Chapter 17 — The Trip Decision

  The morning drizzle still clung to the streets, painting the pavements in streaks of silver. Puddles shimmered in the muted sunlight that pierced the clouds in soft, hesitant rays, reflecting the world upside down—buildings bending, skies trapped beneath careless footsteps. The smell of wet asphalt mingled with the faint scent of earth, fresh from last night’s downpour, and with every step, the soft squelch of shoes against damp ground punctuated the quiet rhythm of the morning.

  It was the kind of morning that didn’t rush anyone.

  The kind that asked you to walk slower, breathe deeper, notice more.

  Luca stepped into the classroom with Anaya by his side, the wooden floor beneath their shoes squeaking faintly, as if the room itself had noticed them. The sound lingered for a second longer than usual, then faded into the familiar hum of early chatter. They moved in comfortable rhythm with each other, close enough that their shoulders almost brushed, hands occasionally grazing the straps of their bags without either of them reacting to it.

  It was unintentional.

  Which somehow made it mean more.

  Their voices stayed soft, but carried fragments of conversation—unfinished thoughts, shared complaints, half-smiles exchanged between sentences.

  “…I don’t get why they even made that question so confusing,” Anaya murmured, adjusting the strap of her bag. A lock of hair slipped loose across her forehead, still damp from the drizzle outside, clinging slightly to her skin.

  Luca glanced at her, amused. “It made sense,” he said, then paused deliberately.

  “…just not to us.”

  She shot him a look—half offended, half entertained.

  He smiled anyway. That easy, unguarded smile that came when he wasn’t thinking about anything except the moment standing right in front of him.

  They reached their usual spot—

  —and froze.

  Not strangers.

  Not strangers at all.

  Noah sat sprawled across the benches like he’d claimed them hours ago, one leg stretched lazily toward the aisle, posture loud even in stillness. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, already prepared, already waiting. Beside him, Anvi perched lightly, posture innocent, eyes bright with mischief. The way they avoided eye contact for a split second said everything.

  This wasn’t coincidence.

  This was premeditated.

  Before Luca could open his mouth—before Anaya could even react—Noah straightened dramatically, cleared his throat with exaggerated precision, and tilted his head in that oddly specific way.

  The same way Luca did when staring at rain sliding down windows.

  “The rain is so calm today,” Noah said, voice low, soft, almost reverent.

  Anvi didn’t miss a beat. She followed instantly, mimicking Anaya’s gentle tone with such accuracy that it bordered on unsettling. “Yeah… it absolutely is.”

  For a heartbeat, time hesitated.

  The classroom went quiet—not silent, but suspended. As if the air itself needed a moment to process what had just happened.

  Then laughter broke free.

  Not polite.

  Not restrained.

  It spilled out like rain overflowing gutters—sharp, sudden, unstoppable.

  “Don’t—don’t ever act like us again!” Anaya gasped, clutching her stomach, laughter stealing her breath, tears already gathering at the corners of her eyes.

  Luca laughed too, harder than he expected to, the sound escaping before he could control it. Something about seeing himself reflected so accurately—so ridiculously—felt both embarrassing and strangely endearing.

  Noah and Anvi collapsed onto the floor, laughter tearing through them in unison, echoing wildly against the high ceiling. The sound bounced off the walls, mixing with the faint scent of wet raincoats left near the doorway and the dusty tang of chalk. It created a strangely comforting, homely smell—one that only existed on mornings like this.

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  “Wasn’t it a bit too realistic, Anvi?” Noah wheezed, pressing a hand to his chest as if trying to survive the moment.

  “A bit?” Anvi managed between laughs. “Way too much.”

  Luca wiped at his eyes, breathing unevenly, his chest warm with the kind of laughter that left you lighter afterward.

  “By the way…” he said, once he could finally speak again, “…why are you guys sitting at our place?”

  Noah straightened immediately, composure snapping back into place like a badly worn costume. Mock seriousness settled across his face, chin lifted just slightly.

  “For the trip.”

  For half a second, the words didn’t register.

  Then laughter exploded again—louder, messier, echoing across the room with renewed force.

  “…Which trip?” Luca finally asked, voice breathless, leaning forward slightly.

  Anvi sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes like the answer had been obvious all along. “I told you, Noah. They’d forget.”

  “You guys are unbelievable,” Noah said, shaking his head with exaggerated disappointment. “Remember the café? We decided we’d go on a trip this weekend.” He raised a finger for dramatic emphasis. “It’s Friday. School’s off tomorrow. And the day after.”

  Anaya snapped her fingers, eyes lighting up. “Oh! Right. I remembered!”

