. Looking at Seo Yerin’s face, I felt like I should quickly invite even those who disliked her to come in.

More importantly,

“Where did everyone really go?”

As I took out my phone to check the accommodation group chat,

“Huh? Do you guys drink this kind of stuff too?”

Seo Yerin brought a bottle of alcohol from the living room table.

“…It’s the first time I’ve seen it.” The unfamiliar wine made me feel a vague sense of foreboding for something to come.