Swimmers Don't Swim

Taehyung gazed upon the beautiful white sand beach, seeing people splashing around in the water and other laying on the sand, taking in some good vitamin D. He loved the beach. He loved skipping along the wet sand, he loved laying on shore, guessing what clouds shaped like as they sailed by. But what he loved the most was swimming in the crystal clear water with his mother and little sister.

Speaking of his family, he pulled on his mother's hand rushing her out of the car. "Wait, wait Taehyung, I need to take your sister out the baby seat, " his mother said un-buckling his four years old sister, Chaeyoung. The boy stood there pouting angrily at the ground. He wanted to swim in the clear sea water, feeling himself glide through the waves. His mother was now rubbing sunscreen on his sister, distracted. He could just run off and play by himself, and that's what he did.

Taehyung ran down the beach's slope, feeling euphoria. The fast wind caressing his tanned skin, the sunshine heating up his body and the sand rubbing between his toes. He closed his eyes, letting his feet carry him away. "Oof- " The boy ran into someone falling on the ground.

He looked up, meeting two dark pupils staring intensely at him. It was a boy that looked older than him, ten maybe. The older boy had short black hair matching with his eyes, a white t-shirt and blue shorts. He had a chiseled jaw with a straight nose and small pink lips. He intimidated the smaller boy. Taehyung quickly got up, mumbling a small ''sorry'' before running back to his mother, who didn't notice his absence.

The older boy watched the younger, something attracted him to the smaller. Whatever it was, he didn't like it.

Taehyung ran across the shoreline, his arms spread out, inhaling the fresh air. "Taehyung, come put on your sunscreen! " his mother yeld from under her umbrella. "Coming! " His small legs ran to her.

"Mom, I want to play in the water now, " Taehyung whined as he sat between his mother's legs.

"Not now, the water is too crowded, " She replied rubbing sunscreen on her son's gum like cheeks. The boy pouted, crossing his arms. He wanted to play in the water. He wanted to explore the City of Atlantis, his imaginary kingdom that he ruled. He wanted to swim out into the sea where the water wasn't light blue but dark going to purple.

"Okay, mom. "

"Mommy, look! The water isn't crowded anymore! " Taehyung exclaimed, sitting on his mom knees. He shook her thighs, trying to gain her attention from her boring 'World Champions' book.

"Tae bear, later. Chaeyoung is sleeping. " She rubbed her daughter's hair, who's resting on her chest.

"But, but you said when the water's clear we could go and swim, " the boy said on the verge of tears. His lips quivered as his puppy eyes stared at his mother, making her feel guilty.

"How 'bout we get some ice cream? " As soon as she said 'ice cream', Chaeyoung's head raised.

"I want ice cream too! " Taehyung's mother stared confused at her daughter nonetheless got up, walking to the ice cream cart with her children waddling behind her.

The boy stared into the sun, his eyes watering from the brightness. He turned way, seeing a green light wondering in any direction he looked. He looked up to his mom, she seems as bored as he was. "Mom, can we go in the water now? " he asked, crawling onto her exposed tummy.

"Okay-"

"Mommy, I want to pee. Now! " Chaeyoung cried feeling her bladder about to explode. His mother quickly picked her up, giving Taehyung her novel book to hold.

"I'm gonna take Chaeyoung to the bathroom then we play in the water, okay. You wanna come? " The boy shook his head. "Okay, don't go anywhere. " she walked off to find a bathroom.

Taehyung was fed up. He could have been playing in the water if it wasn't for his mom's dumb excuses. He got an idea. What if he went into the water while his mom left, but only for a little while, before his mom came back. Yeah! This plan is perfect!

The boy ran into the cold water without hesitation. Giggling, feeling the water splash under his feet. "Wow! " the seven year old boy gazed off into the glittering clear water. He could see people swimming, others laughing with their friends and some just floating on top of the water like starfishes . He could see the different variations of the sea color; sky blue, dark blue and purple. He wanted to swim to the purple seas, and that's what he did.

