AUTHOR NOTE:
Sorry for late update my exams are going on .
From the first day of the trip, Ryu and Rey's relationship has been a rollercoaster—teasing, annoying, and challenging each other at every turn.
Yet, with every shared moment, every chaotic mishap, and every quiet conversation, their bond has deepened. Enemies at first, they have slowly become friends, learning to understand each other, to care for each other, and to trust each other in ways words cannot always express. Every trip has brought them closer, sharing laughter, pain, and moments that neither will ever forget.
Blurb:A simple trip to explore new places becomes a journey of discovery—not just of landscapes, but of hearts. Ryu and Rey, once at odds, navigate teasing, challenges, and unexpected mishaps, all while slowly learning about trust, friendship, and unspoken emotions. From splashes in the river to quiet moments beside each other on the bus, every shared experience draws them closer, revealing how laughter, care, and gentle understanding can transform even the stormiest bonds.
Ryu and Rey bond has grown from enemies to friends , since the trip has started. every trip has bring them close sharing pain , things .
Everyone started climbing into the bus—some with bright eyes buzzing with excitement for the next destination, others already yawning, heads heavy with sleep. The air was filled with chatter, laughter, and the shuffle of feet against the metal steps.
I trailed behind, still shivering slightly. My clothes clung uncomfortably to my skin, cold and damp, refusing to dry fully in the morning sun. Each step I took left a faint wet mark, my shawl heavy with water, my hair sticking in messy strands against my cheeks.
The moment I stepped inside, my uncle's sharp voice cut through the noise."Ryu! How did you get drenched in water?" His tone carried shock, worry, and a hint of disbelief as his eyes widened at the state I was in.
Heat rose to my cheeks instantly. I forced my lips into a small, awkward smile."My foot… slipped," I said quickly, keeping my eyes down, clutching my sketchbook tighter to my chest as if it could shield me from the weight of everyone's stares.
Ryu's POV
How could I possibly tell him the truth? That because of Mr. Devil—yes, Rey, with his endless teasing, his mischievous grin, and his ridiculous chase—I ended up in the river? That it wasn't my clumsiness, but his trouble-making spirit, that dragged me into this mess?
The whole bus was staring. I could feel their eyes scanning every inch of me—the dripping shawl, the water stains on my kurta, my damp hair. My uncle's forehead creased with tension, and my grandmother's worried glance from the window burned into me.
And then… there was him. Rey.Standing a few steps behind, his clothes no better than mine. His shirt plastered to his frame, hair messy and dripping onto his forehead, shoes squishing with every move. He looked like he'd just fought the river itself—and yet, somehow, he didn't seem to care. That infuriating smirk still lingered faintly on his lips, as though falling into the water was just another game to him.
Why is it always me who ends up like this because of him? Why does he always pull me into his chaos, leaving me to deal with the embarrassment while he stands there looking… annoyingly unbothered?
I hugged my sketchbook tighter, wishing it could swallow me whole. My uncle's worried eyes, Rey's drenched figure beside me, the curious glances of my friends—it all pressed down on me at once. My heart thudded against my ribs, not just from shame, but from something I couldn't name.
Because no matter how angry I was, no matter how much I wanted to call him a devil in front of everyone, a small part of me still replayed that moment in the river—his hand gripping mine, holding me steady, his eyes filled with concern.
And that, more than the cold water, made me shiver.
Rey's POV
My clothes clung to me like a second skin, heavy and uncomfortable, water dripping from my sleeves, my hair sticking in every possible direction. But none of that mattered.
What caught my attention was the look on her uncle's face—the concern etched deep into his features as his eyes darted from her dripping shawl to her pale face. That look wasn't for me. It was for her. And honestly… it should have been.
When she fell into the water, my heart had stopped for a second. What if she hit her head? What if she didn't come back up in time? I'd laughed, teased, provoked her a thousand times, but in that moment, watching her slip, it felt like the ground had vanished beneath me. I'd never admit it out loud, but fear had gripped me harder than the cold river.
And now, seeing her try to brush it off, lie so easily—"my foot slipped"—I felt a twist in my chest. She was protecting me, even when she didn't have to. She could have blamed me right there in front of everyone. She could have called me out for being the devil I was. But she didn't.
