× day eight ⤖ part two ×

                                    

                                          
[ Minji's P.O.V ]
                          
The rest of the afternoon consists mostly of quiet small talk between the three of us. The group still feels empty and lacking. It's odd without the small, playful banter between Hyunjin and Chaeyoung. Without the subtle flirty comments Jisung would slip into his conversations with me. Without Hyunjin's insults that would take me a minute to realize he was kidding, and then I'd smile and start to like him just a bit more, because I'd realize he's opening up enough to joke with me. 
                          
Annoying bluntness and occasional smartass comments aside, Hwiyoung seems like a rather nice guy. He was clearly close with Seokwoo, and I feel bad that he didn't really have any time to grieve the loss of his friend - he had to jump right in to helpful mode to survive in our alliance. 
                          
I like talking with Chaeyoung, as always, but it quickly becomes imminent that she doesn't like Hwiyoung. It's a bit ironic, considering it was her suggestion to keep him in our group even when he couldn't help Jisung any further, but it's clear that his lack of respect towards our group is getting on her nerves.
                          
After one comment Hwiyoung makes about how hungry he is, Chaeyoung seems to snap.
                          
"Then why don't you go check on the fucking traps? There's nothing I can do to catch us food any faster." 
                          
"I wasn't blaming you, I was just saying-"
                          
"Yeah, I know what you were saying. I'm telling you to go check on the traps. The sun's almost down and we won't want to check on them in the middle of the night, so I want them checked before we go to sleep."
                          
"Why me? You're the one who set them."
                          
I mentally face-palm at Hwiyoung's guts. Does he really have no filter? Or does he not understand that we have the upper hand here? It doesn't bother me all that much, but even an idiot could tell it's bothering Chaeyoung. 
                          
"Why you? Because I said so, that's why."
                          
Hwiyoung continues to stare at her for a minute, as if considering whether or not to listen to her.
                          
"Do I need to remind you of our scores? You got a seven, no? I got an 11.5. Now get your ass off the ground and check the traps."
                          
"But I don't even know where they-"
                          
"I left pebble trails to find them."
                          
"How will I know if they've caught something and it's escaped or if they've just-"
                          
"The net will be up if something was caught. If something's there, you take it. If nothing's there, you report it to me."
                          
"Can I at least bring a-"
                          
Chaeyoung tosses him a knife underhand and Hwiyoung flinches and jumps back, causing the knife to fall to the ground. Chaeyoung laughs a bit.
                          
"There's your knife. Now go."
                          
Hwiyoung cautiously picks up the knife before sighing.
                          
"Can't you just-"
                          
"Are you fucking stupid? Follow the trails and check the fucking traps before I start getting pissed."
                          
"If you aren't pissed yet, I don't wanna see what happens when you are..." Hwiyoung mutters, standing up off the ground.
                          
He thinks Chae is strict? He should have seen Hyunjin when someone didn't listen. He'd probably have a machete in his neck by now.
                          
I chuckle to myself a bit just remembering how pissed Hyunjin would get. Then I quickly shake the thoughts of him out of my head.
                          
Hwiyoung picks up his backpack, slings it over his shoulders, and starts walking.