Trip (13)
The weather was perfect, too. Our group, buzzing with sky-high energy, chattered excitedly as we headed to the beach. Seonwoo was sneaking glances, trying to join in now and then. Whatever. I just quietly walked alongside them. I'd step in if he tried any of his shady moves. Anyway, until we got to the beach, it looked like I'd just be listening to the nonstop girl talk from the noonas.
We turned onto a narrow sidewalk by the roadside for a bit. With so many of us walking in a line, the formation naturally shuffled. And for once, Juyeon noona was right next to me, walking side by side.
Wasn't she glued to Seonwoo the whole trip? I thought, glancing ahead. There was Seonwoo, suddenly chatty next to Gahee noona.
"It'll be fine..." Juyeon noona muttered worriedly. Her eyes were on Seonwoo; it was like she was talking to herself.
"Juyeon noona's super pretty too, so have some confidence."
"Huh?... Yeah, thanks." My words seemed to ease her a bit. She let out a breath and murmured softly, "It'd be nice if Seonwoo said something like that."
Honestly, I wasn't sure if I should even be saying this. Seonwoo does compliment Juyeon noona. In the game, he definitely says they suit each other well. But... the problem is his reactions to the others before that are way too over-the-top. He'd give her a quick "Looks good on you, Juyeon," but then he'd lose his mind over Hayan noona's or Gahee noona's swimsuits—or even Yuli's—staring blankly, blushing when they got close.
So... doesn't that make his compliments feel insincere? Knowing what happens later, I'm just trying to cheer her up until then.
Thankfully, Juyeon noona perked up. Even though she'd been grumbling worriedly, she must actually be having a blast right now.
"You look pretty happy for someone so worried."
"Do I? This place is full of memories from when I used to come here a lot with Seonwoo as kids. Makes me wanna revisit everywhere."
Juyeon noona gave me a rare shy smile. She was probably remembering when little Seonwoo proposed marriage back then.
"Ooh~ Tell me more!"
"That sounds fun. Juyeon and Seonwoo's childhood stories."
"We didn't hear the whole thing earlier, so spill the rest."
"Huh? Oh, uh..."
Before I knew it, the group ahead had overheard and turned their attention to us. Juyeon noona's face flushed beet red as she ducked her head. No way she'd share that memory here. Of course, Seonwoo—clueless about what she was thinking—picked up the story instead.
"Well, a bunch of stuff happened. We caught bugs in that forest over there."
"Oh yeah, that time. It was summer homework, but Seonwoo was too scared, so I caught them for him."
We listened to their childhood tales until we finally reached the beach.
The beach was pretty crowded. Makes sense—it's a famous resort spot, and we booked the lodging late. Still, we managed to snag a spot and headed to the changing rooms.
After slipping into swimsuits, reapplying sunscreen, and doing some light stretches, we headed back out. The girls weren't there yet.
"They've got a lot to prep, I guess."
Back at our spot, waiting, the girls finally showed up.
"Seonwoo, Taeyang, wait long?"
"Noona, why so la—"
I turned at Hayan noona's call, grumbling a bit, but she wasn't there. Instead, Iri noona stood in front. Hayan noona was hiding behind her. And I was speechless.
"........."
"...What? What're you staring at!!"
"No... Iri noona."
Seonwoo next to me had the same reaction. No wonder Min Iri's character stayed consistently popular. In the game, she wore a standard school swimsuit, but... anyway, the black bikini suited her perfectly.
"...It, uh, looks good on you."
I had no idea where to look. I'd accidentally glimpsed her in the shower once during some unintended mishap, but never this openly. Her tanned skin and toned body. The straight abs from training, firm thighs, perfectly balanced curves that dipped and swelled where they should—my eyes kept drifting there without thinking. And her cute, embarrassed face created such a sexy gap that my heart raced unwittingly.
"...Th-thanks! Even if you're just saying it."
"No, really. You're gorgeous."
That came from Seonwoo next to me, not me.
"Iri, it suits you great. Looks perfect."
"Huh? Oh, thanks."
Seonwoo chiming in suddenly flustered her too. Understandable—guys and girls around were sneaking glances alike.
"........."
"S-stop staring!"
"Then don't wear it! And why just me?"
Iri noona snapped at me out of nowhere. She must feel the stares too and be embarrassed—I get it, but still. I turned away to cool my burning face.
"Hmm... even if noona comes out from behind, the reaction might be meh?"
Hayan noona pouted playfully and cutely from behind Iri noona before stepping out. True to her name, she wore a white bikini and stood in front of me with a smile. "How do I look, noona-wise?"
First time seeing a sister ask her little bro for a swimsuit review, but I answered nicely anyway.
"Yeah, noona looks pretty too."
"For real?"
Honestly, even as her brother, a beauty like Hayan noona looks good in anything. Gaining confidence, she straightened up and stepped closer, beaming. That just emphasized her chest even more than Iri noona's.
I glanced at Seonwoo. Pretending not to, but totally fixated on her chest. I casually stepped in front of him, blocking his view of Hayan noona.
"Noona, aren't you worried some weirdo guys might hit on you like this?"
"What?"
"If you end up entertaining creepy dudes, it'd hurt my feelings."
"Aww~ You were worried about noona, huh."
Yeah, always am. Oblivious to my real thoughts, Hayan noona laughed it off as fine and draped her arm over my shoulder. The soft sensation hit, but since we're blood siblings, it felt nothing special. So stop giving me those jealous looks, people around.
