*37*

Areum pov

The sun had barely begun to rise when I found myself standing outside my apartment, a duffel bag slung over my shoulder, waiting for Minji to pull up.

The plan had been entirely her idea-a spontaneous trip to Gangneung, something about getting away from the city and "breathing in the air of freedom," as she had put it. I hadn't questioned it much. I'd been too busy keeping up with work and dance classes to overthink. But now, standing here in the quiet of the morning, reality set in.

A weekend away. All of us together.

Minji, Jungkook, Taehyung, Jimin... and me.

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders, trying to shake off the anticipation curling in my chest. It wasn't a big deal. Just a short trip with friends.

The familiar honk of Minji's car snapped me out of my thoughts. The sleek black SUV rolled to a stop in front of me, and the passenger window slid down. Minji grinned from the driver's seat, sunglasses perched on her nose despite the early hour. "Get in, loser. We're going on an adventure."

I huffed a laugh, tossing my bag into the trunk before sliding into the backseat.

Jungkook was already inside, hood pulled over his head, looking half-asleep as he clutched an iced coffee. "Morning," he mumbled.

"Barely," I replied, buckling my seatbelt.

Minji tapped at her phone. "The guys should be here soon. Taehyung's driving his car. He's picking up Jimin."

The mention of both their names in the same sentence made something shift in my stomach, but I pushed it away. It didn't matter.

"Did you seriously get up early just to get coffee before us?" I asked Jungkook, eyeing his drink.

He smirked, taking a slow sip. "Perks of being a morning person."

I scoffed. "You woke up fifteen minutes ago, didn't you?"

Jungkook grinned, but before he could respond, another car pulled up beside us.

Taehyung's car.

I forced myself to stay relaxed as I watched him step out first, effortlessly cool in ripped jeans and a white t-shirt, sunglasses dangling from the collar. He stretched his arms above his head before turning to say something to Jimin, who was climbing out of the passenger seat.

Jimin looked... different. Or maybe it was just that I was seeing him outside of dance studios and coffee shops now. He wore a simple black hoodie, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, his hair slightly tousled like he hadn't fully woken up yet.

His eyes met mine through the window for the briefest second before shifting away.

Minji honked. "Hurry up! We have places to be."

Taehyung shot her a lazy grin before grabbing his bag. "Yeah, yeah. Keep your rich girl patience in check."

Jimin slid into the backseat beside me, leaving just enough space that our arms didn't touch. "Morning," he said, voice still laced with sleep.

I nodded. "Morning."

Minji adjusted her sunglasses. "Alright, idiots. Buckle up. Gangneung, here we come."

---

The road stretched ahead of us, endless and open, the morning light painting everything in golden hues. Minji had blasted a road trip playlist, filling the car with energetic beats that Jungkook insisted on singing along to-off-key, of course.

Jimin had gradually woken up, his head leaning against the window, fingers tapping absentmindedly against his knee.

"Okay," Minji announced, stealing a quick glance at us through the rearview mirror. "Let's play a game."

Jungkook groaned. "Oh no."

"Oh yes." Minji grinned. "Since we're all stuck in a car together, let's do a little truth or dare-but only truth, because I'm not letting Jungkook dare someone to jump out of the car."

Jungkook pouted. "You make me sound reckless."

"You are reckless," Taehyung called from the other car, having rolled down his window to match our speed.

Minji ignored him. "Alright, first question. Let's start simple." She turned to me. "Areum, what's something you're looking forward to this weekend?"

I glanced out the window, watching the scenery blur past as I thought about my answer. What was I looking forward to?

"The beach, probably," I said after a moment. "It's been a while since I've had time to just relax by the ocean."

Minji hummed in approval. "Good choice. Nothing beats late-night talks by the water."

Jungkook perked up. "Wait, does this mean we're doing a bonfire?"

Minji grinned. "Obviously."

Jimin chuckled beside me, his voice low but amused. "You just want an excuse to roast marshmallows."

Jungkook pointed at him. "First of all, yes. Second, don't act like you won't be eating half of them."

Jimin only smiled, shaking his head as he looked back out the window.

Minji clapped her hands. "Alright, next question." She turned to Taehyung, still driving beside us. "What's something you want to do this weekend that you haven't told anyone yet?"

Taehyung didn't answer right away, his fingers tapping the steering wheel in thought. "Hmm... maybe watch the sunrise alone."

Minji frowned. "Alone?"

He shrugged. "Not really alone. Just... without distractions. Just me, the waves, and the quiet."

Something about the way he said it made me glance at him through the window. His expression was calm, but there was something unspoken beneath it.

