Chapter 5 — This Boy Never Leaves Me Alone

After reaching the hotel, we were finally shown our rooms. Each room had been allotted to four students, and luckily, I was staying with Lia, Nina, and Lily.

The moment we entered the room, everyone threw their bags onto the beds.

"We're finally here!" Lia shouted, jumping onto her bed.

I laughed.

"Don't get too comfortable. We still have to go downstairs for the bonfire."

"Oh, right!"

Our class had decided to have a bonfire that night. We had only a few hours before eleven, when we were supposed to get some rest for the next morning, so everyone was determined to enjoy every minute.

After taking a shower, I changed into my sweatpants and a hoodie. The weather was colder than I had expected, and after the long journey, I was honestly exhausted.

Nina looked at me from across the room.

"Yuri, at least wear something nice."

I looked down at myself.

"Why? What's wrong with this?"

"Nothing is wrong with it, but there are students from another school joining us tonight."

Lia suddenly looked interested.

"Wait... other school students?"

Nina nodded.

"Yes. Apparently, another school group is staying here too."

Lia immediately jumped off her bed.

"Oh my God! I just came from outside, and there are so many handsome guys!"

Lily laughed.

"Most of them probably have girlfriends."

"So?" Lia replied. "What if some of them don't?"

I shook my head.

"You three are unbelievable."

I wasn't interested in meeting anyone. After the long journey, all I wanted was to relax.

I sat in front of the mirror and started doing my skincare.

Meanwhile, Nina was busy arguing with her boyfriend over the phone.

"What do you mean I shouldn't go to the bonfire?"

She paused, listening to him.

"Because there will be boys?"

Her expression became even more annoyed.

"Seriously?"

She ended the call and threw her phone onto the bed.

"He's so toxic!"

Lia looked at her.

"What happened?"

"He thinks I shouldn't go because there will be boys there."

I laughed.

"If I ever meet that guy, I'm going to break his teeth so no other girl has to date him."

We all burst out laughing.

Eventually, we finished getting ready and headed outside.

The moment I stepped out, the cold air hit my face.

I pulled my hoodie tighter around myself.

Everyone was already gathering around the bonfire.

And then my eyes suddenly caught someone familiar.

James.

He was standing near the pile of wood with Jack, helping prepare the bonfire.

But what caught my attention wasn't James himself.

It was his hoodie.

It was the exact same shade of red as mine.

I looked down at my own hoodie and then back at him.

Oh no.

We were matching.

For a second, I imagined how we must look standing beside each other.

Almost like a couple.

I immediately shook that thought away.

What am I even thinking?

"Yuri!"

Before I could move, Lia grabbed my hand.

"Come on!"

"Lia, wait!"

She dragged me through the crowd before I could say anything.

Jack and James were busy collecting pieces of wood, while Michael and Nick were arranging snacks and other things nearby.

We found a place close to the bonfire and sat down.

The fire slowly grew brighter, warming everyone as the evening became colder.

We played games, told jokes, ate snacks, and laughed until my stomach hurt.

For a while, I forgot everything.

I forgot about exams.

I forgot about graduation.

I forgot about everything waiting for us after this trip.

I was simply enjoying the moment.

Then someone approached me.

"Hey."

I looked up.

"Hey."

The boy smiled.

"I'm Sam."

"I'm Yuri."

"I've noticed you for a while," he said. "Are you not enjoying the party?"

I smiled awkwardly.

"No, I'm enjoying it. I'm just a little tired from the journey."

Sam laughed.

"That makes sense."

Now that I was looking at him properly, I noticed how handsome he was.

He was tall, with deep eyes that looked almost like the ocean. The light from the bonfire reflected softly across his face.

I suddenly became nervous.

I could feel my cheeks getting warm.

Sam noticed.

"Oh my God, you're turning red."

"What?"

I quickly touched my cheeks.

"No, I'm not!"

He laughed.

I wasn't used to talking to boys outside my own group of classmates, especially someone who had approached me so confidently.

We started talking about the journey, the hotel, and the places we were planning to visit the next day.

I was actually enjoying the conversation.

Until—

"Hey."

I knew that voice.

I turned around.

James was standing behind me.

He looked at Sam and then at me.

"I'm James," he said casually. "Yuri's best friend."

I stared at him.

Best friend?

Before I could correct him, he continued.

"And soon-to-be boyfriend, right, Yuri?"

My eyes widened.

"What?!"

Sam looked surprised.

I stared at James.

"Who told you that you're my best friend?"

James smiled.

"You did."

"I never said that!"

"And you also told me we'd match our outfits today."

I looked down at my red hoodie.

Then I looked at his.

My face became warm again.

"I never said—"

James smiled.

"See?"

Sam looked between us and laughed awkwardly.

"Oh, sorry, brother. I was just talking to her."

He smiled at me.

"Anyway, see you later, Yuri."

"Yeah... see you."

Sam walked away.

I watched him disappear into the crowd.

That was it.

The first boy from another school who had actually approached me, and James had somehow managed to ruin the entire conversation.

I turned toward him.

"What is your problem?"

James shrugged.

"You know those guys aren't your type."

I frowned.

"And how exactly do you know what my type is?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he glanced at my hoodie.

"By the way, nice hoodie."

I stared at him.

"What?"

He smiled.

"Nothing."

Then he simply walked away.

I sat there completely confused.

What just happened?

I wanted to be angry, but somehow I couldn't stay angry at him for long.

Maybe because I was getting used to him.

Maybe because, somewhere along the way, his annoying presence had started feeling normal.

Actually...

Comfortable.

I watched him from a distance as he helped Jack with the bonfire.

He was laughing with everyone.

Every few minutes, his eyes seemed to wander toward me.

And every time our eyes met, he would smile.

I quickly looked away.

Why does my heart keep doing that?

I decided not to ruin the evening.

I went back to playing games with everyone.

We ate dinner together, sang songs, told embarrassing stories, and laughed until our voices became tired.

The bonfire burned brightly while everyone sat around it.

For a moment, I looked around at my classmates.

These were the people I had spent so many years with.

Soon, everything would change.

We would graduate.

Everyone would choose different colleges, different careers, and different cities.

Maybe we wouldn't see each other every day anymore.

That thought made me quiet.

Lia noticed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

I smiled.

"I'm just thinking about graduation."

She rested her head against my shoulder.

"Don't think about that tonight."

I nodded.

"You're right."

Tonight was for memories.

Later, our teacher, Mr. Garret, finally called everyone together.

"Okay, everyone! It's getting late. We have a long day tomorrow, so don't stay awake all night."

Everyone groaned.

"Come on, sir!"

"Just one more game!"

Mr. Garret shook his head.

"No. You need to wake up on time tomorrow."

Everyone slowly started heading toward their rooms.

As I walked back with Lia, I glanced behind me.

James was walking with Nick.

He looked at me at exactly the same moment.

Our eyes met.

He smiled.

I smiled back before I could stop myself.

Then I quickly turned around.

Why am I smiling?

Back in our room, I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed.

Lia was already half asleep.

Nina was checking her phone.

Lily was talking about the next day's plans.

I listened quietly.

But my mind kept returning to the same person.

James.

His stupid teasing.

His ridiculous confidence.

The way he had called himself my best friend.

The way he had caught me when I slipped.

The way he had held my hand while we climbed the hill.

And tonight...

The way he had interrupted my conversation with Sam.

I pulled my blanket over myself.

"That boy never leaves me alone."

I smiled into my pillow.

And maybe, secretly...

I didn't want him to.