Day two at Camp Malaya started early.
Too early.
Sir Alvin's whistle blasted through the cabins at 6 AM.
"RISE AND SHINE, SECTION E! RIVER CHALLENGE IN ONE HOUR!"
Ci-n shot up in his bunk like a rocket. "RIVER! WATER! ADVENTURE!"
Rakki pulled her pillow over her head. "Kill me now."
Rory: "I've already calculated the optimal route to the river."
Edrix: "You calculated it?"
Rory: "I always calculate."
Baster was already humming a water-themed melody.
Cabin 3 was slower to wake.
Jay blinked awake, warm and comfortable. Keifer's arm was still around her. Their bunk was small, but they'd made it work.
She looked up at him. Still asleep. Peaceful.
She kissed his jaw.
He stirred. "Mm?"
Jay: "Morning."
Keifer: "Too early."
Jay: "River challenge."
Keifer: "Don't care."
Jay: "We have to."
Keifer: "Five more minutes."
Jay: "You said that yesterday."
Keifer: "And I'll say it tomorrow."
Aries' voice from the top bunk: "If you two are done being cute, some of us are trying to pretend we're still asleep."
Ella: "You're literally talking."
Aries: "Talking and sleeping can happen simultaneously."
Ella: "That's not how sleep works."
Aries: "It is in my world."
Breakfast was quick.
Section E gathered at the lodge, still half-asleep except Ci-n who was vibrating with energy.
Ci-n: "RIVER! I'M GOING TO SWIM! AND SPLASH! AND—"
Rakki: "Drown?"
Ci-n: "MAYBE! BUT EXCITEDLY!"
Mica yawned. Calix handed her coffee.
Mica: "Marry me."
Calix: "Already planning it."
Freya looked at the river in the distance. "There are probably fish in there."
Edrix: "There are definitely fish."
Freya: "I don't like fish."
Edrix: "They won't bother you."
Freya: "How do you know?"
Edrix: "I'll protect you."
Freya paused. Then: "…Shut up."
But she moved closer to him.
Drew was already taking bets. "Over/under on who falls in first!"
David: "Ci-n. 500. Easy money."
Drew: "No one's taking that bet."
David: "Then I win by default."
Eren: "Wait, we're going in the water? Like, getting wet?"
Josh nodded.
Eren: "I didn't bring a change of clothes."
Josh handed him a spare shirt.
Eren: "You just carry extras?"
Josh nodded.
Eren: "You're my hero."
Sir Alvin gathered everyone at the riverbank.
"Welcome to the river challenge! Each team will build a raft and race across the river and back. First team to complete the course wins."
Ci-n: "A RAFT? WE GET TO BUILD A RAFT?"
Rakki: "This is going to end badly."
Sir Alvin: "You have one hour. Go!"
Chaos erupted.
Section E teams scattered to gather materials—logs, ropes, anything that floated.
Cabin 3 (Jay, Keifer, Aries, Ella) worked together.
Aries: "We need a solid base."
Ella: "We need strong ropes."
Jay: "We need to work fast."
Keifer: "We need to win."
Jay: "Obviously."
They gathered logs. Tied them together. Aries was surprisingly handy. Ella was surprisingly strong. Jay directed. Keifer executed.
Aries: "She's bossy."
Jay: "I'm efficient."
Keifer: "Same thing?"
Jay: "Exactly."
Ella laughed.
Nearby, Cabin 4 (Mica, Calix, Freya, Edrix) was... struggling.
Mica: "This log is too heavy."
Calix: "Let me help."
Freya: "This rope is useless."
Edrix: "I've got a better one."
Freya: "Where did you get that?"
Edrix: "I brought extras."
Freya: "You brought extra rope?"
Edrix: "I bring extras for everything."
Freya: "That's... actually really smart."
Edrix: "I know."
Cabin 5 (Ci-n, Rakki, Rory, Baster) was absolute chaos.
Ci-n: "WE NEED BIGGER LOGS!"
Rakki: "We need to actually tie them together!"
Rory: "I've calculated the optimal design."
Baster: "I'm composing a raft-building anthem."
Ci-n grabbed a massive log. It was too heavy. He fell.
Rakki: "I told you."
Ci-n: "I'M FINE! ADVENTURE CONTINUES!"
Cabin 6 (Drew, David, Eren, Josh) was... quiet.
