Chapter 51: Ripples in the Water

No way he’s padding, right? A main character’s got more dignity than that…

I thought I held my own, but seeing Do Yoon humbled me. His black goggles were a blessing—without them, I’d have stared too long and been reported as a creep.

Truly, a romance novel’s male lead needed this level of unreal specs. Brains, personality, body, wealth, face—360 degrees of perfection, not a single flaw. As I gawked, Do Yoon, warming up nearby, suddenly turned.

“Hyung?”

“Uh, what?”

I stammered, guilty. He grabbed a large bath towel and draped it over me, covering me to my knees.

“You’ll get cold.”

I’m not cold… Do I look that frail?

Feeling glum, I yanked off the towel and dove into the pool like a dolphin. With a crisp splash, I surged forward, the water muffling external noise. The sensation of slicing through it energized me.

I imagined Do Yoon watching, awed. Time to show off the skills that earned me the “dolphin” nickname. The water’s unique flow made me feel weightless.

But then, someone rocketed past in the next lane, terrifyingly fast. Broad shoulders, sturdy frame—it was Do Yoon.

What kind of speed is that?!

If I was a dolphin, he was a shark. Despite my head start, he caught up, swimming neck-and-neck. As the wall neared, he veered into my lane. I bristled. Challenging me?

I swung my arms fiercely, determined to reach the wall first. But Do Yoon, like he’d hit a booster, sped up and reached it, standing tall. Instead of the wall, I grabbed his hand. He pulled me up like a fisherman, grinning.

“…Caught you.”

I gritted my teeth, pride dented.

“One more round. Play fair—I went easy.”

“Alright. This time, you catch me.”

His eyes sparkled like a drama scene. Before I could blink, he kicked off, slicing through the water like a mermaid, leaving a trail of spray. I chased, eyes blazing.

But after losing with a head start, catching him when he started first was impossible. He reached the wall, grabbed my hand, and yanked me close, beaming like he’d won the lottery.

“Hyung caught me?”

What?! You caught me!

“It felt great when you chased me.”

He grinned, spouting nonsense. Save that charm for the heroine! I was annoyed but missed the moment to snap back because of his stupidly perfect face. Huffing, I said.

“One more.”

He looked at me softly.

“You look dizzy.”

“I’m not.”

He was right, though. After stubbornly racing five more times, I collapsed onto a poolside plastic chair like wet laundry. I didn’t win once. Do Yoon approached with juice, handing it to me. I sucked it down like an IV drip, head spinning from exertion.

“Hyung… can’t go anymore?”

This kid’s taunting me. Gasping, I retorted.

“No… way… I just… need a break.”

“Okay then.”

He smiled brightly. Water dripped from his cap, glinting like special effects. How’s he not tired?

After two more races, I stumbled out, exhausted. I won the last one, but anyone could see he let me. Pride aside, the intense cardio nearly knocked me out. Slumped at the hotel restaurant table, I perked up as Do Yoon approached with two bowls of spicy seafood ramen.

“Smells amazing.”

“Eat fast. I thought you’d pass out earlier.”

After intense swimming, nothing beat hot, spicy ramen. Pricey, but worth every bite post-workout. We devoured it like ravenous animals, then sprawled out, sleepy. I nudged his calf with my bare foot.

“Coffee run?”

“Sounds good.”

“There’s a huge café by the entrance. I’ll take an iced latte.”

“Can’t you get it? I’m beat.”

“Nope. If you don’t go, I’m not either.”

I stared, dumbfounded. Rejected with a smile? I thought he’d fetch it…

Betrayed, I glared. He hoisted me from the chair, practically hugging me, and spouted nonsense.

“It’s dark out. Barely any streetlights—I’d be scared alone. You gotta protect me.”

What? The café’s right in the lobby!

A guy with his iron physique whining about being scared wasn’t convincing, but his absurd aegyo made me chuckle. Drained, I nodded.

“Fine, if Choi Do Yoon wants to boss around his seven-years-older hyung, let’s go.”

“Not bossing—going together.”

He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. A bit embarrassing, but with few people in the lobby and me exhausted, I let it slide, leaning into him. He hummed happily.

Then, among the sparse lobby crowd, a woman staggered toward us. Two women, one clearly drunk, the other annoyed, propping her up. As they passed, the sober one took a call, letting go of her friend.

Bad timing—she stumbled right into me. Reflexively, I grabbed her shoulders, pushing her upright to avoid a collision. Do Yoon shouted.

“Hyung!”

I nearly got knocked over by a drunk, headbutting the marble floor.

Do Yoon helped steady her. She reeked of alcohol. The glasses-wearing friend rushed over, ending her call, and slung the drunk over her shoulder like luggage, bowing repeatedly.

“Sorry, sorry. She drank too much, out of it…”

“It’s fi—”

Do Yoon cut me off, speaking sharply.

“Your friend’s in no state to wander. Watch her better. What if someone gets hurt? No one wants a hospital trip on vacation.”

I gaped at him. This wasn’t his usual cute self—it echoed the novel’s stern Chief Do Yoon. The friend, slightly offended, glared back.

“Yes, well…”

Her sharp eyes stood out despite her glasses. Understandable—she wasn’t the drunk. The one to scold was her friend. But a bad feeling hit me.

This isn’t one of those meet-cute fights leading to love, right?

I studied her, checking if she felt any spark for Do Yoon. I had to intervene if so—falling for the male lead only made you a doomed sub-villainess. Thankfully, her gaze at him was dry.

But when our eyes met, she stared like I was an alien, tilting her head.

“Um, are you…”

Do Yoon swiftly stepped between us.