Minji, sensing the shift, moved on. "Jungkook, your turn."

Jungkook grinned. "Easy. I want to win at least one drinking game this weekend."

Minji rolled her eyes. "That's your goal?"

"I'm setting realistic expectations," he said with a dramatic sigh.

We all laughed, the tension from before fading into the background.

Minji stretched her arms dramatically. "Okay, okay, last one for now. Jimin, if you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?"

A beat of silence passed.

Jimin leaned his head back against the seat, looking thoughtful. "That's a tough one."

Taehyung's voice drifted from the other car, his window still rolled down. "Don't say something lame like your first dance competition."

Jimin huffed a quiet laugh. "I wasn't going to."

He glanced at me, briefly, before looking ahead again. "Maybe... the night of our college festival."

The air in the car shifted.

I felt my heartbeat stutter. I knew exactly what night he was talking about. The festival. The dance performance. The way we had snuck away afterward, wandering through the quiet campus, just the two of us.

That had been the night we first kissed.

Jungkook, clueless to the tension settling in the car, groaned. "Seriously? A boring ass college festival?"

Minji snorted. "Well, our college was pretty dope."

Jimin smirked but said nothing, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee again.

And me? I stared out the window, pretending not to feel the weight of his words pressing into my chest.

Jimin shifted beside me, his voice quieter when he spoke. "What about you?"

I turned my head slightly, meeting his gaze. "What about me?"

"What's something you want to do this weekend that you haven't told anyone yet?"

I hesitated, my fingers tracing the edge of my seatbelt as I thought about his question. What did I want from this weekend?

The truth sat at the tip of my tongue, dangerously close to slipping out. Clarity. I wanted to understand why Jimin still made my heart skip a beat, why sitting next to him now-after everything-felt both comforting and unsettling at the same time.

But I couldn't say that.

Instead, I forced a small smile. "I think I'll know when it happens."

Jimin's gaze lingered on me for a second, as if searching for something in my expression. Then, he simply nodded, accepting my answer.

The rest of the drive passed with a mix of lighthearted bickering, stolen glances, and the occasional stretch of comfortable silence.

By the time we finally reached Gangneung, the sky had shifted to a perfect shade of blue, the scent of the ocean lingering in the warm air.

We pulled up to a cozy beachfront house, its white walls and wooden deck looking straight out of a summer dream.

"Alright," she said, stepping out. "Welcome to my family's humble vacation home."

Humble was an understatement. The house was massive, all glass windows and wooden accents, overlooking the blue expanse of the ocean.

Taehyung whistled. "You sure this isn't a hotel?"

Minji flipped her hair. "Rich people secrets."

Jungkook hopped out first, stretching his arms with an exaggerated groan. "Finally! My legs are dead."

Minji smirked. "That's what you get for sitting weirdly the entire ride."

Taehyung walked past us, rolling his shoulders. "I'm claiming the best room."

Jimin shot him a look. "No, you're not."

"Try and stop me."

They disappeared inside, already arguing.

Minji rolled her eyes but grinned, following the guys inside. I lingered for a moment, taking in the view-the soft waves crashing against the shore, the endless stretch of beach that seemed to call out for us to enjoy it.

Jungkook caught up with me, giving me a sly look. "So, you're not planning on letting hyung get the best room, are you?"

I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my tone casual. "Why? You think I care about room assignments?"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I think someone might, if it means being close to him."

I froze for a moment, then forced a laugh. "You're delusional."

But before he could respond, Taehyung poked his head out from the door. "Jungkook! Stop flirting and get inside. We're picking rooms."

He glared at him playfully but walked in. I looked at Jimin, not missing the way he was watching me from the doorway, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses. He gave me a slight nod when our gazes met, like he was acknowledging something unspoken between us.

Minji was already inside, tossing her bag onto one of the couches. "You guys are so slow. Go fight over the rooms. It's not like you don't know Taehyung will win anyway."

I exchanged a look with Jimin, who seemed entirely too calm. He gave a little shrug, as if to say, I'm not bothered by it.

"Alright, alright," I said, picking up my bag. "Let's see what this humble house has to offer."

Minji winked at me as we walked inside. "Let's just hope there's a room with a view. We deserve at least that much."

As we entered the house, I couldn't help but feel a little giddy. The space was beautiful-open, airy, with huge windows that let in the sea breeze. It was the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city.

The guys were already bickering over rooms, and I could hear Taehyung's voice rise above the others. "I called it first!"

Jungkook shot back, "Doesn't mean you'll get it."

