The last morning at Camp Malaya arrived with nervous energy.
Sir Alvin stood at the front of the lodge, clipboard in hand. "Final challenge today! Obstacle course through the forest. First team to complete it wins the grand prize—one week off from classes."
Cheers erupted.
Sir Alvin: "You still have to write the exams, just no classes for a week."
Groans followed.
Ci-n: "WE STILL HAVE TO STUDY?"
Rakki: "One week to study instead of attending class? That's actually better."
Ci-n: "OH. THAT IS BETTER."
Mica: "We're winning this."
Calix: "Obviously."
Freya: "I don't lose."
Edrix: "You've never done an obstacle course."
Freya: "I don't lose ANYTHING."
Edrix: "We'll see."
Cabin 3 huddled together.
Aries: "Strategy?"
Ella: "Run fast. Don't fall."
Aries: "That's not a strategy."
Ella: "It's MY strategy."
Jay: "We work together. Like the river. Like the hike."
Keifer: "We've got this."
They looked at each other. Nodded.
Teamwork.
The obstacle course was brutal.
Rope climbs. Mud pits. Balance beams. Walls to scale.
Section E teams spread out, each tackling the course differently.
Cabin 5 (Ci-n, Rakki, Rory, Baster) was chaos.
Ci-n fell in the mud immediately. "I'M ONE WITH THE EARTH NOW!"
Rakki: "You're one with the dirt. Get up."
Rory: "I've calculated the optimal route. Follow me."
Baster hummed encouragement.
Cabin 4 (Mica, Calix, Freya, Edrix) was surprisingly coordinated.
Mica and Calix moved together. Freya complained but kept going. Edrix stayed close, helping her over obstacles.
Freya: "I hate this."
Edrix: "You're doing great."
Freya: "Shut up and help me over this wall."
Edrix: "Yes ma'am."
Cabin 6 (Drew, David, Eren, Josh) was... relaxed.
Drew took bets on who would finish first. David napped between obstacles. Eren befriended a butterfly. Josh completed each task calmly, then waited for the others.
Drew: "Josh, how are you so calm?"
Josh shrugged.
Drew: "I need your energy."
Cabin 3 moved like a unit.
Aries led, strong and steady. Ella matched him, quick and fierce. Jay navigated, spotting the best paths. Keifer supported, always there when someone needed a hand.
They hit the mud pit together. Slogged through side by side.
Aries: "This is disgusting."
Ella: "You're disgusting."
Aries: "Rude."
Ella: "Accurate."
Jay laughed. Keifer pulled her through a deep spot.
Jay: "Thanks."
Keifer: "Always."
The balance beam came next. Single file. Narrow.
Aries went first. Made it across.
Ella second. Almost fell. Aries caught her hand.
Ella: "I had it."
Aries: "Sure you did."
Ella: "Shut up."
But she didn't let go.
Jay crossed next. Steady. Confident.
Keifer last. Of course.
They reached the wall. High. Intimidating.
Aries: "Boost each other up. Ella first."
Ella: "Bossy."
Aries: "Efficient."
She climbed. He boosted. She reached the top.
Then reached down for him.
Aries: "I don't need—"
Ella: "Take my hand."
He took it.
Jay and Keifer followed. Same rhythm. Same trust.
Over the wall. Running toward the finish.
They crossed together.
First place.
Sir Alvin: "CABIN 3 WINS!"
Aries bent over, breathing hard. Ella patted his back.
Ella: "Good job."
Aries: "You too."
Ella: "Don't get soft on me."
Aries: "Never."
Jay and Keifer collapsed onto each other, laughing.
Jay: "WE DID IT!"
Keifer: "WE DID!"
He kissed her forehead. She kissed his cheek.
They didn't care who saw.
The other teams finished.
Cabin 4 came second. Freya was covered in mud but victorious.
Freya: "I DIDN'T LOSE!"
Edrix: "You came second."
Freya: "SECOND IS NOT LOSING!"
Edrix: "Fair."
Cabin 6 came third. Josh carried David across the finish line.
Drew: "I won so much money."
David: (still asleep)
Eren waved at his butterfly friend. "Bye, Barry!"
Cabin 5 came last. Ci-n was unrecognizable under mud.
Ci-n: "I AM THE MUD KING NOW!"
Rakki: "You're the mud mess. Let's find a hose."
Ci-n: "GLORIOUS MUD MESS!"
Rory: "I've documented everything."
Baster: "New song: The Mud King's Anthem."
Sir Alvin announced the final scores.
Cabin 3: 150 points (FIRST PLACE)
Cabin 4: 120 points
Cabin 6: 100 points
Cabin 5: 80 points
Aries: "One week no classes."
Ella: "Still have exams."
Aries: "We can study together."
Ella: "You want to study with me?"
Aries: "I want to pass."
Ella: "Same thing?"
Aries: "Same thing."
Jay grinned at Keifer. "We won."
Keifer: "We dominated."
Jay: "We're a good team."
Keifer: "The best team."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
The teasing started immediately.
Ci-n: "CABIN 3 WON BECAUSE OF JAYFER POWER!"
Rakki: "They won because they worked together."
Ci-n: "SAME THING!"
Mica: "You two were amazing out there."
Calix: "Synchronized. Like dancers."
Jay: "We were running through mud."
Calix: "MUD DANCERS."
Freya: "You made it look easy."
Edrix: "It wasn't easy. They're just that good."
Freya: "Why are you defending them?"
Edrix: "I'm stating facts."
Freya: "Tss."
Edrix: "Did you just—"
Freya: "Maybe."
Edrix: "I'm so proud."
Freya: "Shut up."
Drew: "New bet! How many times do Jay and Keifer get teased today?"
David: "Infinite."
Drew: "That's not a number."
David: "It's a feeling."
Eren: "Wait, we won? What did we win?"
Josh handed him a leaf.
Eren: "Thanks?"
Josh nodded.
Baster hummed a victory melody.
The bus ride home was loud.
Section E replayed every moment. Every fall. Every victory.
Ci-n fell asleep with his head against the window, mud still in his hair.
Rakki smiled softly. "He's cute when he's quiet."
Mica: "He's never quiet."
Rakki: "That's the problem."
Freya sat by the window. Edrix beside her. Both pretending to sleep. Both aware of every small movement.
Rory uploaded photos. Drew counted money. David slept peacefully. Eren waved goodbye to Barry the butterfly.
Josh meditated.
Baster composed.
Jay leaned against Keifer. Tired. Happy.
Jay: "Good camp."
Keifer: "Good everything."
Jay: "Good team."
Keifer: "Good partners."
Jay: "Good future husband."
Keifer: "Good future wife."
She smiled. Closed her eyes.
Behind them—
Ci-n's phone buzzed.
Percy: "DID THEY KISS ON THE BUS? MY SPIDER SENSE IS RINGING!"
Rakki grabbed the phone. "Percy, they're sleeping."
Percy: "SLEEPING TOGETHER? ROMANTIC?"
Rakki: "Sleeping. Adjacent. Not romantic."
Percy: "EVERYTHING IS ROMANTIC WITH JAYFER!"
Rakki hung up.
Jay laughed without opening her eyes.
Keifer smiled against her hair.