"People stopped coming here a few years ago..." He paused just long enough for everyone to wait for the rest. "...because they claimed they saw ghosts."
He said it so casually, as if he had merely mentioned today's weather.
For a few seconds...
Absolute silence. Every single face visibly lost its color.
Nobody even blinked or says anything. Their minds were still trying to process what they had just heard.
Did this man seriously bring them to a place that people abandoned because of ghosts?
A place where no one had dared to come for years?
"What?!" everyone shouted at the exact same time, staring at Namjoon in complete disbelief.
Jungkook, who was walking behind everyone, suddenly increased his pace until he reached Namjoon. Without saying anything, he grabbed both of Namjoon's shoulders and turned him around to face him.
"Hyung..." he said with complete disbelief written across his face. "You seriously brought us to a haunted place?"
Before Namjoon could even defend himself, Taehyung also walked over. He held Namjoon's shoulder from the other side and turned him again until Namjoon was facing him this time.
"How can you even do something like this?" Taehyung asked, looking genuinely betrayed.
Namjoon barely had the chance to open his mouth when Jin joined them as well. He placed both hands on Namjoon's shoulders and spun him around once more.
"I swear..." Jin narrowed his eyes. "I'll fucking kill you before any ghost gets the chance."
Namjoon literally ended up making one complete circle on the spot because of the three of them.
He looked at each face before awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.
"Come on, guys..." he laughed nervously. "It's supposed to be fun... isn't it?"
No one answered.
Instead, everyone simply stared at him with the exact same exhausted expression.
"...Why are all of you looking at me like that?" he muttered.
Still nothing.
His confidence disappeared within seconds.
"At least be happy now," he tried again. "There's no such thing as ghosts. People just make up stories."
The moment those words left his mouth, something suddenly brushed against his leg.
Namjoon let out a loud yelp before literally jumping back.
Everyone looked at him.
A small black cat casually walked across the path before disappearing into the bushes.
Namjoon immediately cleared his throat.
"...It's just a cat."
Jin folded his arms.
"Really? Because from your reaction I thought the ghost already came to welcome us."
A few people laughed.
Namjoon coughed awkwardly, pretending nothing had happened.
"Fine," Jimin finally spoke, looking ahead at the forest trail stretching in front of them. "We've already come this far. There's no point turning back now."
Namjoon's face instantly brightened.
"See? At least Jimin understands me."
Jin looked at him.
"No. He understands that we've already wasted hours coming here."
The others chuckled while Namjoon sighed dramatically before everyone continued walking in the same order as before.
After a few minutes, Jin glanced sideways at Namjoon.
"Joon... I still can't believe you actually thought this was a good idea."
Namjoon looked completely unapologetic. "It's called adventure."
"Adventure my ass."
Jin rolled his eyes so hard that Taehyung laughed.
"You'll enjoy it later," Namjoon insisted. "Besides..." He gently bumped Jin's shoulder with his own. "Isn't it enough that we're finally going somewhere together? This is our first proper trip."
Jin looked at him for a moment before the annoyance on his face softened.
"...That's the only reason I'm still walking."
Namjoon smiled proudly as if he had won the argument.
Meanwhile, Jimin was quietly observing the scenery around them. The forest looked exactly like the photographs on the website. Tall trees stretched endlessly into the distance while the sound of the flowing river echoed through the silence. He was so busy looking around that he completely failed to notice the thorny branches growing beside the narrow trail.
Just before he walked into them, Yoongi quietly reached for his wrist and pulled him a step closer.
"There."
He simply pointed toward the thorny bush before letting go of Jimin's hand as if nothing had happened.
Jimin looked at the branches before glancing at Yoongi.
"...Thank you Yoon."
Yoongi said nothing just started continuing to walk.
The girls had already taken out their phones. Every few minutes they stopped to click another picture or record videos of the beautiful scenery around them.
A little ahead, Taehyung and Jungkook somehow ended up talking about the stock market after realizing both of them had invested money.
Men and their random interests.
"By the way..." Jungkook suddenly asked while keeping his eyes on the path ahead, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Are you dating anyone these days?"
Taehyung looked at him before shaking his head.
"Not right now. What about you?"
"Neither."
Taehyung hummed. "So... what's your type?"
Jungkook shrugged. "Honestly? I don't think I have one."
"That's actually good," Taehyung said. "Less expectations, fewer disappointments."
On the other side, Kevin and Minsu had entered yet another football discussion that nobody else understood.
Men and their obsession with sports.
"Bro, I still can't believe Lamine Yamal is only eighteen," Kevin said, shaking his head in amazement. "He's already playing like that."
"I know," Minsu agreed. "And you'll find this funny, but nowadays Haaland and Jude are becoming so popular that even girls who don't watch football keep shipping them."
Kevin burst into laughter.
"I've seen those edits. Girls really love shipping two men."
Their conversation continued while everyone kept walking through the peaceful forest.
Nearly an hour later, the trees slowly opened up, revealing a breathtaking wooden bridge stretching across the wide river. Crystal-clear water flowed beneath it while the morning sunlight reflected beautifully over the surface.
Namjoon immediately clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Guys!" he called out enthusiastically. "If anyone wants pictures, this is the perfect place."
Jimin slowly stepped closer to the bridge and looked around.
"It's so beautiful..." he murmured, his eyes wandering across the endless river, and the forest surrounding them from every side. For a moment, it almost became impossible to believe that people were actually afraid of a place this beautiful.

