박종성 — JAY PARK

— for weeks fans have noticed a pattern in your and jay's weverse activity. at first, it seemed like a coincidence—one of you posting a song, the other sharing a similar one, or a playlist that had strikingly similar themes. you posted a melancholic ballad with a caption that fans didn't pay much attention to. however, just a few hours later jay shared a song along with a caption that seemingly was responding to yours. it didn't take long for a few observant fans to dig through past posts and notice a pattern of what looked like the two of you were indirectly communicating through song recommendations. while your relationship was never officially announced, it was enough confirmation for fans that something was going on between the two of you.

심재윤 — JAKE SIM

— your relationship was a closely guarded secret, known by only those closest to the two of you. however, things took a turn when one of your friends posted a photo to their public instagram—one that clearly showed you and jake in the background. the photo left no doubt about the status of your relationship, and even though the account didn't have many followers, fans still managed to come across it. despite the immediate scramble to delete the post, screenshots had already gone viral and everyone had seen it.

박성훈 — PARK SUNGHOON

— rumors began surrounding sunghoon when a news outlet claimed he was spotted on a date with an actress. fans were in shock, articles were full of headlines making the same claim, and the company was quick to issue a statement, “we regret to inform that the claims made regarding sunghoon and the actress are completely unfounded and inaccurate.” however, in their hurry to deny the claims, the company added: “we can also confirm sunghoon is in a committed relationship with another individual, who he has been dating for some time. we respectfully ask for the public’s understanding during this time.” in their rush to distance sunghoon from the actress, the company inadvertently confirmed your relationship, a detail that had been previously unknown to fans.

김선우 — KIM SUNOO

— it was the last thing anyone was expecting. an ordinary day disrupted by the company statement confirming your relationship that read: "we would like to officially confirm that y/n and enhypen's sunoo have been in a relationship for several months now. we kindly ask for your continued support and respect for their privacy." the message, while straightforward enough, left fans reeling. most were excited, flooding social media with positive reactions, while others were shocked, trying to process the announcement.

양정원 — YANG JUNGWON

— on new year's eve, the world was focused on fireworks and celebrations, but for k-pop fans their focus was on the highly anticipated dispatch couple reveal. as midnight approached, many people were expecting to see the names of two actors, but they were instead surprised with your and jungwon’s names. pictures accompanied the claim as well, of course. there were photos of the two of you going out to eat while wearing nondescript clothing, and others of either one of you walking into the other's company building; it was enough to solidly convince fans that you were undeniably dating.

西村力 — NISHIMURA RIKI

moka laughed, skipping ahead and twirling to face them, "you're both being dramatic. the food’s not that bad. remember last summer?" she directed her question towardsyunah, "the pizza was decent."

"decent?" she shot back, "it was soggy in the middle and tasted like cardboard!"

moka gasped in exaggerated offense, "you take that back! it was gourmet compared to the spaghetti night disaster."

the group burst into laughter at the memory as they reached the cafeteria doors. inside, the lunch hall was a symphony of chatter, laughter, and the clatter of trays. campers lined up to receive their meals, and the trio made their way through the line, picking at options that looked the least questionable. y/n ended up with a tray holding a sandwich, some carrots, and a suspiciously shiny apple.

they found a table near the center, and just as they started eating, the sound of a counselor's whistle cut through the noise. a tall woman, clipboard in hand, climbed onto a small platform at the front of the room.

the room quieted down as she scanned the crowd with practiced authority. "we're announcing the group leaders for today's activities. when i call your name, come see me after lunch to get your assignments. remember you're in charge of keeping your group organized, motivated, and having fun! counselors will be around to help if needed, but for the most part, you will be in charge today."

a ripple of murmurs ran through the room as campers exchanged curious glances. yunah leaned over to y/n, "bet it's going to be all the super energetic people. like moka."

moka whipped around to face the other two girls when she heard her name, "do not wish something like that on me," she hissed.

the counselor started listing names, her tone upbeat, and amongst the many names: "...y/n,..."

y/n froze mid-bite, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. startled, she blinked and pointed to herself while yunah began quietly ooo-ing at her.

the counselors continued calling other names, assigning moka and yunah to separate groups. both groaned at being split up but promised to meet up again later.

after lunch, y/n joined the other newly named group leaders in a small clearing by the edge of the field. a few counselors handed out clipboards, schedules, and basic instructions for the activities they'd each be overseeing. y/n shuffled through the papers, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as the counselors gave a brief rundown of the instructions.

"hey, y/n," a voice called out. y/n turned to see jungwon walking up to her with a warm smile, "looks like we're co-leaders."

"looks like it," y/n replied, relieved to see a familiar face. jungwon had always been easy to talk to, with a calm demeanor that balanced out her occasional impulsiveness.

as they worked to set up the activity, a scavenger hunt through the woods, y/n noticed niki amongst the campers approaching their group, his hands once again shoved deep into the pocket of his hoodie.

her stomach tightened slightly. she wasn't sure if he'd participate willingly or if he'd stay on the sidelines, uninterested as usual.

leaning towards jungwon, she whispered, "hey, can you do me a favor?"

jungwon paused, tilting his head curiously, "what's up?"

"see that guy over there?" she nodded subtly toward niki.

jungwon followed her gaze. "the one who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else?"

"yeah, him," y/n said with a small laugh, "can you try talking to him? see if he opens up to you at all? he...uh, hasn't been the most social."

jungwon raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his face. "what? giving up already?"

"no!" y/n protested quickly. "i just think he might be more receptive to someone new. you're good at talking to people."

he considered her words, then gave a nod. "alright. i’ll give it a shot after we get started."

the scavenger hunt began with a chaotic start. the campers the two were responsible for darted off in every direction, clutching their list of clues and excited shouting at one another. y/n and jungwon trailed behind them, watching the chaos unfold with a mix of amusement and apprehension.

"so," jungwon began, smirking as he glanced at y/n, "you're going to take responsibility if one of them gets lost, right? y'know, with you being the team leader and all..."

y/n covered her face with her hands as the mental image crossed her mind. "i don't even want to think about having to explain that to the counselors. but if someone gets stuck in a tree looking for clues, that's your responsibility, 'cause you're also a team leader," she shot back, pointing at him accusingly.

jungwon raised his hands in mock surrender. "fair enough, but i'm warning you now, if anyone climbs a tree, i'm just gonna yell 'jump!’ and hope for the best."

y/n couldn’t hold back her laugh at his comment, "very reassuring."

as they talked, jungwon's eyes shifted toward niki, who was lingering at the edge of the group, clearly trying to blend in while keeping as much distance as possible from everyone else. he nudged y/n with his elbow, "guess i'll go check in with him. be back in a sec."

