Two weeks after the group project day.

Ye-rin and I were on the KTX heading towards the East Sea.

‘Another Uni Trip, huh.’

I had been on one during my freshman year, but my memories are mostly about drinking rather than anything nostalgic.

Senior students handed out drinks freely, and I ended up taking care of a very drunk Chae-yeon. To me, Uni Trips felt more like work than a vacation.

‘Maybe this time will be different?’

Since it was just our peers, there wouldn’t be any seniors forcing drinks on us. Plus, Sohui would definitely take care of Chae-yeon.

‘Then all that's left is…’

I glanced over at Ye-rin, who was sitting next to me.

She had just finished her third lunchbox and was now pulling out a convenience store kimbap.

Just as she was about to take a bite, she looked at me.

"Do you want some?"

"No, you eat it. I'm fine."

As I waved my hand to refuse, Ye-rin tilted her head and resumed eating.

‘This time, I only need to keep an eye on her.’

Ye-rin was someone who liked to show off despite her weak tolerance for alcohol. She'd get drunk after just a few drinks, making her someone to watch out for during this Uni Trip.

"Why do you keep staring at me? You do want to eat, right?"

Ye-rin, rummaging through her bag, handed me a Jeonju Bibim Flavored Triangular kimbap.

"I told you, I don't."

I pushed the kimbap back toward her and removed a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth. Then I spoke directly.

"During this Uni Trip, try not to drink any alcohol."

"Huh? Why should I?"

"What do you mean why..."

Just as I was about to say 'Because I don't know where you'd run off to when you're drunk,' Ye-rin gave a sly smile and started to speak.

"You think that when I get drunk, I'll be taken advantage of by some guys, right?"

"What?"

How does she even come up with these ideas? While I was dumbfounded, Ye-rin patted my head and continued.

"I get it, Si-hyun. You’re worried because you have a pretty friend like me by your side..."

I grabbed Ye-rin's lips, shaking them as I spoke.

"Stop spouting nonsense. Just finish eating your food."

Once I let go of her lips, Ye-rin let out a groan before scoffing.

"You keep treating me like I’m nothing. But you know, I’m like an unattainable flower on a cliff to other guys, right?"

"Unattainable flower my foot."

I gently pulled at Ye-rin’s hair on the crown of her head as I spoke.

"With just a little nudge, you’d be easy to pick."

Boing. Boing.

'This is oddly fun.'

Playing with Ye-rin's hair, I suddenly realized she wasn't reacting at all.

Could she be mad about this? Just as I was about to peek at her face hidden behind her bangs—

Thud.

Ye-rin leaned her head against my chest. Then in a trembling voice, she said, "If you think you can pick me, then go ahead and try..."

After getting off at the station, Ye-rin and Si-hyun joined the rest of their peers who had arrived earlier. Among them were Chae-yeon and Sohui. Noticing them, Ye-rin's eyes narrowed.

Clench…

As if vowing not to let go, Ye-rin tightly held onto Si-hyun's hand.

Seeing this, Chae-yeon gave them a cold glare, which only made Ye-rin cling to Si-hyun more.

"Looks like everyone is here, so let's get going."

Everyone, having received the destination information, started moving in groups by taxi.

"Shall we go too?" Si-hyun suggested.

Ye-rin nodded in agreement.

The two of them got into a taxi with a female classmate they were close to, heading towards their destination, a large supermarket.

While traveling, the classmate sitting in the front passenger seat turned around and asked, "Are you two dating by any chance?"

Blink. Blink.

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, both of them blinked simultaneously.

A brief silence followed.

Ye-rin, who was about to laugh it off and wave her hands, stopped and asked back with interest.

"Why do you think that?"

"Recently, you two have been spending a lot of time together. So, there’s been some talk among the others that you might be secretly dating."

Ye-rin nodded with a satisfied look on her face and glanced at Si-hyun.

"Si-hyun, that’s what they’re saying."

"Well... Ye-rin and I have just been close friends for a long time. It's not what everyone thinks."

Si-hyun's nonchalant response made Ye-rin frown, and their classmate waved her hands dismissively before speaking.

"Oh, come on... There’s no such thing as just friends between a guy and a girl. People may say they are just friends on the surface, but deep down, it's a different story."

Ye-rin nodded vigorously in agreement with their classmate’s sensible words, then looked up at Si-hyun with hopeful eyes.

"Is that so?"

