Even Teaching My Junior to Swim Doesn't Make Me Less of an Outsider
To teach someone how to swim, you need the right spot.
A place with hardly any people, water that's not too deep, and no need to worry about prying eyes.
I wondered if such a place even existed.
But after wandering around hand-in-hand with Kim Hayun, I found the perfect one.
A small kiddie pool right next to where the sunbeds were clustered.
It was obviously made for beginners or little kids.
But like kids always do, they prefer the fun rides, so it was practically empty.
Before stepping in, I wetted my body and did some light stretches, then eased in slowly.
The shallow depth—water only up to my navel—was ideal for swim lessons.
"Alright, come on in."
I held out my hand to Kim Hayun standing on the pool steps.
She swept her hair behind her ear, cleared her throat with a little hem-hem, and took my hand, descending slowly.
"Now wet your body down."
Following my instructions, she splashed water over her upper body.
Her thin water-play cover soaked through, revealing the pale skin beneath.
Whoa. Her skin's insanely white...
I'd thought Mo Yuna was pale, but up this close, Kim Hayun was even whiter.
An old-fashioned term, but this had to be what they meant by "milky skin."
Lost in admiration without realizing it, I snapped back when she'd finished wetting down and shyly stood in front of me.
She looked up at my face steadily.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
Oh right. Not the time to be spacing out.
Hearing her call snapped me back; I washed my face with pool water to clear my head.
Of course, that soaked my bangs.
...Annoying.
Might as well go all in—I dove under, then surfaced and slicked my wet bangs back.
Kim Hayun, watching, burst out with a pfft.
"What? Weird?"
"Hm... no. It suits you."
"For real? You're not laughing 'cause it's weird?"
"Yeah. For real. First time seeing your bangs up like that. It's surprisingly cool, that's why I laughed."
Laughing because it's cool, huh.
Didn't quite buy it, but if she says so, what can I do? Let it slide.
"Can you float?"
"I can float. Just floating."
"Ah, so you can float but not move forward?"
She nodded.
Looks like she really only knew the basics.
"Then let's start with kicking. Gimme your hands."
"Here?"
"No, both hands."
I took both her hands.
Lessons hadn't even started, but she already looked a bit tense.
I backed up a few steps and said,
"Relax, don't tense up. Loosen your body first."
"...L-like this?"
Her lower body bobbed up effortlessly.
From her smooth, water-slicked back to her pedicured toes, it stretched out straight.
I let go of her right hand, holding only the left, and moved to her side.
"Ah, oppa! Don't let go...!"
"Whoa, whoa. Not letting go. Just checking your form from the side, no worries."
"R-really? I'm trusting only you, oppa...?!"
"Yeah. Trust me. Wanna try kicking?"
"...Hng!"
"No need to kick hard, just smooth... yeah, like that. Perfect speed...."
Her legs moved up and down, splashing water.
Tch. Normally...
To teach quick progress, I'd let go around now.
"Oppa! Don't you dare let go. Got it?! If I drown, it's your fault...!"
She kicked furiously while cutely threatening me—I couldn't let go.
Plenty of time anyway. For now, hold on till she got used to the water.
"Hayun. Wanna try going to the far wall?"
"...Hup! It's already tiring?!"
"That's 'cause you keep talking."
"...Ungh."
She shut her mouth quick—hit a nerve, huh.
"Don't close your mouth. You'll have to breathe through it later."
"...Ah, got it!"
Grumbling but following orders—kinda cute.
I chuckled inwardly, gently pulling her toward the opposite wall.
The pool was small, but a good distance for a beginner.
Figured she'd need a break midway, but surprisingly, mouth-shut Kim Hayun made it in one go.
"Whoa, good job! You've got talent for this, Hayun."
Blatant lie maybe, but my nose itched; I rubbed it and steadied her.
Like she'd been waiting, she leaned on my shoulder, handing over her weight with a tired sigh.
"Haa... so tiring...."
"You don't exercise much, do you."
"...Haa. Oppa. Look at my body."
Where exactly?
Plastered this close, all I could see was her face and chest.
"Does this look like a body that exercises...?!"
"......"
True.
Skin super pale, hobby's gaming at PC bangs. Obviously avoided exercise.
Soft and squishy-looking, I stared at Kim Hayun's body and blurted,
"Try the gym sometime."
"Gym...?"
"Yeah. Beginners build stamina fast with a few months of cardio."
"......"
She pondered.
Not long—about three seconds.
"If you say you'll teach me, I'll think about it."
"Not even committing, just thinking?"
"If I say yes and you actually teach me, I'm screwed."
So no was the baseline.
Hated exercise from the way she talked. I laughed and flicked her forehead.
"If you ever feel like it, tell me. I'll teach you the basics."
"......I'll think about it. Think."
"Okay."
Anyway, rested enough.
I gently pushed her away.
"Next drill?"
"Wha, isn't practice over...?"
"Over? We're just starting—what're you saying?"
