Chương 21: Drowning, But Not Really

(So-young POV)

As I turn my head, I see Min-chul encouraging me with his words. I can't really hear him over my excitement but I'm pretty sure they are good words.

He has always been like this since we first met.

I've know him for over half my life and for a few years, I found myself sticking to him like glue. Everyday we met, I'd at least hug him once or maybe even grab his hand.

I got very attached to him and when he was taken by Kimi-chan 2 years ago, I was pretty afraid. Never have I been so annoyed at papa and mama for something.

I knew papa and mama were hiding something from me but I remember seeing the TV play the news and Min-chul oppa was there strapped to his stomach. As punishment, I didn't talk to mama and papa for 5 hours.

Serves them right!

I still remember all of our memories like it was yesterday: the first time swimming, him teaching me how to dolphin swim properly and the various games we played on his console.

When I turned 6, I started feeling all tingly in my chest whenever I was with him and even worse, when his mom was around, my brain kept on telling me to keep Min-chul safe from the "baddies", the "shawties" and the "thots"; whatever that means.

Well, it's fine I guess. I shouldn't worry too much about it.

They did say I would understand when I grow up so it should be fine. Hoooo, patience!

I start focusing on whats in front of me, the long pool. This is one of the longest pools I've seen and the gym pool is pretty long.

Even Mi-sun, someone I knew from mama sending me to a swimming camp to get better than Min-chul, was struggling a lot.

And Mi-sun was incredibly fast at the camp; the fastest even.

I start tuning in my ears to focus onto the whistle. My arms are as straight as an arrow, behind my ears and finger tips are extended.

*BRRRPPP*

after hearing the first whistle, I bend my back slightly, place one foot on the edge of the diving board and hold my arms in their position.

Min-chul is the one who taught me this and it helped quite a bit. Thanks, oppa.

*BRRRPPP*

The second whistle made me tighten my arms around me head so my goggles don't fly off my face. Even though I've been training with Min-chul to swim without goggles, it still hurts my eyes.

I hold onto my left hand tightly and my right hand is sure to be as streamlined as possible.

*BRRRPPP*

I bend my back even lower while bending my knees and finally pointing my outstretched arms 45° to the water. This is for maximum jump length and to keep my goggles on.

I feel the cold wind blowing on my body, giving me goosebumps. I'm 100% sure that the moment I jump in there, I'll be colder than a froyo.

'Come on...come on...you can do this! For oppa and papa! Make them proud!'

I hype myself up in my mind before...

*BBBRRRRRPPPPP*

Hearing the loud, continuous whistle from my right side, I stop thinking about anything else and push off from the board.

The board isn't like the proper diving board where it's springy; it's very stiff and sturdy. This is for the maximum push off power to get as far as possible with just the jump.

I hit the water at the perfect 30° degree angle and I protect my goggles from falling off by looking down, as if I'm trying to show off my double chin.

...not that I have one! I DON'T HAVE A DOUBLE CHIN! I'M FIT!!! GGGRRRAHHHHHH!!!

(A.N) :))

While still underwater, I start dolphin kicking as you are only allowed 3 before starting your true freestyle swim. The further ahead just using the dolphin kick, the better.

While kicking underwater and holding my breath, I notice that lane 1, lane 5 and lane 8 have already given up since their goggles fell off. The rest are right behind me it seems.

After the 3 kicks, I start flutter kicking to reach the surface of the water and taking my first breath, I can't help but smile.

Why? Well, I'm already fairly near to the halfway mark while I see the splashes caused by my kicks in the background. They are most likely even behind my feet.

Smirking, I start going at my usual speed, being sure to conserve enough energy as I already saw what happened with Mi-sun and I can afford to not use my entire stamina.

I start kicking and kicking and by the time I reach the end of the pool, I'm breathing too hard. I guess this is too much for my little body.

However! I can't stop!

If I stop now, Min-chul will be sad!

I continue on and I even pass some of the other lanes on my way back to complete the first lap. By now, I'm slowing down, I'm breathing on every pull and my lungs are getting heavy.

By the time I reached back, I take a break from the swimming for about 5 seconds and I return. Fighting!!!

(MC POV)

This is a really big predicament. Like, if you wanted to quantify how big this particular predicament is, get a hippo and then force feed it 10 more hippos. After that, multiply it by the weight of the sun and you the scope of how big this problem is.

I look on as So-young reaches the end of the pool first. By now, she's panting, she's tired and she's not quitting. Good on her. Fighting!

However!

The way she is swimming back is really funny. If her figure going to the end of the pool was like a graceful mermaid, she looks like a cat when you throw it into water.

She's really struggling and she isn't even swimming freestyle anymore. She really looks as if she will collapse at any time.

As the coach, coach K was incredibly proud of her since she's the daughter of his best friend but also because her grit is just as good as Mi-sun and the other boy.

This is the difference with me and him: she isn't the daughter of my best friend.

Currently, he sees a girl trying her best to get into the varsity while I see a recreation of that swimming scene from that one anime. She's drowning but not really.

What makes it harder to hold back are "ugugugugugu" and "ububububu" noises she keeps making in between her pants. It's like putting one of those noisy, squishy chickens underwater and letting them release the air.

In short, it's comedic genius. A perfect combination of someone struggling and getting hurt while not actually getting hurt. 10/10 would watch again.

The second lap was basically the same except her breaks got much, much longer compared to before.

To her credit however, despite her insanely tiring first lap, she tried her hardest to swim freestyle properly and I can't that away from her. Great effort.

Her ending time was 2:19.54 which is quite good for her size and age. She is just very outshined by Mi-sun and that boy. The other kids were nowhere near close to that time though.

The only lanes who finished were lane 6, lane 3, lane 4, lane 7 and lane 9. At least this time, half of the swimmers finished the entire course, though with insanely slow times.

So-young climbs out of the pool and goes up to me with sparkly eyes. She lifts her hand and places it on her chin with a cool expression.

"So...How'd you like my swimming?"

(A.N) tell me someone got it...

Truthfully, I have no idea how to respond. Just looking at her confidence makes be want to congratulate her and laugh at the same time. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

She waits in anticipation as I start thinking about to handle this without laughing.

'Feelie, any ideas?'

[uh-uh. Not at all; this is all you...]

'Damn'

"Uhhhh...ehehe. It was great! Amazing job!"

'Please! Please be adequate!'

As I say that, her cheeks visibly go from the light pink from all the swimming to a deep firetruck red. Did I say anything? Why is she blushing so much?

[oh my God, you dense little crap. I thought we talked about this before?]

'I mean, yeah but I thought she'd get over it fairly easily'

Realizing that she still likes me, I wryly smile in her direction before stepping up onto the diving board. I start stretching and cracking my bones.

'Hoooo...let's do this Feelie!'

[good luck, Min-chul]

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(A.N) yo! Another chapter for you lovely readers and I hope you enjoyed this one from So-young's perspective! Please do support with comments, reviews, adding to library and voting with powerstones! Thanks and peace ✌️!