♦Teaser Three♦

It was nearing 11:00 p.m., and some of Camp Diamond’s staff had congregated in the Help Center, or the Shrink House as the campers liked to call it. Someone had lit the fireplace, creating a calm and comfortable atmosphere for those present to enjoy. Everyone clutched their mugs of hot chocolate, courtesy of Park Sandara, known to most merely as Dara. At the moment, she was the one speaking, voice even more lively than usual.

“I remember when Hyunsuk-ssi would always go down to the stables to bother Jinyoung-ssi. The way they would argue with each other was always so funny!” Agreements and laughter were heard all around. It was well known that their former director was very good friends with the horses’ caretaker, Park Jinyoung. Jinyoung lives very close to the horse stables located on the campground, and lives there all year round. “Of course, Hyunsuk-ssi would always win.”

A scoff was heard, courtesy of another counselor, Meng Jia. She sat up straighter before speaking. “You’re a bit wrong there. Jinyoung-ssi would win more often than not,” she said, sipping on her drink with a slight smile on her face.

Immediately, another female voice jumped in. “We all know how much you’re in love with Jinyoung-ssi, there’s no need to lie in order to defend him like that.” The words were spoken lightly, but Jia could hear the underlying cruelty beneath. Her eyes narrowed at the speaker, Song Qian, otherwise known as Victoria. The rivalry between Jia and Victoria was nothing new. It was always bound to get heated when the two Chinese dancers were in the same room together.

Jia was about to respond with a scathing remark, leaning forward menacingly, when her best friend Wang Feifei, or just simply Fei, spoke up. “Hyunsuk-ssi and Jinyoung-ssi were fairly evenly matched in their friendly rivalry, from what I recall. And, as it was merely a friendly rivalry, I doubt either man would care to know that fights were being caused by you two defending the other over who was better,” Fei said, laying a hand on Jia’s shoulder in a calming gesture. Jia relented, sinking back into the couch.

The tension that had started to fill the room began to ease when another scoff was heard, this time from a male. Everyone looked over at Jung Jihoon, better known as Rain, and tension filled the room once more. He smirked lightly, looking straight at Fei. “Who’s defending who now, Fei? Why do you always feel the need to protect your little girlfriend, hm? I’m sure she can take care of herself.” Rain said before pausing, faking an expression of thought before continuing. “Oh wait, I forgot. She can’t. But really now Fei, let’s be serious here for a moment. You need to stop pretending you’re some sort of wise man, the voice of reason, always able to stop fights and ease the tension. We all know you aren’t, and now it’s time for you to realize it as well.”

Fei sat, arms crossed, a glare directed towards Rain. “Well Rain, to begin, please leave Jia out of this. I also believe you are just as fake as you seem to believe I am, always strutting around as if you own the world, flexing your muscles at those of whom who defy you, when you don’t even know who you truly are. You are too caught up in your own head to realize that not everyone cares what you’re opinion of them is. I happen to be one of those who do not.”

By now Rain had stood up, beginning to stride over to Fei who remained seated, head tilted up and eyes colder than before. Just as he was about to reach her, another worker, Jung Yunho, stood and intercepted, blocking Rain from reaching Fei. Yunho looked calmly at Rain, slowly urging him back towards his seat and sitting him down. Rain allowed it to happen, though the look on his face remained hard and pinched slightly in anger.

Yunho gazed around the room, locking eyes specifically with Jia, Fei, Victoria, and Rain. “I believe everyone needs to take a moment to calm down and reflect on themselves before we can start speaking again. Camp hasn’t even started yet and already we are fighting. How would that look to the campers if they knew how we act? We are supposed to be their role models and teachers. If they knew we were engaging in petty fights and arguments like this, they would be crushed and you can be sure that they would never allow us to help them again, having lost trust in us. I doubt this is what Lee Sooman-ssi wanted when he founded this camp thirty years ago. We all work at Camp Diamond to help these kids. How can we do that if we cannot even help ourselves?”

The room was silent. Yunho was right, of course. Many of the workers remained so caught up with their own problems, rivalries, and enemies that they lost sight of why they were at Camp Diamond in the first place. Minutes passed in a reflective silence, everyone taking time to reevaluate their priorities. Even as more time passed everyone remained afraid to speak up, not wanting another fight to start.

Eventually the silence was broken by Jo Kwon, a lively and well-loved counselor. “With Yunho-hyung’s message in mind, why don’t we go have some fun,” he asked. People began to look up curiously, wanting to know what exactly Kwon was planning now. He always seemed to have something strange up his sleeve. Once he gathered significant interest, Kwon continued. “Let’s go on a night walk on one of the forest trails! We make the campers do them sometimes to teach them about trusting and helping each other, and we seem to be lacking in this respect.”

Kwon had barely finished speaking before Dara spoke up. “That’s a great idea! I’ve never gone on a night walk before without having to make sure the campers aren’t secretly plotting to stab each other with branches when no one can see them!” Laughter immediately broke out amongst the group. Everyone could sympathize with Dara; the campers sure could be a handful sometimes. It didn’t help that as Dara spent half of the day working as a cook at the kitchens and therefore only making her a counselor half the time, she didn’t get as many chances as the other counselors to be involved with certain activities.

Victoria was the first to make a move, jumping out of her seat in excitement. “Let’s go then! I wonder how much the forest has changed since we were here last.” The rest of the group followed, quickly getting out of their seats, packing up their things, and heading out the door.

____kasper's korner

So, here's the third teaser! Looks like not all the workers of Camp Diamond get along. *evil laugh*

So what do you guys think? Think some fights will be breaking out amongst the staff during the story? Ohohoho, you'll just have to wait and see.

❤ Kathy