Her face changed instantly.
Looked like she sensed she'd messed up.
"...Oppa. Truth is, I'm kinda weak. Gotta stop swim lessons here."
"Hayun."
I softly gripped her shoulders.
"Don't worry. Swimming's the best for building basic stamina."
"......"
Her face went ghost-white.
* * *
"......Hngh."
Two round trips done, and Kim Hayun collapsed flat.
Really exhausted people can't talk much.
She just lay there panting—no stamina left at all.
I peeled her stuck bangs away and smiled.
"You really need to work out."
"......Don't know. ...Don't make me talk."
Touch her and she fusses.
Squinting up at me all resentful-like—too cute, so I poked her cheek with my finger on purpose.
She puffed up like a pufferfish, shoving my finger away.
"Ooh, quick reflexes."
"......I'll remember this, oppa."
"Huh? Remember what?"
"......Today. Tormenting me. ...I'll get revenge. Later."
Revenge later, huh.
Then I should torment her more now?
I grinned meaningfully and approached the lying Kim Hayun.
She startled, looking up.
"W-wait, oppa...?"
Sensing something off, she gulped.
I reached toward her...
"Hah!"
And started tickling her side.
She thrashed wildly, unable to hold back laughter.
"...Ahng! ...Hngh, ah, oppa! Why, ha ha, hngh...!"
"Gonna get revenge, or not?"
"...N-no, hng, ...won't! So, ha ng, stooop...!"
"For real? Promise?"
She nodded desperately, making oddly sultry noises.
Satisfied, I stopped and looked down.
Her face was flushed red meeting my eyes. No stamina to begin with, now exhausted from my teasing.
"Rest up. Gonna check on the others quick."
"...Hmph."
Snorted instead of answering.
To a stranger it'd be rude, but since I tormented her, it just seemed like cute aegyo. Made me smile.
Let's see. Mo Yuna's...
She'd gone to the waterslide earlier.
Time passed, but maybe still there—I headed toward the rides.
There was Mo Yuna sliding down the biggest waterslide.
-Kyaaaaah!-
-...Whew. Ha! Ah, so fun!
-One more time...!
"......"
She looked thrilled.
She'll come find us when she's done?
Probably. But just in case, I approached and told her where Kim Hayun and I were.
"Okay! I'll head to you and sunbae!"
"Cool. See you later."
"Ah, but sunbae!"
"Yeah?"
"...Your bangs up like that? So cool. Really suits you!"
That ended my chat with Mo Yuna.
She'd join us after playing; next, to the indoor pool where Chae Songha was.
Not the beginner lane—middle lane for pros.
There she was, slicing through the water gracefully.
Whoa, she's...
Did she excel at every sport?
Bikini-swimming was novel enough, but her form was stable, speed impressive.
I was confident in swimming, but one-on-one race? I'd lose.
-...Hoo.
While I gawked, she finished the 50m lap.
Out for a break, a guy who'd been waiting nearby approached her.
-Um, excuse me. I've been watching, and your swimming is so cool...
-......
Chae Songha eyed him with obvious annoyance.
Felt oddly familiar.
Where'd I see this? Pondering that,
Our eyes met suddenly.
-...!
Like spotting a savior amid trouble.
Before I could act, she waved first.
"Ah."
I waved back quick.
Naturally walked over, stood beside her.
"Sorry, kept you waiting?"
"No. Not really."
"Yeah. Who's this?"
"Ah, sorry..."
Decent awareness—he flinched, bowed awkwardly, and backed off.
I waited till the nameless guy was far, shrugged, and looked at Chae Songha.
"Didn't interrupt, did I?"
"No way."
She smiled, looking subtly pleased.
"Taking a break? Sit for a bit?"
"Sure."
Short exchange done, we moved spots.
Not far—grabbed drinks each, sat side-by-side on plastic sunbeds.
Chae Songha slicked back her wet bangs coolly.
"Hoo."
"......"
What a photoshoot. Total photoshoot.
Wasn't this the textbook image of a hot girl?
Frankly stunning; I stared openly.
She stared back steadily, then spoke.
"Sunwoo sunbae. Bangs up?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Annoying while teaching Hayun. Weird?"
"Not weird. To me, anyway."
She sipped her drink through the straw.
"You with bangs down and glasses? That's best."
"......"
Kim Hayun and Mo Yuna said bangs-up contacts looked cool.
...Whatever.
Tastes differ.
A bit sheepish, I pulled my bangs down, sipped my drink.
Chae Songha, staring fixedly, added,
"Just need glasses now."
"Left 'em in the locker room."
"Too bad."
Tastes set in stone.
Her glasses fixation made me laugh unwittingly.
-Woof!
Sudden dog bark from somewhere.
What the—? I scanned around.
"...Huh."
A cute startled gasp followed.
-Woof, woof woof!
"......Hyat!"
Thud crash!
Chae Songha flung her drink cup and clung to me tight.