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20. PICNICS, PLANS AND PERIL

『 Sunghoon's POV 』

Girls are honestly the most confusing species to have ever existed. Feelings? Even worse.

Everyone thinks Edlynne and I are a thing now, but do I even know what we are? I mean, I would want to be... No. What am I saying?

We’re just friends. Friends who enjoy each other’s company. Friends who make each other laugh. Friends who make me feel queasy inside and worry about my breath and how I look whenever she’s around—

Oh god. We’re all on the brink of death, and I’m worried about my breath. Great. Just great.

"So, Ni-ki will be leading us, and Bae and Yuna will handle the enchantments," Huening Kai said.

"Whatever we do, we do not split up," Edlynne added firmly. "Ni-ki is the only one who can find the way, and without at least Yuna or Bae, we're doomed. I’m not lying when I say the dragons won’t think twice before incinerating you on the spot."

She looks pretty when she talks seriously.

"Shall we get going?" Ni-ki asked.

We all nodded, and the enchantments were cast. Instantly, we became invisible and soundless.

Ni-ki, Bae, and Huening Kai took the lead while Yuna, Edlynne, and I stayed at the back. Yuna and Edlynne were deep in conversation when Jini turned to look at me. She smiled. No—she smirked.

Of course, the first person to figure it out had to be her.

I shot her a glare, silently telling her to shut up, but she just laughed.

"I didn’t even say anything," she teased, sticking out her tongue before turning away.

"Oh yeah, real mature," I muttered.

"Sunghoon, can I talk to you?"

I turned to Edlynne, and Yuna immediately started humming some song awkwardly. Traitor.

"You’re talking to me right now," I joked.

She scrunched her nose and pouted, the same way she always does.

"I'm kidding. What do you wanna talk about?"

"So... well, the thing is... I... umm..."

Oh no.

She’s gonna tell me she just wants to be friends, isn’t she? Or maybe she likes Sunoo or Jungwon? Or maybe—

Oh god. What if she had a boyfriend before all this? What if she still has feelings for him?

"Sunghoon? Are you even listening?"

"Huh? Oh. Sorry. I thought I saw something," I blurted out, shaking off that horrifying train of thought.

"You know what? Forget it," she huffed, exasperated. "It’s pretty clear that you and I don’t feel the same way, and I’m just embarrassing myself by throwing myself at you."