Chapter Text
It was almost the end of the semester at Decelis University, one of the largest and most prestigious schools in New York. A grand auditorium, expansive halls, towering dormitories, lively courtyards, vast athletic fields, and massive swimming pools—name it, and DU had it all.
But of course, a place that big wasn’t perfect.
There were boring professors, spoiled rich kids, and plenty of immature behavior.
Typical, right?
“Such a boring class,” Ni-ki muttered, rolling his eyes as he slumped deeper into his chair.
Another day— wasting our time in the most boring math class imaginable, Sunghoon thought as he watched Prof G scribble endlessly on the board.
“He’s not that bad, you know,” Sunghoon said with a shrug. “You just have to listen.”
Of course, that was a complete lie. He wanted to get out of this hell hole just as much as Ni-ki did.
“Not that bad?” Ni-ki turned to him in disbelief. “What do you mean, not that bad? He's just writing stuff down—not even explaining anything!”
“Shh,” Sunghoon chuckled under his breath, glancing toward the front of the room. “You’re going to get us both in trouble.”
Around them, students were yawning, stretching, and some had already given up and fallen asleep on their desks. It was a common sight in Prof G’s class.
At the front, Prof G finally put the marker down.
“That’s all. That’s the formula to get the graph of our given,” he said flatly. “So everyone, please be prepared for the quiz tomorrow. Class dismissed.”
The moment he walked out, the room filled with groans and the scraping of chairs.
“Great,” Ni-ki sighed dramatically, throwing his head back.
“Come on, Ni-ki,” Sunghoon said, nudging him with his shoulder. “Relax a little.”
Ni-ki shot him a look.
Sunghoon grinned. “If Sunoo heard you complaining like that, I’m pretty sure he’d smack you.”
“Oh wow,” Ni-ki replied dryly. “Amazing joke, Hoon. The gods must be laughing at you right now.”
He paused, staring at Sunghoon with a completely serious expression. Then he fakes a laugh “ ha ha ha”.
Sunghoon snorted. This brat
“Where are they? It’s almost lunchtime. I thought you guys would already be here already if I arrived,” Sunoo said, glancing around impatiently.
He was clearly annoyed. Heeseung had lied to him earlier. They had planned that if Sunoo arrived and everyone was already there, Jay would pay for lunch.
A moment later, Jake walked in, scanning the area as if searching for someone.
“Sup, bro. Who are you looking for?” Heeseung asked.
Jake turned toward them. “Oh, you guys are early.” He shrugged. “No one in particular. Just looking for Jay.”
Heeseung glanced at Sunoo, who was still frowning.
“Can you stop frowning, Sunoo? You’re making it look like I ruined your whole day.”
“You guys did ruin it,” Sunoo replied flatly.
Before Heeseung could argue back, Jungwon suddenly appeared, practically glowing with excitement.
“Yo, guys! You’re not going to believe this!”
Everyone turned toward him, though he was immediately met with Sunoo’s unimpressed expression.
“What happened, Won?” Heeseung teased. “You finally found your long-lost brother?”
“Nope,” Jungwon laughed. “But remember when I joined the swimming competition to represent DU?”
They nodded.
“Well… they finally accepted me!”
“Really?” Sunoo’s expression instantly softened. “That’s amazing, Won.”
“That’s great, man,” Jake added with a proud smile.
Heeseung immediately pulled Jungwon into a tight hug. “You’ve been waiting for this, kid. Go get that gold medal for us.”
“Thank you, hyung,” Jungwon said, hugging him back.
Just then, Sunghoon and Ni-ki arrived and stopped when they saw the heartfelt moment between their friends.
Their hearts practically melted at the scene.
“Did we miss something?” Sunghoon asked.
“You’re late,” Sunoo snapped.
“Hold your horses, Sunoo,” Sunghoon replied with a smirk. “Prof G was the last person we wanted to see frowning at us.”
“Prof G is definitely the worst teacher right before lunch,” Jay remarked as he suddenly appeared behind them.
“Where did you even come from?” Heeseung asked. “Do you know how much happened while you were gone?”
