Yujin followed behind the 'K' group, already missing Ollie. The two teams split ways a while ago, going to different campsites. He just hoped that he would be okay, although he wasn't sure why he was worried. He made friends wherever he went.
Taerae had been walking next to him, but hadn't said anything. Either that, or Yujin just drowned him out. The latter didn't seem like much of a talker, anyway. He most likely hadn't said anything and Yujin was just severely overthinking.
He looked around the wooded area, realizing they had been walking for some time. The trail seemed to get more narrow as they followed Hanbin. He didn't seem worried, so nobody else was. Yujin decided maybe he should trust his judgment.
"Is it just me," Somebody's voice caught his attention. The male had quite a buff build, but a charming face. "Or are we walking in circles?" he awkwardly laughed it off, scratching his upper arm. Slowly, murmurs of people agreeing started to spread around and get louder.
"We're almost there." Hanbin, the group leader responded, and although his expression seemed upbeat, his tone was not. He spun around and started walking backwards, almost like a tour guide. Yujin expected him to whip out a microphone and a flag to wave in the air.
"I swear I've seen this tree before." Said Woonggi, the boy who put on a whole show when he got off the bus. He seemed to give off comforting vibes, and that was enough for Yujin to smile to himself.
"I promise you we haven't." Hanbin stifled a laugh, wiping the small sweat beads off his forehead. It was hot. Too hot. Yujin would do anything to dive straight into a pool right about now. "If you want though, we can run to the cabins."
"Cabins?"
"Yes, Woonggi. Cabins." somebody he knew rolled his eyes.
"Did you assume we were staying in mansions?" his friend let out another obnoxious laugh as he stumbled slightly. Yujin didn't think it was that funny, though. He hoped he wasn't stuck rooming with them.
"I say we run to the Cabins."
"Okay, Gunwook." Somebody responded. "Why don't you run." To which he did. He started taking off. Some of the more athletic-driven people followed with.
"Why does that guy look like a buff Hello Kitty?" Taerae whispered, leaning closer to Yujin. His dimples showed as he tried to conceal his amusement.
"Oh, You're so right." Haruto, the kid who also made quite the first impression, said from out of nowhere, now standing next to Taerae. The latter flinched and looked down at him. "Hey, I'm Haruto." He still had dried mud on his clothes.
"Aren't you supposed to be with the G group?" Taerae squinted, glancing at the trail behind them. His face dropped and paled slightly.
"What?" He looked around, stopping in his tracks.
"I don't think you're supposed to be here." Yujin stopped with him.
"Oh my god," His mouth flew agape. "You're so right."
"Better hurry along." Taerae nudged his shoulder, but he didn't budge. Haruto shook his head quickly.
"Smuggle me in."
"I'm sorry?" Yujin leaned forward, making sure he heard him correctly. "You want us to do what?"
"I'd get lost and die. Don't make me go on my own." Haruto grabbed onto Yujin's sleeve, practically pushing Taerae out of the way. Yujiin looked at Taerae who shrugged.
"Alright. Just stop drawing attention to us or you're gonna get sent off on your own." Yujin gently pulled his sleeve out of Haruto's grip. The latter quickly composed himself, a smile growing on his face.
It took about fifteen more minutes of dreadful walking through the summer heat before the group got to the cabins. The boys who had run ahead had already busted the door open of one of the houses. There were about four of them all lined up next to each other. The area was much larger than Yujin had imagined, a few acres. He wondered if the other team's area was the same, or at least similar. Most likely, he thought.
"Welcome!" Gunwook grinned, the door to the cabin swinging open almost as big as his smile. He looked like he already got comfortable in the living space; and so did everybody else. He wore a sleeveless shirt and sweatpants. He looked more like he was ready to mow the lawn than do team sports. "We kind of made ourselves comfortable in this cabin already."
As if on cue, the curtains slid in opposite directions as three more people looked at the group of sweaty boys.
"Oh," Hanbin laughed, looking quite amused. He brought his backpack around to his front. He brought one knee up and unzipped one of the pouches. He pulled out a clip board. "We already have room arrangements."
Gunwook groaned and walked out of the cabin, making his way to Hanbin. He suddenly looked embarrassed with the way his ears turned red. Slowly the other boys followed him.
Hanbin read out the names and pointed to each person and then to a cabin, directing them in an orderly fashion. Yujin listened patiently, fumbling with the strings on his backpack. Hanbin looked directly at Yujin and pointed at him.
"Yujin, Taerae, and Gunwook. Cabin three." He windmilled his arm towards the cabin, a grin on his face. Taerae and Yujin looked at each other before heading towards their 'house' for the next four weeks. Gunwook followed too, but he seemed less than thrilled that he wasn't with at least one of his buddies that he knew beforehand.
Upon entering the cabin they didn't move further than the entrance way. The indoors were spacious and there was a whole wall of windows to see scenery around. Yujin was thankful for the open illusion that the windows made; he had a weird thing about super tight rooms. Close to being claustrophobic but not really.
"You guys can pick your rooms first." Gunwook said as he brought his bag in through the front door.
"Are you sure?" Taerae craned his neck to look back at the taller, his eyes already shining with happiness. "I mean, I'm not opposing,"
"Go ahead," Gunwook smiled, pointing his chin towards the upstairs. Taerae happily jogged his way upstairs, announcing that he'll race Yujin to the best room. Yujin didn't really care what room he got so he bowed his head toward Gunwook and followed his friend.
Taerae took the room on the far left side. Yujin could hear him talking about how he got the best room in a sing-song tone. Yujin smiled to himself as he went to the room next to his friend's. It wasn't anything to boast about, but the bed looked comfortable as hell. He heard the third roommate following shortly.
Yujin sat his bag on the bed and looked around the room. The walls, that were the same type of wood that covered the rest of the house, oddly reminded him of the trees at home. The bed was plush and had basic white sheets. He walked towards the dresser adjacent to the bed. Yujin opened it and peered inside. Clothes, mostly T-shirts and Basketball shorts were neatly folded for him to use throughout stay. Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad.
He sat down on the bed, huffing out an exhausted breath. He only just realized how tired he was already. His legs were terribly sore and his head throbbed slightly. Maybe he could take a small cat nap.
Yujin tenderly layed down on the bed, engulfing himself in the blankets as he closed his eyes. It wasn't long before he fell asleep. Nothing felt better than a nap after a long day outside in the sun.
He slept great. Until about ten minutes after he dozed off when Taerae barged in, the door slamming against the wall. Yujin shot up, sitting straight in alarm.
"We forgot about Haruto."
"Oh."