Field Trip : 1 (1/1)

¯  "You MUST eat it, alright? Don't buy frozen foods from the supermarket at the resting area! This is healthier! And here is a hand sanitizer, always wash your hands after you touch things alright?? Tourists area are the dirtiest place! And did you pack your own water bottle?"  Kyung was trying so hard not to laugh. Jaehyo was taking videos. Haesol looks as cold as usual but if you take a good look, his lower lip is bitten to suppress a laugh. Mino finally lets out a snort after holding out for so long. Seungyoon scratches his head.  "Yeah, I brought one mom," Jiho said. "Really? Alright then. Be careful okay? Give me a kiss!" she asked. Seungyoon's eyes widen. Jiho groans in frustration. "He's in senior high and his friends are over there," Dad gestures to Mino and the others 10 meters away "He must be embarrassed," He nudges mom who already has her arms opened. She looks around and shrugs. "No one is looking, come on, be quick!" She insists. Seungyoon sniffles a laugh. Their father smiles and gestures Jiho to do what his mom wants. Jiho sighs and leans down real quick, running after he's done giving the small peck on her cheek. "Bye, mom! Bye, dad!" He waves after a few meters, then running again to his friends already red from held back laughter. Seungyoon gives her a kiss before she insists and runs away just the same. Their dad called mom asking if they should go together that morning and mom said yes, really wanting to give Jiho his bento herself. So they went to school together, with mom and dad talking quite naturally in the car. It's such a nice moment, seeing them talking calmly like that. Perhaps separating is truly what they needed. Now they look just like friends that knew each other better than everyone else could. No pressure towards any commitment. Perhaps, Seungyoon still has a small hope that they'll live together again. But he reckons they know what's better for the family anyway. His dad stops a few meters from the school gate with some other parents car also there, seemed to be fetching their kids for the field trip rendezvous too. Seungyoon took a good look at his parents before turning his head to the front, taking a right after a few steps to the pavement leading to the school gate. Jiho and his pack are a few feet ahead, Mino being the one in the far back between them. Seungyoon was watching him, realizing he has been avoiding him too well perhaps until he didn't really see him at all the past few days at school.  ‘Not sure, he just looks odd. Like kinda sad. And out of it.'  Jiho's answer the last time he asked sounds too vague, but it pretty much made Seungyoon feel uneasy. Mino turns his head at some point, and they exchange eye contact.  Seungyoon feels a quick zap, running from his eyes to every part of him. And he doesn't look away. But Mino does. And the last expression in him shows immense discomfort. Seungyoon feels like his whole clothes are wet then, heavy and dragging. "Seungyoon!" A voice called from the other side of the path. Seungyoon turns his head and finds Jaewon waving at him. Distraction, Seungyoon thought. He eagerly passes by the road to Jaewon's side, but before he even reached the boy, the back of his mind is warning him. Seriously Seungyoon? He told himself. He took a quick glance back at Mino again, who doesn't seem to be joining his friend's joking nudge to Jiho. Somehow Seungyoon remembers Mino's back didn't look that weak and tired before. Seungyoon sighs. "No distraction," He told himself. He continues walking to Jaewon, greeted by his ever so shiny smile and complains about Eunji calling him non-stop this morning to make sure Jaewon won't wake up late. "I mean, I'm thankful, but do I really need to wake up at 4 in the morning when the rendezvous is at 7?? I don't brush my hair for half an hour as she does!" He said. Seungyoon laughs.    "I believe that each and every one of you can behave and hold our beloved school's dignity and name. This is a trip but I hope you can all learn a thing or two from the cultural town, as it is so much more than a tourist spot. It is a history, it is a pride we all hold as citizens of this country. That being said, I hope you all can have a pleasant journey and come back here safely," the principal ends his speech. "Let's hope no one gets caught running away to a night club again," A girl in front Seungyoon whispers to her friend. Seungyoon gasps in disbelief. He turns his head to Eunji on his left, "Who was stupid enough to run away to nightclubs at a field trip anyway?" Seungyoon asked. Eunji turns her head slowly and just smiles at Seungyoon. Hanbin, standing