Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea – June 28, 2016

LEE JIYEON | AYAKA

      I looked at the medicine that Kai gave me and I couldn’t help but to think about forgiving him. I guess he’s really remorseful towards his actions and I just hope that he will not do the same thing again because if he does, I will surely forget that he’s my friend. I’ll just let him go to his ex-girlfriend because there is where he really wants to go.

      “Yah Jiyeon-ah, don’t tell me you’re thinking of forgiving that ,” Gayoung exclaimed when she saw me staring at the medicine bottle.

      “I’m thinking about it,” I answered truthfully.

      “Seriously Jiyeon,” Gayoung sighed as she sat in front of me and held my hand, “Kai is a jerk. That is a fact because I’ve known him for the longest time already and I know that. He will always believe Sooyeon no matter who is against her. You basically know how much that guy loves that ,”

      I laughed at Gayoung. She surely hates Kai more than I do but I understand. She hates him because Kai hurt me. I am thankful that Gayoung is always here for me.

      “But he deserves a second chance,” I reasoned out.

      “That jerk doesn’t deserve anything. You already gave him too much Ji.” Gayoung muttered.

      “But—“ before I could reason out again, we heard our teacher’s voice through the speakers, “Students, proceed to the dining hall immediately. Dinner will be served.”

      “Come now Jiyeon,” Gayoung exclaimed, not letting me reason out anymore.

      I just sighed and nodded. I quickly tug on Gayoung and we both went to the dining hall together. As we arrived there, our teammates were already seated at our seats but Kai and Taemin are nowhere to be seen, those roommates really. I wonder where they are.

      “Jiyeon-ah, are you okay now?” Sungyeol asked and I quickly nodded.

      “I’m fine. My headache is already gone now.” I answered back.

      After some time, Gayoung and I decided to get our dinner and went back to our table. As we were on the middle of eating, somebody spoke.

      “Are you okay now, Ayaka?”

      I looked up and saw Kai smiling at me.

      “U-uhm… yeah,” I answered, suddenly feeling awkward.

      “Did you take the medicines that I gave you?” he asked as he sat beside Joonki.

      “Ugh… yeah,” I answered again, faking a smile, “Thanks.” I told him.

      I couldn’t believe that I am actually talking to him like this. I mean, I have never been this awkward towards Kai before. Even when the first time I met him, I was so thick-faced that I even called him a jerk but now… I am just so awkward towards him.

      “Well it’s just proper to take care of the person that you’ve hurt. I guess it’s the conscience talking.” Gayoung sneered.

      “Gayoung,” I whispered, telling her to shut .

      “What?” Gayoung asked.

      “That’s enough,” I whispered and she just rolled her eyes heavenwards.

      “Uhm, I guess I’m not welcome here.” Kai smiled at me.

      “Good guess,” Gayoung smiled sarcastically.

      Seriously, once you get to Gayoung’s bad nerve, she will surely beat you up with her witty mouth.

      “Gayoung,” I called again.

      Before I could even stop Kai from leaving, he already left with his food on his hands. When Kai was out of earshot, I looked at Gayoung and she just shrugged her shoulders.

      “What?” she asked, “I don’t want to be plastic towards him. I’m just showing him that I am upset with what he’s done to you.” She muttered as she took a big bite from her plate.

      “But it’s not good to do that especially that we’re in front of the food.” I told her.

      “Sorry,” she muttered and resumed on her plate.

      I looked at Kai and couldn’t help but to feel sorry. Ironic, huh?

KIM JONGIN | KAI

      I quickly searched for Chanyeol and Sehun’s table as soon as I left our team’s table. I couldn’t help but to feel pathetic right now. This is my second time being sent out by my classmates because usually, I’m the one who does that. Now I know how they felt, not belonging to the group… an outcast. I can’t believe that those guys can possibly kick me out.

      “Seriously, what’s up with my life?” I mumbled.

      It wasn’t long when I saw Chanyeol and Sehun eating. I quickly sat beside them and ate my food.

      “Let me guess, they kicked you out again.” Sehun asked as soon as he saw me.

      “Tell me about it,” I exclaimed.

      “I can’t believe that the famous Kim Jongin is being an outcast now.” Chanyeol laughed.

      I glared at him and spanked his head. This guy seriously doesn’t know how to joke and when not to.

      “You’re not helping,” I muttered.

