CHAPTER 30

Nick and Lexi were the junior crew members in charge of the upper grades who worked with Noah. Minhee could only nod absentmindedly, her mind still lost in thoughts.

On the way back to the camp, she couldn’t remember what she said or how she looked.

That evening, having changed outfits several times, Minhee eventually opted for her very first pair of denim shorts paired with an off-the-shoulder top and headed to Noah’s house.

The French Colonial mansion, built a few hundred meters from one of the most scenic beaches on the island, had a separate guest house from the main house, and offered a breathtaking view of the sea. As one entered the backyard garden, a vast expanse of white sand and the beach came into view. Large swimming pools and tennis courts flanked both sides.

8 or 9 children had already arrived and were playing in the pool, all of them bewildered and curious at the arrival of the Asian girl who had followed closely behind Noah.

Noah dragged Minhee to the cocktail bar, offering to make her one of his signature non-alcoholic cocktails. The moment Minhee arrived, the kids gathered around her as if drawn by a magnet, creating a buzz.

“They didn’t know me, but I already knew who they were. They’re the most popular group in the school.”

Since Asians are not common on a small island in South Carolina, they also openly glanced at Minhee, perhaps because they felt like they had seen her somewhere, or because they were surprised that Noah was taking such special care of her.

In particular, Brianna, the captain of the cheerleading team, grabbed Minhee like a leopard with its claws raised and asked her a barrage of questions. Minhee also knew that she was the best friend of Skylar, Noah’s ex-girlfriend and the ‘queen bee’ of Rosewood High.

Once Brianna learned that Minhee had been invited because she and Noah had worked together at summer camp, she quickly lost interest in Minhee.

“I’ve been to birthday parties, sleepovers at friends’ houses, and even a dance party attended by the entire grade, but I’d never been to a private party for the so-called ‘populous kids’ before.”

Amidst the natural and sophisticated aura of those who seemed to have attended such parties hundreds of times, Minhee felt stiff and awkward, standing alone. At least Noah was almost glued to her side, and she had become friends with Nick and Lexi during camp, so Minhee sighed in relief.

“Noah said it was just a casual pizza party. But as the sun set, a chef in a white shirt came out with a cart carrying exquisite Italian appetizers and oven-baked pizzas for dinner.”

After a dinner that tasted better than a restaurant, Noah gathered the materials for a bonfire, and Minhee followed him to the backyard.

He walked a hundred meters down a narrow sandy path to a white sandy beach, warmed by the afternoon sun as it dipped near the horizon. Noah and a few guys dug a shallow drum, threw in some large pieces of wood, and started a fire.

As everyone gathered around the bonfire, Noah handed out large, white marshmallows. Minhee, too, grabbed a long wooden skewer and roasted her marshmallow over the fire.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, turning the sky a deep blue mirroring Noah’s eyes, the golden glow that had been burning brightly started to blend into a fiery red near the horizon. The sun rapidly disappeared into the darkening sea.

Noah looked around, then padded over to the nearest empty seat and plopped down next to Minhee.

[Min, thanks for coming today.]

[Oh……. thanks for inviting me. By the way, that cocktail was really delicious. What was it called again?]

[Golden Sparkler. Min! Your marshmallow’s on fire!]

With all her attention focused on Noah sitting next to her, Minhee let out a short sigh and flicked her skewer up. The marshmallow burned brightly like a torch. Noah snatched the skewer from her hand and skillfully extinguished the marshmallow in a quick puff, revealing a perfectly browned exterior and gooey interior.

[Perfect, crispy on the outside and melted on the inside, good job, Min].

Noah sandwiched the marshmallow and chocolate between crackers and held it out to Minhee. Although Noah’s kindness may have been thoughtless, having lived a lifetime without having to worry about others’ opinions, Minhee, who had learned the concept of ‘reading the room’ in Korea, keenly felt the piercing gazes around her.

[Let’s play Truth or Dare!]

Someone shouted from the other side of the bonfire.

[Are we in middle school? Again with that game?]

[Ugh, I’m bored, don’t you have anything else?]

[Oh, let’s just play it!]

Grumbling but complying, everyone gathered around the bonfire and sat in a circle. Noah and Trey took their places next to Minhee.

Trey Davis, a running back on the football team, was in the same grade as Noah and a notorious flirt nicknamed “The Hyena.” Despite this, it was rumored that Trey had a lower barrier to entry than the rest of the football team because he didn’t sleep with every girl who approached him. As such, he was seen as a ladder, or gateway, for ambitious girls who wanted to join the popular group.

