“You’re always such a disappointment.” 

Joonmyun already knew that, of course, but he still hated hearing the words directly from his father. Nothing he ever did was good enough so what was the point in trying anymore? He couldn’t do anything right. Even when it came to making the biggest decision of his life he still wasn’t making it fast enough for his father’s liking.

And he really just wanted to give up. 

He knew he could easily end this pressure right now and just tell his father that he wasn’t going to take over the company. He wasn’t ready for that. He was twenty three years old and still trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He’s barely lived and he was expected to run one of the most important companies in South Korea? How was that fair? 

It wasn’t fair. Hell, Joonmyun’s life has never really been fair to him. Sure, he grew up having almost everything he wanted. He had money and power and people who would do anything to please him. He could have anything with just a snap of a finger. 

Well, almost anything. The one thing he actually wanted was someone who truly cared about him for him. Of course he had his mother, but a part of him always knew that if it had to come to it she would side with his father in a heartbeat. Luhan was always running with other friends and other people, while Joonmyun would sit in his house surrounded by meaningless things. 

He wasn’t very social growing up. That was the one thing he wished he could have changed about his childhood. He was so nervous and anxious around people that it ruined any chance for him to really get to know somebody. And that led him to putting up his walls and locking himself away from the entire world. 

He just never expected those walls to follow him all the way to Jejudo. And he never expected that the one person that could change everything he’s ever thought and tried to hide away from would be the same person he was chasing after. 

“Don’t you ever go to your own room?” 

Joonmyun glanced up form the couch in Nayoung’s hotel room and was brought away from his own thoughts as he stared at the beauty standing before him. Chorong was looking just as good as she always did, even if she looked like she had just gotten up. He wondered if there was anything she could do that would ever make him not feel this way. 

He was about to reply, but she just grabbed the bottom of his legs and shoved them onto the floor, taking a seat where they once were and crossing her arms. Joonmyun just chuckled and pushed himself up into a sitting position while ruffling his hair. 

“I really don’t know why you insist on hanging around here when I know this entire relationship is bull.” 

Every time she said that it made him more and more worried. Had she honestly already caught on to his plan? She couldn’t have. But it still worried him and he wondered if in the end he would still be able to pull this off. 

“Well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine this morning?” He eyed her intensely, reaching up and rubbing his lips out of habit. He watched her pick up a book from the table and open it to wherever her bookmark was and, once again, he was chuckling softly. “Reading? Really?” Joonmyun snatched the book from her and looked it over. “The Great Gatsby, huh? I think I read this in high school. Well, pretended to read it.” 

Chorong did not look amused as Joonmyun did as she took the book back from him, glaring hard. Even when she was pissed off he couldn’t help but be so caught up in her. She was something else. What is happening to you? You’re losing it. Focus on the main objective. That’s what he had to do, right? There was no time to be caught up in this girl for any other reason. 

“I think you’re the only person in the world who actually reads while they’re on holiday. You’re supposed to be enjoying yourself, Rongie,” he teased. 

She gritted her teeth, the intenseness in her glare growing stronger. “Don’t you dare call me that. Unnie is the only person who is allowed and even then I still hate it.” 

Yep, she definitely wasn’t amused at all and Joonmyun could tell. He couldn’t help but curse himself repeatedly for saying the wrong thing all the time. He wondered if he’d ever be able to just talk to her normally and not end up in some argument. Maybe if we were forced together with no escape, he smiled to himself at the thought. 

The truth was, he would actually do anything just to spend some time and talk to her. Of course if you asked him directly he wouldn’t have admitted it … but it felt like every time he was near her she was changing everything about him without even trying. It was so confusing and conflicting and Joonmyun didn’t know how to handle these feelings. 

Ever since he saw her and Jongsuk kissing he had wanted nothing more than to swoop her away from that guy. He knew it was wrong, but he didn’t want her with anyone else. And he really didn’t know why he felt like this. He wanted to push these feelings away. He wanted them to leave and never come back so he could just get back to the main objective. 

But the more he let this plan go on and on, the more he felt like he was getting absolutely nowhere. Was being with Nayoung really not going to help him get close to Chorong? It was starting to feel like it and he wondered if it was time to just call the whole thing off and move on with his life. Was Chorong worth all this stress? He suffered enough from his father and this stupid decision that he really didn’t need any more to consume him. 

So maybe it was time he gave up on Park Chorong once and for all. Give up on this idea of winning the unattainable girl. Give up on this stupid idea of trying to get her to fall for him so that he could just break her heart in the end. 

He just wanted to give up. 

Just as he was going over his decision, Nayoung finally came out of the bathroom, looking like she was ready to go camping or something. For some reason, he had a bad feeling in his stomach that was telling him he wasn’t going to be doing anything he wanted to do today. 

“I have some fun plans for us today,” she grinned widely “All of us.” This only made both Joonmyun and Chorong groan in response. They could only imagine what kind of things she would want the three of them to do together and neither of them were really sure they wanted to know. 

“No thanks,” Chorong mumbled. She opened her book back up and went back to her reading as if Nayoung hadn’t said anything at all. Joonmyun sighed and glanced over at her, wondering if her rejection was because of him. Of course it is, he thought and felt his stomach sink. This was only making his giving up thought seem more like the right decision. 

