Choi Jongho is usually one of the reserved ones in Ateez. He's talkative when he has to, he'll join talks, he does become social, just in an adequate amount and in moderacy. And that makes him one of the quiet ones in Ateez by the standard, you know, because Ateez is Ateez and the 99z are pretty loud and close with each other. And Jongho is actually reserved. He keeps the stuff personal to him, too personal emotions at the least, to himself. Not an oversharer. And he is one of the kinds that doesn't entertain switching to really random discussions in a conversation like the more social ones do.

But today, I don't know what came into him( even he doesn't know) that he accidentally slipped out something that's raising a lot of questions and talks right now. He let out to his roommates how he was wishing to go to Jeju alone with Soojin and how he already asked the girl about it.

San opens the door and peeks into the younger Choi and the Woosang besties' room. "What are you guys talking about in here?" he asks.

"This guy is going to Jeju with Soojin and niether of them asked us!" Wooyoung furiously says pointing fingers at the maknae.

Seonghwa who's occupying the living room sofa straightens and Hongjoong who was resting his head on the taller's shoulder now sits up properly and alert as they both hear Wooyoung's voice.

"Guys!" the leader calls out loud. "Come out and speak so that everyone can hear it!"

When everybody is in the room, including the confused newcomers to this commotion, Yunho and Mingi, Hongjoong asks. "I could hear something about Jongho going to Jeju. Is that true?"

"With Soojin," San adds. "Guys, remember when she promised to us that we'll all go to Jeju for a trip."

"If it's a trip to Jeju with Soojin, we're all going," Seonghwa firmly says.

"Yes, I want to go!" Wooyoung says.

"We don't have time to go on a trip together," Hongjoong says. "Stop discussing ridiculous plans."

"Yeah, Jongho, you can't go to Jeju with her alone," Seonghwa firmly declares. Oof! He really said it out, huh?

Jongho's face flashes surprise. Both the maknae and the oldest knew how the other was feeling, but they avoided talking about it directly. And it sure is surprising to see Seonghwa outright forbidding him to be alone with Soojin, at least that is what it sounds like to the maknae.

"Why?" he questions.

"Because you're not responsible enough to go alone," Seonghwa answers and Wooyoung cracks up. Lame as expected.

"This is what I was meaning when I said it will be very awkward," Yeosang quietly whispers near San and Wooyoung's ear, pulling them close.

"What!" Jongho responds to Seonghwa. "I am not. And I won't be alone. Noona is a very responsible person too."

"W-Well, you still need someone else?" Seonghwa not knowing what he himself is speaking looks at Hongjoong for help.

"You can't go with her alone, Jongho," Hongjoong says, harbouring the authority of a leader and everyone seriously listens. "In fact, I won't advise any of us to go alone with her. Jongho, you can't be caught in some stupid rumour of a scandal. And Soojin can't be in the limelight because of it. Think about her. As idols in this industry, we promised ourselves to not involve and invite any of our friends or family to the mess of news and media, so we should keep that promise."

"I wouldn't mind if a scandal pops up, though," Jongho quietly shrugs. "But I do care for noona so I don't want that for her." Where's them imaginary pop-corn? It's been so long since a drama happened.

Seonghwa and Hongjoong look at the boy wide-eyed, the others staring at him as well, the Woosansang trio amused and Yunho and Mingi tongue-tied and uncomfortable.

"Yah, you are unbelievable!" Hongjoong comments.

"And you are bothered by what I said because?" Jongho asks.

"Uhh?" Hongjoong gets flustered. "Uhh...Nah, it was just that... that was very indiscreet of you."

"I'm calling her to discuss this," San declares.

"What? What are you guys doing? That seems...desperate," Hongjoong mutters and earns a glare from both Seonghwa and Jongho.

"Yeah, call her," says Seonghwa. "If there's going to be a Jeju trip, we're ALL going. And it was Wooyoung who first said back then that he wanted to go there. If anything, he has the primary rights."

"Oh, wouldn't you want to go alone with her if that could have been done?" Yeosang asks, feigning an innocent-boy look. What evil boy!

"Stop speaking and call her," Seonghwa says. 