Si-hyun stared intently at Ye-rin's face, as if trying to verify something. Her cheeks gradually turned red under his gaze.

However, despite her blushing, he carefully examined her face and then said,

"You're not entirely wrong, but there are exceptions. To me, Ye-rin is more like family than a romantic interest."

Thud.

Ye-rin felt as though the sky was falling at Si-hyun's words that made him seem close yet distant.

Drowning in despair, she lowered her head deeply. At that moment, she touched the secret weapon hidden deep in her shopping bag and resolved to win over Si-hyun’s heart during this Uni Trip.

After finishing their shopping, everyone walked for about 15 minutes to reach the reserved rooms.

Three spacious rooms were reserved: one for those who would play drinking games all night and the other two for those who wanted to sleep.

As people unpacked, they began to prepare for the beach. Si-hyun, who finished getting ready first, stepped out of the room and headed down the stone steps.

Tap. Tap.

These stone steps led to the beach.

Below was the hidden gem the owner had enthusiastically praised.

“It’s so hot…”

Wearing just his navy trunks, Si-hyun went down the steps, feeling the sticky residue of the sunscreen.

As soon as the stone steps ended, a deserted sandy beach appeared, and Si-hyun set up the parasol he had brought from the lodgings.

Sitting under the parasol, he watched the gentle waves.

“It’s perfect weather for a swim.”

While Si-hyun was lost in the calm view of the sea, a raucous noise reached his ears.

Apparently, his classmates had arrived late. Ignoring the noise, he continued staring straight ahead, but then a woman sat down next to him.

“Ye-rin…”

As he turned his head, he closed his mouth immediately upon seeing who it was.

He thought it was naturally Ye-rin who sat comfortably beside him, but realized it wasn’t her.

“Ha. Do I look like Ye-rin to you?”

The woman sitting next to him was none other than Chae-yeon.

Frowning at being mistaken for another woman, she continued in a flat voice.

“I only sat here because it’s the only shady spot. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Si-hyun, who was about to retort with ‘I didn’t ask,’ decided it wasn’t worth provoking her and chose to ignore her instead.

Who knows how much time passed like that.

Si-hyun glanced at Chae-yeon and suddenly stiffened.

‘That swimsuit… It’s the one Chae-yeon wore in Japan.’

Wanting to see her in that bikini, back then Si-hyun persistently pestered her to go swimming with him.

Although she always reacted with irritation, she did go whenever he asked, creating some of his fondest memories.

‘Why on earth did she wear that…’

The memories stirred his emotions.

Si-hyun felt his face flush with heat and buried his head in his knees.

Meanwhile, Chae-yeon, who had been watching his reaction secretly, raised her lips in a slight smile.

Seizing the opportunity, she took something out of the pouch she was holding.

Pop.

A light sound of a lid being opened. Curious, Si-hyun looked in Chae-yeon's direction.

‘Sunscreen?’

He couldn’t understand why she hadn't applied it at the rooms, but what happened next intrigued him further.

Shwwk-

Chae-yeon began applying the white lotion to her body.

Starting from her nape, down to her chest, then her slender waist, and even her soft-looking thighs.

Rubbing it in leisurely as if to show off, she suddenly glanced in Si-hyun's direction. Their eyes met.

"Why do you keep staring?"

"...Just a coincidence."

Si-hyun quickly turned his head, trying to cover the awkwardness with a poor excuse.

The familiar sight of her swimsuit and his fluttering heart. It was only a faint stir compared to the past, but it was enough to confuse Si-hyun.

‘Damn it, she’s obnoxiously beautiful.’

While Si-hyun grumbled internally, staring straight ahead, Chae-yeon continued to gaze at his profile. After dropping her gaze to the sunscreen in her hand for a moment, she finally spoke up.

"Give me your hand for a second."

"Why suddenly?"

She grabbed his hand and squeezed some sunscreen onto his palm.

Then, turning her back to him, she moved her hair to the side, revealing her fair nape.

“Apply it on my back. My hands can't reach it, so can you put it on my back?"

With that, Chae-yeon undid the back strap of her bikini. Holding the suit in place with one hand, it began to slip slightly due to gravity.

‘What the?’

Utterly caught off guard by her request, Si-hyun felt his throat tighten as if it was constricting. His eyes widened, and his entire body froze.

"Hurry up."

Chae-yeon grabbed his wrist and guided his hand to her back.

Unlike before when she was passive, this time she actively and bluntly began to seduce Si-hyun.