Chapter 27 - A Wrong Turn

"I wanted to say that you can call me when you need anything, but I'm not someone easy to wake up to," So Jin Ae said with a little laugh while she was about to leave the guest room. She turned around to give Kang Dong Won her consent to help himself around the house.

Jun Ho acting like the man of the house though was standing beside her. He slipped an arm around her shoulder while smiling at Dong Wan.

"Yeah, that's right. We couldn't be disturbed."

Although startled when she felt a soft squeeze on her shoulder, Jin Ae did not show awkwardness in front of the visitor who was carefully studying them. She let out a smile and played along. The moment the door closed, she hit his rib which made him moan in pain. Realizing that he moaned so loud that the other person in the room could hear him, Jin Ae shushed him.

"Ah! You're so impatient, honey. We can do that upstairs," Jun Ho teased, saying it louder intentionally.

Jin Ae was flabbergasted at what he was insinuating. She scorned him then left him. He could only smile at that.

'Cute,' he said to himself.

He went to the room he was occupying since last night and plopped his body on the bed. He crawled to his side and stared at the darkness outside.

"It's cold."

* * *

The beating of his heart was so fast to the point that he thought he would choke if he tried to speak. Jeong Won did not know how he managed to give a short message. But the real dilemma was to actually take a step towards the person he would hand the flower to. He was nervous. Questions like how she would react ran in his mind.... will she accept it or not? If she accepted it, what would happen next? If not, would she talk to him again? Regardless, he was determined to give it like it was now or never.

He took one big step and then two. As he was contemplating heavily what to do after giving the flower, whether to walk away or to confess right then and there, suddenly.... she left her spot. Surprised, he stopped. Did she realize that he would be giving the flower to her and decided to leave?

He decided to run after her. But the sight of her talking to another guy broke his heart. He could not do anything. He stared at the flower and then slipped it into his pocket.... the same way he was supposed to keep his true feeling unsaid for now.

He must have been so weary and tired that he did not realize that he fell asleep while watching over Jin Ae's tent. He woke up from a continuous shake on his shoulders.

"Student. Why are you sleeping here? It's too cold out here."

Jeong Won, still half asleep, stood up abruptly and bowed down to the PE teacher who was holding a flashlight. The teacher also joined the camp to supervise them. Jeong Won quickly went inside his tent and crept beside Hyeon Seong who was deep asleep.

The PE teacher shook his head and glanced at his watch, it was already 2 in the morning, and it rained.

* * *

"There were so many mosquitoes last night. Look at these."

"Yes, I put on a lotion but I still got some bites."

"I think it's much worse because it's summer."

So Jin Ae roamed her eyes to her classmates and they were all protesting about mosquitoes. She did not remember any problem about it last night and so she just shrugged her shoulders.

"Gosh. It was so cold last night and it rained even in the summer."

Hyeon Seong shivered as he sat beside Son Jin Ae who had almost finished half of her hot chocolate. For that remark, yes, it was really cold last night, she told herself.

"It typically rains during July though," Jin Ae stated matter-of-factly.

She glanced around him looking for someone.

"Looking for Jeong Won?"

She did not respond and just took a sip on her mug. Acting distant.

"He's sick."

She was so surprised that she gulped her chocolate down at once, hurting her throat from the heat.

"Aigoo, I did not know city guys like him have such a weak body," he said pitifully.

Jin Ae was confused why he got sick so suddenly and concerned as well, but all she could do was to just sigh heavily. She stared at her mug and reminded herself that she was upset at him.

"Alright, class! We will start our hike in 30 minutes."

The adviser gathered the students and announced the rules of the hike using her megaphone. She partnered up the students as well.

"....next partners, Kim Min Jung.... and Son Jin Ae."

Jin Ae's eyes flickered and so did Min Jung's. This was an unexpected combination ever, raising oohhs and aahhs. It seemed that everyone had their opinions upon their sleeves.

"I think the two leaders should partner up and learn to follow each other," the adviser said.

Jin Ae glanced at Min Jung who was already staring at her. Gladly, it was not a glare, but the intensity was there in her eyes.

"Be careful. She might just throw you off the cliff," one of Min Jung's friends jokingly said and they laughed.

"If only Jeong Won is here. You would have been partners," Hyeon Seong whispered at Jin Ae.

She shook her head. "Or.... they could have been partners," she said, referring to Min Jung.

'I guess it's not a bad idea that he isn't here,' she thought satisfactorily for a moment but slumped in worry again.

* * *

"Look here. There should be one leader only, right? Since I am the leader of this class, I guess I have the right to lead."

Min Jung was in front of her, two hands on her waist. Jin Ae had been like following her for around fifteen minutes now so what she just said made no difference. Jin Ae had not even uttered a word since they started.

Jin Ae nodded dismissively.

They continued their walk with Min Jung leading the way when the road split into two. Min Jung contemplated for a moment and walked towards the right side without asking her opinion.

"Wait a minute," Jin Ae said.

Min Jung looked back at Jin Ae questionably.

"I think there was something before here.... like a blockade."

Jin Ae pointed on the soil with obvious dug marks and then traced her fingers until she found a log lying on the bush.

"This could have been used to prevent anyone going there."

Min Jung let out a hiss, annoyed at the thought of Jin Ae openly displaying her logic and questioning her decisions.

"-and, that road seemed so bushy, don't you think? Unlike the left one and-"

"They are both the same for me though," Min Jung cut sharply.

Jin Ae stared at her unbelievably. 'The same?' How could that possibly be?'

"And, isn't it normal for a mountain to have trees, logs... it's normal to be bushy," she continued sarcastically while staring at her.

Jin Ae couldn't help but scoff and stare back at her.

"Why? You will not follow me? Go on your own then!" And then Min Jung stubbornly walked ahead.

Jin Ae sighed helplessly. She could leave her but she wouldn't. What will their adviser say after? So she just followed her. She did not care if it was a wrong turn, she knows she could get back again. She dropped another stone and walked ahead.

Hours passed and it was almost 12 noon, at the summit, one by one the students arrived successfully. They were already allowed to have their lunch. Everyone was full and resting before heading back. The PE teacher counted again and he still missed two students.

"The class president is still not here. To whom has she partnered again?" He asked one in the class.

"With Son Jin Ae, Sir."

Two of Min Jung's friends approached the PE teacher, confirming that their friend wasn't here yet.

He instructed one of the big boys in the class to lead everyone down later after they had taken enough rest and pictures, then asked the other two male students to come and help him look for the two. The trails to the summit were so easy to find so it was impossible for them to get lost. He was worried that something happened.

Two of Min Jung's friends insisted on coming too. When they were about to go, two students approached the teacher nervously after realizing that two of their classmates were missing. They were the pair who went up first before Min Jung and Jin Ae, who were the last pair to start.

"Teacher, actually...."