"Yeah, right. Jongho, give me your phone, it's likelier she'll pick up if it's from you," San says and Seonghwa baffledly looks at the boy.

"Y'all are very immature," Mingi comments. Says you, boy?

Seonghwa takes it as a personal offence, "Says you?" Woah.

"Ahh, it's moments like these when I feel like quitting from leadership position," Hongjoong complains and Yunho smiles at him giving a knowing look, and knowing Yunho, it's his kinda victorious, understanding smile that tells that he knows what's actually up, and that makes Hongjoong queasy. Yunho's good at reading people and circumstances.

Settling down peacefully, at least on the exterior, they try to video call Soojin. It doesn't work, no one picks up. 

"She might be busy. She might be taking classes. Seriously, where's the logic?" Hongjoong says tiredly.

"It's a weekend morning," Yunho says making eye contact with the leader.

Seonghwa huffs. "And you said she picks up faster when it's him," Seonghwa says to San indicating Jongho.

"He's so petty," Yeosang mutters to only San.

"Did you say something, Yeosang-ah?" Seonghwa asks.

"No."

After getting declined twice, the third time the call finally connects. What they see on the screen is the ceiling, the phone on the other side shaking as if held by a kid. 

A low grunt comes from the other side. "I only picked up because I am wondering if it's an emergency, so answer me," the boys hear Soojin say.

"Woah!" Wooyoung lets out in amusement.

"Wait, y'all are there?" she asks.

"Of course, can't you see also? It's one thing you're not letting us see anything but the ceiling," Wooyoung says.

"Ahhh!.... Wait," she says and adjusts the phone properly so it's her face that they see now. "I see you. Why'd you call?"

"Yes, dummy, we can see you too," Wooyoung says.

"Firstly, you wouldn't answer our calls if it's not an emergency?" Yunho asks.

"Not when it's from Jongho, no. Surely, if it's from Captain."

Seonghwa bursts out laughing first, Mingi and Wooyoung joining and some of the boys like Yunho and Yeosang smiles, unable to remain solemn.

Jongho pouts. "I'm offended," he says, trying to be cute and everyone ignores him.

"Secondly," Yunho goes. "you have....uhh, foam, I think, on the bridge and frame of your glasses?"

"Ohh..." Soojin wipes it off. "Didn't realize and wouldn't have bothered but since you called me out. Now, I'm busy doing laundry, so speak up for whatever you have called me for. I already hate video calls so much."

"Why is that?" Seonghwa asks confused.

"What do you mean why is that? I thought you knew this, I have always—" Soojin halts as she realizes. As Daisy, she didn't get to realize she had a hate relationship with cameras, she always looked good and photogenic, so... Hence why the boys don't know.

"Right, you don't know this," she says. "Me and camera in this life just don't work well, that is all."

"Well, we can see that," Yeosang comments.

"Yeah, you should stop holding it like a boomer and maybe your camera will be thankful," Wooyoung says.

"Can't care less. Speak up now."

"Are we going to Jeju?" San asks taking Soojin off-guard.

"Huh?"

"You were planning to go to Jeju with Jongho. Can't we all go together as a group?" Seonghwa asks, now butting in to take the phone in his hands.

"If you were and are wanting to go, that is," Hongjoong adds. "I still don't know why you guys are discussing it now, we are not free."

"Shh, we are planning this for the next vacation," Wooyoung says.

"You promised us once that we'll all go to Jeju when we figure out the truth about you," says San.

"This is exactly what Jongho reasoned when he proposed with this idea," Soojin rolls her eyes. "And let me tell you, this is what I answered him and the answer is still applicable now. And so I quote:"

"If a sasaeng starts bothering me for this, I'll punch you first, then I'll punch the sasaeng," she continues. "That's what I said. Also, I don't want my own family to dislike me for this."

"Family? Will they—" Mingi asks.

"I mean my fellow Atinys," she inserts.

"Quick question, are you our friend or an Atiny first?" Yeosang asks. "Take your time to think before answering."

"Technically, I was an Atiny first, before we became friends."

"Yo glasses," Mingi says. "Do you consider us your idols more or your friends more? That's what we want to know."