Jungkook blew on his whistle signaling his friends that the swimming race had begun. He was one of the top swimmers in his school, winning multiple gold medals in swimming tournaments. His friends asked him to show them some of his techniques and coach them. It was frustrating. His friends would only play around and push each other, making this beach trip go to waste.

He sighed seeing one of his friends jump on another to prevent them from winning. That was until something caught his eye. It was a little boy walking into the deeper parts of the beach; it was the boy he bumped into earlier. His puzzled eyes searched the beach looking for someone that looked related to the boy. There was. A lady and a little girl looked like they were about to cry searching for something, perhaps that little boy. Jungkook followed him.

Taehyung giggled cutely, nearing the end of the clear water. He stood on his tippy toes and his noes just above the water. A large wave engulfed the boy, covering him completely. But he knew how to swim, okay doggy paddle. He lifted off the sea floor, propelling his arms and legs through the water. Jungkook still trailing behind him with a blow up duck in his hand.

The smaller boy paused in his swimming, catching his breath. He was now in the blue waters where he couldn't touch the ground. The boy was tired. No matter for how long he swam, he could never reach the purple waters. He needed a rest. He pulled himself above the water, laying on his back before feeling his calves stiffen. He tried to move his leg but it just made it worse. He was having a muscle contraction right now, basically the middle of the ocean, far away from shore, mother.

Taehyung couldn't see the older boy approaching him from all his sobbing and panicking. He wanted his mother and sister in that moment. He should have listened to his mom and be patient. Now he was gonna drown for his disobedience.

He could feel himself sinking in the water as he tried pulling himself up to take a breath of air. But ever movement he made, the pain in his leg got ten times worse. His head lifting and diving into the water in a rhythm, air only escaping his mouth than the other way. He about to give up, his legs pulling him under the water, until his hand grabbed on to something that could float.

Jungkook saw the boy was about to drown in the water, throwing the rubber duck floaty that he brought. Taehyung pulled himself above the water, breathing heavily as he rested his body on the float. "Hey, you okay? " Jungkook asked, nearing the tired boy. The small boy's eyes watered at Jungkook's question. He could have died just a while ago, not seeing his mother and sister ever again.

"No! " taehyung cried loudly. His body shook intensely as the boy sobbed for his mom.

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm gonna bring you back to your mom. "Jungkook wiped the boy's tears, frowning at his red face. "I'm gonna pull you back to shore, okay? " Taehyung nodded, holding on tight to the floaty as Jungkook pulled on it, carrying him out of the depths.

"Wha, what's your name? " Taehyung asked in a weak voice, not expecting the boy to respond.

"I'm Jungkook. What's yours? " Taehyung lit up a little.

"Tae-young, no, Taehyung! My name's Taehyung! "

"Cute, " Jungkook chuckled at Taehyung, finding it adorable that the boy couldn't pronounce his own name properly.

"You can swim really well. If I could swim like you, I'd swim all over the world. " Taehyung smiled, imagining himself swimming in the ocean's depth. Jungkook frowned, it seemed as the boy hadn't learnt his lesson.

"Swimmers don't swim, " Jungkook said coldly. Taehyung didn't respond, staying quiet as Jungkook pulled him closer to the shore.

"Taehyung! " Taehyung's mother cried along with his sister, running up to the two boys. Jungkook walked up to her, holding the small boy in his arms. "Don't run off like that, you had me worried. " she cried even more. Taehyung squirmed out off Jungkook's hold, crying as he ran into his mother's embrace.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry mommy. I love you. "

"I love you too but please don't do that again. " Jungkook watched as the family rejoiced, hugging each other.

Taehyung's mother looked up, seeing Jungkook silently standing beside Taehyung. She pulled him into the hug, "Thank you for bringing back my son. " Jungkook was shocked but hugged her back anyways.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***