Chapter 300: Beach(4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 300: Beach(4)
"Nom."
Seo Ye-rin sat on a sunbed, taking a huge bite of food. Her cheeks puffed out as she mumbled, looking so cute that I couldn't help but pick up my camera.
Click.
After I snapped a photo, she looked my way, quickly finished chewing, and flashed a peace sign by her cheek with a bright smile.
Click, click.
As I took a few more, she seemed to get into the spirit, setting her lunch box aside to start posing properly.
"Why is this starting to feel like an adult magazine shoot?"
Even if she was wearing a rash guard, she was still Seo Ye-rin. Once her poses started getting a bit too risqué, I finally put the camera down.
"This is delicious."
While I was busy photographing Ye-rin, Yoo Ah-rin, who had been silently focused on stuffing her face, let out a satisfied smile.
I’d bought these from a food truck vendor who called them "plate lunches," and they certainly weren't bad.
The contents were served in the typical plastic containers we were used to. Rice, salad, and macaroni formed the base, with main dishes like grilled pork, chicken, fried shrimp, and lamb chops arranged on top.
"Phew, I feel like I can finally breathe now that I've had some rice."
We’d had rice noodles for lunch earlier, but you really need to chew on some actual grains to feel energized. I was a Korean to the core.
"You should go have some fun too, Senior. Don't worry about us."
When I spoke to Senior Ju-hee, who was sitting next to Ah-rin and picking at her food, her shoulders flinched before she gave a dazed nod.
"Oh, right. I will."
Where did the intimidating aura she had when she was beating down those muscular thugs go? Why was she acting so timid now?
"Is it because I told you not to follow us, but you did anyway?"
"Ahem. It’s important for a bodyguard to make sure the client doesn't feel uncomfortable."
"Hey, you saved us, didn't you? I was being a bit careless myself. I didn't expect something like that to happen in Hawaii."
It seemed like those guys were Neutubers trying to film some kind of "hidden camera" prank.
"Seriously, Neutubers are the worst," Ye-rin muttered, clicking her tongue.
Ah-rin shot back, "Hey, I'm about to become a Neutuber too."
"Exactly. You're part of the problem, Yoo Ah-rin."
"You want to end up rolling on the ground like those guys did?"
"This is sho good!"
Look at her, pretending she didn't hear that while she keeps eating.
"Anyway, if anything like that happens again, I'll call you right away, so go play. You can't just sit here by yourself while everyone else is having fun."
"He's right, Senior. Go give Yoo Ah-rin some 'true education.'"
"..."
Ah-rin stole a glance at Senior Ju-hee. Their eyes met at just the right moment, but they both looked away without saying a word.
'Huh?'
Is there something going on between them?
I thought they’d gotten pretty close back when they were doing that group project together.
I was curious, but since the atmosphere was getting a bit awkward, I naturally changed the subject.
"By the way, how long does Choi I-seo plan on staying out there?"
Seeing her still snorkeling in the ocean, she must be having a blast.
"I-seo! Come eat!"
I called out to her since the food would get cold if left out, and she finally started heading back toward us.
As she emerged from the water, I grabbed a long towel and draped it over her shoulders. Since her swimsuit was quite revealing, I felt the need to cover her up.
"...You've got good timing."
I-seo gave a shy, slight smile. It seemed one of the reasons she’d stayed in the water so long was indeed the swimsuit. It’s less noticeable when you're submerged.
"Let's eat. I bought some plate lunches; they're famous here in Hawaii."
"Oh."
As we headed back to our spot, Senior Ju-hee and Ah-rin passed us by.
"Where are you two going?"
"Swimming race."
Ah-rin declared coldly, with Min Ju-hee following behind her. I was certain something had happened between them, but...
'If they're trying to settle it with a swimming race, I guess it's nothing too serious.'
They were handling it themselves, after all.
When we got back, Ye-rin had already finished her meal and was lying face-down on a sunbed. I handed I-seo her lunch box and then frowned at Ye-rin.
