At Seojin's house.
I was by the pool, stretching, wearing only a pair of shorts. I glanced toward the house, waiting for Seolhyo.
"How long does it take just to change…?"
I sighed, walked over to the poolside table, grabbed my iced tea, and sat down on a lounge chair.
The sun was already starting to go down it was around five.
I quietly watched the orange light reflecting on the water.
Then I heard footsteps.
I turned my head toward the sound.
And suddenly froze.
My mouth slowly opened, eyes wide, not even blinkin as if afraid I might miss even a single moment.
Seolhyo was walking toward me.
Seeing my reaction, she smiled triumphantly.
Heh… how do you like that?
You think you're the only one who can do it?
She stopped a few steps away, a faint blush on her face.
She still looked a little shy wearing it in front of him.
"W-what are you staring at? Let's go swim already."
I stared at her.
She was wearing a black halter-style bikini top and a black bikini bottom with a short ruffled swim skirt.
I finally snapped out of it when I heard her teasing voice.
I coughed awkwardly, still staring at her.
"…You're walking on thin fire."
Seolhyo avoided my eyes.
Before she could react, I suddenly stood up and scooped her up one arm under her legs and the other behind her back.
She yelped in surprise.
"KYAA! What are you doing?! Put me down!!"
While shouting, she instinctively wrapped both arms around my neck.
I ignored her protests and kept looking at her.
She slowly looked back at me.
For a moment, we just stared into each other's eyes.
Then I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers.
She was a little startled at first but soon kissed back.
Soft kissing sounds filled the quiet space, though there was no one else around to hear them.
After a few minutes, I finally pulled back, slightly out of breath.
Seolhyo was breathing softly too, staring at me with eyes full of affection.
I muttered quietly,
"…You're so beautiful."
Then I leaned down again, kissing her cheek, her nose, and the corner of her eyes.
Seolhyo simply closed her eyes, letting him.
I leaned closer to her ear and whispered,
"Seems like you planned this, huh? How else do you explain the bikini?"
Seolhyo avoided the question.
"Put me down. I want to swim."
I chuckled softly. "Oh, really?"
Without warning, I suddenly ran toward the pool still carrying her in my arms and jumped.
Seolhyo screamed.
"YOU CRAZY!! I DON'T KNOW HOW-"
Her sentence cut off as we were both engulfed by the water.
Since the pool was deep even I couldn't reach the floor Seolhyo clung tightly to me as we sank for a moment.
I kicked hard and pushed us back toward the surface.
When our heads broke above the water, Seolhyo was coughing.
My arm held her firmly around the waist while I kicked to stay afloat, my free hand paddling slightly to balance us.
Her eyes watered a little not from the pool water.
"Y-you… don't do that…"
Seeing her like that made a pang hit my chest.
I quickly swam toward the shallow end where my feet could touch the tiles.
Once I felt the pool floor under me, I steadied us and brought Seolhyo in front of me, holding her with both hands.
"Sorry… I just got excited."
Seolhyo's arms were still wrapped tightly around my neck.
She pulled back slightly and started hitting my chest.
Then she even bit my chin.
"Don't do that again…"
When she finally released the bite, she leaned her head against my chest.
I gently caressed the back of her head for a moment, then lifted her chin so she faced me.
I leaned closer until our foreheads touched.
"I won't."
After she calmed down a little, I smiled.
"So… do you still want me to teach you?"
Seolhyo nodded.
"But if you try something like that again, I'm seriously leaving."
I chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."
I gently pushed her back a little while holding both of her hands.
"Try kicking your legs. Don't worry you won't sink. I'll hold your hands. Just focus on how the water feels when you kick."
Seolhyo nodded and followed my instructions.
Every time she kicked, I slowly stepped backward, guiding her around the pool in the area where I could still reach the floor.
Time passed, and the sky slowly turned black.
Seolhyo and I were resting at the edge of the pool, gazing up at the night sky.
Suddenly
Seolhyo slapped my hand that had been sneakily creeping up under the water.
"Watch your hand."
I blinked innocently. "What? It's just the water."
Seolhyo stretched her arms into the air, her legs lazily moving in the water.
"Finally… the exams are over."
I laughed, resting my elbow on the pool's edge as I looked at her.
"HAHA. You've been studying like crazy these past few days."
She shot me a look.
"Of course I have. I'm not like you, Mr. Top Student, who doesn't even need to study and still has time to play soccer."
I grinned at her.
"Is it my fault that I already studied everything?"
She muttered, "Hmph. I'm sure you're cheating somehow."
I rolled my eyes and suddenly grabbed her waist, pulling her closer until her body pressed against mine.
I wrapped my arms around her.
For a moment, we stayed still me embracing her, and her quietly leaning against me.
"You know," I said, breaking the silence, "you're a lot cuter when you're trying hard to study."
She looked up at me, the back of her head resting against my chest, narrowing her eyes.
"So I'm not cute when I'm not studying?"
"Yeah~," I replied with a teasing grin.
She immediately elbowed my side.
"What? Say that again."
I laughed and grabbed her arms before she could elbow me again.
"What I meant is you're always cute, whatever you do."
She wiggled slightly in my hold before relaxing again, leaning back against me.
"I'll let it slide this time."
I hugged her tighter, resting my chin on her shoulder as our heads touched.
"Rim."
She tilted her head slightly toward mine.
"Hmm?"
"I love it when we spend the day like this."
She answered softly, "I love it too."
I gently lifted her chin and slowly turned her face toward me.
We gazed into each other's eyes.
Seolhyo slowly closed hers.
I leaned closer and captured her lips for a moment.
When we parted, Seolhyo opened her eyes again.
"I need to go home now, or my brother might get suspicious."
I nodded and climbed out of the pool first.
Standing at the edge, I looked back at her and crouched down.
Seolhyo grabbed my arms, and I lifted her up by her armpits as she stepped onto the edge.
"Aren't I heavy?" she asked.
I chuckled and wrapped my arms briefly around her waist.
"You're light as a feather."
"Okay, stop flattering me and put me down."
I set her down and grabbed a towel from the lounge chair.
Before drying myself, I tossed the other towel to Seolhyo.
After drying ourselves, I changed into a new set of clothes while Seolhyo simply wore what she had on earlier.
I walked her home.
We took the bus since Seolhyo refused to ride a motorcycle, saying I still didn't even have a license.
Before leaving, I glanced bitterly at the bikes sitting in the garage a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, a Yamaha YZF-R1, a Suzuki Hayabusa (GSX1300R), and more.
My parents had given them to me as gifts over the years, sometimes brought back from overseas.
But I rarely used them.
Riding one to school would attract way too much attention and I still didn't have a license anyway.
Maybe I should get it next year.
Now we were nearing her apartment building.
When we reached the corner where we usually parted ways, Seolhyo stopped and turned to me with a soft smile.
"I'll text you when I get home."
Before she could turn away, I leaned in and kissed the side of her lips.
She smiled at me as I stepped back slightly and said.
"Be careful on your way."
I nodded as I watch her turn around.