- The whole afternoon is ours! We're all going on a short trip! - Wonyoung announces as she returns to the restaurant in Somi's presence. Even the blonde girl looks at her like she's an alien when she unexpectedly blurts out her idea at the table. - Isn't this cool? We get to spend some more time together, and we get to know Sunghoon better ... It's a good opportunity, while it's still warm outside.
The boy looks confused. After eating at the restaurant, he planned to go home, and now he's going to go on a few-hour trip with them? With this rich gang, led by Niki, who hates him?
- Thank you for the offer, but rather... - He is not allowed to finish, because Wonyoung stares at him with large eyes, looking at him with such a look that he swallows harder with surprise. Her charm has a strong effect on him, but he pushes these thoughts away, replacing them with the dark ones that brought him to this place with the decision to meet the girl for a different purpose.
- I would rather not hear any from anyone, seriously. Such an opportunity won't come around again anytime soon.
- Especially if a vampire gets me any day now - Somi mutters.
"You really are crazy about this man," Niki says quietly, giving Sunghoon a reproachful look. "Who would have thought that Princess Wonyoung would wait for a beggar for so many years."
Sullyoon frowns as she notices her peer passing the remark around her ear. But she's not going to ignore it, because Niki's behavior towards her classmate is a bit much. Everyone in the group likes him, except him. She's only picking on this boy because Wonyoung is interested in him.
"Swallow that venom, or the day will come when you'll choke on it," she says, glaring at him. Niki looks at her with surprise, not expecting to be attacked by youngest sister.
"I think I'm speechless," he replies, blinking.
"You're really going to go on a trip with Somi?" Jake points at the blonde girl, turning to Wonyoung. "You want to spend time together? You two, who've hated each other for a few years?"
The girls look at each other. The nineteen-year-old girl nods, and Somi gives her a sad smile.
- Yes, I would like to spend some time with her too, and we have a lot to talk about. It has to be today.
- Maybe you should eat something first before we go on this fancy trip of yours - says Niki, pushing a plate of food to her friend.
- Thank you for worrying so much about me, friend.
Niki mutters something under his breath and looks out the window. Meanwhile, Sunghoon squints and stares at him for a long time.
He clearly feels some kind of connection with him, something similar to the connection he feels with Wonyoung, but he can't explain it.
***
There are seven of them, so after settling on a spot, Niki decides to go in his black Jeep. He stands by the door and looks at the others, figuring he'll have to take someone else with him so they all fit in Wonyoung's car.
- If no one wants to go with that whiny scoundrel, I'll just go on the motorcycle - says Yuna, sending Niki a nasty smile.
"I don't like it when you go on long trips on your motorcycle because you act like a lunatic, so I'll go with Niki ," Sullyoon says, stepping forward. It's a good opportunity for her to spend some time with him alone, but her sister isn't too keen on the idea. Wonyoung presses her lips together in anger, trying to think of an excuse for her, but nothing comes to mind.
She is terrified by the thought of her youngest sister being in love with Niki. She is afraid that she will end up with a completely broken heart.
The twenty-year-old boy nods, and they get into his car. They drive off first, while the others look at each other with puzzled eyes.
- Why was little Sullyoon so eager to go for a ride with Niki? - Jake scratches his head. - The man's a good driver and she can feel safe with him, but...
- So you're saying I'm a terrible driver, and you're afraid to ride with me? - Wonyoung jumps at him.
- My dear, of course not. You misunderstood - he explains, approaching her and placing his hands on her shoulders. - You're good at everything. Well, maybe not everything, because you're not excellent at seducing guys - he adds, fleetingly glancing at Sunghoon.
"Get in the back, you idiot, and take your drunken buddies with you," she tells him, glaring at him. " Sunghoon, you can sit in the front," she tells him, her eyes softening considerably.
True to her word, the boy takes the seat next to her. The other three argue over who should sit in the middle. Eventually, they decide to play a game of rock, paper, scissors. The loser Jake looks like a poisoned puppy as he has to squeeze between two girls. On one side is the one who has recently been making goo-goo eyes at him, and on the other side is the girl he desires.
Handsome guys have a hard life.
***
Sullyoon swallows nervously as the minutes pass, an awkward silence between them. Niki drives, his eyes focused on the road ahead. To the girl, however, he seems to be thinking hard about something, so without asking for permission, she turns on the player.
When the first notes of the song begin to play, she looks at him in surprise.
- Do you like Twice? - The boy shrugs indifferently. - I guess none of us really know you well.
- Their music is stress-relieving for me. Plus they're gorgeous - he tells her. - And now you're the only one who knows my biggest secret.
- Who would have guessed, the terror Inhon is Twice's lover.