Every time I see her face, guilt gnaws at me. I regret that stupid plan—the childish idea I had, to make her life miserable when she joined us, just because I couldn't handle how easily she fit in, how naturally she drew people toward her. She never did anything to deserve that.
All she has ever done is care. Care enough to smile through our teasing. Care enough to listen when no one else bothered. Care enough to tolerate me—me, with all my flaws, my mischief, my sharp edges.And yet here I am… dripping wet beside her, pretending none of it matters, while inside, every glance at her feels like a reminder of how wrong I was.I don't know how much longer I can keep pretending that all of this is just a game.
Suddenly, Kabir's father raised his voice above the chatter, firm yet cheerful."Okay, everyone sit down! The bus is about to start."
The group scattered in a rush, laughter echoing as everyone scrambled for seats. Aarav, Anika, Ishani, and Aryan piled in with Kabir and Avyaan, their voices already rising in playful banter. Siya di slid comfortably beside Maya, while Arjun and Aakash chose the seat across from them, deep in quiet conversation.
I found myself pulled toward the back, squeezed between Rey and Ravi. The three of us settled together, the buzz of chatter filling the air as the bus grew alive with energy. Some leaned against the windows, others stretched out, but all around me was laughter, teasing, and the warmth of friends making memories.
The engine roared to life, the bus lurched forward, and cheers erupted. Hands clapped, voices rang out, and someone even started humming a song that the rest quickly picked up. The whole bus became a wave of joy, carrying us forward.
Ryu's POV
The moment the bus started rolling, the air shifted. Cheers rose all around me, a chorus of excitement and laughter bouncing off the narrow walls. Everyone's faces lit up with anticipation, their eyes sparkling at the thought of the journey ahead. For them, this was just the start of another adventure.
I smiled faintly, trying to soak in the energy, though a part of me was still cold from the river. My shawl clung damply to my shoulders, and my hair brushed against my cheeks, still not fully dry. But nobody seemed to care. Ravi leaned back casually, grinning at something Kabir shouted from a few seats ahead. Rey, beside me, stretched his arms across the back of the seat as if nothing in the world could bother him—messy hair, wet shirt, and all.
I hugged my sketchbook to my lap, watching as Maya pulled out her phone to capture yet another candid moment, as Ishani and Aryan sang loudly and off-key, as Avyaan tried to shush them but ended up laughing instead. The bus rattled over the uneven road, but instead of complaints, it only added to the chaos, to the memory being carved into our hearts.
This—this noisy, crowded, messy moment—was beautiful. Everyone talking at once, everyone leaning into each other, everyone forgetting their worries. And even though I felt a little out of place, even though my heart was tangled with thoughts I couldn't name, I knew one thing for sure:
We were creating memories here—memories we'd never forget, no matter how far the road carried us.
Rey's POV
The bus roared forward, laughter filling every corner, but my eyes kept drifting to her. Ryu sat between us, sketchbook clutched to her lap, damp hair brushing her cheeks. She tried to blend into the noise, smiling faintly at the others, but I could see the tiredness in her eyes, the way her shawl clung cold against her.
I wanted to lean closer, tell her she should dry herself properly, but the words stayed stuck. Instead, I stretched my arm across the back of the seat, pretending to be casual. Maybe too casual.
Why does she always look so far away, even when she's right here?
Ravi's POV
Her laughter mixed with the chaos around us, soft but warm, and I couldn't stop myself from stealing glances. Sitting beside her felt… right. And yet, every time Rey shifted, every time his shoulder brushed hers, it twisted something sharp inside me.
I laughed when the others teased from the front, but my mind wasn't with them. It was here—between Ryu clutching her sketchbook like a shield and Rey pretending not to care while clearly caring too much.
I hated how obvious it felt. That invisible pull between them. And still… all I wanted was for her to turn, just once, and look at me the way she looked at him.
Some kids were buzzing with excitement, others were already leaning against the windows, yawning and half-asleep as the bus rolled on. Maya fussed over me, pressing my shawl against my damp sleeves and hair, laughing at how hopelessly drenched I still looked. Her warmth and chatter made it easier to smile, and soon we were giggling together, the chill of the river slowly fading.
Just a few seats away, Rey sat slouched, his shirt clinging stubbornly to him, droplets still sliding from his messy hair. Beside him, Ravi leaned in, voice low but firm.