Minji and I exchanged a knowing glance, both of us silently agreeing that Taehyung probably would. He was impossible to argue with when he wanted something.

I slid past them, heading toward the back of the house where I saw a balcony overlooking the beach.

Jimin trailed behind me, his footsteps light, as if he was purposefully giving me space but still wanting to stay close.

"Do you think they'll ever stop?" I asked, looking over my shoulder at him.

He smirked. "Probably not. But I wouldn't mind staying out of it."

He leaned against the doorframe, watching me. His gaze lingered a little too long, and I had to remind myself not to let it get to me.

I stepped out onto the balcony, closing the door softly behind me. "It's beautiful out here."

Jimin followed me. "It is," he agreed, stepping up beside me. He stood a little too near, but I didn't move. "I can't remember the last time I just... was somewhere, you know?"

I glanced at him, surprised by the tone in his voice. There was a vulnerability there that I hadn't expected.

"Yeah," I said softly. "I know the feeling."

We stood there for a moment, the sound of the ocean filling the space between us. Neither of us said anything else for a while. But as the quiet settled in, I felt a warmth spread through me, and I couldn't help but wonder if this weekend was going to be more complicated than I had planned.

Minji's voice cut through the moment like a knife.

"Alright, lovebirds, stop staring at the ocean like it's a romantic drama and come claim your room before Taehyung takes the entire second floor."

I rolled my eyes, turning to see her standing in the doorway with her arms crossed, an amused smirk on her face. Jimin sighed beside me, shaking his head but following me back inside.

The argument in the living room had escalated.

"I swear I called it first!" Taehyung was saying, arms flailing.

Jungkook shot him a look. "You always call it first."

"That's because I think ahead-"

Jimin walked past them, looking completely uninterested. "I'll take whatever's left."

Minji raised a brow. "Look at you being so mature."

"I just don't feel like fighting over a bed," he said simply.

"Lame," Taehyung muttered, before turning to me. "What about you, Areum? Got your eye on a specific room?"

I shrugged, not really in the mood to deal with their territorial war. "I'll just take whatever Minji picks."

Minji grinned. "That's the spirit! We're rooming together, by the way. Non-negotiable."

I laughed. "Was I even going to get a choice?"

"Nope," she said cheerfully, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward one of the rooms.

We ended up with a spacious room on the first floor, with a large window facing the beach. It wasn't as extravagant as Taehyung's 'claimed' room, but it had a cozy charm that made it perfect.

Minji flopped onto the bed, sighing dramatically. "Now this is what I call a vacation."

I set my bag down and stretched. "Not bad."

"Not bad? It's perfect."

Before I could respond, Jungkook's voice rang through the house. "Alright, losers, let's hit the beach before the sun sets!"

Minji sat up instantly. "That's the first smart thing you've said all day. And drinks after!"

We grabbed our things and stepped outside. The sand was warm beneath my feet, and the air smelled of salt and adventure. The ocean stretched endlessly ahead, the waves rolling in a soothing rhythm.

Jungkook ran past everyone, kicking up sand. "Race you to the water, Tae hyung!"

"You're on!" Taehyung bolted after him, their laughter echoing against the wind.

Jimin and I stood near the water's edge, the waves lapping at our feet.

"It's nice here," he murmured, glancing toward me.

I nodded. "It is."

A comfortable silence stretched between us, the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salt and freedom.

Jimin looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could, a splash of water hit my side.

I turned sharply to find Taehyung standing in the shallow waves, grinning.

"Really?" I glared at him.

He smirked. "You looked too serious."

Jimin huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head.

I rolled my shoulders. "Fine. You want a water fight?"

Taehyung's grin widened just as I kicked a wave of water toward him.

Jungkook whooped in excitement, running toward us. "Oh, it's on!"

Within seconds, chaos erupted. Water splashed in every direction, laughter echoing under the afternoon sun.

I felt light.

No expectations. No questions. Just here.

I turned to Jimin, who had somehow managed to stay dry. "You're too quiet."

He smirked, stepping back. "I don't do water fights."

I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, you're boring."

Taehyung suddenly stepped beside me, voice low but teasing. "He just doesn't want to lose."

Jimin raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

Taehyung smirked. "What do you think?"

Something passed between them, something unspoken but undeniable.

Jimin exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "You two are ridiculous."

"Maybe," I said, grinning. "But at least we're having fun."

Taehyung and I exchanged a glance, silently agreeing on our next move. Before Jimin could react, we both kicked up water in his direction, sending a wave splashing against his legs.

