Hyunsoo had not stopped thinking about what happened with her group before they had finished their activities. It was all replaying in her mind over and over again, not letting Hyunsoo rest from the situation.

She was walking alongside Jinyoung and Sohee, who had joined a bit later, heading towards the village café. They were all hungry and walked in complete silence, enduring the wail for food coming from their stomach.

“Hyunsoo!”

She turned around to find Hoseok running towards her waving his arms around to get her attention.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Nothing– actually, something did happen, but that’s not why I came to see you,” he said, “I was wondering… you guys wouldn’t mind if I walked to the café with you, right?”

Jinyoung stared at him, but Hyunsoo said ‘yes’ immediately. She knew why he was asking them, and she also knew exactly what had happened with Hoseok. It was a guess, but it was probably right – considering she was there when she witnessed Jungkook’s hurt expression. For some reason, it felt as if Hyunsoo had started growing more caring when it came towards Hoseok. In return, Hoseok also did start helping Hyunsoo. He usually stood up for her when Jungkook got too mean. He was still always Jungkook’s best friend, but this time, Jungkook felt completely hurt by Hoseok.

With more silence and a new atmosphere in the air called ‘awkward’, Hoseok trailed behind Hyunsoo keeping his head down as if thinking deeply about something, but still aware of where he was going.

It didn’t take long to arrive at the café. They all quickly ordered and finished their food as soon as it arrived. Hoseok had his head mostly down ever since he joined them, whereas Jinyoung kept his eyes on Hoseok from over his phone; apparently not trusting him at all. This just left Hyunsoo and Sohee alone to sit in silence or talk. Sohee chose the latter.

“Hyunsoo, what do you really think about Jungkook?”

It was the last thing she expected Sohee to say. “What do you mean,” Hyunsoo said after thinking carefully.

“During ‘truth or dare’, you answered that you hated Jungkook. I just want to know if you really do, because when he got all shocked, why did it affect you so much?”

All sorts of thoughts and excuses flooded into Hyunsoo’s brain. “Well, I do… uh, don’t like him, but that doesn’t mean I wanted him to know and hurt his feelings. And, why do you want to know so bad anyway? What’s it to you how I feel about Jungkook?”

“I want to know that too,” Jinyoung said quietly.

“What, why?” This situation was now nearly as bad as dealing with Hyunsoo’s group.

“Why is it, that whenever I’m trying to talk to you, or confess my feelings for you, Jungkook turns up and takes you away?”

That sentence had an immediate affect on the rest of them. Sohee widened her eyes so much they looked as if they were about to pop out. Hoseok also finally looked up at Hyunsoo and Jinyoung. Hyunsoo’s heartbeat increased and she felt her palms begin to sweat.

Not this, not now.

“What are you trying to get at?” Hyunsoo said, feeling very inferior suddenly.

“You know what I’m getting at. Hyunsoo, I told you I really like you, but why haven’t you given me a response? I’ve been waiting; I gave you time to think about it for a long time.”

Hyunsoo didn’t know what to say, so kept quiet.

Sohee was the one who spoke up. “I didn’t know Jungkook liked you.”

Everyone’s heads turned to look at Sohee.

“You have the completely wrong idea of what’s going on!” Hyunsoo said.

“No, I think it’s the other way around. Honestly, I am disappointed, I thought…” Sohee stopped as her cheeks flushed pink.

Jinyoung hadn’t noticed though. “I’m with Sohee on this one. There’s something going on with the kooks.”

“There isn’t really,” Hoseok spoke for the first time, “Jungkook doesn’t like Hyunsoo as you say Sohee.”

“Then what?” Sohee asked, to which Hoseok only shrugged.

Hyunsoo couldn’t hide it in any longer, even though there were already lots of loose threads hanging from earlier questions. “Why did you tell?” she asked Hoseok.

He didn’t look surprised; it was more like he was expecting it sometime soon or later. “That’s the thing, I didn’t.”

“Wait, you didn’t? But, who did? You must’ve told! Jungkook told you, who else did he tell?”

“I don’t know. As far as I know, he only told me. I feel like I’ve turned into ‘the boy who cried wolf’ now. I admit I did stuff before I shouldn’t have, like telling you about his weekly girls, but that was before. This time, I didn’t do it. Please believe me.” He said the last part directed at Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo felt her heart lift itself up. Hoseok didn’t do it. I believe him. And she said aloud, “I believe you.”

However, this small act made Jinyoung shout, “You can’t trust Hoseok!”

“No,” Hyunsoo said hastily, “I want to trust him. I do trust him. He has helped me against Jungkook when you couldn’t be there. Why would he suddenly lie to me now?”

“Because he’s Jungkook’s little death eater!”

“Over reacting much,” mumbled Sohee.

“Jinyoung please,” said Hyunsoo.

Hoseok wasn’t looking at anyone but Hyunsoo, as if seeing her in a new light. Jinyoung was also looking at Hyunsoo, looking for something in her eyes, though Hyunsoo didn’t know what.

“Fine, whatever.”

And that was the final word. After that, Hoseok hung out with them for the rest of the day, well, he didn’t contribute much and didn’t talk but he was with them. Hyunsoo was feeling happier, knowing she was finally helping someone who had been helping her for so long. Hoseok, on the other hand, felt that Hyunsoo had indeed changed. A month ago he hadn’t really liked her much, but now, she was different.

“Hyunsoo has changed… in a good way.” Hoseok thought to himself smiling.

Later that night, Hyunsoo went to sleep next to Hyejin’s sleeping bag once more… and for the last time. Tomorrow would be their last day here and soon, the teachers would start haunting every student with tests coming up before Christmas.

Still, Hyunsoo felt happy as she went to sleep. It was a weird feeling. Lots of things happened today, but in the end Hyunsoo was still happy as she had her friends with her. She still found it amazing to think that only this last summer she was completely alone, and now, she was much happier. To Hyunsoo, it didn’t matter how bad things got, as long as she always had someone with her by her side.