Maybe due to hormonal fluctuations at this age, or perhaps it was just the atmosphere of the game, the questions and dares were surprisingly bold and risqué.At least that’s what Minhee, who wasn’t used to it, thought.

When Brianna’s turn was over, she pointed a long finger at Noah.

[Noah Brown! Truth or Dare?]

Leaning one shoulder forward, lips protruding, and eyes squinted with a deadly expression, Brianna lengthened her words.

[Truth.]

Noah smirked and tilted his chin slightly in response. Playful taunts like ‘Boo!’, ‘That’s boring, Noah!’, and ‘Screw the truth!’ were playfully hurled at him.

[Noah, when was the last time you kissed someone?]

Noah rolled his eyes at Brianna and raised one eyebrow.

[Seriously, Brianna, do you have to do this?]

[Just answer, Noah!!]

[…Today.]

Noah glanced at Minhee out of the corner of his eye and shrugged his shoulders, causing an exclamation of ‘Whoa!’ and a whistling sound that echoed along the seashore. Minhee flinched at Noah’s response and lowered her head.

As the sun sank below the sea, the once azure sky rapidly darkened into a deep navy. She was glad that the shades of red cast by the bonfire on her face were hard to distinguish from her blush of embarrassment.

The dreamlike situation of Noah kissing her, the tickling sensation of his bare knee against hers, the way her eardrums vibrated sweetly whenever he laughed —Minhee couldn’t regain her composure.

Dazed, she stared at Noah until he nominated Grayson across from her, and then Grayson nominated Trey next to her, and then she was jolted back to reality by the sound of Trey’s voice next to her.

[I’ll take a bold dare.]

[Oh, is that so? Kiss the person you find more attractive among the two sitting beside you!]

[What the heck, Grayson!!]

[A dare is a dare, Trey!]

To Trey’s right sat Nick, a guy, and to his left sat Minhee. Without even thinking about it, Trey reached out to Minhee. Noah swiftly wrapped his arm around Minhee’s waist and pulled her onto his lap.

[No, Trey, you hyena, she’s too innocent to kiss a brute like you].

[Huh! Innocent, my as$. What the f*ck is she, a walking toddler? Hand her over!]

[Can’t do that! You can kiss Nick on your other side!]

[What the f*ck is wrong with you, trying to make somebody gay? Ah, is she your hidden little sister or something? Why are you so defensive? Or, what, is she your new girlfriend?]

[Tray Davis, you son of a b*tch, think of her as your little sister. Do you want to kiss her, huh? Do you?]

[It’s a dare! Whether it’s a toddler or a sister, I don’t care!]

[Ha……. persistent bastard. Hey, I didn’t say where to kiss her, so yeah, kiss the back of her hand, you have 0.1 seconds.]

Minhee, sitting on Noah’s lap, initially paled at the request but soon her face heated up to the point where her ears tingled. Turning her head quickly to follow the back-and-forth banter between Noah and Trey, Minhee was taken by surprise when Noah suddenly grabbed her wrist and extended it towards Trey, who, in turn, grabbed her hand and forcefully pulled her.

Two members of the football team, one gripping Minhee’s waist and the other pulling her hand, teetered on the edge with their upper bodies leaning precariously. Onlookers clapped and burst into laughter.

Ignoring Noah’s protests, Trey lowered his head to Minhee’s lips. Then he met Minhee’s eyes, wide with terror, and froze.

[F*ck, fine. I admit it. Can’t do it with her.]

Trey pressed his lips firmly on the back of Minhee’s hand, raised his hands in the air, and shrugged.

[See that? I completed the dare. At least I tried. No matter who I am, I cover what needs to be covered.]

Trey rambled on without context, then raised a finger and pointed at Minhee.

[Hey, Toddler. Truth or dare?]

[…Truth.]

Seeing the level of dare, Minhee swallowed hard and chose truth in a crawling voice. She tried to ignore the fact that Trey had called her a ‘toddler’. Trey smirked through bared teeth and narrowed his eyes at Minhee.

[You’re too innocent for me, but you kissed Noah today!!!]

[Trey Davis!]

Noah warned Tray in a low voice, but the bomb had already exploded. Cheers and laughter erupted simultaneously.

Experiencing such embarrassment for the first time, Minhee, too embarrassed and flustered, remained speechless with her mouth slightly agape. Unconsciously, she covered her reddening face with her hand. Noah pulled her close and hugged her, putting his hand on her head and pulling her face into his shoulder.

[Take it easy, she’s my camp crew.]