It was D-Day for the twelve friends. They were aboard a bus heading towards their location, doing their own businesses in pairs, just as Minju suggested for a system so their presences were always on check.

Chaeyeon and Eunbi were at the front right, Hyewon and Sakura were in the middle, and Yujin and Wonyoung at the very back. In the left side, Yuri and Yena were in the middle, Nako and Hitomi were at the back, and Chaewon and Minju were at the front.

Minju somehow felt happy being with Chaewon, and it wasn’t just because of the itinerary.

“How long are we travelling, Min?” Chaeyeon asked.

Minju didn’t answer. She pressed a button next to her and instructed the others to follow. They got down surely, checking their valuables before leaving their seats. Nako was the last to get down that Yujin and Wonyoung had to help her. They lined up with their pairs again as Chaewon and Minju got up front.

“Hold on…this is still Seoul.” Yena raised. “We’re having our vacation in the city?”

“What was with us bringing pajamas and mountain gear?” Yujin asked.

“Aish, quiet!” Chaewon cussed, causing Yujin and Yena to obey. “You explain it to them, Min.”

“I’m a resident in the Gwanak District. I even live in the Miseong neighborhood.” Minju began. “But this isn’t the destination.” She pointed by the entrance they were facing. “It’s there.”

“Mt. Gwanak?” Eunbi asked.

“Yes. There’s a hidden village where my family really lived…and that’s where I’ll take you for this vacation.”

The friends wowed. Some were excited and some raised more questions. Chaewon was a little pissed because they don’t fully trust Minju’s itinerary but Minju was willing to answer.

“Is it why you told us to bring keypad phones?” Yuri raised.

“Yes. Signals of smartphones won’t reach there. Although we’re trying to impose a tech-free vacation, we need to have these phones in case of emergencies.”

“What about our stay?”

“It’s why I told you to bring thick pajamas and socks. The weather will be very cold so sleeping there will be like sleeping in an igloo. You’ll need the warmth to survive the cold harsh nights.”

“Also with thin casual wear?” Wonyoung got her turn to ask.

“Yes. The days are very hot. You’ll need them to still feel fresh despite the heat.”

“And what about – “

Chaewon disrupted Hitomi’s question as she waved at one of Minju’s friends. Minju saw her and ran to hug her. Chaewon followed her and gave Minju’s friend a hi-five.

“Everyone, this is Kreisha Tiu, my best friend who grew up with me in the village.” Minju introduced.

The rest shook hands with Kreisha and the latter was obliged to meet Minju’s friends one by one. Chaewon wanted a handshake yet Kreisha gave her a playful push. “Cut it out, Ssamu. We already know each other.”

“Eh?!” The rest reacted.

“Ssamu and Minguri worked together for your itinerary…and I managed to discuss with them with other friends.” Kreisha explained. “They will join me to become your guides within the village but for now, I will be your main guide in travelling from here to the village.”

“Great. So will we use a car?” Eunbi asked.

“They won’t fit in the narrow roads and won’t last on the rough and bumpy roads, Eunbi-ssi.” Kreisha spoke then whistled.

Chaewon and Minju laughed with Kreisha because of their friends’ reactions. By the entrance was a tractor with a huge cart on the back and a male was driving.

“You must be Minju’s friends. So nice to meet you all.” 

“Great to see you, Mr. Tiu.” Minju waved. “Guys, that’s Kreisha’s father.”

Everyone greeted him and Mr. Tiu parked the vehicle. Kreisha lets them hop in first and helped them with their bags. Chaewon and Minju joined in and they were the last to hop in.

“Hold onto the rails, ladies. The ride will be bumpy and we don’t want anyone rolling down the hill,” said Mr. Tiu.

“I got dibs on Yena to roll down first,” said Nako.

“Hey!” Yena quacked as everyone had a laugh. 

Mr. Tiu revved the tractor’s engine and slowly drove. The girls were cheering and having a blast with the ride as they let the fresh wind slap their faces. They even wowed seeing the fields of green, the animals, and the random people passing by.

“Did you bring any camera, Yujin?” Hyewon asked. “I brought a small digital camera.”

“Same. I wanted to bring the DSLR but Minju said not to bring too much stuff.” Yujin huffed.

“Don’t fret, everyone. I’ll do the honors to take your group pictures.” Kreisha spoke. “You wouldn’t mind letting someone else use your camera, Kwangbae?”

