Rich Heart,poor souls

Departure Day

The day of the trip arrived, and Zyran stepped out of the small taxi that pulled up to the school entrance, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. He glanced at his mother, who was giving him one last round of affectionate kisses.

“Be safe, my baby boy! Remember to have fun!” she exclaimed, showering him with hugs.

“Mum, it’s only two weeks!” Zyran protested, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “You’re embarrassing me!”

Amara, walking past with her friends, smirked as she overheard. “Aw, look at little Zyran getting all mushy with his mommy. How cute!” she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

Zyran rolled his eyes, trying to shake off the humiliation as he hefted his bag over his shoulder. Just then, he spotted Kai approaching him, but Amara stepped in front of him.

“Can you help me with my bag, Kai?” she asked sweetly, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Kai hesitated for a moment, glancing at Zyran, then sighed, “Sure, Amara.” He quickly turned to help her, leaving Zyran standing there, a sense of annoyance creeping in.

After helping her with her bag, Kai realized Zyran had already found a spot in the back seat of the bus. He was sitting comfortably next to Yuu, Leo, Jaden, and Riku. They waved excitedly for Kai to join them.

Hey, come sit with us!” Leo called out, a big smile on his face.

But as Kai turned back to the bus, he noticed that Amara was now sliding into the seat beside him. “Oh, looks like I’m stuck with you,” she said with a smirk, her tone playful but carrying an undercurrent of tension.

Kai felt a knot of irritation in his stomach as he took a seat beside her. He shot a glance back at Zyran, who was chatting animatedly with Yuu, clearly enjoying himself without a care in the world.

As the bus began to fill up with other students, Kai felt a pang of jealousy. Zyran looked relaxed and at ease, while Kai couldn’t shake the annoyance of being trapped next to Amara. He wanted to be part of Zyran’s laughter and conversation, but now he felt stuck in a situation that reminded him of their rivalry.

Are you excited about the trip?” Amara asked, trying to draw him into conversation.

“Sure,” Kai replied curtly, his gaze lingering on Zyran.

“Just don’t get too comfortable,” Amara added with a sly smile. “I wouldn’t want you to forget about me while you’re busy ogling Zyran.”

Kai shot her a glare, but Amara just laughed, unfazed by his irritation.

As the bus lurched forward and the scenery began to blur by, Kai felt a mix of emotions. This trip could either bring them closer or pull them apart, and he wasn’t sure which he wanted more.

He stole another glance at Zyran, who caught his eye for a brief moment. A flicker of connection sparked between them before Zyran turned back to his friends. Kai’s heart raced, a strange feeling stirring within him.

What was he getting himself into

Zyran leaned back in his seat, glancing at Yuu. “So, how long is the trip until we make it there?”

Yuu looked at her watch, unfazed. “Now it’s 17:24, about ten hours,” she replied casually, as if it were just another day.

“What do you mean? We’re going to spend the night in this bus?” Jaden exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. “That’s insane!”

Riku chuckled from the opposite side of the aisle. “Well, at least we’ll have each other’s company to keep us entertained. Right, Zyran?”

Zyran nodded, though a part of him was apprehensive about the long journey ahead. “Yeah, it’ll be fun! We can play games or listen to music.”

Leo chimed in, “Or we could tell scary stories! Nothing like a little thrill to pass the time.”

Amara rolled her eyes dramatically. “As long as the stories don’t involve you drooling over Zyran, I’m fine with that.”

Kai shot her a glare, feeling the annoyance bubbling inside him. He turned his attention back to Zyran, trying to catch his eye, but Zyran was busy chatting with Yuu about the trip.

“Seriously, though,” Jaden said, “what if we get stuck in traffic for hours? I can’t handle being cooped up here for that long!”

“I’ll take care of the snacks,” Yuu offered, digging into her bag. “I brought enough chips and candy to keep us all fueled for a marathon.”

“Good thinking!” Riku replied, his enthusiasm returning. “You’re a lifesaver, Yuu.”

As the bus continued its journey down the winding roads, laughter and chatter filled the air. But amidst the excitement, Kai couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to be closer to Zyran. He watched as Zyran joked with Yuu, feeling an unfamiliar tug of jealousy again.

“Hey, if you’re all going to keep talking about food, can someone pass me some of those chips?” Amara interjected, breaking Kai from his thoughts.

Zyran finally looked over, and their eyes met for a brief moment. Kai felt his heart race, a mix of annoyance and something warmer stirring inside him.

“Sure! Here,” Zyran said, reaching for the bag of chips Yuu had opened. “I’ll share.”

Amara huffed, “Why do you always have to be so nice, Zyran? It’s annoying.”

Zyran shrugged, smiling genuinely. “I just think we should all enjoy the trip together.”

Kai crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat. This was going to be a long ten hours, but as long as he was stuck next to Amara, he could only hope that the tension between him and Zyran would ease up a little as the night went on.