The Reversal of Fortune

Johwan found himself in an interview session during one of the shows, aware that many eyes would be watching.

"Dinner date with the hottest stars. Today is a special day at the Louvre with rare statues! I brought her here. What statue is this? Viewers, are you curious?" he continued, "Yes! It's Johwan!"

Johwan smiled, "Hello, I'm Johwan."

"I introduce Johwan as a statue. It's all for a reason; his nickname is Juhwan. Do you know why?"

"My nickname? No, I don't know."

"A walking piece. This is Geol Jo. You don't know?"

"Haha, tea girl? I don't know."

"Please show your statue face here and there. You've been inactive since My Love rolled off Blue Star. I want to know, what have you been doing during the break?"

"Um, nothing special. I did a lot of exercise during the Sunday broadcast break. I like outdoor activities. But I didn't have time during the active season."

"What outdoor sports? Tennis or golf?"

"Swimming. I go to rivers and seas when I'm abroad."

"Oh, isn't that what we do when swimming? Can I look forward to Johwan's appearance in swimwear? Please record a film of you as a swimmer."

"I hope I can. I don't know about anything else, but I'm confident in swimwear."

"Ahaha. I've been looking forward to it! Johwan is known for not using stand-ins, even when shooting action films. So, even if you make a swimming film, you'll do it without a stand-in, right? I think it would be very cool."

Johwan just smiled, "Of course, I've been a swimming fan since I was a child. If I get the chance, I'll try to show you a cool performance."

"Truly-I can already hear the charming voice of the last woman. There's a famous dialogue that spawned many parodies in 'PUG DAE.' Can I ask for it here?"

"Here? Can I use rough language?"

"Yes. We'll handle it perfectly!"

Johwan held his face, embarrassed, "I don't know, I can't."

Continuing, "Actually, even when recording that, Da is not used to vulgar words; it's very tiring, sorry."

"Oh god. Really? Johwan, how would you survive in this harsh world-you have to practice speaking roughly,"

Johwan laughed, "Haha. I know,"

After the interview session, back in Johwan's private room, he threw his jacket at the assistant in annoyance.

"Darn it! Hey, you rascal. Damn it, didn't you check your script properly?!"

Johwan sat on the sofa, holding his head in frustration. Johwan vented his frustration.

"Let's do our job properly. I don't pay you to play around and eat, you rascal!" Johwan scolded his assistant harshly.

Johwan continued his rant, "Who doesn't use a stand-in? Why, are you asking other questions?"

The assistant tried to speak, "I heard that Director Baek doesn't like stand-ins. So, the company asked the question, isn't that important? He said you're a good swimmer."

"By the way, you... What if it's found out? He won the casting, learned slowly, and tried to release a clip. Idiot! It's all because of you, who asked you to inquire about it?"

He no longer responded to Johwan's curses, "Fine. Take a break."

"Where are you going? Get rid of that garbage you threw!"

"Yes."

Johwan sighed in frustration, sitting on the bench and becoming very upset.

"Don't join the company and find a swimming instructor from your background. Without anyone knowing."

Elsewhere, Mirabel was tidying up some swimming equipment in the deserted swimming pool.

"Mr. Mirabel!"

A woman with a child by her side stopped Mirabel's activity.

"This is a new friend this month. But, he's afraid of water."

"Oh, I see."

Professionally, Mirabel did her job as a swimming coach. She was convincing the child at the pool's edge to take lessons on his first day.

"Are you afraid of water?"

The child nodded, prompting Mirabel to come up with an idea to instill confidence in the child.

"Then, would you hold onto my shoulders and go into the water? I'll hold you so you won't fall."

After successfully convincing the child, she began to enter the water with the child's hands tightly gripping her shoulders.

"You're not scared, right?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, of course. Come, let's dive with me. On the count of three, in and out. One, Two, Three!"

They dived together and resurfaced. Mirabel was satisfied because she successfully made her new member no longer afraid of water.

"Wow! Our friend is amazing; how is he not afraid of water? I'm impressed with you,"

After the new member received instructions on the first day, an old member approached Mirabel.

"Mirabel, are you doing it again today? Sorry if I keep asking this. By the way, thank you!"

