The alarm rang, and I rolled out of bed with a groan. But today wasn't just another Sunday. Today was Lotte World.
I stood in front of my closet, staring for a long moment. If I was going, I wasn't about to show up half-asleep in a wrinkled t-shirt.
I pulled out a fitted white graphic tee with faint lettering across the chest, layered it with a black casual blazer slightly slim cut, just enough to sharpen the look without feeling too formal.
For pants, I went with straight dark-blue jeans, not too baggy, not too tight, cuffed slightly above clean white Adidas Superstars.
My hair was freshly buzzed clean and close to the scalp, the sharp simplicity of it made everything else pop. A thin silver necklace and a black leather wristband finished it off.
"Yeah," I muttered with a faint grin. "This'll do."
Wallet, phone, and a messenger bag slung over my shoulder looking at my reflection again smirk 'Lets go'.
On the street, at the agreed meet-up spot, Jinkyung was already waiting. She stood under the shade of a bus stop sign, stifling a yawn, her pink cap tilted slightly forward. A pink hoodie hung loose over a white shirt, the strap of her bag looped carelessly over her arm. Black pants and sneakers finished the look, casual but bright very much her style.
The moment she spotted me, her eyes widened a little. "Seojin!" she called out, waving with one hand. As I got closer, she gave me a quick once-over and let out a grin. "Wow… you look more handsone than usual"
I smirked, tugging at the strap of my messenger bag. "I just dress up a little."
She laughed softly, shaking her head as if she didn't buy it.
I glanced around the street. "Where are the others?"
"On their way," she replied, pulling her phone out of her hoodie pocket to check the time. "Hyorim said they'll be here soon. You're the second to show up
Before I could reply, movement down the street caught my eye.
There she was Hyorim walking side by side with Irina.
Hyorim walked beside Irina, her look casual but sharp, the kind of street style that turned heads without trying. A cropped denim jacket hugged her frame that has a white hoodie that peeked out from underneath. Baggy cargo pants slouched over her sneakers, the laces loose, giving off that effortless, rebellious energy. Her slight wavy black hair, held back with a red headband, framed her sharp expression.
For a moment, I froze, completely awestruck. The way Hyorim carried herself the confidence, the easy stride, the faint curve of a smile when she listened to Irina made it hard to look away. It hit me suddenly how different she looked outside of school, almost like seeing a new side of her I hadn't expected.
I must've stared too long, because Jinkyung nudged my arm and smirked. "Hey, close your mouth before you start drooling."
Heat rushed up my neck, and I quickly looked elsewhere, pretending to check my phone.
Irina, on the other hand, carried herself with a livelier air. She rocked a bright red sweatshirt with a swoosh cutting across the chest, the sleeves a little long but comfortably worn. Pale blue jeans fell loose over her sneakers, the hem brushing against the ground with every step. Her curly hair bounced as she chatted, and the colorful messenger bag slung over her shoulder with its loud patterns and keychain jingles.
Together, they looked like they'd just stepped out of a snapshot of mid-2000s Seoul laid-back, trendy, and completely in their element.
Hyorim's gaze drifted to the other side, and when her eyes landed on me, they lingered a beat longer than usual. Her usual cool, guarded look faltered for just a moment, softening.
"...You look good," she said, voice even but edged with something unspoken. She tried to pass it off as casual, but the faint tug at the corner of her lips betrayed her.
I smirked at their reactions, shifting the strap of my messenger bag higher on my shoulder. "What? Surprised?"
"Surprised is one word," Jinkyung teased, letting out a laugh as she bumped against Hyorim's arm. "Seriously, you look like you're heading to a date, not an amusement park."
A quick glare flicked from Hyorim toward Jinkyung, sharp enough to warn her off, but she didn't deny it either. That tiny silence after made me chuckle under my breath, heat settling low in my chest.
I leaned a little closer to Hyorim, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "By the way… you look really beautiful today."
Her eyes flicked up at mine, wide for just a second before she quickly looked away. A faint blush colored her cheeks, but she didn't move, caught in the moment longer than she probably meant to be.
Before I could say more, Irina clapped her hands together. "Alright, let's go catch the theme park bus! Ahh, today's going to be so fun!"
"Wait a sec," Jinkyung said, glancing back toward the corner of the street. "He went out for a smoke."
Hyorim frowned slightly. "...Someone else is coming?"
Almost on cue, Yang Jinsu came strolling up, shoving one hand into his pocket while the other scratched at the back of his head.
"There he is," Jinkyung said, waving him over.
"I thought you weren't coming," Hyorim muttered.
"Well…" Jinkyung laughed lightly. "He called me earlier asking if we'd left already. Guess he changed his mind."