in front of Eunji, turns his head with a blank smile too. "Your brother." Hanbin whispers. Seungyoon purses his lips and looks front with a given up face. Jaewon muffles his laugh behind him. The bus is huge, it manages to carry two classes. Well, the amount of student in one class is not that much to begin with, but Seungyoon is still excited and in awe. He's never been on a tour bus. Jaewon pulls Seungyoon to sit beside him, Eunji and Hanbin in front of them. To be completely honest, Seungyoon was worried he won't find anyone to sit with at the bus. Like the sad kids in movies. So he's glad Jaewon pulls him first. Seungyoon looks out the window and finds the third year walking to the bus in front of theirs. Then Mino passes by and Seungyoon held his breath without realizing. His eyes lock on to his back again. A hand suddenly slaps the window glass, causing Seungyoon to flinch. Seungyoon looks down to find Jiho cackling like the annoying fart he is. Seungyoon muttered names under his breath, glaring at Jiho who is walking away looking as if he won something. Kyung walks beside him, raising his shoulders as he looks at Seungyoon as if saying ‘Ignore that weirdo'. Seungyoon smiles at Kyung. Nowadays, Kyung feels more like Jiho's baby sitter to Seungyoon. He realizes one of his role in their circle is checking on Jiho and making sure he's not doing anything illegal. Not that Kyung is all that sane himself according to Jiho's stories, but Seungyoon guess he's the most normal one for now. Seungyoon looks back inside the bus, finding Hyuk putting his bags up on the cabin above him a few seats ahead. Seungyoon rises his body a bit, in case Hyuk looks at him so he can smile a hello. He did after a while and Seungyoon smiles perhaps a bit wider than he planned. But Hyuk smiles back, almost as wide and Seungyoon feels like he's surrounded by people he likes and knows suddenly. He's too happy.  ¯  Jiho looks around the bus like he's a fox checking his surrounding. Mino covers his head with his hoodie, already scrolling his phone for a song to sleep on during the trip. But Jiho is making a fuss and he had to turn his head. "What bit your ass?" Mino asked. Jiho doesn't spare him a glance, eyes still busy searching. "Mr. Lee... he's not on this bus, right??" Jiho said. Mino looks around lazily and shrugs, "What about it?" "If he's here that means he'll be the one monitoring us! And if he's the one, we won't be able to sneak out," Jiho whispers. Jaehyo suddenly turns his head, popping above the seat facing Jiho and Mino. "Where do you even plan to go? We're going to the museum and cultural building town, places with playing areas are too far." He said. "Don't worry," Jiho sways his hand "It's also a fancy tourism town, we'll find places to play as we walk around with the teachers. Now the problem is, who will supervise us? Let's pray it will be one of the old teachers," Jiho said. As his mouth shut, Mr. Choi the English teacher came up the bus. Jiho was nearly crying tears of joy, thinking how easy it is to run from Mr. Choi. He's 55 and he always sleeps early during any field trip. But then Mr. Choi mumbles like he was counting the students, taking notes then walk down the bus again. Jiho's heart starts beating faster, suddenly praying diligently. Mino raises his body too, Jiho's anxiety proven to be contagious.  The bus door opened and Dr. Kim comes up. Jiho raises an eyebrow. A new person. It's bad news already, Jiho can't tell how he is. What if the cute doctor is actually strict? Then another one steps in and it's the one and only Mr. Lee Seunghoon. Jiho feels like his life is sucked out of him right there and then. He plops back to his seat. "Oh fuck," He whispers. Mr. Lee was simply walking up the stairs, hands still in a cast. But to Jiho, a rumble of thunder roared in the sky and an ominous orchestral song is playing as the BGM. Mino leans back at his seat with eyes still widen in surprise.  "Huh. They don't usually pair young teachers together.. what's with this.." Mino whispers. Jiho turns to look at him with a pale face. "This is like... the biggest challenge we will face in the whole 3rd year." He said very, very seriously. Mino looks at him with lazy eyes. "Yeah well, it won't if we just ditch the sneak out plan you know. Be a decent student once in 3 years." Mino said. "There is no other choice. We must pull through this." Jiho said with a low voice. "No? We really don't. Let's just sleep at the hotel." "We might need to sacrifice something, I hope you're ready. Sleep along the way, the operation starts at night," "........... What fucking operation, we were just trying to play— Kyung I swear to god, just send him to a mental hospital." Mino snaps. Kyung turns his head lazily. "I can't, he haven't returned my money he used for toppoki last time yet," ¯ Seungyoon spent half of the way tired laughing at Hanbin and Jiwon's antics. And at Eunji's nag to both of them, spilling some gossips and facts about their early friendship years to Seungyoon. She even told when Jaewon pissed his pants in 5th grade. Now as they all start to feel drowsy, Seungyoon plugs on his earphone and fumbles on the song to start the playlist.  ¯ Jiho is finally asleep, after a dose of Mino's hit on his stomach and Mr. Lee's threat to smack them with a magazine from the front seat if they keep being loud. Mino is not that sleepy now, however. So he opens his phone again and scrolls down to find songs he can cling onto the boring road. ¯  A band Seungyoon haven't been listening to in a while pops up, and the nostalgic feeling riles up to him. He presses on the song called ‘Yellow Lights’ and let the first strings of voice soothe his ears.  I'm looking for a place to startAnd everything feels so different nowJust grab a hold of my hand    I will lead you through this wonderlandWater up to my kneesBut sharks are swimming in the sea  Mino basically asked his music app to surprise him, and the surprise is pleasant indeed. He raises his phone to look at the song title and made sure he marks them next time he needs some inspiration. ‘Yellow Light’, he read. They sound good.  Just follow my yellow lightAnd ignore all those bigWarning signs  ¯  Jinwoo said he missed a pile of drama last season and he'll catch up while on the bus. Seunghoon is not really a drama person but Jinwoo offers a piece of his earphone and Seunghoon doesn't really have much else to do. They watch the drama from Jinwoo's phone and Seunghoon needs a few minutes before he can identify whose name is which person. It's the 6th episode and he already knew he'll have to identify the problem of this drama by himself. A middle-aged woman is talking with the most antagonistic kinda tone to this pretty woman Seunghoon can only guess to be the main character. Something about doing whatever his son wants? Ah.. so she is the mother in law. Jinwoo suddenly sighs disapprovingly and Seunghoon took a quick peek to find Jinwoo frowning. Seunghoon let the corner of his lips rises. It's always fun to see someone with a cold, almost dolled face warms up at things like this. The thing about Jinwoo, his smile is easy to see. He smiles when someone calls his name. He smiles when the cashier gives him his change. He smiles when a student whines about a scar that really doesn't need any kind of ointment. But when he frowns at the channel with bad signal, or when the egg he bought is messed up, or like now when a character in a drama is having a hard time, Seunghoon likes to stare. Pretty Jinwoo is seen by everyone. Humane Jinwoo is exclusive. Seunghoon doesn't admit it much even to himself, that his intention to Jinwoo might have shifted pretty far from where he planned to. It used to be as simple as, ‘oh look a pretty face; let's see if I can mess around a bit'. Seunghoon wouldn't call himself a playboy or any other label that people use to make themselves seemed alpha and superior. He even accepts 'asshole' or 'prick' more. Seunghoon simply doesn't plan things far ahead. He doesn't feel attraction towards someone and imagines a committed relationship. Love is fun, both physical and mentally. And fun is what he wants. As soon as something or someone became a burden to his feelings, he'll back off. He's heard his sister's nagging of ‘love can't all be fun and games, grow up!'. Well, Seunghoon is only 35 so why bother, right? He can have fun as long as he wants, is what he think.  But then Jinwoo came, his arm crashed, and somehow the fun he planned turn into something warm and simple. Jinwoo became that newcomer that needs a friend and Seunghoon became that guy who doesn't mind. And doesn't pin him to his bed. Yet. Jinwoo is not looking for a friend either, Seunghoon can damn tell. They've been in moments where the air gets warmer as they scoot closer to each other in the couch of Seunghoon's living room. Their voices would change, and Jinwoo would have that look in his eyes that made Seunghoon's blood rush faster. That or when Seunghoon stands behind Jinwoo closely to take the cookie jar in the cabinet above Jinwoo's head, and accidentally (yeah, he swear on his dog) bumps Jinwoo's bottom to his pelvis. It would have taken less than a minute to make their quiet afternoon turn into something else. But it never happened, because