"I will tidy up all of this and go home. So, all of you go home first,"

When the pool was empty, only Mirabel remained in the pool alone and continued swimming training. As time passed, two hours had elapsed. After being in the pool for quite some time, Mirabel made sure of the situation in the pool.

"No one's here, right?"

After thoroughly ensuring the surroundings of the pool, Mirabel went to the toilet to clean her body. Visible were some marks and redness on her back and buttocks.

She dried her hair with a towel while playing with her phone. Mirabel received a call from a foreign number, "Who?"

"Mirabel! Please save me!" Frustrated screams were heard from the other end of the phone.

Mirabel listened carefully to the frustration in the voice coming from the other end of the phone. "What happened?"

"I'm going to die because of this jerk!"

He continued, "The actor I'm responsible for. Johwan, who likes to swear."

"Oh, I see."

After cleaning her body, Mirabel left the pool with the phone still in her ear.

"If I didn't get older because I had to get a job. That boy is annoying. Honestly, I apologize for asking you this, but you're the only person I remember. Can you teach me to swim for half a year? Faye will be fine. She spends a lot of money."

"Please send the terms via SMS."

"Mirabel, thank you!"

He continued, "I know you're busy. But the condition is not bad, look at this."

Mirabel looked at the SMS sent by the caller. She looked at it with a worried face and spoke again on the phone.

"I will choose this."

"So fast."

"Thank you so much,"

"But why is there only an hourly rate and no starting time?"

"Oh, that!" He postponed his sentence.

He continued, "It's in the future!"

Johwan was sitting, looking at his phone, reading some messages that had been sent.

"What? So fast?"

"Johwan's amazing swimwear! Triangle or kill all. I can't wait; I'm looking for a director who will play the swimmer," that's the message sent.

The assistant answered, "You said you know him. Things like this are usually good to start quickly. But if you stick such a big child, you will be left behind, right?"

The assistant continued, "No, no. Someone who even represented DO. No, I heard he did it too. Cross over, and a genius actor who absorbs quickly like a brother will learn soon,"

"What do you know?"

Johwan showed some gossip messages he got in a blog.

"Idiot, this is like looking for Director Baek's work, but he can't act in melodrama."

"Hei Johwan. Can't you record action or noir like before? The agency doesn't seem to be working well. I want to do something actors can't do."

"You should know how to get rid of it."

Johwan shouted in frustration, "What's wrong with my eyes? Did you send something to my acting?"

The assistant tried to console him, "Don't think like that. It's just words in a romantic drama."

He continued, "Hmm... imagine the person you like getting punched or hurt. What do you think?"

Johwan, lying down, gave a relaxed answer, "Too bad."

The assistant became very angry with Johwan, "Not like that! Very regretful and angry at the person who made her angry. That's what you feel, try to calm down again!"

Johwan just gave a calm look without any disturbance, "Are you trying to teach me?"

"Live like that forever, you Bastard!" his assistant grumbled.

"Go away. Stay away from me!"

This assistant became more frustrated than before, "At least you should practice dating! I'll come back tomorrow to pick you up. I'm done, jerk."

Johwan sighed in frustration and disinterest, "Dating practice?"

***

Johwan, on his way to the pool, after parking his car, received a call from his assistant.

"Why are you calling?"

"Are you already there? I told you I would take you there. I'm a little worried about you, did you bring everything?"

"What, do you think I'm a kid? I can take care of myself."

"Still being a kid."

"Jerk. I'll drive too, so stop nagging at me, okay? I'm hanging up now."

"But, Johwan!"

Upon arriving in the swimming pool changing room, Juhwan took off his clothes and changed into swimwear.

"I can't believe I have to do this, and all this mess."

After changing clothes, Johwan left the room and headed to the pool. He saw a coach balancing her body so as not to drown in the pool.

Johwan folded his arms, "Is that the instructor?"

Johwan watched some performances given by his instructor in the pool; she carried her athletic self to the pool's edge.

"She's like an otter," Johwan teased while laughing.

The beautiful woman wiped her face and looked towards Johwan with a shy face.