"Let me call you out on that, the original glasses," she says to Mingi. "I don't have bad eyesight like you. You're still and the only glasses here. And to answer you, you're my friends more, are you satisfied?"

"You always wear glasses," Seonghwa says.

"It's powerless and an accessory I can't live without."

"Accessory?" Mingi laughs. "Then go for a fashionable one, at least."

"I'm going for the 'I-have-bad-eyesight-and-this-is-not-for-fashion' look."

"Guys, stop getting sidetracked," Hongjoong reminds. "I'm glad that you are at ease enough to consider us more friends than idols. That's good progress."

"I'm glad too," Seonghwa smiles.

"Thank you, I did a lot of hard work."

"Didn't know it required one," Wooyoung comments.

"Shut up, you don't know the mental strength it takes to condition yourself to not fall for the stage thirst-traps and the cuteness in a non-friendly way," Soojin says and the guys share an awkward look.

"Well," Jongho starts. "You are allowed to fall for me in those ways." And everyone else either gasps or widen their eyes or hollers.

"Well, Soojin-ah," Seonghwa says and clears his throat. "You're allowed that with me too." And now all the eyes are on him, the chaos of the gasps and hollers all stopping. Ooh, he's getting competitive. Oh, my shipping dilemma flashbacks!

"No, no, you're not allowed. You definitely shouldn't be thinking all that! That's weird!" Hongjoong yells.

"Yeah, you're allowed to not hold back with me as well," Mingi smugly says to Soojin ignoring the leader and everyone looks at him as if he's an alien, Seonghwa and Jongho particularly glaring with their lethal eyes.

"What?" Mingi says. "You know how powerful it feels when even your friends can't handle your hotness and gets flustered. That's the kind of power I aspire to have."

"Shut up, glasses," Soojin finally responds. "I was kidding.... well partially. It was weird at first when I couldn't yet decide what you were to me but it's actually quite awkward now. So I just stopped watching your fancams 'cause it's plain uncomfortable and cringy to watch you show tongues on stage." And everyone collectively look at Seonghwa who gets embarrased.

"Okay, now what about Jeju?" Yunho asks.

"When I promised that then," Soojin replies. "I was less busy, had a vehicle, had money, and you were less busy, didn't have people that could recognize you and put you under scrutiny wherever you go. So you decide."

"I still wanna go. I'll pay for you, noona, if expenses are the problem, don't worry," Jongho says and immediately regrets as he sees Soojin's straight, offended face.

"That's the only thing you got from that, boy?" she says calmly compared to how she looks. "And if it happens to happen sometime in the future, I'm paying for myself, okay? You are planning this for the next vacation that you don't even are sure about. So stop being lame. This can be decided later. And I have to continue doing the laundry."

"Ahh, by that I remember, laundry duty's on me," Yunho says looking at the dorm mates. "Ahh, I don't wanna do it, especially those dirty pile of underwears—" A furious Hongjoong slaps his hands on Yunho's mouth before he continues, several other members raising theirs in the air for the same purpose. What Soojin sees next is Yunho being dragged away from camera by Wooyoung, Hongjoong and a scary looking Jongho.

Seonghwa harbours a pained expression as he waits for the commotion to be over, being the one still holding the phone. Soojin has her head in her hands, visibly depicting she's heard enough.

"We just thought you agreed to go with Jongho already and we wanted to check, that was the purpose of the call," Seonghwa says. "Sorry for disturbing you with it. Get back to your laund—" he stops and sighs. "Sorry for what happened just now too."

"Quit being so formal. And tell Yunho he's an idiot," she tiredly says. "I'm leaving."

"Yeah, he can hear that, he's still in the room."

Before the guys can shout their byes, Soojin hangs up.

Hongjoong chuckles. "Typical her, I guess she actually meant it when she said she completely sees us as her friends now."

"She's fully back, isn't she?"

"And Yunho!" the leader glares at the tallest. "You have some explanations to do."

Wise Monkey's confused who he should ship Soojin with. Me too, me too. Lol, I'm conflicted when more than half of the book is already done. I'm aiming to end the book at 25 but there's no surity.