The sound of the car's engine hummed softly as it made its way down the winding road to the resort. JL sat in the back of the van, surrounded by the excited chatter of his teammates. His eyes drifted out the window, the scenic view of Jeju unfolding before him - mountains, sprawling fields, and the glimmering ocean in the distance. The calm beauty of the island was enough to make anyone feel like they were in a dream.
The van stopped, and they were greeted by the sight of a luxurious 5-star resort. It was the kind of place that made even seasoned travelers pause in awe. Gleaming marble floors stretched across the grand lobby, where tall windows revealed the vast expanse of greenery outside.
JL's heart skipped a beat. This was the kind of accommodation that even the most prestigious of performers would only dream of. But as he glanced at his friends - Steven, Shuaibo, Chih En, and the rest of the group - he could see that they were all just as awestruck as he was.
"This is unreal," Steven said, his voice full of wonder. "It looks like a palace."
"Definitely feels like one," Shuaibo added, his eyes scanning every inch of the lavish room. "I'm just waiting for the secret door to a hidden treasure chest to open up."
The group laughed, and for a moment, JL felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. He had been through so much already, but it was moments like this that made him realize how far he'd come. And being here with his friends made everything feel a little more worthwhile.
They were soon gathered in the main hall, where Galee stood in front of them, holding a piece of paper. He smiled warmly, but there was a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Alright, everyone! Ten's instructions," Galee began, "The moment you've been waiting for - your room assignments."
The group went silent, anticipation buzzing in the air. JL felt his stomach flutter. He didn't know why he was nervous - it wasn't like he had any real preferences. But with the amount of time they'd spent together, he couldn't help but wonder who he'd be paired with.
Galee continued reading off the names, assigning roommates. When he reached JL's name, he glanced at him with a playful smile.
"JL and Chih En," Galee announced.
JL's heart skipped. He couldn't help but look over at Chih En, who was already grinning at him. There was a soft warmth in JL's chest, something that went beyond the usual excitement. Being with Chih En felt different. There was a quiet understanding between them, a bond that had been growing since they first met.
"Looks like we're roomies," Chih En said, his voice light and easy. He nudged JL with his shoulder, sending a flutter through JL's chest.
"Guess so," JL replied, trying to keep his voice steady, though he felt a rush of something he couldn't quite put into words.
The other roommates were assigned as well - Steven and Park Han, Juwon and Jeongwoo, Shuaibo and Woongki, and Galee with Daisuke.
"Looks like everyone's happy with their rooms," Galee said, giving the group a once-over. "Except for Park Han, maybe." He winked, and everyone turned to look at Groove's star student, who was visibly frowning.
"Great," Park Han muttered, his eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. "Room with the goofball. How wonderful."
Steven shot him a playful grin. "I'm not that bad," he said, adjusting the strap of his bag. "You'll survive."
"Just don't start singing in the shower," Park Han shot back, crossing his arms. "I'm not in the mood for your... 'performances' tonight."
Steven simply shrugged, unaffected. "Guess we'll see."
As the group started to make their way to their rooms, JL and Chih En found themselves side by side, walking down the hall. JL felt his heart beat a little faster. This was a small moment, yet it felt significant. Every step felt like it was drawing him closer to something he couldn't quite understand. Something... more.
When they reached their room, JL pushed the door open, and they were greeted by a spacious suite with a king-sized bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a balcony that overlooked the resort grounds. The view was breathtaking. JL felt like he was living in a movie, the kind where everything felt too perfect to be real.
"You take the bed," Chih En offered, already throwing his bag onto the couch. "I'll take the couch."
"No way," JL protested. "I'm not taking the bed by myself."
Chih En's eyes twinkled mischievously. "I'm serious. You can have it. You deserve it. You've been working so hard."
"We all worked hard, Chih En." JL hesitated, his gaze flicking to the couch, then back to Chih En. "Okay, but if I do take it, you're the one who's getting breakfast tomorrow."
Chih En laughed. "Deal."
--
Inside Park Han and Steven's Suite
Steven wasted no time making himself comfortable. The moment they stepped into their room, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and casually peeled it off, tossing it onto his bed without a second thought.
Park Han, in the middle of unpacking his bag, turned - and immediately regretted it.
He froze. Completely.
Steven, completely unaware of the effect he was having, stretched his arms over his head, muscles flexing effortlessly under the warm light of the suite. His toned arms, broad chest, and sculpted abs caught every shadow, every highlight, in a way that seemed downright cinematic.
Park Han.exe has stopped working.
His brain refused to process the sight before him. Sure, he knew Steven was athletic - he'd seen the guy dance, play sports, and move with the kind of ease that only came from years of training. But seeing it up close? In this lighting? In this setting?
Before his thoughts could spiral into very dangerous territory, Park Han aggressively turned away, nearly knocking over his suitcase in the process.
"Tsk. Whatever," he muttered, pretending to fix his luggage as if his life depended on it.
Steven finally glanced over. "Hey, you good?"
Park Han's fingers clenched around the zipper of his duffel bag. His voice was just slightly higher-pitched than normal. "Fine. Just - just face the other way, idiot."
Steven smirked. "Aw, shy? Cute."
Park Han's brain officially combusted.
--
As everyone settled in, the night grew quiet around them. The soft hum of the resort's air conditioning filled the silence, and JL found himself stepping out onto the balcony, unable to resist the beauty of the night sky. The stars were brighter than he'd ever seen before, and for a moment, all of his worries - his personal struggles in Korea, his fear of failing - seemed so far away. It was just him, the stars, and Chih En beside him.
JL's breath caught in his throat. "It's amazing, isn't it?" he said quietly, his eyes tracing the constellations. "It's hard to believe that I'm really here. That we're all really here."
Chih En stood beside him, his shoulder brushing against JL's as they both gazed at the night sky. "It is. Sometimes, it feels like a dream, doesn't it?"
JL nodded, his heart heavy with unspoken emotions. "Yeah… but it's starting to sink in now. The global supergroup, the expectations... all of it. It's a lot."
Chih En turned to him, his gaze soft. "You're going to be fine. You've got me-- us, I mean."
JL swallowed, his heart thumping in his chest. He was so close to Chih En now, the distance between them shrinking with every passing moment.
He felt a warmth in his chest, something that made him feel vulnerable and exposed, but also something that felt right.
"I believe that," JL said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before Chih En could respond, there was a sudden flash of darkness. The lights in the room flickered, and then everything went completely black.
"Wait…" JL frowned, his hand reaching out for the railing of the balcony. "What happened?"
A muffled laugh came from the hallway. "Looks like the power went out."
JL turned around to see Chih En's amused expression. "I guess we'll just have to make the most of it, huh?"
Before JL could respond, a faint thud echoed from down the hallway, sound of water splashing followed.
"What was that?" JL asked, eyebrows furrowed.
Suddenly, the sounds of footsteps from the adjacent room broke the quiet. JL's attention was immediately drawn to the noise coming from Steven and Park Han's room. It seemed that the door was still open.
What followed was an odd, almost comical noise - a loud slap, followed by another thud.
The room fell silent for a split second.
"What the hell was that?" Shuaibo's voice came from down the hallway.
Before anyone could answer, a voice from Park Han and Steven's room rang out: "AHHH, WHAT THE - "
And then the room descended into chaos.
JL exchanged a look with Chih En, confusion written on both their faces. The tension from earlier had been shattered by something - something that sounded a lot like an accident.
It didn't take long for the emergency lights to flicker back on, but the darkness still lingered in the corners of their minds.
"Let's go and see," JL grabbed Chih En.
But for some reason, JL couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.