Club Sajinsul had to look for a more private hot spring, one in which they could go together.
The one that was half an hour away from the hotel was men's only, so they went farther in the mountains by thirty minutes and found one in the middle of a snowy field.
"Aright girls, stay in the car and change into your bikinis. Boys get out and get in the water." Joy said.
She had regained her composure faster than Piérces abandoned sinking ships.
But almost everyone had already seen her red eyes and weary face, so they all walked on egg shells around her.
"Does that include me? I'd prefer to just take pictures." Jihoon asked.
"Sure, you're a guest so you can decide."
Luna changed into the bikini and looked out the van's window to where Haemin was taking off his jacket.
He hadn't bounced back like Joy though, he looked worn out and glum.
Luna was hesitant in approaching him, she didnt know or understand the severity of the situation.
Heck, she didnt even know Haemin was capable of such aggression.
The girls ran out onto the snowy bed and were quick to get in the water.
Luna as usual was slow and uncertain.
She carefully took off her coat that all the girls wore, plain pastel colors with tiny flowers on them.
"Stop staring at her and get to work." Jihoon scolded and the guys averted their gazes.
"Oh Luna." Yumi said, "I didnt know you had a scar, is that why you always wore stockings?"
Luna looked down at the faded cut running down her lower calf, "No, actually. I like stockings. I once accidentally fell on broken glass."
Haemin stared at it with his lower lip slightly pouted and it made Luna suddenly conscious of it so she jumped in the hot water.
One by one all the members took pictures of each other posing. And the pictures came out stunning, with the steam around them, and white landscapes in the background.
The bikinis that Yumi had designed complimented the faded theme and the colors of the small flowers stood out.
Luna had a hard time focusing on the shoot and not just staring at Haemin's trained stomach and attractive v-line.
And after she was done with her part she swam to Joy where she was checking pictures on her camera.
"So, what's his name?" Luna spoke up abruptly and after checking that it was just Luna, Joy said, "Mark."
"Oh I know a Mark, mine's a douche too."
"Mine isn't." Joy shook her head, "He's just compelled by his awfully controlling mother."
"But if he loves you, shouldn't he-"
"Hey, can you go fetch some matchsticks or a lighter from the store down the road?" Joy interjected, "A picture in which a model would have a lit matchstick will look quite aesthetic."
"Uh sure, but are you sure there is a store? It seems like quite an isolated area."
"Oh yeah, I saw it on Google maps."
Luna agreed, if Joy didnt want to talk about it, Luna could respect that. After drying off, she wore her coat over the bikini and put on her boots. She walked off to find the store.
Joy got out of the water, "Alright everyone let's go. Its time for dinner."
"What about Luna?" A member asked.
"She'll come on the other van." Joy replied and rushed them into the cars.
"What are you doing? The other van is also coming with us." Jihoon said.
"We're leaving Haemin and Luna here so that they can get some alone time."
"By stranding them out in the mountains?" He asked incredulously.
"Don't worry, Haemin will be with her, plus thirty minutes down the road is a bus stop, now come on you agreed to this."
Jihoon grimaced, "I don't know.. this is too much."
"Please, this is necessary." She pulled him to the van. He was unable to move on his own so Joy pushed him and the van drove away.
When they got to the hotel, Jihoon got out, "Im gonna go get a drink, but not a warm drink because that would make me feel guilty for leaving my sister out in the cold!"
He stormed off and Joy rolled her eyes at his theatricality.
She opened her bag and searched it, "Where's my phone?" She thought out loud.
"Here." Haemin handed it to her and she grabbed it.
"Than-" Joy did a double take when she realized that Haemin was in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" She screeched.
"Uhh I don't know how to answer that."
She turned to Yohan who was getting his camera bag off the van, "Yohan what is he doing here. I thought I told you to tell him to go get a matchbox!"
"I couldn't find him." Yohan replied.
"I was lying in the back of the other van." Haemin uttered.
"What were you doing in the other van?!" Joy cried.
"First of all, stop shouting. Second of all I was secretly deleting Mark's number from your phone." He confessed.
Joy couldn't worry about Mark's number, she already knew it by heart, and there was a more grave problem.
She had left Luna stranded in the mountains,
Alone.
☾
Luna sighed, she looked around the hot spring, finding herself and the hot spring completely isolated.
She already knew something was up from the moment Joy had sent her.
She had once caught her smoking behind the clubs' building, if not a match stick she definitely would've had a lighter.
Maybe a failed scheme? She thought to herself and looked for Haemin.
A chilled gash of wind reminded her that staying warm and alive was more important.
So, she retraced the car tracks and steadily made her way back.
The wind blew incessantly and she hugged her coat closer to her.
The bikini was as cold as ice now.
A snow flake fell on her nose and she looked up to see that it was followed by millions more.
"Oh boy." She said out loud.
——————
Hiiii everyone!
There is a second, smaller part after this chapter which Ill post tonight or tomorrow morning✌🏻