ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡
─◌✰್ 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗁𝗎𝗍 𝗎𝗉

sk8terjj are you turning into a spooky bitch, seungmin? 👀
> minniemouse- i've always been spooky, thank you very much
> robin_is_a_penguin @minniemouse- more like just a bitch, but okay
> sk8terjj @minniemouse- wait if ur spooky, i need to know ur halloween costume!

dingdonghong wow you look so athletic in that!
> catdad_lee he likes to play dress up
> nomnominnie @catdad_lee wait isn't he one of the most athletic out of us?
> catdad_lee @nomnominnie not as much as me smh
> ryerye @catdad_lee let's be real you're all losers

ramenoodlaska can you see me hiding in the bushes?
> sunshine.lix babe why the hell were you doing that?
> huats.up @ramenoodlaska oh girl not again
> sunshine.lix @huats.up again?? hello??

matchatess wait didn't i see @dingdonghong wearing that coat last night??
> dingdonghong hey, it's cozy, sue me
> mymymy @dingdonghong ooh girl u made a mistake, get ready for @matchatess to grill you for gossip the rest of the night

You raced through the parking lot, past the lodge, and into the forest. Branches slapped your cheeks, pines piercing your skin as you ran as quickly as your designer sneakers would take you.

You were not meant to be roughing it like this. Hell, your outfit was probably worth more than this entire campsite.

But that wasn't what mattered. What did matter was apologizing to Changbin, and earning his forgiveness.

So you gritted your teeth and pushed ahead, through the clusters of trees, until you broke out into another clearing. This one was filled with apple trees.

You stared around in wonder at the fall scenery. The trees, covered with orange, yellow, and red leaves, dotted the lush field. The air smelled of fresh grass, crisp fruit, and the nostalgia of youth. A few squirrels sat nibbling on fallen apples, their tiny paws crunching in the already-fallen leaves.

Taking a deep breath, you stepped into the clearing to search for your friends. More importantly, to look for Changbin.

You spotted Mya, Riley, and Hyunjin scooping leaves into a pile with their hands and jumping into the meager arrangement. Hyunjin was currently trying to shove both of them over onto the ground, while they screamed and threw half-rotting apples at him.

JJ, Changbin, Jeongin, and Chan were staring at their friends with a mixture of judgment and amusement on their faces.

"It's pretty gross," Changbin grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest as he kicked the ground with the heel of his shoe.

"Why are you aiming for his head??" Chan laughed at the two girls.

"I wouldn't recommend touching those apples, Hyun!" JJ warned, chuckling at him as she placed another apple in her basket.

"Hey, I'm not the one touching them! They're throwing them at me!" Hyunjin protested, yanking pieces of fruit from his hair. "I can't control if bits land on me!"

"Maybe dodge better, loser!" Riley goaded him on.

Mya giggled, before glancing around the clearing and spotting you. "Oh my gosh! Hua, when did you get here??"

You smiled, waving at them. "Just now! We put the pies in the oven, so I came down to see what you guys were up to! Clearly, I was just in time. I think I see flies buzzing around you, Hyunjin."

"What??" Hyunjin yelped, swinging his arms around his head as he tried to swat the invisible bugs.

"I was just kidding." You rolled your eyes before heading over to them, and coming to stand next to Chan.

Changbin stared at you, eyes wide and cheeks red. When you tried to meet his gaze, he glanced back down at the ground. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

"Well, you can join us in apple picking!" Chan suggested. "We were mostly done, but we can show you our favorite trees."

"Yes, we really liked the couple in the far right corner," Riley agreed. "Do you want us to show you?"

"Well, actually I was hoping I could talk to-" you began, glancing over at Changbin.

"Yes!" Changbin interrupted. "How about you go with Riley and Chan, and I'll stay here with JJ, Hyunjin, Mya, and Jeongin?"

You frowned at him, before smiling at the others. You didn't want them to think something was wrong between the two of you. "Yeah, sure okay!" you said, pasting a bright smile on your face. "You two, lead the way." You pointed at Chan and Riley, who now stood next to each other.

"Yes, follow us!" Riley linked arms with you, and hurried ahead, leaving Chan to trudge along behind you.

"Why are you ignoring him, girl?" you muttered to her under your breath.

"I am not ignoring anyone!" she replied through gritted teeth. Speaking louder, she called, "I'm excited to show you the trees! They're so pretty!"

Chan raised his eyebrows at her. "I didn't know you were such an apple enthusiast. I thought that was just JJ and Mya."

"JJ doesn't get excited about much, but festive stuff gets her giddy," you agreed. "And Mya is Mya."

"Is there a problem with me liking apples?" Riley challenged.

Chan shrugged, unbothered. "No, I just thought it was cute, that's all."

