⋆ 𐙚 ̊.CHAPTER 9 ✶⋆.˚

🇽​​🇴​, ​🇪​​🇻​​🇪​​🇱​​🇾​​🇳

EVELYN PUSHED OPEN the door to the dorm, her shoulders heavy with the tension of the day. The low hum of a television reached her ears, along with the sound of soft laughter. She stepped inside and saw Kitty and Q sprawled on the couch, both completely engrossed in a show playing on the screen. The room felt warm and lived-in, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside her mind.

"Evelyn!" Kitty called out cheerfully as soon as she spotted her. "You're back!"

Evelyn forced a faint smile, the kind you give when you're too exhausted to engage. "Yeah."

Q, lounging with one arm draped over the back of the couch, glanced over his shoulder at her. "Perfect timing. We just started this episode. You should join us." He motioned to the empty spot on the couch next to Kitty. "It's hilarious, trust me."

Evelyn hesitated, her hand still gripping the strap of her bag. She looked at the two of them, so relaxed and at ease, and felt a pang of longing for that kind of simplicity. But the weight of everything that had happened today crushed any thought of sitting down and laughing at a show. The idea of pretending everything was fine felt unbearable.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass," she said, her voice quieter than usual.

Q frowned slightly, tilting his head. "You sure? It'll be fun."

Evelyn shook her head, already stepping toward her room. "I'm sure. I'm just... tired."

Kitty's brows knit together in concern, but she didn't push. "Okay, but let me know if you need anything."

Evelyn nodded without turning back. "Will do."

She slipped into her room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. The silence inside felt like a reprieve, a bubble of solitude where she could finally let out the breath she'd been holding all day. She dropped her bag onto the floor and leaned against the door, her head tilting back as she closed her eyes.

The sound of Kitty and Q's laughter drifted faintly through the door, a reminder of the normalcy she couldn't seem to find. Evelyn sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair. She didn't even bother to unpack. Right now, all she wanted was to escape—to tune out the noise in her head, even if only for a little while.

The hardwood floor beneath her felt oddly grounding as her eyes fluttered shut, trying to force herself into a semblance of peace.

Suddenly, a soft knock startled her, and the door pushed inward slightly. Evelyn's head jerked back, colliding with the wood with a loud thud.

"Ah, damn it!" she hissed, rubbing the back of her head.

Kitty peeked through the gap, her wide eyes filled with guilt. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Evie! I didn't know you were—"

"It's fine," Evelyn grumbled, wincing as she stood up. "Just... give me a second."

Kitty stepped inside cautiously, closing the door behind her. She shuffled to her side of the room and sat on her bed, throwing a nervous glance toward Evelyn, who plopped down on her own bed, still massaging the back of her head.

Once the lights were dimmed and the room had settled into a calm silence, Kitty hesitated before speaking, her voice soft. "Evie, are you okay? You've been acting so... distant lately."

Evelyn sighed, staring at the ceiling. "I'm fine, Kitty. Just tired, that's all."

Kitty propped herself up on her elbow, her concerned gaze piercing through the dimness. "Come on. I know something's up. You're not eating, you're snapping at everyone."

"Evie." Kitty's voice softened even more. "Talk to me. What's going on? You can trust me, you know."

Evelyn exhaled deeply, the weight of the day pressing down on her chest. "It's just... complicated, Kitty. My life feels like a giant knot right now. Between this dorm mess, Minho's ridiculous antics, and—" She stopped herself, unsure if she wanted to reveal more.

"And?" Kitty prompted gently.

"And running into Hanni," Evelyn said. "It just brought back a lot. Things I thought I was done thinking about."

"Hanni?" Kitty's brow furrowed. "Who's Hanni?"

"She was my best friend when I was a kid, back when I lived here. We were inseparable. Her, Minho, and I... we were a trio." Evelyn's voice grew distant as memories flooded back. "But then I moved away, and we stayed in touch for a while. But you know how life is. Things change. People drift apart."

Kitty stayed quiet, giving Evelyn the space to continue.

"Seeing her today was like... I don't know, like opening a time capsule. Everything I'd buried just came rushing back. And then Minho... he had to bring up things I wasn't ready to deal with." Evelyn rubbed her temples, trying to chase away the looming headache.

