An Early Engagement - Chapter 23
“You should’ve woken me up earlier.”
Shirley rubbed her eyes several times after seeing the sun already high in the sky.
“You would’ve been mad if I did,” Sophie said as she brushed Shirley’s hair.
“You’re like a hibernating bear sometimes.”
Shirley had been too excited after finally making up with Damian, which led to a restless night and, as a result, a very late wake-up.
It was utterly embarrassing to be the last one to wake up in the villa.
“Master Damian went to the lake for a swim,” Sophie informed her.
“Oh?”
“Get ready quickly and go see him.”
“What am I, a puppy? Why should I scurry after him like that?”
“You’ll just be bored without Master Damian around anyway.”
“……”
Since Sophie wasn’t wrong, Shirley quietly closed her mouth.
After making up with Damian, the once-dull villa had quickly transformed into a fun and lively place.
As expected, Damian knew her tastes perfectly.
Yesterday, she had been busy playing with the rabbits in the garden all day, and today, she had stayed up all night thinking about what fun things they could do next.
But while she was sleeping in, Damian had already gone to the lake.
For Shirley, who couldn’t swim, there wasn’t much to do at the lake.
Maybe she could just watch Damian swim.
As Shirley aimlessly walked outside, passing through the well-kept garden and fountain on her way to the lake, she suddenly heard a splash.
“……”
Her head turned at the sound of water coming from somewhere.
“Shirley?”
“……”
At Damian’s call, Shirley froze in place.
Damian stood before her, dripping wet. He was still wearing his pants, but his upper body was bare, revealing his toned physique.
Shirley unconsciously gulped. She knew Damian had gone to the lake to swim, but she hadn’t expected him to suddenly appear shirtless.
“You, uh…”
Shirley stumbled over her words.
“What’s wrong?”
Damian, still dripping water, walked closer to where Shirley stood.
His golden hair, darkened by the water, his skin glistening with droplets, his well-defined chest, shoulders, and arms…
All of it felt strangely unfamiliar to Shirley.
Why?
She had seen Damian swim in the lake every year. So why did it feel different this time?
“I just… came to see you.”
“Got bored being alone, huh?” Damian smiled knowingly.
“When did you wake up?”
“…It’s not like I slept that much.”
Shirley replied with a pout.
“What’s wrong with sleeping a lot?”
“You should’ve woken me up. Why did you come to the lake alone?”
“I woke up at dawn. Couldn’t go back to sleep.”
“So… you’ve been swimming since dawn? Here?”
“Yeah.”
Shirley shook her head in disbelief as Damian nodded casually.
Aside from the fact that she wasn’t a strong swimmer, it was astonishing to her how Damian could swim for so long and still have energy to spare.
“It’s because the water’s refreshing,” Damian said, taking a step closer.
“Watch the water!”
Shirley stepped back, startled.
“Ah, sorry.”
Damian quickly apologized, glancing at the water dripping from his body.
Truthfully, Shirley wasn’t startled by the water itself, but she had no intention of revealing the real reason.
*What a shock.*
Shirley discreetly smoothed her chest, trying to calm herself without Damian noticing.
As he moved, the droplets of water clinging to his toned upper body rolled down in a way that momentarily left her dizzy.
*Get a grip, get a grip!*
Shirley had to fight the urge to slap her own cheeks to snap out of it.
“Can you hand me a towel?”
Unaware of Shirley’s internal struggle, Damian made a simple request.
“…Huh?”
“The one you’re standing on.”
“Huh?”
Shirley, still dazed, looked down at her feet. Right where Damian was pointing, a towel was lying on the ground.
“Ah, sorry.”
Shirley quickly picked up the towel and handed it to Damian.
“…Thanks.”
An awkward tension once again passed between the two.
“It looks refreshing,” Shirley broke the silence.
“Yeah, you should try it too.”
“I can’t swim, though.”
“I could hold you…”
“No, thanks.”
Shirley quickly shook her head. Just making eye contact was awkward enough—imagining being held in the water made her shudder.
“Then why did you come here?”
“I was just… taking a walk.”
Shirley blurted out the first thing that came to mind. She couldn’t admit she had been secretly watching him. Well, it wasn’t like she was *spying*. Damian had just suddenly appeared while she was passing by.
As Shirley busied herself with rationalizing, Damian roughly dried himself off with the towel.
When he shook his head, the droplets clinging to his golden hair scattered in all directions.
As their eyes met through his messy, damp hair, Shirley instinctively reached out her hand.
“…There, done.”
After smoothing out his unruly hair, Shirley pulled her hand back, and Damian smiled brightly.
“Thanks.”
“Let’s head back now.”
“You’re not going to swim anymore?”
“What’s the fun without you?”
Was it just her imagination, or did Damian’s voice sound a little sulky?
Hilale
👍👌