The rest of the Everland field trip is full of sparkly images and rushes of gold in my veins. Soon after the Rolling-X Train, Beomgyu and I meet up with the TXT members to explore the rest of the theme park. We make our way to the Double Rock Spin, where I release even more stress by screaming my brains out. Then, we get churros to share and explore the flower garden at the very back of the theme park. I take so many pictures, sneaking in some side profiles of Beomgyu and random angles of the park as the sun goes down and paints the rides in orange.

Soon later, we're back in the bus as Mrs. Jo describes how we're to drive to Jeonju Hanok Village, where we'll stay in a Korean traditional house overnight. On the way there, I let my sleepiness take full control. I end up leaning my head against Beomgyu's steady shoulder, soaking in his presence for as long as I possibly can. I think my mind has come to terms with the fact that I have less than fourteen days in Korea. When I leave, I'll have nothing but the memories of Beomgyu and his friends to take with me.

The Hanok Village turns into a full-on college party as the students get off the bus and choose the rooms they'll stay in for the night. Naturally, and with all of God's blessings, I'm grouped with Beomgyu and the rest of TXT. We choose a room at the very end of a long line of male students. Immediately, the TXT members roll out the futons and make a claim of where they want to sleep. I choose a spot next to Beomgyu, still slightly dizzy about the prospect of sharing a room with an idol group.

"Are you comfortable?" Beomgyu asks as I test out my makeshift bed.

I roll over and almost slam against the wooden floor. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Of course."

Beomgyu looks at me with mischief. "Jayden is freaking out because he has to room with five handsome guys."

Taehyun bops Beomgyu on the head. "Look at you, making our guest feel uncomfortable."

Soobin responds with a sour face. "I don't know how you lasted this long, Jayden. Rooming with Beomgyu and everything."

Huening Kai tries, unsuccessfully, to stop the laughter in his throat. "Yeah. Doesn't he smell bad?"

"He definitely smells the worst out of all of us," Yeonjun agrees.

I sit, in silent wonder, as the members of TXT begin a debate about who is the smelliest member. It continues until full darkness falls upon the city of Jeonju, but I'm happy just to remain seated and to take in the boys' quirks, gestures, and voices.

"Hey, it's time to head out to the barbecue."

Beomgyu's voice lifts me up from my sleepiness. I hadn't realized that I'd started to drift off after laying down while TXT went on with their banter. Their words were like a lullaby for me, allowing me to feel safe and secure. I look around, realizing that the other members of TXT have already left the room. I get up too quickly, feeling dizzy as the room and the boys' belongings spin in my vision.

"I didn't want to wake you up," Beomgyu says, "But I didn't want you to miss the barbecue either. I heard Mrs. Jo and the chaperones got all the best cuts of meat."

On call, my stomach rumbles. "Thank you for staying with me."

"No problem at all," Beomgyu replies, like he's already used to waiting on me.

The Jeonju Hanok Village is covered with a veil of stars at night, thanks to the lack of city lights. I follow Beomgyu and the trails of smoke drifting upwards, taking in the scent of pork belly and kalbi and bulgogi. Soon, we make our way to a barbecuing site. Multiple plastic tables and chairs have been set out for us, and students are already digging into their meals. Mrs. Jo is handling one of the tongs with precision, and the other chaperones and bringing around shares of meat to make sure everyone is included, happy, and full.

Yeonjun is cracking a joke about the time he fell asleep in the dance practice room and woke up to Huening Kai rubbing his stomach. His story is so animated that I can't help but be drawn in as well. Taehyun, Soobin, and Huening Kai look unbothered, like they've heard the story a million times already. Beside me, Beomgyu chuckles and points at Taehyun's face.

"Look at him," Beomgyu whispers. "He's annoyed that Yeonjun is telling this story again."

I eat at the same speed of Beomgyu, tasting every meat on the menu and washing it down with cider and grape juice.

In the wake of heartbreak, I almost forgot how to enjoy myself around my peers. If Beomgyu wasn't here, maybe I'd still be drifting off in my own little world of sorrow, not able to connect to the people here. But thanks to him, I'm able to fully be myself—the whole, unbroken version—next to the other students and TXT. I eat until my belly is protesting, I watch as some students get drunk off of soju, I laugh at jokes that I probably won't remember past the length of tonight.

But for the first time in a long while, I'm happy.