*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ

I should have stayed at home.

Yes, anything else would have been better than being here at this three-ring circus!

Alyssa and I are amongst the onlookers as Jungkook, Jimin, Ji-Woo, Yoongi, Eric and Namjoon-  who both arrived late last night, come tearing back up the path towards the cabin. 

Since the crack of dawn, the guys went out and spilt themselves into two teams.

This is the third relay race this morning and I've seen enough! I just want to eat, already!

If it weren't for Alyssa practically holding me back by the collar, I would have probably managed to hoof down a large, hot plate of eggs and sausages by now! 

My mouth is watering at the thought and annoyance is mounting within me with every passing second. 

I cock a sly eyebrow in Alyssa's direction again to express my irritation with her.

I understood that she was excited to become Mrs. Jeon Ji-Woo but this girl was taking the whole 'perfect wifey' thing to the next level. Why should we have to wait on the men to eat?

I had no allies in my protest. Her two best friends were more like minions and didn't oppose anything decreed by the fairy princess, Ji-Woo's little sister didn't give a damn about breakfast because she practically survived off of K-pop and air! And Yoongi's girlfriend slept even more than he did so she wasn't even out of the room yet!

I sigh grumpily and cross my arms with no choice but to wait.

Naturally Jungkook's team kept winning and then Namjoon kept asking for re-do's. 

Eric is consistently finishing neck and neck with Jungkook and so, is convinced that he will win if they just go around 'one more time'.

The result of this is that an hour later, we're still standing here. 

"Are we on a camping trip or is this the bloody, Olympics?" I shout over the stampede of drenched and sweaty male bodies approaching.

An obviously victorious Jungkook is heading the line. 

Skin glistening and muscles rippling under the summer heat. He grins triumphantly, locking eyes with me and I turn my back, pretending to tie my shoe or count the stone pebbles on the floor or something... I'm not quite sure what I'm doing.

After a minute or two, I dust awkwardly at the laces of my North Face, Storm Strikes-  then rise up again, leaning into Alyssa.

"Look at him, he's so childish!" I mutter to her under my breath. 

"Who?"

"What do you mean who? The one who's behind all this- Jungkook!" I hiss, lowly.

She just gives me a blank look. 

I don't know what its supposed to mean.

Jimin notices the sour expression on my face and he ambles up to the pair of us, huffing, puffing and draping himself tiredly against the both of us as if we would catch him.

"Why the long faces? Its all in good fun, girls..." He throws both arms around our shoulders simultaneously, gathering us both into an awkward headlock. 

My face somehow ends up it the crease of Jimin's armpit causing my empty stomach to lurch violently in disgust!

"Ugh, Jimin you reek!" I cry, pushing him off.

Jimin only cackles hysterically as I wipe my mouth off on my sleeve and he launches himself at us again. 

He was unbelievable! 

Alyssa and I can't resist giggling while trying to fight the slippery, stinky cuddle monster that was Park Jimin.

I could count on Jimin's infectious playfulness to still make light of my mood even at a time where I was feeling astronomically pissed off at the world.

He lets up after a while, allowing us to all catch our breaths.

"Its not very fun when we've been waiting around for you guys all morning so we can have breakfast, Jimin!"

I turn around, searching for Eric.

"Look man, better luck next time," I hear Jungkook saying. He is talking to Eric which is the last thing that I want.

They bump fists, patting each other on the back.

Jogging over to where they are standing, I offer a smile to Eric while ushering him away from Jungkook as quickly as I can. I hand him a small towel and he takes it gratefully, mopping the perspiration from his brow.

Eric wasn't the most outdoorsy type of guy but he also wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

And challenge him Jungkook did from the moment that he walked into the cabin last night at dinner time; 

From small silly games of balancing beer-bottle caps on their noses to all night rounds of 'kai, gai,bo' and now they were running laps around each other outside the cabin.

I wondered just how far this 'friendly competition' was going to go?