Seunghoon would clumsily hit his hand to something and he would groan and swear. Jinwoo laughing in the process. So instead of making creaking sounds on their bed, they talk instead. And by now, Seunghoon knew that Jinwoo is an only child to a doctor and nurse parent. Followed his father's steps by his own will, unlike those in movies, after years of seeing his father nurturing smiles in children's faces at the kids' hospital. "It's like seeing your father being a superhero, and knowing that his superpowers can be learned. It's a commitment to the profession and the lifetime oath, and it's a big load to carry but I don't see any downside in helping people live." He looks different when he talks about his job like that, Seunghoon remembers. And since then he promises himself to listen to doctors well, take the medicines as they prescribe and listen to their precautions well. Doctors are so much more than expensive tuition and thick books. Jinwoo is also... a brokenhearted man, it turns out.  He moved to the city after a breakup. A breakup that doesn't only cancel his relationship, but also his upcoming wedding. The girl, a secretary in a very well known hotel in Seoul said she's not ready. After one year of engagement and 5 months of wedding preparation, she told Jinwoo she's not ready. The wedding dress making shut down, venue canceled, invitations shredded. Seunghoon puts a bad mark on the girl almost instantly. But the night they talked about it, Jinwoo was smiling with an edge of a beer bottle pressed on his lips. "She's not at fault. People change, feelings change. Maybe she fell out of love, maybe she was scared. She can't help it. Humans are... just like that sometimes." Jinwoo said that night.  Seunghoon concluded perhaps Jinwoo is not really looking for anything serious right now. Just a nice company. Seunghoon can do that. Before he knew it, Seunghoon has made another category of fun in his mind anyway. The kind of fun that doesn't include loud blaring red and yellow, but blue and maybe white instead. Jinwoo kind of fun. Calm and content, almost friendly. The drama is pretty intense and full of emotion that Seunghoon got into it before he had the chance not to. The episode ends with a cliffhanger and they both look at each other. "Watch another one?" Jinwoo asked. Seunghoon nods. ¯  Seungyoon wakes up with the sound of Hanbin's ‘woah' and quietness of his phone. The playlist ended and when Seungyoon wakes up he saw a town with a way different scenery than his. And Seungyoon follows Hanbin's response. "Whoaa," He exclaims. Seungyoon doesn't know where to look first; the vast and modern cityscape, the small spots of traditional houses slipped within tall glassed buildings or the pack of people wearing traditional clothes out on the street. "Oh! Aren't those tourists?" Eunji said, pointing at the people wearing hanboks. Seungyoon squints his eyes and realizes they are indeed foreigners, blonde and pale skins. Europeans. Seungyoon looks at them until the bus goes on and Seungyoon can't see them anymore. "Kids," Mrs. Han called from the front of the bus "We'll reach the accommodation in 15 minutes, so prepare yourself and make sure you don't leave anything on the bus alright? You might get on a different bus each time we move!" Seungyoon looks around himself and made sure he packed his phone, charger, and earphones. The three thing people most likely slip under the seats. "Oh and remember! The accommodation is a traditional hanok, and hanok means what? Woods. Do not play around and break stuff, you hear me? And don't let me find any of you smoking! If you somehow burn something, I'll burn your hairs too!" Mrs. Han said half joking half serious. "Funny she said that when Mrs. Han smokes too," Jaewon whispers to Seungyoon. Seungyoon chuckles. ¯ Mino feels jittery. He wakes up right when they enter the city and he feels a surge of inspiration at the city mood instantly. He's been drawing simplicity and monochrome a lot lately, making modern and technology as his main point of view. But tradition and its beauty is a whole different feel, and he's enamored. He keeps his phone camera app opened, taking pics here and there for reference. He's itching to draw but taking out his pens and book right now will only end in him losing his pens. Mr. Lee watches them gets down from the bus, giving a longer look at Jiho, probably because of his antics at the field trip last year. Mino bows as he walks past him and into the hanok gate. Once he's in, the architecture that he is naturally accustomed to but at the same time never failed to awe him, greets him and the other students. Mino looks