“Not at all~” Hyewon spoke and they shared hi-fives.

Kreisha went to the front with her dad, leaving the friends in the cart. Everyone was busy with watching the scenes and having their pictures taken. For Chaewon and Minju, they just chilled and watched their friends like precious angels.

“This has been great so far, Min.”

“Even with this heat?” Minju asked, fanning her thin shirt.

“Even with this heat.” Chaewon answered.

“That’s because you didn’t tie your hair.” Minju got a spare hair tie and lets Chaewon turn around.

Chaewon gulped as Minju’s hands caressed her head and adjusted her locks. She felt Minju gather her hair close and tied her hair from there. The rest witnessed and giggled of the two, even Hyewon took a picture of them.

“Aigoo…look at both of you.” Hyewon chanted. “Just like a couple.”

Chaewon and Minju got awkward, faces as red as the tomatoes growing in the neighborhood. Everyone would’ve joined in chanting…

…until Yena yelped and almost fell from the cart.

“Yah, yah!! Help!!” Yena held onto the railings as half of her body was dangling on the cart.

“Aish! Be careful!” Yuri hissed as she and Yujin helped Yena out.

The Tius were worried and Mr. Tiu slowed down, just in time for Yena to be pulled back up. The ride resumed with worried faces and sadly, laughing ones.

Nako and Hitomi were the culprits and somehow, Chaewon managed to join them. Minju held hers back but it wasn’t because of Yena.

It was because of Chaewon.

She was happy seeing her happy. 

+++

Gwanak Village was a paradise protected by nature. It was also a root of Minju and Kreisha’s families, giving them nostalgia of the memories they had before they were off to the city. The buildings were a mix of traditional and artificial, the natural resources were protected and used well, and the people who lived there were nice and welcomed Minju’s friends like family.

“Welcome to your stay, everyone.” Kreisha spoke as the stopped at two temple-like households. “These belong to the Kims and Tius – our families. It’s part of our ancestral home as it used to be the quarters of our great-great-grandparents but it became a warehouse and a venue for various occasions.”

The rest wowed as they hopped out. They stretched themselves and got their things.

“Don’t worry, guys. It’s all cleaned up.” Minju pushed the gate so they can get inside. “This was the venue of our family reunion last week. Kreisha and I did the arrangements with the help of four other friends after it was done.”

“The guys where one of them almost lost my temper because he was flirting.” Chaewon chuckled.

“It was Minguri who got madder, Ssamu,” said Kreisha.

Everyone reacted again, leaving Minju to blush and whine. Chaewon shuts most of them up. “Have a little tour around the place but BE CAREFUL with the objects. Break just one of them and you’re sleeping outside!”

“Scary…” Kreisha chuckled. “But in all honesty, guys…don’t cause any casualties. We’ll be haunted by our ancestors if we mess the place up.”

The rest nodded and Minju led them to their rooms, leaving Kreisha to excuse herself to talk with her dad. Chaewon got her and Minju’s stuff and carried them to their shared room. As followed by their buddy system, the room assignments were the same.

“You had to carry that?”

Chaewon was almost shocked but luckily, nothing was broken. “Y-Yeah. I reckon most of us will nap.”

“All of them had slept.” Minju lent a hand. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

Chaewon wondered and held back, following Minju outside. They were walking out towards narrow roads and stopped by the resting area below a big tree. Chaewon wowed of the serenity and Minju sat by the wooden area.

“Hey. Sit here.” Minju called her, patting a spot while opening a can of soda.

Chaewon nodded and sat. She even sprawled down like a starfish, enjoying the shade and breeze blowing within the luscious fields of rice.

“Drink.” Minju handed a can.

Chaewon thanked her for the soda and drank. 

“That feels nice…” Chaewon spoke. “You have a wonderful neighborhood, Min.”

“Yeah. This resting place holds special memories.” Minju began. “We wait here during elementary, just after our classes. Kreisha and I would play while we wait for her father to pick us up.”

Chaewon nodded. Minju drank her soda quickly, letting out quite a burp.

“What the…” Chaewon laughed. “I never thought the innocent angel had a devil’s burp.”

“Hey!” Minju whined. “I wanted to bring you here because I only bring the closest people to heart here.”

