Chapter Twenty-One: The Blue Team

Peering through the crowd of Running Man staff members and cameras, Jong Kook spotted a man wearing a long beige dress, a pink fan in one hand and a cellphone in the other. The face, caked in smoky eyeshadow and thick pink lipstick, was half-hidden under a straw sunhat, so it took Jong Kook had minute to recognize his best friend. He pointed and asked, “Isn’t that Tae Hyun?”

“That’s right,” said Gary. “That’s right.”

“Where?” asked Jae Suk.

“That ajumma who’s taking photos.” Jong Kook couldn’t help but snicker at little as Tae Hyun tried to hide his face behind the purple fan.

“Why are you wearing so much make-up?” asked Jae Suk.

Tae Hyun refused to acknowledge the cast’s comments and continued taking pictures.

Just then, Haha ran forward, pointing to a slender woman in a bright pink jacket. The hood had been pulled up and her face was hidden by large sunglasses and a white towel. Jong Kook had thought she was just one of the writing staff, but Haha seemed to think differently. Suddenly, Haha gasped and turned to look at the rest of the cast. “It’s Shin Se Kyung.”

In an instant, Tae Hyun was forgotten, and the cast turned to the woman in the pink hoodie.

“What did you say?” asked Jong Kook. “Who?”

He, Gary, Suk Jin, and Kwang Soo abandoned their spots in front of the stationary cameras to greet Se Kyung.

“It’s really her,” said Haha.

“You’re Shin Se Kyung, right?” asked Gary, trying to see her face under the sunglasses.

“It’s really her,” said Tae Hyun suddenly appearing next to Jong Kook and trying to take photos of Se Kyung.

Jong Kook shoved his friend to the side.

Finally, the guest lowered the white towel, revealing the delicate featured face of Shin Se Kyung. Gary cheered, Kwang Soo started calling out her name, and Tae Hyun started screaming at the top of his lungs, like a rabid fan, “Whoa! Shin Se Kyung! It’s really Shin Se Kyung!”

“Yah, you, get out!” shouted Haha, pushing Ji Hyo aside so he could see Se Kyung properly.

Still hiding her face, Se Kyung joined Jae Suk and Ji Hyo in front of the cameras and the rest of the cast followed. Tae Hyun was the only one still screaming like a fool about Shin Se Kyung.

Jong Kook spotted Ji Hyo crouching on the ground, clutching her stomach as she laughed. He smiled at her before turning to Tae Hyun and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Who is that ajumma?” asked Haha.

“You’re embarrassing yourself,” said Jong Kook before taking away Tae Hyun’s cellphone. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean ‘what am I doing’?” snapped Tae Hyun. “I’m a guest. They invited me.”

Jong Kook grinned. As much as he complained for the cameras, he was glad his friend Cha Tae Hyun had come to Jeju-do with Running Man. Tae Hyun had been busy filming for his new movie Champ, and the two hadn’t gotten a chance to meet up much in the last month.

After taking a flight early that morning to the island of Jeju, the cast had been brought to a pier to film the opening of the show. They stood on a stone platform with light green railings that overlooked the ocean. The air smelled of salt as the waves lapped against the shore. Though, of course, while filming the opening, the cast had to stand with their backs to the ocean—sightseeing was only allowed during breaks.

They’d been celebrating Jae Suk and Ji Hyo’s birthdays in the opening when Cho PD had suddenly announced that the mission had started. The cast had stood around for almost ten minutes, shouting out random words in an attempt to figure out what the mission was. It wasn’t until Jong Kook had discovered Tae Hyun hidden among the staff members that the Find the Guests mission had been revealed.

Now Tae Hyun and Se Kyung stood with the Running Man members in front of the crew and cameras. Jong Kook stood next to Tae Hyun, who would not stop waving his pink fan. And while Jae Suk was making sure that Se Kyung was comfortable with her position in the middle of the cast, Haha said, “She’s so beautiful… Song Ji Hyo, you stay out of my sight today.”

“Hey. Hey, you. Stay out of my sight today.” Ji Hyo stepped forward and Haha quickly backed away.

“Whoever ends up on Song Ji Hyo’s team will surely cry,” teased Haha—though he made sure there was a good distance between him and Ji Hyo when he spoke.