at the intricate drawing at the wood just below the roofing and zooms his phone camera at it. He doesn't feel Seungyoon's eyes at him, smiling unconsciously upon seeing Mino's smile. Jiho walks his way to Seungyoon and the boy wipes the smile from his lips quickly. "Did you ate mom's bento back at the rest area?" Jiho asked. "Yeah, why?" Jiho scrunches his nose, "I don't like the broccoli... Eat it for me? Mom asked for a clean bento tray pic," Seungyoon made a face and stares at Jiho who shrugs. "Kids!" The teacher called "The room will be divided for boys and girls; boys go to your left and girls go to your right!" Eunji looks at Seungyoon and waves as she walks towards the girls building. "Get settled, we'll have dinner in the main building at 7 PM!"  ¯  "Doctor Kim," Mr. Choi called as Jinwoo is dragging his bag to the corner of the room. "Yes?" "Are you sure you don't want to switch rooms with someone else? I'm sorry but I snore rather loudly when I sleep," the elderly man said rather shyly. Jinwoo smiles at him sweetly, something about the man reminding Jinwoo of his father. Maybe the suit. His father loves the kind of checkered pattern too. "No, it's alright. I can sleep in any condition, actually. A roommate in college was a loud snore," Jinwoo lied. A knock on the door switch his attention and Seunghoon pops up from the sliding wooden door. "Dr. Kim? A student is not feeling so well, care to check on him?" he said.  ¯  "I dunno.. I feel like.. My stomach is twisting.." Hanbin said to Dr. Kim. "What did you eat at the rest area, Hanbin-ah?" "Um... there is that.. fried chicken.. and a cola," Hanbin said. Dr. Kim smiles knowingly and everyone who has been watching his face including Seungyoon and Jaewon felt like a light was turned on right in front of them. "Well that is a pretty bad choice, you can see how dirty their kitchen is you know," Dr. Kim said. He fumbles on his bag and gives a pack of meds to Hanbin. "Here, take this starting tonight before you eat. Take it three times a day, each after 8 hours. Okay?" "Alright, thanks Dr. Kim.." Hanbin grimaces. He smiles again and the whole room had to control themselves from blushing. Seungyoon only ever saw him walking in the school halls, and seeing him up close is a new kind of nervousness. He is so pretty it's crazy. Is he really not a celebrity? He left the boy's room with Mr. Lee and Hanbin flops to the mattress again. They all spread a mattress on the wooden floor, making use of the space to fit 15 boys in the rather spacious room. Seungyoon lays down too beside Hanbin and looks up at the ceiling, gracing his eyes with the stoic form of wood and small decorative paintings. Oil paints... it reminds him of Mino. His room shouldn't be far from his if one hall like this can fit 15 kids...  But Seungyoon doesn't have a good reason to see him right now. "I wanna call my sister..." Hanbin suddenly said. "Then call her," Jaewon said, hands busy texting on his phone. "Yaish what would I say?" Hanbin grumbles. "Well, what made you wanna call her? You're not gonna tell her about your stomachache?" "Nah, she'll get worried." Hanbin shrugs. "Well just call her and ask what's up." "Why would I say what's up suddenly?" Jaewon sighs deeply. "Kim Hanbin, when you wanna see someone even with no apparent reason, that's called missing them," Jaewon said. Jaewon was trying to make a point to Hanbin, yet the point slaps Seungyoon's face instead. His chest feels so heavy, it's like his heart touched the mattress. Seungyoon's phone buzz and he picks it, finding Jiho's text.  ‘Mr. Lee is sleeping my room TT_TT' ‘?? What's the problem with that' Seungyoon asked. ‘I can't run away.........' ‘Hyung-_-Don't run away, what if you get a problem in your third year' ‘.......`3`.......' ‘Don't send me a pouty face.'   ¯  The dinner was so grand, inside an even bigger room said to be used as traditional dancers practice area. And the food was great, all traditional and healthy but still tastes nice. Seungyoon finds Jiho and Mino in the corner of his eyes, the boys already laughing and messing around unlike this morning. Seungyoon suddenly feels lonely in the crowd. Eunji suddenly pops up beside Jaewon in front of Seungyoon, bringing a small plate of sweet treats. "Hey, wanna trade? I got this dessert in my table," Eunji said. Hanbin drools at the sweets Eunji brings and they finally eat together. "Who did you guys end up with? Mr. Choi?" Eunji asked. "No, Mr. Choi is with Doctor Kim in a separate small room," Seungyoon said. "Ahh.. and how is your stomach?" Eunji turns to Hanbin. "A lot better," he said while munching on a rice cake. Eunji hums. "You