“Why the hell is your shirt so thin, huh?” nagged Sunggyu. “I could see your bikini from inside!”

“That’s just you, you overprotective ert.” Sleepy, Hyuna yawned and sluggishly replied. “I just put on what I found in my closet. And you’re not my boyfriend so don’t nag me.”

Instead of the hurt getting into him, he became even more persistent, “Boyfriend or not, I have the right to tell you that you are looking too y!”

“But my purpose is to be y! You’re just lucky I didn’t wear my shorter crop top ‘cause of the dress code.”

Watching their quarreling from afar, Onew couldn’t help but chuckle. “How cute.”

“Hey Onew, you recovered pretty fast from yesterday,” commented Yura. “That’s good.”

“Well, now that CL isn’t here, his eyes are spared from vulgarity,” said Sungjong until he spotted a black-clothed figure approaching. “Never mind, she’s here.”

Sungyeol and Myungsoo patted his shoulders from both sides. “Good luck, man.”

When CL stood in front of him, he was really pissed; not only because of the day before but about her outfit as well. She wore a crop top and short shorts above what seemed to be an exposure-filled bikini.

“You can’t go inside; you’re wearing bull clothing.”

“It’s an art—“

“It’s not an art when you’re gonna be a in public!”

Onew’s outrage was loud enough to let the students back off a bit. That is, except CL.

Unfazed while chewing her gum and filing her nails, she replied, “Don’t get me started or I’ll rip your head off; I had to stay up late last night for a shoot. I’m gettin’ in.”

As she passed him by, Onew lowered his head and let it go, clenching his fists tightly. The field trip’s purpose was to bond the class, and he knew that it was a chance to possibly help CL revert back to being her badass self, not the badass . He got into the bus and gave Dongwoo the I’m-goin’-to-flip--if-you-don’t help-her face. After that, he made a head count and got the bus going.

The road trip was a total mix of peace and wildness. The back half of the bus was still on night mode sleeping away whereas the people in front were partying out loud, flailing their arms around as if it was a club. It looked two separate worlds in there. By the time they arrived to the hotel, the group gained equilibrium; the party people lost some energy and the tired gained in return.

Onew called for everyone’s attention. “I got the keys; please go into groups of two or three of the same gender. With the exception of CL who will stay alone in a very small solo room.”

CL didn’t care, and neither did the class about her. Instead, they scrambled around to fish for their roommates. Sungyeol and Myungsoo already played their special card being both male, but Onew broke them up just as they hugged each other.

“No way!” he exclaimed then separated the two. Sungyeol went with Dongwoo while Myungsoo went with Sunggyu and Sungjong.

“We good?” asked Yura to Hyuna.

She high-fived her. “We good. Can’t wait to see you in cutesy beachwear!”

Yura chuckled. “That’s not gonna happen; I didn’t pack—“

She winked excitedly. “But I did for you!”

Yura gave a big pause of worry then simply repeated, “That’s not gonna happen.”

---

In the guy’s room, they were already done unpacking and were getting ready to go out to the beach.

“What the hell is all that sun block for?” mocked Sunggyu. “You’re not man enough to face the sun?”

Suddenly enraged, he pointed at Sunggyu’s things, splattering sunblock on his face in the process. “Then what about that Hyuna Protection bag, huh? I mean, look how much ’s in there!”

Wiping off the lotion from his face, he retorted, “Then explain all that anti-Jinyoung gear? It’s as if you’re chasing away and evil spirit!”

“Aw, guys,” Myungsoo patted their shoulders and said in a calm tone, “Just admit it that you were both intensely packing these things last night. I saw you both and you’re in the same boat, alright?”

The door suddenly opened revealing a cheerful Sungyeol and Dongwoo who wore a duck beach tube. Sungyeol gave the proper reaction upon seeing his two friends.

He pointed at them in amusement. “Hey! They really do have their I’m-threatened-by-other-men gear!”