Kitty reached over, placing a comforting hand on Evelyn's arm. "Evie, it's okay to feel overwhelmed. But you don't have to carry all this alone. I'm here for you, okay? Always."

Evelyn looked over at Kitty, her guarded expression softening. "Thanks, Kitty."

"Anytime." Kitty grinned, settling back into her bed. "Now, if you don't mind, can we not start tomorrow with you and Minho trying to kill each other? It's a bit much before breakfast."

Evelyn let out a genuine laugh for the first time that day. "About that, don't worry. I don't think we'll be talking anytime soon."

The room fell quiet again, and as Evelyn closed her eyes, she felt a little less alone.

_______________________________________________________________

The next morning, Evelyn was groggily pulling on a hoodie when a sharp knock at the door made her flinch.

"Evie! Open up!" Kitty's cheerful voice rang out, far too energetic for the hour.

Evelyn groaned and shuffled to the door, opening it to find Kitty and Q standing there, both decked out in athletic gear. Kitty was practically bouncing on her feet, her ponytail swinging. Q, on the other hand, leaned casually against the doorframe, smirking as if he already knew she'd say no to whatever they were planning.

"What do you two want?" Evelyn grumbled, narrowing her eyes.

"We're going on a hike thanks to outdoor activity prioritized by KISS.!" Kitty announced, clapping her hands together as if the idea alone would excite her.

"Good for you," Evelyn replied flatly, starting to close the door.

Kitty stuck her foot in before it could shut. "You're coming too!"

Evelyn blinked at her, then at Q, who just shrugged. "Pass."

"Oh, come on," Kitty pleaded, pushing the door back open. "It'll be fun! Fresh air, nature, getting away from—" She stopped herself, then added in a quieter tone, "You know, all the drama here."

Evelyn crossed her arms. "If this is about dragging me into one of your Dae schemes, count me out."

"It's not a scheme!" Kitty protested, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her. "I just... I never get to spend time with him without Yuri hovering around. And he loves hiking! This is my chance to actually talk to him."

"And where do I fit into this romantic escapade?" Evelyn asked, raising a brow.

"To balance it out," Q interjected with a grin. "You know Minho never goes on hikes because he's paranoid about his skin. So, it'll be just us. No Minho, no drama."

Evelyn hesitated, the thought of avoiding Minho for a few hours admittedly tempting.

"And," Kitty added, leaning in conspiratorially, "it might help clear your head. You've been so tense lately. Think of it as a reset. Besides, it's not like you have anything better to do."

Evelyn sighed, glancing at the two of them. Kitty's hopeful expression and Q's knowing smirk made it impossible to refuse. "Fine. But I'm not climbing any mountains. If it gets too much, I'm turning back."

Kitty squealed, pulling Evelyn into a quick hug. "Yes! You won't regret this!"

"I already do," Evelyn muttered, grabbing her sneakers.

"Come on," Q said, leading the way down the hall. "The fresh air will do wonders for your mood."

Evelyn rolled her eyes but followed. As they walked out of the dorm, Kitty beamed, already chatting about the trail. Evelyn, however, couldn't shake the feeling that this hike would be anything but peaceful.

As the group arrived at the base of the trail, Evelyn immediately felt the tension brewing. The crisp morning air and the cheerful chatter of other hikers did nothing to ease her unease. Kitty was positively glowing with excitement, practically skipping alongside Dae as they gathered their gear. Q was his usual laid-back self, munching on a protein bar. Evelyn, however, was already questioning her decision to come.

"Alright," Q said, tossing his wrapper into the trash. "Let's get this over with before I remember I hate exercise."

But just as the group was about to set off, a familiar, unwelcome voice called out behind them.

"Sorry guys, I'm late, sorry."

Kitty turned, her stomach sinking as she spotted Yuri approaching, her designer hiking outfit looking like it came straight out of a magazine. She looked completely out of place, yet somehow she wore it with ease.

"Oh, come on," Evelyn muttered under her breath, shooting a glare at Kitty, who looked equally horrified.

efore Evelyn could process Yuri's arrival, another voice—lower, sharper—cut through the air.

"All right, who's ready for a hike?" 

Evelyn didn't need to turn around to recognize that voice. Minho strolled toward them, sunglasses perched on his face, his expression smug yet strangely tense.

"You've got to be kidding me," Evelyn hissed, crossing her arms as she faced the uninvited guests.

