The train comes only a few minutes later, all of us celebrating that we don't have to stand in the cold air anymore. We enter the train, situating ourselves as we put our luggage overhead. "Who's sitting with who- there's eight of us and four seats per table." Jungwon mentions.

I blink a bit before shrugging and taking a seat by the window, taking out my earphones before listening to a new podcast. I can barely hear anything before someone shoves me slightly, causing me to hiss. I turn over with a glare before seeing the cutest puppy ever, Jake Sim. I flush, looking down. 

"Ah, sorry Iseul- if I hurt you, I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, nothing hurts." Except for my heart. While pulling out my headphones for a bit, Sunghoon starts to argue with a pushy Heeseung, the two taking a seat in front of us. 

"Heeseung hyung, I literally called dibs on sitting next to Iseul!"

"You're technically sitting next to her, Sunghoon, stop being snarky!" Heeseung rolls his eyes, crossing his arms. "Besides, it's whoever sits in the seat first. Jake was there first."

"You pushed him and he fell on the seat!"

"Still counts." Jake and I hold back our laughter, looking at each other before I look away. Okay, my heart seriously can't handle being in his proximity- I mean, look at him. He's so pretty, so amazing, so cute... "Anyway, the ride won't be too long, maybe an hour. We have to check into our hotel around the afternoon, so we'll be fine." I nod, causing Jungwon to put up a thumbs up from the chairs in front of us.

Plugging back in my headphones, Jake takes one from my ear and puts it in his, my heart immediately racing. "What are you listening to?"Placing it in his ears, my eyes switch to Sunghoon and Heeseung- who are watching us with high tension. It seems someone isn't happy that I'm getting the love of my life.

"Oh, I was just listening to a podcast, but I guess we can listen to music for the train ride," Smiling, I switch to my playlist, immediately humming along. He gasps, turning my way. "What?"

"You like this song too?!"

"Yeah, it's pretty awesome if you ask me."

Shh, no one tells him I had to ask Sunghoon what Jake's playlist was. :) 
Nobody tells him I listened to it for days.

The boy starts to dance along, humming to the sweet tune of one of his favorite songs. I'm enchanted by the way he giggles between lyrics, his nose that scrunches up when he messes up one of the lyrics... gah, I could stare at him for days.

"Hey, eyes off Iseul, you two!" Sunghoon yells, causing me to pout. Jake turns the other way as I urgently smack my face against the window, pretending like the scenery was so enchanting- but to be honest, all it was... 

was dead grass.

Jake snickers as I hear Sunghoon groan, shuffling in his seat. "There will never be peace between us four if you can't take your eyes off my girl." I widen my eyes as I glare towards the ice prince- who obviously doesn't care about the words he said.

What a crazy person! First, he supports my love for Jake, then he says I'm his? Pick and choose a side, will you!?

"Your girl?" Heeseung and Jake laugh, high-fiving each other. "What a crazy title for your best friend. Do you feel like passing her around like an object?" Heeseung mentions, shaking his head. "If you like her, just say so!"

"It's not like that!" Sunghoon starts to blush, causing us to laugh, including me. A daily sight of playboy Sunghoon blushing is a rare occurrence after all. His love life doesn't concern me- and whoever he chooses, in the end, will be fine with me. He's not the type to chase- unless...

Kidding. He's a patient guy. 

"So," Ni-Ki climbs over the chair, looking down at us. "What will be doing first, Iseul?" I open my phone once more, going to my notes app.

1. Check into the hotel
2. Decide where we go

Right... Oh, there's number 3.

3. Get Jake to fall in love with you <3

Okay, that's it. I'm officially turning off my phone. Swiping away to delete the note, I grin awkwardly, looking back up at an eager Ni-Ki.

"Well, it's Christmas. We can go to an amusement park, go to a mall, whatever you all want!" 

"Sounds fun!" He exclaims before sitting back in his chair, playing cards with Sunoo. I sigh out, shaking my head. We're only here for five days, but I already feel like getting off this train. With Jake here, with Heeseung and his mistakes- and that stupid ice prince, I'm going to choke on all the misfortune that's happening.

"So, where is everyone going for New Year's?"

"I'm going back to my Namyangju to go see my little sister, we've been apart for so long..." Sunghoon answers, leaning back. "I miss her too, to be honest." We all look to Jake, who's still busy listening to my music.

"Oh, I'll probably be going back to the dorms. I don't really go anywhere for New Years'," He shrugs. "It's not that bad either- I can't really afford a plane ticket to be going anywhere."

"How about you, Heeseung?" Jake switches the conversation to Heeseung, who's also too busy staring at the scenery.

"I'm going back to Namyangju."

He's from Namyangju? I'm from Namyangju. We're from Namyangju! Does that mean we'll see each other there?! How coincidental- I mean, how great! What a story I'm intertwined with. "How about you, Iseul?" Heeseung asks suddenly, causing me to turn his way.

"Oh um! Just going home."

"Yeah, but where?"

"Just somewhere."

"How unspecific."

"How creepy it is to ask!"

"It's just a place, everyone has said theirs!"

"Stop asking! I am going home."

"Well-"

"Can you both not argue for one second of the day?!" Sunghoon groans, messaging his head. "It's annoying!"

"It's a habit at this point for them," Jake adds, crossing his arms. "I think it's awfully cute. They could be a cute pair."

Jake... shut up... please...

I'm the one in love with you, can't you see... what kind of one-sided love is this where you pair me with another man- even worse, your hyung!

The betrayal is evident both in my eyes and Sunghoon's- as you're the most clueless person here. Can't you see I love only you...

Love is not a crime! But this one is.

"Jake, they'd be quite the couple if they were..." Sunghoon hums in discontent, tapping his lip. "How about... you and Iseul? Ever thought about that?"

Sunghoon, this will either be the death of you or the blessing of you. Choose wisely.

"Oh... I've never... thought about it like that. We're just friends, anyway," Jake laughs awkwardly, looking over at me. "Right, Iseul?"

Goodbye. This is where I die.

"...Right..." 

Heeseung and Sunghoon look at me with a feeling of pity in their eyes, seeing as I'm already sulking over the poor reaction. "Are you sure you haven't ever thought you both could be a good pair?" Sunghoon tries to push it, but Jake simply shakes his head.

I just keep my stare out at the window to avoid the tears that well up in my eyes. This was not good, not good at all!

Have I always just been a friend to him- nothing more?