You And I

Chapter 15: Announcement

The third-periodical exam day is here , and as I glanced at Mei, I asked, "Did you review much?" She replied, "Yeah, I stayed up all night." I smiled, appreciating her dedication, and we dove into the exam, trying to push away any lingering nervousness.

When the test was done, our teacher had some exciting news: "Tomorrow, we're heading out for a school camping trip! It's a chance to refresh our minds after the exams."

The classroom buzzed with excitement as the teacher continued, "You'll need to group into teams of six. Choose wisely!"

The four of us quickly formed a group, and we added Jane and Kris to complete our team. We were all looking forward to the trip, though each for different reasons.

Our teacher outlined the activities for the next three days:

Day 1: Rest and set up our own campfire in the evening.

Day 2: Take pictures of the surroundings and create a journal. That night, we'd face the "Test of Courage," where each boy and girl would pair up and venture into the woods in the dark.

Day 3: Choose between fishing, hiking, or paddle boarding. The highlight of the final night would be the "Last Dance," where a boy and girl would pair up, circle around the campfire, and dance until the music stopped.

The room was filled with chatter and excitement as everyone imagined the fun ahead. I felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The campfire, the test of courage, and especially the dance were all events that stirred up a flutter of feelings.

After the announcement, we headed to our club room for lunch, buzzing with excitement about the camping trip. The conversation quickly turned to the upcoming activities, and Ryan couldn't resist teasing us. "I bet you and Mei would make a perfect pair for the dance," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. Mei blushed, and I quickly tried to deflect. "Nah, she probably has other plans," I said, hoping to steer the topic away. Ryan wasn't convinced and kept on with his teasing.

Eventually, Jane suggested a game of UNO, with a twist-the loser had to reveal their crush. My heart sank at the thought of potentially having to confess. I could tell Yvonne and Ryan were teaming up against me, and I was determined not to be the one to lose. As the game went on, the tension built up.

The game came down to Mei and me, with everyone watching eagerly. Ryan, with his usual teasing, said, "I wonder who's going to confess." I shot him a warning glance and said, "Shut up, Ryan."

Inside, I was torn. I didn't want to lose and be forced to confess, but I also didn't want to beat Mei. After a tense round, I managed to win, leaving Mei to fulfill her end of the deal. She hesitated, then said, "Can I just describe him instead of naming him?"

"Sure," Kris said, and the rest of us leaned in, curious.

Mei started, "Well, he's in our class, tall, handsome, with beautiful eyes. He's also caring and smart."

The four of them exchanged knowing glances and chuckles. I was left puzzled, unable to figure out who Mei was describing. It was clear that they all knew something I didn't.

After the game, we chatted a bit more and eventually went our separate ways. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Mei's description than I understood, and as I headed home, I wondered if the upcoming camping trip would reveal more than just a fun adventure.

When I got home, I went straight to my room, still thinking about everything that had happened earlier. I grabbed my phone and, without overthinking for once, messaged Mei, "Are you excited about tomorrow?" It was the first time I'd sent her a message directly like that, and my heart raced a little as I waited for her reply.

A few moments later, my phone buzzed. "Yeah, I can't wait! What about you?" she responded.

We ended up chatting for a while about the trip-how we were looking forward to the activities, wondering who we'd be paired with for the night walk, and whether the food would be any good. There was something light and easy about our conversation, and I couldn't help but smile the entire time.

After a while, we wished each other goodnight. "Good night, Levi! See you tomorrow!" she messaged.

"Good night, Mei," I replied.

But even though we said goodnight, I couldn't sleep. My mind was filled with thoughts about the camping trip, what might happen, and, more than anything, how I'd spend the next few days with her. The excitement and anticipation kept me up, staring at the ceiling, running through all the possibilities of what tomorrow might bring.