“What happened?” Ni-ki asked again, eyes landing on Jungwon.
“Guess what?” Jungwon said proudly, flexing his biceps.
“You got accepted, hyung?” Niki’s face immediately lit up. “Congratulations!”
Before Jungwon could respond, Ni-ki wrapped him in a tight hug, nearly knocking them both off balance.
Jungwon quickly grabbed Ni-ki by the waist to steady him.
“Careful, Niks,” Jungwon laughed.
Jake chuckled from the side.
Sunghoon watched the interaction quietly.
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Everyone just sit down already. I’m starving,” he said suddenly, his voice carrying a hint of irritation.
Heeseung cleared his throat loudly, cutting through the chatter.
“Alright, everyone sit down,” he announced with a wide grin. “Jay’s paying for lunch!”
“Whatever,” Jay scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Do you really think I’m broke? I'm richer than you”
“Such arrogance,” Sunoo muttered. “It doesn’t make you more handsome, by the way.”
Laughter spread around the table as they started taking their seats.
Sunghoon paused when he noticed Jungwon and Ni-ki sitting close together, still laughing about something.
For a moment, Jungwon placed a hand on Ni-ki’s shoulder as he spoke.
Something in Sunghoon’s chest tightened.
He looked away quickly, pretending not to care.
But his fingers curled slightly against the table.
“Hey, Hoon,” Jake called out. “You spacing out?”
Sunghoon blinked and forced a small smile.
“Not really,” he replied.
Still, his eyes drifted back to Jungwon for just a second.
Then he looked away again.
Does he hate Jungwon?
No. Never. He loves him like a brother—someone he would protect without hesitation.
Was he jealous?
Definitely. And he hated himself for feeling that way.
Because jealousy wasn’t supposed to exist between people who cared for each other… yet it crept in quietly, settling heavy in his chest whenever he saw the easy smiles and effortless closeness he wished he had.
They were chatting and eating when a speaker suddenly interrupted the whole cafeteria.
“Good day, students of Decelis University! We have an announcement: The Decelian Fair will be held at the Grand Canyon!”
The Decelian Fair was one of the university’s biggest events, where a scenic wonder of the world was chosen as the venue each year. Niagara Falls had hosted the previous year, with activities like swimming, diving, boat tours, and an observation deck.
The cafeteria erupted in cheers, everyone clearly thrilled by the announcement.
“The Decelian Fair is here, y’all! One of the coolest events DU has ever organized,” Jake said with a grin.
“Finally! I’ve been waiting for this,” Jay added.
Sunoo let out a sigh.
“Who thought it was a good idea to go to the Grand Canyon in summer?” he complained.
“It would be way better if we were going to a beach or something,” Heeseung added, fanning himself dramatically.
“Stop daydreaming,” Sunghoon said, rolling his eyes. “Be grateful we’re going on a field trip instead of staring at a whiteboard full of equations and problems.”
“And staring at Prof G’s face all day… No offense,” Ni-ki joked.
They all laughed at Ni-ki’s comment.
He wasn’t that bad at his class, but Ni-ki still felt something off about Prof G—like he was hiding something from them.
“I wonder what kind of activities they’ll have. Do you guys think they’ll have ziplines?” Jungwon asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Oh! I heard they have a skywalk, it's literally a glass bridge. Not recommended for people with acrophobia… right Jay hyung?” Ni-ki teased
“Shut up Ni-ki, don't expose me like that” Jay said, clearly embarrassed about his phobia.
“Ziplines? That is a great idea… to die Jungwon! Imagine in the news— ‘A dumb teen tried to zipline in the Grand Canyon, was found dead!’ isn't that great?” Heeseung teased
“Nice one hyung!” Sunoo laughs
“That was a joke, by the way” Jungwon rolled his eyes.
It was dawn, and the council had woken the students early to prepare for departure.
Jungwon was the first to wake up, followed by Sunghoon, Sunoo, Heeseung, and Ni-ki.
“Ugh, my back hurts,” Heeseung groaned, stretching his arms.
“Jake hyung, could you make some coffee, please?” Jungwon asked politely.
