Chapter 31: Water Play
"Hello."
"Yeah. How've you been?"
"Yeah. Just... I brought some things along."
"Really, just the two of you?"
"Yeah."
On the day of the trip, the older sister helped carry the luggage behind Ye-rim and came out with us, her expression full of worry.
"Mom said she's going on a trip with Dad."
"Yeah..."
"Oh, you're going on a trip with your brother-in-law again?"
"Yeah. It worked out that way."
"I see."
I had started contacting the older sister again after Valentine's Day, but it was only to check in occasionally.
I never asked why Ye-rim and I had fought or how we had reconciled. I still didn't know because Ye-rim hadn't told me.
Still, I didn't ask. It felt as if I would find out soon enough.
"Then... be careful."
"Yeah. I'll go and come back."
"You too, noona."
"Yeah..."
The older sister looked at me with eyes full of concern for me.
Probably because of what Ye-rim had said last time about me running over or something.
But I didn't need to worry about that. I had Ye-na, and no matter what Ye-rim did, I could endure it.
This time, I really could endure it. No, I had to endure it.
Only then could I boldly propose to Ye-na.
"Chul-ah."
The older sister grabbed my wrist as I was about to get in the car.
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen."
"No, it's not that..."
"Huh? Why?"
"Take care of Ye-rim."
"...Why, did you fight?"
"Did Ye-rim tell you...?"
"I don't know the details——"
"Oh uncle, when will you come!"
"I'll go!"
I grabbed the hand of the older sister who was holding me and said.
"Ye-rim is already taking care of me, so don't worry."
"Yeah... take care."
With an inexplicable sense of unease, we headed to Gapyeong.
♠
"How long until we reach Gapyeong?"
"I don't know. It probably won't take less than 2 hours."
"Two hours...?"
"If we delay, it'll take more than 3 hours."
"That's a long way..."
Gapyeong, a typical tourist spot. A city of two sides—good and bad.
By car it took 2 hours, by subway also 2 hours, and then we still needed a car to get to the pension.
But among day trips and short 1-2 day getaways, there was no other place like Gapyeong.
No need to visit many attractions, and there were plenty of pensions good for barbecues. Most of all, a 1-night 2-day trip wasn't short at all.
Even if it was expensive, the satisfaction was high, like buying the brand's electronics.
"I want to try driving too."
"Get a license. You're old enough now."
"Really? What license does uncle have?"
"Of course, 1st class."
"Oh~"
Actually, when I first got it, it was 2nd class, but over time, after one test, it upgraded to 1st.
So even without a car, I tried to follow as soon as possible, because when I reached the age to buy one, it was almost always upgraded to 1st.
These days, I didn't know, but...
"But uncle's car is automatic, right?"
"These days, manuals don't come out much."
"I see."
The pride of the license class was in the back, and adapting to automatic made it too convenient.
Just pressing buttons, and the gear shifted automatically.
"What class will I get?"
"2nd class is fine, right? Even with 2nd, you can drive most cars."
"Aha~"
As we chatted about various things, time passed, and we arrived at a rest stop.
"I'll go to the bathroom first."
"Yeah. Let's go together."
"Together...?"
"No... you're a girl, I'm a man... separate bathrooms..."
"You surprised me."
"I was more surprised..."
Was I saying something unbelievable on purpose?
If I were the same age as Ye-rim, I would have let it go.
"Did your mom buy the hat?"
"Now you're asking that?"
"Sorry... now I see."
"Your mom bought it for you."
Looking at it now, Ye-rim's clothes were quite fresh.
A black striped camisole, a light emerald cardigan.
Pants that were ripped hot pants, making her thighs look whiter in the sunlight.
And the bright blue hat bought by the older sister.
Even though it was still April, the fashion looked like summer had arrived.
The weather was summer-like, but...
"Have you decided what to eat for lunch?"
"I'll have cold noodles."
"Okay."
We entered the restaurant, found a suitable seat, and ordered cold noodles.
Even though it was off-season, since it was a weekend, there were many people.
"These people aren't all going to Gapyeong, right?"
"This is the Yangyang Expressway... probably a lot of people heading to Gangwon-do. ...Gapyeong might be more."
"Ugh... please don't overlap..."
"Those people are probably thinking the same."
After eating the cold noodles, to aid digestion, we went to a cafe.
"I'll buy the coffee."
"Really? You don't have to."
"You always get fed for free. Sometimes I should buy you."
"Thanks."
With the refreshing wind from the highway, we set off again.
The coffee I had gotten for free tasted even better.
"Uncle. Here."
"Huh? What is this?"
Ye-rim poked my thigh with something hot.
"Half the pension fee. You made the reservation, uncle."
"Oh, come on~ What are you giving. Ye-rim, buy yourself something delicious. I got the coffee for free earlier."
"It's instead of MT fees."
"Enough. Put it away. If something comes up later and I don't have it..."
"Then borrow from Mom."
"You're something else."
"Huh?!"
