𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟒𝟔

𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟏

"ji, wake up."

jihyun's lips curled into a smile at jeno's husky morning voice, but she kept her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. she felt someone poke her back but she still didn't turn around to face him.

"jihyun." he sighed. "she's not going to wake up."

"i have an idea." chenle's voice could be heard followed by hushed whispering.

then it went quiet and jihyun furrowed her brows, waiting for something to happen. for a brief moment she assumed everyone was gone but she hadn't heard any footsteps. she was getting agitated and then suddenly she felt hot breath on the tip of her ear.

"baby, wake up."

startled, jihyun turned to face jeno, her nose nearly smacking straight into his. both of them, too in shock to move, stayed like that staring at each other. jeno's ears went red and jihyun stared at him, her mouth agape.

"what did you call me?" she asked and he snapped out of his trance.

"baby." he replied with a wink then moved back and high fived chenle.

"told you it would work."

"baby..." jihyun muttered, laying on her back and staring at the ceiling. she liked the pet name. it gave her butterflies if that was what it was called. she couldn't remember but it was a weird feeling.

"up you get." mark tugged on her arms and hauled her up onto her feet. "today is the day. we need to say our propers goodbye to each other now and then meet with our stylists. jungwoo is waiting for you by the elevator."

"already?" she frowned then fell into mark's arms, her hands clinging to the back of his shirt. "i don't want to go."

"we'll see each other on the aircraft." he told her, placing his chin on top of her head.

"and then in the arena." haechan added, wrapping his arms around the two.

"let's go over the plan again." jisung suggested as the rest of them joined the hug, making it into their usual group hug.

"when we enter the arena, try and identify where we all are. find the closest person to you and make sure to stick with them. for example, if i see jaemin is closest to me, he'll become my partner." renjun explained. "so at least none of us are alone. if you can't find anyone, just head straight to the cornucopia. we need those supplies. with there being eight of us, we can easily beat everyone else there. what else am i forgetting?"

"about if you happen to be completely alone." jihyun replied. "if your path is blocked off and you can't get to the cornucopia, reach high ground. climb a tree and the rest of us will try our best to take over the cornucopia so you can find us when it's safe. if we get chased out of there, find water. always find water and we will find you."

"everyone got it?" mark asked and they all responded with mumbles. "everyone okay?"

"no." chenle said. "but let's go before i attempt to run away."

"yeah, i'll go find jungwoo now." jihyun said, squeezing her way out the hug. "see you all soon."

she hurried out the room, knowing if she stayed any longer, she'd never want to leave.

"jihyun!"

"dodo!" she exclaimed, running to her cousin.

"like i said last night, stop calling me that." he rolled his eyes but wrapped his arms around her and smiled. "you're going to be okay. you know that, right?"