Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 24: A Trip Away

The university buzzed with excitement as news spread about an upcoming trip organized by the student council. Students chattered in the halls, discussing the destination and packing essentials. Juhee felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety at the thought of leaving her routine behind, but a part of her longed for a change of scenery.

On the day of the trip, Juhee boarded the bus, her heart racing with a strange mixture of hope and apprehension. As she made her way down the aisle, she glanced around for familiar faces. Suddenly, she collided with someone, nearly losing her balance.

"Whoa, sorry!" she exclaimed, looking up to see Seunghan's warm smile.

"Careful there!" he chuckled. "Looks like we keep bumping into each other."

"Yeah, I guess so," Juhee replied, a smile spreading across her face. "Mind if I sit with you?"

"Not at all," he said, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. They settled in, and as the bus pulled away from the campus, Juhee felt a flutter of excitement. The scenery whizzed by outside, and she found herself enjoying the light banter between them.

"So, what are you most looking forward to on this trip?" Seunghan asked, leaning slightly closer.

"Honestly? Just a break from everything," she replied, trying to keep the conversation light. "It's been a long few weeks."

"Yeah, I get that," he said, nodding in understanding. "Sometimes you just need to get away from it all."

As they chatted, Juhee felt herself relax for the first time in what felt like ages. They discussed favorite subjects, shared jokes, and even talked about their plans for the future. With every laugh and shared story, she felt the weight of her recent troubles lift, if only temporarily.

Meanwhile, Wonbin sat a few rows back, his expression darkening as he observed them. He clenched his jaw, unable to shake the rising frustration as he watched Juhee and Seunghan laughing together. The easy rapport between them sparked something in him-jealousy mixed with anger-but he forced himself to look away, shutting himself off from the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

As the bus continued its journey, Juhee felt a sense of freedom that she hadn't experienced in a while. Just then, she felt a pang of guilt when she caught a glimpse of Wonbin in the rearview mirror, his eyes distant and unreadable.

"Everything okay?" Seunghan asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.

"Yeah, just... thinking," Juhee replied, forcing a smile. She didn't want to ruin the moment.

"Hope it's not about the work we're missing in class," he teased, lightening the mood.

She laughed softly. "I'll catch up; I always do."

They shared more laughs, and as the bus made its way through winding roads, Juhee tried to push away thoughts of Wonbin and the tension between them. However, the joy she felt with Seunghan was tinged with the awareness of what she was leaving behind.

Finally, they arrived at the picturesque location, and the excitement among the students was palpable. Juhee jumped off the bus, ready to embrace the adventure ahead, but as she looked back, she saw Wonbin still seated, the shadows of his thoughts lingering.

"Come on, let's go!" Seunghan urged, pulling her away from her contemplation.

As they headed off to explore, Juhee felt a mix of exhilaration and unease, knowing that the trip would bring her closer to her friends but also force her to confront the complicated feelings swirling between her and Wonbin.