Chapter 19

The night was serene, with the crackling bonfire providing a cozy ambiance. The group huddled around, sharing stories and laughter. The stars above shone brightly, adding to the picturesque setting.

Jin started off, roasting a marshmallow to perfection. "Remember that time Jungkook tried to scare us in the woods and ended up scaring himself?" he said, chuckling.

Jungkook groaned. "Hyung, why do you always have to bring that up?"

"Because it's hilarious!" Jin replied, grinning.

Hoseok joined in, laughing. "You should've seen your face, Jungkook. Priceless!"

Namjoon, trying to keep a straight face, added, "You screamed louder than the owl that night."

Jungkook tried to defend himself. "It was dark, and I thought I saw something!"

Taehyung leaned in, poking the fire with a stick. "Speaking of dark and spooky, did anyone else hear those weird noises last night in the road?"

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "What kind of noises?"

Taehyung smirked. "Sounded like someone was having a very... intense conversation in the car."

"That's just the dirt in your ear trying to get out because of your loudness, Tae." Yoongi says as the whole group laughed.

Namjoon joined in, unable to resist. "Come on, Yoongi, we all know there's something going on. The way you two were whispering and sneaking around, it's pretty obvious."

Jimin groaned. "Seriously, we're just friends."

Jin raised an eyebrow. "Friends who call each other 'sweetie' and 'darling'?"

Jimin shot Jin a playful glare. "I never called him 'darling'."

"But you did call him 'sweetie'," Taehyung pointed out, causing another round of laughter, except Yungmin though. He wasn't happy about what he was hearing.

Jimin groaned. "Can we please talk about something else?"

Hoseok raised his hand. "Okay, okay. How about we plan our camping activities for tomorrow?"

Jungkook perked up. "Can we go hiking? I heard there's a great trail nearby."

Jin nodded. "Yeah, and we can have a picnic at the top. The view is supposed to be amazing."

Namjoon added, "And maybe we can do some fishing in the lake. I brought my gear."

Everyone agreed, excited for the plans.

The next morning, the group was up and as the sun was shining, and the forest around them was alive with the sounds of nature.

"Alright, let's get moving! First stop, the hiking trail!" Jimin announced, trying to muster as much enthusiasm as he could, despite having driven all night.

Yoongi stretched and yawned. "I need coffee first. Anyone else?"

Jin waved a thermos. "Got you covered. Made some fresh this morning."

They quickly had a light breakfast, grabbed their gear, and set off towards the hiking trail. The path wound through dense trees, with birds singing and a gentle breeze rustling the leaves.

"Wow, this place is beautiful," Yoongi said, taking in the scenery.

Taehyung grinned. "See? Much better than being stuck in the city."

As they climbed higher, the trail became steeper, and they began to joke around to keep the mood light. Jungkook started hopping from rock to rock, pretending to be a mountain goat.

"Look at me! I'm the king of the mountain!" Jungkook shouted, almost losing his balance.

"Careful, King Jungkook, you might fall and lose your crown," Jin teased, causing everyone to laugh.

Namjoon, ever the clumsy one, tripped over a tree root and nearly face-planted. "I meant to do that," he said, trying to play it cool.

"Sure you did, Joon," Hoseok laughed, pulling him back up.

They finally reached the top, and the view was breathtaking. The forest stretched out before them, a sea of green under the clear blue sky. They spread out a blanket and settled in for a picnic.

"This was a great idea," Jimin said, lying back and looking at the sky.

"Yeah, it's nice to just relax and enjoy the moment," Yoongi agreed, leaning back against a tree.

After lunch, they decided to head down to the lake for some fishing. Namjoon set up his gear, while the others found comfortable spots to sit and chat.

Jin, ever the entertainer, started telling exaggerated fishing stories. "So there I was, face to face with a fish the size of a shark..."

"Sure, Jin. A shark in a lake," Jimin said, rolling his eyes.

Hoseok grinned. "I want to hear more about this legendary fish!"

Namjoon, concentrating on his fishing, suddenly felt a tug on his line. "Guys, I think I've got something!"

Everyone gathered around as Namjoon struggled to reel in his catch. After a few minutes of intense effort, he pulled out a tiny fish, barely bigger than his hand.

"Behold, the mighty catch of the day," Taehyung said, trying to keep a straight face.

Namjoon sighed. "It's not the size that matters. It's the effort."

Yungmin laughed. "Sure, Joon. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

As the sun began to set, they lit another bonfire by the lake. The group settled in, toasting marshmallows and making s'mores.

"Today was perfect," Jin said, looking around at his friends.

"It really was," Yoongi agreed, smiling at Jimin.

***

It was already 2 in the morning when Jimin suddenly felt a buzz on his phone causing him to wake from his sleep. He looked at the surroundings; his friends were snoring and was even sleep-talking. He looked at his phone and left the area to find more privacy.

On the other hand, Yoongi heard rustling leaves that made him open his eyes. He spotted Jimin walking off the area they were sleeping. He decided to follow him, unwary of his actions.

"What do you want now?" Jimin snarled at his phone. "Oh yea? Like you could do that, punk-"

"J-Jimin?" Yoongi called out as Jimin quickly puts his phone away. He suspiciously eyes the taller.

"W-What are you doing here, Yoongi?"

"No, what are you doing here making phonecalls at this hour? Are you fucking someon-"

"Hell, NO, Yoongi. How could you say that?" Jimin says going closer to him. "Hey, let's just head back there, huh? Before they suspect something." He added, putting his hand on Yoongi's back.

