Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

16. Trip To Tomfoolery

(Ryan's Pov)

I had a rare day off, and without much thought, I decided to spend it with Vicky. Grabbing two espressos from the café down the street, I made my way to his studio. The small bell above the door jingled as I entered, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the familiar aroma of photo chemicals.

He was on the phone when I walked in. I handed him the espresso, trying to keep my voice casual. "So, how's business going?"

He accepted the coffee with a nod, still talking on his phone. "It's a good start," he finally replied, his voice carrying a mix of excitement and exhaustion.

As he wrapped up the call, I wandered over to the counter, where a few neatly arranged photos caught my attention. "Outdoor activities?" I asked, picking one up for a closer look.

He glanced at the picture in my hand and nodded. "Yeah, it's for a school trip magazine."

Curiosity got the better of me. I reached for his camera and started flipping through the pictures. That's when I saw them -- photos of Sarah. Lots of them. The way he captured her was... different. Each shot had a sense of admiration, like he was seeing her in a way that no one else did. My grip tightened slightly on the camera.

"You went with Sarah?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, though my voice came out tighter than I intended.

He shrugged, taking a sip of his espresso. "Hmm. She was just helping me out."

I paused, my eyes glued to the pictures, feeling a knot form in my stomach. I couldn't ignore the way he photographed her. It was so focused, so... intimate.

Gulping down the growing tension, I blurted out, "Vicky... do you like her?"

He froze mid-sip, his eyes widening just slightly before he put the cup down.

October 4, 2016 ************************

The weather was perfect, just the kind of day you'd hope for on a school trip -- neither too hot nor windy. As we boarded the bus, I made sure to grab a seat quickly, knowing how chaotic it could get if you were stuck standing or squeezed between people. I wasn't one to sit quietly on trips; I liked to make the most of it, soaking in the fun and creating memories.

Vicky, of course, had his camera with him. The moment we found our seats, he started snapping photos -- random shots of people laughing, waving, or just staring out the windows. His energy was infectious at first, but after a while, he decided to take a nap.

As the bus rumbled along, everyone was either singing, dancing, or chattering away. I joined in with the others. It was hard not to get caught up in the excitement. But as I leaned back in my seat, my eyes wandered around the bus and landed on two figures at opposite ends, each in their own world of sleep -- Vicky, with his head tilted against the window, and Sarah, the ever-diligent first-ranker, curled up on her seat like a small kitten.

They both looked so peaceful, completely unaware of the noise around them. Vicky with his camera hanging loosely in his lap, and Sarah with her glasses pushed up onto her head, both of them lost in their dreams.

As soon as we reached our destination, we stepped off the bus, greeted by the sight of a vast plateau stretching before us. It wasn't exactly a mountain, but the landscape had an elevated feel, with a river lazily winding through the scenery, adding a peaceful charm to the place. Vicky got off the bus with a big yawn, clearly still waking up from his nap.

I grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the more scenic spots. "Come on, time to take some cool shots!" I said, already imagining the photos he'd capture of me. Vicky, still half-asleep, fumbled with his camera but quickly got into the rhythm, snapping pictures as I posed by the river, on the rocks, and against the backdrop of the plateau.

After a little while, the whole class gathered together, forming a big circle in the middle of an open space. Someone suggested playing antakshari, and soon enough, we were divided into two groups, ready to compete in our usual playful, musical rivalry. Even our class teacher got into the spirit, cheering for both sides and sometimes joining in with her own out-of-tune singing, which only made everyone laugh harder.

As the game carried on, the laughter and music filling the air, I suddenly noticed Sarah was missing from the group. I was certain she had been there earlier, awkwardly trying to join in, but it seemed like no one paid her much attention after that. Something about the way she faded from the crowd nagged at me.