Kitty's face fell as she realized what was happening. "Yuri? Minho? What... what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Yuri said coolly, tossing her sleek ponytail over her shoulder. "Minho told me this hike was happening, so I thought I'd join."

Kitty's jaw dropped as she whipped around to glare at Minho. "You told her?"

Minho shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant but failing miserably. "Look, I thought it'd be good if she came along. You know, to keep things balanced."

"Balanced?" Evelyn snapped, her voice laced with irritation. "Since when does dragging Yuri into anything balance things out?"

Minho's gaze flicked to Dae for a split second before returning to Evelyn. "I thought it was the responsible thing to do. Considering..." He trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

"Considering what?" Kitty pressed, narrowing her eyes.

Minho hesitated, then glanced meaningfully at Dae, who stood silently, his expression unreadable.

Evelyn's frustration boiled over. "Oh, I see. You thought you were swooping in to prevent some disaster between Dae and Kitty." She laughed bitterly. "How very noble of you, Minho."

"I didn't ask for your commentary, Evelyn," Minho shot back, his tone clipped.

"Enough," Q cut in, stepping between them with a lazy grin. 

"We can talk on the hike. Let's go people. I really hope you guys used the bathroom, because there are none." Q said and they started their work up the hill.

As the group started up the trail, tension hung in the air like a storm cloud. Yuri stuck close to Dae, her laughter ringing out a little too loudly, while Kitty kept throwing anxious glances their way. Minho walked near the back, silent and brooding.

Evelyn let out a frustrated sigh as the rest of the group moved ahead on the trail. The initial excitement of the hike had evaporated, replaced by a gnawing irritation. She slowed her pace, allowing a gap to grow between her and the others. Being alone sounded infinitely better than putting up with Yuri's shrill laughter or Minho's smug presence.

But peace, it seemed, wasn't on the agenda.

"Giving up already, Grandma?" Minho's familiar drawl broke through her thoughts.

She didn't bother turning around, but her groan was loud enough to let him know she'd heard. "What do you want, Minho?"

"To check on you, obviously. Don't want you passing out on the trail. Imagine the headlines: 'KISS Student Abandons Hike Due to Old Age.'"

Evelyn rolled her eyes, finally glancing at him as he fell into step beside her. "Really? That's the best you've got?"

Minho smirked, pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. "I'm just saying, slowing down like this? You sure you're not past your prime?"

Evelyn scoffed, her steps steady despite her growing annoyance. "Slowing down isn't the same as giving up, genius. Not that you'd know, since the most exercise you get is from flipping your hair in the mirror."

Minho's jaw dropped in mock offense. "Excuse me? My skincare routine is a necessity, not a luxury. Unlike some people, I care about my future. Don't blame me because you're too lazy to exfoliate."

"Oh, please," Evelyn shot back, unable to suppress a smirk. "The only thing you're protecting your 'future' from is a minor sunburn. What's the big emergency? Afraid the sun's going to harass your porcelain skin?"

Minho gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "You did not just say that. My skin is flawless, and I intend to keep it that way. It's called being responsible, Raven. Maybe you should try it sometime."

Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. "Responsible? You're out here in the wilderness acting like the UV rays are out to personally attack you. Admit it, Minho, you'd rather be anywhere but here."

"Wrong," Minho countered, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. "I'm here out of the goodness of my heart, keeping the elderly—aka you—company. Someone's got to look out for you before you collapse from sheer exhaustion."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with amusement. "Wow, so noble of you. Let me guess, you'll carry me back to the dorms if I faint?"

Minho smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "If I have to. But fair warning, you're looking a little heavier these days. I might need backup."

"Watch it, Minho," Evelyn said, her voice sharp despite the grin tugging at her lips. "Or I'll make sure your beloved skincare products mysteriously disappear."

Minho clutched his sunglasses like she'd just threatened his firstborn. "You wouldn't dare."

Evelyn's laughter echoed down the trail, mixing with the sound of rustling leaves. For a moment, the tension lifted, replaced by the familiar banter that always seemed to bubble up between them.

As much as Minho got under her skin, Evelyn had to admit—there was something strangely comforting about their bickering. Even if he was insufferable.

"Something good did come out of the hike after all."

ruka:

this is gonna be slow burn guys. 

i love slow drama sikess