Chapter 30

Chapter 30

After a series of ups and downs, we finally arrived at the hotel we had booked. The place looked more impressive than expected, and a nervous lump formed in my throat.

“…Isn’t this place expensive?”

“I thought it looked nice in the photos, but it’s even better in person…?”

Screw it. With Seo-ah’s hand tightly in mine, I led us into the hotel. The clean interior and soft, ambient lighting created a cozy atmosphere, and the lobby was bustling with tourists like us, which eased my nerves a little.

As we wandered toward the front desk, glancing around in awe, a staff member greeted us with a polite nod.

“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”

“Ah, yes. Could you please confirm our booking?”

Trying to stay as calm as possible, I handed over my phone with the reservation details. The staff member tapped on the keyboard, still smiling warmly.

—It’s going well, right?

As if reading my anxious thoughts, Seo-ah gently stroked my palm with her fingers, reassuring me.

After a moment, the staff member looked up, still smiling.

“Yes, I’ve found your reservation under Joon-woo Lee. You’re booked for room 704. Please take the elevator on the right.”

He handed us the key card, and the moment we were alone by the elevator—

“Phew…”

“Good job, Joon-woo…”

We both let out a sigh of relief and exchanged smiles.

“It’s tough, huh?”

“Well, it’s our first time…”

Everything about today had been full of firsts.

Even though we joked about the difficulty, our smiles betrayed how much fun we were having because we were doing it together.

***

Beep.

When we arrived at room 704 and tapped the key card, the door slid open, revealing a pristine room that made us both gasp.

“Wow…”

“Wow…”

We stepped inside, awestruck. In the center of the room was a queen-sized bed—neither too big nor too small for the two of us. Just looking at it made me start thinking about tonight.

As we stood there, I found myself staring at the bed, while Seo-ah had already finished inspecting the room and was now calling me from the terrace.

“Joon-woo, come here! The view is gorgeous!”

With a smile, she gestured for me to join her, and I couldn’t help but think that she was far more beautiful than the view she was talking about.

Hiding that thought, I walked over to her, and sure enough, the breeze was refreshing, and the view of the ocean was stunning.

“You picked a great place.”

Seo-ah’s radiant smile at my compliment made me instinctively reach out and gently run my hand through her soft, wind-tousled hair.

As usual, she nuzzled into my hand, silently asking for more.

—This is going to be too short.

Even though the trip had only just begun, the fact that it was only for one night made me feel like it wouldn’t be enough.

***

“Let me know when you’re done~”

Since the room was spacious but didn’t have a separate changing area, Seo-ah decided to change in the room while I changed in the bathroom.

I changed into the white swimsuit we had bought together and checked myself out in the mirror.

—Not bad.

I had been working out pretty hard (two weeks), and I could almost see some definition in my abs. Not too muscular, but toned enough.

After checking my reflection from different angles, satisfied with my mini fashion show, I heard Seo-ah’s voice call out.

“Joon-woo~ I’m done~”

Thump.

Even though I’d seen her in a swimsuit before, my heart still raced at the thought. It wasn’t something I could get used to.

When I opened the door, there she was, waiting for me, just as breathtaking as the first time.

—Too sexy.

The other part of me seemed to agree, nodding its approval.

There was no way to hide it in a swimsuit, so I decided to ignore it and walked toward her. Of course, she noticed, and while a faint blush spread across her cheeks, she just smiled knowingly.

“…I asked you this before, but how do I look?”

“Seo-ah.”

“Hm?”

“I think I’ve already made my feelings pretty clear.”

“…I don’t know if that’s the best way to answer, but yeah, you’re definitely being honest, Joon-woo…”

She chuckled, nodding as if she was both amused and satisfied with my response.

“Joon-woo, you’ve been working out hard, haven’t you?”

—She noticed!

“…Does it show?”

“Yeah! Can I touch?”

—Then I should be allowed to touch too.

I barely managed to keep my thoughts in check and nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“Wow…”

She had seen and touched my arms and legs during my workouts, but this was the first time she was inspecting my upper body. Her eyes followed the lines of my shoulders and chest, and I could see her lips part in awe as she gently ran her hands over my muscles.

“Mmm…”

“How is it?”

Feeling proud, I asked, only for her to stop and look up at me with a serious expression.

“Can I touch your chest too?”

—Wait, isn’t this something guys usually ask?

“Uh… maybe not the chest…”

I was already having a hard time staying calm from the gentle touches on my arms and abs, so I hesitated. But before I could finish my sentence—

“You can touch mine, too.”

WHAT?!

Without hesitation, Seo-ah leaned forward and pressed her chest toward me, her playful smile making my eyes go wide.

Gulp.

“…Seriously?”