"Hey, if you lie down right after eating, you'll get fat. How are you going to be an actress if you can't manage yourself better than that?"
"Wow! Look at Kim Woo-jin nagging me! Anyone would think you're my husband!"
"Shouldn't you say 'manager' in this situation?"
"Husband! Come over here and put some oil on me."
"I'd love to, but—"
She was wearing a rash guard that covered her from head to toe. Where exactly did she want me to put the oil?
"You want me to rub it on your rash guard? To maintain the fabric?"
"I shouldn't have worn this! It's just stuffy. It feels even tighter now that I've eaten."
She grumbled about wanting to rip it off right then and there. Why did she buy something that didn't even suit her?
"...Do you want to trade with me?"
I-seo, who had been eating, suddenly made the suggestion. Since they were both unhappy with their swimsuits, she was proposing a swap.
The old Choi I-seo would never have suggested such a thing, which just showed how uncomfortable her current outfit was. She was even keeping the towel wrapped around her while she ate.
"Huh? No way. That's way too revealing. I only want to show this to Woo-jini."
"..."
"It's a swimsuit for sex, after all. I don't plan on doing it out here."
She's going to get punched one of these days.
I-seo's face turned beet red. She clearly wanted to argue, but she seemed to have no comeback.
"I-it's not a swimsuit for sex. It's just... a bit revealing."
"I-seo, honestly. When you bought that, did you really not have even a tiny thought about wearing it while doing it?"
"...!"
Ye-rin asked with a sly grin from her spot on the bed, leaving I-seo speechless.
I-seo seemed to choke on her food; she thumped her chest and then shouted with a crimson face.
"Ye-rin! Why have you changed so much?! You weren't like this before! How is every single topic about that?"
"Sex?"
Is this girl a Pokemon? Is "sex" her only response now?
She used to be a proper lady. The epitome of pure and innocent, the legendary goddess of the English Department. Even before she became an actress, people were constantly talking about Seo Ye-rin on the Bamboo Forest.
"I'm not like this with other people."
Is that true? I was genuinely worried she might be going around saying things like this everywhere.
"I'm only like this here. That's why I like you guys!"
Ye-rin suddenly confessed with a grin. I-seo and I stared at her, lost for words. It’s hard to be harsh to someone who’s being so affectionate toward you. Besides, since she claimed she wasn't like this in public, we had no choice but to believe her.
'Choi Jin-ah was surprised too.'
Thinking back to how shocked Choi Jin-ah was when she saw how Ye-rin acted around me, she probably does behave herself in public.
"Ye-rin! Come over here and be the judge!"
Ah-rin waved from the water, calling for Ye-rin.
"Too much work."
"Oh, come on! Just for a second!"
"Sigh, I'm coming."
Ye-rin stood up and trudged toward Ah-rin and Senior Ju-hee. I watched her go for a moment before turning my gaze back.
I-seo was almost finished with her food. She looked adorable, trying so hard to focus only on eating.
"I-seo, did you really think about that when you bought the swimsuit?"
"Cough! Cough!"
Startled, I-seo began coughing, and I handed her some water. After composing herself, she wiped her mouth and whispered.
"No, I didn't."
"Huh, really?"
"Yes, I told you I didn't. It's just a swimsuit. There's no way I'd wear something with that kind of intention."
"You wore a bunny girl outfit last time."
"That was—!"
She started to shout but then clamped her mouth shut. Back then, she’d worn it because she thought I had erectile dysfunction and wanted to stimulate me.
"Fine... it would be a lie to say I didn't think about it at all. I picked it out wondering what kind of thing Ye-rin would buy in the first place."
So in I-seo's mind, Seo Ye-rin was the kind of woman who wore things like that.
Anyway, I’d told Ye-rin to be honest, but she’d become a bit too honest.
"I-seo."
"N-not now! Tonight! Definitely tonight! I'm going to play now!"
"No, I wasn't asking for that."
"...Hmph."
