Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: If You've Come to the Sea, You Have to Play in the Water!
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Due to the surprise attack from Chae-yoon unnie and Yuna,
I suddenly ended up looking like a drowned rat.
But after that, I managed to keep playing in the water normally with the members.
We teamed up for water fights and had a blast.
We watched Ji-ah unnie and Ra-hee unnie's swimming race.
We even played beach volleyball in the makeshift court the manager had set up.
Honestly, out of everything, beach volleyball was on a whole other level—total balance breaker.
Because the team with Ra-hee unnie won every single time.
Sure, height differences played a part, but Ra-hee unnie's skills were just way too good.
I thought she was a pro volleyball player or something.
Seeing her jump and spike gave me chills.
"Alright, now everyone just relax and have fun! Rest if you want to rest."
"Yes ma'am!"
After running around like that for a while, we scattered at the President's order.
People like Chae-yoon unnie, who'd been splashing nonstop, headed for lounge chairs or under parasols.
The late joiners kept soaking in the sea, enjoying it in their own ways.
And me in the middle of all that...
Splash— splash—
"Um, unnie. Like this?"
"Yeah, exactly. You're picking it up faster than I thought?"
I'm learning to swim from Ra-hee unnie.
Actually, a lot of our members are great swimmers.
Ji-ah unnie especially swims like a mermaid.
Even so, Ra-hee unnie ended up as the instructor for a reason.
She's an elite swimmer who's been taking lessons since she was little.
She says it's not that big a deal, but winning awards in competitions says otherwise.
"Ehehe, must be because unnie's teaching me so well."
"Heh, how does our maknae say everything so cutely? Should I just take you home and raise you?"
"Ub buh. U-unnie...! Can't... breathe...!"
She grabbed my hands tight and pulled me in.
Then Ra-hee unnie buried my face in her chest and shook me around wildly.
My head was already hot from the blazing sun, and with my breath cut off, I nearly ascended to heaven right there.
"How about Da-jeong tries swimming on her own this time? I'll watch from the side."
"C-can I do it?"
She finally released my head and suggested it.
But honestly, I still didn't have the confidence to swim alone.
Even with her holding my hand just now, I'd been so clumsy.
"Yeah, just don't tense up too much. You were kicking great during the splashing?"
"Uuu... O-okay, I'll give it a try."
But thanks to Ra-hee unnie cheering me on.
I figured worst case, nothing lost, so I'd try.
"I'll hold you just for the start. Wanna go straight like that?"
"Yes, unnie."
With her help, I floated on the water.
Relaxing my body, I moved my thighs like kicking my whole legs.
When my face dipped in, don't exhale too hard—just moderately.
"Da-jeong, letting go?"
In that state, she signaled and released her hands.
The support vanished, but my body kept floating.
I kept moving my arms and legs without forgetting the sensation.
"Puhah, puha."
Uuu, got a bit in my nose.
But it's okay, still manageable.
Just a little farther.
Splash— splash—
"Whoa, maknae's getting it now?"
"Right? She picks it up quick."
When my face briefly surfaced, I heard Chae-yoon unnie's voice.
Buoyed by the praise, I pushed a bit harder.
As the limit approached, I stood up without regret and rose to the surface.
"Haa, haa... Um, unnie. How was it?"
"You did great? Just get a little more comfortable, and you'll swim solo no problem."
"Waa...!"
Not sure if Ra-hee unnie was just being nice.
Or if my skills really improved that much.
Either way, the hopeful words had me throwing my arms up in victory without thinking.
Hehe.
Water scared me at first, but once I got used to it, it's fine.
Humans really are creatures of adaptation, huh.
"Da-jeong, Da-jeong! Let's race to over there—who gets there first!"
I was inwardly proud of my progress.
When Yuna came charging through the waves from afar, arm raised high as she shouted.
For reference, Yuna's the weakest swimmer in Blue LUV.
Of course, excluding me who had zero experience.
But now that I could swim a little, she wanted to test our skills, I guess.
"Sounds good? Let's see who's the worst swimmer in Blue LUV."
"W-worst...?!"
I was thinking it might still be too much against Yuna, about to decline.
Then Chae-yoon unnie swooped in with sharp provocation.
Can't back down from talk like that!
I'm a VerTuber with Uparupa RP, after all!
Staking Uparupa's pride, I'll win this one!
"Since Da-jeong just learned today, I'll hold your hand just at the start. That fair?"
"Hm, deal! Accepting the handicap!"
Balance was still off, so Ra-hee unnie agreed to hold just at the beginning.