"I- uhh... here's is my favorite tree!" Riley blurted, whipping around and practically running towards one a few feet away. "I picked about a dozen apples from it!"

"Well, I guess I should take what's left, huh?" You laughed half-heartedly.

"Yes! I can help you!" Riley nodded. "If you need me to pick you up, or hold your basket, or-"

"Riles..." Chan sighed, watching as she snatched your basket from your hands and started trying to hoist you up. "C'mon Riles, stop it."

She continued to ignore him, her cheeks turning redder and redder. "This apple looks really good! Or that one! You wanna know how to tell if an apple has worms?" she babbled.

"Riles?" Chan prodded, stepping closer.

"The ones with green still on them are probably too sour! You'll want the ones with mostly red, or else-"

"Rye!" The words burst from the man, harsher and more impatient than you'd ever heard him before.

Clearly, Riley had never heard him speak that way either, because she finally turned to face him. She cocked her head, eyes wide. "What, Chris?"

He strode forward a few steps, arms stiff at his sides. Riley stared at him, confusion and nerves clouding her gaze.

Then, in one swift movement, he snatched her face up in his hands, rough palms cupping her chin. "Will you just shut up and go on a date with me?"

"Wha- what?" Riley's mouth opened and closed like a gasping fish.

"You heard me." Chan rolled his eyes, his arms falling back at his sides. "Although, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't, because you haven't noticed any of the other obvious hints that I've wanted to take you on a date since the day we met."

"What are you talking about?" Riley gaped at him. "You've been acting like you're about as attracted to me as you are to your friends! Maybe less, even! And now you're gonna claim that you've always liked me??"

"I don't stare at my friends when they wear a cute shirt or tight jeans, do I?" Chan raised a brow. "Nor would I constantly be trying to ask you out to dinner, or try to come up with excuses to spend time with you outside of work. But you just kept rejecting me!"

"I- you didn't do that!" Riley spluttered. "You only asked me out to dinner with the rest of our coworkers! And the only times we hung out outside of work was to look over storylines, or so I could show you my art!"

Chan threw his hands up in the air. "Okay, yeah. But I didn't know how to keep it subtle! I didn't want to make a fool of myself, especially after you didn't seem to get the hint."

"Okay, what the hell is happening over here??" Hyunjin, along with JJ, Mya, and Jeongin, marched over to them. Hyunjin stood in front of them, hands on his hips expectantly. He looked strikingly like his sister in that moment. You hid a laugh. Sass really did run in the family.

Chan shook his head at his friend. "I was trying to ask out Riles, before the rest of you showed up."

"Oh my gosh, what???" Mya squealed, covering her mouth. "Are you guys like... together now?"

"No Mya, we haven't even gone on one date." Riley shot her friend a warning glare.

"Yet?" Chan grinned, a glint of hope lighting his eyes.

"Yes, yet," Riley pursed her lips. "And if you still want to go with me, you're gonna have to ask properly."

"Rye, will you go on a date with me?" Chan reached a hand out to her. "An all-planned, expenses-paid date?"

"That sounds amazing," JJ grinned.

Hyunjin's face turned bright pink, and he focused hard on Chan and Riley.

Riley paused, just long enough to make Chan falter for a moment, before she smiled. "Yes, of course I'll go on a date with you, you idiot. I've been waiting long enough."

"Oh my gosh, Laska is gonna kill you for asking Riley out without her here!" Mya gushed. "I have to tell her everything!"

"Don't you think I should tell her, since it's my date?" Riley frowned. But she couldn't keep a serious face for long, and she beamed.

"Ugh, you two are gross." Hyunjin turned away dramatically. "Just add you to the list of my friends who I can no longer spend any time with."

"Oh shut up, Hyunjin!" Chan laughed, as he clasped both of Riley's hands in his. But it was clear that neither of them were really paying attention to their drama queen friend.

As your two friends just stared into each other's eyes, and the other four got bored and wandered away to collect more apples, you turned to the last remaining person, who stood behind you, still kicking at the ground with his boot.

"Bin..." you trailed off, trying to compose yourself.

He barely looked up, eyeing you suspiciously. You hated that he was hurting, but you could see the conflicting emotions in his gaze. He still cared about you. And it was that single thought that pushed you forward into what you said next.

"Bin, I'm sorry." You stepped closer to him, reaching a hand out to brush against his. But you snapped it back to your hip when he pulled away. "I'm sorry that I let my work get in the way of spending time with you, again. I know that I've been... different since our time in Jeju. Ever since The Work Debacle, I've just been so stressed that I'm going to lose my job, that Se Ri is going to fire me because everyone else believes that I'm not worthy of this trip, and I've really let it get to my head. So if you don't want to take a chance on me anymore, I understand."

