Morning arrived far too early.
The campsite slowly came alive with the sounds of zippers opening, sleepy voices, and students complaining about the cold.
Inside one of the tents, Emily groaned.
"I hate camping."
Yerin, still half asleep, opened one eye.
"You said yesterday that this was going to be the best trip ever."
"I was wrong."
Yerin laughed quietly.
Emily sat up, her hair completely messy.
"My back hurts. My neck hurts. My legs hurt."
"You've been sleeping for almost eight hours."
"Exactly. And somehow I'm more tired than before."
Yerin shook her head.
"You complain too much."
Emily pointed at her.
"Just wait until you try sleeping on the ground again."
Yerin smiled.
"I survived last night."
"Barely."
Outside, Min-jae crawled out of his tent looking as though he had fought for his life.
He stretched his arms above his head and immediately winced.
"My back."
Emily stepped outside.
"See? I'm not the only one."
Min-jae looked at her.
"I didn't say I was suffering because of the tent."
"Then why?"
He thought for a second.
"Because Do-hyun stole all the blanket."
Do-hyun stepped out of the other tent.
"I did not."
"You did."
"You were asleep."
"Exactly. That's when you stole it."
Do-hyun stared at him.
"I didn't touch your blanket."
Min-jae narrowed his eyes.
"Then who did?"
Do-hyun shrugged.
"Maybe the wind."
Yerin laughed.
"You two are ridiculous."
Min-jae looked at Do-hyun suspiciously.
"How did you even sleep so well?"
Do-hyun adjusted his jacket.
"I slept normally."
"Normally?"
"Yes."
"On the ground?"
"Yes."
Min-jae shook his head.
"I don't understand you."
Yerin smiled.
"Maybe he's secretly a camping person."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Maybe."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Yesterday you didn't sound like one."
He gave her a small look.
"I've changed my mind."
Yerin laughed.
"Of course you have."
For a few moments, the four of them stood around the tents, laughing and complaining about the morning.
It almost felt like an ordinary university trip.
Almost.
The university had arranged a small breakfast buffet near the main campsite.
When they reached it, Emily stopped.
"That's it?"
Min-jae looked at the table.
There were only a few options.
"Apparently."
Emily looked disappointed.
"I thought camping breakfast would be amazing."
Min-jae picked up a plate.
"You're lucky they gave us breakfast at all."
Emily followed him.
"Come on. Let's see what they have."
The two walked toward the buffet together.
Yerin and Do-hyun followed a little later.
Yerin picked up a plate.
Before she could carry it, Do-hyun took it from her.
"I'll hold it."
"I can hold my own plate."
"I know."
He picked up his own plate with his other hand.
Yerin looked at him.
"Then why are you holding mine?"
He shrugged.
"Because I already picked it up."
She stared at him for a moment.
"Okay."
They walked toward the table.
By the time they reached it, Emily and Min-jae were already seated beside each other.
Yerin sat down.
Do-hyun took the seat beside her.
Min-jae looked at the food.
"This is going to be a long day."
Emily nodded.
"We need coffee."
"There's no coffee."
Emily froze.
"You're joking."
Min-jae shook his head.
"No."
She looked genuinely offended.
"This trip is becoming a nightmare."
Yerin laughed.
Do-hyun quietly ate his breakfast.
Emily pointed toward him.
"You're too calm."
He looked up.
"What?"
"Nothing bothers you."
Min-jae nodded.
"He's like that."
Yerin looked at Do-hyun.
"He's not always like that."
Do-hyun glanced at her.
Yerin immediately looked back at her food.
Min-jae smiled.
"Interesting."
"Eat your breakfast," Yerin said.
Everyone laughed.
After breakfast, Yerin returned to her tent while Emily went with some of the other students to collect their hiking supplies.
Yerin was organizing a few things inside when she heard a voice outside.
"Yerin?"
She looked toward the entrance.
"Yeah?"
"It's me."
She smiled slightly.
"Come in."
Do-hyun stepped inside.
He looked a little uncomfortable.
Yerin noticed.
"What happened?"
He hesitated.
"Do you have any pain spray?"
She frowned.
"Pain spray?"
"Or medicine."
"Why?"
He looked away.
"My back hurts."
Yerin stared at him.
Then she remembered.
The couch.
The previous night.
She slowly crossed her arms.
"Your back hurts?"
"Yes."
"And whose fault is that?"
Do-hyun already knew where this was going.
"Mine."
Yerin smiled.
"I told you to sleep on the bed."
"But you refused."
"And now your back hurts."
She nodded proudly.
"Good."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Good?"
"I'm just saying."
He sighed.
"Do you have medicine or not?"
Yerin laughed and reached into her bag.
"I do."
She pulled out the medicine.
Then she handed him a bottle of water.
"Here."
He took both.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
He took the medicine.
Yerin looked at him.
"Next time, listen to me."
Do-hyun swallowed the medicine and gave her a look.
"There won't be a next time."
"We'll see."
He shook his head.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
For the first time that morning, he smiled.