"It's hot, so get off first. Anyway, what about the other noonas?"
Poof—
Backing away from Hayan noona, I bumped into something. My head hit something pillow-soft, like a neck cushion. Startled, I turned. Gahee noona was smiling quietly at me.
"Taeyang suits his swimsuit well."
"...Ah, sorry!"
I hurriedly pulled away from Gahee noona. She tilted her head slightly. Did she not realize my head had been against her chest? Or...
"It'd be nice if you acted spoiled a bit more..."
Her eyes, faintly ashen, seemed almost regretful. Anyway, the high exposure plus body contact left my face burning for no reason.
"What're you talking about!"
"Hehe, you're embarrassed, huh. Oh, Taeyang. How do I look?"
Gahee noona's cool sky-blue bikini had the bottoms wrapped in fabric. Come to think of it, in the Love Chain game, Seonwoo rambled pervert-style about how this style felt like peeking under a skirt. I'd inwardly admired the devs' boldness back then for including such shamelessly pervy descriptions.
Glancing at Seonwoo, yep—he was totally thinking that right now. Unlike with Hayan noona, his gaze was drifting downward on Gahee noona. I stepped in to block his view of her body. Juyeon noona was watching this whole scene.
"...Well, looks pretty."
I gave a short impression. Couldn't lie and say it didn't suit her. Gahee noona's figure and looks rivaled Iri or Hayan noona's. Her porcelain-white skin like a Westerner's, blue eyes, blonde hair—mixed-race elements blending with her curvaceous beauty, exuding exotic maturity while still hiding a youthful innocence that drew men's eyes inevitably.
But no matter how insanely gorgeous Gahee noona looked in her swimsuit, no worshiping like a lunatic. Building favor by accident would be...
"Taeyang? Why avoid my eyes?"
Building favor might be fine? I snapped back and shook my head.
"Sun's intense."
"Oh? Did you apply sunscreen properly?"
This pattern again.
"Yeah."
"Good. What about your back?"
"Yeah, Seonwoo hyung and I took turns."
Right? I looked at Seonwoo, who was spacing out staring at the heroines for agreement.
"Ah, yeah!"
"See? I couldn't reach mine..."
"Then ask Hayan noona or Iri noona."
Oh, and Yuyeong was right there too now. No idea when she showed up.
"Hehe. Taeyang, how do I look?"
Thrilled I'd glanced her way mid-convo, Yuyeong sidled closer and slowly spun once. Anyway.
"Even if we go in the water, reapply sunscreen. Ask the noonas to help."
"Okay, got it."
Gahee noona looked a tad disappointed but soon beamed, thankful I was worried about her. She'd take anything I say positively.
"Hey, Taeyang? My review?"
"Huh? Oh, the blue-striped dress suits you great."
"Right?"
"Yeah, guys might start chasing you for your number."
I gave a vague answer to Yuyeong's persistent prodding. Yuyeong's cute too, sure. Black bob, cat-faced beauty—super popular at school. Even now, guys nearby were whispering, "She's cute, should I talk to her?"
But weirdly, I feel nothing standing in front of her. Maybe 'cause her hardcore otaku image is so ingrained.
"Hehe, got complimented."
Whether oblivious or ignoring it, Yuyeong just looked happy.
"Yuyeong's really pretty too? Good swimsuit pick."
"For real?"
"Yeah, suits you."
Suddenly Seonwoo started praising her from the side.
"Oppa looks cool in his swimsuit too!"
"Thanks."
Seonwoo gazed at Yuyeong brightly. That look in his eyes... no way he's into her, right? The random suspicion hit me.
Smack—
"Hey, why ignore me."
Juyeon noona appeared, smacking Seonwoo's back. She'd been there the whole time; we'd just been focused elsewhere.
"What, Seong Juyeon."
"Jeez, perving on all the girls' swimsuits."
"Wh-when did I?!"
Seonwoo denied it, face red from the bullseye.
"Oh? You can stare at mine all you want, then."
"Huh?"
Juyeon noona sounded bold, but her face was steadily turning pink.
"Tell me how it looks!"
"Hmm..."
Seonwoo thought a sec and said, "Cute. Suits your style perfectly, Juyeon-like."
"Really?"
Seeing her so thrilled, Seonwoo smirked and added, "Yeah, you could model."
"Oh yeah? Fine~ I'll let Seonwoo stare as much as he wants, special privilege."
"Wow, thrilled."
Seonwoo even clapped dramatically. Perfect childhood friend chemistry. Juyeon noona, in her cute pink bikini loaded with frills, nodded satisfied. Aware her petite frame lost out to the other noonas, the extra frills worked—and as expected, Seonwoo's reaction was great.
"But how long we standing like this~?"
"Wanna hit the water?"
"No, I meant... let's sit and chill."
Iri noona grumbled but went passive at the ocean invite.
"Iri, you wanted to go in."
"But... what if."
"Huh?"
"What if the bikini strings come loose in the water!"
"Hmm..."
Short silence, then the noonas decided.
"Don't drag me! Fine! I'll go in!"
"Gahee noona, why pull me too?"
"Taeyang, let's have fun~"
"Me too, with Taeyang."
Dragged into the water, I turned my head. And saw it. Seonwoo staring blankly at us—specifically Hayan noona and the others. And Juyeon noona glaring at him poutily.
Seong Juyeon's episode was just getting started.