      “Sorry,” Chanyeol laughed, “I just couldn’t muse about it. Only one woman can outcast you.” He added.

      “Lee Jiyeon,” Sehun smiled.

      Dinner was finished and it was only a nonsense conversation with my two best friends. Right now, we will be playing “Senses”. It’s a game that our teachers made. It’s like an amazing race but a more advanced one. All you have to do is to go on pairs and both of you will decide who will be the eyes, hands and ears. Then you need to find three crowns with your designated colors and when you find the three, you just need to go back to the hall. Whoever finishes first are the winner, and the reward? Food. The tricky part here is we are going to the forest to search for the crowns and the night being so dark is seriously scary, but not for me.

      “Okay blue team, here is your pairings.” Mr. Do exclaimed.

      “I hope I will be paired with you,” Gayoung told Ayaka.

      “You guys will be paired, boys to girls so that it will be a fair fight.” Mr. Do explained, “So here it is,” he mutters as he cleared his throat, “Ahn Chayeon and Cha Joonki, Bang Jinah and Choi Taemin, Go Anna and Han Sungyeol, Kang Dojoon and Lee Jiyeon… finally…”

      Don’t tell me I’m paired with Gayoung?!

      “Moon Gayoung and Kim Jongin,”

      just got real, argh! I looked at Gayoung and she’s already glaring at me.

      “Now, why don’t you go with your partners and standby outside?” Mr. Do smiled as he left us.

      I was about to leave when Gayoung walked past by me and bumped my shoulder.

      “Aaw,” I muttered.

      “Sorry,” she muttered mockingly as she left.

      Seriously, that girl’s insane. I looked back at where Ayaka was and she was having a great talk with her partner, Dojoon. That guy better make sure that Ayaka will return with no single scratch or I’ll tear him off. I quickly followed Gayoung and saw her sitting by the bench. I guess we will just bicker while we’re inside the forest and I think that’s not good. I better apologize to her even though I didn’t do anything wrong to her. I sat beside Gayoung and breathed out.

      “Uhm… Gayoung, I’m…. I, ugh…” my tongue was getting twisted by saying sorry because I know I didn’t do anything wrong to her.

      “By the way Kim Jongin, I wanted to be the eyes and hands. You can be the ears, I don’t mind.” Gayoung exclaimed, not letting me speak. She left me there, astounded.

      What? So I won’t be able to see and my hands would be tied? I can’t let that happen! I should be the leader here!

      “Moon Gayoung!” I shouted but she didn’t look back at me.

      I was about to follow her when someone called me.

      “Kai!”

      I looked back and saw Ayaka running towards me.

      “A-ayaka,” I called out.

      “We need to talk,” she muttered.

      “Talk?”

      Finally! Is she going to forgive me now? I hope so because I can’t stand her being angry with me.

      “I just wanted to—“ I don’t know why but these teachers are always cutting us from speaking. The teachers started talking in front of us, causing Ayaka to stop talking and pay attention.

      “The games will begin and we will start the game with the blue team! Blue team, ready!”

      I looked at Ayaka and she just smiled at me.

      “Let’s talk later,” she smiled and went back to where Dojoon was.

      Seriously, why is everyone cutting us all?! I just shook my head and decided to find Gayoung. I saw her by beside Chaeyeon’s team.

      “Where have you been?” she asked as soon as I arrived beside her.

      “I was talking to Ayaka,” I told her.

      She quickly glared at me but I shrugged it off.

      “By the way, let me be the eyes and hands.” I told her, “All boys are the eyes and hands so it’s just fitting for me to be those too.” I added.

      “No—“ before she could even finish what she was about to say, the teachers already placed blindfolds into her eyes and tied her hands.

      “Yah! I’m supposed to be the eyes and hands!” she retorted but no one listened to her.

      The teacher placed an earphone into my ears with loud music playing on it. It was loud enough that I couldn’t hear anything but the music. The music that was playing through the earphones is EXO CBX’s For you. I remember that this is the song that I prepared for Ayaka’s birthday. I wasn’t able to hear the teachers say go but when I saw that the others were already leaving, I quickly guide Gayoung to the forest. When we arrived inside the forest, I quickly removed my earphones and looked at Gayoung.

      “Yah, Gayoung-ah,” I called her.

      “What?” she asked.

      “Do you want to win?” I asked her and she simply nodded.

      “Then let’s win this thing,” I muttered.

Proverbs 20:12 - The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.