Trip (12)
“Taeyang~”
“...Mm...”
“Taeyang, time to wake up~”
I heard a voice trying to rouse me. It wasn't urgent—just soft and languid, considerate enough to let me open my eyes at my own pace. And kind. I felt the gentle touch stroking my face. It was such a soft hand that I could've drifted back to sleep right then.
“Taeyang.”
As my hazy consciousness slowly cleared, I opened my eyes and said, “Hands off.”
“Huh?”
“Yuyeong. I said hands off.”
“O-oh. Ehehe.”
She was trying to play it off with a laugh. I sat up and scanned the room, piecing together the situation.
Yep, got it.
“Why are you in the guys' room, touching a sleeping guy's body?”
“Uh? Well, Seonwoo oppa was already up, but you wouldn't wake... Unnie, the oppa-s, everyone's already ready.”
Seonwoo, you jerk—if you were awake, wake me up too. Though maybe he saw how tired I looked and let me sleep.
“That doesn't give you a reason to touch me.”
“Uh... T-T-Taeyang. I... sorry.”
“Whatever. Just be careful next time.”
“Yeah, I-I won't ever do it again...”
It wasn't that unpleasant, so I'd let it slide. I didn't feel like making a big deal out of sexual harassment or anything. If I didn't know she could turn yandere, I might've even grinned about it. Not that dwelling on it mattered.
“A-anyway... let's wash up and get ready. Everyone's waiting.”
I got up to head to the shower, but Yuyeong stayed right there where she'd woken me.
“You go out first. I'll be there soon.”
“Okay.”
Like she'd never been intimidated, she smiled again—but still didn't move.
“Hey... just to be sure, you're not planning to peep while I shower, right?”
“Even I wouldn't do that!!”
Even I... So she was aware of her own image.
“Got it. I won't assume. But it's awkward... I need to grab clothes to change into.”
Only then did Yuyeong nod and stand. Before leaving, she added one thing.
“We're heading straight to the beach, so bring your swimsuit.”
“Got it.”
Next up was Juyeon noona's turn. Yuli had skipped this trip, so this was the last flag. In this one, I'd...
Shwaaa—
The shower water cascaded over me. Would this wash away my stray thoughts too? Who knew. But since it was a shared beach, better to rinse off before diving in. Not that I thought the ocean was pristine...
Silly thoughts like that kept bubbling up. Ever since my talk with Seonwoo yesterday, my mind had been stuck in this loop of nonsense. To snap out of it, I voiced my resolve aloud.
“Hoo~ Let's just get through this one somehow.”
Yeah. In this flag, I'd help Juyeon noona. It aligned with both our interests. It was the best way to keep Hayan noona and Seonwoo from connecting. Worrying in advance if Seonwoo might pick her in this event—or if she'd confirm it and despair—was pointless. Who knew? It might follow the game script unexpectedly.
Shwaaa—
Standing under the shower like meditating under a waterfall, I sorted my thoughts. Felt a bit refreshed. After washing, to avoid more nonsense, I changed, grabbed my swimsuit, and headed out.
————
“Taeyang, good morning~”
“Yeah, morning.”
I exchanged quick greetings with my hyung and noonas, then stepped outside. The pension offered breakfast, so we set out a simple spread and chatted lightly.
“Come to think of it, we've been here before.”
“Oh yeah, Seong Juyeon, you ran and tripped just like you bragged you could make it.”
“Oh? Did I?”
“You don't remember?”
“Hmm... well, that explains why you suck at studying, Seonwoo.”
“What?!”
I spooned soup into my mouth while listening to Juyeon noona and Seonwoo's usual morning bickering, as lively as ever. They'd come here multiple times as kids, they said. They were flipping through a photo album, reminiscing, and the others crowded around out of curiosity, sharing reactions.
Hayan noona pointed at one photo.
“Seonwoo was so cute back then.”
“R-really?”
“Why blush? Means you're not now.”
“Sh-shut up, Seong Juyeon.”
“True, he was pretty cute then. Listened to me well and everything.”
“You were okay back then too, Juyeon. Not cute at all now, though.”
“What?! I get hit on by guys all the time!”
“Oh yeah? Then why no boyfriend yet?”
“Th-that's!!!”
Juyeon noona's face turned beet red. As the mood heated up, Hayan noona quickly intervened.
“Why are you two fighting? On such a nice day.”
