Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: There's So Much to Do at the Sea!
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Finally, with Ra-hee unnie arriving, the real water fun kicked off.
But even within the water play, we split into two camps.
The outdoor types and the indoor types, that is.
"Die!"
"W-Wait! Unnie! Water's in my nose... Glub?!"
"Hey! How dare you mess with our maknae!"
"No, unnie! You always say I'm the only maknae, so why just on days like this... Ack?!"
The outdoor crew—Chae-yoon unnie and Yuna, needless to say.
Surprisingly, Ji-ah unnie seemed to love water play too.
She'd joined in between them, and now they were locked in a full-on water war, splashing each other relentlessly.
That said, Ji-ah unnie loves water play this much.
So why did she want to go to the mountains instead of the beach?
That puzzled me a bit.
Splash... Splash...
"Good work. Must be tiring playing with the kids."
"Nah, I'm having fun too."
And So-eun unnie, who'd been stuck in the middle of it all.
She'd already run out of steam and come ashore, heading back to us.
She definitely gave off more of a "babysitting" vibe than actually playing.
"Da-jeong-ah, want a drink?"
"Yes! I'd love one."
"President, beer...? You sure that's okay? What if something happens..."
"Eh, whatever. Just one can."
With So-eun unnie joining us, the indoor crew was complete again.
We settled onto the mats and sunbeds, chatting away.
Spotting the beer in the President's hand, So-eun unnie looked pretty worried.
I didn't think one can would hurt the President...
But better safe than sorry.
She'd sworn she wouldn't have more than one, so it should be fine.
Still, So-eun unnie was staring at the President awfully intently.
Did she want one too?
She never seemed like a drinker during our meetings.
"So-eun, why don't you have one too?"
I wasn't the only one who noticed that look.
The President leaned forward from her sunbed.
And offered So-eun unnie a can from the icebox.
At the office, it was always "Miss So-eun."
But this was a trip, so things were more casual.
Makes sense—they were close like sisters originally.
"Oh, no. If I get tipsy, who's gonna look after the members..."
"What are they, three-year-olds? They'll manage without you. Just drink."
So-eun unnie hesitated for a second.
But after the President's nudge, she waddled over like a penguin and tentatively reached out.
"A-All right... Just one can, then."
"Good. And while we're on a trip, drop that stiff talk already. You'll give yourself indigestion without even eating."
"Yes, unnie."
The President nodded with a satisfied "That's more like it" expression.
Yeah, she looked way more relaxed like that.
Watching So-eun unnie chug her beer.
I realized she had a totally different vibe from usual.
As I pondered why, it hit me, and I nodded in admiration.
Oh, right—it was the glasses.
Come to think of it, she'd worn them on the train ride here.
"Now that I think about it, this is the first time I've seen So-eun unnie without her glasses."
"Yeah, probably. I always have them on."
Was she shy about showing her bare face?
She gave a bashful smile as she replied.
"Is your eyesight really bad?"
"Not that bad. Just some nearsightedness and astigmatism, so it's habit."
"I see..."
Got it.
She looks prettier without them, honestly.
No thoughts on contacts?
Kinda disappointing.
Excluding Ra-hee unnie, who'd downed her drink first on the sunbed.
The rest of us held drinks or beers.
And quenched our thirst in our own ways.
"By the way, wouldn't it be better to take off that T-shirt? It's soaked and must be uncomfortable."
"The T-shirt?"
Mid-chat, the President pointed out So-eun unnie's outfit.
Only then did So-eun unnie glance down.
She sighed at her drenched T-shirt, noticing it late.
"Yeah... Can I just wring it out and lay it on the sunbed?"
"Go ahead. Sun's so strong, it'll dry quick."
Following the President's lead, she wrung out her T-shirt.
Shook it out vigorously with a flap-flap sound and draped it over the sunbed.
Swish... Swish...
"Huh? Ra-hee unnie, what're you doing?"
I was staring blankly at the scene.
When a rubbing sound came from behind.
Turning, I saw Ra-hee unnie carefully applying something to her arm.
What was that?
Looked slick and slippery.
Not the sunscreen Yuna applied earlier.