"No,"

"It was my dad who called, Yoongs. It's nothing special. Let's just brush it off, hmm?" Jimin says with a soft voice causing the other to melt. He finally gives in and told himself that he was overthinking things.

"Okay, i guess?" Jimin chuckled as he planted his on the other one.

Yoongi, then wrapped his hands around Jimin's neck as the other one wrapped his around Yoongi's slim waist. They deepened the kiss, exchanging saliva to saliva.

"I knew it!"

*****

The sun began to rise, casting a golden glow over the campsite. The group slowly stirred, yawning and stretching as they woke up. The air was filled with the sounds of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves.

Jin, ever the early bird, was already up and preparing breakfast. "Good morning, sleepyheads! Who's ready for some bacon and eggs?"

"Me!" Jungkook shouted, still half-asleep but eager for food.

As they gathered around the makeshift kitchen area, Yoongi and Jimin exchanged nervous glances with Taehyung, who seemed to be enjoying their discomfort. Taehyung smirked, clearly relishing the secret he was keeping.

Namjoon, oblivious to the undercurrent, clapped his hands together. "Alright, what's the plan for today?"

"I thought we could start with some more hiking," Hoseok suggested. "There's another trail that leads to a waterfall."

"And maybe we can have a swimming contest there," Jungkook added, eyes lighting up at the thought of competition.

"That sounds great," Yoongi said, trying to steer the conversation away from anything personal. "Let's pack up some snacks and head out."

Taehyung, unable to resist, leaned over to Jimin and whispered loudly enough for Yoongi to hear, "Make sure you don't get lost in the woods again, Jimin."

Jimin shot him a warning look but forced a smile. "Don't worry about me, Tae. Just make sure you keep up."

Jin looked around, sensing something was up but not quite sure what. "Did I miss something last night?"

"Nope, just the usual," Taehyung said with a wink, causing Yoongi to elbow him discreetly.

They finished breakfast and packed their bags for the hike. As they walked along the trail, the group chatted and joked, enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful surroundings.

"Hey, Yoongi," Taehyung called out, "Remember to stay close to Jimin. We wouldn't want you to get lost in all this beauty."

Yoongi rolled his eyes, while Jimin sighed, trying to change the subject. "So, Namjoon, any more wise words for us today?"

Namjoon grinned. "How about this: 'Not all those who wander are lost.'"

"Very fitting," Hoseok said, laughing. "Especially for Jimin and Yoongi."

The group reached the waterfall, and it was a stunning sight. The water cascaded down the rocks, creating a misty spray that sparkled in the sunlight. They quickly changed into their swimsuits and jumped into the cool, refreshing water.

Jungkook challenged everyone to a swimming race, which he, of course, won. Jin attempted to fish again, this time with slightly more success, catching a few small fish for lunch.

As they lounged by the water, Taehyung continued to drop hints, much to Yoongi and Jimin's dismay. "So, Jimin, who was that on the phone last night? Sounded pretty intense."

Jimin forced a laugh. "Just my dad. You know how he can be."

Taehyung nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Sure, sure. Just making sure you weren't... preoccupied."

Yoongi sighed, deciding to confront Taehyung later. For now, he just wanted to enjoy the day and the company of his friends.

They spent the rest of the afternoon swimming, exploring, and even trying to build a makeshift raft, which ended in laughter and soaked clothes when it promptly sank.

Night fell once again, and the group sat around the campfire, the flames casting flickering shadows on their faces. They shared more stories and laughter, but Jimin and Yoongi's minds were elsewhere. Taehyung's constant teasing had put them both on edge.

As the others started to settle down for the night, Jimin and Yoongi exchanged a look. Jimin nodded subtly, and they quietly slipped away from the group, heading towards a secluded spot away from the campsite.

Once they were out of earshot, Yoongi turned to Jimin, his expression serious. "What were you thinking, Jimin? You know how important it is to be careful. Taehyung caught us kissing last night!"

Jimin's eyes widened, taken aback by Yoongi's harsh tone. "I know, Yoongi, but it wasn't my fault. He followed me. I was trying to be as discreet as possible."

Yoongi's frustration boiled over. "Discreet? Kissing me out in the open where anyone could see us is discreet to you? We agreed to keep this a secret, especially from Yungmin. You know how he feels about us!"

Jimin's own anger flared. "I'm doing my best, Yoongi! But it's hard when you keep acting like this is something to be ashamed of."

Yoongi stepped closer, his voice rising. "It's not about shame, Jimin. It's about being smart and not causing any more problems. Taehyung already knows something's happening between us, and if Yungmin finds out..."

Jimin cut him off, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'm tired of hiding, Yoongi. I already have enough pressure from my family and the seminary. Now it feels like I'm constantly walking on eggshells around you, too."

Yoongi's eyes flashed with anger, and he jabbed a finger at Jimin's chest. "This isn't about you being in the seminary! This is about you being reckless and not thinking things through. Do you know how dangerous this is for both of us?"

Jimin's eyes narrowed. "Oh, so now it's my fault? Maybe if you weren't so paranoid about everything, we wouldn't have to sneak around like criminals."

Yoongi's face contorted with rage. "You're being selfish, Jimin. This isn't just about you!"

Jimin scoffed, his own anger boiling over. "You know what, Yoongi? Maybe you should just go back to your brother and his narrow-minded views. At least then you'd have someone who thinks exactly like you do!"

The words hung in the air, sharp and hurtful. Yoongi's eyes filled with fury, and in a moment of heated frustration, he raised his hand and slapped Jimin across the face. The sound echoed in the quiet night, and both of them froze, stunned by what had just happened.

Jimin stared at Yoongi, his cheek stinging and his eyes filling with tears. "J-Jimin.."