Chapter 86 - Gentleman

"We are not able to find the next clue" Kiaraa spoke.

"You two need to sit on this log and go inside the water, inside the pool you will find the next clue" The staff member informed her.

Since, tasks too were involved, after confirming the players properly cracked the clue, the staff tells them what needs to be done next.

It was all a well-planned, fun event. 

"Are you kidding me?" Kiaraa almost shouted at the staff after knowing she has to get into the water to find the next clue.

"You didn't think we will make the clues easier, did you?" The staff person joked in a friendly way.

"Can you believe it?" Kiaraa got annoyed and complained about this game to Song Ji Hun, who was trying to hide his smile as he could see she now felt closer to him.

"Is it possible that I do the task and she stays here, we anyway cracked the clue together" Song Ji Hun requested the staff as he too didn't wish Kiaraa to do something that she doesn't want to.

"No dear, rules are very strict, both of you have to do this task together and only then the next clue you found would be valid" The staff informed Song Ji Hun and went to attend other customers.

"What the hell, I didn't bring extra clothes" Kiaraa looked upset and the next moment she turned furious, "These people intentionally made such rules so that they won't let us win. No wonder people rarely won this treasure hunt"

"Calm down" Song Ji Hun patted her shoulders as he was not sure what else to do.

"What to do now?" Kiaraa asked him.

"We both came till here together and what needs to be done next should be a decision taken by both of us"

He clearly implied, he alone won't decide, which again made Kiaraa happy.

"So, if I say let's not continue this game any further and stop here, what would you say?" Kiaraa questioned him.

"I'd say, when my partner is not comfortable in doing a task then I'd rather prefer leaving this game than forcing her to finish this task with me"

"And if I say I will do this task?"

"Then I'd say sure, I will ensure this task doesn't make you feel uncomfortable"

Kiaraa couldn't hide the smile that spread across her face, as she was impressed with this guy.

"If we give up on this task you won't mind?" she again asked.

"It's okay, what's the point of winning at the cost of one's discomfort. We won't be able to be happy about it later"

"Do you mean everything you just said or you are just trying to impress me?" Kiaraa asked him narrowing her eyes at him but there was a faint smile painted on her lips.

"Why would I try to impress you?" 

Song Ji Hun's counter question made Kiaraa realize, he never did anything till date to impress her and if he wished to, he had many opportunities before to do so.

'Aera, of course, he too might like her' Kiaraa always teased her sister with Song Ji Hun so this realization didn't surprise her a lot but it did make her a bit upset.

'Such an intelligent guy fell for Aera? What is wrong with him?' 

On the other hand, Song Ji Hun was unaffected when she asked him if he was saying all of this to impress her as he was not. He genuinely doesn't wish for her to go through any discomfort for a game.

Since she directly asked him, he had to clear the air as he didn't wish for her to know about his feelings so soon.

"What do you want to do?" Song Ji Hun pulled her from the few distracted thoughts she was having.

"Let's finish the task. We are not some losers to get scared of water" Kiaraa tied up her hair while Song Ji Hun removed his coat, "Will you mind if I remove my t-shirt too?" he asked her.

"No, I won't. There are anyway many naked guys around" Kiaraa casually said as this was a water activity and people roaming around them, semi-naked was common.

"Great" The next moment Song Ji Hun removed his t-shirt and Kiaraa couldn't help but gape at his body.

He was just sixteen and didn't have any abs but his body was lean and attractive.

Kiaraa couldn't move her eyes off him. Although, she could see many semi-naked bodies around her, this one particularly attracted her a lot.

Suddenly, she felt breathless and had difficulty in breathing. She turned around facing the other side and scolded herself, 'Think about all those other hot guys you see in movies, stop thinking about this one' 

"Kiaraa, shall we?" Song Ji Hun left his watch and clothes in a tray assigned for customers before they enter the pool.

"Yes, let's go" Kiaraa tried avoiding look at his body which was making her drool over him.

'What is wrong with me?' she kept asking this question to herself, again and again as she saw greater bodies in her life on television and in movies, yet she was not sure why this one was more attractive.

Kiaraa and Song Ji Hun then sat on one of the logs which descended down to the water pool.

"Oh no, I didn't think this through" Kiaraa tightly held the edges of the log but Song Ji Hun pulled her hands and held them in his. 

"Don't ever hold the edges of logs while sliding, it might be dangerous" Song Ji Hun managed to tell her while they rapidly descended into the water.

"Okay" Kiaraa nodded her head and let him hold her hands.

Within a few seconds they were in the pool.

"Where will we find the clue?" Kiaraa asked him as she looked around water everywhere.

"Let's swim and search underwater" Song Ji Hun suggested and the two people dived in looking for any possible clues.

Whenever they needed oxygen, they came up floating in the water and after feeling better, they again dived in.

At the end of the pool side, Kiaraa saw something shining, she swam towards it and found a golden glittery box.

"Ji Hun, see what I found" Kiaraa waved the box while being half inside the water and half outside.

Song Ji Hun's heart fluttered when he heard her call his name. This was the first time she directly addressed him using his first name without any honorifics.

"Ji Hun see" Kiaraa again waved the box in her hand to grab his attention.

Song Ji Hun signalled her to get out of this water and in a minute the two people swam out.

Kiaraa opened the box and found another scroll.

"Wow we did it" Kiaraa excitedly hugged Song Ji Hun in the moment of excitement again messing with this man's heart, who had been controlling his feelings for more than an hour now.

The moment she felt the touch of his skin under her palms, she realized what she did, Kiaraa casually moved back as if this hug didn't mean anything to her. She didn't wish for him to see through the foreign feelings she was going weirdly developing.

"Wow, you people cracked this clue?" One of the staff members arrived there, clearly looking impressed and handed over two towels, one each to Ji Hun and Kiaraa.

"Yeah" Kiaraa accepted the towel and untied her hair, to dry it.

"Very less people reach till here, good job" The staff member patted Song Ji Hun's shoulder and noted down the unique number on the puzzle before wishing them luck.

Song Ji Hun and Kiaraa collected the tray which had his clothes. 

He wore his t-shirt, which was dry but his pants were wet. 

Song Ji Hun then saw Kiaraa's state and realized she was wet from top to bottom as her shirt and pants both were wet.

Kiaraa luckily wore a thick t-shirt of a bright colour therefore in spite of her clothes being wet, they were not see-through.

"Kiaraa, where this coat, it would be more comfortable" Song Ji Hun handed his jacket to her.

"Would you mind if I remove my t-shirt and wear your jacket?" Kiaraa asked him.

Song Ji Hun's jacket was like a semi-hoodie so she could properly cover herself even without wearing anything beneath it.

"What? You will change your clothes here? There are a lot of people around here, Kiaraa. Please find a more private place" Song Ji Hun panicked assuming she would change her clothes in public.

Kiaraa laughed hearing his words. "Are you crazy? Why would I give a free, hot show to everyone?" 

She then headed to a female washroom and changed into his hoodie and tied her wet t-shirt around her waist.

"I'd prefer to roam more in the sunlight" Kiaraa informed Song Ji Hun after coming out of the changing room.

"Yeah, me too" He pointed at his wet pants making her laugh.

"Thanks for the jacket" Kiaraa didn't expect him to be a gentleman to understand her condition without she mentioning it.

"Anyone would have done the same" Song Ji Hun tried to not blush or show how happy he was right now.

Kiaraa just nodded her head wondering if Ian and Hwan would have done the same for her or not.