Running to You | Park Han + JL + Steven | Haneulz + Stejay AU

Chapter 5: Road to the Mountains

The group chat had been pinging all week.

Juwon changed the name of the group five times, annoying everyone with notifications until he finally settled on "Track Retreat." JL had muted it by day two but he still checked it obsessively for updates.

They were leaving Friday morning, four hours north into the mountains for a three-day training and bonding retreat. The school had sent a private bus, full of too many duffels and not enough legroom. It was barely 7:00 a.m., and already, the noise level inside the bus made JL want to hide under his hoodie.

Woongki was in full performance mode, narrating everything through an imaginary mic. "And to our left, you'll see Hannie pretending not to regret his life choices. Say hi to the fans, Han!"

Han, seated two rows behind him, said nothing. Sunglasses on, earbuds in. JL glanced at him, then quickly away.

They hadn't picked seats in any organized fashion. It was more of a first-come, fall-into-whoever -you-trust situation. JL had ended up next to Juwon at first, but when the bus pulled away from campus, Chih En tapped Juwon's shoulder.

"Trade with me?"

Juwon blinked. "You okay?"

Chih En looked green around the gills. "I can't sit near the back. I'll throw up."

"Ah. Got it."

And just like that, JL was left standing in the aisle, looking around for an empty spot, until he locked eyes with Han.

The seat beside him was open.

Han raised an eyebrow. Didn't say anything.

JL hesitated for only a second before sliding in, then said, "I can move if -- "

"You're fine."

A second passed.

JL tucked his bag under his feet and tried not to notice the way Han's knee brushed his.

Twenty minutes into the ride, it started. 

Woongki's voice echoed from the middle of the bus.

"Shuaibo! Three things you'd bring to a deserted island, go!"

Shuaibo groaned. "Water. A knife. And Chih En."

Everyone: "OOOOOH."

Chih En: "I would've said no."

Jeongwoo: "I think he just wants to die with a strategist."

Chih En: "I don't even know how to start a fire."

Steven leaned over from the front. "Han. Your turn."

Han didn't even blink. "Running shoes. Headphones. Silence."

Woongki: "We're all gonna die boring deaths."

He turned dramatically. "Gaspar. Entertain me."

JL smiled nervously. "A pillow. A guitar. And... sunscreen?"

Steven, whispering to Jeongwoo: "He's too pure for this team."

Jeongwoo, sipping his water bottle: "He's the annoying type that becomes everyone's bias."

An hour in, Chih En groaned and leaned against the window. "I told you I'd get carsick."

Coach Yang, from the front: "We'll stop soon. Chih En, please for the love of God don't vomit again for at least 10 more minutes."

Juwon: "Can we pee too or is this just a barf break?"

Steven: "If you pee on the bus again, I'm kicking you off."

Juwon: "That was ONE TIME."

The driver pulled into a rest stop, and the team filed out, stretching and groaning like old men. Chih En launched himself off the bus, green-faced, towards the nearest bathroom. 

JL stepped off last, blinking in the daylight. Han stood near the vending machines, sipping from a bottle of Pocari Sweat. He glanced over when JL approached.

"Need something?"

JL shook his head. "Just stretching."

They stood there, watching the others wander around. Steven and Jeongwoo were arguing over snack choices while Woongki just threw whatever he wanted into the basket without asking. Juwon was trying to take a group selfie with a very confused Kyungho.

"Do you do this every year?" JL asked quietly. 

Han nodded. "Usually. Coach likes the isolation. Says it makes us 'reflect.'"

"Reflect on what?"

Han shrugged. "How much we hate each other by day three." JL laughed, and Han almost -- almost -- smiled.

Back on the bus, Coach reshuffled the seating. Kyungho took over the front with the interns. Chih En was still missing. JL hovered in the aisle until Han looked up and said, "You're still with me."

JL blinked. "Oh, okay." He slid into the seat again, this time feeling a little warmer.

The bus rolled out after Chih En, who looked like his soul had left his body, was fetched from the bathroom. Half an hour passed in quiet. JL toyed with his phone, scrolling through playlists. He caught Han glancing at his screen.

"Stray Kids?" Han asked, neutral.

"They're my favorite," JL said. "And Ruel". 

Han nodded, vaguely approving.

"You?" JL asked. 

"Old stuff," Han replied. "EXO. Sam Kim. Jacob Collier."

JL lit up. "Wait -- you like 'Universe'? That's one of my comfort songs." 

Han looked at him fully now. "Yeah."

JL hesitantly unplugged one earbud. Held it out. "Wanna listen?"

Han stared at it. Then, slowly, he took it. They sat in silence, music threading between them. JL rested his cheek on the window, eyes closed. Han tilted his head slightly. Neither of them said a word. 

But something had changed.

[Your comments and votes each chapter mean the world and support this story. Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter! ✩✩✩ - Martiné]