Chapter 136: Busan (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 136: Busan (6)
A jjimjilbang located inside a department store.
Perhaps because of its prime location, the atmosphere was worlds apart from a typical neighborhood sauna right from the entrance. The interior was sleek, modern, and polished.
"See you later."
Shin A-young gave a small wave before heading toward the women’s side.
"Yeah."
I headed into the men's locker room with the President.
Since we had agreed to meet in the common area after washing up, I started stripping down in front of my locker. It felt a bit awkward being naked in front of someone I actually knew.
"……."
The President's gaze flickered toward my lower body.
— "…?"
He looked again, as if wondering if he’d misseen.
His Mini-me staggered, wearing a look of pure consternation.
What kind of reaction is that just from looking at another guy's junk?
I ignored him and headed toward the baths first.
"Let's go."
"…Right."
After finishing my shower, I sank into the warm tub.
"Phew…."
The warmth felt incredible, melting away the fatigue. The President plopped down beside me.
"Are you still working out these days?"
He asked in a tone that suggested I’d gotten even bulkier since he last checked. I gave a light nod.
"Once I started putting on muscle, it actually got pretty fun."
"You weren't like this back in our first year."
He shook his head, muttering about how I’d grown to a 'scary' degree.
"How long ago was that…?"
It felt like a lifetime ago.
"But hey," I brought up a question I hadn't been able to ask yet.
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you two just go on a trip by yourselves? Why'd you invite all of us along?"
Usually, couples go off on their own once the CSAT is over.
"Oh, that?"
The President spoke as if it were no big deal.
"Min-ji said this was really the last chance, and I think she wanted to hang out with everyone one more time."
"…I see."
I understood what he meant. Senior Min-ji had a sentimental side. She’d probably be the type to cry at graduation.
"Still, isn't it a bit of a waste? It’s a rare chance for just the two of you to travel."
"It's fine. We have the graduation trip, too."
The President shrugged.
Wait, they have another trip planned? No wonder he didn't seem to mind. He already had something to look forward to.
*
The women's locker room.
Ha Seo-rim stood there with an awkward expression.
"……."
She slowly peeled off her clothes, layer by layer.
It was embarrassing. It was her first time coming to a place like this with acquaintances… In fact, it had been a very long time since she’d visited a public bathhouse at all. The last time was when she was a child.
Perhaps that was why the awkwardness felt even more pronounced.
As she was undressing, Lee Sol quietly approached her.
"…Don't be too surprised."
She muttered something cryptic.
"Pardon?"
"…It’s just that they are the ones who are unusual."
Lee Sol looked toward one side. Ha Seo-rim followed her gaze.
"……Oh."
Ha Seo-rim’s eyes went wide like a startled rabbit's.
Two massive mounds entered her field of vision. No, since there were two people, was it four mounds?
What in the world…
How was she even supposed to describe that?
She had always known they were large, but seeing them in person was a different story. The sheer weight and movement every time they shifted their bodies was incredible.
Ji Nuri felt the gaze and tilted her head.
"? Let's go."
"Ah, yes."
Ha Seo-rim snapped out of it and followed behind.
The bathhouse was filled with thick, humid air. After rinsing off at the shower booths, they stepped into the tub.
"Ugh…."
Ha Seo-rim pulled her foot back just as she was about to enter.
It was hot. The water temperature was much higher than she’d expected. She’d thought it would be fine since everyone else was soaking in it so casually, but she was wrong.
"…Try dipping your feet in first."
Lee Sol approached her and offered advice with a pained expression. It seemed she found it hot as well.
"Once you get used to it, go to your calves. Then your thighs. Then your hips."
"……."
Following the advice, Ha Seo-rim slowly lowered her body into the water.
"How is it? Better?"
"…Yes."
Ha Seo-rim nodded slightly. Her expression gradually relaxed as her body adjusted.
"Phew—"
Ji Nuri let out a satisfied breath beside them. She patted her own shoulders.
"Hot springs are great. My shoulders have been so stiff lately, it was killing me…."
"Really? Want me to massage them for you?"
Shin A-young gestured for her to come closer.
"Turn around."
Shin A-young’s hands gently gripped Ji Nuri's shoulders.
"Uuugh…."
Ji Nuri let out a groan mixed with pain and relief.
"Is this the spot?"
"Wow… yeah. Right there."
Ji Nuri was impressed. They say those who suffer from stiff shoulders themselves know the best spots to hit. Under Shin A-young’s touch, her expression slowly softened.
"……Phew."
Watching them, Lee Sol abruptly turned her head away. She looked like it was physically painful to keep watching. It was the sorrow of someone who rarely had to worry about the weight of stiff shoulders.
…Is it really that big of a deal?
Ha Seo-rim understood Lee Sol’s feelings, but she couldn't quite empathize. Her first thought was that there was no need to feel that way. Honestly, being that large only drew unwanted attention and caused chronic shoulder pain; it didn't seem like there were many benefits.
That aside…
Ha Seo-rim’s crescent-shaped eyes scanned the surface of the water.