know," Eunji suddenly lowers her voice "the girls just spilled some scary stories about this place," Hanbin, Seungyoon, and Jaewon all look at her with a suddenly pale face. "What story?" Seungyoon asked naturally. Eunji just opened her mouth to take a breath but Jaewon suddenly leaps and slaps her lips with a piece of cabbage leaf. "Don't!" he snaps. "Wha—I haven't said a thing!" "Do not! We'll be sleeping here for the next days so don't give me any craps before I tackle you!" Jaewon said. Hanbin suddenly laughs, followed by Seungyoon. The horror atmosphere Eunji was trying to start puffs like a smoke. "Yaish I was trying to share my fear so I won't be scared alone!" Eunji whines. ¯   So apparently the place has an open bath system. Men and woman separated. Seungyoon has never been to one so bathing in front of a bunch of guys feels... weird to him. Okay, understatement. VERY weird. "But it's gonna be like a pool?" Seungyoon asked again. "Yeah. But everyone is naked." Hanbin said calmly. His grandma has this kind of villa, it turns out, so he's not at all foreign to public baths. "But... It's still— Jaewon-ah, you're chill with this?" Seungyoon searched for another opinion. "Well... There are towels you know, so when we're out of water we'll wear it to cover up." Jaewon shrugs. "But water is clear!" Seungyoon nags. "There will be lots of fog, Seungyoon-ah. It's a hot water bath. So you can't see anything under." Hanbin explains. "Really?" Seungyoon asked. Hanbin hums and nods to convince Seungyoon. And soon he gets up from the mattress, already bringing a change of clothes. "Come on, you'll feel better once you see everyone else already naked!" ".......He really won't but yeah, let's go Seungyoon-ah," Jaewoon pulls Seungyoon by the wrist.  ¯   It's... foggy for sure. Seungyoon almost can't see a thing. But he can make out the pool, covered with stones on the side as if it's a natural hot spring. On the very edge, there is a bamboo wall, keeping them out of stray eyes. It's outdoor and the moon is shining brightly above them. It's actually a very pleasant view. Before he knew it Hanbin is already only in his towels. "I'll go first, it's freezing!" He said as he rubs his shoulders while trembling. Jaewon starts undoing his buttons and Seungyoon follows. The night wind is actually very very cold. It makes you shiver and soon Seungyoon doesn't think much as he walks towards the huge open pool and sinks down, letting his towel go down in the water. The touch of the warm water feels so good to his skin and into his muscle and bones. Seungyoon sighs in content as he let himself relax. Jaewon is a few feet beside him, leaning his head to the poolside. Seungyoon saw him taking his towel out of the water, squeeze the water out and lay it on the stone. Seungyoon shrugs and clumsily copies what Jaewon does, not wanting to walk out of the pool with a heavy towel on his hips. Feeling his bare body under the water, Seungyoon lowers his body further until his lips are close to the water surface. He decided to calm his nerves more with the moving warm water before scrubbing his body. The other students also taking a bath are being crazy on the far end of the pool, talking about how the girl's bathing area is just past the bamboo wall. Seungyoon rolls his eyes but chuckles in the end, realizing they were just trying to be funny but they did nothing anyway. A field trip is... really nice.  ¯  Hanbin and Jaewon are heading straight to the bedroom after the bath, while Seungyoon wants some drink. So they go straight the hallway and Seungyoon goes to his left. The vending machine is on the very far end of the way and Seungyoon ‘might' be a ‘little' bit scared to walk past it if only it didn't happen to be near another group of kid's room. He can even hear the laughter and their noisy play so he walks to the end of the hall leisurely. He scans through the vending machine and decides on a milk tea so he can sleep well tonight. The clank of the can dropping down is so nice. He took it, clicks the opener and drinks the first gulp. So nice after a hot bath. Seungyoon finds a sliding window that is opened just slightly, barely 3 cm. ‘Some night air should be nice, he thought.' He slides the window open, resting his arms on it and sucks in the cold nice smelling air. Nice.. smelling? Something smells like smoke though... A crack very close to his ear makes him jolt as he turns his head to the left, ready to scream or fall back if he finds—  "Mi—Mino?"  Mino. Not demons, not vengeful ghosts of an old hotel. It's Mino, squatting outside the window with a cigarette on his hand.   “Uh.. Hi?” he said.