Chapter 4 — Maybe I’m Starting to Like Him

The next morning was finally here.

I woke up earlier than usual, and for some reason, I felt strangely excited. I had been looking forward to this trip for days, but now that it was actually happening, I could barely contain my happiness.

Today was going to be different.

Our entire class was going on a school trip to Kiyomizu-dera, the beautiful temple on the hills of Kyoto. We were going to stay there for two days, spend time together, explore the place, take pictures, and, most importantly, make memories before graduation.

Only few months were left until we graduated.

About 4 months.

The thought made me a little emotional.

We had spent so much time together that it was difficult to imagine everyone eventually going their separate ways. Maybe that was why everyone was so excited about this trip. We all wanted something to remember.

I quickly got ready and ran downstairs.

Mom was already preparing breakfast.

"Yuri, don't forget your bag!"

"I won't!"

I was about to sit down when I heard footsteps behind me.

Before I could turn around—

SPLASH!

Cold water hit my face.

"AHHH!"

I jumped up from my chair.

"ERIC!"

My younger brother stood there laughing uncontrollably.

"Good morning!"

I wiped the water from my face and glared at him.

"Are you crazy?"

He laughed even harder.

"You looked too peaceful!"

"You are so irritating!"

I grabbed a towel and chased him around the room while Mom watched us, laughing.

"Both of you, stop! You'll be late!"

Eventually, I gave up and sat down for breakfast.

Mom looked at me.

"Are you excited?"

"Very!"

"I can tell."

She smiled.

"Just be careful, okay?"

"I will."

"And don't forget to stay with your friends."

"I promise."

After breakfast, we finally left for school.

The moment we entered the school gate, I knew everyone was just as excited as I was.

People were carrying bags, pillows, sleeping bags, snacks, cameras, and all kinds of things.

Our classroom was even crazier.

"Did anyone bring the speaker?"

"Yes!"

"Who brought the snacks?"

"I did!"

"What about the blankets?"

"Already packed!"

"We need more water!"

Everyone was shouting over one another.

Lia ran toward me.

"Yuri! You're finally here!"

"Of course I am!"

"I barely slept last night."

"Neither did I."

She laughed.

"I'm so excited!"

"Me too."

We were talking when Jack suddenly appeared with his notebook.

"Okay, everyone! Listen! I'm checking the list one more time."

I laughed.

"Jack, you're taking this way too seriously."

"Someone has to!"

He started checking everyone's names.

Meanwhile, Nick and James were busy preparing the entertainment.

I watched them for a moment.

James was laughing about something Nick had said.

For some reason, I found myself smiling too.

Then I realized what I was doing.

I quickly looked away.

Why am I smiling just because he's smiling?

I didn't have an answer.

A few minutes later, James noticed me.

"Yuri!"

I looked at him.

"What?"

"Did you bring everything?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He smiled.

"Good. I don't want you complaining later."

I rolled my eyes.

"Why would I complain?"

"Because you're Yuri."

"James!"

He laughed.

Normally, his teasing irritated me.

But today, for some reason, it didn't.

In fact, I almost enjoyed it.

Maybe because I was starting to feel comfortable around him.

I didn't have to pretend to be someone else.

I could argue with him, laugh at him, roll my eyes at him—and somehow, he always understood.

That thought stayed in my mind for longer than it should have.

Soon, everyone gathered near the school bus.

Our teacher checked the attendance, and finally, we were allowed to board.

I walked onto the bus with Nina, Lily, and Lia.

"We're sitting together!" Nina announced.

"Obviously," I said.

We had already decided that the four of us would sit together.

I found a seat and placed my bag beside me.

Then someone sat down next to me.

I turned my head.

James.

I stared at him.

He looked at me innocently.

"What?"

"Why are you sitting here?"

"There was no other seat."

I looked around.

There were still a few empty seats.

"You could sit there."

He shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I want to sit here."

My heart suddenly skipped.

I immediately looked away.

What was that?

Lia noticed my expression and smiled.

"It's okay, Yuri. I'll sit behind you."

She moved to the seat behind us.

Michael came over a few seconds later.

"Can I sit with Lia? I came late and there's no seat left."

"Sure," I said.

I looked at him and then at Lia.

