No One’s POV:

A few days later, they both ended up going on a trip with their friends as per the sudden plan they made a few days earlier. Jiwoong’s summer house was very beautiful and was pretty close to the seashore. Everyone were busy setting down their luggage in their respective rooms.

“Remind me again why I agreed on making this trip with our friends?” Sooyoon whined as he and Joo Eun sat on the bed in her room. “I mean, we can’t even share a room.”

Joo Eun just shook her head and chuckled. “You see,” she played with his hand, “if we didn’t agree to bring our friends along, James probably wouldn’t have let us go on a trip alone.”

He sighed once again, “Talking about him, you do realize that he’s just a few doors away down the corridor, don’t you?”

“I know this looks crazy but we’ll find a way to sneak out. Don’t you worry.” She said, pecking his cheek which ended up lightening his mood a little.

Later in the day, they both quietly sneaked out to the seashore while the rest all were huddled in the living room and watching some game on TV, being tired from the long road journey they all did.

They slowly walked along the shore with their hands entwined, while the waves gently crashed on their feet. Even without exchanging any words, the two were simply happy to be in the presence of each other.

However, their alone time was pretty short-lived. “Sooyoon oppa, do want to join us in the water?” they heard Hye Jin call out while Joo Eun shot Sooyoon a look. He immediately refused her request, however she wasn’t ready to let go that easily, “Well, James oppa asked me to get you.”

Sooyoon looked really uncomfortable to be put in the situation. But he wasn’t ready to take the risk of angering James either. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He told Joo Eun.

“Are you going because you want to play too or is it because James called for you?” Sooyoon looked hesitant. “You can be honest with me. I wouldn’t be angry on you for that.” she flashed him a reassuring smile.

“Because of James,” he said. “I just don’t want to get on his wrong side. He still hasn’t approved our relationship.”

“Let me handle this. You stay here.” She strictly ordered him before turning towards Hye Jin and said, “Lead the way.”

When they reached where James were, she kind of shouted, “Did you call out for Sooyoon?” James nodded, “Why do you need him here for?”

“We’re short of a player here. So told to ask if he’d like to join,” James explained while she stared at Hye Jin who simply shrugged.

Even though she knew she was being irrational, she still couldn’t control her anger. So in the spur of the moment, she uttered things as a blackmail which only agitated James more. “Excuse me? What did you say now, Lee Joo Eun?”

But before things could get out of hands, some of their friends jumped in. “Joo Eun-ah, why are you doing this?” Moon asked as he was holding back James while Jiwoong and Mijin dragged her away.

“Have you gone crazy?” Jiwoong asked her, when they reached Sooyoon who just looked at the three in confusion.

“What happened? What’s going on?” he asked seeing Joo Eun huff and puff in anger.

“Well, it’d be better if she tell it herself. All I can say is she just made James anger for nothing.” Jiwoong shook his head, “We’re leaving her under your control.” He told and went back with Mijin.

Sooyoon remained silent to give her time to cool down, which happened a few minutes later. “Will you tell me now what you did?” he asked her softly.

“Um, I just blackmailed him.” She shrugged as if it was nothing.

“With what?”

“Well, I told him that if he’s really shorthanded, then I would join him for the games.” He gave her a look to tell him the rest of the details too. “And then, I told him since I’m not wearing the swimsuit, I’d have to play in my undergarments and then tried to take off my clothes.”

“WHAT? You’re crazy indeed. No wonder James got all riled up. I would have too.” He shook his head, condemning her earlier actions.

“Yeah, I know I’m crazy and that’s why you love me.” She stuck out his tongue at him and then the two chuckled.

They both spent some time away from their friends before going back to the house where dinner were waiting for them. Although James was still a little pissed at her earlier behavior, he still kept to himself as he didn’t wish to spoil the good time the rest all were having.

And when it was time to hit bed, everyone headed to their rooms and so did Joo Eun and Sooyoon. As she was sharing the room with Mijin, she was pretty chilled out about sneaking out but had to keep in mind of the others. So she knew she has to stay in her room for some time before she could actually sneak out.

Nearly an hour later, she excused herself from Mijin and slowly sneaked into the corridor. She tiptoed until the room Sooyoon was staying in and gently knocked on it twice. The door opened and there stood Moon.

In her excitement, she has forgotten that Sooyoon was sharing his room with Moon. She looked at him sheepishly as she scratched the back of her neck. “Is Sooyoon there? What is he doing?” she whispered.

“Why don’t you look for yourself?” he moved aside and motioned her to get in.

She walked into the room and saw Sooyoon sleeping soundly on the bed. She went closer and adjusted the comforter. “Moon, can I stay here for just 2 minutes?” she asked as she kneeled down on the floor beside the bed.

“If you wish, I can give you both some privacy by heading over to James room or maybe someone else’s?” He replied.

“What? No, no. I don’t want to disturb his sleep. So just give me a moment and I’d be out of your hair in no time.” She flashed him a sickeningly sweet smile.

“Okay,” he shrugged his shoulders and went to the bathroom to take a shower. When he came out nearly fifteen minutes later, she was still in the same position, gently caressing Sooyoon. “You’re still here.” He stated with a teasing tone.

“Shhh,” she shushed him while he just chuckled. “Okay, I’ll leave now,” she stood up, “you better not disturb his sleep in any way.” She threatened him.

“Yes ma’am,” he saluted.

“Oh, another thing. Please don’t rat me out to James that I was here at this ungodly hours.” She flashed him an innocent smile.

“I’ll think about it,” it was Moon’s turn to play with her while she shook her head and just walked out of the room.

The rest of the vacation they both had amazing time, either it was with their group of friends or spend some time on their own by managing to sneak away from them. Or sometimes, their friends themselves kicked the two out, not being able to take all the mushy lovey-dovey gestures of the two.

When they got back, there were only a few days left for Sooyoon’s enlistment day. Though they both wanted to spend every minute possible, they still couldn’t do it as his parents have taken over his place to spend some quality time with their sons.

Since she hasn’t been introduced to his parents officially as his girlfriend yet, she couldn’t just show up at his doorstep and try stealing him away. And since his parents were staying over at his place, he couldn’t sneak out in the night as well.

For the first two days, he managed to slip away only for a few minutes in the late night. He would show up at her doorstep and James just let him in and the two lovebirds spent those few minutes in each other’s arms in her balcony.

On the first night when James let him in, he called him to his room, to have a few words with him. “Hey man, see, I’m not going to say much but just keep in mind that you’d be dead if you happen to hurt my sister again, even unintentionally.”

“I promise you that such a thing would never happen.” Sooyoon replied seriously.

“That’s all I need to know. Good talk.” James patted his shoulder and opened his room door for him.

Even though he s