It was still dark out but dawn was fast approaching. Addison and G had agreed to go surfing since the surf forecast predicted close to perfect waves during this time. He had quietly snuck into the bedroom where Austen and Roman were staying in and tried to wake them up without waking the others. He was met with groans and sleepy waves of a hand, he whispered to them that he was going to go make the coffee and that they had until then to get ready to go to the beach. Eventually they all got to the shore, Austen plopping down on the sand with a blanket over her shoulders and a stainless steel coffee mug in hand and Roman laying next to her, using her as a pillow.
It was a struggle to get those two to this point but he was glad that they were all there even though when Addison was the first to agree to go surfing that he hoped it would just be the two of them. Some other surfers were there too but everyone was pretty scattered down the beach. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one watching the surf report.” He smiled at Addison. “I think these two sleepy heads are fine now. Let’s see who the better surfer is.” G winked and headed toward the water, the waves already calling to him.
The moment Addison texted him Ji-Ho began to worry. When she admitted that she wasn’t exactly sure where she was, he began to panic. Was anyone of their friends with her or was she alone with stranger? The young man was already putting his shoes one when his phone alerted him that he had received new messages. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, at least she wasn’t drunk enough to not be able to send him her location. Having to track down her phone himself would have taken much longer to do. He left without telling anyone in the house, a possible mistake on his part. He was only one man and if Addison was in some serious trouble then he might need some back up.
Too impatient to wait for an Uber, he ran to her while occasionally checking his phone to make sure she hadn’t left. She was only a couple of miles, three, tops away from the house and he ran it in record time. When he got there he stopped and bent over, trying to catch his breath. There was some sort of party going on, way too many people for his liking. A moment passed where he called an Uber for them to get back to the beach house and then he started moving through the crowd, eyes scanning for his friend. “Addison?” He tried to call out over all the noise.
“Addison,” Ji-Ho relaxed a little now that she was in his sights. “Addison,” he repeated her name, gently placing his hand on her shoulder to get her attention. “I think it’s time to get you back to the house, yeah?” His voice was calm but his emotions were still haywire with worry.
The guy that was talking to her attempted to push Ji-Ho aside, telling him that she didn’t want to go anywhere. The look on this stranger’s face, looking at Addison as if she were prey, made G sick. “If that were the case, she wouldn’t have texted me to come get her. Now if you’d excuse us.” He turned to Addison with a softer expression. “Come on, let’s go.” He held out his hand for her to take, not sure how capable she was of walking.
TIME FRAME → Friday Night, June 18th, 2027 | sometime between 9-10pm
NOTES → Written on Discord. Ji-Ho and Addison separate themselves from the group while they eat their hot dogs to stay away from the drama.
TAGGING → @prkjiho @adoringaddison
JI-HO
[ sits down away from the group with Addison ] We're close enough to still be apart of the bonfire, but far enough away so we don't have to socialize. [ he chuckles but shortly falls silent ] Is everything okay Addison?
ADDISON
[ sits next to G as her chocolate hues divert over to the others before turning to peer at the male instead ] “I’m totally fine with that. I can finally hear myself think” [ she replies before glancing down at her plate ] “I just get tired of the petty bullshit all of the time”
JI-HO
Ah [ he gives an understanding nod ] I guess I'm used to ignoring all that. [ he takes a bite of his hot dog ] Years of practice, and I honestly just put our group chat on mute a majority of the time. That helps. [ he shoots her a smile, trying to make her feel better ]
ADDISON
[ she takes a bite of her hot dog and begins chewing slowly as she listens to him talk ] “I just don’t understand it. I thought that we would have left all of that behind in high school. It just feels like it’s the same people over and over again starting it” [ she sighs as she peers over at him with a small smile ] “I’m really glad you came, G. I don’t think I could have survived this without you”
JI-HO
[ he eats and nods as she talks. he washes down his food with a drink of Soju before speaking ] I can't say I didn't see this coming, but I had hoped the past would stay in the past. Wishful thinking, getting a bunch of people who were once so connected back together and not have some living in the past moments. [ he sighs but gives a small smile ] You're one of the main reasons I came. I was set on staying away.
ADDISON
[ she finishes the bite that she had taken previously and licks her lips to get any crumbs that might have stayed before gazing over at him ] “Yeah that’s very true. I just would think that it would get tiresome after awhile, but that’s just my opinion” [ she bites her lesser lip slightly as a blush consumes her cheeks at the next words he spoke ] “Really? Wow, I feel special, G. I’m glad that you didn’t stay away though. I would have missed your company” [ she reaches out and places her hand upon his own as she gives him a smile ]
JI-HO
It's tiresome to watch, because it really doesn't have to be like this. If they just talked and got whatever closure they needed to start moving on, [ another sigh left his lips ] then things would be better. [ he looks away, down at his food, embarrassed at admitting she was one of the main reasons he decided to show up this summer. he only looks up at her when he feels her hand on his ] Yeah, it's nice to really hang out for once.
