Splashes of Love and First Kiss
Time flew by at the boys' and girls' pool in Punk City. It was just splashing each other with balls, playing in the water, and sipping drinks over and over—but Amon had no idea it could be this much fun.
Splash!
"You little—?!"
Sonia had shoved Amon into the pool, but he leaped back to the surface in a single bound. Then he scooped her up and plunged back in with her. Boom! A massive spray erupted as they hit the water. Sonia tackled Amon from behind as he surfaced, dragging him under again. The two bobbed up laughing brightly.
They'd been too shy to even look at each other when they first arrived at the pool. But after a few rounds of splashing, even skin-to-skin contact felt natural. Like always with friends, they played mischievous pranks on each other.
"Heh heh. Here, have some of this while you're at it."
As the two lost themselves in the fun, the Squinty Priest approached with drinks. Thirsty as they were, they accepted without hesitation. Cooling their throats with the refreshing lemonade, Sonia turned to the priest.
"This is embarrassing. We're the only ones having all the fun."
"It's fine. When would I ever come to a place like this? I'm just tagging along as your guardian on the orphanage funding excuse."
Sonia could only give a wry smile at the priest's words. When she'd heard he was coming on the trip with Amon, she'd pegged him as a nuisance. Someone who'd steal their alone time and recite doctrine if she got too cozy with Amon. But that wasn't the case at all.
The priest was super open-minded. He didn't interfere no matter what she and Amon did. He just watched from afar as their protector, enjoying the scenery. A true sugar daddy—footing the bill without meddling otherwise. He even brought them drinks now and then or pointed out services and perks. If anything, he was more tour guide than guardian.
Sonia felt terribly guilty for ever thinking of him as a buzzkill.
Unlike Sonia, Amon paid the priest no mind. His attention was fixed on his girlfriend slurping her drink. Just minutes ago, he'd been reeling from the shock. But now, with some breathing room, he reflected on his feelings.
If it wasn't a mistake, the emotion he'd felt seeing Sonia in her swimsuit for the first time wasn't lust—it was excitement. A genuine warmth welled up the moment he saw her. In this rotten world, where no one could be trusted, he truly wanted to be with her.
Right after, his body accelerated his blood flow, stirring his lower half, while his heart pounded painfully. Amon couldn't help but feel confused. Did he... really love Sonia?
Love was a truly difficult emotion. No clear cause, no set pattern, no explainable principle. Amon was no exception.
His heart had started racing for his everyday girl friend because of her non-everyday side. It might seem like love at first glance, but Amon didn't buy it that easily. He had to be cautious.
Love in a peaceful world meant something entirely different from love in a world where death could come anytime. In this world, "love" carried far heavier weight. In a place where you couldn't trust anyone, you had to trust your partner. You had to hand over your weaknesses. And that created one more vulnerability.
More painful than revealing your weaknesses was the fact that your partner themselves became your weakness. This garbage world didn't care about means or methods.
So Amon hesitated to acknowledge love. Could he love Sonia? Could he bear carrying her as a weakness?
His dilemma didn't last long. On his way back from the bathroom, he saw Geum Taeyang harassing Sonia—and a firestorm ignited in his chest.
Ah, it's already too late.
His heart had no intention of letting Sonia go. If this wasn't love, what was it?
Amon's steps held no hesitation. Just as Sonia had approached him before, he went to her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he said,
"Hey, babe. Miss me?"
He had no plans to let her go.
"Hah?!"
Caught off-guard as Amon grabbed her waist, Sonia nearly let out a moan. Her natural quick wits let her swallow it, but she couldn't hide the hiccup that escaped.
Through the thinner-than-usual latex swimsuit, she felt his fingers at her waist. It was the first time she'd felt his fingers there. And as he pulled her close, his body heat transferred directly to her.
