camping trip, summer break.

jake never- in his 19 years of being alive- tried to skip their dinner parties every summer break.

but this time, there's a difference.

this time, someone told me to do what i want.

"so, you're telling me that you won't come home this summer?" jaehyuk removed his sunglasses as he tried to process the information.

he sighed. "yes, that's the plan."

"you really won't go home for three weeks?" his brother clicked his tongue. "you'll just stay here? did you already inform mom and dad? what about that old man?"

jake shrugged and continued to pack his things. "i don't know, i'll text mom later. but in the meantime, can you get lost?"

"are you going somewhere? why are you packing your stuff?"

"i'm leaving the country."

"what?!"

he rolled his eyes. "of course not. i'm camping with my friends."

jaehyuk sat on the side of his bed, examining his things.

"can i come with you?"

"aren't you busy with your law school?"

"maybe, but i can manage." he shrugged. jake just looked at him.

"i'm just joking, i can't manage shit."

"when will you leave?"

"fine, i'll go now. i'll text you if there's an emergency okay? bye." he nodded at jaehyuk and waved goodbye as the older opened the door and went out.

+++++++++

《 geonu is an alcoholic 》

geonuyah:
rise and shine mfs

hanbinjjang:
where are y'all? it's already 7 am

sunooshi:
be right there hyung

wonnie:
hurry up
i'm sleepy

dongkyu:
meet up should be 6 am
istg y'all are always late

wonnie:
shut up i didn't even want to go on a camping trip

geonuyah:
where tf is jake
JAKE
@jakey this is the first time you're late

jakey:
i'm on my way
sorry
i had to deal with smth

hanbinjjang:
that's okay bub

geonuyah:
the favoritism is showing

dongkyu:
the only one who's not favorite here is you

geonuyah:
daniel
it's too early
i don't have the will to commit murder rn

wonnie:
i will be the one commiting murder if we don't go rn

jakey:
i'm almost there guys
okay
let's goooo

++++++++++

aussie boy @jakey tweeted.

camping here we go ✊🏻✊🏻

910 likes | 173 retweets

replies:

@geonuyah time to feed daniel to the wild animals 😋😋
↪@dongkyu not if i push you off the cliff first 🥰
↪@geonuyah aw that's so sweet, i wish i could put you in the bonfire or smth 🤧
↪@dongkyu ikr, i wish you'd accidentally snap your neck or smth 🤭
↪@jakey i wish you two could leave my reply section alone

++++++++++

jake was humming as he stares at the view outside of the car. it's been a long time since he felt this free and calm.

he looked at sunoo beside him who is sleeping peacefully. the other three are also sleeping, and hanbin's busy driving.

jake took his phone and stared at it. should i message him? he contemplates.

fuck it, he was the one who convinced me to do what i want, so i will. no hesitations.

before he typed a message, he changed his contact name first.

++++++++++

[ park #1 ]

jake:
hey
are you busy?

park #1:
hey
nope
i'm with the others

jake:
oh
okay
i'm with my friends too, we're gonna camp ^^

park #1:
really?
we're gonna go camping too

jake:
what?
that's weird lmao everyone's just going on a camp huh

park #1:
i thought you were going to your family?

jake:
not anymore ig
time for a change ☺️

park #1:
that's good
enjoy your camping and be safe :)

jake:
thanks!
you too :)))

+++++++++

"jake, you know you're smiling really wide right now right?" jake quickly closed his phone and stopped smiling.

sunoo laughed. "why do you look shocked? it's fine, that's a normal reaction. who are you texting, your crush?"

jake shook his head furiously, denying it. but his blushing face says it all.

"aww, you really can't lie you know?" sunoo leaned closer to whisper. "who is it?"

"it's no one, i swear."

"okay okay, if you say so." the boy grinned at him and winked.

after a long ride and walk, they finally arrived to the camp site. they finished setting up their tents when jake's phone vibrated.

he tried to ignore it but it kept on vibrating so he opened to check who it was. his smile disappeared as he saw a text.

+++++++++

[ mom ]

mom:
jaeyun, your brother's already here
why were you not with him?

jake:
mom, i still have things to do at the uni

mom:
but it's summer break, son.
i'm sure you already finished your works there
where are you right now? i'll go to your apartment

jake:
mom, it's fine
and i'm not there right now

mom:
your father wants you here
and your grandfather will definitely look for you
where did you go?

jake:
i'm busy right now
but i promise i'll make it up to you and dad
please mom

mom:
fine
take care of yourself ok?
and don't repeat this again

jake:
yeah, i won't
take care mom

+++++++++

jake's mood changed after his mom texted him. he's starting to think that it's a bad idea to not show up at their home. no, it's gonna be fine. this is the first time, i'm sure they'll let it slide.

"are you okay jake? you seem preoccupied," daniel asked as they start the bonfire.

"no, i'm good. just feeling a little bit sleepy." it's already dark and they started eating their dinner while surrounding the bonfire.

the six of them were enjoying the atmosphere but were interrupted when hanbin's dance team coincidentally arrived at the same camp site.

well, fuck. jake almost cursed when he saw sunghoon again. he said they we're going on a camp too, but why here? just how did we end up on the same camp site? this is getting ridiculous.

it was starting to get crowded around the bonfire so jake took the chance to leave. he went straight to the back porch of the cabin and sat on the floor.

i wish i could stay here for a bit longer.

"jake," he looked to his side just to see sunghoon walking towards him, holding a blanket in his arm.

jake scoots over to give space to sunghoon as he sits beside him.

"we meet again." sunghoon glanced and gave him a small smile. "isn't it weird?"

"hmm? what is?"

"how we somehow see each other most of the times. that's a weird coincidence don't you think?"

so i'm not the only one who thinks about it.

he shrugged. "it is kind of weird. maybe, it's like a lucky streak of coincidence?"

or... maybe there's a string that's pulling us towards each other? he chuckled at the thought. if that was the case, then it would've been easier for them. for him.

sunghoon didn't reply, but he puts the blanket over his shoulder. jake tried hard not to show any reaction on his gesture. he just muttered a simple thanks afterwards.

"so, you're not going home this summer?" sunghoon asks softly.

"no. i'm trying a different path," he laughs, "although i don't have any idea what i'll do for the whole summer break, i'll try."

the guy stares at him. "it's fine, no one's pressuring you to do something. just enjoy the moment."

"yeah, i know."

silence enveloped them. but right now, jake feels at peace.

"do you want to spend your summer with me?" sunghoon suddenly blurts out.

his statement just made jake's eyes widen a little. what? he's asking me to what?

"i mean," the guy clears his throat. "if you're bored, just text me. maybe we can hang out or something."

he nodded slowly. "sure, we can do that." of course we can, it's not a big deal.

"okay, great."

"i'll go to sleep now," jake stood up, handing the blanket to sunghoon. he nods as a response.

"have a good night, jake." he gives him a smile. jake smiles back as his heart almost skipped a beat.

"you too, hoon. good night."

++++++++++

i just updated this in a hurry bc i'm still doing my thesis rn lmao so i'm sorry in advance if there's any typo or grammatical error, i'll edit this again in the morning 🤧

have a good day/night everyone! <3