While concentrating on driving and looking ahead, the soft thing on the back of my hand felt like it was pushing.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. It's my fault for talking while driving."
"...Thanks to you, I woke up."
"...Sorry."
Surprise.
Ye-rim put her hand on my chest.
No matter how accidental, it was really close to a big problem.
"We're here."
"Yeah~"
Because I had woken up earlier, today's Ye-rim hadn't slept.
Instead, she helped carry the luggage while humming.
"You're carrying it? Thanks."
"Since I'm coming along anyway."
The things we brought were an ice box, meat, and side dishes wrapped in lettuce.
With only two of us, the quantity was relatively small, but we had brought it without regret.
"It's already 3 o'clock..."
"Yeah."
After organizing the luggage and chatting with the pension owner, it was 3 o'clock.
There was still some time until evening.
"Uncle. There's a valley nearby. Let's go together."
"Sure?"
My outfit had become quite casual, looking like a fun dad to anyone.
Hawaiian jacket, straw hat, and wide shorts.
Since I had come to play, I dressed like this to feel like it.
Saying weird things to pretend to be young... probably not.
"Wow. There are really few people."
"Good."
Unlike off-season, proving it wasn't off-season, there were few people at the valley.
Seeing some children playing, the water seemed shallow enough.
"Ah, car."
Ye-rim, who had entered first, gestured to me.
"Uncle will come in too, right?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. If only I come in, it's no fun."
"I have clothes... but..."
"Then come in."
In the end, after warming up following Ye-rim, I dipped my feet.
The cold water that touched for the first time reached my knees.
"Ugh... it's cold."
"It's refreshing, right?"
"Is it good...?"
I went in a bit more, the water reaching my thighs.
Since we were both wearing shorts, our clothes didn't get wet.
"Um..."
"......"
"Ah... this is boring."
Normally, adults played with kids or watched them play.
Big adults, with a big age difference, splashing water while playing was a bit weird.
Not for fishing, and since we had come into the water but couldn't really do anything, we just stood there.
Of course, standing there wasn't fun. I wasn't having fun either.
"Uncle, do something."
"What should I play with...?"
"What about this? The one who loses rock-paper-scissors gradually dips their body in the water."
"Yeah... let's do that."
"Rock paper... scissors!"
"Ah."
First round, a light loss instead of a win.
I went deeper, the water up to my thighs.
"Rock paper scissors! Ah, I won again!"
"......"
This time, the water reached my waist, and my pants were completely wet.
"One more time."
"Okay."
"If you don't dip, you lose, rock paper scissors!"
"......"
"Uncle really can't play rock paper scissors."
"Strange... I wasn't that bad..."
"I have to submerge uncle completely."
"Don't say scary things..."
I didn't think I'd lose three times in a row.
On the surface, it was like beating the 1/27 probability, so I should be happy.
No, I was losing. What was there to be happy about?
"Ugh..."
The water reached my stomach.
No matter how much I had warmed up, the cold feeling came up.
"If you don't dip, you lose, rock paper..."
"Scissors."
"Sigh..."
As soon as I declared defeat, Ye-rim who had lost.
After all, it only reached my thighs.
"It would be enough if I do it two more times..."
"How much more are you trying to submerge me..."
"Rock paper scissors."
"Scissors."
"......"
Ye-rim, who had set the death flag—or rather, defeat flag—had come to the same position as me.
Not only that, the white clothes stuck tightly, and the skin color began to show under the water.
"Crap..."
"Shall we stop?"
"No. I have to go all the way. Keep going."
"Yeah..."
Well... after all, it was a valley, so dangerous things wouldn't happen.
Sleep was a gem, I didn't want to lose... but losing wasn't easy either.
If I won... Ye-rim's clothes inside would...
"Rock paper... scissors!"
"......"
"Ugh... it's cold."
Surprisingly, Ye-rim who obediently accepted defeat submerged everything under her head.
Fortunately, the water was rippling, so the inside of the clothes wasn't visible.
"Are you going to do more?"
"Yeah. I'll keep going until uncle wins."
"Yeah..."
"Rock paper..."
"Scissors."
This time, it was a tie.
Without giving a chance, I immediately shouted the cry.
"Scissors."
"Sigh..."
Again, a tie.
What was this, I got tense for no reason and my hands were shaking.
"Rock paper scissors! Ah!"
"......"
In the end, I lost, and I also submerged my whole body under my head.
We became a state where only our heads were bobbing in the water.
"......"
"......"
"Close..."
"Yeah."
Surprisingly close to the face, I was pushed back by the body.
Still, since only the face was bobbing, it felt close.
"Uncle."
"Yeah──"
"Puwip!"
To Ye-rim approaching, I reflexively splashed water.
"Puek. Puk. Kek! Tut! What is this!"
"...Sorry. Because you suddenly approached..."
"...It's fine."
Ye-rim, looking disappointed, stood up.
Drops of water falling, the wet clothes clinging to the body, showing the bare skin and bra.
"Annoying!"
"Puwip!"
Then, instead of cursing, she poured a huge water blessing on me.