I looked around the room once more.
It was simple, yet peaceful.
The large window let in the warm afternoon sunlight, and outside, I could hear birds singing somewhere in the distance.
"It feels different," I whispered.
Sihoon looked up from placing his bag beside the mattress.
"What does?"
"This place."
I smiled softly.
"It doesn't feel like Seoul."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then a loud voice echoed through the cottage.
"HEY!"
"If you two finish admiring the room, come outside!"
Yian.
I couldn't help laughing.
"He'll never change."
Sihoon picked up his camera.
"Let's go."
When we stepped outside, everyone was already gathered in the small garden behind the cottage.
Minhu was setting up a portable grill.
Yoonji and Sonje were unpacking groceries.
Yian waved dramatically the moment he saw us.
"There you are!"
"We thought you decided to live in that room forever."
"I'll leave you here," I replied with a laugh.
"No, no!"
"I was joking!"
Everyone laughed together.
Sonje clapped his hands.
"Before we start today's schedule..."
"I have something to announce."
The garden instantly became quiet.
He smiled.
"For the next four days..."
"This isn't just a trip."
"It's also our film project."
"We'll split into teams."
"Each team will create a short film inspired by Jeju."
"The winning film..."
"...will represent our club in the university festival."
The excitement on everyone's faces disappeared.
It was immediately replaced with determination.
This trip...
Had suddenly become much more important than I expected.
Alright, everyone."
"I know today's journey was exhausting."
"We've been traveling since early this morning."
"So I think everyone should get some rest first."
No one argued.
Even Yian looked tired.
Sonje smiled.
"We'll meet again this evening."
"We'll have dinner together, talk about tomorrow's schedule, and make a proper plan for our filming."
He looked around at each of us.
"As for tonight..."
His serious expression softened.
"No work."
"No filming."
"Just enjoy your time."
"We're in Jeju now."
Yian suddenly raised his hand.
"So today's mission is..."
"Sleep?"
Sonje laughed.
"Yes."
"And don't disappear without telling anyone."
"I don't want to spend my first day looking for a missing member."
"I was planning to explore the whole island alone," Yian replied dramatically.
Minhu immediately shook his head.
"With your sense of direction, you'd probably end up in Busan."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Even Sihoon's lips curved into a faint smile.
Watching everyone laugh together...
It finally felt like our Jeju trip had truly begun.
Everyone slowly returned to their rooms.
The long journey had finally caught up with us.
As soon as we stepped inside the ondol room, a peaceful silence settled between us.
Sihoon placed our bags beside the wall before looking at me.
"You look exhausted."
"Go freshen up first."
I looked at him and gave a small nod.
"...Okay."
I picked up my clothes and turned toward the bathroom.
For some reason...
I still felt a little nervous.
Even though...
This wasn't the first time Sihoon and I had shared the same room.
Maybe it wasn't because of the room.
Maybe...
It was because, little by little, he had become someone I was becoming more and more aware of.
Before he could notice my flustered expression, I quietly slipped into the bathroom.
For a moment, I realized my heart was beating a little too fast.
I quickly shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away.
After taking a warm shower, I finally felt some of the day's exhaustion disappear.
I stepped out of the bathroom, gently drying my damp hair with a towel.
A few strands still clung to my cheeks, the ends of my hair dripping tiny drops of water onto my shoulders.
When I looked up...
Sihoon was quietly sitting by the window, scrolling through something on his phone.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I gently dried my damp hair with a towel.
The moment I looked up...
Our eyes met.
For a few seconds, neither of us said a word.
Somehow...
That silence made me even more nervous.
Wanting to escape the awkwardness, I spoke without thinking.
"...Aren't you going to take a shower?"
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how unnecessary they sounded.
Of course he was.
He had simply been waiting for me.
Sihoon looked at me quietly before giving a small nod.
"I was waiting for you."
His answer was so simple...
Yet somehow, it made my heartbeat even faster.
Without waiting for my reply, he picked up his clothes and walked toward the bathroom.
Only after the bathroom door closed behind him did I quietly let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
After a few minutes, my phone rang again.
It was Yoonji.
"Jia, come to our room for a minute."
"Okay."
Before I could ask what she wanted, she hung up.
I looked at my phone and smiled helplessly.
"She never changes..."
I quietly left the room.
When I reached Yoonji and Minhu's room, I saw Minhu standing outside the door.
He smiled as soon as he saw me.
"She's been waiting for you."
"I guess she couldn't wait any longer."
