"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Jeju Island. We will be landing shortly. Please fasten your seatbelts and ensure your seatbacks are in the upright position."
The announcement slowly pulled me from my sleep.
I blinked a few times before opening my eyes.
For a moment, I forgot where I was.
Then I remembered.
Jeju Island.
I stretched slightly before turning my head.
Sihoon was already awake.
He looked at me quietly.
"You're awake."
"We're about to land."
I nodded sleepily.
"...I didn't even realize I fell asleep."
Then...
Something suddenly felt strange.
I looked down.
Somehow...
While we had both been sleeping, my head had gently come to rest against his shoulder.
My eyes widened.
I immediately sat up straight.
"I-I'm sorry..."
I quickly sat up straight, avoiding his eyes.
"I didn't realize I fell asleep."
For a moment, Sihoon looked at me quietly.
Then, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You seemed comfortable."
I froze.
"...What?"
"It looked like you were having a good dream."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Are..."
"Are you teasing me?"
He looked out the window for a second before answering.
"...Maybe."
My cheeks instantly became warm.
"I can't believe you."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
It wasn't loud.
Just enough for me to hear.
Somehow...
Seeing him like that felt unfamiliar.
The class president everyone knew was always calm and serious.
But right now...
The person sitting beside me seemed a little different.
And strangely...
I didn't mind it at all.
The cool breeze brushed gently against my face as we stepped out of the airport.
For a moment, I stopped walking.
The air felt different.
Cleaner.
Fresher.
"So this is Jeju Island..."
I whispered to myself.
Yian stretched both of his arms into the air.
"I already love this place!"
Yoonji laughed.
"We've only been outside for two minutes."
"So?"
"I'm appreciating nature."
Minhu shook his head with a smile.
"I think you're appreciating the fact that there are no classes."
Everyone laughed.
Even Sonje couldn't hide a smile.
He checked his phone before looking up.
"The cab should be here in a few minutes."
We all wheeled our suitcases toward the pickup area and waited together.
The morning sun shone brightly above us, while travelers hurried past in every direction.
I quietly looked around, taking in everything.
This was my first time leaving Seoul with friends.
It still didn't feel real.
Just then, I felt someone gently tap my suitcase.
I turned around.
It was Sihoon.
"You've been smiling since we got off the plane."
I blinked.
"Was I?"
He nodded.
"You look happy."
Without thinking, I looked around once more.
The blue sky.
The fresh air.
My friends laughing beside me.
"...I am."
A small smile appeared on Sihoon's face.
"I'm glad."
Before I could say anything else, a black van slowly pulled up in front of us.
Sonje looked at the driver and smiled.
"I think that's our ride."
The adventure we had been waiting for...
Was finally about to begin.
After nearly forty minutes, our cab finally stopped in front of the cottage.
The moment we stepped outside, everyone looked around.
The cottage wasn't luxurious.
It was small, simple, and surrounded by trees.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of the sea.
Yian looked at the building for a few seconds before speaking.
"...It's smaller than I expected."
For the first time, Yoonji nodded in agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Sihoon looked at the cottage before replying calmly.
"This was the best place we could book within the school's budget."
Sonje nodded.
"He's right."
"I searched for a long time, but this was the only cottage available that fit our budget."
No one complained after hearing that.
Instead, everyone quietly looked at one another.
Then Sihoon spoke again.
"We'll have to share rooms."
The silence lasted only a second.
Then Minhu sighed dramatically.
"Please..."
"Just don't make me share a room with Yian."
Everyone turned to him.
"Why?" Yian asked.
Minhu crossed his arms.
"Because you talk in your sleep."
Yian looked offended.
"I do not!"
"You do," Minhu replied immediately.
"And you snore."
"What?!"
"I don't snore!"
"You definitely do."
"Oh, then I don't want to share a room with you either!"
The two of them immediately started arguing.
Yoonji covered her face with one hand.
"They've only been here for five minutes..."
Sonje couldn't help laughing.
"Alright, alright."
He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Since no one can agree..."
"Let's leave it to chance."
Yian stopped arguing.
"What do you mean?"
Sonje smiled.
"We'll draw lots."
"The paper you pick will decide your roommate."
Everyone looked at each other.
"...Fair enough."
