The steam from the shower clung to the walls, the warm water cascading over Park Han's skin, making him feel at ease. But just as he was about to finish, something went wrong. The warmth from the water vanished. The lights flickered and then... everything went black.
"Seriously?" Park Han muttered, reaching out instinctively for the switch, but all he found was empty air. The power was gone.
He stood there, drenched in the sudden chill, trying to regain some composure. The darkness seemed to swallow the room, leaving him disoriented, the only sound being the dripping of cold water. He cursed again under his breath. How was he supposed to get out of here now?
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from the door, and then, before he could process it, the door swung open.
"Park Han? Can I - "
Steven's voice was shaky, and Park Han's heart skipped a beat. He had no idea Steven was so close.
"What are you doing?!" Park Han barked, panicked.
But before Steven could even respond, the sudden plunge of the water temperature had both of them flinching.
"Are you kidding me?" Park Han cursed, stepping back to avoid the freezing stream. His feet slipped beneath him, and in an instant, he was falling.
Everything happened too fast. Park Han collided with Steven, both of them hitting the cold floor in a tangle of limbs, the impact muffled by the surrounding silence. Steven landed with a thud, and Park Han - helpless, cold, and caught off guard - fell right on top of him.
For a moment, everything was a blur. The freezing water, the darkness, their bodies pressed too close. They couldn't see each other, but they could feel everything - the warmth of each other's skin against the cold air, the way their breaths came in quick, erratic bursts.
Park Han's mind scrambled for anything to say, but all he could manage was a strangled, "Ahhhh... What the!"
But before either of them could pull away, the darkness around them seemed to stretch longer, heavier, as if mocking them. And just then, in the eerie quiet of the moment, Steven's voice broke through, the sound low and laced with a teasing tone.
"You're not as composed as you think," Steven chuckled, his chest vibrating beneath Park Han's.
Park Han's cheeks flamed with embarrassment. "Shut up!"
He scrambled to push himself off Steven, his heart hammering in his chest. The chill from the water seeped through his skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat spreading across his face.
As he tried to stand, his feet slipped again, and this time, the fall was even louder. Both men collided in a chaotic mess, the sound of their bodies hitting the floor echoing down the hallway. Park Han cursed under his breath as he struggled to regain balance, but it was no use. The floor was slick with water, and with the lights out, they couldn't find their footing.
The noise was loud enough to draw attention, and soon, JL and Chih En appeared in the doorway just in time the emergency lights came on, their eyes wide with shock. They froze, taking in the scene - Park Han's exposed backside, the bathrobe still clutched in his hand, and Steven lying flat on his back, arms spread out on the cold tiles.
"Seriously?" Chih En muttered, rubbing his eyes. He knew exactly what he was seeing.
"Whoa, is this a new trend?" Shuaibo teased, his voice half-amused, half-suspicious. He and Woongki just arrived at the scene.
"Oh, come on," Park Han snapped, standing up as fast as he could and pulling the bathrobe around himself, his face burning with humiliation. He couldn't even look at Steven. "It's not what it looks like."
"Yeah, sure," Woongki's voice came from behind JL and Chih En. "You're just... spooning in the dark?"
"I think it's more of a falling situation," Shuaibo added, snickering as he leaned against the doorframe. "But hey, whatever floats your boat."
"I'm not going to live this down, am I?" Park Han muttered, looking at Steven in sheer panic.
"Nope," Woongki chimed in again. "But I think you two might be onto something. You know, a new couple of the year, right?"
Park Han couldn't even look at him. He pulled the bathrobe tighter, his embarrassment reaching a new level of unbearable.
"Just... stop," Park Han groaned, turning to JL and Chih En.
Chih En, always the calmer one, handed him a towel.
"You need to get checked out. I'll take you both to the clinic." JL suggested with concerned eyes.
"No, really," Steven interjected, holding up a hand with a grin. "I'm fine. Seriously. It was just a little fall. Nothing too dramatic."
"Well, it sure sounded dramatic," JL quipped, though his voice softened. "Let's just make sure you're okay."
Shuaibo, Woongki, and the others were still snickering, but it was clear they were teasing more out of affection than malice. The tension in the room started to dissolve a little.
"I'm okay," Park Han grumbled. "I'm not dying in this room."
"Me, too" Steven said quickly, pushing himself up from the floor, still trying to act nonchalant. But his face betrayed him - he was just as embarrassed as Park Han.
As they made their way out of the bathroom, Galee was waiting for them with a raised eyebrow by the main door.
"What happened to you two?" Galee asked, trying to suppress a grin at their disheveled appearances.
"We just had a... fall," Park Han muttered, trying to keep his cool. "Nothing to worry about."
"Well, if you insist, you both seem okay, but I'd recommend some rest," Galee said, giving them both a professional once-over. "No injuries, but you might want to take it easy."
Steven gave a lazy salute. "We're fine. Just... just need some rest."
Park Han, on the other hand, still trying to shake off the awkwardness, nodded quickly. "Thanks."
He stepped out of the room coolly. But when no one was looking, he broke into a fast walk, hoping to escape the situation as quickly as possible.
Steven was taking it all in stride, though JL noticed he seemed a little quieter than usual. "You okay?" JL asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Steven replied, flashing JL a smile. "Really, just need some rest."
That night, as everyone retreated to their rooms, the lights flickered back on as the main power came back.
--
Later, at the lobby.
Park Han sat alone at the bar, nursing a glass of green cocktail. The color brought back memories of his time at Groove Institute, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a pang of nostalgia. He missed his friends. The ones who had been there with him before all of this.
His thoughts wandered back to earlier when he'd questioned Steven's leadership. He had doubted him. But now? Guilt gnawed at his insides.
"Still thinking about it?" a familiar voice interrupted, and Park Han looked up to find Steven standing there, in his usual red hoodie, a bright smile on his face.
Steven slid onto the stool next to him, clearly not bothered by the earlier events. "Crazy night, huh?"
Park Han chuckled, trying to shake off the tension. "You could say that."
They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet of the bar enveloping them. Finally, Steven spoke, his tone softer than usual.
"I know you talked to Galee about my leadership skills, and that's okay. But I want you to know, I don't take that lightly."
Park Han looked over, surprised by the seriousness in Steven's voice. For the first time, it wasn't a joke. It wasn't a challenge.
"Look, I - " Park Han began, but Steven cut him off.
"Don't apologize. I get it. It's just... I don't know. I've been thinking a lot about this whole leadership thing too."
And for the first time, Park Han found himself not needing to answer. They just sat there, two guys who had been through a whirlwind of emotions in a short time.
They spoke quietly after that, the words too soft to hear clearly, but the look on Park Han's face was genuine. A smile that reached his eyes, the weight in his chest finally lifting.
--
Meanwhile, JL tossed and turned in his bed, the large expanse of the mattress feeling too empty without someone beside him. He glanced over at Chih En, who was lying on the couch, already asleep. With a soft sigh, JL slid off the bed and crept over to where Chih En lay, the moonlight casting a faint glow over his peaceful face.
JL watched him for a moment, unsure of what to do, but then, without thinking, leaned down and kissed Chih En's forehead gently. His heart skipped as he pulled away, a soft warmth filling him.
With that, JL made himself comfortable on the couch next to Chih En, the soft rise and fall of his friend's chest lulling him into a peaceful sleep.
--
Outside the resort, a black limousine rolled up to the gate, the low hum of the engine cutting through the quiet night. Seven tall figures stepped out, their faces hidden in the shadows, but one of them couldn't hide the smirk on his lips as he glanced up at the resort's main building.
It was clear - the game was about to get a whole lot more interesting.