They left the tent together.
Neither noticed that Seo Jina was standing a short distance away.
She had seen them come out together.
Her eyes moved from Yerin to Do-hyun.
Her expression changed.
She misunderstood everything.
The Hiking Groups
A little later, the teachers gathered everyone.
"Listen up!"
The students slowly quieted down.
"You're going to be divided into groups for today's hiking challenge."
Everyone immediately started talking.
Emily grabbed Yerin's arm.
"We're staying together."
Min-jae nodded.
"Obviously."
Do-hyun stood beside them.
"We're already four."
Seo Jina approached.
"Can I join?"
Emily looked at the teacher's list.
"Our group is already full."
Jina looked at Do-hyun.
"It's okay if one more person joins, right?"
Do-hyun hesitated.
Yerin looked at him.
He noticed the look.
"We're already assigned."
Jina frowned.
"I can just stay with you."
Min-jae shook his head.
"The teacher said groups can't be changed."
Jina looked annoyed.
"But—"
Emily smiled politely.
"Sorry."
Jina looked around.
Nobody seemed willing to move.
Eventually, she sighed.
"Fine."
She walked away.
Min-jae watched her leave.
"That was awkward."
Emily whispered.
"Very."
Yerin tried not to laugh.
Do-hyun looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Each group received a small sheet.
The challenge was simple.
They had to find several marked locations along the trail, photograph each one, and return to the campsite before the other groups.
Emily's competitive side appeared immediately.
"We're winning."
Min-jae looked at her.
"We haven't even started."
"Exactly. That's why we need a strategy."
Yerin laughed.
Do-hyun took the sheet.
"There's a marked trail."
Yerin looked over his shoulder.
"The second point is probably that way."
"No."
She pointed.
"Here."
"The map says this path."
"The map's old."
He looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"Because look at the trees."
Do-hyun stared at her.
"That's your evidence?"
"Yes."
Min-jae looked between them.
"Should we let them argue or..."
Emily smiled.
"Let them."
After a few minutes, they followed Yerin's route.
And eventually—
They found the second marker.
Yerin turned toward Do-hyun.
"I told you."
He looked at the marker.
Then at her.
"Fine."
She smiled.
"You were wrong."
"I said fine."
"Say it properly."
He sighed.
"You were right."
Yerin smiled triumphantly.
Min-jae laughed.
"This is going to be a long hike."
They continued along the trail.
There were moments when they got lost, moments when Emily insisted she knew the way, and moments when Min-jae confidently led them in completely the wrong direction.
By the time they reached the final marker, everyone was exhausted.
But they had completed the challenge.
The final part of the trail opened into a beautiful viewpoint.
Everyone stopped.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The scenery stretched far beyond them.
Mountains covered the horizon, and the sunlight fell softly across the landscape.
Emily immediately took out her phone.
"Okay. Pictures."
Min-jae groaned.
"I'm too tired."
"Stand up."
"I'm already standing."
"Then stand properly."
Yerin laughed.
The group gathered for photographs.
The photographer asked them to move slightly closer together.
Yerin stood beside Do-hyun.
Neither said anything.
The camera flashed.
Another photograph.
Then another.
They eventually stepped away.
Yerin looked at the view again.
"It was worth the hike."
Do-hyun nodded.
For a moment, they simply stood there.
No arguments.
No family pressure.
No strange messages.
Just the view.
The return journey was much harder.
Everyone was tired now.
Yerin was carrying the group's bag, filled with the necessary supplies.
Do-hyun noticed her slowing down.
He walked beside her.
"Give it to me."
"I'm fine."
"You're tired."
"I'm not."
He reached for the bag.
Yerin pulled it away.
"I can carry it."
"I know you can."
"Then—"
"Give it to me."
She stared at him.
"No."
He took the bag anyway.
"Do-hyun."
"I'll carry it."
"I can manage."
"I know."
He continued walking.
Yerin followed him.
"You didn't even ask."
"You would've said no."
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
He was right.
Eventually, she sighed.
"Fine."
He smiled slightly.
They continued walking.
When they reached the campsite, Do-hyun carried the bag directly to Yerin and Emily's tent.
He placed it inside.
Yerin watched him.
"Thanks."
He nodded.
"No problem."
Then he walked away.
Yerin stood there for a moment.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Lunch was the first thing everyone thought about after returning.
Students gathered around the tables, exhausted and starving.
Emily dropped into her seat.
"I am never hiking again."
Min-jae sat beside her.
Yerin laughed.
Do-hyun sat across from them.
After lunch, the teachers organized several games.
The first was a relay.
Emily immediately volunteered.
"I'll do it."
Min-jae laughed.
"You're going to lose."
"Watch me."
She ended up winning her round.
Min-jae stared.
"Okay. I wasn't expecting that."
Emily smiled proudly.
"Never underestimate me."
Later, they played a guessing game.
Min-jae became so confident that he started giving completely ridiculous answers.
Everyone laughed.
Even Do-hyun joined in.