Ravi: "Rey, you should dry yourself, otherwise you'll catch a cold."Rey: "Yes."The reply was short, almost careless, as if he wasn't paying attention.
But Ravi didn't stop there. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned closer.Ravi: "Rey, I want to ask you something."Rey: "What?"Ravi: "…You care for her more than you admit, don't you?"Rey: "Her?" His voice faltered.Ravi: "Ryu."
For the first time that morning, Rey's easy calm cracked. His head turned sharply, eyes widening in surprise. He hadn't expected Ravi to be that direct.
Rey's POV
The words hit me harder than I thought they would. You care for her more than you admit…
I tried to brush it off, to act confused—"Her?"—but Ravi didn't let me hide. He said her name. Ryu. Clear, direct, like he was daring me to deny it.
My chest tightened. Because the truth was… yes. I did care. More than I ever planned to. More than I could explain. But how could I say that out loud? How could I admit that the girl I had sworn to tease, to trouble, to push away, had become the one person I kept worrying about, even in the middle of all this noise?
I stared at him, searching his face, realizing there was something in his tone—a challenge, a warning, maybe even jealousy. And for the first time, I wondered if I wasn't the only one who felt something for her.
Ravi's POV
The second I said it, I saw his expression change. For a boy who always smirked, always had a comeback ready, Rey suddenly looked caught off guard. His usual confidence slipped, just for a moment, and that was enough to confirm what I already knew.
He cared. He might deny it, laugh it off, make a joke—but I'd seen it in the way he looked at her when she stumbled, the way he reached for her when she fell, the way he carried her sketchbook like it mattered more than his own things.
And it burned.
Because I wanted that. I wanted to be the one she thought of, the one she looked at, the one she trusted. But sitting there, watching Rey's silence, I realized the truth I didn't want to face: maybe she already saw him that way.
I leaned back, forcing a laugh, pretending it was just a casual question. But inside, jealousy twisted tighter, leaving a weight I couldn't shake.
Rey ignored the question. His gaze shifted toward the window, watching the trees blur past, pretending Ravi's words hadn't struck a nerve. But Ravi wasn't fooled—he knew exactly why Rey stayed silent.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Maya gave Ryu's sleeves a final pat.Maya: "Ryu, now you are completely dry."Ryu (smiling softly): "Thank you."
The warmth of her friend's care eased the heaviness in her body. Her eyelids grew heavy, and within moments, she curled against the seat and drifted into sleep. Maya stood, stretched, and with a grin, slipped away to chat with Siya di at the back of the bus.
Rey hesitated for a heartbeat, then quietly slid into the empty seat beside Ryu.
Rey's POV
I didn't mean to move, but my legs had a mind of their own. The space beside her called to me, and before I knew it, I was there, sitting close enough to hear the rhythm of her breath.
She was fast asleep—her head tilted slightly toward the window, her hair still damp, her shawl slipping from her shoulder. She looked… peaceful. So different from the Ryu who snapped, argued, and rolled her eyes at me every chance she got.
I leaned back, pretending to be casual, but inside my chest was chaos. Ravi's words kept echoing—You care for her more than you admit. Damn him for being right.
I glanced at her again. Carefully, I tugged the shawl back over her shoulder so she wouldn't feel cold. My fingers brushed the fabric, almost brushing her hand, and I froze, heart pounding louder than the bus engine.
If she knew what I felt right now… she'd laugh. Or worse, push me away.
But here, while she slept, I let myself look. Just once. Just long enough to admit what I couldn't say out loud.
Rey settled into the seat beside Ryu, careful not to wake her. The warmth of her presence—soft, quiet, and comforting—made him feel heavier than usual. His muscles loosened, the tension from the morning's chaos slowly melting away.
The hum of the bus, the muffled chatter of their friends, and the gentle rocking motion worked together like a lullaby. His eyelids felt impossibly heavy, each blink slower than the last.
For a moment, he just sat there, watching her sleep, listening to the soft rhythm of her breath. There was something grounding about it, something that made the whirlwind of teasing, chasing, and unspoken feelings fade into the background.
One slow exhale later, and his head sagged slightly to the side. The shawl brushing against his arm, the warmth beside him, and the quiet of the bus wrapped around him like a blanket.
Before he knew it, his eyes closed completely, and he too drifted into sleep—peaceful, still, and almost protective, the first real rest he had felt all morning.