"What are you talking about?" Changbin's head shot up abruptly at your words.

"Which part?" You laughed nervously.

"You know which part!" Changbin growled. "Why the hell do you think I don't want to be with you anymore?"

"Well, I keep ruining our rela- whatever we have!" you exclaimed, crossing your arms over your chest. "So I understand if you don't want to be with me, if you want to find someone who is better at the whole dating... thing."

Changbin snatched up your hands tightly in his own, that precious coldness gone. "There is no other woman that I'd rather be with than you. And I don't want to hear you say anything different. Ever. You hear me?"

"Yes, Bin," you said weakly. But your heart was thudding something fierce, nearly causing you to fall over into him. How lucky were you, that you could find someone as forgiving as him?

"Why would you just let me off the hook like that? You seemed really mad," you said, leaning against his chest.

"If you can forgive me for my stupid behavior, then I can forgive you too." he chuckled. "That's what we do, right? Forgive each other. And do better next time. And I was wrong for getting so mad. I know how much your job means to you."

You smiled into his warmth distractedly. Damn, had he been working out even more since Jeju? You weren't sure how you hadn't noticed before. "I have a question for you," you mumbled.

He detached you from him so you could talk properly. "What's that, Gorgeous?"

You blushed at the nickname. "Well, I hadn't planned this part out completely. I wasn't sure if the conversation would go well enough for me to ask it in the first place, so ignore me if I start stuttering, or say something stupid."

"Hua, you never say anything stupid," Changbin laughed. "You're probably the person I know that's least likely to say something stupid, actually."

"Well, you know people like Seungmin and Han, so the bar's low." You replied dryly. "But, here goes... Bin, would you want to go on a date with me? Like, a proper date? Not like the bar back in Jeju, or sitting around at the beach house, or FaceTiming during my lunch break. Like, a real date?"

Changbin's face brightened, eyes alight with interest. "Hell yes, I want to go on a date with you. Who the fuck would be stupid enough to turn down a date with Guo Lanhua?"

You laughed, jumping into his arms and hugging him. "Well, I'm glad you're not."

"What inspired you to ask me on a date?" he asked, grinning against the top of your head.

"I may have been inspired by our friends, five minutes ago," you joked.

"Wow, so original," he teased you, tickling your ribs lightly, causing you to squirm.

"I'm just kidding," you giggled, pressing your lips to his chest. You knew you liked a muscular guy, but he really affected you, didn't he? "I've always wanted to ask you out, I just didn't have the courage. Are you okay with the girl asking the guy out, instead of the other way around?"

"I don't just like it, I think it's hot." His fingertips ran up and down the sides of your waist, and you suppressed a shiver. "But trust me, it won't be the norm. I'll be asking you on the next one."

"I'll hold you to that, Mr. Seo." You released him from your tight hug, before snatching his hand up immediately. "But you've gotta get through our first date before you bind yourself to that, huh?"

"I don't think he'll have a problem with that, babes!" JJ called. She came running towards you, followed by the rest of the group.

You groaned, face warming. "Were you guys watching us??"

Riley shrugged. "It's good television. Especially when it doesn't involve me."

"God, how many of my friends are gonna start dating before me??" Hyunjin complained. "I'm very clearly the best looking!"

"Well, you could do something about it!" Mya said helpfully.

"Shut it." Hyunjin glowered at her, and she pouted.

"Hey!!" Mya exclaimed. "Jeongin, tell your friend to be nice!"

Jeongin glanced between the two to them helplessly, shaking his head.

JJ glanced down at your hand, which was currently entwined with Changbin's. "You two resolved your argument, I assume?"

"Argument??" you exclaimed.

"What argument??" Changbin demanded, cheeks flushed.

"Girl, don't lie to us!" JJ warned.

"We all noticed something was going on," Chan added.

"Yeah, even I could tell that you guys were mad at each other!" Jeongin chimed in.

"Yes, of course we did." Changbin said, squeezing your hand and catching your eye. "Because that's what we do. We forgive each other."

laska's note —
wowzers, two dates in one chapter??? that's crazy!!! 😱 seeing as we haven't had a lot of relationship development going on... it was clearly time for someone to do something about their feelings, and thank god chan stepped up to the plate!! and hua did too, out here apologizing! and bin being mature and forgiving her! we love to see it. i guess we'll be getting changhua date in the next chapter??? 🤭 i am so ready for that!! and as an fyi... i maybe have some steamy scenes planned, so do proceed with caution. but there will be warnings, so get excited! what do you think they'll do for their date??? give predictions in the comments!!

𝖭𝖤𝖷𝖳 𝖴𝖯：
𝟭𝟵 - 𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗱
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