Yeonjun did not get a chance to continue the conversation because soon after he sat down beside me, we reached the spot.
I was going to have fun teasing him about this ordeal. I was never going to let him forget that he, out of all people, defended Soobin.
I get down from the bus and start looking around.
We were told beforehand that today's morning plan included a hike so I decided to dress comfortably in a red yoga pant and a white tshirt. I wore a light pink cardigan over my T-shirt because I didn't want to get cold.
And paired it with my trusted sneakers, of course.
Although seeing everyone else here made me think either I got the wrong itinerary or maybe their definition of comfortable wear was very different than mine.
I focused my attention away from the people and to the view ahead of me.
We were at the base of a hill. The mountain looked welcoming with its green trees and the sea wind encouraged me to go ahead on the hike.
The sky is a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds that drift lazily by.
The sun bathes the landscape in a warm, golden light, making the lush foliage of the forest glisten as if sprinkled with tiny diamonds.
Birds are chirping cheerfully, flitting from branch to branch, and the distant sound of the waves crashing against the shore adds a soothing rhythm to the scene.
The path ahead winds through a dense forest, with towering trees whose leaves create a canopy of green overhead. The air is filled with the earthy scent of pine and fresh moss, mingling with the salty tang of the ocean breeze.
Ferns and wildflowers of line the trail, their vibrant colors standing out against the greenery. The trailhead beckoned us with a rustic wooden sign pointing the way, the path winding up through the trees and promising adventure.
It looks like it is straight out of a fairy tale.
I take a deep breath, feeling invigorated by the beauty and tranquility of the place.
The mountain seems to beckon, promising adventure and new discoveries. As I look around at my classmates, I see the same sense of excitement and wonder reflected in their eyes.
I capture a few pictures of the landscape before joining San and Saehi and we click a few pictures together as well.
"Don't you think you're dressed a little too homely?" Saehi asks.
She is wearing a floral printed top with ruffles and jeans with sneakers. SHe has her hair up in a ponytail but it looks very different than what I have on and yet I would name both our hairstyle the same.
She looks comfortable and stylish.
"The instructions said to dress comfortably" I shrug, unsure of my attire now.
"It is fine. As long as you're comfortable, I just wanted to ask. Don't mind me" she waved her hand dismissively.
Both she and San were in Soobin's team.
I wanted to be in the same team as them as well but I was not sure whether we could swap and plus I felt like Beomgyu would throw a sulking tantrum if I suggested that.
"Alright everyone, gather around in your groups. As discussed, there is a surprise planned for all of you. You might be wondering why you are divided into groups" The teacher tries to engage the group.
One thing, no matter which school teachers don't seem to understand is that getting a teenager's attention is not that easy.
Everyone was standing together but they were busy among themselves, only half listening to what the teacher was saying - myself included.
"Okay, thank you Mr. Yang, I'll take it from here. Come on people, you just done with your mid-terms. You're free. This trip is awesome so is this trek. Is everyone excited?" Beomgyu takes over for the teacher and instantly everyone is all ears.
No matter how casual and laid back Beomgyu is, he too commands attention of everyone around him, just like his brothers.
Just like the Royals.
"I did not hear you enough. Is everyone excited?" Beomgyu repeats and this time, he gets a collective loud response of affirmation. He nods his head, satisfied with himself before continuing.
"So, as Mr. Yang was saying, we promised you a surprise. It is not just going to be a team wise hike. As you can see, each team as a leader and each team denotes a different color - Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green" he pointed to each of the members wearing a shirt of different color.
"What is a hike without a little competition, right?" he challenges and there is a murmur in the crowd increases.
"We arranged a treasure hunt" he announces and there are surprised glances and a high surge of energy from the crowd.
"There are 10 flags of each team scattered around the hill. And your objective is to collect as many flags as you can from the opposite teams before reaching the top of the hill. Each team will have time till noon to reach the top of the hill with as many flags as possible of the opposite teams"
the murmurs and discussion increases even more. There is a buzz of excitement in the crowd.
"Sounds exciting right? Each team will have ten minutes to brief on their strategy and we'll start the competition then. And the time starts now" Beomgyu announces and everyone starts scurrying over to their respective team.
"We are so going to win this" Saehi high-fives San and there is loud scoff from beside me.
"In your dreams you mean?" Beomgyu replies with a snark.
"Only in your dreams, Beomgyu," Saehi retorts with a smirk.
"We've got the best strategist in our team." She points to Soobin, who grins confidently.
I didn't realize Soobin had joined the group as well, many people following him who I assume to be members of his team along with San and Saehi.
"Is that so? Well, good luck with that. You're going to need it." Beomgyu raises an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"We'll show you who's the best."Â He turns to Soobin, flashing him a determined smile.
"Wouldn't want anything but that" Soobin smiles smugly.
This was very quickly turning very competitive.
But it felt like healthy competition and something that boys their age would be competitive about and not the ones they usually are burdened with.
So, for that reason only, I was okay with this competitiveness.
"Ready to prove them wrong?" Beomgyu nudges me with a grin.
"Absolutely," I reply, feeling the competitive spirit ignite within me.
"Let's show them what we're made of" I smile at Soobin and then San and Saehi.
Beomgyu and I walk a little farther away from Soobin and his team as he calls out for the rest of the members. We all gather around, surprisingly - unsurprisingly, Yeonjun standing beside me by default.
As we huddle together, Beomgyu starts outlining our strategy. "Okay, here's the plan. We need to split into pairs and cover more ground. Each pair should focus on a specific area and keep an eye out for the flags. Communication is key, so let's keep our phones on and update each other frequently."
We nods enthusiastically.
Soobin's team is gathered nearby, and I catch snippets of their conversation. San is pointing towards the higher slopes of the hill, gesturing animatedly.
"We should cover the upper trails. Most teams will probably start lower, so we can get a head start." I suggest and Beomgyu claps his hand with enthusiasm.
"And we should set traps for any team trying to follow us" another member of Beomgyu's team, nods in agreement.
"Hope you guys are ready for a challenge. We won't go easy on you."Â San catches my eye and winks.
"We don't need you to," I shoot back with a grin.
"We'll find those flags before you even realize what's happening" Beomgyu calls.
"Big talk for someone who got lost on a nature trail last year," Kai teases.
"Hey, that was one time," Beomgyu retort, laughing.
"And I still made it back faster than you did." he is in Diva mode today for sure.
"Touché," he concedes, chuckling. "Let's see if you can keep up this time."
"Alright, let's split up. Yuri, you're with Yeonjun" Beomgyu continues to split the team but my attnetion is locked on Yeonjun.
Mr. Yang blows a whistle, signaling the end of the strategy session.
"Alright, everyone! Time to start the hike. Remember, safety first and have fun!"
A/N: another quick update!
Let me know what you guys think of this chapter and what do you think will happen next?
Have you ever played trearue hunt? I loved it as a kid.