"good luck," y/n said, watching as jungwon sauntered over to niki. she busied herself with checking the progress of the other campers and making sure they were staying on track, but she couldn't help sneaking glances at the two boys. jungwon had an easygoing way of talking to people that made other people easily comfortable with him, and to her surprise—and mild irritation—it seemed to be working on niki.

she saw niki actually responding to whatever jungwon was saying, nodding slightly and even muttering a few words back. her eyebrows shot up in surprise. for someone who had barely spared her a glance earlier, niki seemed more willing to interact with jungwon.

when jungwon returned, he was grinning, "well, that wasn't so hard. you made it seem like he was going to bite my head off or something."

y/n narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, "what did you say to him?"

"nothing special," he shrugged, "just asked if he found anything yet and made a joke about how all the clues probably got eaten by squirrels. he cracked a smile at that, by the way."

y/n's jaw dropped. "he smiled? you're joking."

"nope. full-on smirk. it was glorious," jungwon said with exaggerated pride.

she folded her arms, feeling a twinge of jealousy. "why does he talk to you and not me?"

"oh i don't know," jungwon said, pretending to think as he tapped his chin. then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he added, "maybe it's because you have a crush on him."

y/n's eyes widened, and she recoiled as if the words physically struck her. "what?!"

jungwon laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction, "you heard me. you've seem so determined to get him to talk to you; maybe he can sense it."

"i do not have a crush on him," she shot back, her voice dripping with exaggerated offense.

jungwon threw his hands up again in defense, laughing more at her over-the-top reaction, "okay, relax! i'm just messing with you."

"you're ridiculous," y/n said, crossing her arms. she avoided his gaze, her cheeks still slightly warm. from the accusation.

jungwon was clearly enjoying her flustered state. "but you have to admit, you're really invested in getting him to like his camp.”

“how you do know about that?”

“i overheard you and yunah talking,” he shrugs, “but my point still stands, if it's not a crush, then why do you care so much?"

"i'm just trying to be nice," y/n insisted, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "he's new, he's clearly not happy to be here, and...his sour attitude is ruining the energy of the camp."

"uh-huh," jungwon gave her a knowing look, watching as the other campers happily participated in the activities, unaware of one certain camper's disinterest, but he didn't push any further.

the girl sighed, looking at the trees around them, "besides," she muttered, more to herself more to herself than to the boy, "it's not like he's easy to talk to. you're lucky you got anything out of him."

jungwon patted her shoulder lightly, his teasing tone replaced by something softer, "don't overthink it. sometimes people just need time."

she gave him a small smile in return, appreciating his words even if she still felt a flicker of irritation at his earlier joke.

they spent the rest of the activity wrangling the other campers, keeping an eye out for anyone wandering too far or getting too ambitious looking for clues. jungwon's easy humor kept y/n from overthinking her interactions with niki, or jungwon's teasing, but she couldn't help glancing toward niki every now and then.

after dinner, y/n found herself in yunah and moka’s cabin, enjoying the quiet hum of the evening. the air inside smelled faintly of bug spray and sunscreen, a mix that somehow felt comforting after the day’s exhausting activities. her own cabin was a bit calmer than this one, but she liked the lively energy moka and yunah brought. plus, their bunks were cozier, even if they did creak with every movement.

“so,” yunah flopped onto her bunk with a dramatic sigh, staring up at the ceiling, “today was…interesting. i swear, my group spent more time arguing about who got to shoot the arrows than actually shooting them. we have, like, zero teamwork.”

“tell me about it,” moka chimed in, perched cross-legged at the end of her bed, “we barely did anything because two kids kept trying to drown each other in the lake.’

y/n chuckled, fiddling with the hem of her hoodie. “well, at least you guys had some excitement. my group was pretty chill.”

“chill, huh? or was it because you got to spend all that time with jungwon?” moka asked while playfully narrowing her eyes.

rolling her eyes, y/n spoke with a smile, “he’s just…easy to work with. he knows what he’s doing.”

propping herself on her elbows, yunah looked down at y/n from her top bunk, “speaking of people who don’t know what they’re doing…i saw niki walking to your group. is he still acting like this camp is the worst thing to ever happen to him?”

y/n sighed, resting her chin on her knees, “pretty much. i just don’t get him. it’s like…he’s going out of his way to hate everything here. and what bothers me the most? he actually talked to jungwon today. like, full sentences and everything apparently.”

moka gasped dramatically, “no way. so he can talk.”

“and let me guess, he still won’t say more than a word to you?” yunah smirked.

with a groan, y/n flopped back against moka's pillows with a loud creak from the bunk’s metal frame. "exactly! i don't know what his problem is. i've been nice, tried to include him, and nothing. but apparently jungwon gets to be his new best friend immediately?"

moka leaned forward, "hmm...are you sure you're not just a little jealous?"

y/n shot her a glare. “i’m not jealous.”

“you sure about that?” yunah teased, a sly smile creeping onto her face, “you’ve been talking about this guy nonstop. maybe you have a little crush on him.”

y/n sat up so fast that she nearly knocked into moka. “oh my god, not you too! why does everyone keep saying that?”

from above, yunah raised an eyebrow, “wait—who else said it?”

realizing she had said too much, y/n quickly shook her head. “no one. forget it.”

moka, however, wasn’t letting go that easily. “wait a second. does someone else also think you have a crush on him?”

“no! that’s not what i meant. its just—you guys keep bringing it up, and its annoying,” y/n’s face flushed.

“y/n, it's not a crime to think someone’s cute, y’know,” yunah smirked knowingly.

y/n groaned loudly, burying her face in her hands. “guys, i do not like him. he’s rude, standoffish, and—ugh! i’m just trying to be nice to someone who’s clearly miserable. that’s it. end of story.”

moka held her hands up in mock surrender, “okay, okay. no crush. but…you do talk about him a lot.”

“because i’m frustrated!” y/n shot back, exasperated, “i’m trying to understand him, and it’s just impossible.”

the bed frame creaked as yunah climbed down to the lower bunk while moka pursed her lips thoughtfully. “well, if you really want to get through to him, maybe you’re going about it the wrong way,” the older girl said.

“yeah,” moka added, though her mischievous tone was creeping in. “but if you really want to help loosen him up, we could…y’know…give him a little nudge.”

y/n frowned. “what kind of nudge?”

moka’s grin widened, “a little friendly prank might help.”

“a prank? are you serious?” y/n’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief.

“why not?” yunah chimed in, her eyes glimmering with interest. “it’s harmless, and maybe it’ll finally get him to stop sulking and actually interact with people.”

"i don't know..." y/n hesitated, glancing over at yunah who was now sat next to her, the girl’s interest clearly piqued.