"Wait, did she just blush seeing me?"

She approached Johwan, "Oh, you are... I'm sorry."

She continued, "I'm Mirabel, I didn't hear your footsteps and ignored you."

Johwan, with his large and athletic body, just observed the instructor with a puzzled face.

"What's wrong with her? Is she surprised to see a celebrity in the real world?"

"Oh, um.. this."

"No autographs, no pictures, I thought she made it clear. This is strictly business, okay? No fanboy stuff, nothing personal."

"Not that,"

Johwan was surprised, "Then, what is it?"

"Did you shower before you came here?" Mirabel asked, making Johwan blush.

Amid awkwardness between Johwan and his instructor, Mirabel continued her speech.

"I noticed you're dry; you should shower before entering. It's basic etiquette in the swimming pool."

"But, I showered at home before coming here,"

"You can't ignore the sweat and dust you might have picked up on the way here. Showering before swimming is not an option. It's an obligation!"

Mirabel spoke firmly again, "And please bring something for training, not something you wear at the beach. They're easy to find online, so maybe you should look at them later. However, I'll wait for you when you go to shower.

Johwan, who received a bit of advice, became annoyed with Mirabel.

"Is that so?" Johwan asked irritably.

"I don't want to," Johwan said firmly with a mocking face.

"What?"

"I don't like your tone. Plus, this place doesn't meet my standards; I don't just shower anywhere."

"A-are you?"

"And I have never been to a public bathhouse in my life," Johwan continued, "I have become a well-known actor. Throughout my life, all eyes are on me everywhere. Bathing in a public place? You must be joking."

Mirabel, getting an explanation like that, was confused to the point of freezing in place, and the situation became awkward again. Johwan imagined how he would be trapped in the gaze of the public while bathing in a public place. But not Mirabel, she, irritated, carried out her actions according to her desires.

Mirabel tightly held Johwan's hand, "Come here, I'll help you do it."

Johwan was confused by what Mirabel was doing, "What are you going to do to my body, hey!"

Mirabel carried out her actions, quickly washing Johwan's hair and helping him clean his body. Johwan, who had been forced to bathe, stood still, holding back his embarrassment.

"We have to do the lower part too. So, take off your pants."

"I can do it myself, you rascal!" After holding back a great sense of shame, Johwan finally spoke harshly, covering his embarrassment with anger.

Johwan was truly inside a quiet room to clean his body with soap.

"What was that about? I should have said yes for the first time, and I can't believe she tried to bathe me," Johwan spoke in his mind again in the shower. "How strange she is, doing that to everyone."

Even when Johwan put on his swimsuit again, he continued talking in his mind.

"She must look funny, but the way she talks... And does she teach? Anyway, I'll die after I'm done with this."

In the pool, Mirabel gave Johwan his first lesson, swimming techniques.

"You have a strong body, so your kick is great. Now, we'll try kicking while holding the kickboard, not the deck."

Johwan, calm, started his first protest, "Do you want me to kick while floating in the water? Didn't they tell you, I'm afraid of water?"

Johwan grumbled with annoyance, "You can't be serious."

Mirabel began to think, "Oh... hmm... Put on your goggles, and put your hands on my shoulders."

"Why?" Johwan asked sarcastically.

"We're going to try diving, we'll do it together, so don't worry. It won't be too bad."

Johwan sighed in annoyance, "Fine. What if I panic and drown you? I think we should do it differently, you hold my shoulders?"

"Okay," Mirabel agreed, most importantly for her, her student agreed to receive lessons from her.

Mirabel held Johwan's shoulders, "I've put it on. We'll go in on the count of three, okay?"

Johwan, with a confident face, agreed with Mirabel's instructions, "Okay."

They dived together, from inside her swimming goggles, Mirabel stared at Johwan, who started to get uneasy until he chose to surface.

"HAA!! It's done, well done," Johwan shouted.

"Looks like you're not too afraid of water, Johwan."

"Huff... What do you mean?"

"You didn't hesitate at all; you even managed to open up, which is rare for those with aquaphobia," Mirabel continued, "Shall we continue? Now, I'll teach you the right way to get out of the water. You need to know how to get out if it happens accidentally."