Jimin blinked down at his now-soaked jeans, then slowly lifted his gaze to us. "You guys are so dead."

Jungkook, who had been watching with wide eyes, let out a loud laugh. "Ohhh, now you've done it."

Jimin took a step forward, eyes locked on me first. I tried to back away, but before I could escape, he lunged, grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward the water.

"Jimin-"

I barely had time to protest before he scooped up a handful of water and flung it directly at me.

A sharp gasp left my lips as the cold hit my skin. "You jerk!"

Jimin grinned, looking way too satisfied with himself. "You started it."

Minji, who had been standing at a safe distance, called out, "I'm just here for the entertainment."

Jungkook was still howling with laughter, while Taehyung took Jimin's distraction as an opportunity to drench him completely.

The water fight escalated into pure chaos, everyone drenched from head to toe within minutes. My cheeks hurt from laughing, my heart light in a way I hadn't felt in a long time.

By the time we finally truce-called, the sun had begun to set, casting a golden glow over the water.

Taehyung ran a hand through his wet hair, panting. "Alright. That was fun."

Jungkook flopped onto the sand, arms spread wide. "I think I swallowed half the ocean."

Minji finally stepped closer, looking way too dry. "You all look like drowned puppies."

I shook my head at her. "Oh, shut up."

Jimin smirked, raking a hand through his damp hair. "Alright, Minji. You said drinks after, right?"

She grinned. "Now that's the spirit."

Taehyung clapped his hands together. "Shower first, then drinks?"

Jungkook groaned. "Ugh, do we have to?"

Minji shot him a look. "Yes, you disgusting child."

We all laughed, heading back toward the house, dripping wet but completely content. The night had just begun, and something told me it was only going to get more interesting.

Back at the house, everyone rushed to claim the showers. Minji and I barely managed to grab towels before Taehyung and Jungkook sprinted ahead, shoving each other like kids.

"I swear," Minji muttered, shaking her head as she wiped the saltwater from her face. "They have the energy of five-year-olds."

I laughed, squeezing the water from my hair. "You're just mad because you didn't join the fight."

Minji smirked. "I prefer to be above the chaos."

From inside, Taehyung's voice rang out. "Dibs on first shower!"

Jungkook shouted back, "Like hell you do!"

A loud thud followed.

Minji rolled her eyes. "And this is why we can't have nice things."

Jimin walked past us, casually toweling his hair. "You guys fight over the showers. I'm using the outdoor one." He pointed toward the wooden shower near the deck, already heading in that direction.

Minji watched him go, then turned to me. "Why is he so annoyingly put together?"

I snorted. "You mean why doesn't he act like a man-child?"

"Exactly."

Inside, the chaos continued. Jungkook and Taehyung had apparently decided to settle their argument through sheer physical combat, because Minji and I found them wrestling in the hallway.

Jungkook had Taehyung in a loose headlock, while Taehyung was this close to pushing him into the wall.

Minji sighed, crossing her arms. "You both reek of salt and bad decisions. Just go in together."

The two boys froze, looking at her in horror.

"No way," Taehyung said.

Jungkook pulled a face. "Absolutely not."

Minji shrugged. "Fine. Then keep rolling around in the hallway like idiots."

Taehyung groaned, finally shoving Jungkook off. "Fine. You go first."

Jungkook grinned in victory and disappeared into the bathroom.

Minji and I exchanged a look before heading into our own room.

Thirty minutes later, everyone was cleaned up and gathered in the living room. The salty mess from earlier had been replaced by dry clothes and fresh scents. Taehyung was sprawled across the couch, flipping through his phone, while Jungkook messed with the speaker, trying to find the right playlist.

Minji walked in, arms crossed. "Okay, important question. Who's making drinks?"

Jungkook immediately pointed at her. "You."

She scoffed. "Wow, no hesitation."

Taehyung stretched lazily. "You're the only one here who actually knows how to make something decent."

Minji rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "Fine. But if you guys don't appreciate my skills, I'm never making drinks for you again."

Jimin smirked from where he sat on the armchair. "No pressure, huh?"

She flicked her hair dramatically. "None at all."

As she disappeared into the kitchen, Jungkook finally settled on a playlist, and the first notes of an upbeat song filled the space.

Taehyung sat up, looking around. "Alright. Who's up for a drinking game?"

Jungkook's face lit up. "Yes."

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind?"

Taehyung smirked. "Ever played 'Never Have I Ever'?"

I exchanged a glance with Minji, who had just walked back in with the drinks.

She sighed. "Oh, this is gonna be interesting."

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