Jong Kook grinned. “Let’s form the teams well today.” He glanced at Ji Hyo’s direction, and sure enough, she scowled at him. When they’d filmed back-to-back couple races two weeks ago, Ji Hyo had been paired with Gary both times. She, Jong Kook, and Kwang Soo had grabbed coffee together a few days later, and Ji Hyo had ranted for eleven minutes (Kwang Soo had timed her) about always having to be with Gary.

“Today,” said Jae Suk, entering his MC mode. “Our Running Man Jeju-do race will start with Shin Se Kyung and Cha Tae Hyun!”

It turned out that Kwang Soo and Se Kyung knew each other well, “like siblings” according to Se Kyung. Haha, because of his playboy character, had to make a big deal out of it, telling Kwang Soo not to use informal speech with Se Kyung.  Once the usual cast chatter died down, the PDs gave out prizes to the two members—Jong Kook and Haha—who had found the guests during the opening mission.

“We’re going to decide the teams now,” said Taek PD. “The guests will pick two members each.”

“Oh please pick me,” said Jae Suk while Jong Kook clapped. For the sake of screen time, it was always better to be on a guests’ team.

“I will pick you,” said Tae Hyun, pointing at Jong Kook with his pink fan.

While Haha laughed loudly, Jong Kook fought back a smile and tried to look desperate. “Anything but that.”

Tae Hyun winked. “Today, you’re with noona.”

“The guests will decide the teams, right?” asked Jae Suk, bringing the conversation back on topic.

“Shin Se Kyung will go first,” continued Taek PD. “Then Cha Tae Hyun will choose two teammates, then Shin Se Kyung will select her last teammate. The remaining three members will form their own team.”

“First, Jae Suk-hyungnim,” said Se Kyung to no one’s surprise.

“Okay,” said Haha. “That’s to secure enough airtime. Now you have to follow your heart and choose.” He not-so-subtly gestured to himself.

“Give up,” advised Jong Kook. “She’s never going to choose you.”

“Tae Hyun will choose next,” said Jae Suk.

Jong Kook braced himself to be selected, staring straight ahead and trying decide if he should act resigned or angry when Tae Hyun chose him. Then, to his right, he heard Tae Hyun say, “I’ll choose Mong Ji Hyo.”

Jong Kook glanced sideways to see Tae Hyun pulling Ji Hyo over to his team. Was Tae Hyun not going to pick his best friend? Even Myuk PD was encouraging Tae Hyun to pick Gary as his second teammate. But then, Tae Hyun looked at Jong Kook and the moment of doubt was gone. Jong Kook couldn’t help but laugh as Tae Hyun slung an arm around his shoulders. Ji Hyo crossed her arms and gave Myuk PD a smug smile. With one arm around Jong Kook and one arm around Ji Hyo, Tae Hyun grinned at the rest of the Running Man cast.

“Left Jong Kook, right Ji Hyo,” said Tae Hyun. “I like it.”

“So you want it like this?” asked Jae Suk, pointing.

“Yeah.”

“It can’t be like this,” said Jae Suk, while Gary vehemently shook his head in protest.

“Why?” Tae Hyun still hadn’t moved his arms from Ji Hyo and Jong Kook’s shoulders.

“You can’t have both,” said Haha.

“You can only choose one,” added Jae Suk. “Switch one out for Suk Jin-hyung.”

“No, no.” Tae Hyun refused to let go of his two teammates. “No, no.”

“You’re too obviously going ‘no, no’,” said Suk Jin.

“Left Jong Kook, right Ji Hyo,” said Tae Hyun stubbornly.

Jong Kook fixed the buttons of his plaid shirt. When he glanced up, he saw Ji Hyo watching him through her sunglasses. She smiled and looked away, and Jong Kook said, “This situation feels strange.”

“Why?” asked Haha.

Ji Hyo glanced at Jong Kook again, her lips curling into a sly smile. She understood him. It had only been a few months ago when Jong Kook had avoided being on the same team as Ji Hyo. And now that they were both happy with to be on the same team, it was the rest of the Running Man members who protested. Well, thought Jong Kook, you can’t make everybody happy.

