58. Beach Trip (1)
58. Beach Trip (1)
"Unnieeeee!! It's really, really been so long!!"
As Han So-jeong entered the cafe she frequented during the semester, she spotted Choi Ha-na, who recognized her and was waving her hand vigorously; So-jeong shyly waved back and greeted her.
"Your skin got tanned."
As So-jeong spoke while taking a seat, Ha-na smiled brightly with her nicely tanned face.
"I went to the beach with friends until yesterday."
"I see. Did you have fun?"
"Super, super fun! Want to see pictures? Ah, but I thought I was going to die missing you, unnie."
Ha-na immediately poured out her words as if trying to share all the stories she hadn't been able to tell at once, and So-jeong smiled gently at her lively energy.
The appointment at the cafe today had been made when Ha-na, who hadn't been able to meet for a while due to hanging out with other friends here and there, contacted So-jeong last night.
Of course, Ha-na had the intention of 'giving So-jeong and Baek-seol some time alone together and now wanting to hear about what had been going on,' but So-jeong had no way of knowing that.
After showing numerous photos of herself and a few other girls laughing cheerfully and pictures of the vast blue ocean, Ha-na naturally slipped the topic into conversation.
"What have you been doing since break started, unnie? Did you hang out with Baek-seol unnie a bit?"
"Ah, yeah. We went to that cafe from the guidebook you gave us last time."
"Ehehe, I'm glad it was helpful."
"It felt a bit too much like a place for couples, so Baek-seol was a little uncomfortable though."
"Ack."
Although it was an expected reaction, Ha-na averted her gaze slightly at So-jeong's words.
If Baek-seol had been here too, she probably would have glared at her with her characteristic cold, sharp gaze.
"S-so, by the way."
Cutting a piece of the carrot cake in front of her with a fork and popping it into her mouth, Ha-na changed the subject.
"Even after all this playing, there's still this much break left, it's hard to believe. Is this what being an adult is like?"
"I don't think it has anything to do with being an adult......"
So-jeong let out an "Ahaha..." laugh and spoke to Ha-na, whose eyes were sparkling.
"But it's definitely a long break. You can play that much, and do other things too."
"Unnie, did you say you were going to work part-time at a bookstore during break?"
"Yeah. I'll probably start soon. I need to contact the manager though."
"I see......"
At So-jeong's words, Ha-na rested her chin on her hand and fell into deep thought for a moment, then suddenly lifted her head and exclaimed.
"Then let's go on a trip together!"
"Us?"
"Yes! You, Baek-seol unnie, and me, the three of us. I want to hang out together before you guys get busier. How about it?"
"Hmm...... Sounds good, right? I'll have to ask Baek-seol for sure though."
"Yay! Let's ask Baek-seol unnie and coordinate a date together."
"Okay. But where are you thinking of going?"
"How about the beach?"
Ha-na suggested without a moment's hesitation.
"The beach?"
So-jeong tilted her head.
"Didn't you just get back from the beach with friends until yesterday?"
But Ha-na, as if that didn't matter at all, smiled brightly with her tanned face.
"That was that, and this is this!"
"Is... that so?"
"It's totally different. The people you go with are different, and the beach you go to is different."
Adding quietly as if talking to herself, Ha-na said.
"And how could I pass up the chance to see pretty people like you unnies in swimsuits?"
"Huh?"
"It's nothing!"
Raising her voice again, Ha-na laughed it off, dismissing what she just said.
"Anyway, I'd love to go to the beach with you unnies, so could you talk to Baek-seol unnie about it? Ah, of course, even if it's not the beach, I'm fine with anything."
"Okay. I'll ask her."
So-jeong also liked the idea of going to the beach with Baek-seol and Ha-na. She had been to the beach alone with Baek-seol a few times, but going with a new friend like Ha-na would create another special memory.
"Heehee, maybe I'll buy a new swimsuit for the occasion?"
But at Ha-na's words, who had already started browsing shopping sites on her phone, So-jeong froze for a moment.
"Ah."
So-jeong had her own personal problem that needed to be solved in order to go to the beach.
***
"The beach?"
Baek-seol's voice came through the speakerphone placed on the bed.
"Yeah. I met Ha-na today, and she suggested the three of us go together."
"Didn't she say she was at the beach until yesterday? Isn't she tired?"
"Ahaha, right."
The sound of Baek-seol's clothes rustling against the bed seeped through the speakerphone with a soft *sabjaksabjak*. Following the sound, So-jeong also lay down on her side and looked at her smartphone screen displaying the name 'Baek-seol♡'.
"Well, if you want to go, So-jeong, I'm fine with it."
"Really?"
So-jeong asked again, surprised that Baek-seol accepted the proposal more readily than expected.
"I was going to ask you about going sometime anyway."
Baek-seol continued right after saying that.
"But are you really okay with it, So-jeong?"
"Huh?"
"If we go this time of year, there will be tons of people."
"Ah......"
Come to think of it, until now, So-jeong and Baek-seol had always traveled while avoiding the peak season when crowds flocked.
Remembering Baek-seol's consideration for So-jeong, who was afraid of people, a faint smile bloomed on So-jeong's lips.