By the end of the afternoon, Yerin's cheeks hurt from smiling.
For once, she wasn't thinking about home.
Or the marriage.
Or their fathers.
Or the secrets waiting for them.
She was simply having fun.
Later that afternoon, the students were allowed to relax near a lake.
Emily and Min-jae went off with some other students.
Yerin found a quiet rock near the water.
She sat down and lowered her legs into the lake.
The water was cold.
She smiled to herself.
A few minutes later, someone approached.
Do-hyun.
He stopped beside her.
"Mind if I sit?"
Yerin looked at him.
"No."
He sat down beside her.
After a moment, he lowered his feet into the water too.
He immediately pulled them back.
"It's freezing."
Yerin laughed.
"You chose to put your feet in."
"I didn't realize it would be this cold."
She smiled.
For a while, they said nothing.
The lake moved quietly in front of them.
Then Yerin spoke.
"Do you ever wonder what your life would've been like if everything had gone differently?"
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Sometimes."
"What would you be doing?"
He thought.
"I don't know."
"Really?"
"Maybe I'd be traveling."
Yerin smiled.
"You?"
"I think I'd travel too."
"Where?"
She looked across the lake.
"Somewhere nobody knows me."
He smiled slightly.
"That sounds peaceful."
"It does."
"What about you?"
She looked at him.
"If you could choose anything?"
He thought for a moment.
"I'd want a life where I could make my own decisions."
Yerin's expression softened.
"Me too."
They looked at the lake.
"I think everyone deserves that," she said.
Do-hyun nodded.
"Yeah."
Yerin smiled faintly.
"Maybe one day."
He looked at her.
"Maybe."
Neither said anything after that.
But somehow, the silence didn't feel awkward.
By evening, everyone had gathered around the campfire again.
Someone brought snacks.
Someone played music.
Min-jae started telling stories about university.
Most of them were embarrassing.
Especially the ones involving himself.
Emily laughed so hard she nearly dropped her drink.
Yerin couldn't stop laughing.
Even Do-hyun smiled.
For a few hours, the campsite felt completely peaceful.
No secrets.
No fear.
Just laughter.
Eventually, the students began heading to their tents.
"Goodnight!" Emily called.
Yerin waved.
"Goodnight."
The campsite slowly became quiet.
Yerin lay awake.
She couldn't sleep.
She checked her phone.
The time was late.
Then she noticed Do-hyun was online.
She hesitated.
Then typed.
Are you asleep?
His reply came almost immediately.
No.
She stared at the screen.
Then typed again.
Can you come outside? I need to talk.
A few seconds later:
Okay.
Yerin quietly stepped outside.
Do-hyun was already there.
He looked at her.
"What happened?"
Yerin held up the photograph.
"I've been thinking about this."
He took it.
"The person in the background?"
"Yes."
They stood beneath the dim campsite light.
Yerin looked closely.
"There's something strange."
"What?"
She pointed.
"Here."
Do-hyun leaned closer.
At first, he didn't understand.
Then his expression changed.
There was something else in the photograph.
Behind the circled man...
Was a car.
And beside that car stood another figure.
Someone barely visible.
Yerin stared.
"Do you recognize the car?"
Do-hyun's eyes narrowed.
"Yes."
"Whose is it?"
He didn't answer immediately.
He zoomed in on the photograph.
The car's license plate was barely visible.
But there was enough to recognize it.
Do-hyun's face went pale.
"That's my father's car."
Yerin looked at him.
"What?"
He nodded slowly.
"But that's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because this photograph was taken years before..."
He stopped.
Yerin's eyes widened.
"Before what?"
Do-hyun looked at the photograph again.
Before he could answer, Yerin noticed something else.
A date was printed faintly in the corner.
She wiped the dust from the photograph.
Her expression changed.
"Do-hyun."
"What?"
She pointed at the date.
He looked.
His face went completely still.
The date wasn't random.
It was the exact date of an event their fathers had always claimed they had never attended together.
Yerin slowly looked at him.
"Then they lied."
Do-hyun didn't answer.
The silence between them became heavier.
Then—
A faint sound came from the trees.
Both turned.
Nothing.
Yerin looked around.
"Did you hear that?"
Do-hyun nodded.
They waited.
Nothing moved.
Then another faint sound.
A footstep.
Yerin instinctively moved closer.
Do-hyun looked toward the darkness.
"Stay here."
He took one step forward.
The trees remained still.
Then he stopped.
Something had caught his attention.
A small light.
Far between the trees.
It disappeared almost instantly.
Do-hyun looked back at Yerin.
"Did you see that?"
She nodded.
"What was it?"
"I don't know."
Yerin looked down at the photograph again.
Her fingers tightened around it.
The photograph had already changed what they believed about their fathers.
But now they had another question.
If their fathers had lied about that day...
what else had they lied about?
Neither of them spoke.
The darkness around the campsite suddenly felt much larger than before.
And somewhere beyond the trees...
Someone was watching.
...To Be Continued...