Chapter 41

It could be said that it was a good season for men. After all, it was the season to see women in bikinis to their heart’s content.

In winter, not only were people bundled up tightly, but there were no women swimming at the beach. Who in their right mind would swim in the sea when the temperature was close to freezing? Unless, of course, they were someone special who couldn’t feel the cold. And everyone was busy wrapping themselves up in sweaters or padded jackets. After all, South Korea’s winters were famously cold, even by global standards.

But when summer came, the story changed. Women started wearing swimsuits that revealed their figures and had fun with their friends at the beach. Of course, these days, strange swimsuits were in fashion. Rash guards, which didn’t reveal much of the body, were trending.

It was a swimsuit that even women who weren’t confident in their figures could wear comfortably. It covered the whole body like a tight outfit. In fact, it was a great swimsuit for women who lacked confidence in their bodies. However, for the men who came to the beach to see women, it wasn’t exactly ideal.

Compared to bikinis or other swimsuits that revealed the body, rash guards covered everything. They were reminiscent of diving suits, with only the hands and feet exposed.

While bikinis were considered very appealing, revealing almost the entire body except for the chest and panties, rash guards were the complete opposite.

Anyway, the reason I’m talking about this is because of the situation unfolding before my eyes.

“Mommyyyyy! Isn’t this pretty?”

Ha-yeon was holding up a swimsuit and showing it to me. Since it was a child’s swimsuit, the design was simpler and more modest compared to adult women’s swimsuits.

The round flower patterns suited her perfectly. It was just right for Ha-yeon.

If it had been an adult woman’s swimsuit, the fabric area would definitely have been much smaller. Children’s swimsuits stayed true to their purpose.

If the swimsuit Ha-yeon was holding had been for adult women, I was sure the fabric area would have been reduced by at least 50%. Children’s swimsuits focused more on cuteness than exposure. And exposing children in the first place was just insane.

I clapped and looked at Ha-yeon.

“It’s so pretty! You’ll look like an angel in it!”

“Hehe! I’ll try it on!”

Ha-yeon slipped into the fitting room. I watched her with a warm smile.

“Auntie… Ha-yeon’s swimsuit is pretty, but what about mine?”

Next to me, Yoo-in-a, Ha-yeon’s friend, was holding a swimsuit, looking a bit shy. Yoo-in-a had decided to join us on our swimming trip because she wanted to come. She visited every weekend to play with Ha-yeon, so we had become close enough to drop formalities. I liked Yoo-in-a too. Whenever she came over, we played board games and grew closer.

When Ha-yeon, Yoo-in-a, and I played board games together, time flew by as we got absorbed in the fun.

Anyway, the swimsuit Yoo-in-a was holding was also cute, just like Ha-yeon’s. I clapped and said to her,

“That looks great on you too! You’re like an angel!”

“R-really, Auntie?”

“Yep!”

I gave her a bright smile. Yoo-in-a’s face turned slightly red. Both Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a seemed to get shy whenever I complimented them. What’s so great about compliments from an auntie like me… To Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a, I must seem like an old lady. There’s almost a 15-year age gap between us.

In this age of information and AI, even a 5-year gap felt like the difference between a caveman and a modern human. With Ha-yeon, Yoo-in-a, and me, the gap was almost 15 years. That’s enough time for mountains and rivers to change. Back in the day, generational gaps weren’t as noticeable, but in this fast-paced era, the gap felt enormous.

These days, even a 5-year difference made people say you smelled like an old man. I couldn’t even imagine what they’d say about the 15-year gap between me, Yoo-in-a, and Ha-yeon.

Despite the gap, we understood each other and spent time together, laughing.

Yoo-in-a also went into the fitting room. I felt a bit lonely without Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a. Just moments ago, it had been so lively…

As I was thinking that, Ha-yeon came out of the fitting room, wearing the cute swimsuit she had been holding earlier. I clapped and said something to make her happy.

“It’s so pretty, Ha-yeon!”

“Really, Mom?”

“Yep! It’s like an angel came down from heaven!”

“Hehe…”

Ha-yeon smiled, clearly in a good mood. She seemed too shy to come out of the fitting room. Wearing a swimsuit outside the fitting room required a lot of confidence. As I was admiring Ha-yeon’s swimsuit, the door of the next fitting room opened.

There, Yoo-in-a stood shyly in her swimsuit. I praised her too. Of course, Ha-yeon was giving me a jealous look. Maybe she was upset that Yoo-in-a was getting attention instead of her. Ha-yeon was still young. In this day and age, where keeping a poker face is important, her emotions were so transparent! But that was part of her charm, so I didn’t say anything.

I knew a great way to resolve this situation. After giving Yoo-in-a a quick glance, I went into Ha-yeon’s fitting room. Ha-yeon looked surprised when I entered.

“M-Mom!”

“You’re so cute, Ha-yeon!”

The fitting room door slammed shut. A few minutes later, when it opened again, Ha-yeon was beaming. She always smiled when I gave her a little tickle. Of course, if I overdid it, it wouldn’t work…

Anyway, we managed to buy swimsuits for Yoo-in-a and Ha-yeon. Since they were children’s swimsuits, they weren’t provocative or flashy. In fact, they had flower decorations, giving them a bright and cheerful feel. They were perfect for Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a. As we were about to head home, Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a looked at me and said,

“Mom, aren’t you going to buy a swimsuit?”

“Auntie, you should get one too!”

“Huh…!”

I avoided their gazes and said,

“I already have one at home, so I don’t need to buy one.”

I really did have a swimsuit at home, and Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a knew about it. I thought they’d let it slide, but they were horrified and started protesting.

“Mommyyyyy! That one’s so outdated! It’s not something you should wear!”

“I agree with Ha-yeon!”

“Eh… swimsuits are all the same.”

“No, they’re not!”

Ha-yeon shook her head vigorously, looking desperate. I thought about the swimsuit I had at home. It was the kind of one-piece swimsuit older women wore to the local pool, not a bikini.

“R-really?”

I couldn’t leave the store under Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a’s fierce opposition. They grabbed my hands and dragged me somewhere. Not to the children’s section, but to the adult women’s swimsuits.

“Eek!”

There were far bolder swimsuits than I had imagined. Bikinis, and all sorts of other styles. Compared to the children’s swimsuits we had just seen, these were much more revealing. Do women really walk around the beach in these…? It was beyond my comprehension.

The bottoms were so small they barely covered anything, and the tops weren’t much better. It looked like they’d slip off if someone tugged them slightly. I looked at Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a with trembling eyes. Seeing their determined looks, I realized I wouldn’t be able to leave without buying a swimsuit.

But I didn’t want to wear any of those skimpy swimsuits. As I rolled my eyes around, I spotted something else hanging nearby. It wasn’t a bikini—it was a rash guard. I smirked.