Drew was taking bets on who would finish first. David was somehow asleep on a rock. Eren was trying to befriend a fish. Josh was calmly building a perfect raft by himself.
Eren: "The fish is named Gerald."
Josh nodded.
Eren: "Gerald says hi."
Josh waved at the fish.
One hour later, the race began.
Rafts splashed into the water.
Cabin 3 took the lead immediately. Aries paddled hard. Ella matched him. Jay and Keifer worked in perfect sync.
Aries: "WE'RE WINNING!"
Ella: "DON'T JINX IT!"
Jay: "PADDLE FASTER!"
Keifer: "ON IT!"
Behind them, Cabin 4 was close. Mica and Calix paddled together. Freya screamed at a fish. Edrix calmly steered.
Freya: "THAT FISH LOOKED AT ME!"
Edrix: "It's a fish!"
Freya: "IT JUDGED ME!"
Cabin 5 was... everywhere. Ci-n had fallen in three times. Rakki kept pulling him back. Rory was navigating. Baster was still humming.
Ci-n: "I'M PART FISH NOW!"
Rakki: "YOU'RE PART DROWNING!"
Ci-n: "SAME THING!"
Cabin 6 somehow stayed afloat. Drew counted something. David was still half-asleep but paddling. Eren waved at Gerald. Josh steered perfectly.
Cabin 3 crossed first.
Jay jumped off the raft, cheering. Keifer grabbed her, spinning her around.
Aries: "WE WON!"
Ella: "WE ACTUALLY WON!"
They high-fived. Then hugged. Then immediately pulled apart, embarrassed.
Aries: "That was—"
Ella: "Teamwork."
Aries: "Right. Teamwork."
Jay and Keifer watched, amused.
Jay: "They're so cute."
Keifer: "They're so in denial."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
The other teams finished.
Cabin 4 came second. Freya was still complaining about the fish.
Cabin 6 came third (Josh's raft was perfect). Eren was sad to leave Gerald.
Cabin 5 came last. Ci-n was soaked but victorious.
Ci-n: "WE SURVIVED! THAT'S A WIN!"
Rakki: "We came last."
Ci-n: "SURVIVAL IS THE REAL WIN!"
Rakki: "I need a nap."
Sir Alvin announced the scores.
Cabin 3: 50 points
Cabin 4: 40 points
Cabin 6: 30 points
Cabin 5: 20 points
Jay grinned at Keifer. "We're winning."
Keifer: "We're dominating."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop stealing my thing."
Jay: "Never."
He kissed her forehead.
Ci-n: "DOCUMENTING!"
Rakki: "Of course you are."
Lunch was loud and wet.
Everyone changed into dry clothes and gathered at the lodge.
Ci-n was still talking about his "fish transformation."
Rakki: "You fell in. That's not a transformation."
Ci-n: "IT'S A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION."
Freya was still glaring at the river.
Edrix: "The fish can't see you from here."
Freya: "It knows."
Edrix: "It's a fish."
Freya: "A JUDGMENTAL fish."
Mica and Calix shared food. Drew counted his winnings (he'd bet on Cabin 3). David was asleep again. Eren was drawing a picture of Gerald. Josh nodded approvingly.
Baster was humming a victory melody.
Jay leaned against Keifer. Tired but happy.
Keifer: "Good morning?"
Jay: "Great morning."
Keifer: "Great win?"
Jay: "Great everything."
Keifer: "Jayfer forever?"
Jay: "Jayfer forever."
Aries sat nearby, watching.
Ella: "You're staring."
Aries: "I'm observing."
Ella: "Same thing?"
Aries: "Not the same thing."
Ella: "It is today."
Aries: "Tss."
Ella: "There it is."
Aries: "I hate you."
Ella: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
The afternoon was free time.
Section E scattered—some napped, some explored, some (Ci-n) attempted to befriend more wildlife.
Jay and Keifer found a quiet spot by the river. Away from everyone.
Jay: "This is nice."
Keifer: "Quiet?"
Jay: "Peaceful."
Keifer: "With me?"
Jay: "Always with you."
He kissed her.
Slow. Soft. Perfect.
When they pulled apart, Jay whispered: "I love you."
Keifer: "I love you too."
Jay: "Even when I steal your 'tss'?"
Keifer: "Especially then."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "Never."
He laughed. Pulled her close.
The river flowed. The sun warmed them.
Jayfer forever.
Always.