Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Buying a Swimsuit for the First Time in My Life!
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The summer vacation meeting had seemed like it would drag on forever.
But thanks to Ra-hee unnie, it got decided in one shot.
We were able to head out for a meal in a cheerful atmosphere in no time.
After finishing our meal, we headed to a nearby café.
The restaurant had quite a few other customers' eyes on us,
so we chose a café with a private room to chat comfortably.
"So, let's set the vacation from the 26th to the 29th, four days, and the trip for a 2-night, 3-day. That sounds good, right?"
"Yes, we'll probably be tired from the travel anyway."
"Staying too long isn't necessarily more fun, so that seems just right."
Double-checking the roughly finalized vacation plans,
the President asked So-eun unnie, sitting beside her, to jot down the schedule.
"Unnie, what should we do for fun at the villa?"
"We have to do a barbecue party first. And definitely dunk Ji-ah unnie in the water."
"W-Why me...!"
"For a barbecue party, maybe we should prepare meat? I should contact the caretaker."
In the meantime, the members were eagerly planning what to do at the villa.
I couldn't join in and just sat alone in the corner, sipping my chocolate latte.
I don't really know what people do for fun on trips anyway.
I have some knowledge from anime, but...
That'd be too biased.
I can't just suddenly suggest watermelon smashing.
"By the way, does everyone have swimsuits?"
"Yeah, but I need to buy a new one."
"Me too. It's been a while since our last trip, so I'm thinking new ones."
"Might as well all get new ones, right?"
And just like that, the topic shifted from activities to swimsuits.
I slipped back into spectator mode, watching the scene...
"What about Da-jeong? Gonna buy a new swimsuit?"
"Eh? M-Me...?"
Like a predator spotting prey, Yuna's head snapped toward me.
She closed the distance rapidly and tossed the question my way.
Sw-Swimsuit?
Oh right, I have to wear one too.
But women's swimsuits feel like a pretty high hurdle...
"C-Can't I just wear a hoodie or something instead of a swimsuit?"
"No way! If you're just sitting on the beach, maybe, but going in the water wearing a hoodie?!"
"Uwuu..."
Th-That's true.
Guess I have no choice but to wear one?
Of course, it's weird to make a fuss now when I walk around in frilly skirts all the time...
Should I check out a swimsuit store first?
I don't even know what kinds there are.
If nothing else, I could ask a staff member for recommendations...
"Um, by the way, Da-jeong. This might be rude to ask, but have you ever been to the beach?"
As I was lost in thought,
Ji-ah unnie approached with a slightly hesitant expression.
It wasn't rude at all, but her apologetic look made me feel sorry instead.
"Oh, no. Never. So I've never bought a swimsuit before, and I don't know what to get..."
"Ah..."
I shook my head as I answered, and faint sighs escaped from those around me.
Ra-hee unnie especially bit her lip, looking apologetic as if she hadn't considered it.
I'm fine, though.
Never having been to the beach isn't anything to be ashamed of.
If anything, I'm really looking forward to going for the first time with the members.
"Then since it came up, why don't we go shopping right now?"
"Huh?"
Just as an awkward silence settled in,
Chae-yoon unnie shrugged like it was no big deal and broke it.
"I mean, Da-jeong's buying her first swimsuit, so it'd be easier with people to help pick. And everyone else was planning to buy new ones anyway, right? So why not all go together now?"
"Oh..."
"Right. That'll work."
"Sounds good?"
Everyone nodded in admiration at the suggestion.
It sounded good to me too.
As a total swimsuit newbie, I needed someone's help anyway.
"President! No need to stop back at the company, right?"
"Nope, no need. We just gathered to eat together today, and we're done."
"Nice!"
"Then let's roll, unnies?!"
Just to be sure, Chae-yoon unnie asked on our behalf,
and with the answer we wanted, everyone clenched their fists.
Action leader Yuna raised her fist high, standing by the door like she was ready to charge to the swimsuit store any second.
But eldest unnie Ji-ah held Yuna back and checked one last time with the President and So-eun unnie behind us.
"What about you, President and So-eun unnie?"
"I'm good. I bought a new one shopping with my parents recently."
"Same here, got one with friends not long ago. Don't worry about us, go have fun together."
With the final confirmation done,
Yuna must've decided nothing was in her way anymore.
She shot her hand up again and shouted boldly.
"Yesss! Let's go!"
Luckily, Ra-hee unnie had driven,
so we took a quick detour and hit the road to the swimsuit store together.
