Name | Donghyuck

33: Mayday! Mayday!

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.

Voices filled her ears, waking her up from her deep sleep. It was a good nap. Her surrounding slowly came into focus and she found the seat next to her empty.

She couldn't help but feel troubled about it.

We haven't talked for eight days.

She gathered her possessions in a tote bag and stood up, not wanting to think about it any longer. She scanned around the bus and discovered that everyone had already gone, leaving her and—Jaemin inside.

"Jaemin," she shook his body. "Wake up, Jaemin," she tapped his shoulder.

She gazed upon her friend as he blinked his eyes in slow motion, still half asleep. He raised his head, looking at her with a confused face. "Where is everyone?"

"They already got off to the bus," she replied as she reached for his phone on the seat beside him and kept it inside her bag.

"Why didn't Jeno wake us up?"

"Maybe he did. But we didn't wake up," she rolled her shoulders. "Come on, let's go."

The corner of their lips rose as soon as they walked out of the bus. The blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze. Palms trees were seen to stand tall along the beach dancing to the tune of the wind emanating from the waters of the sea.

"Jaemin, Ji!" Jeno called, waving his arms up in the air.

They made their way toward the others.

The boys were actively helping Jungwoo and Jaehyun set up the net, perhaps to play volleyball later. On the other side of the beach, near the shore, the girls were laying the mats for them to hang out after the barbecue. 

"Jeno, where are the ingredients?" Jihyuck put her bag down.

"Are you going to start preparing for the barbecue?"

"Can I? At least, we can save time," she said.

"That'd be great," Jaehyun interrupted from afar.

A smile appeared on her lips. She nodded, returning his smile. Taking the bags of ingredients from Jeno, she made her way to join Eva and Heejin who was sitting on the mat.

Awkwardness began to creep into her when the three of them sat together along with the girls. She wasn't close with Eva in the first place because she was three years older than her. And Heejin was a whole different story but it was twice as suffocating to be here with her.  

"Here," she set the bags on the mat and took off her sandals. "Jaehyun said we can start preparing for the barbecue session later."

Without further ado, they began unpacking the ingredients from the containers they brought from home. Fortunately, Jihyuck had a little knowledge of how to prepare for a barbecue, thanks to her mother. She used to do barbecues on their birthday, it brought her back to those days.

Jihyuck cleared her throat, grabbing the girls' attention. "Do you guys want to join them?" her chin pointed towards the boys on the other side of the beach.