"Why is counseling here?"
The voices came from the back rows first—half-whispers, half-unfiltered confusion. Someone twisted in their seat to get a better look.
Ms. Fang stood near the door, cardigan neat, clipboard held loosely against her chest like she wasn't about to derail the entire class schedule.
She smiled.
Not the tight, professional smile teachers used when they were already annoyed.
This one was warm. Familiar.
"No," she said lightly, glancing toward the back. "I'm not lost."
A few chuckles rippled through the room.
"And yes," she added, "I know this is usually history period."
That earned her a collective groan.
"Oh my god—"
"I was ready to sleep."
"Why would you remind us?"
Ms. Fang laughed softly, like she'd expected it.
"Relax," she said. "I'm not here to test you. Or lecture you."
Someone muttered, "Suspicious."
She stepped closer to the teacher's desk, resting her clipboard on it.
"You've all just had lunch," she said, looking around. "So I'll keep this short."
No one believed that.
She waited a second anyway—long enough for the room to settle into that half-awake, half-restless state where people were listening, but not fully.
"You're in your final year," Ms. Fang continued.
"For some of you, that feels exciting. For others… exhausting."
A few students nodded unconsciously.
"For the past few years, you've all been moving toward something," she said. "University. Jobs. Expectations. Decisions."
Someone near the window sighed loudly.
"And now," she added gently, "you're closer to the end than the beginning."
The room grew quieter.
Not silent—but less careless.
"That's why some of you have been acting differently lately," Ms. Fang said, not accusing. Just stating.
A few students shifted in their seats.
Jian leaned back, one leg still out from under the desk, hands in his pockets. From the outside, he looked relaxed.
He wasn't.
Ms. Fang glanced down at her clipboard.
"So," she said, clearing her throat lightly, "the school has decided to organize a trip for all final-year students."
For half a second, no one reacted.
Then—
"WAIT—WHAT?"
"Trip??"
"Like… actually?"
"Overnight??"
The noise crashed into the room all at once.
Someone stood up halfway before sitting back down.
"Please tell me this is real."
"Is this why counseling is here?"
"I KNEW IT."
Ms. Fang raised her hand slightly—not sharply, just enough.
"Everyone breathes," she said with a smile. "Yes. It's real."
That did it.
"YESSS—"
"FINALLY."
"Anything is better than class."
Jian's friends were already leaning toward each other.
"We're going, right?"
"Obviously."
"Bro, if I miss this, I'll regret it forever."
One of them laughed. "My parents will say no."
Another shrugged. "Then you fake a fever and come anyway."
Someone else shook their head. "Trips are tiring. Shared rooms? No thanks."
"Depends on who you're sharing with," someone shot back.
Laughter.
Across the room, Wei sat quietly.
His hands rested on the desk, fingers loosely intertwined. He didn't lean forward. Didn't react outwardly.
The word trip hung in the air anyway.
Ms. Fang waited again—letting the excitement burn itself out a little.
"This trip will include all final-year students," she said.
"Different sections. Same grade."
That sparked another wave.
"All sections together?"
"That's going to be chaotic."
"Sounds fun."
Yanyan turned toward Jian, eyes bright.
"We should go," she said. Not asking. Just stating it.
Jian nodded automatically.
"Yeah."
He meant it.
Or at least—he wanted to.
Ms. Fang continued, calm and steady beneath the noise.
"You'll be traveling together," she said. "Learning outside the classroom. Spending time as a batch."
Someone whispered, "More like getting in trouble together."
Ms. Fang pretended not to hear.
"This is meant to be a memory," she said.
"One you carry forward."
Some students smiled at that.
Others looked away.
Wei lowered his gaze slightly.
Memories weren't always kind.
Ms. Fang flipped a page on her clipboard.
"We'll share the full details soon—dates, location, accommodations."
Someone immediately raised a hand.
"Is attendance compulsory?"
Ms. Fang tilted her head.
"Strongly encouraged," she said carefully.
That earned mixed reactions.
"My mom will kill me."
"My dad will say no."
"I'm not asking."
Jian's friend muttered, "I'll convince them."
Wei didn't say anything.
Ms. Fang continued, "Tomorrow, each class will submit a list of names."
That caused another stir.
"So we decide by tomorrow?"
"That's too fast."
"What if I change my mind?"
Ms. Fang nodded, understanding.
"Talk to your families tonight,"she said.
"Think about it properly."
Her eyes moved around the room again—lingering briefly on students who weren't speaking. Who weren't smiling.
Wei felt her gaze pass over him.
He didn't look up.
"And since I interrupted your history class," she said lightly, "this period will be self-study."
The reaction was immediate.
"LET'S GO—"
"BEST NEWS."
"I'M SLEEPING."
Ms. Fang laughed.
"No sleeping," she warned gently. "At least pretend to study."
She gathered her clipboard.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
The door slid shut behind her.
The room erupted.
Plans flew everywhere.
"Who are you sitting with?"
"I call window seat."
"We're rooming together."
Jian's friends were already making noise.
"This is going to be insane."
"Worth it though."
Yanyan leaned closer again.
"This will be good," she said softly. "For us."
Jian nodded.
"Yeah."
Across the room, Wei stayed seated.
The classroom buzzed around him, loud and alive.
He stared at his desk.
Tomorrow, they would submit names.
And somehow—
That felt heavier than it should have.