ADDISON
[ she takes another bite of her hot dog and finishes it while he speaks, nodding in agreement to what he had to say ] “I agree, but unfortunately some of them are still stuck in high school and thrive off of the drama. I just really hope it gets better because I don’t think I can handle three months of this” [ she takes a drink of her water and then looks over at him again ] “I completely agree. I love hanging out with you. You’re my favorite person, but shh don’t tell the others” [ she giggles lightly before glancing out at the crashing waves ]
JI-HO
[ he smiles and quietly laughs, she was the second person to say he was their favorite. Who would have thought the quiet boy who worked better with computers than people would actually be someone's favorite ] Your secret's safe with me. You're my favorite too. [ his gazes follows hers to the ocean ] We should go surfing again soon.
ADDISON
[ a light blush dances upon her features at the mention of being his favorite as well. a concept that she slightly struggled to believe given the fact that she didn’t see herself as being worthy of being someone’s favorite, but she was happy that she was considered to be his ] “Thank you, I appreciate it. It’s nice to be someone’s favorite” [ she states softly before turning to look over at him when he mentions surfing ] “Yes, please. I had a blast the last time”
JI-HO
Maybe not tomorrow, but we can try going the next day? [ he takes the last bite of his hot dog and chews it slowly ] I will not be in the best condition to surf tomorrow. [ he says after swallowing and then using his sleeve to wipe away any crumbs ]
ADDISON
“That works perfectly for me. I don’t have any other plans. Maybe it will just be us two this time...like just us two in general” [ she states as she thinks back to their last surfing session in which Austen and Roman tagged along; granted, they stayed on the shore but still, she would prefer for it to be just her and G ] “how much have you had to drink?” [ she asks out of curiosity ]
JI-HO
[ he’s taking another drink when she asks him how much had had to drink tonight. He thinks he probably shouldn’t have taken a whole bottle of Soju and shouldn’t be drinking straight from it, but here he was ] A couple of beers, a handful of Soju shots, and now this. [ he holds the bottle up, label facing toward her - Soju Green Apple flavor - and then sets it down. He never drank in high school, he only started picking that up in college ] Why? Are you worried about me? [ he gives a small half smile ] I’m okay, I usually stay within my limits.
ADDISON
[ she eyes the bottle that he holds up and listens to what all he has had so far, feeling her cheeks redden once again. She did worry about him, and even though she knew that nothing would happen with their group of friends like the event that happened to her, she was still cautious and wanted to keep an eye on him ] “of course I worry about you, G. I just don’t want anything to happen to you” [ she replies while offering him a small smile ]
JI-HO
Nothing’s going to happen. [ he gives his best reassuring smile. Of course she’d be worried, after the incident back in high school that was only normal. Thinking back to it made his smile fade, he should have kept a better eye on his friends ] Maybe just make sure I don’t run off into the ocean [ he forces a laugh and points to the water ] I don’t know how my swimming skills are when drunk.
ADDISON
[ she chuckles softly at the mention of him swimming drunk and nods her head in agreement ] “I’m not allowing you to take any risks, so you are certainly not entering the water on my watch” [ she replies before turning her attention back to the ocean, wishing that they were there together under different circumstances - a planned getaway from their real lives to enjoy one another’s company on a vacation, not a kept promise from five years prior ] “it’s really beautiful out here, isn’t it?” [ she questions as she turns to peer over at him with a small smile ]
JI-HO
[ he watches the ocean before looking at her ] As beautiful as Hawaii? [ he takes another sip, eyes scanning from the ocean to the bonfire ] This place does have a certain charm to it.
ADDISON
[ she shakes her head at his question before rubbing her lips together slightly ] “no, I will always think Hawaii is more beautiful. I just think California is beautiful in its own way also” [ she replies before turning to look back over at the bonfire ] “is it bad of me to say that I would rather just sit here with you all night instead of going back to the group?”
JI-HO
[ he’s surprised at her words ] No, but if we don’t return they might start talking. [ he sighs. as much as he would like nothing more than to just sit there with her all night whether talking or in silence, this bonfire was for all of them to bond instead of everyone doing their own thing as they usually do ] We can stay here a little longer, until you’re ready to get back to the group.
ADDISON
“Yeah, that’s true. I don’t have energy for that” [ she replies but in all honesty, she didn’t really care if they started talking. it seemed like that’s all their group of friends were good at anyways ] “it’s really okay, G. We can head back now. I don’t want to take you away from others who might want to hang out with you tonight” [ she smiles lightly before pushing herself up in order to head back to the group ] “thanks for keeping me company though. I really enjoyed it”
JI-HO
I don't either, I can handle listening to all the talk and ignoring it, but I don't want to be the subject of it [ he stands up to walk back to the group with her ] Any time you want to get away from the house and want some company, just let me know. [ he hopes she's feeling better to rejoin the group as they walk back ]
ADDISON
“I agree. I’m sure we will be the subject of the talk eventually this trip, but I just don’t want it to be tonight” [ she replies with a light laugh while heading back to the group ] “I will definitely do that. Thank you for hanging out with me away from the group” [ she states and reaches out to grab his hand, hoping that it’s okay that they hold hands for a few minutes ]
JI-HO
Of course, it’s always nice when it’s just us two. [ he looks at their now intertwined hands, wondering what brought that on but not wanting to bring attention to it. It feels nice to hold her hand, he only lets go when they have rejoined the group. ]