The two sighed in defeat.

“Let’s just go,” urged Sunggyu.

“Yeah, let’s,” agreed Sungjong.

And off they went to the beach where they met the girls and went to do whatever they wanted to. In Sunggyu’s case, it was completely having Hyuna beside him at all times. Beside her, he looked like a bodyguard more than a friendzoned friend because of his big bag of emergency stuff inside including a napkin because of their accident during the night of the competition.

“Can you like, drop all that crap and just have a decent time?” giggled Hyuna, playfully tapping his shoulder to make light of the situation. “I mean, isn’t that a bit too exaggerated?”

“There are too many predators; I must be prepared at all times…” he looked at her from head to toe, blushed a bit, and flushed red of both anger and bashfulness. “ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CHANGED INTO AN EVEN IER BIKINI WHEN ONEW TOLD YOU NOT TO DO SO!”

“Aw, c’mon!” she whined, her hands clipped to her waist. “I am wearing a THICK AND LOOSE tank top over this!”

“But your bottom is not safe!” he reasoned. “It’s hard to not look at, seriously—“

“AHH!”

“!”

Whoop!

Just as they were bickering, a guy pulled Hyuna’s bikini’s string in which Sunggyu covered her up in an instant. It was a good thing he had his towel slung over his shoulder or else she would’ve experienced a horrific flashing of her sensitive area.

“Did they see anything?” Hyuna asked shakily, suddenly shriveling up in embarrassment. “Did they?”

“No, they didn’t,” he said and cracked his knuckles. “Want me to beat him up?”

“No, it’s okay,” she replied, clutching the sleeve of his shirt for comfort.

“Why are you so anti-violent?” he asked. “You think I can’t fight him?”

“Well, yes, it’s Taecyeon.”

“Why—“

She covered his mouth with her hand. “Please, I am only saying this because I care. Don’t tell me you told me so, I get it. Just… take me back to my room.”

Being the gentleman that he was, he smiled and led her back to the hotel to recover from the incident. In her room, he made her some coffee and watched some TV together to lighten the mood. Luckily, it worked, and while they weren’t able to have a decent time under the sun, laughing side by side inside the room was good enough for them. He also decided to let go of most of his gear at her request, but still made certain that he’d watch over her.

Meanwhile, the people outside were having quite a good time as well. Sungyeol posed by the shore in a comedic manner, trying to imitate a mermaid by putting seashells on his hair and lying down on the sand.

“Myungsoo, take a pic please!” he waved to his boyfriend.

Myungsoo came running in and amusingly took a few shots. While he was doing so, Yura was taking a picture of him taking a picture of Sungyeol, and Sungjong was taking a picture of Yura taking a picture of them.

“Camception,” remarked Jinyoung, disturbing the peace of that bright sunny day.

Sungjong immediately blocked Yura from his rival’s view. Jinyoung was persistent and trudged forward only to have salt water splashed onto his face. His eyes stung, but that didn’t stop him from returning the favor. That was how a splash fight came about between the two. Within that time, Yura was so focused on taking pictures that she didn’t even notice them. In the end, she left to get a triple scoop ice cream without their knowing.

Watching from afar and sitting on his duck beach tube was Dongwoo. He witnessed everything that had happened and couldn’t help but feel jealous. All of them had a person they set their eyes onto, and were determined to pursue their wants for that kind of special romance. Yet there he was, floating on the water and doing nothing but be a mere observer.

He shifted his vision over to CL who was having a photo shoot. The sight disgusted him; she was wearing a very revealing bikini that really wasn’t her. He wanted to go there himself and cover her up like how Sunggyu did, but he couldn’t muster up the courage to do so. He thought that if he did, he’d just get shoved away and scolded—something he hated being. Being a burden to her.

But his thoughts still stood as they were; she was becoming a demon. Running around modeling indecent brands, wearing rebel gear that was either too tough or too small, or even both. He knew he had to talk to her, but he kept holding himself back.

