Lifeguard on Duty [MINQI] | ✓

04: What a rollercoaster

After a restless night being pestered to oblivion by her meddling friends (by that, she means a literal interrogation), the next day comes with a newfound anticipation of seeing her favorite lifeguard-slash-girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

The mere thought of it has her heart doing a little tap dance. Smiling all the way to the pool as she merrily skips alongside her friends, who are taking great amusement in the Thai's lively attitude and her child-like enthusiasm. It's nice seeing her so happy.

"About time you two became official, unnie. I thought I'd get white hair first before either one of you made a move." Shuhua groans to emphasize her frustration.

Minnie rolls her eyes, but smiles light-heartedly as a blush creeps into her cheeks. "You have Yuqi to thank for that."

A scoff. "Well, obviously. If it weren't for her, you'd probably spend the rest of the summer moping about your non-existent love life."

"Now listen here, you little..."

The group just laughs at her expense.

Oddly enough, Yuqi isn't at her watchtower like she expected. Instead, a blonde woman sporting the mandatory swim attire (sunglasses included. Because, apparently, it's a lifeguard thing) sits in her place while the girl herself is nowhere to be seen.

It's the first time Yuqi hasn't shown up for her usual pool shift, so Minnie can't help but draw out the worse-case scenarios to explain her girlfriend's absence. Is she sick? Did she end up having an accident and needed to go to the hospital?

Crap, did Yuqi even make it home last night?! Minnie began to panic.

Before her mind could sink any deeper into those anxiety-riddled thoughts, Soojin's voice pulls it out from her brooding.

"Is that a new lifeguard?" She suddenly asks with her eyes fixed on the unfamiliar face, and Minnie swears that she saw hearts in them.

"Seems like it. I haven't seen her around since we first got here." The Thai lies back on her chair after putting up her towel on the headboard. It's a nice day to go swimming, but she feels a bit disheartened by the change of view. Not that Blondie over there isn't attractive, she's just Yuqi-biased.

"Oh, wow." Soojin sighs almost dreamily. "What's with all the hot lifeguards nowadays? You think she's single, unnie?"

The three blanches at her. "What?" She questions their baffled faces.

"It hasn't been ten minutes and you're already hitting on the new girl?" Miyeon is flabbergasted. "We don't even know her name!"

"It's Soyeon." A fourth, deeper voice answers from across them, and they turn their heads to find Yuqi approaching their spot. Already clad in her white rash guard and signature black shades, which she perches atop her head as she flashes them an award-winning smile.