I laughed softly.
"That sounds like Yoonji."
Minhu stepped aside and gently knocked on the door.
"Yoonji, Jia's here."
The door opened almost immediately.
"There you are!"
Yoonji grabbed my wrist before I could even say hello.
"Come in."
Before I knew it, she had already pulled me inside.
The door closed behind us, leaving Minhu standing outside with a helpless smile.
He shook his head to himself.
"Those two..."
Then, with a quiet laugh, he turned and walked toward the living room to give us some time.
The moment the door closed behind me, Yoonji turned around with an excited smile.
"I've been waiting for you!"
I blinked in confusion.
"What happened?"
Instead of answering, she walked toward her suitcase and unzipped it.
One by one, she took out several outfits and placed them on the bed.
I stared at them.
"...Why are you showing me your clothes?"
Yoonji looked at me as if the answer were obvious.
"They're not for me."
"They're for you."
"What?"
She picked up a light blue dress and held it in front of me.
"This one."
I immediately shook my head.
"No."
"No?"
She frowned.
"Why not?"
"I already brought my own clothes."
"I know."
She sighed dramatically.
"But Jia..."
"We're in Jeju!"
"We're going to film, take pictures, and make memories."
She gently pushed the dress into my hands.
"So just try it once."
I looked down at it.
"...It's pretty."
"It is."
Yoonji smiled proudly.
"I knew you'd like it."
I hesitated for a moment before looking back at her.
"...Just once."
Her eyes instantly lit up.
"I knew you'd say yes!"
Before I could change my mind, she pushed me toward the bathroom.
"Hurry!"
"We don't have all day!"
I couldn't help laughing.
"...You're unbelievable."
"And you're too cute to dress so simply all the time," she replied without missing a beat.
A few minutes later, I stepped out of the bathroom.
Yoonji's eyes immediately widened.
"Oh..."
She smiled brightly.
"Jia..."
"You look gorgeous."
Embarrassed, I looked down at the dress.
"...Really?"
"It feels a little short."
I instinctively tugged at the hem.
Yoonji walked over and gently moved my hands away.
"It's not short."
"It fits you perfectly."
She took a step back and looked at me from head to toe.
"I've been telling you this since the first day we met."
"You always wear clothes that hide how pretty you are."
My cheeks immediately grew warm.
"I-I'm fine the way I usually dress."
"I know."
Yoonji smiled.
"But sometimes..."
"It's okay to let yourself shine a little."
I looked at my reflection in the mirror once more.
For a moment...
Even I barely recognized the girl looking back at me.
Yoonji smiled with satisfaction.
"Almost perfect."
Before I could ask what she meant, she reached into her makeup pouch and took out a lipstick.
"Hold still."
"W-What?"
Before I had a chance to protest, she gently applied a light layer of lipstick to my lips.
"There."
She stepped back to admire her work.
"Now you're perfect."
I looked at myself in the mirror again.
The change was small.
Natural.
Yet somehow... it made me look different.
I touched my lips self-consciously.
"I've never worn lipstick before."
Yoonji smiled.
"Then today is your first."
She linked her arm with mine.
"Come on."
"Let's see everyone's reaction.
"Yoonji held my wrist tightly as she led me downstairs.
"Stop worrying," she whispered.
"You look beautiful."
"...I still feel embarrassed."
As we reached the entrance to the living room, I instinctively slowed down.
My eyes searched the room...
Until they found him.
Sihoon was sitting beside Minhu on the sofa, his camera resting on his lap.
It seemed he had finished showering quite a while ago.
Almost as if he sensed my presence...
He slowly looked up.
Our eyes met.
For a brief second...
Neither of us moved.
His gaze quietly rested on me.
Not because of surprise.
Not because he was staring.
He was simply... looking.
For some reason, that silent gaze made my heart race.
I quickly lowered my eyes.
"See?" Yoonji whispered with a satisfied smile.
"I told you."
Before I could ask what she meant—
"Whoa..."
Yian's loud voice echoed through the living room.
"Jia!"
"You actually cleaned up nicely!"
The quiet moment instantly disappeared.
Everyone turned toward me.
Minhu smiled warmly.
"It suits you."
Sonje nodded in agreement.
"It really does."
Embarrassed, I smiled awkwardly.
"...Thank you."
Only Sihoon remained silent.
He simply looked away after a moment, as though nothing had happened.
But somehow...
His quiet gaze stayed in my mind much longer than everyone else's compliments.