Everyone slowly spread around the bridge, taking pictures from every possible angle. Some were clicking the scenery, some were taking selfies while Kevin had already started forcing everyone into group photos.
Yoongi, however, quietly walked a little away from the crowd. He stood near the bridge. The cool breeze kept brushing through his hair, making a few strands fall over his forehead while he simply stood there, admiring the view in complete silence.
Jimin's eyes unknowingly followed him. Without saying a word, he slowly pulled out his camera.
He adjusted the lens, making sure nobody noticed what he was doing before secretly clicking one picture.
Then another. Then one more.

The scenery was beautiful... But somehow, Yoongi looked even more beautiful standing in the middle of it.
From behind, Namjoon noticed everything. His eyes shifted from Jimin... to the camera... and then toward Yoongi. A knowing smile appeared on his face, but he simply looked away without saying anything.
Yoongi slowly sat on the edge of the bridge, letting both of his legs hang freely while he continued looking at the flowing river below. He honestly didn't know what to do. Everyone else was busy taking pictures while he simply enjoyed the peaceful silence around him.

He had no idea that someone, just a few steps away, was filling an entire gallery with nothing but him.
After a while, Yoongi unknowingly turned his head.
His eyes landed on Jimin.
Jimin immediately shifted the camera in another direction as naturally as possible and started clicking pictures of Myra and Aura, who were happily posing together.
Yoongi didn't suspect anything. He simply looked away again.
A few minutes later, Namjoon clapped his hands loudly, immediately catching everyone's attention.
"Guys, let's move forward now. We still have to reach..." He deliberately stopped in the middle of the sentence, looking at everyone's curious faces with a small smile.
"Reach where?" Minsu asked, unable to hide his curiosity anymore.
Namjoon only folded the map before looking at him.
"You'll know once we get there."
A chorus of complaints immediately followed.
"Hyung, that's unfair."
"Just tell us."
"Why are you making everything mysterious?"
Namjoon only laughed before turning around.
"If I tell you now, what's the fun in that? Come on."
With no other choice, everyone started walking behind him once again.
After crossing the bridge, the atmosphere slowly began changing.
The cheerful voices gradually became quieter without anyone realizing it.
The river they had crossed was now flowing on their left side, stretching so far ahead that it almost looked endless. Tall trees covered both sides of the narrow path, their branches moving along with the increasing wind. There wasn't another tourist around them.
Only the sound of flowing water... And their own footsteps.
Jimin looked around before speaking. "How much longer?"
Namjoon stopped for a second and unfolded the map once again. After checking it carefully, he looked back at everyone.
"We've almost arrived. Just five more minutes."
"Not gonna lie..." Aura wrapped both arms around herself as another cold breeze passed by. "I already feel like this is going to become one of those experiences I'll never forget."
"Don't say it like that," Kevin immediately replied. "You're making it sound like we're walking into a horror movie."
"I'm just saying what I'm feeling."
As they continued walking, the weather changed even more.
The warm sunlight slowly disappeared behind thick black clouds. The pleasant breeze turned colder, making everyone instinctively rub their arms.
Jin looked up at the sky before letting out a sigh. "I have a feeling it's going to rain."
"I was thinking the same thing," Taehyung replied while glancing upward. "Let's hope we reach before it starts."
Nobody disagreed.
Just a few moments later...
Something slowly appeared between the trees. An old mansion. Everyone's footsteps gradually slowed on their own.
The house stood completely alone in the middle of the forest. Time had clearly left its marks on the walls, yet the mansion still carried an elegant beauty beneath its abandoned appearance. Dark clouds hanging above it somehow made the entire place look straight out of a horror movie.