“I’ve been in your situation before,” Suk Jin told Tae Hyun. “It’s not nearly as fun as you think it’s going to be.”

“We picked the wrong one,” groaned Ji Hyo, leaning back in her seat and staring forlornly at the fuel gage. The teams had been given three cars to choose from with the warning that one of the cars would have a disadvantage. Ji Hyo, Jong Kook, and Tae Hyun had liked the blue car with the sports wheels. Jong Kook had taken the wheel, and despite Ji Hyo’s protests that the guest should take the front seat, Tae Hyun had sat in the back and practically forced Ji Hyo to sit next to Jong Kook. Then, before they’d even left the parking lot, they realized that they’d picked the car with no gas.

“Think about it this way.” Tae Hyun rested his arms on the backs of the front two seats. “The worse the car, the better the screen time.”

“And if we win, we get more screen time,” said Jong Kook.

Being competitive by nature, Ji Hyo was inclined to agree with Jong Kook; however, she understood Tae Hyun’s way of thinking. When Tae Hyun had first guested on Running Man, Ji Hyo hadn’t known enough about variety to appreciate his talents, but now she felt as though she had to observe carefully and learn as much as she could while he was on her team.

“We’re going to have to buy gas,” said Jong Kook. He had pulled the car over to the side of the road while they debated what to do. “How do we buy gas?”

Ji Hyo wasn’t certain either. The Running Man staff had given each team a certain amount of gold coins—called “Running”—to use as currency.

“I’m fairly certain gas stations around here don’t accept Running,” said Ji Hyo. “But the PDs told us to only use Running today.”

Jong Kook was pulling out his work cellphone to call one of the PDs when he was interrupted by the loud and repeated honk of a car horn. Ji Hyo looked out Jong Kook’s driver-side window at the pale pink car that had pulled up next to them. The pink team—Jae Suk, Kwang Soo, and the guest Shin Se Kyung—were looking out their windows and grinning at the blue team.

“Great,” muttered Ji Hyo, leaning back in her seat. “Don’t tell them anything.”

“Of course not,” said Jong Kook as he rolled down his window. He waved awkwardly at the pink team.

“Where are you going?” asked Jae Suk.

“Why aren’t you moving?” added Kwang Soo.

“Nothing.” Jong Kook was smiling through his teeth. “We were just discussing.”

“Is something wrong?” asked Jae Suk. “Do you need help?

Jong Kook’s arm was blocking Ji Hyo’s view, so she shifted position and called out, “We’re discussing something! Just go first!”

Finally, Tae Hyun placed a hand on Jong Kook’s shoulder and leaned forward through the gap between the front two seats. “Jae Suk-hyung! Do you want to know what’s different about our car? Our car has no gas!”

“Yah!” Jong Kook clapped a hand over Tae Hyun’s mouth and pushed him back into his seat.

Tae Hyun sprung back up. “No gas! Give us some gas!”

“Why are you saying it out loud?” asked Jong Kook, shoving his friend away.

“Why?” cried Ji Hyo. “Why would you tell them that?”

After the pink team drove away and Tae Hyun settled back down, Ji Hyo ran a hand through her dark hair. She could appreciate Tae Hyun’s variety sense but that didn’t mean the competitive side of her had to agree with it.

Jong Kook called Myuk PD to ask if a gas station would accept Running money. It turned out Running Man had made arrangements so that any Running’s spent would be compensated with real money. Ji Hyo found the nearest gas station on the GPS (she didn’t trust Jong Kook with directions any more) and they were soon on their way.

“So who’s birthday were you celebrating in the opening?” asked Tae Hyun as Jong Kook made a right turn.

“Mine and Jae Suk-oppa’s,” said Ji Hyo. “Mine’s today and Jae Suk-oppa’s birthday was yesterday.”

“Your birthdays are close together,” said Tae Hyun. “What are the odds?”

“Dong Hoon’s birthday is August 20^th as well,” added Jong Kook, his eyes on the road.

“And you’re filming Running Man on your birthday.” Tae Hyun clicked his tongue as if this was the worst thing one could be doing.

“I get a free vacation in Jeju-Do,” said Ji Hyo.