“i mean, moka’s got a point,” yunah said with a shrug, “it's not like it has to be anything mean. just something to get a reaction out of him, maybe make him laugh.”

“or make him hate me even more,” y/n countered, though the gears in her head were already turning.

“come on, y/n. you’ve been trying to get through to him for days, and nothing else is working.”

moka leaned forward again, grabbing y/n by her shoulders, “it’s not like he talks to you anyway. what do you have to lose?”

y/n sighed, torn between her better judgment and the tiny part of her that was tempted by the idea. she didn’t like the thought of annoying niki, but his constant brooding was starting to wear on her patience. maybe the two girls had a point; he needed a push.

“fine,” she said reluctantly, “but it has to be harmless. nothing that’s going to embarrass him or make him feel singled out.” she held up her finger to make her point.

moka and yunah grinned, clearly excited to have won her over. “of course!” moka chirped, clearly already scheming, “we’ll keep it fun. promise.”

before y/n could respond, the door creaked open, and one of the other girls staying in the cabin stepped inside. she paused when she saw the three of them huddled together, her curious gaze flitting between them.

“uh, hey,” the girl said, raising an eyebrow, “what’s going on?”

“nothing!” moka chirped, her tone a bit too cheerful. she quickly leaned back against the wall the bunk was pressed against, feigning innocence.

“just talking,” yunah added, though the way she avoided eye contact didn’t exactly sell the story. the girl gave them a skeptical look but didn’t press further.

as she turned toward her bunk, y/n stood up, stretching as she glanced at the clock on the wall. “i should probably head back to my cabin anyway,” she said, grabbing her water bottle from the floor.

“think about it!” moka whispered as y/n moved toward the door.

she rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile that tugged at her lips. “goodnight, troublemakers.”

stepping out into the cool night air, her mind buzzed with thoughts of niki—and moka’s ridiculous but oddly tempting idea.

y/n snorted, "sounds about right. guess i didn't miss much."

"well, now you're just in time to see who ends up glued to the floor of the craft lodge or staples their fingers together."

the two shared a laugh as they made their way toward the outdoor craft area. tables were already spread with paint, string, beads, and rocks for decorating. campers sat on the benches in clusters, chatting animatedly as they worked. y/n and yunah grabbed spots at a half-empty table, jumping straight into making friendship bracelets.

y/n had just tied off a neon green bracelet when her attention drifted toward the edge of the grounds. that's when she saw him again.

off to the side, just beyond the main field, the boy was perched on a large boulder near the edge of the woods. his dark hair was messy, falling into his eyes as he hunched over his phone. his thumb swiped the screen repeatedly, and from what she could see of his expression, he was growing increasingly annoyed at the device.

the girl sighed with a shake of her head at the sight.

"what?" yunah asked, looking around to find the source of her friend's annoyance.

"him," y/n nodded in the boy's direction.

yunah's eyes narrowed as she spotted him, "the new guy? what's he doing over there?"

"probably trying to get service still," y/n said. she paused for a moment to watch him. his posture was tense, his shoulders stiff as he stared down at his phone with a look of pure frustration.

"should we just leave him alone?" yunah asked.

y/n hesitated. a part of her thought yunah might be right, he clearly didn't want to be here, and her attempt to talk to him yesterday had gone nowhere. but there was something about the way he sat there, so completely disconnected from everything around him, that tugged at her.

y/n sat down her bracelet and stood up, dusting off her shorts, "i'm going to talk to him."

yunah opened her mouth to respond but thought against it as she watched y/n walk away, instead settling on: "good luck!"

the closer she got, the more she could see just how out of place he looked. while the other campers wore bright smiles and weather-appropriate clothes, he was dressed in an all black, baggy hoodie and loose jeans, his expression fitting for his dark outfit.

"hey," y/n stopped a few feet away from him.

no response.

she stepped closer, tilting her head to be more in his view, "still no service?"

this time, he glanced up. his dark eyes met hers for a moment before he returned his focus to the phone. "what do you think?" he muttered.

y/n crossed her arms, "i think you're fighting a losing battle. no one gets service up here. it's kinda the point."

she got no response.

she shifted her weight, trying not to let his indifference bother her. "i forgot to ask you your name yesterday."

he sighed, his tone flat as he answered, "niki."

"well, niki," y/n started, sticking out her hand, "i'm y/n. nice to meet you."

niki stared at her hand like she offered him a foreign object. after a moment too long, as if he was considering shaking her hand, his gaze instead returned to his phone, leaving her outstretched hand hanging there.

y/n frowned but quickly covered it with a forced smile, lowering her hand. "you know, i've been coming here for years. it's my favorite place in the world."

"good for you," niki's voice oozed with sarcasm.

y/n narrowed her eyes, "look, i know you don't want to be here, but you might as well try to enjoy it. the crafts are fun. there's archery, hiking, swimming—tons of stuff to do."

"not interested," niki didn't bother looking at her.

y/n huffed, her frustration began to bubble to the surface, "you can't just sit here all summer, you know. the whole point of camp is to—"

"look," niki interrupted, his voice sharp, "i didn't ask for a lecture okay? i'm fine. just leave me alone."

the girl took a step back, caught off guard by his tone. for a moment she considered giving up, walking away, and letting him wallow in his misery for the rest of the month they were here. but as she looked at him, really looked at him, she saw something in his expression. a flicker of exhaustion, maybe even sadness, that made her hesitate.

"alright," she said finally, softening her tone. "but if you ever decide you want to try something, you know where to find me: literally anywhere."

she turned to leave but stopped after a few steps. glancing over her shoulder, she added with a small smirk, "by the way, your phone isn't going to work out here. you're better off using it as a paperweight."

to her surprise, the corners of niki's mouth twitched. it wasn't a full smile, but it was the closest thing she'd seen from him so far.

"see you around, niki," she said as she began walking back toward the crafts area.

as y/n returned to the table, her thoughts lingered on niki. she couldn't help but wonder what lay behind his guarded personality. making him smile, even just for a second, gave her hope that her efforts weren't for nothing and maybe, just maybe, she could help pull him out of his shell.

"alright spill," yunah demanded with wide eyes filled with curiosity, "how'd it go?"

y/n gave a nonchalant shrug, though a small sigh escaped her lips, "better than yesterday, i guess. barely."

"that bad, huh? i'm surprised he hasn't bitten your head off yet," she joked.

before y/n could respond, a high-pitched voice cut through the air, filled with excitement.

"y/n!!"

the two girls turned to see moka, another one of their friends rushing toward them, nearly tripping over a group of kids sitting on the ground. moka's hair was tied up in a messy ponytail and she was wearing a smile so bright it could light up the whole camp.