"Putting on oil. Summer treat—thought I'd tan a bit."
"Oh, want me to help?"
"You? That'd be great."
I'm no idiot about sun-tanning.
I knew you had to cover the hard-to-reach back.
So I rolled up my sleeves to assist.
"Huh? Ra-hee, gonna tan?"
I moved to the sunbed by the President's mat.
She'd been watching and tossed the question our way.
"Yeah, never tried it. Kinda curious."
"Fair enough."
Ra-hee unnie sat on the sunbed and started explaining.
"Da-jeong-ah, scoop some into your hands first, warm it up, then apply?"
"Got it."
I'd seen her do it earlier, so I knew the drill.
Took the oil bottle from her.
Scooped some into my palms, rubbed to warm it with body heat.
Now to apply...
"U-Unnie...! Why're you taking off your swimsuit...?!"
As I moved to rub it on.
Ra-hee unnie suddenly sat up and slipped off her top straps.
I yelped and covered my eyes.
Luckily, she covered herself with her arms and flopped face-down quick. No mishaps.
"Huh? It's all girls here anyway. Plus, the swimsuit's a tad small—feels tight."
"S-Still..."
"Pfft, our maknae's so shy."
"Ugh, you're just too bold, unnie..."
Even among girls.
You can't just strip like that as grown women.
I'm not the weird one here.
Right, totally.
"A-Anyway, applying now?"
"Yeah, please."
Having rationalized it internally.
I calmed my racing heart and focused on the task.
Swish... Swish...
"Not too cold, unnie?"
"Perfect."
Asked just in case, but she sounded comfy, sinking into the sunbed.
Her skin's amazing, too.
She always envies my baby skin.
But none of us have bad skin, really.
Why tan such great skin, though?
Curiosity struck—I asked.
"Why tan, unnie?"
"Eh, just 'cause. I stay indoors a lot, so I'm pale. Want a healthy glow."
"Like those super dark tans in manga?"
"Nah, moderate. Like Chae-yoon or Yuna."
"I see..."
Yeah, they have that perfect level.
Yuna especially—radiant, healthy vibe.
Good color.
I pictured Ra-hee unnie lightly tanned.
Yeah, not bad at all.
Maybe a Western actress or singer feel?
They tan a lot on TV.
It amps up the healthy, sexy appeal.
Imagining her new look sparked my curiosity.
I worked fast, finishing the oil-up in no time.
"Hehe, all done, unnie."
Proud of helping, I grinned goofily at her.
Face-down, she twisted her upper body slightly to thank me.
"Thanks. You should be playing too—I didn't mean to bother you."
"Nah, I can't swim well anyway."
"Right. After I'm done tanning, want me to teach you?"
"Whoa, really? I'll wait!"
Thrilled at learning from her.
I pumped my arms excitedly.
Ra-hee unnie looked stunned.
"Takes time—sure you're okay?"
"Totally! I'll build a sandcastle while waiting."
"Sandcastle?"
She blinked curiously at my eager reply.
I jumped up, thumped my chest proudly.
"I've always wanted to make a huge one at the beach! Even sketched designs!"
I washed the oil off my hands.
Grabbed my phone from the table, showed her the gallery blueprint.
She covered her mouth, mumbling.
"...Gasp, what do I do. I wanna take her home and raise her."
Her voice was so quiet, I barely caught it.
"Da-jeong-ssi, want me to teach you instead?"
"Heh, no thanks. Sandcastle's priority now!"
She probably thought I was bored and picking sandcastle.
So-eun unnie offered, but I firmly declined.
Truth is, I wanted this more than swimming!
"Why not make it together? Include that bunny hopping over."
"Huh? Bunny?"
I was about to dive in.
But the President's words halted me.
Glancing where she pointed...
"Da-jeong-ahhh... Chae-yoon unnie's bullying meee..."
Like a drowned rat—no, bunny.
If she had ears, they'd be drooping pitifully.
Yuna staggered toward us, utterly bedraggled.
S-Sorry, Yuna.
Can't scold Chae-yoon unnie for you.
But let's build a sandcastle and cheer up, okay?
This'll be fun for sure.