🌅 Morning – Vacation Resort
The sound of waves and birds wakes everyone up.
For the first time in months, nobody has meetings.
Nobody has schedules.
Nobody has reporters.
Just vacation.
Well...
That was the plan.
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📍 Resort Restaurant
Everyone gathers for breakfast.
Mr. Aura walks in looking suspiciously energetic.
Everyone immediately becomes nervous.
Mr. Aura:
"Good morning!"
Nobody answers.
Secretary Ryu:
"He's planning something."
Manager Hyun:
"I can feel it."
Mr. Aura smiles.
Mr. Aura:
"Today's activity list!"
Everyone groans.
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🏖 Activity 1 – Beach Volleyball
Teams are divided.
Team 1:
Kiara
Manager Hyun
Two staff members
Team 2:
Jiho
Secretary Ryu
Mr. Aura
One staff member
Jiho grins.
Jiho:
"Looks like we're opponents."
Kiara:
"Try not to lose."
Jiho:
"That's cute."
Kiara:
"Excuse me?"
Mr. Aura:
"START!"
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The game begins.
Jiho jumps dramatically.
Misses completely.
Falls into sand.
Everyone laughs.
Secretary Ryu:
"That's our superstar."
Manager Hyun:
"I'm not claiming him."
Jiho:
"Traitor."
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Kiara spikes the ball.
It lands directly on Jiho's head.
BONK.
Everyone freezes.
Then bursts out laughing.
Jiho:
"Attempted murder."
Kiara:
"Professional volleyball."
Jiho:
"I'll remember this."
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📸 Activity 2 – Couple Photography Challenge
Mr. Aura:
"Next game!"
Everyone:
"NO!"
Mr. Aura:
"YES!"
He spins a box.
Names are drawn.
Everyone waits.
Secretary Ryu opens hers.
Manager Hyun opens his.
Both freeze.
Secretary Ryu:
"Oh."
Manager Hyun:
"Oh."
Mr. Aura:
"Perfect!"
Everyone laughs.
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Their task:
Take the best vacation photo together.
Manager Hyun:
"This is ridiculous."
Secretary Ryu:
"I agree."
Five minutes later—
They're accidentally taking selfies.
Arguing over angles.
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Manager Hyun:
"You're too serious."
Secretary:
"You're too grumpy."
Hyun:
"Fair."
Secretary:
"Fair."
Both laugh.
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Meanwhile...
Jiho and Kiara are paired too.
Neither is happy.
Or maybe too happy.
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Jiho:
"Smile."
Kiara:
"No."
Jiho:
"One smile."
Kiara:
"No."
Jiho:
"Half smile?"
Kiara:
"No."
Jiho:
"You must be fun at parties."
Kiara:
"I own the parties."
Jiho starts laughing.
The camera accidentally captures it.
And also captures Kiara trying not to smile.
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🌊 Activity 3 – Banana Boat
Worst idea ever.
According to Kiara.
Best idea ever.
According to Jiho.
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Five minutes later—
Everyone falls into the water.
Splash.
Screams everywhere.
Mr. Aura is laughing.
Secretary Ryu is threatening legal action.
Manager Hyun is questioning his career choices.
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Kiara comes up from the water.
Hair wet.
Laughing.
Actually laughing.
Not CEO laughing.
Real laughing.
Jiho stares.
Completely distracted.
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Kiara:
"What?"
Jiho:
"Nothing."
Kiara:
"You're staring."
Jiho:
"No."
Kiara:
"You're literally staring."
Jiho:
"..."
Kiara:
"..."
Jiho:
"Okay maybe a little."
Kiara splashes water at him.
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🌇 Afternoon
Everyone returns to the resort.
Tired.
Happy.
Sunburned.
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Secretary Ryu and Manager Hyun sit near the beach.
Watching the sunset.
Surprisingly peaceful.
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Hyun:
"I haven't relaxed like this in years."
Secretary:
"Same."
Hyun:
"Your boss is difficult."
Secretary:
"Your actor is worse."
Hyun laughs.
Secretary laughs too.
For the first time—
They're actually enjoying each other's company.
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🌅 Evening
Mr. Aura gathers everyone.
Uh-oh.
Everyone recognizes that smile.
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Mr. Aura:
"Final activity."
Everyone:
"No."
Mr. Aura:
"Treasure Hunt."
Everyone:
"..."
Mr. Aura:
"Winner gets a luxury resort package."
Everyone:
"LET'S GO!"
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🗺 Treasure Hunt Begins
Teams spread across the island.
Searching clues.
Running everywhere.
Getting lost.
Finding nothing.
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Kiara finds a clue near a waterfall.
Jiho appears.
Again.
Like always.
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Kiara:
"Why are you here?"
Jiho:
"I found the same clue."
Kiara:
"Convenient."
Jiho:
"Suspiciously convenient."
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The next clue leads deep into a forest path.
Away from the beach.
Away from everyone.
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They continue walking.
Talking a little.
Laughing a little.
The awkwardness finally starting to disappear.
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Then—
Thunder.
BOOM.
Both stop.
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Jiho:
"That doesn't sound good."
Kiara:
"No."
A second thunder follows.
Much louder.
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Suddenly—
Rain starts pouring.
Heavy tropical rain.
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Kiara:
"Run!"
Jiho:
"Where?!"
Kiara:
"I don't know!"
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Both start running.
Through trees.
Mud.
Rain.
Laughing and slipping.
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Then—
They see something ahead.
An old wooden hut.
Hidden among trees.
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Jiho:
"There!"
Kiara:
"RUN!"
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Both rush inside.
Breathing heavily.
Completely soaked.
Rain pounding outside.
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The old door suddenly slams shut behind them.
BANG.
Both jump.
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Kiara:
"..."
Jiho:
"..."
Kiara slowly tries the door.
It doesn't move.
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Jiho:
"Is it stuck?"
Kiara:
"Yes."
Jiho:
"Seriously?"
Kiara:
"YES."
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Thunder echoes.
Rain falls harder.
The forest is getting darker.
And they are completely alone.
Together.
Inside an old hut.
Far away from everyone.
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🌧 End of Chapter 9
To Be Continued...