“Yeah, don’t worry,” Jake replied.
None of them had gotten a proper night’s sleep; they were too excited about the fair.
The sun was peeking out in the window, creating a light orange atmosphere.
“What time is it?” Ni-ki mumbled sleepily.
“It’s 4:45 a.m baby,” Sunghoon answered without thinking.
The boys were too drowsy to notice the pet name—but someone definitely did.
“Baby?” Jungwon murmured to himself. “Wow… that’s my baby.” rolling his eyes, as he left the kitchen to go to the bathroom.
By seven in the morning, everyone had finished eating—everyone except one person.
Jay was still fast asleep, snoring loudly, completely unaware that departure was at eight.
“Can someone please wake Jay up?”
Sunoo said, irritation clear in his voice. “We are leaving at eight, I don't mind leaving him here”
Ni-ki made eye contact with Sunghoon. A mischievous grin slowly spread across both of their faces.
“Yes, Ni-ki,” Sunghoon said with a quiet chuckle. “You have my permission.”
Ni-ki giggled and skipped toward the sleeping quarters, where Jay was sprawled across his bed.
He had his mouth slightly open—and his eyes half-open too.
It was such a ridiculous sight that Ni-ki had to cover his mouth to stop himself from laughing. He quickly pulled out his phone and snapped a picture.
“Jay! Wake up!” Ni-ki shook him hard, but it wasn’t enough.
So he climbed onto the bed and started bouncing, making the mattress squeak loudly.
“Ni-ki, get off,” Jay groaned. “Let me sleep.”
“What? No! It’s D-Day—as in Decelian Day!” Ni-ki protested. “Come on, hyung. You don’t want Sunoo coming here.”
Jay only buried his face deeper into his pillow.
Ni-ki sighed dramatically, then grabbed Jay’s arm and rolled him off the bed.
THUD
“Fine, fine! I’m up!” Jay snapped. “Now get out, Niks.”
“Why?” Ni-ki asked innocently.
“Because I’m changing.”
Jay paused when he noticed Ni-ki still standing there. Seeing his vulnerable side was quite rare for them.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
“Hey, I know I’ve got six-pack abs,” Jay said proudly, flexing his biceps, “but seriously you need to leave.”
“Ew, hyung’s such a pervert!” Ni-ki teased. “Nobody wants to see your abs!”
He stuck his tongue out playfully before walking out of the room.
Jay watched him leave and shook his head with a small chuckle.
“Huh… he’s cute,” he muttered. “No wonder those two fell for him.”
KNOCK.
“Can someone open the door?” Jake shouted from the other side of the dorm.
“I got it!” Ni-ki called back as he hurried over and pulled the door open.
Standing outside was Taki, his friend and a member of the student council. He waved at them.
“Oh, hey, Taki! What’s up?” Ni-ki greeted.
“Hi, Ni-ki. I’m just checking if you guys are ready. We’re leaving in thirty minutes,” Taki announced.
“Oh, really?” Sunghoon looked around at the others. “Are you guys ready? Please turn off the AC—we don’t want to risk a fire.”
The others nodded.
“Don’t worry. Everything’s been double-checked,” Jungwon assured him.
He glanced around at his friends, who were still lounging comfortably.
“Geez, guys, we seriously need to go. The bus might leave without us.”
“Yup, yup, we’re ready,” Jake said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“Ni-ki! Did you bring sunscreen?” Sunoo called loudly.
“Yeah! I’m not letting the sun roast me,” Ni-ki replied.
They left the dorm and headed to the auditorium, where the students were supposed to gather.
The seats were already almost full, and the boys struggled to find enough chairs together.
At the front, Prof G was already holding a microphone, clearing his throat.
“I told you to stop packing so many things, Sunoo! Look—we’re late,” Jay whisper-shouted.
“What do you mean?” Sunoo shot back, rolling his eyes. “It’s important! I need my books, okay? I get bored easily.”
“Can both of you just be quiet? It’s starting,” Sunghoon muttered sharply.
He then leaned closer to Ni-ki.
“You okay? Comfortable? We can switch seats if you want,” he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Ni-ki nodded just as a voice echoed through the auditorium speakers.