…They really do float.
The rumor that they float in water was true. Not like a buoy, but they definitely had some buoyancy. It was information she hadn't particularly been curious about, but she’d learned it nonetheless.
Splash—
She felt a ripple in the water. Park Min-ji gently slid over to her side.
"Wow, Seo-rim, you're really slim. Do you work out?"
Ha Seo-rim continued the conversation.
"…Just some running."
Running to and from her part-time jobs was the extent of it. She felt it was a waste of money to join a gym, and the running was sufficient anyway.
"Really?"
Park Min-ji looked at her with envy.
"I need to lose some weight too… look, I’ve put on some fat."
She tapped her stomach. At that, Shin A-young gave her a questioning look.
"Don't you look fine right now? I don't think it shows at all when you're wearing clothes."
"Well, that’s…."
Park Min-ji looked a bit embarrassed.
"…Yisu asked me to go on a trip with him."
"The President did? Where are you going?"
"Probably Japan?"
"Wow… is that for your graduation trip?"
"That's right."
"I'm so jealous…."
Shin A-young’s eyebrows slumped into a sad 'V' shape. Park Min-ji chuckled at the sight.
"Hey now. You guys can just make plans too."
She spoke casually, suggesting it would be easy for them to find someone to go with.
" " "……." " "
At those words, Shin A-young and Lee Sol’s gazes momentarily met. Meanwhile, Ji Nuri’s eyes darted around aimlessly.
The three of them fell into a heavy silence simultaneously.
"……?"
Sensing the atmosphere had turned strange, Park Min-ji quickly changed the subject.
"……How about you, Seo-rim?"
"Me? What about me?"
"Yeah. Is there anyone at school you're interested in? Or even outside of school."
"…No one."
The answer came out instantly.
"Why? I bet you're popular."
While it was hard to say she wasn't popular, that was a separate issue.
Ha Seo-rim rolled her eyes and said, "I don't really have any close male friends to begin with…."
"Huh? Why? There's Hyun-woo."
Ji Nuri chimed in.
"Hyun-woo?"
"There's one boy in the Band Club," Ji Nuri explained.
As Ji Nuri said, there was indeed one boy in the Band Club. But…
"He’s a bit…."
Ha Seo-rim made a grumpy face.
"He's not a bad kid. He's very energetic."
"That's true. He is, but…."
That was one thing.
"He's a bit like a kid."
He was a good friend, but she certainly didn't see him as a man.
"Ah. I know what you mean."
Ji Nuri nodded slowly. Park Min-ji continued her questioning with an intrigued look.
"Then do you have an ideal type? You must have thought about it at least once."
"…I haven't really thought about it."
Ha Seo-rim looked away as all eyes gathered on her.
"…Besides, it's unfair if I'm the only one talking."
Park Min-ji nodded.
"Then shall we go around and say one thing each?"
The first person Park Min-ji pointed to was the one on her right. It was Shin A-young.
"Oh? Me first?"
Shin A-young blinked at being the first runner, then answered quite calmly.
"…Someone who can tell how I'm feeling right away?"
She didn't seem particularly embarrassed.
"Ah, the perceptive type?"
"Yes."
Shin A-young nodded.
True.
Ha Seo-rim agreed. Being perceptive was important.
"What about Sol?"
"Iii…."
Lee Sol’s face had already turned bright red.
"…I’d like someone with a bit of a height difference…."
"Oho. So that's your taste?"
"……."
Park Min-ji gave her a knowing look. Bubble bubble. Lee Sol’s lower face sank beneath the water as if she were drowning in embarrassment.
"How about you, Nuri?"
"I like handsome—"
"Other than that."
Given the faces in this group, a crush being handsome was practically a baseline requirement.
"Hmm……."
Ji Nuri hummed as she pondered. She thought about it for a long time, her head slowly tilting to the side.
"……Someone who’s fun to be with?"
That was her answer. Even as she said it, she had a peculiar look on her face.
"Now it's your turn, Seo-rim."
Finally, it was her turn. An ideal type.
Ha Seo-rim thought for a moment before parting her lips slightly.
"…I…."
*
"……."
After finishing our bath, we moved to the common area of the jjimjilbang. I took a spot by the window.
I had already bought some baked eggs and sikhye and was waiting for the girls.
"…They’re late."
The President muttered while looking down at his phone. He looked like he was dying of boredom.
"Girls always take a long time to wash up."
"You seem to know a lot about that."
"I have a younger sister, remember?"
"…Ah, right."
The President quickly lost interest and dropped his head back toward the floor.
"Oh, they're here."
Speak of the devil. I sat up from where I was lying.
"…Did you wait long?"
"No."
I shook my head and pointed to the sikhye I’d bought.
"?"
I felt a gaze from the side. When I turned my head to see what it was, Ha Seo-rim was standing there.
"……."
For a moment, she stared up at me intently.
— "……Nah, no way."
She shook her head vigorously. With that mutter, she picked up an egg.
……What was that about?
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Jjimjilbang Ha Seo-rim.