This chapter contains many mentions of K-pop idols and songs.
The night settled softly around us.
The ocean whispered in the background, the air cool against my skin, and the small camping light between us glowed warm—like we were all sitting inside a quiet little world of our own.
Dad clapped once.
"Alright. Game time."
Everyone looked up.
He pointed, pairing us off like it had been planned for years.
"Me and your mom."
"Jake and Nena."
"Emma and Liam."
"Mark and Luca."
Then his eyes landed on me—"And Ayana and Ethan."
I blinked.
Of course.
Ethan didn't react.
Just sat there, calm, like nothing ever moved him.
Dad lifted a stack of folded papers.
"Each team picks a song. You read one lyric—just one—and your partner guesses the song."
He paused, smiling slightly.
"And since we're in Korea… K-pop only."
That was it.
Nena grabbed my arm. "We're winning."
Emma leaned forward, excited. "This is too easy."
I grinned. "We literally trained for this."
Liam leaned closer to Emma, lowering his voice.
"Favorite group?" he asked.
She glanced at him, then whispered—
"Stray Kids."
He blinked. "Seriously?"
She nodded.
"And you?"
He smirked a little. "Twice."
She smiled. "Good choice."
"Let's start," I said quickly. "Dad—go. Pick one. Make Mom guess."
He reached for a paper, unfolded it, then paused.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
Then he read softly,
"I'm so in love with you… I'll never let you go…" (yeah I know many song will have this lyrics but he said it in Korean and the song beat ok)
Mom didn't even wait.
"Oh please," she said, already smiling. "That's 'Love, Maybe' by Melomance."
Dad blinked.
"You didn't even think—"
"It's my favorite," she said, a little proud.
I laughed. "That was too easy."
Jake leaned back. "This game is rigged."
"Skill issue," Nena shot back.
I pushed my glasses up slightly, smiling to myself.
This felt… nice.
No danger.
No tension.
Just us.
Voices overlapping. Laughter slipping through the night air.
I glanced sideways.
Ethan.
He wasn't talking.
Of course not.
But he was watching.
Not the game.
Me.
Just for a second.
Like he needed to check.
Still here.
Still okay.
I met his eyes briefly.
He looked away first.
I smiled a little.
Then leaned forward, reaching for the next paper.
"Alright," I said. "Let's make this harder."
I picked the next paper.
Unfolded it.
Then—
I gasped.
"Nope."
I immediately shoved it into Emma's hands. "You do it."
She blinked, then read it.
And smiled.
Oh no.
That kind of smile meant performance incoming.
She stood up slightly, cleared her throat, then—
She started singing.
"You make me feel special…"
And not just singing—
She did the little hand move too.
The dance.
"Of course," I muttered, grinning.
Everyone looked at her.
"It's Feel Special!" Nena squealed.
"Hey! It wasn't for your team."
"Sorry!"
Liam blinked.
"…What?"
Emma turned to him, still mid-performance.
"You said you liked them!"
"I said—wait—oh!" he snapped his fingers. "Right, right! Twice!"
"Feel Special It's recent."
Wow..
She started bouncing happily.
"Yes!"
He laughed and pulled her into a quick hug.
"Okay, okay, I remember now."
They sat back down, still smiling.
"Next," Jake said.
Mark grabbed a paper.
Luca leaned in.
This should've been easy.
It wasn't.
Mark started—
Singing.
Then gesturing.
Then dancing.
"Think—think—like—this—!" he said, moving his hands dramatically.
Luca blinked.
"…Is it food?"
"What?!" Mark froze.
"No!" he tried again, spinning slightly. "It's a SONG!"
Luca tilted his head.
Still no clue.
I laughed.
"No telepathy there," I said.
"None," Jake added.
Mark dropped back down. "I give up."
Luca smiled apologetically.
Cute.
Jake and Nena went next.
They leaned in.
Whispering.
Too much whispering.
I narrowed my eyes.