I-seo lowered her head in embarrassment. I made my request to her plainly.
"Show me."
"What?"
"Show me the swimsuit."
"No! Show you what? You saw everything earlier when you were pretending to dive!"
I-seo pulled the towel tight around her body, but I didn't back down.
"I want to see it again."
"I said no!"
"Really? Not even once?"
"Yeah! No!"
"Why? You bought it to show me anyway."
"That's—! Haa, when did you get so shameless, Kim Woo-jin?"
I wonder. But I was acting this way because our conversation had given me a certain confidence. A confidence that, in the end, I-seo would listen to me.
I didn't know the basis for it, but the feeling was clear. My intuition is usually pretty good in these moments.
"Whew."
I-seo slowly stood up.
While glaring at me resentfully, she slowly spread her arms, opening the towel. She kept her back to the others so they couldn't see, using the towel like a curtain.
I-seo's swimsuit-clad figure appeared before me once more. Her body, smooth as a sculpture and without a hint of excess fat, was the result of hard work.
As I stared at her—holding the towel open despite her embarrassment until I said it was enough—I stepped closer, draped the towel back over her, and whispered softly.
"Come to my room tonight. Wearing that."
I-seo's hot breath brushed against my neck. After a brief hesitation, she gave a secret reply.
"Okay."
* * *
"Yes, I'm in Hawaii right now."
Choi Jin-ah, who had stepped out for a walk along the beach, was on the phone. It was her father.
— So. Are you with that guy right now?
"We're apart at the moment."
She was still officially his fiancée. Jin-ah had been using that status to enjoy her freedom.
— Sigh. The rumors about him are terrible. I don't know what you see in him.
She had told Kim Woo-jin that her father didn't care because it was an arranged marriage, but in reality, the family's view of him was quite sour. Perhaps he didn't like the idea of his only daughter marrying such a man?
'He's not usually that type, though.'
Her father used to say that even if she made a name for herself as a violinist, it wouldn't help the company. Would a man like that really have a problem with her marrying into the Uju Group?
"It's the Uju Group. I thought you'd be pleased."
— Tsk. What's so good about being tied to a cast-off youngest son?
Of course. He meant it would have been much better if she were tied to the eldest son, Kim Jae-un, rather than the youngest, Kim Woo-jin.
'He seemed fine with Kim Woo-jin at first.'
Whether it was because of Woo-jin's impressive background or because her father's greed had grown, she wasn't sure. Either way, Jin-ah could only sigh.
"Why did you call?"
— I heard that a woman named Oh Yun-ji went with you to Hawaii.
"She's my friend."
— She was also that guy's lover.
"What are you trying to say?"
— I'm just questioning if you really have a good relationship with him. It could just be a trick to run away from home.
"..."
He’d hit the nail on the head, leaving her speechless. Jin-ah was momentarily stunned, but her father, Choi Gil-seop, didn't notice.
— Send me some proof that you're actually getting along with him.
"What? So suddenly?"
— Why? If you're on good terms, wouldn't you take photos together often?
"No, this is just so out of the blue."
She wondered why he’d suddenly become suspicious of their relationship.
— If you can't do it, come back. I've looked into a new marriage prospect, so break off the engagement.
"..."
— That side will be better anyway. He's the eldest son of NI.
Ah. So that was it.
Choi Gil-seop had weighed the options and decided the eldest son of a wolf was better than the youngest of a tiger. Especially since Kim Woo-jin had absolutely no interest in managing the Uju Group.
— I'll assume you understand.
Click.
Once the call ended, Jin-ah's eyes drifted toward the distant sea. It had been a long time since she’d felt like this—as if the water was rising up to her face, making it hard to breathe.
As she was lost in thought, her eyes landed on a paid sunbed on the beach.
She saw Kim Woo-jin and Choi I-seo embracing each other.
"What on earth is she wearing?!"
Seeing I-seo's provocative swimsuit, which made her look almost naked, Jin-ah completely forgot about the phone call with her father.