Chapter 86
Chapter 86
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Swimming Pool Outing
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We arrived at the swimming pool, our final destination, after heading to this quiet countryside spot.
A small pool about the size of New Sprout Kindergarten's playground, with railings taller than an adult. The sound of rippling water mingled with the bright, energetic voices of children echoing nonstop from inside.
After coming all this way...
'No way there are that many people inside?'
I peeked through the railings and saw quite a few guardians there with their kids. My disappointment didn't last long—once I checked out the facilities, I nodded in approval.
'Perfect.'
Just as I'd read online, the place looked decent enough. And even though it was small, there was a lifeguard on duty.
That meant...
One less worry on my mind.
'Of course.'
Yu-na wouldn't leave my side anyway, but there's always that "what if."
"Daddy! Daddy!"
I snapped back to reality and saw Yu-na bouncing in place.
Her short bob haircut swaying back and forth.
Her chubby cheeks on full display.
"Daddy! Let's go in quick! Okay?"
"Yeah, let's head in."
We held hands tightly and walked toward the entrance.
Feeling shy about showing so much skin, I wore a rash guard and followed Yu-na into the pool area.
'What's this? Everyone's staring.'
My manager had said that once you build muscle, you'd want to show it off. What a lie.
It wasn't even fully exposed like during a shoot, but I still felt embarrassed for no reason.
"Wooow! It's the pool!"
Yu-na, in her swimsuit printed with chick patterns, dashed across in front of me clutching a puffy white floatie like a cloud.
"Yu-na, you could slip. No running. If you get hurt, we're going home."
She slowed down, looked up, and waved at me.
"Daddy! Hurry up!"
Her loud voice drew even the people who hadn't noticed us before, and they started whispering.
Step by step.
I quickened my pace toward Yu-na, ears perking up at the conversation from the ladies right next to us.
"That guy... doesn't he look familiar? So young, and already has a daughter..."
"Oh! He looks like that teacher from 'High School 2022'!"
"Oh my! Seeing a real celebrity in person is on another level. He's so tall."
"And that cute kid looks like the one from 'Guard the Pojangmacha!' too. So she really is his daughter. Should we say hi?"
"Don't. Why do you think he came all the way to a place like this? Probably wants to have fun without all the stares."
"Y-yeah, you're right?"
Thankfully, one lady's restraint kept anyone from approaching.
They just watched us warmly, curious about what we'd do next.
If we'd gone to a pool in the capital area, all eyes would have been on us, and we wouldn't have been able to enjoy ourselves.
'Good call picking this place.'
As I kept my head down and walked, I stopped at the edge of the rippling pool.
The cool-looking water.
Kids splashing around made it churn wildly.
'Feels refreshing?'
I cautiously dipped a hand in.
"Not too cold..."
"Daddy, what are you doing?"
Yu-na squinted at me like I was some weirdo, so I cleared my throat and grinned.
"Ready to go in?"
I was about to scoop her up and dive in when she suddenly stomped her feet and flailed.
"No! No! Not now!"
"Yu-na, you don't want to go in with Daddy? Want to go by yourself?"
She shook her head vigorously.
I gently set her down and knelt to meet her eye level.
"Then why?"
Her glare, brows furrowed, made me falter a bit.
It was the first time I'd seen her act like this.
I was caught off guard.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"You said not doing warm-ups before going in is no dignity. Can't go in without exercising now."
I was stunned by Yu-na's sharp, straightforward point.
She's learning all the good stuff at kindergarten.
Seeing her grow bit by bit, picking up so much, filled me with pride.
"Daddy forgot. Our Yu-na's so smart, huh? Wanna do warm-ups with Daddy first?"
"Hehehe. Yeah! Hands first!"
Yu-na put her hands on her hips, striking a confident pose, and raised her voice.
"One! Two! One! Two! Daddy, do it like Yu-na! One! Two!"
"...Ha, one! Two!"
I couldn't keep my head held high while loosening up to Yu-na's booming commands.
Everyone was too busy staring and laughing.
Felt like I was being punished.
Finally, once we'd finished all the prep, Yu-na's shouts stopped.
"Hehehe. Now we can go in."
"Y-yeah..."
"Daddy! Yu-na's going first!"
My face burning, I said slowly,
"Okay, go ahead. Daddy'll grab the floatie and come in slow."
"Yeah!"
Splash!
Yu-na hurled herself into the pool, sending droplets flying everywhere.
'I heard she learned swimming at kindergarten... She's pretty good, huh?'
Yu-na splashing around with the floatie's help was just too adorable.
'Alright, my turn.'
I was disappointed the moment I stepped in—the water only came up to my waist.
Online reviews had said the depth was decent and to be careful, but that must've been from a kid's perspective.
...No.
'This might be better.'
Yu-na was small; her feet wouldn't touch the bottom, which could be risky.
I leaned against the pool edge and watched her splash.
After a bit,
Yu-na suddenly splashed me.
"Wooow! Hehe."
A weak spray, weaker than a squirt gun.
But her expression made it look like a massive attack—eyes squeezed shut tight.
"Hmm... Yu-na attacked Daddy first, so Daddy attacks back?"
Whoosh!
I shoved the water hard with my palm. A huge wave ignored Yu-na's feeble spray and barreled toward her.
"Gah! Cough! Cough! Hiii..."
Oh, did I go too hard?
Water must've gone in her eyes and nose...
Yu-na's face scrunched up, a tear dropping.
First time at a pool for fun.
Guess I messed up.
Gurgle!
