Solo Panicking

A Fork in the Road

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Jinwoo Pov

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After placing the last bag for his "camping trip" aka which was really his trip to the Demon Tower in the living room, Jinah walked in, tying her hair into a ponytail. She was dressed in casual clothes, signaling it was the weekend, and paused when her gaze landed on the bags, her expression shifting to mild confusion.

"You don't go out as often these days," she remarked, tugging her hair tie to secure it in place. "And you're suddenly going on a trip?"

Jinwoo turned to face her, slinging a backpack over his shoulder as he began organizing the remaining gear. "I'll be away for a week," he said simply, his tone steady but neutral.

Jinah's brows rose, curiosity lighting up her face. "You're going on a trip? Oh!" Her eyes widened with excitement as she clasped her hands together. "Are you finally taking Unnie on a romantic getaway?"

Jinwoo froze mid-movement, his shoulders stiffening at her enthusiastic assumption. A brief, awkward pause followed before he sighed and turned back to her. "No... This is with a friend."

The excitement drained from Jinah's expression as she gave him a deadpan look, one that clearly screamed disappointed but not surprised. She shook her head lightly and muttered something under her breath as she walked toward the kitchen.

Jinwoo let out another sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced toward the front door. He could hear Jinah opening the fridge and pulling out containers, the clinking of utensils filling the silence.

"You're unbelievable sometimes, Oppa," Jinah called from the kitchen. "Don't come back whining if she ends up finding someone else while you're off "camping."

Her words had an edge of teasing, but they still struck a nerve. Jinwoo's eye twitched in faint exasperation. Grabbing the last of his gear, he left the apartment, letting the door close softly behind him.

'This is going to be a long week,' he thought to himself, adjusting the strap of his backpack. Despite the weight of the task ahead, Jinah's earlier words lingered in his mind, making him wonder for just a moment what it would be like to take Y/N on an actual trip.

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Your pov

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It was strange knowing that Jinwoo would be gone for the week. Ever since the party system had connected the two of you, it felt like Jinwoo was always there, showing up at the bakery, passing by on his way to a raid, or just popping in unexpectedly to check on you. His presence had become so normal, so woven into your daily life, that the idea of not seeing him for several days felt oddly unsettling.

You sighed, leaning back against the couch cushions, your gaze drifting to the kitchen. A pile of unwashed dishes sat stacked on the counter, remnants of the meal prep marathon you'd finished earlier that morning. Normally, you'd have jumped up to clean them right away. Keeping the kitchen spotless was something of a habit for you but today, you couldn't bring yourself to move.

It was like all your energy had been poured into preparing those meals for Jinwoo. Each dish had been crafted with care, some containers meticulously labeled with instructions, even if you doubted he'd read them. The thought of him relying on your food while he was off on his "camping trip" had kept you motivated through the morning. Now, with the meals packed up and Jinwoo out the door, it was as though all the energy had drained out of you, leaving you slumped and staring at the growing list of things you still needed to do.