π Morning β Vacation Resort
The sound of waves and birds wakes everyone up.
For the first time in months, nobody has meetings.
Nobody has schedules.
Nobody has reporters.
Just vacation.
Well...
That was the plan.
ββββββββββββββ
π Resort Restaurant
Everyone gathers for breakfast.
Mr. Aura walks in looking suspiciously energetic.
Everyone immediately becomes nervous.
Mr. Aura:
"Good morning!"
Nobody answers.
Secretary Ryu:
"He's planning something."
Manager Hyun:
"I can feel it."
Mr. Aura smiles.
Mr. Aura:
"Today's activity list!"
Everyone groans.
ββββββββββββββ
π Activity 1 β Beach Volleyball
Teams are divided.
Team 1:
Kiara
Manager Hyun
Two staff members
Team 2:
Jiho
Secretary Ryu
Mr. Aura
One staff member
Jiho grins.
Jiho:
"Looks like we're opponents."
Kiara:
"Try not to lose."
Jiho:
"That's cute."
Kiara:
"Excuse me?"
Mr. Aura:
"START!"
ββββββββββββββ
The game begins.
Jiho jumps dramatically.
Misses completely.
Falls into sand.
Everyone laughs.
Secretary Ryu:
"That's our superstar."
Manager Hyun:
"I'm not claiming him."
Jiho:
"Traitor."
ββββββββββββββ
Kiara spikes the ball.
It lands directly on Jiho's head.
BONK.
Everyone freezes.
Then bursts out laughing.
Jiho:
"Attempted murder."
Kiara:
"Professional volleyball."
Jiho:
"I'll remember this."
ββββββββββββββ
πΈ Activity 2 β Couple Photography Challenge
Mr. Aura:
"Next game!"
Everyone:
"NO!"
Mr. Aura:
"YES!"
He spins a box.
Names are drawn.
Everyone waits.
Secretary Ryu opens hers.
Manager Hyun opens his.
Both freeze.
Secretary Ryu:
"Oh."
Manager Hyun:
"Oh."
Mr. Aura:
"Perfect!"
Everyone laughs.
ββββββββββββββ
Their task:
Take the best vacation photo together.
Manager Hyun:
"This is ridiculous."
Secretary Ryu:
"I agree."
Five minutes laterβ
They're accidentally taking selfies.
Arguing over angles.
ββββββββββββββ
Manager Hyun:
"You're too serious."
Secretary:
"You're too grumpy."
Hyun:
"Fair."
Secretary:
"Fair."
Both laugh.
ββββββββββββββ
Meanwhile...
Jiho and Kiara are paired too.
Neither is happy.
Or maybe too happy.
ββββββββββββββ
Jiho:
"Smile."
Kiara:
"No."
Jiho:
"One smile."
Kiara:
"No."
Jiho:
"Half smile?"
Kiara:
"No."
Jiho:
"You must be fun at parties."
Kiara:
"I own the parties."
Jiho starts laughing.
The camera accidentally captures it.
And also captures Kiara trying not to smile.
ββββββββββββββ
π Activity 3 β Banana Boat
Worst idea ever.
According to Kiara.
Best idea ever.
According to Jiho.
ββββββββββββββ
Five minutes laterβ
Everyone falls into the water.
Splash.
Screams everywhere.
Mr. Aura is laughing.
Secretary Ryu is threatening legal action.
Manager Hyun is questioning his career choices.
ββββββββββββββ
Kiara comes up from the water.
Hair wet.
Laughing.
Actually laughing.
Not CEO laughing.
Real laughing.
Jiho stares.
Completely distracted.
ββββββββββββββ
Kiara:
"What?"
Jiho:
"Nothing."
Kiara:
"You're staring."
Jiho:
"No."
Kiara:
"You're literally staring."
Jiho:
"..."
Kiara:
"..."
Jiho:
"Okay maybe a little."
Kiara splashes water at him.
ββββββββββββββ
π Afternoon
Everyone returns to the resort.
Tired.
Happy.
Sunburned.
ββββββββββββββ
Secretary Ryu and Manager Hyun sit near the beach.
Watching the sunset.
Surprisingly peaceful.
ββββββββββββββ
Hyun:
"I haven't relaxed like this in years."
Secretary:
"Same."
Hyun:
"Your boss is difficult."
Secretary:
"Your actor is worse."
Hyun laughs.
Secretary laughs too.
For the first timeβ
They're actually enjoying each other's company.
ββββββββββββββ
π Evening
Mr. Aura gathers everyone.
Uh-oh.
Everyone recognizes that smile.
ββββββββββββββ
Mr. Aura:
"Final activity."
Everyone:
"No."
Mr. Aura:
"Treasure Hunt."
Everyone:
"..."
Mr. Aura:
"Winner gets a luxury resort package."
Everyone:
"LET'S GO!"
ββββββββββββββ
πΊ Treasure Hunt Begins
Teams spread across the island.
Searching clues.
Running everywhere.
Getting lost.
Finding nothing.
ββββββββββββββ
Kiara finds a clue near a waterfall.
Jiho appears.
Again.
Like always.
ββββββββββββββ
Kiara:
"Why are you here?"
Jiho:
"I found the same clue."
Kiara:
"Convenient."
Jiho:
"Suspiciously convenient."
ββββββββββββββ
The next clue leads deep into a forest path.
Away from the beach.
Away from everyone.
ββββββββββββββ
They continue walking.
Talking a little.
Laughing a little.
The awkwardness finally starting to disappear.
ββββββββββββββ
Thenβ
Thunder.
BOOM.
Both stop.
ββββββββββββββ
Jiho:
"That doesn't sound good."
Kiara:
"No."
A second thunder follows.
Much louder.
ββββββββββββββ
Suddenlyβ
Rain starts pouring.
Heavy tropical rain.
ββββββββββββββ
Kiara:
"Run!"
Jiho:
"Where?!"
Kiara:
"I don't know!"
ββββββββββββββ
Both start running.
Through trees.
Mud.
Rain.
Laughing and slipping.
ββββββββββββββ
Thenβ
They see something ahead.
An old wooden hut.
Hidden among trees.
ββββββββββββββ
Jiho:
"There!"
Kiara:
"RUN!"
ββββββββββββββ
Both rush inside.
Breathing heavily.
Completely soaked.
Rain pounding outside.
ββββββββββββββ
The old door suddenly slams shut behind them.
BANG.
Both jump.
ββββββββββββββ
Kiara:
"..."
Jiho:
"..."
Kiara slowly tries the door.
It doesn't move.
ββββββββββββββ
Jiho:
"Is it stuck?"
Kiara:
"Yes."
Jiho:
"Seriously?"
Kiara:
"YES."
ββββββββββββββ
Thunder echoes.
Rain falls harder.
The forest is getting darker.
And they are completely alone.
Together.
Inside an old hut.
Far away from everyone.
ββββββββββββββ
π§ End of Chapter 9
To Be Continued...