"i can't believe you're finally here!" moka squealed, throwing her arms around y/n in an extremely enthusiastic hug, almost toppling them both over in the process. y/n found herself glancing over at the edge of the field again, her eyes inevitably drawn to the spot where she had seen niki earlier, only now he was gone.

"i didn't think I'd survive another summer without you!"

"i told you i'd be back this year!" y/n laughed, hugging the girl back. when moka pulled away, she was still bouncing on her feet, making y/n laugh at her uncontainable excitement.

"ooh, someone's been busy," moka drawled, eyeing the growing pile of colored thread and beads in the middle of the table. yunah, who had been quietly focused on her work, narrowed her eyes at the enthusiastic girl as she grabbed one of the bracelets, a purple one with yellow accents, off the pile. before she could say anything, moka slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, a grin spreading across her face as she admired it, "thanks yunah! this one's so cute!"

yunah shot her a deadpan look but didn't say anything, letting moka get away with it, "you're lucky you're cute, moka," she muttered under her breath.

after their enthusiastic greetings, the three girls decide to take a walk around the grounds, catching up and sharing stories. moka's energy was contagious as she led the way, practically dragging yunah and y/n along, making their way to the volleyball court.

"alright, we should definitely check out the volleyball game!" moka declared, "i need to see how bad some of these campers are at it. last year, one kid hit the ball into the woods like, five times in a row."

there, just beyond the volleyball courts, sat niki again, perched on a bench by the sidelines. the game was in full swing, but niki was sitting alone, his posture still tense, and his phone still in hand. yunah stopped suddenly when she spotted him, causing y/n and moka to do the same and follow her gaze.

she clicked her tongue, "i guess your little chat didn't do much," she observed, crossing her arms.

y/n's eyes narrowed as she watched the mysterious boy, but something about the way he was holding his phone made her pause; he wasn't swiping at the screen anymore. his thumbs were just resting on it, the way someone might hold their phone absentmindedly. that small change made her hopeful, even if she wasn't sure what to make of it yet.

"i don't know," she said quietly, almost to herself, "he's not trying to use it anymore. maybe there's a little hope."

moka, who had been looking around trying to figure out what the other girls were talking about, finally spoke, "wait, who are you guys talking about?" her head swiveling in confusion.

yunah moved behind the confused girl, putting her hands on either side of her head to make her look in the direction of the object of their attention. "that's niki, the new guy."

moka blinked a few times, "there's lots of new people all the time, why do we care about him specifically?"

"he's been giving y/n a hard time."

that seemed to only make moka even more confused, so yunah continued, "she tried talking to him yesterday, but he's...well, not the easiest person to get through to."

"so, what's the plan now? do you go for round three? maybe crack more of that tough exterior of his?"

yunah cut in before y/n could respond, "moka, don't encourage her. i think y/n should give him space. she's already tried twice, and he's clearly not very receptive."

y/n nodded slowly, the sting of her previous attempts still fresh. "yeah, maybe you're right. he doesn't seem like he wants anyone talking to him. i'll just..leave him be for now."

as if he felt the three girls' eyes on him while they talked, y/n noticed niki turn his head towards them. he looked at them briefly, his eyes lingering for just a moment before he quickly shifted his attention back to the game. it was subtle, but didn't go unnoticed to the observant girl.

her heart skipped a beat. despite herself, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. but before anymore thoughts could settle in her mind, she felt a sense of urgency growing inside her. her heart began to race, realizing how much they had been staring. y/n quickly pushed the other girls forward to get them moving again.

"come on," she urged, her voice a bit too rushed, "lets keep walking."

yunah gave her a puzzled look but complied, while moka shot y/n a playful, knowing grin. "you're being obvious," she whispered with a teasing tone, "he definitely saw you looking."

y/n flushed slightly, keeping her head down as she walked faster, "i don't care. i just... don't want him to think we're weird by staring at him."

moka, though, leaned in close to y/n, her voice hushed but filled with playful encouragement, "why not go over and talk to him again? you know you want to."

yunah rolled her eyes, but y/n couldn't deny that moka's words struck a chord. she did want to. the hope she'd felt earlier still lingered, flickering in her chest like a stubborn flame.

but she kept walking, trying to ignore the feeling.

as they moved farther away from the volleyball court, y/n couldn't help but glance back one last time. niki was still sitting there, but this time he wasn't looking at them. it was hard to tell what he was thinking from this distance, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to him than the cold exterior he kept up. something that she was hoping she could uncover.

but for now, she kept her distance.

the moment she stepped out of the car, the sounds of talking and laughter filled her ears. campers were already everywhere, some were reuniting with friends from previous summers or excitedly talking about the planned activities, while others were just basking in the joy of being back in the mountains.

"y/n!" a voice called out, and she spun around to see yunah, a fellow camper and one of her best friends from previous years. the girl was standing near one of the cabins with her arms open wide, jumping up and down in excitement.

the two ran towards each other and met in a bone-crushing hug. "i can't believe you're finally here! i missed you!"

"i missed you too!" y/n grinned, "i've been counting down the days."

"you won't believe how much drama happened last year; just wait 'til you hear!" yunah rambled as they made their way towards the cafeteria together where everyone was meeting. y/n was only half-listening though, already scanning the area for other familiar faces.

that's when she saw him.

standing off to the side, just past a group of excited campers, was a boy y/n hadn't seen before. he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but here. his posture was rigid, and his arms were crossed tightly over his chest like he wanted to shut himself off from the world. he had messy dark hair that fell into his eyes as if he was trying to hide the look of discomfort on his face, but his tall stature didn't help him hide away from anyone's attention.

y/n paused, taking in the unfamiliar face. he didn't belong to any group, didn't seem to be interacting with anyone. his presence stood out, but in a way that made him seem even more out of place.

"is he new?" yunah whispered, glancing at him too.

"i guess so," y/n said, her curiosity piqued. she wasn't used to seeing someone so uninterested in the infectious camp spirit, and his aloofness made her intrigued.

before yunah could say anything else, y/n excused herself and started walking toward the boy. she approached slowly, not wanting to startle him, and gave a friendly smile as she stopped a few feet away.

"hey," y/n greeted, her voice light and friendly, "you're new here, right?"

he looked up at her, their eyes meeting for a brief second before quickly darting away, "yeah," he muttered, not offering any more information.

y/n tried again, her smile still in place, "im y/n. this is my fifth summer here. I can show you around if you need it."

he looked at her like she was an alien. "no, im good," he said quickly.

y/n blinked in surprise. she wasn't used to being brushed off so bluntly, especially not by a fellow camper. she looked over her shoulder at yunah who was still watching them from a distance, as the boy pulled out his phone, desperately trying to get service.

