The Hideout I Need

Chapter 15: The annual trip to Won-jin's summerhouse

"Oh, look at the weather reports, we should totally go to the beach!" Hyeong-jun yelled out in happiness, showing his phone to Se-rim and Jung-mo in their seats in front of him.

"Ah, yes! I was so bummed that it rained last year," Jung-mo had a relieved smile on his face, "I also seriously gotta remember mosquito repellent this time. I can't believe I've forgotten it the last two times..."

The three were happy planning their yearly summer trip. They were all feeling great since it was the very last Monday at school before their summer break. They would finally be finishing their first semester! So even though there still were five days left of school, they planned the trip as if it were happening today.

You see, every year since their first year of high school, Se-rim, Se-kwon, Jung-mo, Won-jin, and Hyeong-jun had gone on a lovely trip to Won-jin's summerhouse. Truth be told, Won-jin's family was huge. Like, quite large. His grandparents had 4 kids all of which met spouses and each had at least 3 kids, resulting in Won-jin having about a dozen cousins. The entire family was quite close, so his grandparents decided to buy a cottage in the countryside for the entire family. The Ham family would go up every summer, but Won-jin also got permission to invite some friends up as he became a teenager. And naturally, being the extroverted teenager he was, he invited his new friends from high school up back when they all were freshmen. It was definitely a great decision: it was probably that very trip that made them so close.

"Also remember sunscreen, I don't want you hogging all of mine again," Se-rim joked, making a little pout towards Jung-mo.

"I will, I will, don't worry."

"What are you guys talking about?" Tae-young walked over to his seat beside Hyeong-jun with a smile, as he entered the classroom.

"The summer trip," Jung-mo turned around in his chair to face him, smiling back.

Tae-young's eyebrows furrowed while still keeping a smile on his face, a little confused, "What trip?"

Jung-mo's eyes widened for a moment, "Oh my gosh, he doesn't know," he looked over at Se-rim in shock.

"Of course he doesn't know, why would he know?" Se-rim chuckled.

"Tae-young, you're totally coming along!" Jung-mo stated (or, demanded) happily, still offering no explanation.

"Uh... what?" Tae-young chuckled.

Hyeong-jun let out a little giggle, turning over towards him so he could explain, "Every year we go up to Won-jin's summerhouse in the summer break. We're going next week since the break has begun by then. You should come along!"

"That sounds amazing!" Tae-young smiled, "Are you sure Won-jin would let me come along? I don't wanna burden him being an extra guest."

"Of course you can come!" Se-rim said, "You're in the group now, we'd be offended if you didn't come along."

Tae-young let out a smile at that comment. So did Hyeong-jun.

All six boys were incredibly excited about the trip. And the day school finally ended, they couldn't stop talking about it in their group chat. They started planning which train they'd take and what they should make for dinner. It would be safe to say that all six of them were extremely giddy.

As the day finally arrived they all had big smiles on their faces as they took the two-hour-long train out of Seoul, even if the journey seemed long. It was all worth it as they stepped foot into Won-jin's summerhouse, a place they hadn't seen in a year (or in Tae-young's case, ever). They immediately ran up to the "children's" room — aka the room that Won-Jin shared with his cousins — and started unpacking their things. Tae-young let out a surprised gasp as he saw that there were so many beds in the one room. The five others chuckled, but to be fair, their reactions were the same the first time they saw it.