What To Do When You Get Annoyed At The Beach

I went to the beach alone.

I know I said it would be really sad if I went to the beach alone, but apparently Inukai and Takahara both had plans this holiday and that just left me in the dust. So, here I am, dragging myself to the distant beach with a bunch of luggage to just hang out with myself. I didn’t ask Takumu either, because I don’t know if I could hold up an entire weekend trip with her.

So, I needed a new reframing of the situation. Instead of “going to the beach alone”, I would take it as a “personal meditative trip”. That made it sound like I was going on this trip to better myself, and being alone was an intentional choice on my part.

I bought myself a new swimsuit too. It was one of those cute pink ones with the long skirt bottoms that made me look elegant. If you were to combine it with my sunglasses, I’d look like a rich girl. I’m not that rich, but I’m allowed to spoil myself in looks sometimes.

Once I reached the beach, I didn’t know if I’d swim. I would probably just sit down on the beach and read a book. As said, personal meditative trip. Maybe I could still plan out some lessons for the kids while I’m here.

So, that’s what I did. I set up my spot, took a book, and started reading. This swimsuit didn’t necessarily lend itself too well to sunbathing, but I also didn’t really want the kids to notice me going to the beach either. I already had enough of them crushing on me, so no tan is completely fine.

It was then I realized the issue with going to the beach alone. Random guys would walk up to you and try to hit on you. This interrupted my personal meditative trip by some guy, who was only 50% as cute as I’d want him to be, constantly walking up towards me and saying something that I could not care less about.

“Enjoying the beach alone?”

“What’s a girl like you doing by yourself?”

“A pretty face like you wearing that? How about we talk.”

Well, I did appreciate the compliments to my swimsuit. I picked this out for a reason. But regardless, it was annoying because I wasn’t really interested. Luckily, I got pretty good at brushing them off and showing them I wasn’t interested.

Well, at least for like, the first four or so guys. The fifth one, oh did he really try and get on my nerves.

I was getting to a really good part of the book I was reading. It was a high fantasy book, a genre that I have a bit of a soft spot for. The hero was having a dramatic conflict with his own best friend, and I was getting really into it… until…

“Sweetcheeks. What’s a girl like you doing in the sun alone? Looking for someone?”

I actively gagged as soon as I was called sweetcheeks. That’s not something you call anyone. I looked at the guy, some barely nineteen college boy probably looking to score.

“Were you put up to a bet by your friends? Are they the ones watching you over there?” I pointed out looking over his shoulder.

“What? No? It’s just, how can I ignore someone like you just—” The guy took a seat next to me, way too close. “Sitting there, looking like an angel.”

I scooted over so I could retain my air of personal space. He scooted closer. I scooted over again. This cycle repeated.

“What’cha reading?” He asked.

“Wouldn’t expect someone like you to get it,” I said back.

“Oh, come on! I’m a great reader. I brought a lot of books back to my hotel room, if you wanna see.”

Please just go away. At least the other guys had the decency to leave after I showed them I was obviously not interested, but this guy was sticking to me like he was some kind of parasitic leech.

“How about, you and me—”

WHISTLE.

A loud screech came from behind the both of us, which brought our attention. I turned around to see the cause of the noise, and the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen was walking towards me in a red one-piece swimsuit.

Wait, prettiest girl I’ve ever seen?

My eyes adjusted and got a look at her face. Her precious face, with long black hair. Wait a second I do recognize this girl, it’s Takumu!

“Hm? What do you want?” The guy stood up.

“I’d advise you to leave her alone,” Takumu said. She wasn’t very intimidating, if I had to be honest, but I appreciated her being here, even if I wasn’t expecting it.

“Why? I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“Harassing people who clearly aren’t interested is something wrong. Come and take it up with my boss if you have a problem, kid.”

“Kid?!”

That seemed to set the guy off, but Takumu’s statement meant that he realistically couldn’t do anything about it. He sulked off, back to his group of friends who seemed to be making fun of him. Regardless, it wasn’t my problem now.

I looked at Takumu, who looked back at me with a smile.

“Hello!” Takumu said.

“Hey,” I looked at her. Was my face red? I couldn’t tell, but it did feel kind of red. “Uh, thanks for that.”

“No problem,” Takumu reassured me. “Mind if I take a seat? I could use a break.”

“Oh, um. Sure, yeah. I just wasn’t expecting to see you here, and all.”

“Yeah. New job, I have to go places.”

I blinked for a second. Didn't she just say something weird?

“New job?”

“Huh? Oh yeah. I got fired from garbage disposal. Woops!”

I stared at Takumu for a bit, wondering what the heck happened.

“So it's been another week, and you got fired and rehired?”

“Yup! But I'm living! Don't worry about me. Luckily I got some lifeguard training back in America so getting this job was a cinch!” Takumu said proudly.

Somehow, if she had gotten fired and rehired from two jobs in a few weeks, that might be something to look out for…

“Anyways,” Takumu said, flipping her hair. Literally all of my apprehensions melted away as I was reminded of how pretty this lady was. “The lifeguarding thing is pretty funny. Though I can't stand some of the parents. I got certified for training mostly cause I didn't really have anything else to do, and wouldn't you know, it might save a life.”

“Uh-huh,” I nodded in agreement.

“And wouldn't you know it, some of the beaches in America are wild. They're like super crowded, and everyone was out and about. But I noticed this one kid struggling to stay afloat, so I had to save him. As a result, their parents treated me to dinner. Pretty cool, right? I actually did save someone.”

“That's… pretty cool! I've had to help people during my nursing studies, and sometimes it's stressful.”

“Oh, it definitely was. You know that thing where a person is likely to drag you down when you're swimming alongside them. That almost happened to me! Jeez, but luckily I'm one tough girl, so I managed.”

My eyes sparkled a little bit. What an impressive story! That's what I wanted to meet her here for, and it seemed like her presence also warded off a bunch of unnecessary guys, so that's a bonus.

“So, Minako,” Takumu said. “Wanna go get something to eat? As a treat, for running into each other.”

“What? Me? I mean, uh, not like I'd say no. So, sure! Yeah!”

I said that awkwardly, like a high school girl. I should know better than that! I'm twenty-six! Not even young twenties, I'm halfway through the damn decade!

“Great! How about we meet up when I'm done with my shift. Just stay here and I'll come back when I'm ready!”

“Okay!”

I waved her off as she got up to continue her lifeguard duties. Her pretty face turned back to me with a wink and a smile.

I thought I might die from that.