As I looked at Seo-ah with a gaze that seemed to say, “You’re joking, right?”, she responded with a mischievous smile.

“…You even brought those things in your wallet.”

She muttered “pervert” under her breath, which made my face flush hotly. I could feel my entire body heating up, not just my eyes.

“…Fine. Go ahead and touch it.”

Resigned, I handed over my body like a free pass.

“Aren’t you going to touch me, Joon-woo?”

Her teasing tone was filled with playful temptation, but I gritted my teeth and replied, feeling like I was on the verge of tears.

“If we start now… we won’t be going to the beach.”

“….”

“….”

“…That’s true, huh…”

She gave my chest a quick, satisfied pat, and pulled her hand away. Seeing this, I made a promise.

“Next time, you can expect more.”

“Does that mean you’ll keep working out?”

“Of course. Gotta impress someone.”

She smiled brightly, her eyes filled with love as she gazed at me, and I knew then that no amount of hard work would feel like a burden as long as it was for her.

“And that ‘someone’…”

“Who’s ‘someone’?”

“That someone told me they’re happy and looking forward to it.”

“…Guess I’ll have to work even harder then.”

I found myself thinking that my workout routine would need to double as soon as I got home.

***

As we got ready to head to the beach, I extended my hand to Seo-ah, expecting her to take it as usual. Instead, she looked at it for a moment, then…

“…Gotcha.”

Soft.

Marshmallow.

Watermelon.

Suddenly, that unmistakable sensation traveled up my arm, freezing me in place as I stared wide-eyed at Seo-ah. Her cheeks flushed pink as she looked up at me with a mischievous smile.

“…How is it?”

—It feels amazing, it’s the best thing ever. I love it, I love it, I love it.

The soft, warm touch was so much more intense than what I’d felt on the train, and it was overwhelming. My mind was gone, my heart pounding so loudly that it echoed in my ears.

When I couldn’t respond, Seo-ah glanced downward before bringing her eyes back up to mine.

“…Uh, could you not check my answer there?”

It made me want to disappear every time she did that.

“But it gives the quickest and most honest response, doesn’t it?”

—Please, no.

Ah, the tragic simplicity of being a man.

“…Do we need to hold hands?”

Trying to regain some control, I half-heartedly teased her, but that plan quickly backfired.

“Shall we just hold hands then?”

—I’m sorry.

When she started to pull her arm away, I panicked and grabbed it.

“…Let’s go like this.”

“Okay!”

With every step, I could feel the soft sensation again and again, and it made the walk to the beach feel like a dream. Once we reached the shoreline, I saw the beautiful blue ocean stretching out, along with many beachgoers enjoying the sun.

Realizing we’d need a parasol and a mat, I rented them, and we found a nice spot to settle down. Now it really felt like we were at the beach.

Though Seo-ah had looked stunning at the hotel, seeing her in her white swimsuit under the bright sunlight made her glow even more—so much so that I almost didn’t want anyone else to see her.

After enjoying the shade under the parasol for a while, we ventured into the water, playing together in ways that felt familiar yet somehow different.

We’d been friends for 13 years, and there was a rhythm to how we played. But what had changed wasn’t our playfulness—it was our relationship.

In the past, we would’ve been splashing each other recklessly, but now, we were more gentle, taking in the sight of each other soaked in water.

We used to only take group photos, but now we walked around the beach, snapping pictures of just the two of us in different poses.

I found myself constantly watching her feet, making sure she didn’t step on anything sharp like broken glass.

After a while, I took her to a nearby café for some shaved ice, watching her shiver from the cold while still saying how delicious it was. It was adorable.

When Seo-ah, now refreshed, eagerly suggested we head back to the beach to catch the sunset, I couldn’t help but laugh and rise to join her.

The sun hadn’t yet started to paint the sky red, so we took a quiet stroll along the shore, the sound of the waves crashing gently in the background, accompanied by the cool ocean breeze.

As the conversation between us naturally faded, both of us mesmerized by the vast, overwhelming beauty of the sea, the moment finally came.

“Wow…”

Her eyes sparkled as she let out a small gasp, watching the crimson sunset reflect on the water, painting the sky in hues of red and orange.

With your hair softly fluttering in the sea breeze, you tucked it behind your ear and turned to look at me. The expression in your eyes was something even a fool like me could understand—overflowing with happiness in this moment.

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” you said.

“…Yeah, it really is,” I replied.

I wondered if the look in my eyes reflected the same emotions as yours. I hoped it did.

Could our relationship change after today?

I didn’t know for sure—I’m too much of a fool to tell—but I was willing to give everything.

At the end of this day, I hoped, more than anything, that the person standing beside me would no longer be just a childhood friend. I wished for it with all my heart.

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