Jinkyung wandered along the edge of the stream, her thoughts drifting.
It's not like they forget about me. They always include me. They always take care of me…But still sometimes I feel strangely lonely.
Her gaze landed on Ono, lying on a sun-warmed rock he' arms was on the back of his head, sunglasses hiding his eyes.
He'd been lying there all day.
He really is a weird one.
He doesn't really fit in, like everything is just childish and lame.
She raised her camera.
Well anyway, I am indebted to him for this trip. I should at least take some pictures for him.
She snapped a few photo, then looked around, searching for a better angle.
It's not big, but it's a pretty valley. I want to capture it properly.
Spotting a large rock, Jinkyung climbed onto it.
The breeze tugged at her hair, sunlight warming her skin.
It's a good day after all…
She lifted her camera, trying to frame the valley.
"Ah… I can't get it all in…"
Maybe if I go higher.
She rose onto her tiptoes.
Her slipper slipped.
"Oh!"
Her balance gave way.
I'm slipping! I'm falling!!The camera!!
She hugged the camera tightly to her chest as she fell.
Even if I get hurt!!
She was far from the others, hidden by massive boulders no one noticed.
Ugh… that hurts.
I should've been more careful, idiot…
She exhaled shakily.
At least my head didn't.
…No.
I definitely hit something.
Then why doesn't it hurt?
Slowly, she opened one eye.
A hand was there steady, firm cradling her head just above the stone.
Ono stood over her, sunglasses still on, his expression unreadable.
Jinkyung's eyes flew open.
"Huh? Ehh?!"
"…I knew you were going to fall," he said calmly.
And just like that, he let go and walked away, as if it had meant nothing.
As if it were just a passing moment.
Jinkyung sat there, staring at his retreating back.
In all of Kim Jinkyung's seventeen years of life.
It was the first time she was ever rescued.
Her heart skipped a beat blush blooming in her face.
After some time, everyone gathered on the flat stones by the stream, water dripping on them.
Park Dong waved his hands around impatiently.
"Hey, where's the knife? How are we supposed to cut this open?"
Ono stepped forward, silent as ever.
He set his palms firmly against the watermelon's smooth green shell, steadied himself and with one sharp, decisive motion, it split in two.
For a heartbeat, no one spoke.
Everyone stared, eyes wide.
Jinkyung couldn't look away.
Her gaze stayed fixed on Ono, as if glued there, her chest beating strangely fast.
And in that quiet moment, without fanfare or warning, she realized it for the first time, she had completely fallen for someone.
By the time dusk painted the sky in fading orange, everyone had returned to Ono's house. Suwon crouched by the grill, coaxing the flames to life.
"You're good at this, Suwon?" Daegyu asked, arms crossed.
Suwon gave a small shrug. "Tried it once when we came last time. Let's see if I remember."
Park Dong hovered over the sizzling meat, brow furrowed. "It's cooked, right?"
"Try it," Inseop said.
Park Dong blew on a piece and was about to swallow it whole when he caught Irina staring, eyes sparkling and mouth practically watering. His lips curled into a grin. "Come here, try if it's done."
"Okay~," she sang, walk closer.
"It's hot, so be careful," he warned.
"Don't worry, punk~." Irina tilt his head up and open her mouth.
Seriously… She really loves pretty much any kind of food.
She popped it in her mouth only to immediately spit it out. "Ugh, seriously, it's all undercooked."
Meanwhile, Seolhyo and I came out carrying the side dishes, spoons, and chopsticks, arranging them neatly on the big wooden table.
I took my seat at the far end center.
Daegyu leaned forward, already reaching for the grill. "Let's eat this batch first, then we'll grill more later. Hey, look at this one I grilled it perfectly, right? Oh, that color… my mouth's watering."
Park Dong puffed his chest. "Tch, looking at it, I'm someone who's good at everything."
"Aw man, the backs all burnt," Inseop said flatly, lifting a charred black piece with his chopsticks.
The two immediately fell into bickering, while Suwon sighed at their noise.
"What about Seol Hyorim and the others? Do they still have stuff left to move?" Daegyu asked.
"They all went to the bathroom," Hyewon replied.
"Why do they all come to the bathroom together?" Daegyu muttered, baffled.
Seolhyo, Jinkyung, and Irina soon appeared together, walking back toward them.
"Hey, come eat already," Daegyu called out.
"Were eating now?" Seolhyo brightened. "Okay let's sit down!"
She scanned the long wooden table where everyone else was already seated, the food spread neatly in the center.
Her eyes landed on Park Dong, who was sitting beside Seojin.
Jinkyung casually took a seat on right side of the table, still sneaking glances toward Ono without even realizing it.
Irina followed behind her but Seolhyo suddenly sit down.
"I'll sit here," Seolhyo said firmly, a small smile on her lips. "That's my spot."
Irina blinked, then shrugged. "Oh. Okay," she said easily, moving to the left side of the table instead.
Seolhyo cleared her throat loudly.
"Ahem. Ahem."
She shot Seojin a pointed look.
Seojin immediately caught on.
Without hesitation, he nudged Park Dong with his elbow. "Move. Move. Seolhyo's sitting here. And you come here."
Park Dong clicked his tongue, standing up with a scowl. "So annoying. Do you really have to sit glued together? Just eat already. Stop shoving your dating in our faces."
Grumbling, he plopped down on the left side only to realize a second later that he'd sat right next to Irina.
"…!"
His face instantly turned red.
Irina glanced at him, eyebrow lifting slightly. "What?"
"N-nothing," Park Dong muttered, quickly averting his eyes as he grabbed a pair of chopsticks like his life depended on it.
Seolhyo slipped into the seat beside Seojin, clearly satisfied, and leaned slightly toward his chopstick and took the meant on it as she gave him a mischievous smile.
Jinkyung, meanwhile, didn't notice any of this.
Her gaze drifted again just for a second toward Ono, who sat quietly across the table, expression unreadable as ever.
The food steamed between them, cicadas buzzing faintly, and the table slowly filled with chatter, clattering chopsticks, and unspoken feelings quietly settling into place.
After some time had passed, when most of the food had been cleared and everyone was comfortably full, Irina suddenly looked at Seojin with a grin.
"Hey, Seojin. Didn't you bring a guitar?" she asked. "Bring it out. You said you know how to play, right?"
Seojin blinked. "Huh?"
Almost immediately, the others jumped in.
"Yeah! You did mention that!"
"Now's the perfect time," Daegyu added. "Play something."
Park Dong said, smirking. "Show us if you're really that good."
Seojin laughed lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. I'll give you guys a concert-level performance no refunds, though."
Pushing his chair back, he stood and headed inside the house.
A moment later, he returned with a worn black guitar bag slung over his shoulder.
He unzipped it carefully, pulling out the guitar as if it were something familiar and precious.
Seojin sat back down at the table, resting the body of the guitar against his thigh.
He adjusted the strap, then plucked a few strings, tilting his head slightly as he listened.
"Ting… twang…"
He turned the tuning pegs one by one, testing each note, fingers moving with practiced ease.
After a few more careful adjustments, the guitar was finally ready.
Seojin gave the strings a soft test strum, satisfied.
Before he began, his gaze drifted to Seolhyo sitting beside him.
She was already watching him, eyes bright with quiet expectation, her chin slightly lifted as if she were waiting just for this moment.
Seojin smiled at her fondly.
Then he looked back down at the guitar, settled his grip, and moved his fingers across the strings.