𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣 | ʸᵃⁿᵍ ʲᵘⁿᵍʷᵒⁿ

- 5 -

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AS WE TOOK our first steps into this new land, our eyes were met with a breathtaking vista of small, charming cottages scattered across the landscape, the moonlight placing a soft hue over the structures.

The air carried a sense of tranquility, and the fragrance of nature enveloped us, heightening our senses. A smile tugged at my lips, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for being able to witness such beauty. And there, in the heart of the surroundings, stood a campfire, its flames dancing with an inviting glow. The logs arranged in a circle beckoned us to gather around, igniting a spark of imagination within me. Thoughts of shared laughter, storytelling, and unforgettable adventures kindled in my mind, filling me with excitement for the incredible moments that awaited us on this journey.

As the students gathered around, eager to receive their pairing room papers, a sense of anticipation filled the air.

"Here are the partner arrangements. After finding your partner, go to your assigned cottage and rest for the night, tomorrow we will start with all the fun and inform you of the rules." The teacher informed before all the teachers handed out the papers one by one, and I watched as Danielle eagerly grabbed one. Our friend group quickly congregated around her, curiosity getting the better of us as we all peered over her shoulder, inspecting the paper in her hands.

Hanni's eyes scanned the paper, and a cheer escaped her lips as she saw that she would be rooming with Danielle. I couldn't help but smile at their excitement, but my attention quickly shifted back to the paper in my hands. I scanned the names, searching for my own, hoping to be partnered up with one of my friends.

"Haerin and Minji," I spoke, my voice filled with a hopeful smile, looking at Hyein, silently wishing for our names to be together.

Haerin and Minji exchanged smiles, their excitement evident. However, as my eyes fell on Hyein's name, I noticed a different name beside it, not mine. Confusion furrowed my brow, and I looked at Hyein with a frown of disappointment.

"We aren't partnered up together," I muttered, a tinge of frustration lacing my words. Hyein mirrored my expression and took a closer look at the paper, searching for her own partner. Finally, her eyes met mine, and I eagerly looked for my name. A spark of hope ignited within me as I found it.

"Kang Jurin and..." I began, my voice trailing off as my eyes widened, and I instinctively crumpled the paper, slipping it into my pocket. As the thought engraved into my head more, I held my face in my hands, shutting my eyes in disbelief.

"Who's your partner?" Haerin's voice broke through my thoughts, and I could hear the concern in her tone.

"Yang Jungwon," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. Gasps of surprise echoed from my friends, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"But that's impossible. He's a guy, and you're a girl," Hanni exclaimed, shock etched across her face.

"The system must've mixed it up," I stated, closing my eyes and trying to process the unexpected turn of events.

As my friends offered words of reassurance, a firm grasp suddenly enveloped my wrist, causing me to stumble slightly. "We need to talk Jurin." A sudden voice stated as they pulled me away.

I glanced back at my friends, their eyes fixed on me as I was pulled away by none other than Jungwon himself. He must have seen the pairing as well.

My gaze shifted to his hands on my wrist, noticing his gentleness, ensuring that he didn't hurt me. As we finally came to a stop, I bumped into his back, caught off guard by the sudden halt. I backed away, about to scold him until he interrupted me.

"We need to talk about this," he spoke, turning to face me, a piece of paper held in his hands. I took the paper and just as I thought it was the cottage assigning paper. I nodded in agreement, my curiosity piqued by his seriousness.

"I agree. There's no way I'm rooming with you," I stated, my words laced with a hint of defiance. Jungwon clicked his tongue, seemingly unfazed by my remark.

"They did mention that there's no way to change partners," Jungwon said, his gaze shifting upwards as he pondered the situation.

"I can just stay with my friends," I suggested, a note of uncertainty creeping into my voice.

"But... they mentioned that if you're found in a cottage that isn't yours, you'll be expelled," Jungwon stated, his eyes locking with mine. I sighed, breaking eye contact as I looked down at the ground, feeling the weight of the situation settle upon my shoulders. "And we wouldn't want that, who else would I have to compete with?" Jungwon continued.

"Compete? You top me at everything. I wouldn't call that a competition." I stated, my anger evident in my voice as my mind retraced to back when the test scores came out.

"Let's not start with this right now, all we need to focus on right now so what to do about the situation in front of us," Jungwon noted, his tone serious yet desperate.

"I'm not sure what to do," I confessed softly, my gaze fixed on my shoes.

"Me neither," Jungwon groaned, running his fingers through his hair, his frustration mirroring my own.

As we stood there, grappling with the reality of our situation, a decision needed to be made. Reluctantly, we both agreed to make our way to the assigned cottage, unsure of what awaited us there. The walk felt long, the silence between us heavy with unspoken thoughts and uncertainties.

+*___________*+

A\N

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