The days passed slowly, as if fate itself wanted to delay Ray's confession for as long as possible.
Even though he was determined to do it, he couldn't fully relax. His heart kept pounding, and every moment felt heavier than the last.
Group activities helped distract him a little, and being with Cris and Tai made everything easier after all the effort it had taken just to be there.
On the third day, they had a group activity again—this time at night.
A bonfire.
While everyone got ready, the teachers and some students prepared sausages, marshmallows, and sticks for what promised to be a great night together.
Sarah watched the scene unfold. Hana stood beside her.
"So, Hana… what are you going to do after this trip?" Sarah asked. "I mean, with your life… do you have anything planned for the future?"
Hana let out a soft sigh and looked up at the sky.
"Well… I'm not really sure. I'd like to study film… or maybe write a book," she said calmly. "I might even go study abroad."
"What?! You're seriously thinking about leaving?" Sarah exclaimed. "Are you just going to leave me here all alone?"
Hana smiled faintly.
"Don't be so dramatic, Sarah. I haven't decided anything yet. Besides, it's not something I can choose just like that… it doesn't depend only on me, at least not for now."
At that moment, the teacher called everyone to form a small circle around the bonfire.
Ray had been put in charge of handing out the sausages and marshmallows. He went around one by one until he reached Hana. She didn't look at him; she was laughing and talking with Sarah, only giving him a small wave.
"Oh, sorry," Hana said as she took the food without meeting his eyes.
Ray let out a quiet sigh and continued with his task.
After a while of eating and laughing around the fire, only a few students remained outside. The teacher approached them one last time.
"Alright, you've got thirty minutes," he said. "If I come back and you're still out here, you're all losing tomorrow's activities."
His tone was threatening… but not very convincing.
With that, he slowly walked away.
Sarah watched him leave and, once he was far enough, pulled out an empty bottle.
"Who's in?" she said with a grin. "You all know spin the bottle, right?"
Hana was the first to join. Seeing that, Ray dragged Cris and Tai over to the fire.
"I was about to go to sleep…" Tai complained.
Cris gave him a light shove and tilted his head toward Hana.
"Oh… I get it now," Tai said, suddenly changing his mind.
Soon, the only ones left were Hana, Sarah, Ray, Cris, and Tai.
The game began.
Sarah spun the bottle first. It stopped, pointing at Cris.
"Alright, let's see…" she said with a mischievous smile. "Cris, you have to answer honestly. You two are always suspiciously close… do you like Tai?"
Tai, who had been eating a marshmallow, nearly choked.
"What? Are you crazy? He's my friend… and I like girls."
Ray laughed.
"Well… you two would make a cute couple, don't you think?"
Hana tried to hold back her laughter.
Annoyed, Tai grabbed the bottle and spun it hard.
It landed on Hana.
Tai glanced at Ray with a hint of arrogance, knowing a well-placed question could completely expose him… but he held back.
"Do you like someone, Hana?"
The air grew quiet. Everyone watched her, waiting.
Hana looked at Ray for a brief moment.
His heart started pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest.
"Um… well…" she murmured, pulling her knees close as if trying to hide. "I don't know…"
"'I don't know'?" Tai repeated. "That's not an answer."
"She answered you already," Sarah cut in, lightly hitting him on the head with her sticky stick. "Don't pressure her, idiot."
Hana hesitated, then gently spun the bottle.
It stopped on Ray.
Cris and Tai exchanged a look instantly, like they were witnessing the most important moment of the night.
Hana paused for a second before speaking.
"Ray… well… since they asked first… do you like someone?"
Sarah stared at her in disbelief. Seriously… is she the only one who doesn't know? she thought.
Ray fell silent.
The fire crackled softly.
He took a breath.
"You…"
The wind suddenly picked up, feeding the flames of the bonfire that had begun to die down.
Hana straightened up, gripping her pants tightly, visibly nervous… waiting for him to continue.
Ray paused.
He opened his mouth to speak again—
"Do you guys seriously want to lose tomorrow's activities?" the teacher interrupted. "I said thirty minutes, and it's already been forty!"
He let out an annoyed sigh.
"You're going to drive me crazy… go to sleep before I make you walk back home."
The moment shattered.
As everyone stood up, Hana looked at Ray. In her mind, the word "You…" echoed over and over.
Ray gave her a small nod, like a quiet goodnight, before walking away with his friends.
"Man… you really have no luck," Tai said as they walked. "Every time you try to say something, something interrupts you."
Cris nodded.
"Fate can be pretty cruel… huh?"
Then he added:
"But don't let it get to you. There are still days left."
Meanwhile, Sarah and Hana walked together.
"Sarah…" Hana said hesitantly. "Do you think he was going to say something… like, a specific name?"
She tensed slightly.
"I don't know why I keep thinking about it… but he seemed so sure."
Sarah looked at her and sighed.
"Hana… if everything depended on you, we'd all be completely lost on this trip. It's honestly unbelievable you still don't see it."
Hana looked at her, confused, not fully understanding.
"I don't know…" she murmured at last. "But I feel like this trip is going to change something."