How It Should Have Ended Part2 (The Continuation)

Chapter 18 (Bonus Chapter): The Trip

True enough, the boys looked to be enjoying the water immensely. Jan Di could see them smiling and laughing as they splashed in the water. She noticed they were all shirtless - their smooth, wet skin glistened brightly in the sunlight. She sighed dreamily as she watched them, and she heard the other two girls sigh as well.

"Jan Di," Ga Eul spoke softly, her voice dreamy. "Do you think it's bad if we're spying on our own boyfriends like this?"

"Mmm?" A mischievous grin was plastered on her face. She had seen them shirtless at the beach before, of course, but out here, in the middle of nowhere, with no other eyes to gawk at them but theirs, it felt as though they had walked into something forbidden. Try as she could, though, she couldn't tear her eyes away from them.

"I was wrong about yesterday," Ga Eul continued, her eyes fixed ahead at the sight before them. "Today is the best day ever."

She nodded, her eyes fixed on Ji Hoo. She looked at the water longingly and wished she could be out there swimming with him. He had told her about his meeting with a specialist in Canada, and the high probability of her swimming again. She thought about it long and hard, and decided she was going to risk the surgery. Their plan was to go there after their wedding, where Ji Hoo could still continue his residency while she recovered. Once again, he had found a way to fulfill his promise to her.

I still can't believe you're mine, she thought, her heart brimming with love.

"What are you girls doing here?"

All three of them jumped so high they could have tried for a basketball team somewhere.

"Umm...we're..." Hye Jin stammered, face flushed with embarrassment.

"We're on bear watch," Ga Eul finished, lifting her chin up to seem confident.

Woo Bin arched an eyebrow. He was dripping wet, still shirtless. Jan Di noticed Hye Jin was looking everywhere but at him. "Really? Out here?"

"Yes." Jan Di tried to quickly think of an excuse. "We were...going to scream if we saw one but umm...we didn't so we're leaving now."

All three of them stood up and turned around, but Woo Bin called out to them.

"Why don't you girls come join us? The water's not bad."

"Well, we need to get back to camp...to clean up." Jan Di winced as she blurted out the most pathetic excuse ever.

"Clean up what?" Ji Hoo seemed to appear suddenly. Yi Jung was right behind him.

"I told the girls to come join us." Woo Bin explained. "Besides, don't you girls want to wash off a bit?"

"Are you saying we smell?" Ga Eul narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'm just saying I think you girls will enjoy it too."

The girls looked at each other uncertainly.

"Hey," Ji Hoo put a gentle hand on Jan Di's elbow. "I'll be there with you so you don't have to be afraid. I can be your lifesaver. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

Jan Di sighed heavily. "We're not really dressed for it." All three girls were wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts.

"Just go in like that," Yi Jung suggested. "We did. I mean, obviously you don't have to take your shirts off..."

Ga Eul glared at him. "We won't."

The girls hesitantly went into the water, a step in at a time. Before long, they were splashing around and giggling. The boys were right – it felt refreshing and cool, and was a nice relief from the scorching sun beating on them.