He hugged her tight—almost painfully so. Sonia didn't resist, leaning into his shoulder to savor his firm muscles. She shot a contemptuous glare at Geum Taeyang, who'd been hitting on her moments ago. She's taken. Scram.
But unlike the women who'd approached Amon earlier, Geum Taeyang's attitude was different. He seemed confident in something, keeping his cocky swagger as he kept flirting.
"Why play hard to get? Oh, right. Your friend here's pretty cute too—perfect for livening things up. Wanna all play together?"
Geum Taeyang gestured to the women he'd brought, then made a circle with thumb and forefinger on one hand, poking it with a finger from the other.
Amon's disgust doubled. Revolting—but he couldn't resort to violence. With a voice dripping obvious displeasure, he politely refused.
"Sorry. Not interested."
But Geum Taeyang was persistent. He let out a hollow laugh at Amon's reply.
"Guess the kid doesn't know who I am."
Geum Taeyang's pupils whirred mechanically as they dilated. He scanned Amon's body, confirming no implants, and smirked at his scrawny frame.
Acting tough in front of a girl? You really think that body can protect an S-rank babe?
Snickering inwardly, he introduced himself.
"I'm a gold-rank adventurer, kid. Know what that means?"
His introduction puffed up his ego. How's that, dickhead? Get it now? He looked down at Amon arrogantly.
But Amon and Sonia's reactions were nothing like he'd expected.
"So?"
"Beats me. Buzz off."
They couldn't care less. If anything, Amon felt relieved—he'd introduced himself as an adventurer. Not some chaebol heir or gang exec. Adventurers had no backup. "Adventurer" was just mercenaries calling themselves fancy.
What a poser.
His only assets were his money, lawyers, and body. No way he'd mobilize for poolside drama. Amon had zero reason to fear.
Dissatisfied with their reaction? Geum Taeyang raised his hand toward Amon's shoulder. A light shoulder grab would dislocate that frail body—perfect for a lesson without bloodying the pool.
But before his hand reached, reinforcements arrived.
"Everything alright, young master?"
The Squinty Priest approached with a friendly smile. Hard to tell in his priest robes, but he had impressive back muscles—like he could exorcise by cracking demon skulls.
Geum Taeyang scanned the new arrival. Mostly human flesh. But his left arm? Unscannable. Not absent—unscannable.
Sweat trickled down his spine in the summer-like heat.
Fuck. Special forces?
Unscannable gear was for stealth-critical military tech. Used by corp spec ops, ex-special forces turned gangs, and similar monsters. If a fight broke out, a gold-rank like him would end up spine-extracted and displayed in some hideout.
And someone that guy called "young master"? Gang boss's son or chaebol heir level.
Geum Taeyang eyed Amon warily. Catching on, Amon played along.
"This guy's been making uncomfortable advances."
"Hmm..."
The priest rubbed his chin, eyeing Geum Taeyang like he was pricing a dissection.
No mercenary wanted to die pointlessly today. Geum Taeyang groveled instantly.
"Sorry! I didn't know better. Please spare me!"
"What did I say?"
"Nothing! You said nothing. Yes, sir. My bad."
Amon, exhausted just facing him, waved him off like shooing a guest.
Geum Taeyang fled to the far end of the pool without complaint. Watching him go, the priest muttered,
"Mercenaries... truly barbaric."
Confident Amon and Sonia were Vatican-bound, he spoke freely. But Amon agreed a hundred times over, Vatican or not.
"That's just how dungeon rats live."
As they said, "adventurers" were mercenaries who raided dungeons. Dungeons? Companies that overreached with risky experiments, lost control, and imploded.
You know the type. Bio-weapon lab overrun by escapees. Magic research cursed en masse into undead. Entity-powered generators breaking free and dooming the firm.
Overnight bankruptcies left no one to blame—everyone evaporated, often as monster chow. Demolishing safely cost a fortune. So governments sealed them tight and hushed it up.