“Good morning, Decelians! Today we’ll be traveling to the Grand Canyon. It’s a two-hour drive, so I really hope everyone cooperates. We don’t want any student getting left behind because of your irresponsible behavior.”
His tone was flat and strict.
Jake leaned toward the group. “Wow… did he just insult us?”
“Nope,” Heeseung replied calmly.
“Everything he said was facts.”
Everyone boarded the buses assigned by the university. Luckily, dormmates were required to ride the same bus so they could easily check if anyone was missing.
“Ni-ki, come here! These are some of the best seats on the bus!” Jungwon called out excitedly.
Ni-ki turned and waved at him. Sunghoon followed closely behind.
The seats were wide enough for three people, so Ni-ki, Jungwon, and Sunghoon ended up sitting together. The others paired off—Heeseung with Jay, and Sunoo with Jake.
“Do you want the window seat?” Jungwon asked, tapping the spot beside the window. “Here.”
“Yes, please,” Ni-ki replied as he slid into the seat.
Jungwon looked at Sunghoon. “Hyung, you can sit beside me—I’ll be fine in the middle,” he assured him.
“Yeah… I’m good,” Sunghoon answered quietly as he took the aisle seat.
Great. A three-hour drive… this is going to be exhausting, he thought, leaning his head against the seat.
Just right behind their seats, Jay suddenly snapped, “Heeseung, you’re stepping on my foot! Move a little!”
“It’s cramped! I can’t—there’s no space to move, okay?” Heeseung protested.
Sunoo leaned forward from behind them. “Can you two stop squirming? You’re making it hard for everyone else to sit properly!”
Jake sighed. “We just left and you’re already fighting…”
“Students sit! You don't want your little brains to crash huh, Sit down properly!” Prof G shouted from behind.
What are the chances of picking our bus to scold us… Heeseung sighed, closing his eyes to nap.
Just thirty minutes into the drive, the bus came to a sudden stop.
“What happened? Are we there yet?” Ni-ki mumbled, waking from his nap.
“Nope,” Jungwon replied groggily, rubbing his eyes. “I think the driver stopped for a break.”
“Prof G! I need to go to the bathroom!” a student called out.
“All right! Anyone who needs to pee or poo, you have fifteen minutes,” Prof G announced firmly.
Sunghoon glanced at the pairs behind them. “Hey… psst, you guys need to go?”
The others shook their heads.
He turned back to the boys beside him. Jungwon was already fast asleep, head lolling against the seat.
“Hey, Ni-ki,” Sunghoon asked quietly. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
“Yes, hyung. Come with me, please,” Ni-ki replied.
They left the bus together, and Sunghoon waited outside the stall. Looking around, the place they stopped was almost desert-like—everything was dried and cracked.
Ni-ki appeared beside him, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “Are you okay, Hoonie?”
Sunghoon nodded.
They headed back toward the bus, but someone suddenly blocked their path. A blonde boy with a smug face that looks like he's the one who's the owner of the bus.
It was Caleb Prescott—Sunghoon’s nemesis. The guy who somehow managed to date half the female population of the University. He’d always been threatened by Sunghoon—his skills on the court, his presence… everything.
“Look who’s here,” Caleb drawled, a smug smirk tugging at his lips.
Before anyone could react, he reached out and casually brushed a strand of Ni-ki’s hair away from his face. “Hi, pretty.”
Sunghoon’s eyes snapped open, something sharp and dangerous flashing in them. In an instant, he grabbed Caleb’s wrist and squeezed hard.
“Fuck off, Prescott,” he hissed. “Go bother someone else. Get the hell out of our way.”
Ni-ki glanced around nervously, spotting Prof G and the driver in deep conversation near the front of the bus.
C’mon, Prof… not the time for chit-chats he thought anxiously.
The atmosphere shifted. Students began to stare, whispers spreading like wildfire. Some even leaned forward, eager—anticipating a fight.
Sunghoon felt it immediately.
The attention.
The tension.
His jaw tightened.
He knew Ni-ki hated this—being watched, being talked about like some kind of spectacle.
