– School Trip Day_
*– Morning –*
"*Finally!!!!!! Jeju Island, here we come!!*"
Blue's voice pierced through the chatter, loud and bubbly as ever. She had her duffel bag slung across her shoulder, bouncing excitedly on her heels like a kid about to open presents.
"You're so loud," Ria said, laughing as she adjusted her sunglasses, looking very much like a model about to do a beach photoshoot.
Sato tilted his head with a teasing smirk. "Wow, Nao… you look like an Easter bunny."
Nao tugged at the pink-and-white hoodie Ria had picked out for her—bunnies and little bows danced across the fabric.
"I told you the hoodie would look better once you got your whole look together," Ria said proudly, arms crossed like she was Nao's personal stylist.
Nao looked at herself and chuckled, brushing her bangs from her face. "Ha... I look like some 9-year-old who just discovered color coordination."
They all burst out laughing.
Suddenly, the intercom buzzed loudly.
*"Group B!"*
The exit elevator slid open with a soft chime, and the students of Group B began stepping out onto the school grounds.
"*Wooohooo!!! I almost forgot what fresh air feels like!*"
A guy shouted as he stepped off the elevator, arms raised to the sky."Did you hear? It's Jeju Island!"
"*Omds, I LOVE that island!*" a girl squealed, hugging her friend.
"The beaches there are like, actually heavenly."
Group B spilled out, their chatter filling the air with even more energy.
"*Group B out… now WE can goooo!*" Katherine sang, raising her hand like she was calling in a marching band.
Nao was still fixing her bag strap when—
"*Hey, Nao.*"
She felt arms wrap around her from behind, strong and familiar. A chin rested lightly on her shoulder.
"*W-What the hell—?!*"
Her whole body stiffened as Kaze hugged her from behind.
Katherine, Blue, and Ria gasped dramatically.
"Wait… you two…"
Katherine pointed at them like she'd discovered a scandal.
"*Dating?!*"
"Dating?" Kaze whispered playfully.
"*N-No! No!*"
Nao's hands shot up to his, trying to pry them off. "*What the hell do you think you're doing?!*"
Her face was flushed, and her ears—bright red.
"Just missed ya."
Kaze let go with a smug smile.
"*I NEED my hug too!!*"
Ria leapt on him like a koala, clinging to his back.
"Your little ass always wants a hug," he said trying to pull her off, blue laughing.Blue exhaled in relief. "Ha… I forgot Kaze was for Ria. I was shocked for a second, thought he was dating Nao."
"They're childhood friends," Katherine added. "It's normal to miss her."
Nao was still frozen, hands awkwardly playing with her hoodie strings, her head low. Her face hadn't cooled at all.
"Why this bitch have to do that…" she muttered under her breath.
*"Students, please proceed into the buses in an orderly fashion."*
The announcement echoed again as the school's sleek black luxury buses pulled up by the side.
The excitement grew even more intense.
Imperial's most elite students were now heading to Jeju Island…
And for some, this trip would be more than just sand and waves.
_______
The steady hum of the bus engine was the background soundtrack to idle chatter, music playing from someone's speaker in the middle rows, and the occasional burst of laughter from the front.
Two boys seated close to the aisle leaned toward each other.
"Hey, you heard? The election officially started."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Mr. Williams is one of the candidates."
"Crazy… you think he'll still run Imperials if he becomes president?"
"Knowing him? I bet he'll do both."
*Back Row – Group B Section*
Viki sat comfortably close to Nathan, her shoulder glued to his, head almost resting on him. Her long nails tapped softly on her phone, but she wasn't really looking at it.
"You know I need to breathe, right?" Nathan muttered, eyes still on the screen of his own phone.
"Ha… how's your arm now?" she asked sweetly, turning her body more toward him, clearly ignoring his discomfort.
"Should be better," he replied, cold and flat. He turned slightly away from her, his thumb casually scrolling through whatever had his attention.
"What you looking at?" Viki leaned in again, trying to peek at his screen.
Nathan exhaled heavily and dropped the phone on his thigh."Viki… what have I told you about privacy?" His tone was calm but edged with warning.
"I was just curious," she pouted, sitting up straighter. "You don't have to get mad about it." She reached to hold his arm again.
He shifted away from her touch. "Sure."
Then picked up his phone again, resuming his scrolling like nothing happened.
Viki crossed her arms and looked out the window, her brows furrowed in quiet irritation.
*Later… Jeju Island*
The tires of the luxurious school bus crunched lightly against the resort's gravel parking lot. The sun bathed the landscape in gold, making Jeju Island look even more like a dream. Mountains towered faintly in the background, and the sea was visible in the distance, sparkling like a million tiny diamonds under the morning light.
The bus doors opened with a soft hiss.
*"We're here."*
"*WOAAHHH!*" Katherine jumped out of the bus, her arms stretched high above her head.
"This is so COOL!" she spun around, taking in the full panoramic view. Her eyes practically sparkled with excitement.
The others filed out behind her, some stretching after the ride, others already pulling out their phones to snap photos.The area was buzzing with tourists, vendors, and music in the background. The entrance to the resort grounds was elegant—stone-paved paths, flower gardens, and signs in both Korean and English pointing to various activities: *Beachfront*, *Spa House*, *Debate Dome*, *Resort Rooms*, *Outdoor Pool*, and *Zen Garden*.
"Guys, this place looks like something out of a K-drama!" Blue said, twirling on her heels.
Yeon had already started filming with her phone. "My followers are gonna be so jealous."
Nao stepped down from the bus quietly, still wearing her bunny hoodie. The breeze made her hair flutter gently as she looked around in awe.
She could hardly believe this was real.
From the bus behind them, the rest of Group B followed—Takumi, Konan, Kim Joon, Quinn, and the rest.
Ria slid up beside Nao, nudging her elbow. "This is gonna be the best trip ever. I can feel it."
Nao smiled faintly, but her eyes were already scanning the crowd…
She didn't know what this trip would bring.