The scene shifts.
One afternoon, everyone was getting ready to leave.
The sunlight was slowly fading, giving way to the night. The school was filled with parents and families gathered around the buses, where the students waited, ready for their final-year trip.
There's no turning back now… everything will be decided this week, Ray thought, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Still, he enjoyed being with his two best friends.
"I can't believe we're actually finishing school," Cris said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah… we won't get to see each other every day anymore," Tai added from behind, his tone slightly melancholic.
Ray looked at them with a smirk, a hint of irony in his eyes.
"Are you guys serious? We've known each other since kindergarten. Just because we're graduating doesn't mean we're never going to see each other again, idiots. Besides, we live in the same neighborhood… it's not like we're going that far."
The three of them laughed, letting years of shared memories fill the moment.
Ray hugged his parents goodbye, holding onto them a little longer than usual, as if trying to memorize the feeling. Then he got on the bus and took a seat in the back with Cris.
"You're really going to leave me sitting alone?" Tai complained, clearly annoyed. "I expected that from you, Ray… but from Cris?"
He looked at them in mock disappointment.
Cris stuck his tongue out and flipped him off, laughing.
The bus started moving, slowly pulling away from the school. Ray watched through the window as everything faded into the distance.
The hours passed with conversations, jokes, and memories. They talked about their lives, their friendship, everything they had been through… and everything that awaited them.
At one point, Cris glanced toward Hana, then looked back at Ray.
"So… are you going to do it?"
Ray met his gaze, determined.
"Yeah… I'm going to do it."
I didn't come this far for nothing… he thought.And if I don't do it now… I might never get another chance.
He let out a quiet sigh.
Leaning his head against the window, he let the mix of nostalgia, excitement, and anticipation wash over him. Slowly, his eyes began to close… and sleep took over.
At some point during the trip, Tai tried to draw on his face with a permanent marker.
"Don't even think about it," Cris whispered, stopping him again and again, barely holding back his laughter.
The bus kept moving toward the mountains.
Ray opened his eyes at the sound of a bell.
"Alright, everyone, get ready to get off," the teacher announced. "Don't forget your bags, and don't leave any trash behind… especially you."
He pointed straight at Tai.
Around them, everyone was pressed against the windows, staring in awe at the massive snow-covered mountains rising ahead.
"Sit down! Who said you could stand up?" the teacher tried to regain control.
But no one was listening.
Except Ray.
He wasn't looking at the mountains.
He was looking at Hana.
She stretched slightly after sleeping through the entire trip. To him, the mountains didn't matter. In truth… he was only there because of her.
"Everyone, off the bus!" the teacher called out.
Ray looked away, grabbed his things, and got off with his friends, who were clearly excited.
And somehow… he felt it too.
The moment they stepped outside, Cris reacted first.
"WHAT THE HELL?! ARE THOSE OUR CABINS?!"
Ray and Tai looked up.
In front of them stood a set of beautiful cabins, surrounded by mountains. Behind them, a crystal-clear river reflected the landscape like a mirror.
Tai let out a small laugh.
"Now I get why this trip was so expensive… and that's with the 50% discount."
The three of them headed into their room. As they unpacked their things, the space quickly filled with jokes and laughter.
"Hey, remember that preschool trip to the river?" Cris said. "That's when Ray broke his nose diving into shallow water."
Tai burst out laughing.
"Shut up," Ray replied, touching his nose. "In my defense, it looked deep…"
The laughter continued.
Ray tried to stay in the moment… but deep down, he knew there was something important he had to face.
He didn't want to think about it just yet.
So he simply smiled and went along with the conversation.
They had just arrived.
And he still had six full days ahead of him.
He promised himself he would enjoy every second of his last school trip.
But… he wasn't ready for what that trip had in store for him.