"Yeah. I'll probably be okay. I'm trying to work on it little by little."
"......Alright."
Baek-seol answered in her usual indifferent voice, but So-jeong could feel her warmth even through the speaker.
"Then what about clothes?"
But at Baek-seol's next question, the smile quickly vanished from So-jeong's face.
"So-jeong, you... you probably can't wear a swimsuit that's too tight, right?"
"Yeah......"
With a worried expression, So-jeong lowered her gaze and looked between her legs.
Although it wasn't noticeable because she was wearing loose pajamas, So-jeong could clearly feel the heaviness hidden beneath them.
"I was actually worried about that......"
"Hmm."
Baek-seol also made a thoughtful sound.
"Then we should look for a swimsuit with a skirt. Something long enough so the skirt doesn't ride up even when you go in the water."
"I guess we have to, right?"
Even with Baek-seol's suggested solution, So-jeong's voice still didn't brighten.
"What's wrong?"
Baek-seol, noticing the emotion in So-jeong's voice, asked.
"Yeah, it's just......"
So-jeong hesitated for a moment.
"It suddenly feels real that my body has become different from normal people's."
For a while, she hadn't thought much about having become a futanari.
She had gotten used to suddenly having a dick, and since sharing this secret with Baek-seol, there had been more good things than bad.
But sometimes, these small inconveniences push an undeniable fact right back in front of your face.
And that fact, having become a small seed, was sprouting anxiety again in So-jeong's heart.
If other people found out, if the dick never went away.
Like small drops of ink slowly spreading on paper, those vague anxieties spread faintly, but widely.
"So-jeong-ah."
Then Baek-seol's voice grabbed her, pulling her out of her deep thoughts.
"Huh? Aah."
So-jeong forced a brighter tone and tried to change the subject.
"Sorry, I said something weird for no reason. Anyway, let's first coordinate a date with Ha-na to go to the beach......"
"So-jeong-ah, can you come out in front of your place in about 5 minutes?"
But her words were cut off by Baek-seol's sudden question.
"Huh?"
So-jeong blinked her eyes.
"I guess I can... but why?"
"Okay. Then can you come out when I call again later?"
"Ah, okay......"
Hearing So-jeong's answer, Baek-seol hung up immediately.
So-jeong got up from the bed, looked at the smartphone she had just been talking on, and tilted her head.
"What's this about?"
And 5 minutes later, when she answered Baek-seol's call and went outside her studio apartment building, what was waiting for her was,
"Haa, haa......"
Baek-seol, sweating and catching her breath.
"Baek-seol-ah?!"
So-jeong, who hadn't expected her to visit her place at this late hour, called out to her in surprise.
"What brings you here all of a sudden?"
Baek-seol didn't answer right away, instead placing her hands on her knees to finish catching her breath.
"Whew."
A moment later, Baek-seol straightened up and, without a word, approached So-jeong and tightly embraced her.
"Huh?!"
So-jeong flinched slightly at the warmth and feel of Baek-seol, so palpable in the cool night air.
"Ba, Baek-seol-ah?"
"......I don't care if your body is different from others, So-jeong-ah."
Baek-seol said, holding So-jeong even tighter.
"Because you are you."
"......Ah."
Only then did So-jeong realize why Baek-seol had suddenly come to her place.
To cover the anxiety she sensed over the phone, to reassure her, Baek-seol had rushed to her without delay, even at this hour.
"......"
Realizing that, a warmth different from Baek-seol's body heat began to fill So-jeong's heart.
Embracing Baek-seol back with both arms, So-jeong buried her face in Baek-seol's chest.
"Sorry for coming over suddenly. I'm not good at saying these things...... I thought this would be the best way."
"Huhu, no."
So-jeong closed her eyes, feeling Baek-seol's warmth and her voice more deeply, and smiled softly.
"I'm sorry. For habitually thinking negative thoughts again."
"I'll always be by your side to say something good when that happens."
Baek-seol also closed her eyes, resting her cheek on top of So-jeong's head as she spoke.
"I'm not exactly a bright person myself though."
"Ahaha, thank you, Baek-seol-ah."
Baek-seol and So-jeong held each other tighter for a while without speaking. So that their hearts could seep into each other through their connected bodies.
After a while, the two slowly loosened their arms from around each other.
"Ah, um......"
Baek-seol, who had been looking down at So-jeong's eyes, belatedly showed signs of awkwardness and cleared her throat.
"W-well then, I should get going."
"Okay."
"Let's go look at swimsuits together next time."
"Okay."
"Um, well then......"
Watching Baek-seol hesitate, unsure how to end this awkward moment that follows sharing honest feelings, So-jeong couldn't help but let a laugh escape.
Filled with overwhelming emotion, So-jeong rose slightly on her toes and lightly pressed her lips to Baek-seol's.
"......!"
Looking into Baek-seol's eyes, widened enough to reflect the stars in the night sky, So-jeong whispered with a smile.
"Sleep well, Baek-seol-ah."
"S-sleep well......"
Baek-seol's face, answering in a dazed voice, was flushed enough to be noticeable even under the night sky.
Finding Baek-seol adorable like that, So-jeong smiled again.