"Jiha!"

I ran to the puffy-eyed girl as she dropped her bag and ran to hug me.

"Soojin. I'll miss you." she sobbed into my shoulder.

Jiha was one of my first friends here at I-LAND.

Now she has to go to the GROUND.

How was I going to survive without her constant motivation?

I stroked the girls' long soft hair as she soon peeled herself off me locking her eyes with mine.

"I better see you kicking their asses from down there!" she growled making a cute face.

"Show Misun who's boss!"

I chuckled as I watched her growl like a baby kitten.

She soon made her way into the egg along with the other two former I-LANDERS, and waved to the rest of us in the lobby.

My heart sank as I watched the three girls hold each other, sobbing quietly.

The egg began to rotate and the girls' soon disappeared out of sight.

I looked back at Jiwoo who was beside me and patted her shoulder as she cried emotionally.

"Please stand by for the arrival of the new I-LANDERS."

I turned my head back to the egg as it soon lit up and began to rotate again.

A spark brewed in my chest as I remembered who I was going to meet.

Soon enough, the egg revealed three meek girls including my friend I had waited so long for.

"SOOJINNNNNN!"

The I-LANDERS giggled at the adorable girl as she bolted off the egg and straight into my arms.

"Chohee!"

I engulfed the older girl in a tight hug as she swung our bodies together in pure delight.

"Woah! This place is crazy!" she exclaimed as she scoped the facility.

"Oh my gosh. Show me the bedrooms." she gasped as she eagerly waited for my instruction.

I nodded excitedly as I soon led her up the stairs.

•••

Jiwoo, Haewon, Chohee and I chatted comfortably on the beds as we allowed Chohee to settle in.

"Park Soojin what the hell? Are these your bras?" Chohee yelled holding up my undergarment with two fingers.

I gasped as I quickly ripped it out of her hands and threw it onto my bed. The girls laughed holding their stomachs.

"You'll soon learn that our maknae Soojin is just about the messiest person you'll ever meet. Rooming with her has been a nightmare." complained Haewon as she groaned teasingly.

We continued to laugh and chat before we were interrupted by another announcement.

"I-LANDERS, please gather at the balcony for a surprise."

•••

As we excitedly approached the balcony, our noses soon met with the most amazing smell of pork belly.

"MEAT!" we exclaimed in unison as we ran to the smell.

To our surprise, waiting at the large table were the ENHYPEN members.

"Good evening girls! As a welcoming gift for the new I-LANDERS, the show has organised a delicious barbeque to celebrate their arrival!" chimed Sunoo as he clicked the metal tongs together.

The girls all screamed as they ran to meet the boys.

As per usual, I separated from the group as I eagerly made my way to the meat.

"Wow it smells like heaven." I expressed as I inhaled the oily smell in pure happiness.

"Look who it is. The ace of the show, Park Soojin."

I snapped out of my food trance and met my gaze with a prince-looking boy grilling the meat.

"Oh hello Sunghoon." I bowed politely mentally slapping myself for not realising he was there.

He bowed back and chuckled, watching me with smiling eyes.

"Would you like to be my taste-tester for the meat?" he asked kindly as he picked up a juicy piece of meat.

Like human-instinct I nodded almost too fast as I stepped closer to the boy.

"So this one is the Galbi (Beef short ribs)."

He carefully gripped the piece of meat with his tongs and gestured for me to open my mouth.

Completely hypnotised by the beef, I obediently complied and soon entered taste heaven.

"Oh my god. It's so good." I spoke with my cheeks full.

The boy laughed at my reaction, before searching for another cooked piece on the grill.

Sunghoon continued to feed me different pieces of meat as I slowly fell into meat paradise.

I gleamed at each piece of juicy meat as I moaned in gluttony, unaware of the pair of eyes shooting fireballs at me.

"This one is the Bulgogi."

I crossed my arms in envy as I glared at the boy openingly feeding the small girl.

Her eyes beamed in pure elation as she chewed endlessly, her cheeks stuffed like a squirrel.

My eyes widened as I watched Sunghoon wipe the excess sauce off her lips.

What is he doing?

Are they dating or something?

Why are they acting so lovey-dovey?

I fumed in anger as I quickly pushed my way through the crowd.

How dare he touch her luscious lips like that?

She's sixteen for Christ's sake.

And she's min-

I mean

what.

As I stomped my way over to the two I felt a hand grab my arm suddenly.

"Hi Jake oppa!"

I turned my head and looked in the direction of the high-pitched voice.

My eyes met with a tall small-eyed girl with bleached hair and a wide nose.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" I spoke irritated of being interrupted.

My eyes were glued to Sunghoon and Soojin as they giggled affectionately in the corner.

"Oppa! I'm Misun! Kim Misun noona! Don't you know me?" she questioned in ageyo.

Without sparing a glance at the clingly girl, I took a step towards the laughing couple.

"Sorry, Misun-ssi. I can't talk right now."

I firmly pried her touchy hands off my arm and barged to the grilling area.

I'll show Soojin who's good at grilling.

•••

I pouted miserably as I observed the attractive boy make his way to the barbeque.

Ugh

What's so important that he can't even spare a glance at me?

I thumped my foot on the wooden deck and crossed my arms with rage.

To my despair I watched as the boy made his way straight to Sunghoon oppa and one of the other applicants.

I peeked my head above the crowd as I tried to get a better look at the girl before I soon laid eyes on that annoying witch.

I snarled as I watched her giggle and laugh with the good-looking idol.

That bitch.

How dare she try to seduce Sunghoon oppa.

Now she's trying to get Jake under her spell too?

Not on my watch.

I huffed bitter air as I narrowed my eyes at her talking flirtatiously.

Pft.

The whole 'ace' thing has probably gone to her head. She thinks she's the shit stealing the hearts of the producers for herself. Well her smooth beginning has gone on for too long.

I smirked as devilish thoughts came rushing too my mind.

Enjoy your fun while it lasts Soojin.

You won't be so happy when you soon find out what it's really like in this vicious competition.

•••

"Wow Soojin, you really have an appetite."

I stopped chewing and glared at the man with a mouth full of meat.

"Hey. Park Sunghoon. Are you calling me greedy?"

The boy cackled out loud as he continued to flip the flimsy meat.

"Are you saying you're not?"

I looked at him surprised as I stood with guilty thoughts.

We laughed in hysteria as I pursued with my feast of beef.

Sunghoon's such a lad.

He looked so quiet before, but it looks like he knows how to have fun.

My thoughts were cut off when I felt a heavy arm rest onto my shoulder.

"Hey guys! Care if I join? Hoon, want me to take over?"

To my surprise, I jolted as Jake cheerfully bounced his way into our conversation.

I watched as the enthusiastic boy grabbed the tongs out of Sunghoon's hands and proceeded to frantically flip the already-flipped meat strips.

"Hey Jake! Those were already flipped." complained Sunghoon as he pointed at the burnt beef in an annoyed manner.

As if he had gone deaf in his ear, Jake continued to flip the meat with stiff hands.

Sunghoon and I looked at each other in confusion as we watched the strange-acting boy click the tongs.

We shrugged simultaneously, unaware of the puppy boy eyeing us with jealousy.