The sky had turned gray, and the trees around him looked unfamiliar. Jungtae hadn't meant to wander so far, but every trail behind the base camp looked the same after a few turns. The laughter of his classmates had faded long ago. Now, only the wind whispered through the wet leaves.
He glanced at his phone. No signal. Of course.
"Great… perfect timing," he muttered.
A low rumble rolled across the sky. Thick clouds gathered fast, dimming the forest until it felt heavy and cold.
The first drops of rain came soft, then harder, within minutes, water streamed down his face and arms. Jungtae yanked his hood up and started shouting.
"Woojin!! Anyone?!"
His voice echoed through the trees but came back empty. He broke into a jog, searching for any trail marker or sound of people. His shoes slipped on the slick grass, and he caught himself against a tree trunk, panting.
"I'm such an idiot, I wandered too far!"
The rain blurred his vision. He was about to turn back when a shape appeared ahead…a person sitting on a boulder, rain running down his hair, face serious.
"...Owen?"
The figure looked up, startled, then smiled when he recognized him.
"Oh? Are you lost too?"
Relief and irritation mixed in Jungtae's chest. "Hah. Funny."
Owen stood, brushing water off his face. Even soaked, he looked annoyingly calm.
"Looks like fate likes making us meet, huh?"
"Stop talking nonsense," Jungtae muttered, stepping closer. "Do you know the way back?"
"I just told you, I'm lost too." He smiled easily.
Crazy, Jungtae thought. He sighed. "Fine. Then we find the way together before it gets worse."
As if mocking him, thunder cracked overhead, and the rain grew heavier.
Owen trailed behind him, his gaze sliding over Jungtae's back, quietly comparing their heights. He spoke casually, "You know, I heard someone calling my name earlier. Didn't feel like answering. Now look where that got me."
"Maybe try caring next time," Jungtae said flatly.
"Well, they'll probably come looking for me fast. My father's name alone would make them panic." Owen smirked.
Jungtae turned, scowling. "Stop with that smug attitude."
Owen chuckled. "Relax, Jungtae. I was kidding."
For a while, they walked in silence, only the sound of rain and their wet shoes squishing against the mud. Suddenly, Jungtae froze. Something moved near his foot.
"Snake!!!"
He jumped back, slipped on the muddy slope, and grabbed the nearest thing.
Owen's wrist.
"Hey!!!"
Both of them lost balance and tumbled down the hill, rolling through wet grass and dirt.
"Ah!"
"Watch it!"
They landed in a heap at the bottom, soaked and breathless. For a few seconds, neither moved.
Jungtae groaned, sitting up. "Ow… sorry."
Owen brushed off mud, giving him a crooked smile. "Next time, fall by yourself."
"My bad," Jungtae said weakly.
The slope behind them looked impossible to climb.
"Great. We're super lost now," Owen muttered.
Jungtae scanned the trees, then pointed through the curtain of rain. "There! A cabin!"
They ran toward it. The small wooden hut was covered in moss, its windows foggy and cracked. Jungtae pushed the door, it creaked loudly but opened.
Inside was dim and musty, the air heavy with the smell of wet wood. Old blankets lay piled near a broken table.
"This is fine," Jungtae said, shaking off rain. "We'll stay till it stops."
"I say we wait for rescue," Owen replied, glancing out the window. "It's getting dark. It's dangerous."
'He's right,' Jungtae thought. He sighed. "Yeah, okay."
Owen searched through a cabinet while Jungtae sat in the corner, taking off his soaked jacket. He found a few matches and a rusty oil lamp.
"Lucky," Owen said, lighting it. Warm orange light filled the cabin.
Jungtae wrapped himself in a rough blanket, crouched near the wall, trying to wring water from his pants.
Owen took a seat near the window, holding another blanket. His eyes drifted toward Jungtae, and lingered.
"What?" Jungtae asked, frowning.
Owen tilted his head. "Nothing. Just thinking."
The way he said it made Jungtae tense. The reality hit him…he was alone in a tiny cabin with Owen Kwon.
He stayed still, alert. Owen leaned back, fingers tapping his knee, eyes steady. There was something unreadable in his gaze, something that made Jungtae's heart race, though not from fear alone.
Then Owen suddenly laughed and shook his head. "Never mind. You looked so tense, it's almost cute."
A chill ran down Jungtae's spine. "Don't even think about doing anything stupid."
"Relax. I cancelled the idea… for now," Owen teased.
Jungtae turned to face the wall, groaning. Of all people…why him?