Sealed buildings birthed new ecosystems, jacking up demo costs. Repeat the vicious cycle: dungeon complete. Useless land-sinks.
But demand existed—enter mercenaries. Ruined labs held unrecovered secrets and tech. Jackpot for get-rich-quick types.
Body mods or gear? Profit. Sellable intel? Profit. Game-changing tech? Jackpot. Survive intact? Profit. Barely alive? Still profit.
Top mercs sported deep-dungeon implants. So they called themselves "adventurers" or "explorers" and dove in.
Geum Taeyang, who'd picked a fight with Amon? Just another body with nothing but itself. Living for cheap thrills, death around every corner.
"Honestly, I don't see how they're different from gamblers."
"Just different stakes. Money or their neck."
"Brother, you're tougher than you look."
Amon shrugged in reply.
Anyway, with the priest's help, the intruder was gone. Thanking him, Amon checked on Sonia. She was blushing, ears red in his arms.
He glanced at the sun—it was dipping low. Instead of back to the pool, he suggested the place the priest had booked.
"Shall we head to our room?"
"...Yeah."
Sonia nodded shyly.
Amon and Sonia felt nothing special about sharing a room. At least, not eight hours ago.
But after realizing his feelings for her, Amon couldn't see her the same way.
No, why is the shower visible from the bedroom in this hotel?!
Semi-transparent glass, sure—but that fueled imagination. No soundproofing either. Whoever designed it...
Thanks a lot, you bastard...
Rental swimsuits, twin room layout, shower setup. The resort architect was a total perv.
Amon chanted sutras inwardly, trying to look away from Sonia's silhouette. But his instincts kept pulling his gaze back.
The frosted glass invited endless fantasy. As she tossed her hair back, her ample breasts curved proudly. Washing her body made the flesh jiggle.
His eyes followed her hands—from nape, over waist, to hips. Bending to scrub thighs and calves emphasized her rear.
His gaze lingered on the beautiful curve of hip and waist. Her breasts sagged like water balloons above, asserting presence.
Bliss ended as she straightened. Next, her hands went to the highlight.
One arm up, scrubbing her armpit. Massive chest forced her to support from below. He vaguely saw them squish.
"Hmm~♪"
She hummed, doing the other side. Then, more intimate: supporting one breast to clean underneath. Shadows shifted—squished, jiggled, spread wide at the cleft.
Captivating Amon utterly.
Finally, to her most private spot. Between thighs—the woman's sacred entrance. A vulgar thought flashed; Amon looked away.
Sonia's shower ended, ending Amon's happy time.
After Sonia showered, Amon did too. Like him, she savored his silhouette fully.
They sat side-by-side on the queen beds, facing each other. Fresh from showers, bathrobes parted to reveal cleavage. Pale skin was lethal.
Faces beet-red, they stared without looking away. Hearts ticklish, shy, dizzy... Normally unpleasant, but now delightful.
Silent staring for minutes. Amon broke the awkwardness.
"Sonia."
"Yeah?"
"I've been thinking hard."
Contextless heart-to-heart. Until morning, he'd seen her as a friend. But seeing Geum Taeyang hit on her? He knew he couldn't let her go. And he could entrust his back to her.
"I wondered if it was just your looks. But no. I like you, Sonia."
All day at the pool, no other beauty stirred him. Amid global influencers in skimpy suits, his eyes stayed only on her. That sealed it—he liked her.
"Let me say it clear. I love your pretty face. Your voice, your warm touch. Your bright usual self and rare cool gaps are charming. How you affirm me, trust me—all of it."
Pouring it out, he caught his breath.
"But most of all, I can trust you... you..."
Huu... Amon breathed hard. As the final word neared—
"I love you."
Sonia cut in, her face closing in. Breaths mingled.
?!
Before Amon processed, Sonia unleashed her knowledge.
Wait, that tongue...
Thought ceased. He focused to etch the moment forever. His first kiss seared soul-deep, unforgettable.