Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

46. Moments, Unless You Know You're Enjoying

Jimmy announced with a grin, "Alright everyone, today’s challenge: we’re cooking our own lunch!"

Once we found a perfect spot for the tents, we divided up the tasks. Ryan, Vicky, Pallavi, and I were in charge of cooking. Rima and Neha volunteered to go grocery shopping for supplies, while Jimmy and Kiera took on the job of setting up the tents -- they were surprisingly good at it.

With everything settled, we wandered along the sandy beach for a while, letting the fresh air sink in. Some of us even played in the sea water, splashing and laughing, enjoying the carefree moments.

We started cooking, splitting into two teams -- one for noodles and the other for barbecue skewers. I was tasked with chopping vegetables for the noodles, but my lack of skill showed through; the pieces were uneven and awkward. The others couldn’t hold back their laughter.

Ryan came over, showing off his chopping skills with effortless precision. Frustrated but determined, I nudged Vicky to challenge him since he was on my team. A chopping contest began, and against all odds, I actually won.

"I told you," I teased, flashing a grin at Ryan, "this time, I’m not letting you win."

Ryan's jaw tightened, and in response, he grilled the skewers with meticulous care, while our noodles looked sadly bland in comparison.

At lunch, the majority voted in favor of the skewers. Ryan, with a satisfied smirk, had won this round. Despite my earlier victory, he claimed the final one, and we all shared a laugh over the playful competition.

After lunch, the girls changed into their summer dresses and dashed towards the water, splashing and laughing. They called for me to join them, but I politely declined, preferring to stay on the shore.

Jimmy, always playful, rushed over with a mischievous grin, ready to scoop me up and drag me into the water against my will. I shook my head frantically, signaling a clear "no."

Just before Jimmy could grab me, Vicky stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "She doesn’t like this stuff. We all know that. Why force her? Let her enjoy on her own."

I gave Vicky a grateful smile and stayed back, watching from the shore as everyone played, capturing candid moments with his camera. The sound of their laughter filled the air, but my gaze drifted to Ryan, sitting alone in the vehicle with the excuse of motion sickness.

Vicky settled beside me while I was lost in my phone.

"I'm really glad you decided to come," he said, his eyes fixed on the ocean.

I glanced at him briefly. "What difference does it make?"

Without turning, he replied, "You might not notice, but there's something special about having everyone together. It just feels right."

I exhaled softly, not sure how to respond.

After a moment, he asked, "Aren't you going to take any pictures?"

"I’m not really into that," I replied with a casual shrug.

He chuckled, "That explains why people always feel the need to ask for your permission before taking pictures."

I shot him a blank stare, unimpressed by his teasing.

"Remember Navratri? I even asked before taking a selfie," he said, trying to stir a reaction.

I nodded in acknowledgment, and just then, he suddenly called out, "Sarah."

Instinctively, I turned towards him, and click -- he snapped a picture.

I blinked, surprised. "You don’t have to pull off movie-like stunts," I remarked, my tone was a little irritated. "It’s not that I refuse to take pictures."

He grinned sheepishly, "Okay, my bad."

I looked back at the sea, feeling a moment of calm. After a pause, I spoke again. "Vicky."

"Hmm?" he responded, still engrossed in his camera.

"Take care of your best friend," I said softly.

He looked puzzled, "What do you mean by that?"

I gave a faint smile, "Never mind."

I had no clue how to lift his spirits, but I made my way to the van, hoping a conversation might help.

He glanced up at me, raising a brow. “What’s up?”

I hesitated before asking, “Are you even enjoying yourself?”

He gave a noncommittal hum. “Hmm. What about you?”

“I feel... lighter,” I said slowly. “I’ve been holding this grudge against your success since college. But today, seeing you like this…crumbled ... I don’t know, but it makes me feel better, in a strange way.”

He frowned, his voice soft but sharp. “Do you really see me as your enemy?”

I sighed, unable to stop myself. “We started from the same place, Ryan. You crossed that line, and I couldn’t. You cheated, while I stayed sincere from the beginning.”