Nayoung wasn’t taking it that well and she stomped her foot down on the floor, pouting. “You haven’t even heard what I have planned, Rongie! I’m telling you that once you know you’ll be begging to come along with us!” Joonmyun rolled his eyes, just choosing to stay silent while the two sisters bickered back and forth. Also, he was starting to get a headache from Nayoung. That wasn’t really unusual thought; she always gave him one. 

“Fine,” Chorong sighed as she put her book back down, again, and turned her attention back to Nayoung. “I’m listening.” 

“The three of us-“ Nayoung paused for anticipation, but only received annoyed looks from the other two, “-are going hiking!” 

Well … his guess from her outfit was sort of close. 

“No.” Joonmyun and Chorong both replied in unison before glancing at each other. Great minds think alike? He gave her a smile, finding it a bit amusing, but only received another glare. He was starting to think that if she kept pulling that face around him then maybe it'll get stuck that way. She’d still look cute. 

Hiking? There was no way he was going along with this. He wasn’t very outdoorsy and he’s rather hang around a pool or even the death than spend time in nature. No way was he agreeing to this. 

But, after a few moments of awkward silence, he started to wonder if maybe he should go after all. Could this be a way to show chorong that he was serious about Nayoung? Or, well, pretending to be serious? He knew that deep down he wasn’t going to give up in this, nor would Jongdae ever let him, so he might as well go along with it. He had to get her to stop thinking that this was a ploy or else he would never be able to get her.  

Sure, it was wrong. But when did Joonmyun ever do the right thing? If he was going to be the bad guy, then he was going to act like it. Everyone thought it, of course. His family, his friends, and Chorong. Everyone was disappointed in him so why try to show them up now? Might as well play the part. 

“Aw, come on you two! Don’t be like that!” Nayoung seemed to revert back into a five year old that wasn’t getting their way. She quickly moved over to the couch and wrapped herself around Joonmyun, pulling out that bottom lip and letting it quiver. He knew that she was seconds away from pouting. “Joonie, please?” she whined. “It can be like some fun one month anniversary date.” 

“Nobody celebrates monthly anniversaries, Unnie.” 

Joonmyun had to agree with Chorong on this one. Even when he had been in relationships in the past he was never one to remember actual anniversaries. But he just decided to keep his thoughts to himself instead of upsetting Nayoung even more. 

“I think it sounds like a great idea.” 

He honestly couldn’t believe the words came out of his mouth, but they did. He decided that he’d go along with Nayoung’s little idea of ‘fun’ in the end and just do his best to make it through it. It was the least he could do, right? He didn’t normally feel bad about the things he’s done, but lately … he’s felt like a real jerk. 

He wondered if maybe this change in attitude had something to do with how close he had gotten to Chorong at Luhan’s welcome back party. For one night they had actually set their difference aside and, for the most part, they seemed like they were getting along. Hell, he even got so close as to almost kiss her, which had been something he’s been wanting to do again for so long now. 

He’d definitely have to thank Luhan again for ruining that moment. 

Nayoung quickly planted small kisses all over Joonmyun’s face and Chorong made gagging noises at the sight. “Yeah, well I’m definitely not going now.” Joonmyun looked over at her as she got up from the couch and started to head towards her room. He wanted her to go, he really did. If he could get the chance to get away from Nayoung on the trip then maybe he could figure out how to get Chorong to tolerate him. 

“Come on, Rongie! If you come with us you can bring Jongsuk.” 

Joonmyun’s stomach instantly dropped at Nayoung’s suggestion. No way. No way in hell was that motorcycle riding, leather jacket wearing, girl stealing thug coming along with them. That guy was, almost, number on on his list of most hated people and he had no intention on spending any more time with the dude. 

“No way,” Joonmyun piped in, much to the confusion of Nayoung. 

But Chorong on the other hand? She slowly turned around, a smirk coming clear across her face. She eyed Joonmyun for a few moments, almost like she was taunting him. He knew exactly what she was going to say and he hated it even more. A part of him was now regretting wanting her to ever come now. 

“Well,” she crossed her arms, smiling, “if Jongsuk can come then I’m in.” 

Great. 

And that is exactly how Joonmyun ended up in one of the worst situations of his life. Well, maybe he was being overdramatic, but it was definitely not one of his favourites. He regretted ever coming to the decision to come, forgetting all about his ‘least I can do’ and ‘feeling like a jerk’ ideas that had popped into his head earlier that morning. 

But there he was, standing at the bottom of a trail just a bit outside of Jejudo Island. The mountain before him, which Joonmyun had completely forgotten the name of, looked absolutely awful and he was not looking forward to this at all. He grumbled to himself and glanced around at his new company. 

The only part of his company that he really wanted to focus on though? The beautiful girl standing a few feet away from him with her signature hat sitting perfectly on top of her head. 

The only thing making her less appealing? The person who she was completely wrapped up in and that was Jongsuk. He may be Luhan’s friend, but Joonmyun wished nothing more than for the guy to just completely disappear. He thought back to their confrontation the night of the party and couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of this guy planning to fight for her. He could fight all he wanted, bu