He knew he was scared, and it made him feel smaller.

“Bull,” he cussed.

His day went on like that, in self-conflict. He didn’t go back to the hotel either and instead stayed tucked in a hammock. The only person he spoke to was Sunggyu who voluntarily came up to him later when the sun had just fallen.

“Hey,” he greeted, taking his seat on the sand in front of him, facing the waves.

“Hey,” Dongwoo weakly replied.

“It’s a perfect atmosphere to talk,” said Sunggyu, scooping some sand up only to let it get blown away by the wind from his open palm. “The wind’s blowing nicely, it’s not too dark, and the waves are giving off a nice sound.”

Dongwoo didn’t reply; he wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“It seems like I have been the person who talks to other people to get their senses straight,” he said, proud of himself. “Well, I kind of like this skill; it makes me feel useful, don’t you think?”

“Gyuzizi…”

“That’s good; at least you’re listening.”

He played with a plastic flower he picked up earlier that day.

“You see those lights and rowdy people, right? One of them is her; we’re sure of it.”

No response.

Sunggyu picked up a seashell, observed it, and held it tight. “She’s not like that; you know it better than any of us do. So why aren’t you stepping up to stop her?”

Finally, he answered, “I have tried, but as I said before, she kept sending me out—“

“Then perhaps you weren’t strong enough. You probably tried to persuade her with your weak side.”

Dongwoo threw the flower away in frustration.

“I know you go bat pissed off when triggered. When that happens, I just want you to let everything out; all your thoughts, frustrations, and feelings. She should know them very well; she should take you seriously.”

“I saw Sungjong going into Jinyoung’s room on my way here,” Sunggyu continued. “I wonder how that’ll turn out.”

Dongwoo shrugged. “’s probably ‘bout to go down.”

“Yeah, most likely.” He threw the seashell to the water and waved at him. “I believe in you, Dongwoo. Do what you need to do.”

Sunggyu then left quietly back to the hotel.

True to their accurate speculations, really went down. Jinyoung was just lounging around in his room alongside his friend, Sandeul, when he heard someone knocking on the door. Without ever so much as giving him a greeting, Sungjong went straight ahead and said what he needed to say.

“What’s it to you?”

Sandeul glanced at Jinyoung and did some telepathy. He nodded and moved to the next room where Baro was, closing the door as he left.

“It’s simple, really. I like her,” Jinyoung replied, staring so laxly at his enemy’s intense glare. He then kept poking Sungjong’s forehead with each word as he said, “And I won’t back down to someone like—“

Sungjong slapped his hand away firmly. “A person like me won’t let you get in the way.” He looked up at him with more intensity. “I don’t care about your fame or status in school. Being a popular class president is one thing, but to be a true lover is another.”

Angered, Jinyoung scrunched up his face and bit his lip. A short pause followed.

“This is neither a battle of position or social status. Compared to you, I am not after the recognition. I am after her love. I will be with her in the end knowing this.”

With that, Sungjong brush past his shoulder, but just as he grabbed the door knob, he heard a loud stomp from behind.

“If you think I treat her like a reward, that’s where you’re downright wrong!” yelled Jinyoung for the first time. “You think this is just a game to me? No way; no way, man. I see something in that girl, even just by standing at a distance. Being on a pedestal isn’t as easy as it seems either. She thinks the same of me too; she thinks I’m some infuential student or whatever, but I don’t want her to think of me that way. I want her to think of me as who I am.”

Sungjong looked behind his shoulder, giving him a sharp look.

“Feel the real threat now?”

Without replying whatsoever, he left the room with a loud bang that echoed in Jinyoung’s head throughout the night.

So yeah, today's half shenanigans and half serious. CL's still acting like crap and Dongwoo's still at a standstill (you see what I did thar? ;))) 

And about the last scene with Jinyoung and Sungjong...