Johwan's heart pounded, "One second. I'm out of breath."

After working as a swimming coach, Mirabel immediately resumed her job as a cashier at the supermarket. She remembered Johwan, the new member who would receive lessons from her.

"The lessons will take place for 6 months on weekdays. From 9 PM to 11 PM, unless he has to work. We have other lessons scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Freestyle, backstroke, and just Flipton. I hope I can learn something else too," Mirabel complained, thinking about everything that would happen in the future. "5 courses per week for 6 months... That should be enough for loan interest and maybe even principal payments for next month. I should treat Byeonggon to a drink."

A few moments later, after serving customers who came to the supermarket, she thought about Johwan again.

"Johwan... He's very handsome, surprisingly. I don't like his attitude, but at least he's not stingy with money."

She continued, "I have to tell him that I've found a new job. But, he didn't respond."

Johwan, in his private room, lay down and thought about Mirabel, who had just given him swimming training. Johwan remembered her beautiful face underwater.

"She's a woman with a beautiful face. Who does she think she is? She's just a little mermaid."

From outside Johwan's room, someone shouted and disturbed Johwan's peace.

"Johwan! Johwan! Wake up, Johwan!"

Johwan couldn't fool himself into not being bothered by that calling. He woke up from his bed and sat up in annoyance.

"Oh my. What is it?"

"You didn't answer my calls. I was worried!"

Johwan took his phone and checked how many calls his assistant had made to him.

"What's with all these unanswered calls?"

"I thought something happened to you."

Johwan lay back down and tried to relax, "Why did you call me?"

The assistant casually approached Johwan, "I've finished making a list of your sponsor offers. I could have texted you, but you didn't answer, so I came to check on you."

The assistant showed the offers, "The new collection in the company is trending right now. So, I recommend this one, Johwan?"

While giving many explanations, Johwan calmly fell into a deep sleep, even starting to talk in his sleep. Annoyed, his assistant shook Johwan's body to wake him up.

"Johwan. Johwan, wake up. I have to report back to the company tonight. Johwan?"

Touching Johwan's slightly warm body made his assistant anxious, and she contacted Mirabel.

"So, are you sure he's not sick or anything?"

"Positive. People sometimes experience symptoms like that when they first start using their bodies. So, don't worry."

The assistant sighed in relief, "Glad to hear that."

"But make sure he doesn't skip his meals. It'll lead to muscle loss if he continues sleeping without eating."

"Okay, thanks."

With the strength she had in her muscles, the assistant dragged Johwan to sit at the dining table. She fed Johwan, whose eyes were still closed.

"Seriously... The things I have to do for a paycheck!"

After two days of receiving swimming training from Mirabel, Johwan's progress in swimming was improving.

"You look energetic today. Aren't you tired from yesterday?"

"Not at all. I'm quite strong, you see?"

Mirabel smiled happily, "That's good."

Mirabel continued, "I think you can try swimming without the kickboard now. You're athletic and quick to learn. So, I believe you can do it."

"Huh, that fast?" Johwan responded in surprise to Mirabel's words.

"Don't worry. There's not much difference. Stretch your arms forward like this and kick as you did with the kickboard," Mirabel gave him good guidance.

Mirabel continued, "This will help. If you imagine you still have your kickboard."

While Mirabel was giving him instructions, Johwan couldn't divert his gaze from the beautiful sight as he stared at Mirabel's sexy buttocks emerging on the water's surface.

"Also, you have to focus on your thighs and make your kicks bigger; it will be much better. Kick as hard as possible, but don't bend your knees like this; let's try it," Mirabel said, explaining Johwan.

Johwan blushed while looking at Mirabel's sexy buttocks, and he spoke in his mind, "How can a woman have a butt like that? Are all swimmers like her?"

"Remember how I said when you hold the kickboard, your body automatically stays upright if you bend your knees toward your chest? When you don't hold the kickboard, you have to pull your arms towards your body along with your knees," Mirabel explained to Johwan.

Mirabel looked at Johwan, "If you do that, your body will automatically stay upright. Easy, right? It's not much different without the kickboard," Mirabel explained.