Taehyung slowly walked closer to Namjoon without taking his eyes off the mansion.
"...Namjoon hyung."
"Hm?"
"Don't tell me..." He pointed toward the mansion. "...we're staying there."
Namjoon smiled.
"You're right."
Everyone looked at the mansion once again. Then back at Namjoon. Then at the mansion.
Jin slowly swallowed.
"...You know," he spoke after a long pause, "I was joking about seeing ghosts on this trip."
Jungkook immediately nodded. "Same."
Kevin folded his arms. "I'm not scared..."
He looked at the mansion one more time. "...but if someone says they saw a ghost tonight, I'm believing them without asking any questions."
Even the others laughed at his word.
Everyone started walking towards the mansion while carrying their own bags.
Jimin slowed his steps a little until he was walking beside Yoongi. He looked at him for a moment before a teasing smile appeared on his lips.
"Are you scared, Yoon?" he asked, trying to read Yoongi's face.
Yoongi immediately looked at him as if the question itself was ridiculous.
"You think I am?" he asked before letting out a small scoff. "No way. It's just an old house. What's there to be scared of?"
Finally reached the mansion.
The enormous house stood silently in front of them, surrounded by towering trees. Even though nobody had lived there for years, it didn't look completely abandoned.

Namjoon walked toward the massive wooden entrance door before putting his bag down. Everyone watched him as he slipped a key out of his pocket.
"You seriously have the key?" Taehyung asked in disbelief.
"The man who gave me map he gave it to me," Namjoon replied casually while inserting the key into the old lock. "I arranged everything before we came."
The lock clicked.
With a gentle push, the large entrance door slowly opened.

