WORD COUNT : 17160 Words
The cold April wind cut through the air, the salty scent of the ocean mixing with the hum of excited voices. The ferry rocked gently beneath their feet, a massive vessel carrying students, families, and unsuspecting souls across the water. Among them, eight young men stood together near the railing, laughing, teasing, and snapping pictures against the endless blue horizon.
Changbin stretched his arms with a grin, letting the wind whip through his hoodie. "Damn, this feels nice. Feels like a well-deserved break, huh?"
Hyunjin leaned against the railing, his phone in one hand, capturing the golden morning light that bathed them all. "Bet this'll look fire on Instagram."
Seungmin snorted, peering over his shoulder. "You and your aesthetics, bro."
At the center of it all, Bang Chan stood with his hands stuffed into his pockets, a contented look on his face. He'd been looking forward to this—the team deserved a breather, away from the relentless grind of their schedules. They were brothers, after all, and moments like these felt rare.
The ferry's loudspeaker crackled to life, an announcement echoing across the deck. Just the usual safety information. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Felix nudged Han, his deep voice playful. "Bet you can't make it to the snack bar and back in under a minute."
Han's eyes lit up with challenge. "Oh, you're on." He took off running, feet pounding against the deck, the echoes of his laughter trailing behind him.
Everything was normal.
Until it wasn't.
A sudden lurch. A sickening tilt. The world shifted.
The laughter cut off. A sharp gasp from I.N. "Hyung... the boat's—"
The deck beneath them groaned, the angle steepening as screams filled the air. Panic swelled like a tidal wave. Water. Too close. Too fast.
Chan's heart pounded. His instincts screamed at him to do something. To keep them together. To make sure no one got left behind.
But the sea had other plans.
"Hyung! Grab onto something!" Seungmin's voice cracked as he reached out, fingers barely brushing against Lee Know's wrist before the ferry lurched again, sending them staggering. The world tilted—screams rang out from every direction. Water sloshed up onto the deck, soaking their sneakers, cold and biting.
But Lee Know? He just blinked. Unbothered.
"What's with the panic?" He furrowed his brows, looking around at their frantic faces. "It's just like turbulence on a plane, right?"
Bang Chan whipped his head around, eyes wide with disbelief. "Turbulence?! Minho, the boat is literally sinking."
Felix, breathless, clutched onto the railing beside him. "Hyung, you can't swim!"