“Yes, but do you really want to spend your birthday vacation trapped in a car with this idiot?” Tae Hyun pointed at the back of Jong Kook’s head.

“Yah,” said Jong Kook, who had spotted Tae Hyun through the rearview mirror. “Point at yourself, idiot.”

“You’re the one who wanted the car with the sports wheels,” said Tae Hyun.

“So did you!”

“You’re both idiots,” said Ji Hyo.

Jong Kook grinned at her. “We both know you’re the only one with brains on this team.”

Ji Hyo smiled back but he missed it as he stopped at a traffic light.

She had carefully decided not to respond to Tae Hyun’s question. Do you really want to spend your birthday with this idiot? The answer was yes. When she first heard that she would be filming Running Man in Jeju-Do on her birthday, Ji Hyo had been thrilled, and the night before flying out, she’d prayed that she would end up on Jong Kook’s team. There’d been no words to describe her happiness when her birthday wish had been granted; Tae Hyun had picked her and then Jong Kook to be his teammates.

Of course, Ji Hyo reminded herself as they turned into a gas station, her birthday race had gotten off to a rocky start. But it would have been ten times worse if she’d been on a team with Gary and had to act the Monday Girlfriend.

“How much should we pay?” asked Ji Hyo as Jong Kook pulled up next to one of the gas pumps. “Ten Running?”

“Let’s see how much they say first,” said Jong Kook.

“Up to ten Running,” said Tae Hyun. “We must set limits so they don’t try to cheat us.”

Jong Kook put the car in park, and Ji Hyo rolled down her window to speak to the gas station employee who stood beside the pump. “Hello.” She bowed her head to the man in a red and yellow uniform. “How much gas for ten Running?”

“Ten Running for twenty liters.” The employee didn’t even seem confused by the use of “Running” for currency even though Ji Hyo felt stupid for using the term. She spotted another staff vehicle and realized that the Running Man staff must have explained the rates to him.

“Twenty liters,” said Tae Hyun. “That’s not bad.”

“Why don’t we just fill it up halfway?” proposed Jong Kook. “We don’t know what we’ll need the Running for later.”

“How much is it if we fill up half the tank?” Ji Hyo asked the employee.

“A full tank is thirty Running,” said the employee, no doubt reciting what the Running Man staff had told him. Ji Hyo could hear Jong Kook laughing behind her.

“We’re not adding a full tank,” said Ji Hyo. “Just half will do.”

“Half?” repeated the employee blankly.

“Yes, half full.”

In the end, Ji Hyo and Jong Kook did the math themselves. Ji Hyo counted fifteen Running and handed it to the employee. The employee diligently checked the coins and then said, “There’s only thirteen.”

“Oh.” Ji Hyo opened their bag and pulled out two more coins

“Your counting…” said Jong Kook.

Ji Hyo felt her cheeks redden a little and glanced up at the camera, already certain that her counting failure was going to make it to the episode broadcast.

“It’s okay,” said the employee as Ji Hyo handed him the coins. “It can happen.”

As the employee left to fill the tank, from the backseat, Tae Hyun said, “Ji Hyo, well done. Until people are deceived, keep deceiving.”

Jong Kook’s booming laugh made Ji Hyo laugh even more.

“But, you know,” said Tae Hyun, leaning forward between the two front seats. “You two don’t even need me here. I feel like a ghost.”

“Don’t complain when you chose to sit in the back,” said Jong Kook. “Ji Hyo even offered you the front seat.”

“I wanted to feel like the boss by sitting in the back,” said Tae Hyun, “while my two servants can drive me around Jeju-do.”

“Just stay a ghost,” snapped Jong Kook.

Ji Hyo smiled as the two best friends bickered back and forth. Instead of joining in, she stared out the front window at the road. Silently, she stored away Tae Hyun’s words in her memory. You two don’t even need me here.

The employee ended up filling their gas tank to more than half, and Ji Hyo thanked him repeatedly. The blue team was in a good mood when they left the gas station, even though they were far behind the other teams. Ji Hyo the radio, and they headed for Jeju Dongmun Market while singing along to trot music interspersed with static.