We'd been playing so hard that time flew by, and only my stomach growling made me realize it was lunchtime.
Same for Yu-na.
Gurgle!
A cute rumble came from her pudgy belly. We stared at each other blankly, then burst out laughing.
"Hungry, Yu-na?"
"Yeah! Where do we eat, Daddy?"
"At the snack bar. Heard ramen's a must at pools."
"Woo! Ramen! What flavor?"
Even when money was tight, I'd skipped instant noodles, but this time, I planned to show Yu-na their true glory.
We were here to have fun, after all.
'I gotta hold back, though.'
But I wanted Yu-na to eat her fill of something tasty. Isn't that what being a dad is about?
"Ramen's... the kind where even if one of you dies mid-bite, the other wouldn't notice 'cause it's that good."
"Wow! Really? Wanna eat it now."
"Then let's go."
"Yeah!"
We headed straight for the snack bar from the pool, but it was packed—no room to squeeze in.
Everyone looked busy ordering.
"Two ramens, please."
"Mister! Hot bar, too!"
"Hot dog and cola."
Forcing our way in might hurt Yu-na.
Maybe eat outside...
As I pondered,
"Hey! Over here! Here!"
"Jun-seo! Come here."
A familiar, friendly voice calling my name made me freeze.
No way, right? Nah...
That thought didn't last.
"Huh? Daddy! Daddy! There! Dong-hyun oppa and Seol-hwa un..."
"Yu-na, let's just eat outside the pool."
I scooped her up and turned to leave when two people grabbed my arm.
I flinched and looked—Shin Dong-hyun in casual swim trunks and Senior Yoo Seol-hwa.
"Where you going? Right, senior?"
"Yeah. Shouldn't we at least ask why we're here?"
Behind them, Seniors Kang Su-ho and Yoon Mi-jeong were waving.
What? They all came on purpose?
I let out a deep sigh.
"Why'd you all come to a backwater spot like this?"
"Isn't it obvious? Yu-na invited us to play. She was right there yesterday when we talked on the phone. Didn't hear?"
Shin Dong-hyun nodded slightly at Senior Yoo Seol-hwa's words and chimed in.
"Yeah? Right, Yu-na?"
"Yeah! That's right! Daddy, Daddy. Let's all have fun together! Okay?"
"...Sure. If that's what Yu-na wants."
I shrugged lightly and patted Yu-na's back. We'd had our daddy-daughter time this morning anyway.
Now it was fine to play with everyone.
The second Senior Yoo Seol-hwa got my okay, she snatched Yu-na away.
Yu-na just giggled happily.
Felt a tiny bit betrayed.
"Hey, you come too."
"Sigh... Fine."
Even with the whole sitcom cast suddenly together, there was zero awkwardness.
Joking around lightly while filling our hungry stomachs felt just like reuniting with family after a long time.
"Kids, all done eating?"
We all nodded slightly at Senior Yoon Mi-jeong's question.
"Then back to the pool?"
We cleared the table spotless and headed in.
Yu-na was with Seniors Yoon Mi-jeong and... wait, Yoon So-hee? No, just them.
We took turns playing with the surrounding kids while waiting for our shot with Yu-na.
"Take this! Water cannon!"
"Ugh! Hey! What the hell is that?!"
Shin Dong-hyun had filled his mouth with water and sprayed it—super gross.
Oblivious to my disgust,
Senior Kang Su-ho just sat on the pool edge, laughing his ass off as Dong-hyun targeted me.
"How's that! This is my power! Kids! Let's take him down together!"
"Wooow! Us too!"
"Get him!"
The kids followed Shin Dong-hyun's lead, filling their mouths and attacking me.
Why me only?!
Dodging the kids' sprays, I moved quick.
Thud-thud.
I bumped into Yu-na, bobbing along dangling from her floatie.
Our eyes met, and she just stared blankly.
"......"
"......?"
Huh, were her cheeks always that puffy?
Water trickled faintly from around her mumbling lips.
No way, right? Nah...
Then it happened.
A jet of water shot from Yu-na's little mouth straight at my face.
Hit dead-on, I froze, then chuckled helplessly.
'Our Yu-na learned something weird...'
I became the target for all the kids, drenched head to toe.
Exhausted from all the fun, Yu-na conked out in the passenger seat.
'Seniors and Dong-hyun...'
Our first connection lasting this long made my chest tingle for some reason.
Lately, we'd been texting less.
Were we shifting from friends to just business?
'Was fun today, though.'
Playing in the pool with everyone beat just the two of us.
No denying that.
"...Next time, maybe I should invite the seniors myself?"
Dong-hyun too, of course.
If I left him out, he'd sulk 100%.
"Took lots of pics today... Memories piling up."
Oh yeah...
No one teased Yu-na about her missing front teeth?
If they had, it might've ruined the fun.
'They're quick on the uptake.'
I chuckled just as—
Bzzz!
My pocket phone buzzed. I pulled over, grabbed the ringing phone.
"Huh... It's the CEO."
Answering here might wake Yu-na.
I carefully unbuckled, slipped out quietly, and picked up.
A voice packed with hurt came through.
-You, huh. Not even a check-in call? I'm your CEO, you know. Gotta ask about you myself?
"Ahaha... Slipped my mind."
-No, that's not it... Jun-seo.
"Yeah?"
-Do a variety show this time.
The sudden pitch nearly made me drop the phone.
I steadied it and asked,
"Variety show? Out of nowhere why?"
-I'll explain details tomorrow. Just head to the agency knowing that.
Click!
"...What the?"