"Actually, Michael, you can sit here if you want."

Before Michael could answer, James interrupted.

"But you told me you wanted to sit with me."

I turned toward him.

"I never said that!"

He smiled.

"You didn't?"

"No!"

He laughed.

"Then why are you sitting here?"

I opened my mouth but couldn't think of an answer.

"I... just happened to sit here."

"Exactly."

He leaned back comfortably.

"So we're sitting together."

I rolled my eyes.

"Fine."

The bus finally started moving.

Everyone began singing songs, telling jokes, taking pictures, and shouting across the seats.

After a while, I became tired.

The sound of everyone's voices slowly became quieter to me.

My eyes started closing.

I tried to stay awake.

But eventually, I fell asleep.

I didn't realize when my head slowly moved toward James.

When I opened my eyes again, everything was quiet.

I blinked.

For a moment, I didn't understand where I was.

Then I realized my head was resting on someone's shoulder.

James.

I immediately sat up.

"Oh my God."

James looked at me and smiled.

"You finally woke up."

"Did I...?"

"Yes."

I looked away, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

He didn't tease me.

He didn't make fun of me.

He just smiled.

And somehow, that made me feel strangely comfortable.

I looked outside the window.

It was already getting dark.

"What time is it?"

James checked his phone.

"Seven."

"Seven?!"

I looked around.

The bus was almost empty.

"Where is everyone?"

"They already got off."

I stared at him.

"Everyone?"

He nodded.

"You were sleeping so peacefully that nobody wanted to wake you."

I frowned.

"Then why didn't you wake me?"

He shrugged.

"You looked tired."

Something about those simple words made my heart feel warm.

He had noticed.

He had actually been paying attention to me.

I stood up quickly.

"Come on. We should go."

As I stepped down from the bus, I suddenly slipped.

"Whoa!"

Before I could fall, I felt an arm around my waist.

James caught me.

"Relax."

For a second, everything stopped.

I looked at him.

He was standing close to me, making sure I was steady.

"You okay?"

I nodded.

"Yeah."

He slowly let go.

"Be careful."

I nodded again.

I didn't know why, but I felt nervous.

Not the uncomfortable kind of nervous.

Something different.

Something I couldn't explain.

James picked up my bag.

"I'll carry this."

"No, I can carry it."

"I know."

He put it over his shoulder anyway.

"I'll carry it."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because you're half asleep."

"I am not!"

He laughed.

"Sure."

We started walking uphill toward the hotel.

The climb was steeper than I expected.

After a few minutes, I was already tired.

James noticed.

"If you're feeling weak, you can hold my hand."

I looked at him.

"What?"

He held out his hand.

"Come on."

I hesitated.

Then, without thinking too much, I placed my hand in his.

His hand was warm.

And strangely...

I felt safe.

We continued walking like that.

I didn't even notice how long we had been holding hands.

I just knew that I didn't want to let go.

Every once in a while, James would ask,

"Are you okay?"

And every time, I would nod.

Eventually, we reached the top of the hill.

The hotel was beautiful.

The night sky wasn't completely dark yet, and the trees around us looked peaceful under the soft evening light.

As I looked around, I suddenly saw a deer standing between the trees.

"Oh my God!"

I pointed excitedly.

"James, look!"

He smiled.

"I see it."

"It's so beautiful."

"Yeah."

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

We just stood there, looking at the scenery.

I realized something then.

I wasn't uncomfortable around him anymore.

I wasn't constantly waiting for him to annoy me.

I wasn't trying to avoid him.

Instead, I had started looking for him.

And somehow, being beside him felt natural.

I looked down at our hands.

We were still holding each other.

My cheeks became warm.

I quickly let go.

"I... I'm going to my room."

James smiled.

"Okay."

I took a few steps before turning around.

"James?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

I smiled softly.

"For helping me."

He shrugged.

"Anytime, Yuri."

I walked toward my room with a strange feeling in my chest.

I didn't know what was happening to me.

Maybe I was just happy because of the trip.

Maybe I was simply excited because graduation was getting closer.

Or maybe...

I was starting to like him.

I shook my head.

"No way."

But despite what I told myself, I couldn't stop smiling.

We still had two more days of the trip ahead of us.

And somehow, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.