Irina tilted her head. "Didn't you say you weren't coming, though?"
Yang Jinsu's face reddened as he rubbed his neck. "Well im not going to do anything anyway might as well come. Not like her brother's gonna catch me or anything." He tried to play it off with a grin.
"Well hey the more the better, right" Hyorim added
Irina beamed. "Yes! Let's go already. It's my first time at Lotte World what if it's too fun? What if I don't want to leave?"
The group laughed as we started moving again. But as I drifted a few steps behind, I glanced over my shoulder.
Jinsu's gaze was locked firmly on Hyorim's back, his lips tugging into a foolish, almost dreamy smirk, the kind you couldn't fake.
At the bus stop, the five of us stood together, the morning air cool but buzzing with chatter and laughter.
"Ahh, I'm so tired," Jinkyung groaned, tugging at her hoodie. "I woke up way earlier than I do for school. What is this, punishment?"
"That's your own fault," Hyorim said flatly, though there was a tiny curve at her lips. She crossed her arms, then tilted her head. "Anyway… you guys are going to do the bungee jump, right?"
"Of course!" Irina said immediately, her eyes sparkling. "No way I'm skipping that. It's like mandatory."
Hyorim chuckled at her enthusiasm, but then her gaze shifted to me, lingering for a moment as if something had just clicked in her memory. "Wait Seojin didn't you say you're from Seoul?" she asked casually.
"Yeah," I nodded.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, curious. "Then… you've been to Lotte World before, right?"
"A couple times," I said.
"So how is it?" she pressed, sounding more eager than she probably meant to.
I leaned back against the bus stop pole, thinking for a second before answering with a small smile. "Well, it's crowded, noisy, and packed with couples taking cheesy photos. But… once you're inside, it kind of feels like stepping into another world. If you let yourself enjoy it, it's pretty amazing."
Hyorim blinked at me, her expression softening. She quickly looked away, hiding the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
Across from us, Irina and Jinkyung exchanged a brief glance. Neither of them said a word, but the quiet curve of their lips and the knowing glint in their eyes said plenty.
Yang Jinsu, hanging off to the side, shifted uncomfortably as the air between me and Hyorim grew a little too thick. He scratched the back of his head and muttered, "...Hey, I'm heading out for a smoke. Be back in a sec."
Hyorim immediately frowned, her voice sharp. "Again? You already had one earlier."
"Relax," Jinsu said with a forced chuckle, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "It'll be quick. Just one."
The four of us glanced at him at the same time, and it was almost comical. Irina let out a little snort.
"Heh, look at him why's he trying so hard to act cool?" Jinkyung whispered, smirking.
"Yeah, who's he even trying to impress?" Irina added under her breath.
Jinsu pretended not to hear, though the tips of his ears betrayed him.
Then, out of nowhere, Hyorim turned to me. "What about you, Seojin? Do you smoke?"
I blinked, caught off guard, then gave her a look of disbelief. "Do I look like I smoke? I can't stand the smell. That's why I threatened those guys in the bathroom, remember?"
For a moment, her eyes lingered on mine. Then she exhaled through her nose, the corner of her lips tugging upwards in the faintest, almost-hidden smile.
"The bus is here!!!"
After entering the bus the 5 of them look in disbelief cause of how crowded it is
The five of us froze for a second the moment we stepped onto the bus.
"...What the hell," Jinkyung muttered, eyes wide.
"It's like sardines in a can," Irina groaned, clutching her bag to her chest as the crowd pressed in.
There was no choice but to push forward, weaving and squeezing until we were all swallowed by the crush of bodies.
Jinkyung and Irina ended up wedged together near the middle, half-laughing, half-complaining at every jolt.
Jinsu, on the other hand, got unlucky sandwiched tight between two broad-shouldered guys, his face twisting like he was being suffocated.
As for me, I found myself at the back by the window.
Hyorim had been pushed there first, her back pressed lightly against the side of the bus.
I ended up right in front of her, one hand braced against the wall just above her head to steady myself. The position was… closer than I expected.
For a second, all I could do was glance at her.
My face warmed, and I had to look away, pretending the passing scenery outside was suddenly fascinating.
But Hyorim wasn't much better her eyes stayed fixed firmly on the floor, her ears and cheeks burning red as if the linoleum down there held the secrets of the universe.
The tension between us was so thick it made the cramped bus feel even smaller.
Not far away, Jinkyung and Irina exchanged looks.
Jinkyung raised her phone slowly, as if plotting mischief, and with a muffled giggle she snapped a photo of us in that ridiculous, too-close position.
Irina nearly choked on her laughter, covering her mouth before anyone noticed.