The Jeju Dongmun Market was rows of small shops placed underneath a large metal structure with a roof to keep away the rain. Ji Hyo could see vendors selling fried food on sticks, fruit and vegetable stands filled with boxes of merchandise, and convenience stores containing hats, sunglasses, and other necessities for a vacation in Jeju-Do.

Jong Kook parked the car outside the market, and Ji Hyo hurried to take the mission card from the PD. Her two teammates caught up, and looking over her shoulder, Jong Kook read it aloud: “With the whole team in a tube, buy vacation goods. Buy three of the best five vacation goods to pass. You can only buy three goods at a time.”

Ji Hyo looked behind her at the black rubber tube that lay on the ground outside the market. It was a big tube for one person but definitely a tight fit for three.

“We have to fit in here.” Ji Hyo stepped into the tube and lifted it up.

“What? All three of us?” asked Jong Kook.

“Yes.” Ji Hyo frowned. “How are we going to fit with Jong Kook-oppa?”

She had trouble holding up the tube on her own so Jong Kook grabbed the side and helped her lift it off the ground. Ji Hyo glanced over her shoulder at him.

“I’m actually rather slim,” he said.

Ji Hyo decided not to comment on that and instead focused on the puzzle in front of her. She set the tube back down on the ground and then grabbed Tae Hyun and Jong Kook by the arms. “Come in and face your butts together.”

They obediently did as Ji Hyo commanded and then tried to lift the tube. With the help of a lady standing in the crowd, they somehow managed to fit the tube around them. Of course, they forgot the money in the car and, still trapped in the tube, has to stumble back to get the bag of Running coins out of the front seat.

While she had met Tae Hyun a couple times before, Ji Hyo didn’t feel entirely comfortable with him, so she tried to keep her distance by staying closer to Jong Kook. She placed her hands on his back to stabilize herself as the team waddled through the market. She could feel Jong Kook’s hard back muscles beneath the fabric of his sky-blue shirt, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she was touching him too freely.

“The answer can’t be a tube,” said Tae Hyun, “since we’re wearing one.”

“Swimsuits!” cried Ji Hyo. She placed both hands on Jong Kook’s shoulders and stood on tiptoes to be heard. The two men led the way, shuffling to match Ji Hyo’s footsteps, and it was hard not to stumble into them as she walked.

“Swimsuits,” agreed Jong Kook. “Swimsuits.” He looked left and right, glancing into the stores on either side. “Where are swimsuits?”

Ji Hyo and Jong Kook continued to bounce ideas of one another. Agreeing and disagreeing as they saw fit. Jong Kook kept insisting that sunblock had to be one of the top items while Ji Hyo thought it was a swimsuit.

“An icebox?” suggested Ji Hyo when she saw the pink team up ahead.

Jong Kook shook his head. “No, that can’t be it.”

Just then Tae Hyun sped forward, dragging Ji Hyo and Jong Kook with him. Tae Hyun rammed the blue team’s tube into the pink team’s. The impact caused Ji Hyo to slam into Jong Kook’s back. Her chin hit his shoulder blade and she winced in pain. As she rubbed her chin with the back of her hand, Jong Kook looked back at her, eyes dark with concern.

“I’m okay,” she told him. She immediately regretted the words. Part of her wanted to pretend to be injured. Maybe he’d spoil her. It was her birthday after all. She was allowed to want a little more on her birthday.

“What are you doing?” asked Jae Suk.

“What are you doing?” asked Tae Hyun. The maniacal grin on his face was not helped at all by the thick makeup he was wearing.

Tae Hyun tried to steal the bag Jae Suk was holding, and the two of them began a game of tug-of-war. Rather than help their teammate, Ji Hyo and Jong Kook continued to waddle forward. Tae Hyun pulled on the tube as he caught hold of Jae Suk’s bag, and Ji Hyo lost her balance. Jong Kook caught her elbow to stop her from falling over. He quickly let go of her arm and then continued walking.

“What about a mat?” suggested Ji Hyo, her hands returning to his back to stabilize herself.

“A mat?” repeated Jong Kook. “No, I don’t think it’s a mat.”

Finally, Ji Hyo and Jong Kook managed to separate Tae Hyun from the pink team. Angrily, he asked, “Why didn’t you two help me? We could have gotten one of the items without spending any Running.” Tae Hyun let out a dramatic sigh. “Sometimes I think I’m on a team all on my own.”