Without another word, Sunghoon grabbed Ni-ki’s hand and pulled him toward their seats.
“Don’t be a scaredy-cat, Hoon,” Caleb called out mockingly. “We were just talking. Clearly, you’re the one overreacting.”
Sunghoon’s steps faltered, his shoulders stiffening. He was seconds away from turning back—ready to throw a punch…
…but Ni-ki squeezed his hand gently.
“Don’t,” Ni-ki murmured softly. “He’s just messing with you… don’t start a fight.”
Sunghoon exhaled shakily, his anger slowly melting as he looked at Ni-ki.
Damn… I’m so weak when he looks at me like that, he thought, running a hand through his hair.
Then Caleb laughed.
Loud.
Mocking.
“Hey, everyone! Look at him!” he called, his voice dripping with arrogance.
The bus fell into a tense silence.
“Small waist, nice ass, petite body… and that face?” Caleb smirked, pointing directly at Ni-ki. “The gods really took their time making him.”
Ni-ki froze.
Every eye on the bus turned toward him.
“And clearly,” Caleb added, tapping his chest, “they made him just for me.”
Something in Sunghoon snapped.
His vision blurred.
His chest tightened.
Before he could even think—
his fist shot forward.
But it never landed.
A force—something invisible yet
Powerful—exploded outward.
Caleb was thrown across the bus.
He slammed hard against the front, his head hitting with a sickening thud. A sharp gasp rippled through the students as blood trickled from his nose.
Silence.
Complete, stunned silence.
Ni-ki stared, eyes wide. “S-Sunghoon… how did you do that?”
Sunghoon didn’t answer.
He was staring at his own hands.
“I-I… I don’t know…”
Caleb groaned, pushing himself up with the help of his friends before shoving them away, his face twisted in fury.
“You motherfucker!” he snarled, charging forward.
But before he could reach Sunghoon—
a firm hand landed on his shoulder.
Everything froze.
A tall man stood behind him, towering and imposing in his crisp white suit. His glasses glinted under the light, his expression cold and unyielding.
Ni-ki’s breath hitched. “Prof G…”
The entire bus fell silent.
Students quickly sat up straight, conversations dying instantly. Eyes shifted to the windows, pretending nothing had happened.
“WHAT IN THE TARNATION ARE YOU TWO DOING?!” Prof G’s voice thundered across the bus. Everyone flinched as Prof’s G glared at the two boys in front of him.
“Starting a fistfight? On a school trip?”
He turned sharply to Caleb, his gaze piercing.
“Should I knock some sense into you myself? Maybe then you’ll understand how to behave like a proper student. What is the main reason for your reckless behavior?!”
All eyes subtly drifted toward Ni-ki.
Whispers began again.
“What happened, Niks?” Heeseung asked, leaning forward, concern evident in his voice.
Ni-ki swallowed, still clutching Sunghoon’s hand.
“I-It was—”
“It was just a petty fight, Prof. That’s all,” Sunghoon cut in quickly.
“A petty fight?” Prof G let out a dry, humorless chuckle. “Do you think I’m joking? Your parents will be hearing about this.”
“But, Prof—” Caleb started.
“No buts,” Prof G snapped. “Do as I say. You got it, white boy?”
Caleb clenched his jaw but nodded. As he walked away, he shot Sunghoon a venomous venomous glare, mouthing, You’re dead.
“Now sit down! This is a field trip, not a circus!” Prof G barked.
Ni-ki flinched at the volume.
Jungwon quickly grabbed Ni-ki’s wrist, gently pulling him toward their seat. Sunghoon watched, chest tightening, unable to move under Prof G’s sharp gaze.
“Sunghoon. Come here.”
He swallowed hard and stepped forward. “Yes, Prof?”
Prof G studied him carefully.
“What did you do?” he asked quietly. “An eighteen-year-old doesn’t send someone flying like that.”
Sunghoon hesitated. “…I didn’t touch him.”
“That’s your answer?”
“Yes,” Sunghoon said, more firmly this time. “I didn’t touch him.”
He knew it.