Niki finally smiles.
"And isn't it the case that the greatest beasts have been wronged in the past and this is their protective mask?" he asks her, glancing at her. Sullyoon looks at him with a curious look. "Even my friends think I'm a cold bastard who only listens to heavy music, am I wrong?"
For a split second, the eighteen-year-old girl sees sadness on his face.
"Not everyone. Wonyoung and I see you in a different light." The words surprise him. "You're like this because you're acting out a painful past. Despite the years that have passed, you still can't accept that you couldn't help your little brother, that he died before your eyes. Deep down, you're a good person."
Tears well up in his eyes, which he blinks away rapidly. He grips the steering wheel tighter.
- I still see it in my nightmares. Those scenes never leave my mind. The memories of that night haunt me every night, and I feel guilty that I couldn't help him, that I couldn't do anything to protect him.
- Niki, you were just a child. If you had wanted to do something, you would have died just like him. You can't blame yourself anymore.
It seems like the twenty-year-old boy needs this conversation to get everything off his chest, and Sullyoon's presence doesn't make him feel uncomfortable at all. He feels like he can get everything off his chest, and she won't blame him for anything.
- The second thing is that it's hard for me to accept that Wonyoung doesn't reciprocate my feelings. - This is the moment when an eighteen-year-old girl feels bad, but she tries not to show it. - I want to accept it and treat her only as a friend, but it's really hard for me and that's why I take it out on Sunghoon. I can't believe that he appeared out of nowhere, and she fell head over heels for him.
- As they say... the heart is not a servant. We can't force someone to reciprocate our feelings. We have to suffer in solitude and accept defeat. - Saying these words, the girl feels a strange lump in her throat. - But it often happens that we realize that this was not the right person for us. Each of us has their destiny.
Niki lifts the corner of her mouth in a smile.
- You are truly a wonderful girl, Sullyoon. No wonder, each of us has a strong desire to protect you.
And I wish it was just you, she thinks, turning her gaze towards the window.
***
Wonyoung's car, especially in the back seat, that the girl's head is already splitting. She glances at the smiling Sunghoon, who is clearly amused by the immature behavior of the two friends.
She wants to talk to him, but she doesn't have a chance because Yuna's loud voice makes it impossible to even hear the music coming through the speakers.
- I'm sorry about them, they're behaving like preschoolers - she begins, glancing at him fleetingly.
"It doesn't matter, at least they make the car more fun. They don't bother me at all," he says, smiling at her.
The nineteen-year-old girl looks in the mirror at the face of her former friend, who looks sorrowful currently, looking out the window. She entirely ignores Yuna and Jake fooling around next to her. Lost in her thoughts, this strong woman is close to tears.
Wonyoung knows what's going on. They both have a secret that could be very dangerous for them.
"I'm not giving you a head start because of what happened," Jake says as they play the game together. Yuna opens her mouth in indignation. "And don't look at me with those buttery eyes."
- Aren't you being a bit too narcissistic?
- Pfft, because of my beauty I'll burn in hell anyway, so I don't care.
The girl laughs nervously.
- Seriously, stop thinking you're the most beautiful in the world. Maybe God gave you beauty, but don't exaggerate, it's not like all the girls are into you. - The twenty-year-old girl snorts under her breath. - Character also counts, and yours is hopeless.
- Not at all - Somi suddenly says, who had been sitting deep in thought until now. - He attracts girls not only with his looks, but also with his personality. I was in love with him myself a few years ago.
Sunghoon, sitting in the front, looks shocked by the blonde's girl direct statement.
Yuna says to her with reproach in her voice.
- I'm already taller - replies Jake, satisfied.
Wonyoung shakes her head, smiling to herself, but her face turns haggard as she remembers that she was the one who recently told Jake to make Somi fall in love with him.
Now she feels guilty because her former friend risked her life by telling her about the danger they were in. And she doesn't have any desire for Sunghoon.
Following Niki's car, the girl turns onto a country road and feels as if a cold sweat is breaking out on her body. Memories of the past make her feel suffocated. Sunghoon, sitting next to her, looks at her with curiosity in his eyes, noticing that something is wrong with her.
- Are you feeling bad? - he asks, and then the girl stops the car on the side of the road. She falls out, needing fresh air so she doesn't faint.
- What's wrong? Is Wonyoung feeling sick? - asks Yuna who immediately runs to her younger sister, patting her on the back. - Are you sick?
- For a moment I felt faint.
Somi's body as she realizes where they are now. She looks at one place with terrified eyes, realizing what caused Wonyoung to feel bad.
Sunghoon, sitting in his seat, closes his eyes.
"I will find out the truth, I swear," he says in a whisper.