Ji Hyo stared at the back of Tae Hyun’s head. What was he saying? At the gas station, he’d also said something about Ji Hyo and Jong Kook not needing him, and Ji Hyo had felt happy that she and Jong Kook were close enough that one of his best friends felt a little left out. But Tae Hyun was mentioning it for the second time. Ji Hyo didn’t think that she and Jong Kook were excluding him that much. In fact, it had been Tae Hyun and Jong Kook who had talked from most of the drive from the gas station to the market, while Ji Hyo had sat quietly in the front seat and texted her friend Ye Seo.

“Focus, Tae Hyun,” said Jong Kook. “What should we get?”

“We need to think about it carefully,” said Tae Hyun.

They purchased the sunblock Jong Kook was so adamant about, and then on their way to the next store, Tae Hyun caught sight of the yellow team. Standing up on tiptoe, Ji Hyo peered over Jong Kook’s shoulder at Suk Jin, Gary, and Haha who were dressed in bright yellow shirts and crammed into their own black tube. They had stopped at a food vendor and had treated themselves to a dish of ddeokbokki and fried foods. It seemed they had worked out a rotating system where Haha would take a bite, then they would turn and Suk Jin would take a bite, then they would turn again and Gary would take a bite.

“It looks difficult,” said Ji Hyo.

Tae Hyun nodded. “Let’s steal some.”

Ji Hyo laughed as Tae Hyun led the way through the market crowd. The yellow team was preparing to leave when Tae Hyun charged in to steal a big bite of ddeokbokki.

“Hey,” cried Suk Jin. “That’s ours. We paid for it.”

“Get your own,” said Haha, trying to fend off Tae Hyun’s attacks with his fork.

The red ddeokbokki looked delicious, and Ji Hyo could feel starting to water. She tapped Jong Kook’s arm and asked, “Oppa, should we have some ddeokbokki?”

Tae Hyun managed to steal another bite before Jong Kook asked, “Should have our own ddeokbokki?” He glanced at the yellow team. “How much was it?”

“I’ve already had some,” said Tae Hyun.

“Ten Running,” said Haha.

Ji Hyo stared longingly at the paper dish of ddeokbokki.

Jong Kook looked over his shoulder at her and said, as kindly as possible, “Hey, but we had to buy gas so we need to save.”

“Yes,” said Ji Hyo sadly.

Jong Kook grimaced and glanced at Tae Hyun. “It is Ji Hyo’s birthday today…”

“We can’t eat,” said Tae Hyun who was still chewing on the ddeokbokki he’d stolen. “Let’s go.”

Thankfully, right then, Gary and Suk Jin decided it was time for the yellow team to get on with the mission. Haha kept trying to eat but his teammates dragged him away, leaving behind their half-eaten bowl of ddeokbokki.

“Hey, but that’s ours!” cried Haha as Jong Kook took his fork.

“Save some for me, oppa,” said Ji Hyo before one of the store employees handed her a kabob for free. She smiled at the young man. “Thank you.”

Jong Kook smirked at her. “Popular as always, Mong Ji.”

For some reason, Tae Hyun elbowed Jong Kook in the side. Jong Kook made a sharp noise of pain, but then, as if nothing had happened, Tae Hyun simply said, “This isn’t something we ordered. So it’s okay if we eat it.”

Ji Hyo took a big bite of her kabob and watched as Jong Kook and Tae Hyun shared the remaining ddeokbokki. Tae Hyun kept rambling about how good it was that Jong Kook and Ji Hyo were thrifty, but such thriftiness was only good if they were prepared to cheat. As they ate, Jong Kook kept turning to check if Ji Hyo was all right and to see if she wanted any ddeokbokki. Every time their eyes met, a warm feeling filled Ji Hyo’s chest.

When she’d told her family and friends that she’d be filming on her birthday, they’d all offered their condolences. Her parents had promised they’d celebrate her birthday after she returned from Jeju-do. Ji Hyo had nodded and accepted their sympathies, but silently, Ji Hyo had thought filming in Jeju-do was something to look forward to—a birthday spent with Jong Kook. It was one day—only one day—where she let herself imagine. Imagine that Jong Kook was hers and that this future was possible. One day, that was all she wanted. It was his birthday present to her, even if he didn’t know it.

