A Short Swim

Travis began swimming further and further from shore, the cool water gliding over his skin as the waves lapped softly against him. The distant hum of the sea blended with the rhythm of his strokes, each pull propelling him further into the open expanse. As he pushed forward, his shoulder grazed something solid. Startled, he raised his head and blinked at the small boat before him, its sides weathered and painted in peeling white and blue, just big enough for three people.

"Hmm, it'd be nice if I could own a yacht one day," he muttered to himself, his gaze lingering on the simple vessel. With a sigh, he turned to swim back toward the shore, the thought fading into the salty breeze.

Just then, a voice cut through the air. "Hey, Travis! What are you doing here?"

He froze mid-turn, water dripping from his face as he looked back. There, standing against the sunlit shimmer of the sea, was Han-Bada. Her silhouette was striking against the backdrop of the glowing horizon, her puzzled expression softened by the golden light reflecting off the gentle waves.

"I'm swimming, of course. What are you doing here?" he called out, his voice carrying easily over the water.

Her lips parted as if to respond, but before she could, he surged forward. With a powerful kick, he launched himself out of the water, droplets scattering like diamonds as his body arched through the air. He landed lightly on the boat's edge, his feet steady on the wooden deck.

"Man, I can do anything with this body," he thought, feeling the flex of his muscles as a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. The confidence radiated from him as he met Han-Bada's curious gaze, the playful spark in his eyes impossible to miss.

Han-Bada stared at him in disbelief, her wide eyes searching his face as though trying to confirm if what she'd just witnessed was real.

"How did you do that? Are you some kind of super soldier?" she blurted, her voice tinged with awe, confusion, and just a hint of suspicion.

Travis leaned back slightly, a casual grin spreading across his face. "Nah, I don't like Marvel. I'm more of a DC fan," he replied nonchalantly, letting the humor roll off his tongue as if the question hadn't fazed him at all.

But her gaze didn't waver, her curiosity only growing. "I'm serious. How did you get here? Did you swim?" she pressed, her questions tumbling out rapidly as the sunlight reflected off the gentle ripples around the boat, highlighting the golden tips of her hair.

"Yeah, I swam. You work here? Why are you alone though?" he asked, smoothly deflecting her interrogation as he leaned casually against the boat's edge.

"I'm a solo diver," she replied with a shrug, her tone tinged with a hint of pride. "And I'm good at it. I don't really need anyone on board. But you still didn't answer my questions."

Travis chuckled, his laugh low and rich as he sat down on the edge of the boat, letting his legs dangle lazily over the side. "Let's just leave everything a mystery for now. I heard girls love a mysterious guy."

Han-Bada squinted at him, her lips curling in a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Well, whatever," she said with a shake of her head. "I was about to go on a deep dive anyway. Could you stay here for a minute or two and guard the boat?"

"Sure."

Han-Bada smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling slightly, and began suiting up. She adjusted her mask, tugged the straps into place, and took a deep breath, savoring the salty tang of the sea breeze. With a graceful leap, she plunged into the water. The surface broke around her in a cascade of bubbles, and she disappeared into the depths, her body moving effortlessly through the crystalline blue. Sunlight streamed through the water, creating dancing patterns on the sandy seabed as she swam deeper, the tranquil world below swallowing her whole.

Travis watched her disappear with a faint smile tugging at his lips. 'She's probably going to be the easiest to win over in this whole story,' he thought, leaning back and closing his eyes against the sun. 'The hardest? Definitely the girl who went to the city, the milf, and the main heroine.'

He sat on the deck, the sound of waves lapping against the hull mingling with his thoughts. 'I wonder why my body feels so… super. I mean, no military workout could explain this. Maybe they made me like this because of the people I'm going to have to fight in this world,' he mused, his brow furrowing slightly.

A few minutes later, Han-Bada surfaced, her dark hair clinging to her face as she reached for the boat's ladder. Travis moved quickly, lowering it for her.

As she climbed, salty water stung her eyes, forcing them shut for a moment. In that brief lapse, her hand slipped, and she teetered dangerously on the edge of the ladder.

"Whoa, careful there," Travis said, his voice sharp with concern as he lunged forward, his hands catching her wrists just in time. His grip was firm, steadying her as she regained her footing.

Han-Bada climbed back aboard and sank onto the deck, her breaths coming fast as she shook the water from her face. "Man, that could've ended badly," she said with a nervous laugh, glancing up at him.

"You alright?" Travis asked, crouching beside her, his brows knit in genuine worry.

Han-Bada nodded, her cheeks warming under his gaze. Her eyes darted to his face, and for a moment, her thoughts stilled. "He's really good looking, honestly," she thought, feeling the blush deepen as she quickly looked away. "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks to you, of course."

"Well, I better go," he said, straightening and stretching casually. "Still gotta find that tour you mentioned. See ya, Bada-Noona."

She watched, dumbfounded, as he dove into the water with fluid precision. His sleek form disappeared beneath the surface before reemerging with a powerful stroke, cutting through the waves with ease.

"Is he a merman?" she mused aloud, shaking her head with a small, incredulous smile. "I mean, he's certainly as handsome as one."

Back on the beach, as Travis emerged from the water, the attention of several women shifted toward him. Their eyes lingered on his sun-kissed skin and defined physique, murmurs of admiration following his confident strides. He retrieved his flip-flops and sauntered back toward Soohyun, his every step drawing lingering glances.

"I thought you died. Guess not," Soohyun quipped as he approached, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

"What a lame lifeguard you are," Travis shot back, smirking. "Anyway, what time do you clock out?"

"In an hour. Why?"

"You've gotta show me around. As my new friend, of course. Got a problem?"

"No, I was just asking," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Well, I'll see you then."

Travis nodded and made his way back to his apartment. As he sank into the warm bath, his thoughts wandered back to Han-Bada. A grin spread across his face.

'Man, I was so slick. I didn't know I had it in me,' he thought, the memory of her flustered expression bringing an amused chuckle to his lips.

TO BE CONTINUED