Everyone instinctively looked around.
The first thing they saw was an enormous living hall stretching almost across the entire front portion of the mansion. There wasn't a single piece of furniture inside except for a few neatly folded mattresses placed against one wall. Thankfully, unlike what they had expected, the room wasn't covered in dust or spider webs. It looked as if someone had cleaned it recently.
"Are we actually going to stay here?" Jin asked while looking around the huge empty space.
"Yes," Namjoon answered with a nod. "This hall is for all of us boys. The rest of the rooms were too dusty to use immediately, so I only asked them to clean this place and one bedroom."
As he spoke, he turned toward Aura and Myra before pointing at a room on the same floor.
"That one is yours. You two can keep your luggage there and freshen up first."
Aura smiled.
"Thank you."
"Seriously, thank you," Myra added at the same time, making both of them laugh softly.
Namjoon simply smiled before turning back toward the boys.
"As for us..." He clapped his hands once to gather everyone's attention. "We'll be sleeping here together. There are enough mattresses, blankets and pillows for everyone, so nobody has to complain."
Jungkook immediately walked inside, dropped his backpack in one corner and stretched his arms above his head.
"Thank you, Namjoon hyung," he said dramatically. "At least we're sleeping inside a mansion instead of spending the whole night in tents."
Everyone settled down in a big circle, folding their legs over the large mattress spread across the floor. Some had already opened bottles of water while others passed around packets of chips and snacks, the quiet chatter slowly replacing the silence that had followed their arrival. Yoongi sat at the edge of the circle, leaning comfortably against the piller without saying much.
He hadn't even brought a single bag with him. He never wanted to come here in the first place.
Jimin was the one who had packed everything for him before leaving home because he knew if he left it to Yoongi, the man would probably arrive empty-handed.
Without saying anything, Jimin opened one of the bags, took out a bottle of water and held it towards him.
"I don't want it," Yoongi replied without even looking at the bottle.
"Take it."
Jimin's tone wasn't loud, but it carried the kind of seriousness Yoongi never argued with. He quietly accepted the bottle before placing it beside him.
"I'm already hungry," Jin complained while stretching his arms above his head. "Now tell me... who's going to cook?"
"There should be a kitchen here," Namjoon answered. "I still need to check what condition it's in, but for today we don't have to cook anything. We brought preserved food, so we'll manage."
Jin immediately rested his chin on Namjoon's shoulder with a satisfied smile.
"See? This is why you're my man. You think about everything."
Namjoon only laughed while gently nudging Jin away.
Yoongi unconsciously smiled at the sight.
He had never seen Jin like this before.
Ever since meeting him, Jin had always looked mature and serious. Seeing him casually cling to Namjoon and act this comfortably felt strangely new.
"By the way, Minsu..." Namjoon suddenly spoke as if something had crossed his mind. "Do you remember that time you came to Seoul during your school holidays and insisted on coming with me when I was going to Jimin's house?"
Minsu immediately laughed. "Of course I remember."
Back then Namjoon had just turned eighteen, while Minsu was barely twelve years old.
"We went to Jimin hyung's house. Taehyung hyung was there too... and Jungkook..." He pointed directly at Jungkook before laughing louder. "He punched me so hard just because I touched his bicycle."
"The hell..." Jungkook blinked a few times before scratching the back of his neck. "I seriously don't remember doing that, but... sorry."
"We were kids," Minsu shrugged. "Kids do stupid things."
Namjoon chuckled.
"Minsu liked Jimin's company so much that he wouldn't leave his side for even a second."
The moment those words left Namjoon's mouth, Yoongi's attention shifted towards Minsu.
"I remember," Jimin laughed. "Everywhere I went, he followed me. Even when we all stayed overnight together, he kept insisting he wanted to sleep beside me."
"It was because you treated me so well," Minsu replied with an embarrassed smile. "I always wanted to stay in Seoul, but back then Uncle couldn't afford both hyung and me here."
His expression softened. "But now I finally can when I earn myself Hyung is settled down... and I even get to join your group."
Namjoon shook his head with amusement. "He always liked my friends more than his own brother."
Taehyung suddenly laughed as another memory came back to him.
"One time minsu came with us at my house. I rememberwhen Minsu and my younger brother somehow started fighting over the blanket. I got so frustrated that I called Namjoon hyung in the middle of the night."
Everyone laughed together.
Jimin looked at Minsu again before smiling.
"You've changed so much. Honestly, I didn't even recognize you at first. You were such a cute kid back then... now you've become quite handsome."
Minsu awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's probably because we met after so many years."
The conversation remained completely normal.
Yet... Someone wasn't enjoying it at all.
Yoongi silently tightened his jaw before suddenly getting to his feet.
"Where's the washroom?" he asked.
Namjoon pointed towards the narrow passage leading deeper into the house.
"Second door on the left."
Without another word, Yoongi walked away.
Jin watched him disappear before slowly turning towards Jimin with an amused smile.
"Your man is burning."
Jimin looked towards the passage before letting out a quiet laugh.
"Go calm him down."
Shaking his head, Jimin stood up and followed after Yoongi.
The old wooden passage was much quieter than the hall behind them.

Jimin found Yoongi standing there, staring ahead as if he had forgotten why he even came.
"Hey..." He called softly. "My nerdy boy."
Yoongi paused before turning around.
"Why are you following me?"
Jimin folded his arms across his chest. "Are you jealous?"
"I'm not." The answer came a little too quickly.
Jimin couldn't stop the smile forming on his lips.
"Really?" he asked, taking another step closer. "Because your face and your tone are saying something completely different."
"I said I'm not jealous."
"You know..." Jimin tilted his head slightly. "You're a terrible liar."
Before Jimin could tease him again, Yoongi closed the distance between them in two quick steps. His hand slipped around Jimin's waist before gently pulling him closer until barely any space remained between them.. their chest touched each others, leaving no gap.
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