The announcement of the training challenge should have ceased the vacation mood, but Galee was too excited to care.
"Before we start with your training," he said, grinning mischievously, "we need to build some real teamwork. So... we're kicking things off with a tug-of-war."
The moment the words left his mouth, half the group groaned.
"Tug-of-war?" Juwon sighed. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, because nothing builds unity like pulling a rope and falling into the sand," Woongki muttered.
But JL wasn't even thinking about the game-because everyone had changed into their beachwear.
And some of them looked way too good.
Steven and Joe, the undisputed alphas of their teams, stood on opposite sides of the group, arms crossed, biceps practically glowing under the sun. Their toned physiques were impossible to ignore.
"Bro, this is unfair," Shuaibo whispered to JL, nodding toward them. "What are they eating?"
"Protein and gym memberships," JL muttered back.
Then came the biggest shock-Galee took off his shirt.
JL had never seen him without a baggy outfit before. Turns out, he had an insane physique too.
Shuaibo and Woongki immediately gawked.
"Since when was he built like that?!" Woongki whispered, nudging JL.
JL barely had time to process it before Chih En suddenly covered his eyes.
"Don't look," Chih En said flatly, hand over JL's face.
JL blinked. "What? Why?"
"It's not good for your health."
Shuaibo burst out laughing. "Chih En, you jealous?"
Chih En scoffed. "I'm just protecting his innocence."
Before JL could respond, Galee blew the whistle, and the tug-of-war began.
--
The game was more intense than anyone expected.
Joe and Steven dug their heels into the sand, muscles flexing, neither willing to lose to the other.
"Give up," Joe taunted, gripping the rope.
Steven grinned. "You first."
On the other side, Park Han, Chih En, and JL held on tightly, trying not to get yanked forward.
Shuaibo and Woongki, instead of pulling, were laughing too hard at the way Jeongwoo and Juwon were panicking.
"Why is this so serious?!" Ko shouted.
"Because our pride is on the line!" Jeongwoo yelled back.
In the end, the match was chaotic, and nobody could actually declare a winner.
Everyone collapsed onto the sand, breathless but laughing.
"Let's just say it's a draw," Juwon panted.
--
After the match, the beach turned into a playground.
JL and Woongki tried to dodge Shuaibo's relentless splashes, while Steven and Juwon raced along the shore.
JL noticed that the Unicorns seemed tempted to join. Nan and Eli lingered by the water, watching them with slight smiles.
But when Joe subtly signaled them back to their rooms, they obediently turned away.
JL frowned.
Why does it feel like they're holding back?
But before he could dwell on it, Shuaibo tackled him into the water.
--
As the sun began to set, the nine of them sat on the sand, staring out at the golden waves.
For the first time, there was no talking.
Just silence.
JL took a deep breath. This moment... it felt so rare.
No chaos. No competitions. No rivalries. Just them and the ocean.
Then, out of nowhere, Woongki started humming.
JL recognized the tune instantly.
"Sunset in the Sky."
The Beat Music anthem.
Slowly, Woongki's hum turned into soft singing.
"Neoege jamgin na,
Pyeolchyeojin panorama..."
JL's throat tightened. The memories hit all at once.
All the training, the sleepless nights, the tears, the victories, their friends... everything that brought them here.
Without thinking, he sang along.
"You're my sunset in the sky,
My sunset in the sky..."
Then, Park Han harmonized, his voice steady and strong.
"Sesang modeun ge neol
Wihae inneun geot gata."
And then, one by one, everyone joined in.
"Duryeopji ana nan,
'Cause you're my sunset in the sky..."
Their voices blended together, carried by the wind.
JL's chest tightened. How far had they come?
For the first time in a long while, he felt the weight of everything.
The pain. The happiness. The friendships.
And suddenly, he wasn't the only one with tears in his eyes.
No one said anything.
Because in that moment, the song said everything.
And as the sun disappeared into the horizon, JL knew-
This was just the calm before the storm...