He was certain.
Prof G leaned in slightly, his voice dropping.
“You’re either very brave… or very foolish.”
Sunghoon frowned.
“That little stunt?” Prof G continued. “Impressive. Very impressive.”
Then his tone darkened.
“But learn to control it. Because that was just the beginning.”
Sunghoon’s brows furrowed.
Beginning?
“You’re going to experience more… whether you like it or not.”
With that, Prof G stepped back, dismissing him.
Sunghoon returned to his seat, confusion swirling in his mind.
“Hey, dumbo!”
Sunghoon looked up to see Sunoo grinning at him.
“What?” Sunghoon muttered. “Go ahead. Laugh.”
Sunoo shook his head. “I’m not laughing. That was insane. Cool—but definitely unusual."
“I didn’t touch him,” Sunghoon said again.
Sunoo raised an eyebrow. “So… he just flew?”
Sunghoon looked away. “You don’t believe me.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything earlier?” Sunoo asked gently. “You’re not the type to just stay quiet. You always say something.”
Sunghoon hesitated.
His voice softened.
“I can’t let Ni-ki get embarrassed like that,” he admitted. “He was scared… he was shaking. I just—” He clenched his fists. “I can’t let that happen again.”
Sunoo’s expression softened.
He reached out, placing a hand on Sunghoon’s shoulder.
“Hey… it’s okay,” he said quietly. “I’m not judging you. And you’re not alone, okay? You can tell us, we're here for you…”
Sunghoon glanced at him.
“We won’t let anything like that happen again.”
He pulled Sunghoon into a hug.
No one would hurt Ni-ki, Sunghoon thought, letting that conviction sink in.
Meanwhile, Ni-ki leaned his head against Jungwon, both of them asleep, completely unaware of the chaos around them.
Sunghoon watched them for a moment, his chest still tight with lingering tension. Then, quietly, he lowered himself into the seat beside Jungwon, letting himself finally relax.
The bus hummed softly as he allowed himself to drift off, keeping one protective thought close: No one will ever hurt Ni-ki.
An hour passed, and the bus engines softened into a low rumble as the convoy began to slow. After hours of heat waves and endless desert stretching beyond the windows, the landscape slowly began to change.
The flat horizon suddenly broke apart into jagged ridges, layered cliffs, and a vast opening in the earth that seemed too enormous to be real.
The Grand Canyon.
“Are we there… yet?” Jungwon muttered, rubbing his eyes awake.
No one answered. They were too distracted by the breathtaking scenery outside their windows.
The buses came to a full stop, and one by one, the doors hissed open. Warm, sunbaked air rushed inside, carrying the faint scent of dust and stone. Students stepped down, their jaws dropping in awe.
"Now this is a view!” Jake exclaimed.
Before them stood the Grand Canyon, famous for its towering red and amber cliffs. It stretched vast and endless, carved like a masterpiece by the world itself—layers of ancient rock glowing under the descending sun.
The crowd filled with “wows” and “whoas.” Cameras clicked nonstop; the canyon was a picture-perfect wonder.
Far below, the Colorado River twisted like a silver serpent. The height was dizzying—they were standing incredibly high above the canyon floor. One wrong step, and everything could disappear in an instant.
“Woah…” Sunoo breathed.
For once, no one teased him for sounding dramatic. After all, he had been the first to judge the canyon just because of the heat.
Ni-ki stepped closer to the railing and carefully looked down. “It feels like we’re standing at the edge of the world,” he said, eyes sparkling.
“Maybe we are,” Jungwon replied as he joined him. “It doesn’t even feel real.”
Sunghoon found himself watching Ni-ki instead of the view.
It’s even prettier with you in it, he thought.
Sunlight traced Ni-ki’s features, turning his blond hair into strands of glowing gold. Hope shimmered in his eyes, as if he truly believed everything would be okay.
He stepped closer, gently holding Ni-ki’s waist—steady and protective.
“Welcome! Welcome, students of Decelis University, to the Grand Canyon!” the tour guide announced cheerfully.