"okay, no worries," she said, shrugging lightly, "but im telling you, this place is great. the campfire's starting soon, and you wont believe the camp stories we've got," she laughs awkwardly, "i'm sure you'll find someone to talk to!"

he didn't even look up at her as she spoke. his face showing how uninterested he was in what she was saying; it was clear he didn't want anything to do with her, or with any of this.

"yeah, i'm really not interested," he muttered, finally glancing up at her with a bored expression before walking off, though not without bumping into her shoulder on the way past.

"alright, suit yourself," y/n smiled tightly, "but if you change your mind, i'll be around! i'll also save you a seat near the fire just in case," she called after him before rejoining yunah who gave her a sad pat on the shoulder as they continued to walk again.

as the evening began to fall, a warm orange glow stretched across the sky. everyone had begun to settle into their designated cabins and reunited with their old friends. the campfire pit, located just outside the main lodge, was soon filled with the familiar hum of chatter as people started gathering. the air was cool but not too chilly, the perfect temperature for sitting around a fire.

true to her word, there was an open seat next to y/n as everyone gathered around the fire. she made sure to keep the space clear, watching as other campers, some being her old friends, found their spots.

her eyes scanned the growing crowd around her. she was still thinking about the boy from earlier, though she had no idea why. he had been so...closed off. his indifference had bothered her more than it probably should have. normally, y/n was good at making people feel welcomed, that's why she was so close with so many people at this camp, so it especially bothered her that her attempts hadn't worked with him.

but she wasn't going to let him ruin her night. she was finally back at camp—her favorite place in the world—and there were more important things to focus on.

the counselors were making final preparations, lighting the fire and organizing the marshmallow roasting supplies. laughter and conversations erupted around her, and the fire was lit with a warm, crackling glow, casting long shadows across the campers' face.

"alright, y/n, tell me you've got a good story to share tonight?" one of the counselors prompted with a teasing grin.

y/n smiled back, though her attention was still half on the crowd around them, "i'm sure i'll think of something."

as the last of the campers arrived, she continued to look around for him, wondering if he'd show up at all. the fire was already roaring, and she thought for a brief second that maybe she caught a glimpse of him near the lodge, but he wasn't anywhere to be found.

y/n's eyes lingered on the edge of the campfire circle, scanning the faces of the campers, both new and familiar, trying to see if he had changed his mind, but instead her eyes caught a tall shadow walking in the opposite direction of the fire, heading toward the cabins instead.

she furrowed her brows as she saw him walking briskly with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, a clear sign of disinterest in the group activity. his back was to her, and as he walked away, his figure slowly receded into the darkness of the campgrounds.

"isn't that the guy from earlier?" yunah asked as she sat in the empty seat next to y/n.

"yeah," y/n replied quietly, her brow still furrowed. she watched him disappear into the shadows, feeling a strange sense of disappointment in her chest. it was like he was intentionally distancing himself from everything, and that bothered her more than it should’ve. "i thought he might've given it a shot...but i guess not."

"maybe he's just shy," yunah suggested with a shrug, "you can't always force people to open up."

"i know," y/n sighs, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that the boy was just...closed off in a way that wasn't typical for someone at camp. everyone else always seemed to be drawn in by the magic of this place, but he was resisting it entirely. she couldn't understand why, and it nagged at her.

as she continued to watch him walk toward the cabins, y/n felt like the night seemed to grow quieter, more subdued. even though she was surrounded by people she cared about, in the place she loved dearly, the emptiness of the boy's negative attitude seemed to hang over her.

"are you okay?" yunah asked, noticing y/n shift in mood.

y/n nodded, though it wasn't very convincing. she turned toward her friend, forcing a smile, "just...thinking."

"well don't think too hard," yunah teased, gently nudging the girl with her elbow, "we’re finally back at camp! there’s no room for overthinking—just fun, marshmallows, and spooky stories! now, tell us about your vacation that was more important than us last year."

y/n laughed, but the sound was hollow in her own ears "right.”

but her thoughts kept drifting back to him. y/n had always believed that camp was a place for anyone to find a sense of belonging, a place where you could escape from everything that made you feel alone. but for him, that didn't seem to be the case.

the fire crackled, sending sparks into the night sky, and y/n finally tore her eyes from from the shadows to focus back on the campfire. the warm light danced across her friends' faces, and their voices blended with the crackling of the wood, but still, she couldn't completely let go of the thought of the boy who was trying so hard to shut everything out.

CHAPTERS

001. camp summit ridge 1.6k

002. round three 2.1k

003. jump! 2.7k

004. opposites attract 2.4k

“do you want to order something?” sunghoon asked, his voice neutral. he didn’t even look at you when he asked, instead focused on scrolling through his phone, already distracted.

“i’m not really hungry,” you replied. you fiddled with the hem of your sweatshirt, the fabric worn and soft from years of use. it was his, from before, when he used to leave little pieces of himself behind for you to hold onto. now, everything he gave you felt weightless.

“okay,” sunghoon put his phone down and walked over to you, his steps hesitant. he cupped your face in his hands, tilting your head up toward him. his lips met yours, and you froze. it wasn’t that the kiss was bad; it was warmly familiar, too familiar. it tasted of obligation, of something he thought he had to do to keep the pieces of your relationship together.

when he pulled away, you forced a smile, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tension in your jaw. “i think i’m going to shower,” you said quickly, not waiting for his response as you disappeared into the bathroom.

under the spray of the water, you pressed your forehead against the tile wall. your chest felt tight, your throat raw. you wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything that would make this numbness go away, but the tears wouldn’t come. you thought love was supposed to be a bandage; something that would cover the wounds and make them hurt less. instead, it felt like a sunburn, raw and stinging, impossible to soothe no matter how hard you tried.

by the time you came out of the bathroom, sunghoon had retreated to the couch, his laptop open on his thighs. you dried your hair in silence, using the hum of the hairdryer as a convenient excuse to avoid talking to him. he glanced up at you when you turned it off.

“you okay?” he asked, voice cautious.

you nodded, even though it was a lie, “just tired. practice was a lot today.”

“yeah, same,” he murmured, his attention drifting back to his screen as you fell into the quiet again.

when had it started? when had the words stopped coming, the kisses begun to feel like salt in a fresh wound? you both had been too busy, that’s what you told yourself. it wasn’t either of you faults. the schedules, the pressure, the cameras always watching, that is what drove you apart. and yet, it the rare moments you had together, you couldn’t bridge the gap. maybe you didn’t want to anymore.

you looked at him now, his face illuminated by the blue glow of his laptop. he was beautiful, as he’d always been. but the sight of him no longer made you heart race. instead, it made you ache with the weight of what had slipped away.

“sunghoon,” you said softly, your voice breaking the silence.

he looked up, surprise, “yeah?”

your lips parted, the words on the tip of your tongue, but they refused to come out. “nothing,” you said instead, your voice barely above a whisper, “goodnight.”