I knew that Jungkook got a kick out of winning. That he wouldn't stop until he made Eric realise that he was better than him at anything and everything. 

"Got anymore of those?" A voice calls from behind me.

"What?"

"A towel.." Jungkook enquires, smirking with mock innocence. 

"No, sorry." I bite back in response while Eric wanders away following the others who are all herding over to the bench outside for breakfast. 

"Get your own damn towel. What do I look like?" I ask him, now that everyone is out of ear-shot.

Jungkook gives a satisfied cough of laughter and I flush, reprimanding myself for falling for his tricks.

Of course he didn't really expect me to give him a towel. He just wanted to get a rise out of me and he did.

I hurry away, skipping to catch up with Eric.

His breathing is returning to normal and I wet the end of the towel with some water from my glass, pressing the cool end of the cloth against his forehead.

"You okay baby?" I ask and he smiles charmingly at me, "You don't have to go playing or competing in stupid competitions with the boys if you don't want to..."

"Its fine." Eric bristles and I'm somewhat taken aback. I was just trying to help him avoid Jungkook's show-offy tactics! 

"I just want you to know, that's all. We're here for a retreat, not bootcamp. You don't have to entertain that media robot with the latest issue of men's health for brains and gasoline for blood!" 

I huff in disdain before closing my eyes and finally swallowing a coveted mouthful of silky scrambled eggs.

"Do you mean your ex?"

My eyes shoot open in surprise.

Eric makes a scoffing noise.

"Well, I think he's actually a nice guy." He says and my eyes widen in disbelief, "Its just a bit of healthy competition Mel, that's all." 

Eric ignores me looking at him and tucks into the rest of his breakfast instead.

After a while he pauses:

"What's crawled up your ass all of a sudden? Do you and him still have a problem?"

"N-no!" 

"Well then maybe you should relax a little. Otherwise, it makes me feel like there's something going on that I should be worried about."

Eric looks at me, visibly upset.

I can't do anything but stare back, lost for words, mind empty. 

Everyone has finished eating and the group disperses from the table, heading off in different directions. But not before Ji-Woo loudly reminds us all to gather in the foyer at 3pm to go hiking in the mountains nearby.

Yay. Hiking.

'"whaaaa-hooooo!"  

Jimin and Namjoon can be heard already screaming and splashing about excitedly in the lake. 

I turn to look and see Jungkook slowly stripping out of his shirt and readying himself to make a running start for the deep blue depths to join them.

"C'mon, anyone else up for a swim! Eric?" He calls after him just as he begins gathering a good pace, feet scattering small pebbles everywhere.

"You don't have to do this." I say quietly, toying with the last bits of food on my plate as I struggle to hide the pout tugging at my lips.

"What is the problem, Mel? I don't mind doing things with the guys. And besides, I was the 5 time swimming champ back in my senior year of highschool. I totally can take him, if that's what you're worried about."

"I'm not worried about anything.." I grumble.

Eric lets out an exasperated sigh.

" Mel, you  wanted me  to come here. These are your friends and family. Shouldn't you want me to get along with them?"

"I....well, yes. I guess.." I fumble.

Eric exchanges a pained look of concern with me and I nod wordlessly, trying to smile.

"Go on.." I say quietly.

"Alright?"

"Yeah, its ok. Go!" I try to smile bravely again. 

Eric returns a smile, reassuringly squeezing my hand before calling over his shoulder back to Jungkook, ".... I'll be just a second!"

What was I so afraid of and why am I acting like this?

                                                          ***

The squeak of a faucet turning causes me to stir from my mid-day nap. 

Peeling my damp cheek from the pillows I raise myself slowly onto my elbows, looking around.

Eric emerges from the shower with a gentle smile and a fluffly white towel secured around his waist.

"You're up! I hope I didn't wake you.."

"No..." I groan tiredly, rubbing my eyes, "how long was I asleep for?"