“Photos are allowed—of course you should capture the scenery! No loitering near restricted areas. Trash bins are everywhere, so let’s protect Mother Earth, okay?” the guide announced.
“I hate Caleb so much… I swear, I hate everything about him,” Jake muttered, gripping the rough metal railing that lined the canyon trail. “His smug face, his stupid yellow hair—that looks like expired mustard.”
“Everything about him is annoying,” he added, kicking a loose pebble off the edge. It tumbled down into the canyon, disappearing into the vast drop below.
“He should be expelled from DU,” Jay said, arms crossed as he walked along the narrow path. “We don’t need people like him acting like he owns the place.”
“Apparently, we can’t,” Sunoo replied dryly. “His father’s a senator. You know…money, power… connections.”
“Great. A nepo baby,” Jungwon sighed, glancing around at the towering canyon walls that surrounded them. “Just like his dad—useless. Can’t even serve the people properly.”
The group continued walking, their footsteps crunching against the gravel path. The canyon stretched endlessly around them, massive rock formations glowing under the late afternoon sun. The wind howled softly through the gaps, carrying dust and a strange, dry warmth.
Sunghoon slowed his pace, turning to Ni-ki.
Ni-ki had drifted slightly away from the group, standing near the edge—eyes fixed on the vast canyon view. The sunlight caught in his blonde hair, making it glow against the rugged, earthy tones of the cliffs.
“You okay?” Sunghoon asked, his voice softer now.
Ni-ki nodded, though his gaze didn’t waver. “…How did you do that, Sunghoon?”
Sunghoon blinked. “Do what?”
Ni-ki finally turned to him, his expression serious. “You know what I mean.”
The wind picked up between them, brushing past their clothes.
Sunghoon inhaled slowly, his chest tightening. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I really don’t. I can’t explain it.”
A silence fell between them—thicker this time, heavier.
The canyon seemed quieter all of a sudden.
“You believe me… right?” Sunghoon muttered, almost hesitant.
Ni-ki didn’t answer immediately.
He studied Sunghoon’s face, searching for something—truth, maybe reassurance.
Then he nodded.
“…Yeah,” he said softly. “It was weird. Really weird. But… I believe you.”
Sunghoon’s shoulders relaxed just a little.
Before he could say anything else—
“Yooo! We meet again!”
A familiar voice echoed across the canyon, bouncing lightly off the rock walls.
The group turned as another set of students approached—nine boys, their batchmates since freshman year.
The tension instantly broke.
“No way! I thought you guys weren’t coming!” Jake exclaimed, rushing forward to hug EJ.
“Surprise!” Maki exclaimed
“Ahh, my parents!” Jo teased dramatically as he approached Sunghoon and Ni-ki.
“I’m literally younger than you, Jo-san,” Ni-ki laughed, hugging him anyway.
“Don’t mind him, son. He’s just stressed,” Sunghoon joked, dabbing Jo lightly.
“I heard what happened,” Nicholas said, pulling away from Sunoo, his tone more serious now. “That guy never changes.”
“Don’t worry about it, hyung,” Ni-ki said casually. “It’s handled.”
“Handled?” Jay muttered. “More like he was sent flying.”
“Hey!” Taki suddenly chimed in, pulling out his digicam. “This calls for a photo!”
“Alright, everyone—get in!” Jake called, already dragging people closer.
They gathered near a safe spot along the canyon trail, the massive cliffs forming a breathtaking backdrop behind them.
The golden sunlight bathed everything in warmth, shadows stretching long across the ground.
“Ready?” Taki grinned. “One, two, three—smile!”
Click.
“Okay, one more! One, two, three—smile, peeps!”
Click.
The group immediately crowded around the camera, laughing and pointing at the photos.
Sunghoon lingered a step behind.
He watched them—laughing, carefree, alive.
The canyon wind brushed past him again, cooler this time.
His gaze drifted to his hands.
The memory replayed in his mind.
Caleb… flying.
That force.
That power.
Maybe Prof G was right…
His eyes lifted toward the horizon, where the sun dipped behind the canyon walls.
Maybe this really was just the beginning.
But none of them realized this would be the last peaceful moment they’d ever share.