“Is your makeup waterproof?” asked Jong Kook incredulously as he swam stroke through the bay, dragging the inflated tube and Tae Hyun behind him. Despite running around all day and now swimming in the ocean, Tae Hyun’s thick makeup was still intact.

“One of your staff did this for me,” said Tae Hyun who was inside the tube and kicking with his feet to propel them closer to shore. “She did a good job, right? I look y.” He winked.

Jong Kook splashed Tae Hyun with the salty seawater.

The pink team’s inflatable raft was already halfway back to the dock. Jong Kook could see Ji Hyo sitting on the edge of the raft, oar in hand. Her button-up shirt was covered by a blue lifejacket, and the wind coiled her hair on top of her head. Every once in a while, she’d glance over her shoulder at her two teammates padding through the water, making Jong Kook feel bad for leaving her behind on the boat.

The third mission of the day had been to buy a means of transportation that would get them to a sailboat anchored in the middle of the bay to collect an inflated tube and would then get them back to the dock. Once on shore again, the team had to deflate the tube and seal it in a plastic bag before time ran out. If they failed, they had to go back out to the sailboat to collect another tube. The yellow team had splurged and bought the expensive speedboat for one-hundred-and-seventy Running, while the pink team had bought the second-best option, an inflatable raft with oars for one-hundred Running. Both Jong Kook and Ji Hyo were frugal with money, even Running, and they convinced Tae Hyun to choose the cheap wooden raft for fifty Running. However, the wooden raft proved too difficult to manage, and after much pleading, bargaining, and threatening, they managed to hitch a ride with the pink team. Tae Hyun had abandoned the inflatable raft to swim to get the tube before the pink team and then decided to swim back on his own. Jong Kook had joined his friend in the water, so kicking and paddling, the two of them were slowly making their way to the dock.

There was a hissing noise, and Jong Kook looked over his shoulder to see that Tae Hyun had opened the cover on the plastic nozzle, letting the air out. Tae Hyun noticed Jong Kook watching and a wry smile spread across his face. “You don’t want to make the trip back to the sailboat any more than I do.”

“Of course not,” said Jong Kook. “Just don’t deflate it too much or the PDs will catch us.”

Tae Hyun laughed. “At heart, you’re just as crooked as me.”

“Running Man has a way of corrupting even the best people.”

“Are you including yourself in the ‘best people’ category?” scoffed Tae Hyun. He splashed the back of Jong Kook’s head with seawater.

Jong Kook grinned but didn’t say anything as Tae Hyun continued to deflate the tube.

“I’m glad you chose to stay with Running Man,” said Tae Hyun.

Jong Kook glanced over his shoulder at his friend. Tae Hyun’s arms were draped over the sides of the tube as his eyes, framed by thick eyeshadow, watched Jong Kook carefully. It had been Tae Hyun and their friend Jang Hyuk who Jong Kook had complained to when his back was causing him problems. Jong Kook rarely ever talked about his pains to his fellow cast members, because he didn’t want them to worry about it during filming, and he told his parents only a little, because he didn’t want them to worry that his career was ruining his body. He trusted his Dragon Brothers, however, to know what his work meant to him and to accept his complaints without judgment. When the pain had become too much and Jong Kook had mentioned leaving Running Man, Tae Hyun and Jang Hyuk had helped him reach the decision to stay.

“I’m glad too,” said Jong Kook. “It’s still hard at times. My manager always keeps some painkillers with him. And my character is…well, you know what some people say…”

“Are you upset you’re no longer an icon of romance?” asked Tae Hyun.

Jong Kook scowled. “I like being Kookie.”

“I like your character now,” said Tae Hyun. “You were cheap back during your X-Man days.”

Jong Kook didn’t argue. A part of him had thought so too. He glanced over at the dock and saw that the pink team had arrived. Kwang Soo helped first Se Kyung and then Ji Hyo out of the raft and onto the wooden dock. Ji Hyo placed her oar on the ground before looking back over the bay water at her teammates.