Without realizing it...
The first game of our Jeju trip had already begun.
After leaving our luggage in the living room, Sonje looked around at everyone.
"Alright."
"Before we unpack, let's decide the rooms."
He took out six folded pieces of paper.
"Everyone pick one."
Yian rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"Please don't let it be Minhu."
Minhu looked at him.
"I was about to say the same thing."
One by one, we picked a paper.
"Open them!" Yian said impatiently.
I unfolded mine.
Yoonji.
"I got Jia!" Yoonji smiled.
"Looks like we're roommates."
Minhu looked at his paper.
"...Sonje."
Sonje nodded.
"Looks like it's us."
Yian looked around.
"Then..."
He slowly turned toward Sihoon.
"No..."
Sihoon calmly unfolded his paper.
"...Yian."
Yian threw his hands into the air.
"Why is my luck always like this?!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Just then...
Sonje's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
His smile slowly disappeared.
"...Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
"The owner just sent me a message."
"What happened?" Minhu asked.
Sonje scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I made a mistake."
"This cottage doesn't have three bedrooms."
"It only has two."
The room instantly became silent.
"What?"
Yian blinked.
"Then where are the other two people supposed to sleep?"
Sonje looked around before pointing toward the end of the hallway.
"There's one traditional ondol room."
"The owner said they prepared two floor mattresses there."
Yian immediately spoke.
"I'm not sleeping on the floor."
"I'll break my back."
"You'll survive," Yoonji replied.
Everyone started talking at once.
"I booked first!"
"No way!"
"I don't want the floor!"
I quietly looked toward the hallway.
"I don't mind taking the ondol room," I said quietly.
"It's only for a few nights."
Before anyone could reply, Sihoon calmly spoke.
"Then I'll stay there too."
I looked at him.
"...You don't have to."
"It's fine," he replied.
Just then, Sonje stepped forward.
"It's okay."
"I'll stay with Sihoon."
His voice was calm, but this time...
It carried a firmness that made everyone look at him.
"I don't mind the ondol room."
For a brief moment, no one spoke.
I looked at Sonje in confusion.
"Are you sure?"
He gave me a small smile.
"Yeah."
Before the silence became awkward, Yian suddenly walked over and threw an arm around Sonje's shoulder.
"Perfect!"
"Then I'll stay with our great club leader!"
Everyone turned toward him.
Yian grinned.
"I still have a lot to learn from you."
"If I'm going to become a great filmmaker someday, I should learn from the best."
Sonje looked at him for a few seconds.
Then he let out a helpless laugh.
"...You really know how to make decisions for other people."
Yian shrugged proudly.
"Someone has to."
Even Minhu couldn't help laughing.
"He's got a point."
The tense atmosphere disappeared almost instantly.
Sonje smiled and shook his head.
"Alright."
"I'll share a room with Yian."
Yian raised both fists in victory.
"Yes!"
"This trip is going to be fun."
I quietly glanced at Sihoon.
He had been silent the entire time.
Yian happily picked up his suitcase.
"Come on, leader!"
"Our room is waiting!"
Sonje let out a helpless sigh before following him.
"Try not to turn it into a disaster."
"I make no promises," Yian replied with a grin.
Minhu laughed.
"I suddenly feel sorry for you."
"Me too," Yoonji added.
The cottage quickly filled with laughter again.
One by one, everyone carried their luggage toward their rooms.
I quietly picked up my suitcase.
Just as I was about to lift it—
A hand reached for the handle before I could.
I looked up.
Sihoon.
"I can carry it," I said.
"I know."
He answered with the same calm expression.
"But we're going to the same room anyway."
I blinked.
"...Right."
For some reason...
Hearing him say it so naturally made my heart skip a beat.
Without another word, he started walking toward the ondol room.
I followed a few steps behind him.
As I reached the doorway...
I stopped.
The room was simple.
Two neatly folded floor mattresses lay side by side on the warm wooden floor.
Sunlight streamed through the large window, making the room feel peaceful.
"It isn't that bad," I whispered.
Sihoon looked around before setting both suitcases down.
"No."
"It's comfortable."
I smiled.
"Looks like we'll be neighbours for the next few days."
For the first time that day...
A faint smile appeared on Sihoon's face.
"I guess we will."