Chaewon almost spits her drink. Minju got her turn to react and laughed louder. “Yah! You have the devil’s spit, then!”

Chaewon gulped it down and burped like Minju. She would’ve drank again when Minju took her can and drank everything. Chaewon hissed but inside, her heart pounded.

“Look at you lovebirds.” Kreisha waved. “Nice place, right Ssamu? I reckon Minguri will take you here. Alone.”

“Stop that, Kreisha.” Minju pouted.

“Gives you an idea for a date, Min?”

Chaewon laughed but Minju cackled. In the end, they laughed it off and cleaned the area up. 

“Anyway, we’ll be early to visit our main houses tomorrow and have a bike ride around the village. Dad and I will return to bring your dinner.”

“Thanks, Kreisha.” Minju gave a hug. “See you later.”

“Yeah.” Kreisha nodded and hugged back. “Ssamu.”

“Yes?”

“Be good to Minguri. She’s a keeper.”

Chaewon was blushing. Kreisha had to run, leaving Minju to whine again. Chaewon chuckled and adored Minju that she pulled her for a hug just to shut her up.

And Minju did. Not only that, her heart pounded.

“Stop now. Why don’t we go home and have a nap?”

Minju agreed to it and they walked back to the stay together.

+++

“Good morning~!!” Chaewon and Minju’s voice rang around their stay.

The other ten members were awakened, stretching and yawning like tired old women. They were tasked to meet outside and only had an hour to prepare. Everyone raced to the old bathroom, being careful not to break anything.

Outside, Chaewon and Minju were already up and prepared. Kreisha came to the stay minutes later and waited with the two.

“Aish. I feel like a third wheel here,” said Kreisha.

“Again with the jokes, Kreisha.” Minju huffed. “Where are the guys?”

“They’ll come with the bikes. Dad will drive the truck. Those three better not screw up in choosing bikes or else.”

The two nodded. Slowly, the rest got outside, already prepared. On cue, a truck arrived with many bikes. The girls greeted Mr. Tiu but they were surprised of the four males hopping down and sharing handshakes with Chaewon, Kreisha, and Minju.

“Kim Dongkyu, Kim Minseo, Byeon Seongtae, and Hong Sunghyeon.” Kreisha introduced them. 

“At your services!” The four bowed.

The rest greeted them. Seongtae and Sunghyeon even became shy just looking at Sakura and Hyewon. 

“Nice to meet you in person, Ssamu.” Dongkyu scratched his head. “You’re radiating this morning.”

“Hyungs…they’re so pretty.” Minseo mumbled as his eyes were on Wonyoung and Yujin.

Kreisha slaps their heads with a rolled newspaper, leaving the girls to chuckle lightly.

“This is a tour, not a setup for a blind date.” Kreisha spoke. “Come on. Let’s put the bikes down so the girls can choose.”

“We’re riding bikes in this early morning?” Chaeyeon asked.

“Yep. Consider it as a good exercise and a good time to enjoy the early morning in Mt. Gwanak.” Kreisha spoke. “We’ll have breakfast at our main ancestral homes and you’ll have the chance to meet our families. Then, we will tour around the village througj bike riding.”

“The sun’s about to rise, ladies and gents. Now pick your bikes,” said Mr. Tiu.

The rest of the girls picked like feisty children. Chaewon and Minju picked the ones near them and in less than a minute, everyone was on their rides.

“Okay. Seongtae and Minseo will lead. Chaewon and Minju will follow. The rest of the girls will be in the middle, I’ll be behind them, and Dongkyu and Sunghyeon will be last.” Kreisha instructed. “Let’s consume the day of biking well.”

“Yes!” Everyone cheered.

“Have fun, kids. Stay safe.” Mr. Tiu added as he drove ahead.

As the truck was at a far distance, everyone rode their bikes according to formation. Everyone had a blast of feeling the ambiance of Mt. Gwanak’s early morning. Everyone was riding at comfortable paces yet as Seongtae and Minseo drove faster, Chaewon and Minju raced ahead with a great lead.

“Noonas!” Minseo called.

“It’s fine, Minseo.” Kreisha called back. “Let them lovebirds be.”

The rest cooed again and continued their riding. Chaewon and Minju maintained a pace so they were side by side. And for some reason, they were gazing at each other from time to time.

Those gazes meant a lot for the two. What’s left now was the courage to truly portray it.