Set In Stone (Xiumin)

“Hyerim!”

Having arrived at the country club, I close my eyes for a moment as I hear that familiar voice. Opening them, I see the short man walking towards me in a t-shirt and flip flops, his hands in the pockets of a pair of black shorts.

“Hello,” I say awkwardly.

“You know, I had no idea that you’d be coming today,” Minseok confesses, reaching to rub the back of his neck. For some reason, I believe him.

“My mother told me about it this morning,” I reply, moving a lock of coffee brown hair out of my face.

“Please, come and meet my friends,” he says, turning and leading the way towards the pool. I shoulder my bag and follow him, glad that I’d decided to wear sneakers today. I try not to step in any puddles of water as I near the poolside. The sun is still shining in September, miraculously.

“Greetings,” says a slender man, swimming to the side of the pool and sweeping his chocolate brown hair out of his face. The water glistens as it drips down his face.

“This is Luhan,” Minseok introduces him.

“Pleased to meet you,” I say, inclining my head.

“You’re very pretty,” he says with a youthful grin. Minseok shoots him a look. Luhan chuckles, resting his face on his hands.

“And that’s Tao,” Minseok adds, gesturing to the tanned man who is stretched languidly on a sun lounger. He looks up, lowering his sunglasses.

“I approve,” he calls over, “She had good style.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly, all formality seeming to drop with this guy.

“Both Tao and Luhan’s families own businesses in China,” Minseok explains.

“I don’t really care how rich your friends are,” I say airily. “I’m going to get changed.”

I stalk off to the spacious rooms to slip into my swimming costume. It’s an elegant turquoise one-piece that ties at the back of my neck. I stick my feet in my flip flops and grab a robe from the closet. I slide a few hair ties around my wrist and put my sunglasses on top of my head. Shoving everything into a locker, I grip my phone as I walk back outside.

“Still stylish,” Tao remarks. I sit on a sun lounger next to him and study him. He works out a bit, obviously, though put some effort into his bleach blond hair. The lines of his body are elegant as he rests his head on his hand, his legs stretched out before him.

I turn my glance to Luhan, who swims gracefully across the pool. He’s skinny for sure, but equally fit. He laughs as he flicks water at Minseok, who stands at the side of the pool, his own wet hair revealing that he’d been swimming too some moments ago. I tear my gaze from

Minseok’s muscled arms that protrude from his white t-shirt.

“You parents are friends with his parents, then?” Tao asks, stopping me from noticing anything else.

“Yes, our fathers are in business with each other,” I reply, arranging the robe about my legs.

“Oh, obvious,” he drawls. “I suppose you ought to date, then.”

I almost choke on his suggestion.

“I don’t think so,” I say icily.

“Shame,” Tao says, looking over at Minseok. “He could use a girl.”

I set my jaw. Minseok glances over, catching my eye and smiling. Why is he so nice? It would be a lot easier to hate him if he was mean.

“I only mean he’s probably lonely,” Tao continues.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” I ask directly.

“Hmm, not really my area,” he deliberates.

“Sorry?”

“I don’t need one right now,” Tao answers.

“Well, I don’t need a boyfriend right now,” I grumble.

“You’re, what, twenty-three?” he questions. I nod.

“Well, I’m only twenty-two,” he says, raising an eyebrow behind his sunglasses. “Minseok’s twenty-six now, so his parents probably want him to get married soon. It’s a sad life.”

I sigh in response.

“Sorry for not speaking formally,” Tao says, looking up at the sky.

“It’s fine,” I reply, “I didn’t find it necessary either.”

Tao gives a smirk before becoming silent.

“I’m going swimming,” I mutter, getting up and slipping out of my robe. I toss my sunglasses and phone on the lounger behind me, tying my hair in a bun as I walk towards the pool.

“Are you a good swimmer, Hyerim?” Luhan asks from the water.

“Swimming?” Minseok utters, his eyes widening as he glances down my body. He coughs, his cheeks flushing. He focusses on my eyes. “You might catch a cold.”

“Nice of you to care,” I drawl, “I’m not a child, Kim Minseok.”

“I’m aware, Jung Hyerim,” he shoots back. I raise my chin as I can feel his eyes on my back. A challenge. Fine, then, Minseok. If you want to play it this way…

I dive into the pool, my movements calculated. As expected, I shower Minseok with the splash.
The smirk already on my face as I break the surface of the water, I wipe my eyes to see his scowling face. Luhan is laughing hysterically.

“You should just get in, Minseok,” he suggests.

“I don’t feel like swimming,” Minseok grumbles, stalking off to grab a towel from a nearby sun lounger.

“Savage,” Luhan commends me. I grin at him, wiping off the makeup already dripping down my face. “I think we’ll be great friends.”

“Maybe,” I say, diving under the water again to wash my face. Obviously I forgot to remove my makeup, typical. Luhan and I make small talk as we tread water. He asks me about university and things, questions I have no trouble answering.

“My friend’s coming soon,” I remark.

“Oh, who is it?” Luhan asks.

“He’s called Baekhyun,” I reply, “You’ll probably like him.”

“Probably?”

“It’s difficult to tell with Baek.”

“Ooh, who’s this Baekhyun, then?” he teases. I splash water at him.

“He’s just my uni friend,” I say, “And he’s a bit of an idiot.”

“I like him already,” Luhan says with a laugh. “It’s getting a little cold, so I’m going to get out now.”

“Me, too,” I agree. I wrap a towel around my shoulders and head back to the changing rooms.

After taking a shower, I towel-dry my hair and pull on a pair of loose trousers and a t-shirt.

“Ready?” Minseok asks as I walk back to the pool area.

“For what?” I question.

“We’re going to play some tennis, care to join?”

“Okay,” I agree.

“Well, hello,” says a voice. I grin as I turn to see the one and only Byun Baekhyun.

The man in question saunters over in a grey sweatshirt and bright red shorts. A pair of green-lensed sunglasses rest atop his mousey curls. His flip flops slap the pool tiles as he approaches. I almost laugh at Minseok’s expression of confusion. Baekhyun comes to my side and slings an arm across my shoulders.

“I’m Byun Baekhyun,” he says, sticking out a hand.

“Kim Minseok,” the shorter man utters. He looks from Baekhyun to me, and back again. “Is he… your boyfriend?”

Tao snorts. Luhan raises his eyebrows as he returns, rubbing his hair with a towel.

“No,” I answer.

“I heard we’re playing tennis?” Baekhyun asks.

“We will be shortly,” Minseok replies, still looking a little confused. “I’m still waiting for a friend to arrive.”

“Oh, really?” Baekhyun says.

“I’ve arrived!” a voice declares.

A lanky man throws his hands above his head, whipping off a pair of sunglasses to reveal a grinning face framed with dark curls and elf-like ears. He looks fit as anything, with tight calf muscles and probably some abs beneath that green t-shirt. I can see Baekhyun looking him up and down, appreciatively. The tall man strides over, slapping the hands of Tao and Luhan as he goes.

“You must be Hyerim,” he says, the cheerful grin never leaving his face.

“Yes, that’s me,” I reply, having to look up to meet his eyes. Man, he was tall.

“And you are…?”

“Byun Baekhyun,” he replies, sticking out his hand. “At your service,” he adds as the tall man shakes it vigorously.

“Park Chanyeol,” he responds, a flicker of mischief in his eyes. Please don’t let these two become friends, I’ll never escape their pranks, I can see it now…

“Well, tennis it is,” says Minseok.

Notes

Annyeonghaseyo!! Hope you're all enjoying so far, please leave a comment letting me know what you think~
I'll be updating soon, fighting~!
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