“You should ask her out,” said Tae Hyun.

Jong Kook almost wrenched his neck he turned to stare at Tae Hyun so quickly. His friend grinned at him like a cunning cat.

“Is that why you’ve been acting strange all day?” Jong Kook scowled. “Don’t tell me you picked her as a teammate just so you could set me up with her.”

“Of course not,” said Tae Hyun. “I picked her because she’s the Ace. You, other the other hand, I picked so I could set her up with you.”

Laughing despite the annoyance he felt, Jong Kook turned to face the shore again. Ji Hyo was sitting on the edge of the dock now, swinging her legs back and forth as she watched Jong Kook and Tae Hyun make their way through the water. They were close enough to the dock that she noticed Jong Kook looking at her. She waved and shouted at them to hurry up.

“You should consider it,” said Tae Hyun, his voice low enough so that Jong Kook could barely hear him over the waves. “I’ve been keeping an eye on your two all day and—”

“It will never happen.” Jong Kook rolled onto his back, kicking the water while holding onto the tube with his left hand. “She’s my coworker, and she’s in a love line with Gary.”

“You’re the one who has always said that love lines wouldn’t stop you from dating,” pointed out Tae Hyun.

“I was talking about dating people who weren’t also on the show,” said Jong Kook. He rolled back over and saw that Ji Hyo had left her position on the dock.

Tae Hyun let out a dramatic sigh. “That’s it? You’re not even going to hear my thoughts? You know I wouldn’t say this unless I thought there was something going on.”

“There’s nothing to hear,” said Jong Kook. He meant it.

“You’re going to regret not listening to me.”

Jong Kook glanced over his shoulder and saw Tae Hyun waggling a finger at him. Jong Kook snorted. He glanced down at the tube, which was flimsy in his grasp, and said, “You deflated it too much.”

“It’s fine,” said Tae Hyun, putting the cap back on the nozzle.

“The PDs are going to notice,” said Jong Kook.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

They were only a few meters from the dock. Ji Hyo was standing at the edge again, her arms wrapped around her waist as if trying to protect herself from the biting ocean breeze. Her face was pale beneath her dark hair and she was biting her bottom lip.

Jong Kook reached the ladder of the dock. He left Tae Hyun with the half-deflated tube and started climbing the ladder. Salt water dripped from his sky blue shirt and stripped shorts. As he reached the top of the ladder, Ji Hyo caught his left arm and helped pull him up. He shook his head, sending droplets of water in her direction. She shrieked and laughed, throwing her hands up to shield herself.

She pushed Jong Kook away, saying, “First you made me wait and now this?”

There was a cough, and Jong Kook glanced down to see Tae Hyun still in the water, eyebrows raised.

Jong Kook turned away. He meant it when he said there was nothing to hear. She was Song Ji Hyo. Yes, he had a lot of fun being with her, and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t attracted to her, but it was never going to happen. Jong Kook couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to date her. It was impossible, and there was nothing else to say. 

“Oppa!” cried Ji Hyo. She had taken the half-deflated tube from Tae Hyun and was staring at Jong Kook in surprise. “What did you do?”

Tae Hyun made a shushing noise.

            Jong Kook caught Ji Hyo’s elbow in his right hand. “We’re making sure we don’t have to go back out there.”

            There was a pause and then Ji Hyo smiled up at him. “You’re different when Tae Hyun-sunbae is here.”

            “What does that mean?”

            She laughed. “You cheat more, oppa.”

A/N: This is another chapter lacking in conflict besides CTH being a scheming best friend and SJH enjoying her birthday. To be honest, the next two chapters are kind of low on conflict. I mainly want to show spartace's relationship slowly changing here without any high drama being necessary. 

Also, KJK's nickname "neungryeokja" is translated into two things in English: the Commander and Mr. Capable. When I talk about KJK, I usually use "the Commander" in reference to the earlier episodes and "Mr. Capable" for everything past ep 100 because that's what the english sub sites use. From what I know, "The Capable/Skilled One" is the most direct translation of "neungreyokja", but that doesn't sound good. I will probably use "the Commander" throughout the story for consistency's sake. And I think it sounds better than "Mr. Capable".