“Just let 'em. They grow up bickering, right?”
Iri noona casually told Hayan noona to leave them be. Fair enough—the conclusion was always that they'd both been cute as kids. Impressive how they turned compliments into fights.
“Taeyang, more bread?”
“Nah, I'm good.”
“Okay. Soup then?”
“Soup's fine too. I'm full.”
“Tomato juice?”
Gahee noona was doting on me from morning, acting like she didn't care. Made it even more awkward... Yesterday's full day of building favor had made her way too comfortable.
“I'm stuffed. And I can handle it myself, so don't hover.”
“Ahaha... got it.”
“Can't wait for the beach!”
Lee Yuyeong, sitting across from me, chimed in.
“I brought a super cute swimsuit.”
“Cool.”
“So pretty, guys'll swarm me, right?”
“Sounds good.”
“You excited too, Taeyang?”
“Nope.”
“I'll blow your mind, so get excited!”
“Sure.”
I gave dry responses and chugged my water.
“Taeyang, rub oil on me later?”
“What?”
“Wanna try tanning this time!”
“Ask the noonas.”
“Thought you'd be best with your tan skin.”
“Born with it.”
Did she think I was still that blonde delinquent? Just strong genes from Dad.
“T-Taeyang!”
“Yeah?”
I turned at Gahee noona's urgent call. I could guess what was coming—bitter.
“Um, later... wanna put sunscreen on me?”
I knew she was copying Yuyeong. But I didn't expect her eyes to be clouded already, a hint of Yandere Stage 1.
I shook my head. Gahee noona leaned closer, grabbing my hand firmly.
“I-I'll pay you! Just do it!”
“No, paying makes it weird.”
“Think of it as a massage! Please?”
This felt off. One wrong move, and who knew what she'd make me do with money. I pulled my hand free.
“You two do each other.”
“Huh?”
“Ahaha, s-sure, unnie?”
“Eung~”
I looked away from disappointed Gahee noona and consoling Yuyeong, locking eyes with Iri noona watching us.
“Ankle okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
Iri noona said that and looked away. Short, but awkward.
“Who's this in the middle?”
Hayan noona cut back into their bickering, pointing at a photo.
“Oh, it's been ages. He was around too. Wonder how he's doing.”
“The boy we played with whenever we came down.”
Seonwoo chimed in, and Juyeon noona explained. A boy they'd met often during vacations or holidays here, got along great with Juyeon noona and even visiting Seonwoo.
“Haven't seen him since high school. Maybe once in middle school first year?”
Juyeon noona said contact had fizzled; no idea what he was up to now. And that boy was key to this flag. Like how Eunju showed up during Seonwoo and Juyeon noona's date, he was Seonwoo's rival appearing before her here.
Time to recap Juyeon noona's flag from the game.
It started with Seonwoo forgetting a precious, heartfelt memory for her. Way back, innocently, he'd said they'd marry, buried a time capsule to open on their wedding. Of course, not worth blowing up over forgetting. But his attitude had already hurt her feelings badly. He ogled other heroines like a perv but brushed her off mindlessly, making her tick. She felt unseen as a woman, like promises meant nothing to him. Upset, she said she felt off and needed to be alone.
Heading off alone, she bumps into that boy. He confesses—he'd liked her but ran because of her and Seonwoo's bond. She rejects him, of course. But depending on if Seonwoo comes after her right away or late, affection changes. Late means she's more shaken emotionally. No idea what if he skips it entirely—game doesn't have that. If Seonwoo's not interested at all, he might not bother, too busy with Hayan noona. Especially after his mess on the last date.
“All done eating? Let's head out?”
At Hayan noona's words, everyone prepped to leave.
“Yes! Beach time!”
“Water fun after so long~”
“Hope it's not too crowded.”
Everyone was pumped, but Iri noona stayed quiet. She looked drained this morning too. My fault?
“Iri, swimsuit on under?”
“Eek... Hayan... don't look.”
“Why? It suits you great.”
“Juyeon too...”
Nah, just embarrassed. The noonas had swimsuits on under their clothes already. Knowing they'd show soon made them shy. She'd brought a bikini, I heard yesterday? Fair, since she never wore revealing stuff.
“I-I'll change there!”
“No way, Iri. You paid for it—wear it.”
“It's embarrassing...”
I averted my eyes from tomato-faced Iri noona on the way, lest she bolt if we locked gazes.