"…They're cheating."
"We didn't see anything," Emma said quickly.
"Absolutely nothing," Liam added.
We all looked away.
Moving on.
Then—
Me.
I picked a paper.
Opened it.
Paused.
"…Wow."
"What?" Nena leaned closer.
"This is my favorite song but—" I frowned, "—it's not K-pop."
Dad snorted. "Whatever. Go ahead."
I sat up a little.
Then softly started singing—
"It's just a lie…Oh Liar.... La ah ah ah Liar..."
Silence.
Then—
Ethan spoke.
"Liar by BUS. T-Pop group."
I blinked.
"…What?"
"LIAR," he added calmly.
I stared at him.
"How—?"
He shrugged slightly.
"I've heard you sing it."
My mouth opened.
"When?!"
"At school," he said. "You were singing."
I gasped.
"No I wasn't!"
He looked at me.
"You were."
Pause.
"Off key."
I snorted.
"Wow. Rude."
Then he added, casually—
"I also know you like Maria… MANIAC… and Smart."
Everyone froze.
All eyes on him.
"…How do you know all that?" Nena asked.
I crossed my arms.
"Okay, fine. You know songs I like."
I leaned forward slightly.
"But who's my favorite K-pop group?"
He looked down.
For a second—
He actually hesitated.
Then he looked up.
Serious.
"BTS."
I gasped.
"How did you know?!"
Jake leaned in. "It's pretty obvi—"
"I love this game!" I cut him off quickly. "We should play again."
He squinted at me.
Suspicious.
I ignored him and sat back down.
Dad suddenly clapped his hands again.
"And oh—I have a gift for all of you."
We all looked at him.
Then at each other.
Smiling.
He stood up.
"I'll be back."
And walked toward the villa.
The wind picked up slightly, brushing through our hair.
I looked at Mom.
"Mom… I'm glad you forgave Dad."
She smiled softly.
"I'm glad I did too."
Liam stretched his shoulders.
"I don't even know how we became part of your family," he said, "but I'm loving it."
Emma smiled warmly. "Thank you for this… I've always wanted to visit Jeju before graduation."
"Our graduation," Nena corrected.
"Right," Emma laughed. "In two weeks… after exams."
"I hope we all graduate," Nena added.
"We will," Ethan said.
Jake glanced at him. "How are you so sure?"
Ethan rolled his eyes slightly, then sighed.
"…Because we didn't come this far to mess it up," he said. "And because… I trust you guys."
Silence.
Then he added, quieter—
"You're annoying… but you're my people."
That did it.
Mark gasped dramatically.
"OH? EMOTIONAL ETHAN?!"
"I'm framing this moment," Liam said.
Jake shook his head. "Give me my old Ethan back."
But he was smiling.
And then—
We moved.
All of us.
Like it wasn't even planned.
They stood up and pulled into a hug.
Mark.
Jake.
Ethan.
Liam.
All tangled together.
Warm.
Close.
Real.
Mom held them gently.
"I've been taking care of you all since you were little," she said softly. "You've always been together…"
I smiled.
Then I stood up suddenly.
"Hey! I don't want to be left out!"
I grabbed Mom.
Then Jake.
Then Liam.
"Group hug!" Liam shouted, pulling Emma in.
Mom pulled Nena closer.
We were all laughing now.
Then Jake glanced sideways.
Luca stood a little outside, smiling.
Jake jerked his head.
"Come here."
Luca blinked, then walked in.
We pulled him into the middle.
Between Jake and Mark.
He looked so small there.
And so happy.
And of course—
Ethan stepped back.
Breaking the moment.
Grumpy again.
I rolled my eyes.
Right on time.
Then—
Dad returned.
Holding nine gift boxes.
He paused, looking at us.
"…I missed the hug."
We all laughed.
"Too late!" Liam said.
Dad smiled.
"Alright, sit down."
And just like that—
We went back to the circle.
Still smiling.
Still warm.
Still together.