Is this really the peak season for swimsuit sales?
The store wasn't just us—there were plenty of customers.
Being a women-only swimsuit shop, all the customers were women.
A very rare guy here and there looked like he'd been dragged along by his girlfriend.
Maybe one or two at most.
"Wow..."
My first impression upon seeing the store was,
'There are this many types of swimsuits?'
Which makes sense— the women's swimsuits I remembered were basically
the classic bikini,
and the connected top-and-bottom kind... what was it called? One-piece?
That was it.
But seeing them in person, there were so many varieties I couldn't even count.
Some even looked like outing clothes, all fluttery.
Unlike my fixed idea that swimsuits were all high-exposure, there were plenty that covered a lot of skin, which caught my eye.
"Da-jeong doesn't like high-exposure ones, right?"
Ra-hee unnie, walking around the store with me, nailed it right away.
"Yeah, they'd feel a bit burdensome."
"Thought so. How about we look at one-pieces or the lowest-exposure styles?"
Nod nod—
Feeling reliable at how well Ra-hee unnie knew my tastes,
I stuck right to her side.
Like a cicada on an old tree.
"Ma'am, looking for a particular swimsuit?"
"Yes, actually, something that'd suit my little sister... Do you have any good one-pieces or low-exposure types?"
"Oh, perfect timing—we have just the thing. This way?"
Following the staff member's guidance,
she showed us a pink swimsuit on the rack.
But oddly, there were two pieces.
One looked kind of like underwear,
and the other was the same color, connected top and bottom, low-exposure.
"This is close to the monokini style that's popular lately for low exposure. As you see, there's a bikini-like liner inside the top."
"Oh, I see."
"Yes. It reduces the risk of slippage, and from outside, it looks way less revealing. The frills add a full, cute vibe too."
Uh, honestly, I don't quite get it.
So, wear the underwear-like one first,
then layer the other swimsuit on top?
Definitely, double layering cuts the exposure a lot.
And I like how the bottoms are skirt-like, so my thighs aren't fully exposed.
"Da-jeong, what do you think? Wanna try it on?"
"Y-Yeah... I'll give it a try."
Honestly, I still had some mental resistance,
but since unnie and the staff recommended it so enthusiastically,
I took the swimsuit and cautiously entered the fitting room.
"What? Unnie, Da-jeong already picked a swimsuit?"
"Yeah, trying on the staff's recommendation."
"Then I gotta see Da-jeong in it first!"
"Everyone's thinking the same thing."
Right then, the members' voices came from outside.
I thought they'd scattered for shopping,
but they'd gathered back quick.
Uuuh...
Makes me even more nervous for no reason.
I couldn't just go out like this, say it doesn't suit me, change back, and lie, right?
Swish—
But that'd prick my conscience too much.
I carefully undressed and started putting on the swimsuit, step by step as instructed.
Okay, so... this inside first...
Tie the straps here...
Layer this on top... Yeah, about done.
In that state, I checked myself in the fitting room mirror experimentally.
Uh, honestly, no clue if it suits me.
Bluntly, it feels weird.
Maybe because it's my first swimsuit, so it feels awkward...
"Da-jeong, all changed? Need unnie's help if it's tricky?"
As I twisted and turned checking myself out for a while,
Ji-ah unnie's voice came from outside, and I shrank back before answering.
"Oh, no. I'm changed. J-Just a bit embarrassed to come out..."
"Psh, embarrassed? It's just us unnies."
"Right, right. Swimsuits are only weird the first time— you'll get used to it!"
Then Chae-yoon unnie and Yuna's voices followed,
and there was a click at the door.
N-No way...?!
"Come on out!"
"W-Wait...!"
I realized too late I hadn't locked the door and reached for it,
but before my hand got there, the door flew open with Yuna's spirited voice.
I reflexively grabbed a curtain-like scrap of fabric hanging nearby like it was a lifeline.
Creeak—
The door opened with a creak,
and soon the members' gazes met mine.
"S-Sorry. It doesn't really suit me..."
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, I clutched the fabric tight and mumbled timidly.
The members stared blankly at me, then...
"Whoa, insane...! Da-jeong, you're so cute right now...!"
"Wow, our maknae's cuteness is off the charts. Let's go with this!"
"You're too pretty? Exactly the vibe unnie was hoping for."
"It's not a swimsuit, looks like a dress. You're so pretty, Da-jeong."
They charged into the fitting room like a swarm, showering me with praise.
Eh? Wha...?
Is it okay?