Yuna, already sensing victory, crossed her arms smugly—kinda cute.
But a bet's a bet.
Sorry, Yuna.
No holding back.
It was embarrassing how boldly I'd boasted inwardly.
The result? My utter defeat.
No matter how clumsy I was, Yuna had been to the sea multiple times.
For my first time, I couldn't keep up.
I even snorted water midway—total chaos.
So embarrassing.
Good thing I kept that talk internal.
If I'd said it to her face, I couldn't have shown my face again.
Anyway, that one race drained all my stamina.
I finally climbed onto the tube I'd hated like a kid, floating aimlessly.
Ra-hee unnie, my safety guard, stayed by my side.
"Pffft. Da-jeong, still sulking over that loss?"
"N-no...!"
Drowsiness was hitting, eyes half-closed as I stared blankly at the sea.
Ra-hee unnie mistook my look, laughed, and asked.
Uuu, not that...!
Just sleepy, that's all!
"Da-jeong, why keep rubbing your eyes? They hurt?"
"Ah, no. It's not that..."
I'd unconsciously rubbed from sleepiness.
Ra-hee unnie, watching intently, asked worriedly.
I shook my head frantically, but it bobbed down now and then.
Water play tires you out more than I thought.
Whole body's all languid.
Never this sleepy even streaming till dawn.
Plus the warm sun makes me all drowsy...
Waves lapping in my ears like white noise, so soothing...
Eyes keep closing.
Can't sleep now.
Ra-hee unnie'll be in a bind.
But so sleepy.
Sorry, unnie.
Just a bit, a tiny bit. I'll wake before dinner...
Ra-hee sensed it at some point.
Da-jeong had gone quiet.
Wondering if she was still sulking from the loss, she straightened her bent waist.
They'd stuck to shallow water for Da-jeong's safety.
Her tall frame let her look down at Da-jeong on the tube.
The cute maknae's sight brought a smile to her lips unwittingly.
"...Must be tired."
Yeah.
Da-jeong had dozed off completely at some point.
Seeing it, Ra-hee murmured softly, then glanced toward the parasols.
She beckoned So-eun on the lounge chair.
Come here a sec.
Even if Da-jeong was light, carrying her alone from here was tough.
"Ra-hee-ssi, what's up?"
"Da-jeong fell asleep. Think we need to carry her. Help?"
"I'll do it. You've been watching her all this time."
"Yeah, thanks."
Ra-hee had planned to carry her herself.
But So-eun's idea made sense, so she handed her over temporarily.
"...Unbelievably light."
After gently pushing the tube ashore, they placed Da-jeong on So-eun's bent back.
A gasp—or sigh?—slipped from So-eun's lips.
Even for a woman, was she allowed to be this light?
So-eun was stronger than most women.
But this was beyond light—it was abnormal.
"What, Da-jeong's asleep?"
As they headed to the lounge chairs with Da-jeong piggybacked,
Kang Haneul spotted it, stood, eyes wide.
Da-jeong, sleeping soundly on her back, finally registered.
"Yeah, first water play must've worn her out."
"Makes sense. Since she's out, let's all head back. We've played plenty anyway."
"Sounds good."
Confirming their nods, Kang Haneul headed to the parasols.
To fetch the sprawled retriever and rabbit, plus their caretaker.
"We'll go ahead then, Ra-hee-ssi. Gotta lay Da-jeong down."
"Sure."
Seeing that, the two left the others to follow.
They'd settle Da-jeong, rest up, and prep for dinner—not much time left.
"Mnyaaam..."
"Pff heh."
Mid-stride, Da-jeong mumbled cat-like, chewing her own hair.
Ra-hee smiled at the sight.
How could anything be this adorable?
Still, couldn't leave it, so she reached to fix the hair.
Then a faint voice slipped from Da-jeong's lips.
As if witnessing the scene.
"Ra-hee unnie... thank you..."
Baby babble in sleep, but it rang clear to both.
So-eun carrying her missed the visual, less impact.
But Ra-hee, face-to-face with the cuteness, couldn't hold back the surge.
"...So-eun unnie. We can't just take our Da-jeong home like this?"
"Behave, Ra-hee-ssi."
Sadly shot down lightly by So-eun.
Ra-hee handed over the sleeping Da-jeong's hair tenderly, full of regret.
Maybe, just maybe.
Those words from Da-jeong were the true feelings.
She'd wanted to convey since the trip was decided.
Ra-hee smiled, quietly guessing as much.