“night,” he replied, his tone gentle but distant.

throughout the rest of the day, she continued. jake would say "i love you" in his usual affectionate way, and you would ignore him. sometimes you'd mutter something else, sometimes you'd stay silent. he'd give you a questioning glance, but you kept your face neutral, avoiding his eye contact.

at one point, he tried to catch you off guard by saying it when you were cooking, his voice light and playful. "i love you."

you stirred the pot without looking up, "mhmm."

jake blinked, his lips pressing into a thin line. you could feel his gaze burning into your back, but you refused to break. you had to keep going.

you could feel him watching you, a subtle sadness setting in. every time you ignored him, he seemed to get a little quieter, a little more distant. it was working, you had to admit, it was kind of adorable how much it seemed to affect him. but quickly, it began to feel...wrong. the last thing you wanted was for him to feel hurt or unloved. you found yourself distancing yourself from him just a bit, trying not to be in his presence too much, but if you looked into his eyes for too long, you knew you'd cave.

so, when jake told you he was heading to the corner store to buy more snacks, you gladly welcomed the space.

"okay, ill be here!" you said with a forced cheerfulness, glad for the temporary break from the prank.

jake nodded, "ill be right back." then, as he reached the door, he turned and said it again, a little quieter this time, "i love you."

you didn't even look up from your phone. "mhmm."

you heard the familiar sound of the door opening, but his footsteps abruptly stopped. you glanced up, slightly startled. jake was still standing in the doorway, his hand on the door handle. his back was to you, but he wasn't moving.

you felt a rush of guilt and couldn't help but smile to yourself.

"don't keep the door open, you're letting cold air inside," you said, trying to sound casual as if it was nothing unusual. jake didn't reply, his silence louder than anything. you sat there, biting the inside of you cheek to stifle the laughter threatening to escape. hidden by the back of the couch, you covered you mouth, trying your best to keep from laughing out loud.

without saying anything else, jake pulled the door closed and left. when you heard his footsteps getting farther away, you couldn't hold it in any longer.

when he returned, he was carrying multiple filled bags of snacks—way more than they needed. he dropped them onto the kitchen counter, his expression slightly sour. you glanced at him from the couch, your heart racing, but you stuck to your plan.

"got your favorites," he muttered, almost as if he was talking to himself. but still, no "i love you."

the evening went on, and when it was finally time to go to sleep, you finished getting ready first and got into bed first, trying not to look guilty. you had spent the day dodging his glances and avoiding too much physical closeness; you didn't want to break, you didn't want the prank to end too early.

jake climbed into bed after you, his body feeling a little heavier than usual. he rested his bed on your shoulder, wrapping his arms around your waist, still silent sulking.

you were trying so hard not to laugh. he was so cute when he was upset, but you couldn't let him know the truth just yet. you tried to focus on the tv, but you could feel him sighing dramatically against you. the deep sighs, each one louder and more exaggerated than the last, were obviously intended to get your attention.

after a few more, your resolve started to crumble. you couldn't help but lightly pat his back, though you were desperately trying not to laugh.

jake sighed again, this time practically groaning as he moved so his whole body was laying on top of you, obviously expecting a response.

trying your hardest not to crack, you barely managed to keep a straight face, "what's wrong?" you asked, your voice soft but far from serious.

"did i do something wrong? are you mad at me? because if i did, please just tell me," he whined as his arms tightened around you.

you shoulders shook as you tried not to laugh. his voice was so sincere, and his little sighs were so exaggerated, that you couldn't hold it in anymore. finally, you let out a burst of laughter.

jake lifted his head from your shoulder to blink at you with a confused frown. he briefly glanced at the tv but it didn't show anything to warrant this type of laughter from you, "what? what's so funny?"

you struggled to get the words out through your laughter. "it was just a prank!" you managed to say between fits of giggles, "i was messing with you. i didn't mean to make you so upset, i just thought it'd be funny."

jake's face dropped, "you—what? i thought i did something wrong!" his face went slack for a moment before he groaned. you wrapped your arms around his shoulders and pulled him flush against you again as you continued to laugh. he dropped his head back to your shoulder with a groan. his arms tightened around you even more, squeezing you in a way that was almost too tight.

"never do that to me again," he muttered into your shirt, his voice muffled but sincere. you couldn't help yourself, laughing even harder.

jay park — interlaced fingers

— fingers interlaced, palms pressed together, jay enjoyed the classic yet intimate way to hold hands. you both were able to communicate through gentle squeezes or direct one another with a slight pull into a specific direction. not to mention, your hands fit together like pieces of a puzzle, allowing the people who walk past you to see your connection without having to say a single thing.

jake sim — over-the-shoulder

— walking side-by-side, your steps synchronized in a gentle rhythm. jake casually draped his arm over your shoulder, drawing you closer, while your hand reached up, intertwining your fingers together. as you continued to walk, he leaned his head down slightly, his lips brushing against your ear as he whispered, not needing to speak any louder with how close you both were.

park sunghoon — pinky hold

— at a bustling intersection, waiting to cross the street, you and sunghoon exchanged glances as your pinkies wordlessly found each other’s, intertwining in a silent gesture of affection that went unnoticed by the pedestrians around you. once the light changed and you both began walking again, your interlocked fingers remained almost completely hidden by your long sleeves.

kim sunoo — palm-to-palm

— seated across from each other, both of your elbows rest on the table while your hands are pressed together, your fingers pointed upwards. as your eyes are locked as you quietly talk to one another, sunoo gently traces the outline of your fingers, his touch light and absentminded.

yang jungwon — linked arms

— arms hooked at the elbows, jungwon first linked arms with you as a way to share warmth on one particularly cold night. however, your arms naturally intertwined each time you walked side-by-side, wanting to hold the other as close as possible, regardless of the situation.

nishimura riki — wrist hold

"no—i mean...i’m thinking about leaving the program,” y/n interrupted, catching kazuha’s attention through the mirror. she watched as her body froze in an awkward half-standing position and her head snapped towards her.

