Head above the water

21

(Me when I try to learn math.)

It was still very cold outside, but none the less, Jimin and I were still at the public pool. Jimin had picked me up at home, and we were now standing near the edge of the water, hesitating to get in.

"We have to be in the water for me to teach you," I said.

"I know," was all he replied with.

Neither of us made a move for the frigid liquid. I was thinking hard about ways to avoid the cold while staring at the greyness at my feet. It drew my attention when an elbow bumped my arm, and I looked up to see Jimin slipping out of his shirt.

My cheeks flushed red as I stared at his tan stomach and muscular shoulders. It was so much better than what I had imagined the first time we met when his shirt stuck to his body by the salt water. His warm eyes met mine, and I immediately forced myself to jump into the water so I could blame my red cheeks on the temperature.

Jimin gave me a weird look, and then he burst out into laughter.

"You swim in your clothes?" He asked me.

I looked down to realize that I was, in fact, still wearing my jeans and black t-shirt.

"No, I don't, actually," I admitted, embarrassed.

I pulled off the wet shirt, and fought my way out of the jeans while I was still in the water. I sat the clothes on the side of the pool in a soaking heap and glanced up at Jimin.

"Well, come on in!" I commanded, "It's shallow enough to stand. Don't worry, I have you!"

He was hesitant, but he sat down on the edge, letting his legs hang into the coldness. I took his hand, and he slipped the rest of the way into the water.

"You okay?" I asked him.

He was shaking, though I didn't know if it was from the cold or from fear. I knew he was afraid. Afraid that he would drown, afraid that he wouldn't learn, afraid that I would let him go. I would have to drop his hand eventually, that much I knew, but he would be okay when I did.

"I'm going to start really easy, okay?" I spoke softly to him.

"Okay," he whispered back.

There was no reason for either of us to be quiet. We were the only idiot that would go swimming in this weather, and the pool was empty of anyone else.

I crouched in the water and blew bubbles, giggling as I cane back up.

"Now you try it," I insisted.

He looked at me incredulously, but he followed my instructions. His cheeks puffed up as he breathed in, and it made me really want to pinch them. I restrained myself. He blew small bubbles at first, but they gradually got bigger as he realized it was actually kind of fun.

After a few seconds he stood back up, a grin spread across his features.

"See? Easy, isn't it. That's the scariest part. Now you know that you control wether the water is in your mouth or not. You won't drown," I reassured him.

"That's not the hardest part," He laughed at my encouragement, "The hardest part is going to be actually swimming."

I huffed in annoyance at being called out, but soon the smile was back on my face.

"Just for that," I said slyly, "Now you have to learn to float."

His eyes widened at that, but he nodded his head in agreement.

"Just relax. Lay back and pick your feet up. I'll have my hand under you in case you get scared. To float you have to be relaxed or it won't work," I explained to him.