Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: It's the Last Night of the Group Trip!
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Champagne had me feeling tipsy and wobbly in the best way.
That's when Ji-ah unnie came over, her face full of worry as she asked,
"D-Da-jeongie. You okay? Here, drink some water, water."
"Ehehe, there's two Ji-ah unnies... Double the happiness..."
I gulped down the water she offered like a baby bird taking food from its mom.
Then I just melted right into her arms.
With two unnies, the happiness was doubled too.
"President, what do we do? Da-jeong seems pretty drunk..."
"She didn't drink that much, so she'll sober up soon. Let's lay her down somewhere and let her sleep it off for a bit."
"But there's nowhere to lay her..."
I could vaguely hear the President and Ji-ah unnie talking.
But it was all muffled, like I was underwater—nothing came through clearly.
Still, it was kinda like ASMR. So soothing to listen to.
Hehe, Ji-ah unnie really has Blue LUV's sweetest voice.
I could just drift off listening to this.
"Unnie, wouldn't it be better to take her outside? Fresh air might wake her up quick."
"Yeah, good idea. The boat's not rocking much, and there's barely any sunlight left."
I was snuggled in unnie's arms, eyes drifting shut.
Suddenly, it felt like something was shaking my body.
Uuu, I wanna sleep.
Who's keep trying to wake me up?
Don't mess with a sleeping lion's whiskers.
"Da-jeongie, wanna go outside and get some fresh air?"
"Uuuungh, nooo... Da-jeongie's gonna sleeeep..."
This time Ra-hee unnie tried coaxing me.
But I didn't want to let go of this cozy warmth, so I shook my head hard.
I even grabbed tight onto Ji-ah unnie's sleeve, like I'd never let go.
"Really? You might even see dolphins if you sleep. Don't you wanna see dolphins, Da-jeongie?"
"Dolphiins...?"
"Yeah, dolphins."
But that sweet temptation had my ears perking right up.
Dolphins! Actual dolphins!
The legendary creatures you only see at the zoo—we get to see them?!
"What do you say? Wanna see dolphins?"
"Uuunh, wanna see dolphiins..."
Finally, I stopped resisting and peeled myself off Ji-ah unnie's lap.
I rubbed my eyes and nodded weakly.
My body felt like wilted fern shoots from the overwhelming sleepiness.
But if dolphins were on the line, I had to power through.
"I'll carry her on my back. She might trip."
"Sorry to make you work so hard."
"It's no trouble. It's my job as manager."
Soon, something soft enveloped my face again.
And just like that, I felt myself floating up into the air.
Clunk—clunk—
A heavy metallic thud echoed as we crossed metal plating.
Fresh wind wrapped around my body.
Not the cold AC air from before, but something warmer, just pleasantly cool.
"It's still pretty bright out."
"It's summer. Probably not dark till around eight."
Chae-yoon unnie and Yuna's voices drifted over, and soon after,
I felt myself being set down gently.
Then something soft pillowed my neck and the back of my head.
"I'll watch Da-jeongie. You all go look around."
Ji-ah unnie's voice came from super close.
Right in front of me, actually.
"You sure you're okay with that, unnie?"
"Why wouldn't I be? If dolphins show up, just let me know. I'll bring Da-jeongie over."
"Okay, we'll be back!"
"Yeah."
After some playful banter between Ji-ah unnie and Yuna,
silence settled in, and the sleepiness hit even harder.
Guess waking up fully wasn't happening.
Swish—
"Da-jeongie, if dolphins come, unnie'll wake you. Sleep easy."
"Yeees..."
Right as that thought crossed my mind, Ji-ah unnie brushed my hair back and spoke.
Her gentle voice washed over me with comfort.
I let go without thinking, mumbling back as sleep finally claimed me.
Someone was shaking my body.
The motion gently pulled me from sleep.
Unlike the hazy daze before, the world snapped into sharp focus.
"Da-jeongie, Da-jeongie! Dolphins! Dolphins!"
"Dolphins...?"
"You said you wanted to see dolphins! Hurry or you'll miss them!"
Chae-yoon unnie's urgent voice followed.
Dolphins didn't register at first, so I just stared blankly for a bit.
Then my eyes flew wide, and I jolted awake.
"D-Dolphins...! Wh-where?! I wanna see too!"
"Over there, there! Hurry! You too, unnie!"
"Got it."
I stumbled after Chae-yoon unnie's gestures, still half-asleep but desperate.
The cool breeze sharpened my senses bit by bit.
Memories from before I slept started trickling back.
Gasp...!
Come to think of it, what happened after the champagne?
Did I seriously fall asleep on Ji-ah unnie's lap?!
"Oh, Da-jeongie's up? Sobered up a bit?"
"Uuu, sorryyy..."
The President spotted me at the edge of the deck and greeted me.
