Monday Morning – Class 1-A
"WE NEED TO GO TO THE BEACH."
That was Sofia. First words of the day. No hesitation.
"You don't even swim," Emma replied dryly, walking in with her laptop.
"I don't need to. I pose."
Miles scoffed. "This isn't a modelling shoot. It's supposed to be educational."
Tyler dropped his bag on his desk. "Sand is educational. Teaches you about heat. Friction. Endurance."
"Friction?" Noah raised an eyebrow. "Dude, it's a school trip, not gym class."
Sofia spun around in her chair toward me. "Jay. Be honest. Wouldn't you rather be somewhere warm… relaxing… surrounded by girls in—"
Emma coughed. Loudly.
Sofia cleared her throat. "—sunhats?"
"I haven't even voted yet," I said, trying not to laugh.
Emma crossed her arms. "There is no vote. Not yet. There's a proposal phase. Planning. Budget allocation. Discussion—"
Tyler: "So… beach, right?"
Emma groaned and muttered something about "barbaric democracy."
Later – Club Recruitment Returns (Again)
As if the school knew I wasn't suffering enough from group chat spam and swimsuit debates, every club I'd ever politely declined suddenly reappeared with sparkly banners and suspicious snacks.
The Drama Club waved a velvet script at me. "Tragic prince role! Custom-tailored cape!"
The Music Club wanted me to stand dramatically during a ballad solo like I was haunted by love.
The Tea Club left a handwritten note with a tea bag taped to it:
"Your aura pairs well with our spring blend. Please join."
And of course, Tyler made it worse by loudly narrating my walk like a sports commentator:
"And here we see Jay Markov gracefully sidestep the Volleyball Club's latest attempt to seduce him with custom wristbands—OHH! A last-minute ambush by the Astronomy Club! Will he orbit or escape?"
I nearly tripped laughing.
Class Tension Resumes
Despite the trip talk and club madness, things in class hadn't exactly cooled down.
Sofia was back to leaning over my desk mid-period, drawing hearts in the margin of my notes.
Emma tried to pretend she wasn't watching… until she accidentally wrote "Jay-nomics" instead of "Economics" in her own notebook.
Amaya, as always, stayed close—but quieter than usual. Her smile was softer. Her glances, a little longer. She didn't compete, but… she never really left my side either.
At one point, she handed me my water bottle before I even asked for it.
I looked at her.
She looked back.
And that moment said more than words ever could.
Lunch Break – Under the Trees
Tyler, Noah, and I sat under the cherry blossoms again—our unofficial bro HQ.
Noah poked his sandwich with a fork. "So, what's your trip vote, Jay?"
"Still deciding."
"Bro," Tyler said seriously, "if you don't pick the beach, you're wasting your genetics."
"I'll vote for whatever makes Emma yell the least."
"Impossible," Noah muttered. "That girl probably yells at clouds."
I leaned back, staring up at the tree branches.
Birds chirped. The sun was warm.
Honestly? I didn't care where we went.
As long as it was all of us… I'd survive any chaos.
Probably.
Afternoon – Escaping Club Mayhem
I tried to sneak into the art room to return a borrowed pencil.
Instead, I got pulled into Luna's "posing project."
"You were supposed to hold a sword," she said, handing me a prop and a chair. "But you forgot it last time. So today… tea prince."
"…Is that a thing?"
"It is now."
She didn't speak much as she sketched, but she glanced up every now and then—quiet, observant.
"You're more tired lately," she said casually.
"I'm okay."
"Still pretending?"
I blinked.
But before I could answer, she handed me a wrapped chocolate and walked away.
Just like that.
End of the Day – School Trip Posters Go Up
As we left class, the bulletin board was already covered in half-baked trip suggestions.
Beach
Mountains
Forest retreat
Cultural temple tour
Haunted island (Noah's handwriting, obviously)
Indoor theme park with "at least three hot springs" (Sofia's drawing included)
Emma walked up beside me, arms full of schedules and complaint forms.
"This is going to be a disaster," she said.
"You'll survive."
"Only because you're a decent buffer."
"Decent?"
She glanced sideways at me, smiling just a little.
"…Maybe slightly above average."
Evening – Walking Home with Amaya
It was quiet again.
Just the two of us.
"Do you want the beach?" she asked.
"I want whatever makes the group happy."
"You always say that," she said.
"Because it's true."
She looked at me, almost like she was waiting for more.
But I didn't have more to give.
Not yet.
So, we just walked. Slowly.
Together.