134340 |JJK FF|

Chapter 16

It was probably good that Yumi and Jeongguk silently agreed to switch shifts every once in a while.

They seemed to have concluded finally to let Yumi regulate the floating vehicle during the daytime so Jeongguk could get a much-needed rest after his nighttime regulating. Every morning, she'd wake up first and foremost to witness Proxima's rise. Then she'd find him, kick him out as politely as possible and take over the ship.

It irritated her how he did not seem to trust her even now.

Either way, the others seemed to have noticed her daily routine too. They questioned it at first, then concluded they didn't want to deal with a sleep-deprived Jeongguk. Her human mates were quite happy to join her to see the Proxima rise, having been deprived of that memory from their lives too.

A couple of days passed with nothing but shipping and enjoying the panorama and maybe steering clear from Taehyung's sight. A few light setbacks occurred here and there, but it was nothing the team couldn't handle.

They were sure obstacles would arise soon enough. And arise it did.

Yumi was in bed when it happened.

The ship gave a massive jerk that nearly plummeted her across the room. She staggered, gripping the bedpost for support as she felt her team do the same.

"What's wrong?!" Jimin asked, alarmed.

Taehyung ripped off from the ground he was sprawled out on, seething before turning into his customary animal. For a split second, Yumi thought he was going to attack them (the others probably did too, if their defensive flinch was any indication) but he just rushed out of the room in a hurry.

Yumi was thrown back into her bunk as the ship gave another massive rock. She remembered Jeongguk saying that the climate was unpredictable in this sea. Making a split-second decision, Yumi hopped back onto her feet and followed Taehyung, hearing the others mimic her.

The first thing she noticed when she stepped out in the exposure was clouds. Big, black, gigantic clouds glared at her as if saying, Hey! Your mission is going too easily? Here's some misfortune!

Raindrops blew into her face as the wind accelerated against her stature. That wasn't their only concern; the waves of the ocean rose higher and higher up the surface as if teasing the instability of the ship.

Jeongguk was standing by the manual control--looking like a Barbie doll that belonged to a child who just learned what clothes were-- with his skin-covering suit and helmet-like hat. He must be trying to prevent the water from touching him.

Well, good news: Yumi could see that Jeongguk did think this plan through. Bad news: this ship was going to flip if they continued riding through the storm.

He veered around the wheel, trying--and failing--to dodge another incoming wave that was almost half the height of the ship.

"Hyung, can you see if all the ventilation is off?" Jeongguk gritted out, fists clenched pale against the wheel, "This storm is gonna last long,"

Taehyung was out before he could finish. Jimin yelled over the noise of another batch of waves hitting them, "Can't we try flying again? Just until the storm's over!"

Despite the sea chill in the air, sweat glistened on Jeongguk's forehead as he breathed heavily, not taking his eyes off the front window.

"Can't," he said shortly, "There is not that much energy. Why d'you think I'm using this manual--"

He was nearly thrown off his feet when another big wave hit them. He tensed, eyes big behind the shadow of his head cover.

He took a deep breath, then muttered, "Maybe we can rough it out,"