dahyun
"one vanilla and three strawberries, please."
we watched by the side of the road as rose ordered our ice cream. we decided to get a quick snack since it was warmer in busan than in seoul. the sun was out and we were pumped.
"are we going straight to the forest after eating?" kai asked, looking down at his watch. i nodded and said, "yeah, it's three now so we should go before it gets dark."
he nodded back, looking up to see rose coming back with our ice creams. "thanks, babe," kai said, smiling at his girlfriend.
ray, who already started eating his vanilla cone, asked, "after we look in the forest, i have a friend who's letting us stay in his house. it's not too far from the forest." i smiled and thanked him.
after finishing our snacks, we started making our way to the kami forest.
"kami forest," i read the sign after arriving at the said forest. i had to tilt my head since the sign was also tilted to the side, showing just how old it was.
we stood just outside the entrance, looking inside what looked like a dark walkway covered away from any light by the bushes and trees. we all just stood there, rethinking the decision to whether or not go inside.
rose spoke the silence, "is it just me or does this forest look haunted?"
"uhh. it's just you because this forest..." ray made gestures with his hands towards the forest, "is not haunted in the slightest! we'll be completely fine." he wore a smile but it clearly showed how frightened he was.
i looked at him and said, "ray, if you don't want to come, then it's okay. you can wait here." i also looked at the other two, saying, "you guys too. if you don't wanna come, then stay here. i can go on my own."
kai shook his head and said, "nah, we've come this far. might as well come along, right rose?" he looked at rose who also timidly nodded, smiling at me nervously.
"then...do you guys mind if i sit this one out? hiking is really not my thing," a voice behind me said. i looked back at the older male and nodded, "not at all, ray. you can wait here."
"great," he replied with a smiled, saying, "just be careful, okay? you don't know what's in there."
"we'll be fine, don't worry. i'll call you if we need help," i replied. he nodded, looking swiftly at his watch.
"better get going now, it's about to be dark soon."
"thanks, ray, see you soon," i smiled and waved, leading the way inside. kai and rose followed behind me, keeping close.
"let's do this," kai said, holding onto rose's hand for support.
one hour later...and we were still walking in the middle of nowhere. we were being led by the footpath, hoping to see anything other than trees.
"i think we're lost," kai states loudly.
"we're not lost...we just have to keep walking," i said back, not looking back at him. i heard him groan and said, "we've been at this for age..i'm too tired." he looked back at rose who was hanging one of her many keychains onto a branch.
"uhh, babe? what are you doing?" he asked rose. she looked at him and said, "i'm hanging keychains as we walk, then we know where we went and can get back."
kai smiled, looking at her brightly while saying, "smart one, babe. at least someone is doing something useful around here."
i rolled my eyes, continuing to walk straight. i replied, "says the one who did nothing but talk shit the entire time."
