Chapter 12: MT Mayhem Part 2

If there was one thing I'd learned from this MT trip, it was this:

Freshmen have no shame.

None.

Not even a sliver.

"Okay! Let's start the night games!" our class rep shouted, standing in front of the bonfire like an over-caffeinated camp counselor. "We'll play 'Truth or Dare' first, and if no one's crying or throwing up by then, we'll move on to couple missions!"

A chorus of cheers erupted. Someone passed around more snacks. Min Woo turned up his speaker and did a dramatic finger heart to the crowd like he was on Music Bank. Seo Yoon adjusted her hoodie to look effortlessly flawless. Ji Hoon… was still reading. Somehow.

I, meanwhile, was internally preparing for death.

Because my luck had already run out at lunch when I almost burned down the pension house. There was no way the universe was going to spare me again.

"Everyone sit in a circle!" someone shouted. "Mix it up—no cliques!"

Great. Goodbye, safe corner.

I plopped down between Min Woo and some classmate I barely knew. Ji Hoon sat across the circle, legs crossed, book nowhere in sight. He looked like he was calculating how to disappear without anyone noticing.

Spoiler: people would notice. His face had been voted "most intimidating but weirdly hot" on the class group chat two days ago.

Our class rep clapped their hands. "Alright, same rules as always—if you choose truth, you answer honestly. If you pick dare, no backing out. Don't ruin the mood!"

"Oh no," I whispered. "I'm going to have to reveal something stupid like my MBTI or how I thought Wi-Fi was a type of vitamin until high school."

"Wait—what?" Min Woo blinked.

"Don't worry about it," I said quickly.

The bottle spun. Laughter echoed. The first few rounds were harmless. One guy had to sing a trot song in a girl's voice. Another had to do a sexy dance with a soda bottle. Someone else revealed they had a crush on a senior who already had a boyfriend. All very cute. All very survivable.

Then the bottle pointed to me.

And the person who spun it?

Seo Yoon.

Of course.

She smiled, all teeth and fake innocence. "Truth or dare, Ah Ra?"

I should've picked truth. I really, really should've.

"…Dare."

Seo Yoon tilted her head and put on the expression of a gentle psychopath.

"I dare you… to sit on Seo Ji Hoon sunbae's lap for ten seconds."

My soul left my body.

"What?" I croaked.

Someone gasped.

Min Woo choked on his drink.

"Should I get a countdown app?" someone offered.

Ji Hoon blinked. Slowly. Like a man calculating the cost of murder vs. walking away.

"That's so tame," another girl giggled. "Ten seconds is nothing."

"She can just sit," Seo Yoon said sweetly. "It's not like she'll combust."

Wanna bet?

I turned to Ji Hoon, who looked… not thrilled. But also not actively trying to disappear. His face was blank—classic stoic male lead expression. Not encouraging, not discouraging. Just there. Like he was being assigned group work with someone who brought glitter pens and snacks shaped like cartoon characters.

"It's just a game," someone whispered.

Right. A game.

A stupid, ridiculous, very public game.

I stood up slowly, like I was walking toward a guillotine. Ji Hoon sighed and scooted back a little, his knee brushing against mine as I inched closer. He didn't say anything—just patted his thigh once, like a tired grandpa telling a dog to hop on.

This was fine.

Totally fine.

Except it was not.

I sat down on his lap.

And my brain—my perfectly functioning, very average, moderately intelligent brain—completely short-circuited.

Because his hand settled gently on my waist to keep me from toppling over.

And his leg was firm. Like, firm-firm. Like, expensive couch mixed with gym membership.

And he smelled like fresh laundry and the inside of a library.

"Ten seconds!" someone shouted.

But time was a lie. Ten seconds felt like an eternity. My heart pounded so loud I was sure Ji Hoon could hear it.

I sat perfectly still, eyes glued to the fire like it was the only thing keeping me alive.

Ji Hoon didn't move.

Didn't speak.

Didn't look at me.

Just rested his hand lightly on my side, like I was a very clumsy porcelain vase.

"Time's up!" someone yelled.

I bolted like I'd been tased. Nearly tripped over my own feet. Collapsed back into my seat beside Min Woo, who stared at me with wide, delighted eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"No," I wheezed. "I forgot how to breathe."

"Do you want me to dare you to sit on my lap next?"

"I will set your speaker on fire."

Across the circle, Ji Hoon had already picked up his book again.

He looked… calm.

Which was rude, considering I was having a full identity crisis over the shape of his thigh.

Later that night, the group games shifted to couple missions. I was still too dazed to pay attention. One couple had to piggyback race across the lawn. Another had to do a Pocky game that nearly caused a scandal.

Thankfully, I was spared.

Mostly because I escaped.

After pretending to need "air," I snuck away to the side of the pension house where the lights didn't quite reach. I leaned against the wall and tried to remember how to exist as a functioning person.

It was going… okay.

Until I heard voices on the other side of the wall.

"You seriously think she's just some average girl?" said a familiar voice—Seo Yoon.

My ears perked up. I held my breath.

"She acts like she's clueless, but come on. The shoes she wore on the first day were a limited edition. I saw them on a resale site for almost two million won."

Someone gasped.

"And did you hear her during lunch? She asked if the instant rice was 'pre-cooked by professionals.' What even—?"

Another laugh.

"I just think it's weird," Seo Yoon continued smoothly. "She shows up out of nowhere, suddenly everyone thinks she's cute, she can't even cook ramyeon, but oh—Ji Hoon sunbae just happens to help her every time she messes up?"

My stomach twisted.

"She's probably rich," one of the other girls said. "Like, low-key chaebol. Trying to 'live like us' for fun."

Seo Yoon's voice turned syrupy. "Well, if she is, she's doing a terrible job blending in."

They laughed again.

I stepped back, heart thudding.

It wasn't just the fact that they were talking about me.

It was the way Seo Yoon said it.

Like she already knew something.

Like she was waiting.

I forced a smile onto my face as I walked away from the wall, back toward the firelight.

Back toward my classmates.

Back toward Ji Hoon—who caught my eyes as I rejoined the group and raised one brow.

I gave him a smile I didn't quite feel.

Let her talk.

I wasn't here to win a popularity contest.

But I'd be damned if I let Han Seo Yoon outsmart me.