A sinking feeling filled the pit of Kwon Yoon-Ji's stomach as she watched the vehicle pull up to the curb, its large, white body gleaming under the warm street light. She had been both dreading and looking forward to this day for weeks now, and here it was– the annual school retreat.

It wasn’t really anything grand, just the school's attempt at offering students the chance to form connections that would almost surely never have been otherwise.  And Yoon-Ji was fine with that much, especially given her friends and a select few classmates who would be great company if needed.

However, there was something about the very prospect of traveling to such a remote and obscure location that she dreaded, hence the conflicting feelings.

‘Just why did it have to be mandatory?’ Yoon-Ji groaned, shuffling behind her other classmates.

“Everyone, please line up properly,” came the instruction from their class president, Kim Jun-Hee. “Those who want to sit at the back will be the first ones to board.”

Though the sun had yet to rise, most of the students' moods were quick to pick up hearing this. Soon enough all traces of sleepiness had faded away and excited chatters filled the area. Yoon-Ji left her duffle bag by the other's baggages and walked up to the line where she took her place behind a boy visibly buzzing with excitement.

“Yoon!” Said male, Heo-Yool, beamed as he turned towards her. He was Yoon-Ji’s closest friend from years back, and since then they've been pretty inseparable.

“You guys! Let's play mafia later, I have a few ideas I wanted to try,” Heo-Yool grinned, his arms slung around their other friend, Nam Yeon-Woo’s shoulders to enclose the other in a hug.

How the boy managed to exert such an excessive amount of energy at such an ungodly hour was something Yoon-Ji could never hope to understand.

“Tone it down, Yool,” She sighed from behind her friend, looking at her wristwatch that read 4:12 AM. “It's too early for you to be this rowdy,”

Yeon-Woo, who would normally go along with whatever Heo-Yool did, wholeheartedly agreed, letting out an ‘aish’ as the other shook him in his hold. He grumbled, “Yool, man, let me go…It's too early for this…”

“Okay, but that means you'll all play right? right? Good!” the excited chime coaxed more groans, but was otherwise accepted by the friend group.

“Yah, you better hope you don't get Mafia,” came the input of their other friend, Baek Eun-Ha, as she tossed her damp hair over her shoulder, “If I found you even slightly suspicious I'll be the first to vote you out, got that?”

“Eh? Don't be a killjoy, removing me first wouldn't be any fun, you know-” The banter continued as everyone was lining up to board the bus. At this moment, Yoon-Ji spaced out and observed her classmates.

At the far end of the line was a drowsy-looking Lee Yoon-Seo and next to her stood deep in thought Oh Jung-Won. Despite not being as close to the two as she was with Heo-Yool and the others, she had the opportunity to work on a project with them once and enjoyed their company thoroughly.

Yoon-Ji flung them a small wave that was missed by the former but was acknowledged by the latter who at least responded with a curt smile.

Feeling accomplished, Yoon-Ji surveyed the faces of her remaining classmates. Her gaze eventually lingering on the imposing figure of Go Kyung-Jun, who was flanked by his two goons, Shin Seung-Bin and Kim Jin-Ha. She knew this delinquent group was infamous for the harassment of countless students, which should have at least landed them a suspension or two, but has so far avoided any.

Her recluse personality has always kept her from crossing their path, and so she had been spared the fate of being bullied by these troublemakers. Her friend group on the other hand, were not as lucky. Nevertheless, none of them had ever directly confronted her and she was probably the only one in her class who hadn't ever been victimized by them. She can only fervently wish for things to remain that way in the future.

As Yoon-Ji dozed off in thought, Kyung-Jun’s eyes suddenly fleeted from face to face until they stopped to meet her own, as if feeling her stare boring into him.

In those few seconds her eyes locked into Kyung-Jun's, Yoon-Ji felt a surge of emotions that she didn't fully understand. Was she unnerved that the other had managed to notice her? Scared at the thought of accidentally crossing the other? Whatever the case, it was a strange and unfamiliar feeling, one that made her feel so uncomfortable that she broke the stare to face the front, just barely missing the hint of intrigue on the other's face before he too, looked away.

'What am I doing?' Yoon-Ji inwardly berated herself, embarrassed at having been caught in the act. But despite her inner turmoil, Yoon-Ji still tried her best to act casual. Keyword: tried.

“Oh?” Heo-Yool's face met hers, bearing a curious expression, “Who were you looking at?”

“N-No one,” Yoon-Ji shook her head, wincing at the stutter, “Just zoned out cuz ‘m still sleepy…”

As expected, the male hummed in thought, as though he didn't fully believe her. He opened his mouth to grill Yoon-Ji but was cut off as their teacher, Mr. Lee, relayed a few more rules to them before their departure.

After a brief period of waiting and a few final instructions from the teacher, the students finally boarded the bus. Yoon-Ji settled herself down in a seat at the back, which happened to be the same row as Heo-Yool and Yeon-Woo.

She tried to fight the yawns that threatened to consume her as she got comfortable, but the lack of sleep was just too overwhelming. As the bus' engine hummed into life, she leaned against the seat and closed her eyes.

While drifting off, she felt a glimmer of excitement flicker in the depths of her mind. She had been awaiting the retreat all week, eager for a break from the routine of school. And as she slipped into the embrace of the gentle rocking of the bus, she allowed herself to imagine the countless adventures that lay ahead.

'I hope it'll be fun...'

It was with these thoughts running through her mind that Yoon-Ji finally surrendered herself to the embrace of sleep, her body gradually relaxing as she drifted into the warmth of slumber.

( note )
slightly edited!