“I’ll give you 3 million won.
Instead, you have to make me number one no matter what.”

A fierce bucket list challenge between a boy who wants to be remembered and a girl who wants to disappear!

Yoo Young, a promising national swimmer, faces a major crisis ahead of the Asian Games.
After suddenly fainting during a domestic swimming competition, he fell into a slump.
Yu-yeong, who is so burdened by the thought of having to overcome trauma that she even thinks about quitting swimming, meets Jae-hyun, a classmate who introduces himself as an idol, at school after a long time...
“Please teach me to swim!” A desperate secret swimming lesson between Jaehyun, who aims to escape obscurity by winning first place in the idol sports competition held a month later, and Yooyoung, who is raising money to escape abroad, with 3 million won on the line.
Can a boy and girl living under the same roof with different dreams achieve what they want?

"The Secret Swim Club of the Midnight" is a novel that depicts the process of two teenagers facing the biggest crisis of their lives, overcoming their problems through their own strength and growing.
If you're not sure if what you're doing right now is what you really want to do, or if you're feeling bored with something you thought you liked, open this book.
You will be able to regain the excitement and anticipation you have lost for things you love.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t get first place.
No? It's a miracle that I'm even competing now.
“It would be nice if I could swim on my own.”
More than half of those who start swimming can't get rid of the kickboard even after a month.
The story is that you can't swim without an assistive device.
So, it was realistically impossible to learn for just one month and then go to a competition and win first place.
Unless you're a natural swimming genius.

“No, I can do it.”
Jaehyun didn't acknowledge what I said.
Instead, he added in a confident voice.
“Because I decided to do it.”
--- p.11

“Why are you already thinking about something you can’t do? You should be thinking about doing well.
“I’ve felt this way since last time, but you’re strangely negative.”
“…It’s not negative, it’s realistic?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right.”
Once again, my temper was twisted, and I glared at Jaehyun fiercely.
Now that I haven't overcome my fear of competition at all, I find it annoying that he doesn't understand that I have the highest chance of ruining the game and instead blames me.
I nagged Jaehyun, who was just splashing around in the water.

--- p.67~68

I found out yesterday while fighting with Jaehyun.
A life without love is just as difficult and painful as a life with unwanted expectations and attention.
I have lived my life thinking that my pain and sorrow were the greatest in the world.
I once heard somewhere that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.
I looked at Jaehyun and thought that maybe that was right.

--- p.100

I was getting drier and drier.
Having lost my breathing space, I was like a fish on land.
A fish that slowly stops breathing.
Every time I felt short of breath, I wanted to ask my dad.
Why on earth do we have to go through all this?
What is the meaning of this life?
If every moment is difficult and painful, then aren't you on the wrong path?

--- p.123

There is something I realized while living as an athlete.
Effort and results are separate things.
All the players in the competition do their best, but in the end, the results are divided.
But even knowing that, I sincerely hoped that Jaehyun would get the results he deserved for his efforts.
Because I know that longing and desperation.

--- p.159

I came out of the locker room and turned on the lights in the pool. The lights came on one by one with a clicking sound.
I stood in front of lane 4, looking out at the tranquil pool.
The image of Jaehyun moving forward without hesitation, cutting through the rapids before his eyes, rippled.
I took a deep breath, stretched my arms straight out, and dove straight into the water.
The cold water enveloped me as if it were embracing my whole body.
I moved forward, feeling the soft touch of the water.
I felt incredibly free, like a school of marlin swimming leisurely in the sea.

--- p.166