The morning sun bathed the resort in golden light, and for the first time since the Unicorns arrived, the two groups weren't just coexisting - they were actually getting along. The camaraderie built during their intense performance practice had softened the once-clear divide.
The Unicorns were friendlier now, laughing and chatting with the supergroup. Even Joe, their usually stoic leader, no longer seemed to mind their presence - though he still kept a certain distance, watching quietly rather than participating.
"Joe hyung, come sit with us!" Eli called out.
Joe simply gave a blank stare and muttered, "I'm comfortable here."
Shuaibo pouted. "You say that, but you're literally just standing."
Joe didn't argue. He simply shrugged, arms crossed, looking unbothered but still watching everything unfold.
--
Chih En, meanwhile, sat beside JL, his gaze quietly studying him. To others, his expression was unreadable as ever, but there was a softness in his eyes whenever he looked at JL.
Chih En thought he had already changed so much because of JL. He had been open about his feelings, something his past self wouldn't have even dared to do. But did JL feel the same?
He tried to understand. He truly did.
JL was getting closer to his dream - maybe he was just overwhelmed. Maybe that was why he was hesitant.
But was that really enough of an excuse?
Chih En had always been patient. But last night, when he heard from Shuaibo that JL had been out laughing and having fun with them, and even their senior group member, Eli, without even mentioning it to him - it stung.
It reminded him of something painful.
A long-forgotten memory surfaced.
Junior high.
The day he almost confessed to someone.
He had planned it carefully - a bouquet of flowers hidden behind his back, heart pounding with anticipation. But before he could even find the courage to speak, he overheard the whispers.
"That weirdo Chih En likes you?"
"Huh, imagine getting confessed to by someone who never even smiles!"
His crush avoided him after that. Chih En never got to say a word.
From then on, he learned to care less.
But now… with JL… he cared again.
That night when JL came back from the karaoke, before sleeping, he finally confronted JL about it.
"You know, I told myself I wouldn't be impatient," Chih En said, voice steady but sharp.
JL sat up on his bed, surprised. "Chih En - ?"
"I don't know where I stand with you," Chih En admitted. "I don't know if I'm just another person in your life or if I actually matter to you."
JL opened his mouth, but Chih En wasn't done.
"I changed. I let myself care again. But maybe I shouldn't have."
Before JL could answer, Chih En stood up and left the room.
JL sat there, staring at the door, guilt tightening in his chest.
---
The mood was much lighter. The group decided to throw a bonfire party by the beach - grilled meat, seafood, and soda. They spent the whole day preparing.
To everyone's shock, Steven and Joe actually worked together with zero tension.
"Hey, help me dig the pit for the bonfire," Joe said to Steven.
Steven didn't argue. He simply grabbed a shovel and started digging.
Woongki whispered to Shuaibo, "Are they… getting along?"
"Impossible," Shuaibo whispered back. "One of them is an alien, right?"
Then, Park Han approached. "We need more meat. The resort kitchen ran out. We'll go buy some."
Steven smirked. "You just wanna be alone with me."
Park Han rolled his eyes. "Ugh."
Before Steven could respond, Joe suddenly spoke up.
"I'll go too."
Both Steven and Park Han froze.
Joe adjusted his sleeves. "As the Unicorns' leader, it's only right that I help with the hard tasks."
Steven's smirk vanished. He simply stared.
Park Han squinted. Suspicious.
Still, the three of them ended up in a bustling traditional farmer's market.
As they shopped, Steven noticed something horrifying - Joe was unnaturally strong.
"How… are you carrying all that so easily?" Steven muttered as Joe casually carried kilos of meat in each hand.
Joe blinked. "It's just meat."
Steven refused to be outdone. He grabbed Joe's bags - only to immediately regret it.
The weight was unreal.
"Oh - " Steven's feet slipped, and before he could fall, he grabbed Park Han -
Who then got yanked down too.
Joe, unfazed, was caught in the mess, and the three of them collapsed into the middle of the market.
Park Han groaned. "Why does this keep happening to me?!"
An old lady laughed. "Oh, young love."
Park Han's face turned red.
Steven, still on the ground, just sighed. "I give up."
---
Truth or dare.
That night, the bonfire party was in full swing. They sat in a circle, eating, laughing, and then, playing a game of truth or dare.
Most people chose truth.
Until Joe.
"Dare," he said without hesitation.
Woongki smirked. "I dare you to kiss anyone here."
Everyone froze.
Surely Joe would just mess around with one of his teammates, right?
But no. Joe stood up… and walked towards Steven.
A poker-faced Joe. A frozen Steven.
Joe leaned in.
Just as his lips were about to touch Steven's cheek -
Park Han sprinted into the scene - and tripped.
Crash.
Somehow, in that moment of chaos, Park Han's lips accidentally landed on Steven's.
Silence.
Steven's fierce eyes turned round in shock.
Joe, still with a blank face, muttered, "That wasn't part of the plan."
The tension stretched too long.
Then, suddenly -
Juwon screamed covering this eyes and Daisuke's.
Shuaibo burst out laughing.
Woongki followed. Then the rest.
Park Han jumped up, face burning. "I - I need to go."
He ran off.
Steven just sat there, touching his lips in disbelief.
Joe, meanwhile, still had his lips slightly puckered. "So… did I win the dare or not?"
Nobody answered. They were too busy dying of laughter.
JL laughed too - until he noticed Chih En silently standing up.
"I'm getting a drink," Chih En muttered - without even looking at JL.
That had never happened before. He usually smiled at JL when leaving and promised to come back.
JL hesitated for a second before standing up to follow.
--
He found Chih En in the quiet, dimly lit kitchen, standing by the fridge.
As JL stepped closer, Chih En finally turned around, meeting his eyes.
His voice was calm, but his gaze was unreadable.
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."