Behind him, Owen chuckled softly, the sound low and amused.
Rain pounded on the roof. Neither spoke again for a long while.
ৎ────
Back at Seorim Base Camp, chaos had broken out.
"What do you mean they're both missing?!" Mr. Choi's voice was sharp.
"Sir, no one's seen them since the flag challenge! The storm hit, and we thought they went back with another group!"
One of the teachers paled. "Wait…you mean Kwon Owen?!"
"Yes, sir!"
"If something happens to that boy, we'll be in big trouble!"
Mr. Choi ran a hand through his hair. "Get a search team. Now."
Three staff from the base came to help, but it wasn't enough.
"I'll go," a voice said.
Woojin stood by the tent flap, raincoat half-zipped, eyes fierce.
"Woojin, it's dangerous," Mr. Choi warned.
"I said I'm going," he replied firmly. "I'm not sitting here while Jungtae's out there."
Four students stepped up behind him, volunteers from other groups, including two of Owen's friends.
"Fine," Mr. Choi said finally. "Be careful."
They grabbed flashlights and ropes, then disappeared into the forest under sheets of rain.
Hours passed as they searched. The beams of their flashlights cut through the fog. Then, a sudden shout came from behind.
"Over here! Someone fell!"
They rushed over, a student lay near a cliff, unconscious and bleeding.
"He's breathing! But he's badly hurt!"
Three of them carried him back to camp as teachers called emergency services, voices trembling.
Still, Woojin refused to stop. He pushed deeper into the forest with the remaining volunteers, calling Jungtae's name into the storm.
ৎ────
Inside the cabin, the hours crawled by. The rain finally slowed to a steady drip. Owen leaned back, humming under his breath.
"It's been hours. They're slow."
"It's not easy searching in weather like this," Jungtae muttered.
"I was joking," Owen said.
"Good. Then stop talking too much," Jungtae replied.
"That'll be boring."
Jungtae sighed and ignored him, curling into his blanket. The quiet returned, broken only by dripping water and the faint hum of insects.
They both drifted close to sleep, until a distant voice cut through the silence.
"Did you hear that?" Owen said, eyes snapping open.
Jungtae sat up. "Rescue?"
Owen went to the door, pushing it open. "Finally."
They stepped outside, cold mist swirling around them.
"We're here!" Jungtae shouted.
A beam of light flashed through the trees.
"Jungtae!!"
Woojin came running, drenched and breathless. His flashlight shook as he grabbed Jungtae's shoulders.
"Are you hurt? Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine," Jungtae stammered. "Just wet. Thank you for coming."
Woojin exhaled sharply, relief softening his face. "Don't scare me like that again."
Behind them, Owen leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"Relax. Nothing happened," he said.
Woojin turned to him coldly. "I wasn't asking you."
Owen's grin didn't fade.
ৎ────
Back at camp, the teachers and Haneul swarmed them, checking for cuts and fever. Because of the storm and the injured student, the trip was officially cancelled. Everyone was told to rest until five.
Inside his tent, Jungtae changed into dry clothes. Woojin sat near the entrance, expression serious.
"What really happened?"
Jungtae hesitated. "I wandered too far. Then I met Owen. We both got lost, that's all. He didn't do anything."
Woojin studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. Just wanted to be sure." He stood. "Get some rest. We're leaving at five."
"Thanks, Woojin."
Woojin smiled faintly and stepped out.
Jungtae lay back, staring at the ceiling, his mind still spinning. Outside, he saw Owen talking to Haneul and a teacher. There were a few scratches on his face, a small bandage on his cheek.
When Owen noticed Jungtae watching, he flashed that same confident grin.
Jungtae immediately closed his tent flap and sighed. "Unbelievable."
ৎ────
By five a.m., camp was quiet and messy. Only one teacher stayed behind to lead the students home. The others had gone ahead with the injured boy.
Jungtae climbed onto the bus, exhaustion weighing on him. He sat by the window and spotted Owen boarding another bus. Their eyes met briefly. Owen smiled.
Jungtae quickly shut the window and turned away.
The buses rumbled to life, wheels splashing through puddles as dawn broke over Seorim Mountain. Jungtae leaned his head against the glass, watching the scenery blur by.
His thoughts ran in circles, getting lost, Owen's strange gaze, Woojin's worried face, the injured student.
He wondered if that boy would be alright.
He wondered if fate would keep crossing his path with Kwon Owen.
The mountains faded into mist behind them, and the trip that was supposed to be three simple days turned to a dangerous accidents. Jungtae didn't get to relax.