Lots of the coaches complained about weekend trips. There were hiking trips, and canoe trips, and they needed supervision. Seokmin didn’t mind doing it. He got to spend a bit more time with the kids getting to know them. It was good exercise. Shinwon and Wooseok were entertaining guides. And he wasn’t the only coach anyway, so it wasn’t lonely.
“Really? That’s who you like?”
With Hansol and Chan back at the camp Seokmin was put with a handful of 15 and 16 year old boys who wanted to come on the trip. It didn’t surprise Seokmin that they were discussing who liked who. It was such a hot topic at that age.
Seokmin only partially paid attention to their words as they sat eating their lunches. His attention was elsewhere.
“Yeah?” Chris mumbled, scratching his head. “That’s not a bad thing. She’s really cute.”
“Exactly,” Minho chuckled. “The problem is she’s out of your league.”
Chris blushed as the group of boys chuckled. “Well who do you like, then?”
“Yeah, I’m not telling any of you,” Minho snorted. “I’ll keep my secrets, thanks.”
“That’s no fun,” Changbin grumbled. “You made us tell you ours.”
“I didn’t make you do anything,” He sniffed.
“Come on,” Chris whined. “That’s not fair.”
“Well what about Seokmin?”
Seokmin turned to stare at them quickly at Minho’s words. They had yet to say a name and he could already feel the heat on his face.
“What about me?” He asked.
“Who do you like?” Minho asked.
“I-I- no one,” he said.
“If you’re gonna lie, at least make it convincing,” Changbin chuckled.
“We won’t tell anyone,” Minho said.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Chris cut in. “You can’t trust him.”
“Didn't you just tell him who you liked?” Changbin asked.
“I don’t always make good choices,” he retorted.
“I told you, there’s no one,” Seokmin said.
“Then why were you staring at the girls over there?” Donghyuck, who was sitting nearby, piped up.
“I-I wasn’t!” Seokmin wasn’t even convinced by his own words.
“Ohh is it Tzuyu?” Chris asked.
“Oh man you two work together,” Minho laughed. “How are you going to keep that secret?”
“I told you, th-”
“It’s okay,” Donghyuck grinned. “We can match make for you when we have archery.”
“It’ll be fun,” Changbin chimed.
“You guys are gonna ruin his chances,” Said Minho. “But you should go over and talk to her.”
“I can’t when I’m watching you guys,” Seokmin said, his brain scrambling for some way to get out of this. Why did they have to be so perceptive?
“C’mon Chris,” Donghyuck said, looping his arm through Chris’. “It’s time to talk to your crush.”
“Wh-What!?”
“Yep, we should go over there,” Minho said, jumping to his feet.
“Sit down!” Seokmin said.
“Can’t,” said Changbin. “Gotta go chat with the girls.”
“Fine.” Seokmin stood up. “If I go over there will you leave this alone?”
“For now,” Said Minho, sitting back down. Chris breathed a sigh of relief.
Seokmin stuck his hands in his pockets as he turned towards the group of girls. Tzuyu was sitting and chatting peacefully with a group of campers. Spots of sun shone down through the trees, dappled across her skin as she chatted with the girls. One of the younger campers had also come to her, sitting in her lap while Tzuyu braided her hair.
Seokmin felt his heart racing as he walked over, his mind blanking on what to say. He couldn’t think of anything that didn’t sound dumb. He could barely think of an entire sentence. And every step was taking him closer.
“U-Uh, hi.” Why did his voice sound so unsure?
Tzuyu looked up at him and smiled softly in a way that made his heart skip. “Hi Seokmin.” The girls around her giggled and Seokmin felt what little confidence he had slipping away. His mouth felt too dry as he tried to find words.
“Did you need something?”
“I-I uh- what are we doing tomorrow?”
Tzuyu cocked her head cutely. “As in the lesson plan?”
“Y-Yeah. The boys were asking.”
Tzuyu giggled. “You were the one that wrote it, weren’t you?” The campers around her laughed and Seokmin felt his face getting even hotter, his confidence utterly collapsing. If only the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
“I forgot,” he said. “I- uh- can you remember?”
Tzuyu giggled lightly. “Tell them I can explain it to them on the hike down.”
“S-Sure thing.”
Seokmin turned quickly away from the girls, hurrying back to his campers. They were waiting for him expectantly.
“See,” Minho grinned. “That wasn’t so hard.”
“Did it go okay?” Chris asked.
“We’re not talking about it anymore,” Seokmin hissed. “And just for that I’m telling Shinwon you want to carry the camping supplies back down the mountain.”
