Looking at the blue pool in front of me, I knew I was back. Just from here, I can taste the chlorine and urine that I'll probably accidentally swallow along with the pool water.
Despite me not swimming for however many years including my past life, it's something that you never forget how to do; like riding a bicycle. Yes, it may seem scary riding after so long but you get the hand of it in literally minutes.
After entering the gym pool with my tight swimming trunks and rash guard, I can see the tiny little muscles I have; basically non-existent but the rough outlines are there. Obviously, at the gym, these muscles aren't anything but I do have something on these gym bros.
...I'm damn cute! While walking in here with Seung-ri, I've had about 5 girls, all hot, bend down and squish my cheeks! To add extra damage, I titled my head then smiled at them with my big, brown eyes!
They surely received critical damage the way they acted after; a bunch of "ugugugu" and other baby talk. This is great, shower me more! Show me how cute I am!
As I enter the shower with Seung-ri, the guys were much different; asking if I was Seung-ri nim's son or which beautiful woman gave birth to me. They all teased me and roughly rubbed the top of my head, which I didn't mind.
I remember doing that to some tiny juniors I had in college. I get it, they know I get it; we're all cool. No harm done anyways. I'm not sexist against men because we are the same gender, damn it!
"Alright, little Min-chul ah. Let's learn to float, okaaayyyy~~?"
"Un!"
"Oh! There you are! Come here, my little baby!"
Seeing the little girl, he jumps out of the pool and hugs a little girl about the same age as me that is holding hands with a beautiful, brown-haired woman. Ahh, so this is Miss Tyrant Park, huh?
Tyrant Park. As the nickname suggests, she is very strict with her students and the littlest conversation not related to the subject is immediately scrutinized by her and you are deducted a few points from behavior and effort.
I heard about her from Jung and boy, did he not like her.
"Who is the little boy over there?"
"Him? That's Min-hee sshi's son. He wanted to swim so I decided I'll teach him with So-young"
"Oho?... You met with Min-hee again? For what reason, oppa?"
After feeling and seeing that his wife is pinching his sides, he is still smiling widely, seeming unaffected. What a muscle head! He can't even feel pain in his sides! Some kind of anti-wife pinching technique? I need this for the future.
"Ahahaha! We met by coincidence! I was running and bumped into her"
After being satisfied with her husband's answer, she let's go and she kisses him bye while Seung-ri leads his daughter to the side of the pool where I'm sitting. Looking at me from time to time, I assume she is embarrassed since she didn't expect another person here.
Well, I guess it's very normal for a 3 year old to not like strangers too much. Though...she is staring a bit too much...heh, whatever.
"Alright! Min-chul, this is my daughter, So-young. So-young, this is daddy's friend's son, Min-chul. Both of you are the same age so you should get along, ookkaayyyy~~?"
"Un!" "Yes, papa!"
"Bwahaha! Great! Now again, let's learn how to float"
Taking in as much as I can, I lay flat on the swimming pool and direct where I want to go using my feet and hands.
So-young on the other hand can't float; the most probable reason is that either she isn't taking in air or her posture isn't straight.
"No, So-young ah. You have to make your back a little curved upwards, okay~? Look at Min-chul oppa over there. His back is perfectly positioned and he is floating fine, see?"
"Papa...what if I sink?"
"Bwahaha! Then papa will save you! Go go, float. Remember, hold in air and use your feet to kick but only lightly"
"Un!"
Following her father's instructions, she is able to float and was even steering away from the wall she was about to bump. However, she bumps into me and starts sinking; she can't touch the floor and is panicking too much to kick properly.
I start diving down, and I realize my kicking power is insanely weak. A paraplegic with metal boulders attached to their legs will probably swim quicker than this.
'...damn it, I can't hold my breath for much longer...'
Realizing that my head is getting cloudy and woozy, I reach my hand out and feel for her rash guard...bingo! Grabbing on tight, I feel a strong arm pull me out of the pool while I'm holding onto So-young.
"Min-chul! So-young!"