Embarrassment flooded me, and I reflexively ducked behind Ji-ah unnie.
"Da-jeongie, sorry! I didn't know the champagne had alcohol and gave it to you..."
"N-no, it was my fault."
Meanwhile, Yuna felt guilty for pouring it and hugged me tight with an apology.
"Da-jeongie, don't stay back there—come see from here?"
"Yeeah..."
Like a baby kangaroo peeking from mom's pouch, I stuck my head out.
Ra-hee unnie beckoned me to the deck's edge.
A bit shy, but dying to see dolphins, I tiptoed over.
I stepped onto the small raised platform and gazed out over the vast sea...
Splash—splash—
"Woooow...!"
There they were—dolphins cutting through white waves, moving along.
It was getting late, so not super clear,
but thanks to the sun squeezing out its last light, I could make them out amid the red sunset.
"What do you think, Da-jeongie?"
"They're so cuuute...! But are dolphins really this easy to spot?"
"No way. I've only heard about them—first time seeing any myself."
"Hehe, guess we're super lucky then."
"Looks like it."
Even Ra-hee unnie, who'd walked this sea path at the villa plenty, seeing it for the first time.
Talk about insane luck.
No wonder those distant dolphins looked extra cute and pretty.
"Bye, you guys! See you next year!"
Squeee—squeee—
I waved goodbye to the fading pod.
As if they understood, their cries echoed back.
Hehe, not sure if we'll come back to Ra-hee unnie's villa next year.
But if we do, I hope we meet again.
Closer next time would be nice.
"Oh? Sun's finally setting."
As I waved till the dolphins vanished, cherishing that little wish,
the sunset faded right after, night falling over the sea.
Like the sun had held out just to let us say goodbye.
Time to head back to the villa maybe?
But it felt too soon to go.
Uuu, if only I hadn't dozed off midway...
"Unnie, heading back now?"
"Gotta. But first, one last thing I prepared."
"Prepared?"
As I inwardly whined about it ending,
my ears perked up at those words.
Prepared? Something else left?
"Sun's fully down now—perfect timing. One sec."
Ra-hee unnie tossed out that cryptic line and fiddled with her phone.
Some setup needed, apparently.
We all stood around blankly, eyes glued to her.
"Okay, everyone look up at the sky?"
"The sky?"
"Huh? Something in the sky?"
At Ra-hee unnie's cue, we all looked up curiously.
That instant.
Whiiiish—!
"Unnie, look over there!"
"Wha...?!"
A loud whoosh from somewhere, then Yuna's panicked shout.
Our eyes followed her pointing finger.
A thick purple beam of light shot up.
No way?
Boom—!
As if my inner hunch was jinxing it,
the beam exploded in a massive burst, blooming flowers across the sky.
"Whoa! Fireworks!"
"This is so romantic."
"Amazing..."
"You prepared this too?"
"Ra-hee, must've been a ton of work."
We all gaped, exclamations bursting out.
But I couldn't say a word.
It brought back my first real-life fireworks—long ago.
Pretty sure there was a festival nearby then.
I'd wanted to go when I heard about the fireworks,
but scared of crowds, I watched from home, far off.
Our house was up on a high hill, so seeing wasn't hard.
But so distant—like stars I'd never reach.
More sad than happy, that faint memory surfaced.
Now, those longed-for fireworks, right up close.
With the people I love most.
Like my past year wasn't wasted—emotions welled up.
"What do ya think, Da-jeongie? Different from the last ones, right?"
I was fighting back tears, pretending to just watch.
Ra-hee unnie's sudden question made me nod with a sniffly voice.
"Sniff... Yeah. Those were cool too, but these are amazing."
"Huh? Da-jeongie, you crying?"
"What? Da-jeongie's crying?"
"Maknae's crying again? Tears?"
Uuu, no I'm not!
I haven't cried!
Don't call me crybaby!
I decided—no more crying over happy things from now on.
Smiling's the best.
I've cried too much already—can't even count.
Only smiles from here on. That's my promise.
"Before Da-jeongie cries, quick group pic! Everyone gather!"
"Uuu, I'm not cryingyy...!"
Chae-yoon unnie waved everyone over.
I protested but hurried into place anyway.
"So-eun unnie, just set a timer and come here!"
"Yeah! We got the stand anyway!"
"Okay, one sec."
Even So-eun unnie, who'd been behind the camera, joined last.
We all struck poses with fireworks behind us.
Click—
A soft shutter sound echoed over the sea.
"Ooh, turned out great!"
"Thought it'd be shaky on the boat, but nice!"
"Pfft, look at Da-jeongie's red eyes even now."
"Whoa, President's glow-up today? Serving looks."
"Everyone looks so pretty."
"Yeah, nailed a proper souvenir pic at the end."
We crowded around checking the photo, bursting into giggles.
A bit short, but so happy.
Our first group trip's last night faded just like that.