"oh."

part of kazuha understood y/n’s sentiment; she wanted the best for her, yet selfishly, she didn't want her to leave. she was one of the only people the former ballerina could talk to and she would've been lost without her.

being a trainee was undoubtedly tough, physically and mentally. constant stress, sore bodies from long hours of practice, and sudden evaluations clouded their uncertain future and debut prospects.

as the song came to an end, an uneasy silence filled the room. y/n shifted uncomfortably under kazuha’s intense gaze, avoiding her reflection in the mirror.

they both hesitated to speak again, the weight of y/n's words lingering in the air. kazuha's eyes eventually softened, a mix of concern and bittersweet understanding replacing her previous unreadable expression as she sat back down beside her.

y/n stumbled over her words, voice vulnerable. “i love this—i really do, and i want to debut—but i’m tired zuha. i just don’t know if i can keep up with the constant pressure anymore. i feel like i’m suffocating.”

her eyes trained on her shoes as she fidgeted with the ends of her laces, "i'm scared that all this hard work might not lead to anything and i'm just wasting my time."

kazuha scooted closer, leaning her head on y/n's shoulder. she remained silent, taking in her words.

their weary faces reflected in the mirror showed their shared struggle, not just with dance routines or vocal exercises, but with the relentless pursuit of a dream that demanded everything from them.

a mixture of emotions swirled within the former ballerina. she understood y/n’s struggles, having similar doubts herself. the pressure of training, the uncertainty of their future debut, and the relentless grind had taken a toll on both of them.

finally, after a long moment, kazuha spoke softly, her voice carrying the weight of understanding and empathy. “y/n, i understand. it’s okay to feel overwhelmed,” her hand found y/n’s offering a gentle squeeze of reassurance, “but remember why we came here. we knew it would be tough, but we believed in this dream.”

y/n nodded slowly, absorbing kazuha’s words. “i’m just…i’m scared of giving up,” she admitted quietly, her voice wavering.

“you won't have to,” she replied firmly, lifting her head to meet y/n’s eyes directly, “we’ll figure this out together, whether it’s pushing forward or finding another path.”

a faint smile formed on your/n’s lips, grateful for kazuha’s unwavering support. they sat there in the quiet practice room; the music had stopped, but their resolve to pursue their dreams, regardless of how small it had become, continued to burn in the reflection staring back at them.

it was silent again for a moment, the only sound being the faint footsteps of people walking the halls despite the late hour. once y/n gathered her thoughts she turned to the other girl, “thank you, zuha,” she began, her voice steadier now, “and i’m sorry for dampening the mood—i mean, we finally got the choreography right, we should be happy right now!”

seeing y/n’s spirits lift, kazuha knelt beside her, grasping the girl’s shoulder. “think about how we felt watching our seniors perform. one day, that will be us, center stage with our own songs!”

“repeat after me: we will debut…and soon,” kazuha declared, shaking y/n lightly. y/n couldn’t help but laugh at the girl’s enthusiasm. “say it!”

“we will… debut!” y/n managed through laughter.

grinning brightly, kazuha practically shouted, “yes we will!”

as they caught their breath, both girls fell into a comfortable silence once more.

“okay, can we go home now? i’m so tired.”

jay park — baking

— once a week, the dorm's kitchen would be taken over by the two of you as you attempted to back new recipes together. flour clouds dance in the air as you both navigate through spilled vanilla extracts and dough mishaps. Amidst the laughter and occasional flour fight, your bond strengthened with each perfectly golden pie or slightly burnt batch of cookies.

jake sim — cafe hopping

— every weekend, you'd both set out to explore different cafes around the city, savoring the diverse menus and unique atmosphere of each location. at every stop you'd try new drinks and pastries while people-watching from your table in the corner of the room, creating elaborate life stories for the other customers around you and imagining their adventures and secrets.

park sunghoon — handwritten letters

— without a set schedule, you exchange handwritten "love letters" with each other at unexpected moments. you'd find them tucked under a pillow, slipped into a coat pocket, or just plainly left on a desk. these notes allowed you both to express the feelings you struggled to articulate in conversation. in the fleeting moments when the letters are discovered amid the rhythm of daily life, they offer solace and forge a deep connection through written expressions of love.

kim sunoo — indoor picnics

— every sunday, without fail, you spend the afternoon under the warm sun, surrounded by cute snacks. this routine lasted almost a month until the sky decided to intervene with an unexpected rain shower, threatening to cancel your plans. undeterred, you proposed relocating indoors. in an instant, your apartment living room transformed into your new go-to picnic spot, complete with comfy blankets and homemade snacks.

yang jungwon — star gazing

— whenever the weight of his idol and leader responsibilities became too much, you and jungwon would escape to the rooftop, lying side by side on a blanket. the expansive night sky, adorned with countless stars, became your sanctuary. with the cool breeze gently whispering around you, both of you with trace constellations, sharing soft laughter and momentarily escaping the world below in each other's comforting presence and the twinkling night sky.

nishimura riki — blanket forts

he quickly picked a mixture of his mother's favorite flowers and brought them to the counter where you stood. to jay, your eyes sparkled like dewdrops on morning petals, and he watched your hands move with a grace that mirrored the dance of a gentle breeze through a field of wildflowers as you determined how much the bouquet cost. jay was captivated, not by the flowers, but by your presence.

"how...how long have you worked here?" he asked hesitantly. jay hadn't been inside the flower shop nearly enough to know the details of all the staff so he felt like he was asking a very stupid question.

when you looked up at him, jay felt like his heart stopped. "well, technically i don't," you started, "my grandmother owns this place and she's on vacation abroad for a bit, so she asked me to take over for a week or so."

the conversation seemed to end there as jay nodded and you finished the transaction.

over the next few days, jay found himself returning to the flower shop more frequently than he could justify. he would find any excuse he could muster up; at first, he started visiting his mother more often and brought her flowers each time, but that didn't last long before he ran out of excuses, and a myriad of bouquets began to fill his apartment instead.

he soon, however, realized that it was your company that he truly sought. each visit became an opportunity to engage in light conversation, to learn about the meaning of different flowers, and to bask in the warmth of your smile.

one afternoon, while carefully selecting a bouquet of sunflowers with your help, you struck up a conversation about the language of flowers. you spoke passionately about how each flower carried a unique meaning, an unspoken message that added depth and nuance to the act of giving flowers. jay hung onto your every word, feeling as if the flowers themselves were conspiring to reveal the secret he held inside his heart.

jay felt his heart drop on the day that he walked back into the flower shop and saw the familiar older woman standing behind the counter once more. nevertheless, he brushed off his emotions and went to pick out his desired flowers like he usually did.

"ooh, those would be a good match." you suddenly appeared next to jay, pointing to the new flowers that were displayed next to him.

with a puzzled expression, he turned to you, unsure of the sudden change. "i thought your grandmother was back," he said, trying to hide his disappointment.

you chuckled softly, "she is, but i liked being here too much, so i asked if i could help out a bit longer. i hope that's okay."

a wave of relief washed over jay, and he couldn't hide the smile that formed on his face. "more than okay," he replied.

once jay paid for the carefully chosen bouquet, your grandmother raised her eyebrows at you as you stood beside him, the two of you walked out of the shop together. the sun cast a warm glow, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers that escaped through the open doors.

as you strolled down the sidewalk, you couldn't help but glance at the vibrant flowers in jay's hand. "i think i would fall in love with anyone who gave me flowers like those," you mused, "whoever they're for is very lucky," a smile graces your lips as you playfully elbow him.

heeseung responded flatly, "no."

but almost simultaneously, you waved your hand dismissively and said, "sure, whatever."

maybe your voice overpowered his, or niki just chose to ignore heeseung completely, but the younger boy tosses the bag into the cart with a happy smile and walks away again.