Looking over and hearing the loud and panicked talking from from Seung-ri, I start gasping for air while on the side of the pool. So-young luckily didn't swallow too much water but her panicking was very dangerous.
Kids who panic after not feeling the pool floor are probably one of the most common causes of drowning. The items in front of that are, of course, drunken pool parties and breath-holding contests. Most of the time, occurring in tandem.
"Oh! Damn it!!!"
While slamming his fist on the ground, he starts admonishing himself. After all, under his supervision, his daughter and the son of a close friend almost died; the son almost dying trying to save his daughter. What if Min-hee's son died and saved his daughter? What if they both are gone?
After realizing that So-young was confused, I pat her on the back and start laughing. Thank God she passed out for a while. Most of the time, traumatic events like this are the causes of fear of water or fear of the ocean.
Standing up in front of Seung-ri trying to comfort his daughter and I, I grab the blushing So-young's hand and make her stand up as well. Looking at the confused muscle head, I say something that only bros would understand.
"Ahjussi! ahjussi Seung-ri! Again! Again! We won't tell mom!"
"???... oh! Un un!"
After coming out of his shock and seeing that even his daughter agrees with Min-chul, he thanks which ever God is up there for giving a second chance with these babies and he puts them back in the water; making sure to watch them much closer than before.
After about 30 minutes, our fingers get wrinkly and because So-young started crying about her getting old because of swimming, we had to get out of the pool.
"Hey little hero! Bwahahaha! Good going, eh?"
"Ay yay yay... I never even hit on a girl until I was 15? How do they grow up so fast?!?"
Entering the showers, I ignore some of the gym bros are congratulating me on my bravery at the pool. I mean, it is very comforting that they are very supportive but what do you even say to teasing? Tell them to stop?
It isn't even making fun of me; they are teasing me for saving So-young so this isn't bullying. This is like being the birthday celebrant while your family sings happy birthday around you. What the hell do you say?
'Hmmmm, wait... this is my first time back... quest'
[donk donk tonka donk! Quest completed!]
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Return of the Loser (Completed) ┃ Normal ┃
Reward: ₲1,000 ┃ Kicking Power x2.5% ┃ Push & Pull x5%
₲1,000 has been deposited into your shop account! Enjoy the ₲1,000, you failure! And by the way, welcome back, Min-chul. Congratulations.
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'Huh... that wasn't as mean as the others'
After following Seung-ri and So-young out of the gym, I see mom and So-young's car out front waiting for us. Mom goes up to me and hugs me while So-young gets hugged by Tyrant Park. I wonder how many days...no, weeks Seung-ri will sleep on the couch?
Well. Not like Tyrant Park will ever find out but So-young, being a small 3 year old, has a good chance of blabbing behind Seung-ri's back...ahhh, it's very unfortunate, isn't it?
"Uuuuu...u-u-uh... good bye, Min-chul! I hope we can play next time!"
"...un! Bye bye So-young!"
"Hehe! Bye bye!"
Waving bye, Tyrant and my mom look at each other with a glare before going back to their respective cars.
After arriving home and following mom in, I see Jung talking with father about what he did yesterday at school. Ahh, this must be when he got into his first fight. I believe he did it to protect this kid from getting bullied but with sheer talent, he beat up a 3rd grader alone.
This made the school believe he was bully and they suspended him for 2 days before bringing him back after hearing the testimonies of the students.
Luckily, my father and mother instantly believed him when he said he did it since the 3rd grader was a mini-tyrant. Which, he was. He didn't bully me though since most of the girls would protect me and the only people like young boys wouldn't hit were cute girls.
Eating dinner, Jung bragging about how he beat up a bully, going to bed and...yes, bedtime song time.
"Mama's gonna buy you a horse and cart~
And if that horse and cart turn round~
You'll still be the sweetest little babe in town~"
"Huuuahahhhh....good night, mommy"
"Hehe. Good night little Min-chul"
'And yes, I'll do it again. Ahhh, I wanna grow up faster'