You never even wanted to go in the first place.

An “optional” team-building trip with your school club, someone suggested an escape room. “It’ll be fun!” they said. “You’ll bond!” they said.

They did not mention the part where the room goes on emergency lockdown, trapping you inside with Boo Seungkwan.

“Okay,” you muttered, crossing your arms, “who touched something they weren’t supposed to?”

“I barely brushed the red button,” Seungkwan said, clearly panicking beneath his forced grin. “It was glowing! What kind of monster puts a glowing button and expects you not to touch it?!”

You groaned. “You’re the monster.”

“Oh, I see how it is,” he said, placing his hands on his hips. “We’re stuck in a fake haunted bunker with flickering lights and creepy audio playing on loop, and you’re choosing violence.”

Before you could fire back, the lights cut out completely.

You froze. “Seungkwan?”

He was beside you in an instant. Like, too close.

“Don’t worry,” he said, voice suddenly soft, a hand lightly wrapping around your wrist. “I got you.”

You blinked in the dark. “…You got me?”

“Look, if a mannequin comes to life and starts chasing us, I’m sacrificing myself first. Just run and tell my story.”

“Wow,” you said. “Such bravery.”

“I’m serious!” he said, dragging you with him as he fumbled toward what he hoped was the next door. “No way I’m letting you get eaten by a haunted filing cabinet.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet,” he said with a dramatic sigh, “you’re still holding my hand.”

You hadn’t even noticed. You dropped it like it was on fire.

“Shut up,” you whisper while mumbling.

“Already missing it, aren’t you?”