"I dunno...an hour? Maybe two?"

The bed sinks as Eric settles down beside me.

He rubs my back and I sigh casting my eyes down.

"Eric, I'm sorry. About the way I acted earlier.." I begin.

"No, I'm sorry Mel. I just got so caught up in wanting everyone to like me. I was really nervous coming here you know?"

"You were?"

"Yeah! Mel, look at me.."

Eric lifts my chin by one finger.

"I really....I really like you and and I want this to work. I wanted to make a good impression because I honestly hope that we can have a future together." 

His green eyes pierce into me, earnest and caring. 

"Oh, Eric.."

Before I can say anything more his lips are on mine and I sigh feebly as the kiss grows more urgent.

Gong!

The loud chime of the rustic grandfather clock on the landing of the cabin resounds throughout the building.

"Gosh! I hate that thing!" I pull away covering my ears.

Eric chuckles, "It didn't stop you from sleeping through five of them a while ago!"

"Eh, I suppose I was really tired."

"Mel, you seem so on edge these days. So different. I hope that I didn't worry you."

I shake my head, 'no'.

Eric is so sweet and he didn't deserve my bad attitude. He did come all the way out here for me after all. 

I realised when I came in to lie down after breakfast that the only reason why I freaked out when I saw him getting close with Jungkook was because I felt guilty about all the stuff we did. 

That I did... behind his back. 

And I was worried that Jungkook might get cocky and slip up, telling Eric everything about us hooking up.

I had no idea Eric was taking our relationship so seriously and maybe its time I did too.

Eric kisses my neck and holds me tight.

"You're the perfect woman for me, Melanie.." Eric whispers into my neck causing tears of confusion and guilt to prick my eyes.

"What if I told you that I wasn't that perfect, Eric. Would you still accept me then?" I ask.

"Of course, Mel...I love all your imperfections. You know that." his brows crease together, looking at me with compassion.

I blink the foreboding tears away quickly before any of them fall. This isn't the time to fall apart.

"I didn't think about how hard this must be for you...to be around your ex on this trip. It only occurred to me now and then I remembered the way he was when we met at the restaurant: a real fucking prick! But he seems different now. Maybe we can all just move on from this like mature adults?"

My head falls again like a wilting flower. I don't want to talk about this.

"From now on I'll be more considerate, okay. If seeing me being all chummy with Jungkook bothers you, I'll keep my distance."

"Thank you, Eric."

Eric was always so nice, so good to me. He always took my side no matter what. I guess that's why it went down so badly when we couldn't see eye to eye, earlier. 

But Eric came back to me. Looking at him now, I just know that he would never do anything to hurt me. 

This is the kind of love that I deserve, not one where my life was constantly hanging in the balance of uncertainty and doubt. 

I look into Eric's eyes and lean in to kiss him again.

There's a steady rise of chatter heard from out in the hallway.

"We'd better hurry. Everyone must be gathering for the hike!"

"Oh shit, yeah.."

I scramble into the bathroom to get changed and fill a small rucksack with water  and some fruit I smuggled from the breakfast table earlier for both Eric and I.

When I'm finally ready, I emerge into the bedroom to find Eric standing by the window.

His back is turned and I slowly snake my arms around his sturdy waist.

"Do we have to go..." I whine, face pressed into the muscles of his back. 

I'm suddenly feeling horny and desperate to re-connect with Eric after we've made up from our mini falling out.

Eric picks up on my sordid intentions as I lightly drag my fingers across the waistline of his boxer-briefs that are peeking out slightly atop the waist of his cargo pants. Slipping them underneath his shirt, I close my eyes feeling warmth pool between my legs as I faintly caress the soft hairs of his happy trail.

Eric clamps a strong hand over mine, stopping me.

"Don't worry," He husks out in a breathy growl, "I'll take care of you when we get back."

                                                       *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ

        💕Vote! Comment! Tell me how you really feel! 💕

                                                    ✨BJF✨