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THE TREK STRETCHED ENDLESSLY, each step a battle against her aching body. By now, six hours had crawled by, and the unforgiving terrain showed no signs of mercy. The trail twisted upward, jagged rocks cutting into the soles of her boots, while the relentless weight of the water sack dug into her shoulders alongside her already hefty backpack. It felt like her entire body was ablaze—a cruel irony given the cool, overcast sky above.
Y/n's breaths were ragged as she stumbled slightly, catching herself against a boulder. Her shirt clung to her skin, soaked with sweat, and strands of her hair, sticky and disheveled, clung stubbornly to her flushed face. The constant movement only made her more aware of the heat radiating off her body. Why did I ever agree to this? she thought bitterly.
Ahead, Kim Da-Eun showed no signs of slowing down. Her movements were mechanical, her steady pace unwavering. She barked out the occasional reminder to "focus" or "adjust your footing," but it was clear she had no intention of halting. The girl bit back a groan. Sensei's endurance was superhuman, her students seemed just as tireless, but y/n? She wanted to throw herself into the nearest cold stream and stay there forever, watching her comfort show on repeat.
Yoon glanced back at her, his brow furrowing in concern. "You okay back there?" he called gently.
"Fantastic," she panted, adjusting the strap of her sack. "This is my dream vacation."
"You're doing fine," he reassured her with a small smile, gesturing for her to step carefully over a particularly sharp incline.
"Am I?" she muttered under her breath, struggling to keep up.
Kwon, walking slightly ahead, turned his head just enough to smirk. "I told you you'd overheat," he said in a low, teasing tone. "You look like a tomato about to burst."
She shot him a glare despite her exhaustion. "And you look like a guy who carries double the weight because he can't win a spar," she snapped back.
His smirk only widened. "At least I'm not whining about it."
"Yes, you were!" Her irritation flared, but it was quickly overshadowed by a wave of dizziness. The heat trapped beneath her layers was unbearable, and her muscles screamed in protest with every step. She paused, her chest rising and falling rapidly, the straps of her sack digging into her skin like a punishment.
"Y/n?" Yoon's voice was closer now, his expression shifting from concern to alarm.
"I just... need a second," she admitted, leaning against the rough bark of a nearby tree.