"we aren't buying this," heeseung huffs, reaching into the cart and placing the candy on a nearby shelf. you scoff at his behavior but don't protest.

heeseung continued to shop with you by his side as mental support while niki wandered around elsewhere in the store, occasionally picking up snacks that caught his attention, but ultimately putting them back.

at one point, while you and heeseung were scanning the shelves in another aisle, niki snuck up behind you both and put his original candy back in the cart when you weren't looking.

once the shopping list had been fully crossed off, you made your way to the checkout registers; niki eventually returning as well—still empty-handed.

you couldn't help but laugh seeing the colorful package again amongst the other groceries. once the cashier scanned it, you sneakily handed the candy off to niki instead of putting it in the bag.

with all of the items paid for and bagged (well, most of them at least), the three of you finally left the store and niki ripped open the packet with a happy smile as he walked a few steps behind you through the parking lot.

you and heeseung were by the front door, getting ready to go out to dinner, when you called out through the dorm for niki. the older boy furrowed his eyebrows at you, clearly taken aback.

"what are you doing?" he inquired, to which you just shrugged as you continued focusing on putting your shoes on.

"well, earlier he mentioned that he hadn't really eaten yet today," you finally stand up straight, "so i thought he could come with us."

although heeseung had initially expected it to be just the two of you, he couldn't argue with your thoughtful gesture. with a nod, he agreed, allowing a small smile to creep onto his face.

once the youngest boy finally emerged from his room, fully dressed and excitement visible on his face, the now-three of you left the dorm together.

at the restaurant, you sat across from your boyfriend, like usual, and niki quickly slid into the seat next to you. heeseung couldn't help but roll his eyes at the ease with which niki had become a part of your outing.

heeseung watched from across the table how you and niki playfully elbowed each other with each bite of your food or during conversations. he rolled his eyes lightheartedly at the ease with which niki had always joined your outings together.

while he was grateful for the bond you had created with his fellow members, he couldn’t help but wish he could spend more time with just the two of you. it seemed that finding time together, away from everyone else, is easier said than done.

wanting to indulge in your boyfriend's hobbies, you agreed to play video games with him, so the two of you had taken over the living room for most of the day.

you were settled on the couch, absentmindedly using your phone while heeseung went to get more snacks for you both from the kitchen.

when niki walked out of his room and saw the tv screen showing the game's main menu and the unoccupied controller on the table, he couldn't stop himself from moving toward it. before you could even register what was happening, niki had taken heeseung's once-vacant spot beside you.

you looked up from your phone to the boy who was staring at you expectantly, "yes, niki?"

"wanna bet on who's better at this game?" he asked.

you raised your eyebrow, intrigued by niki’s challenge, “sure,” you chuckled, “but be prepared to lose; i’ve gotten really good at this game.” the younger boy laughed at you as you both picked up the controllers and began playing.

it wasn't long before heeseung returned to the living room. he was slightly confused when he turned the sounds of the game resuming from the kitchen, but he thought you accidentally pressed a button. however, he could only sigh when he came back to see you and niki with your attention focused on the tv screen.

silently acknowledging the new seating arrangement, heeseung sat down on the other side of you since niki had taken his original seat.

as he watched the two of you play, niki was noticeably better at the game than you. heeseung leaned against you, whispering tips quietly into your ear occasionally.

once the round finished, you and heeseung both jumped out of your seats, arms raised in the air before you hugged each other while niki sprawled dramatically across the couch, whining in defeat, “rematch! rematch! you’ve been playing for a while already, that was just my warm-up!”

heeseung immediately shut him down, “nope, you lost. now leave me alone with my girlfriend.”

your subsequent visits were marked by laughter, stolen glances, and the subtle dance of fingers brushing against book spines. the bookstore's owner, recognizing your growing connection, discreetly provided cozy reading nooks and complimentary cups of tea, allowing you both to lose yourselves in discussions about the contents of the story.

as the number of books on your shared shelf grew, so did your connection. you both discovered the joy of seeing the world through the other's perception of the story, exploring genres you might never have ventured into alone.

your private book club extended beyond the confines of the store, finding its way into your daily lives. whether you were together, tangled around each other on the couch, or alone, separated by the distance of your rooms, knowing that you were connected by the stories you were reading strengthened the bond between you and sunoo.

she doesn't respond.

you couldn't see what she was doing since her back was to you, but after a minute or so of rummaging through a closet, eunchae dramatically turned around, a short red wig now on her head with the rest of her hair still visible underneath.

you couldn't help but burst into laughter at her new appearance before getting up and joining her.

"are there more?" you ask excitedly. and as if she was expecting your question, she puts a similar, purple wig into your hands.

as you stood in front of the mirrors together, your laughter echoed through the empty dressing room. once the colorful wigs properly cover your hair, eunchae turned to you, holding up her phone, "let's take pictures"

you nodded excitedly, joining eunchae in posing in front of the mirror, striking amusing and dramatic poses for each shot, taking some together, and some of each other individually. the dressing room was filled with the sound of your shared laughter as you created a vibrant photo collection.

the group's short break was coming to an end, and kazuha was walking around looking for the younger members, a request from your leader. it wasn't a difficult task; the uproar of laughter coming from one room gave you both away.

kazuha stood at the threshold, utterly perplexed by the sight of eunchae and you sporting the vibrant wigs. she blinked twice, trying to process the scene she unexpectedly walked in on.

"what the..." when kazuha walked further into the lounge. she was caught off guard seeing you both with bright red and purple hair.

seeing her shocked expression through the mirror, you attempted to stifle your laughter, failing miserably. eunchae turned around, beaming at her before doing a dramatic catwalk towards her and hooking their arms together, walking her towards the mirror where you were waiting.

"dont we look great?" you chirped, bouncing you shiny, purples locks dramatically. you flick the strands of your wig towards kazuha, who couldn't help but burst into laughter herself, shaking her head in disbelief.

"what do you say, zuha? wanna join the fun?" eunchae wiggled her eyebrows, already holding up another vibrant, blue wig she'd found in the depths of the closet.

kazuha hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, "why not?"

within minutes, the room once again filled with laughter as your now-trio transformed into a whirlwind of color, clicking pictures and creating memories. their need to get back to filming, long forgotten until chaewon had to come get you all; she too almost getting drawn into your impromptu party as well.