  “Same,” Luca said quickly, a grin tugging at his lips. “So… where shall we go?”

  Noah rose halfway from the bench, arms spreading wide, face tilting toward the ceiling as if the scenery itself would descend into his imagination. “I want to go somewhere where peace touches my soul,” he declared. “Where the air feels pure, like it’s coming straight from heaven—”

  “Hey, Mr. Poet,” Anaya cut in, pointing at him with raised brows. “Come back to the floor. Stop floating.”

  Luca glanced at the clock above the chalkboard. The second hand ticked louder than usual, each sharp movement reminding him the lecture would begin at any moment now. Time, for once, felt impatient.

  “Class is about to start,” he said. “You guys should go. We’ll decide properly during recess.”

  Noah’s face crumpled into exaggerated despair, lips trembling dramatically.

  “Ugh… okay. But promise we meet?”

  Anvi grabbed him by the back of the collar and dragged him away like a mischievous trolley, laughter trailing behind them just as the teacher stepped into the classroom, presence filling the room and silencing the echoes of joy.

  ---

  The lectures began, dragging on in their familiar cadence. Chalk scratched against the board. Pencils whispered across pages. Chairs shifted. The room smelled faintly of damp uniforms and warm dust. Outside, rain tapped softly against the glass, as if trying to be part of the lesson.

  In a quiet moment, Anaya leaned closer, her voice barely louder than the rain. “Hey… do you actually have a place in mind?”

  “I do,” Luca murmured. “But you might not like it.”

  She turned slightly, eyes bright, curious. “Tell me anyway.”

  He glanced at the teacher, whose voice droned on about algebraic equations. “Recess.”

  She pouted, resting her chin on her hand. “If we get caught, I’m blaming you.”

  Luca smiled to himself.

  Finally, the bell rang—sharp, clear, and almost relieving.

  Recess.

  For a brief second, the classroom froze. Then chaos followed.

  Noah was the first to move.

  He shot up from his seat and practically ran toward Luca, his coat tails flapping behind him like he was escaping a crime scene. His hair was damp, sticking messily to his forehead, and his breath came out faster than necessary.

  “My bro!” he exclaimed, grabbing Luca’s arm dramatically. “This evil girl trapped me the entire lecture! I swear—she had my collar. I couldn’t move!”

  Luca barely reacted, just letting out a quiet laugh as he leaned slightly toward Anvi.

  “Next time,” he whispered, lips curling faintly, “hold him even tighter.”

  Anvi didn’t hesitate for a second.

  “Okay, boss,” she replied with a grin that made Noah instantly suspicious.

  Noah froze mid-gesture. Slowly, exaggeratedly, he turned toward them.

  “You stabbed me in the back,” he gasped, clutching his chest.

  A pause.

  “Wait… no.” He squinted. “In front of me!”

  Anaya, who had been calmly packing her bag, finally looked up. She rolled her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips gave her away.

  “You’ve already wasted five minutes of recess,” she said. “Maybe try acting lessons next time.”

  The four of them stepped into the corridor together, shoes echoing softly against the floor as students flooded out around them. The cafeteria grew louder with every step—voices overlapping, chairs scraping, laughter bouncing off walls.

  As they entered, warmth wrapped around them instantly.

  The smell of baked bread hung in the air, mixed with sweet tea and something faintly metallic—the scent rain always leaves behind. It clung to jackets, hair, and skin, subtle but unmistakable.

  “So…” Anvi said, craning her neck as she scanned the crowded tables. “Any place where we won’t feel like sardines?”

  “Luca knows,” Anaya said, leaning slightly toward him. “He always does. He just enjoys keeping secrets.”

  Noah leaned in too, hands clasped dramatically.

  “C’mon, bro. Don’t gatekeep peace.”

  Luca sighed, slow and thoughtful, as if weighing something deeper than just a name. His eyes flicked briefly toward the window, where rain streaked faint lines down the glass.

  “Fine,” he said at last. “It’s called… Aurenfall.”

  The word lingered.

  Anaya’s expression softened immediately.

  “Wow,” she whispered. “That sounds… beautiful.”

  “It is,” Luca replied quietly. “Perfect for someone like me.”

  He paused, fingers tightening slightly around his cup.

  “You’ll find peace there.”

  Noah raised an eyebrow. “Okay, poetic guy. But what does it actually mean?”

  “I don’t know,” Luca admitted. “Locals say it’s where the rain speaks. Where it whispers. Where it guides the lost.”

  Anvi’s eyes widened, reflecting the cafeteria lights.

  “Whoa…”

  “So calm,” Anaya murmured. “Just hearing about it feels… quiet.”

  Noah’s lips curved into a grin.

  “Then it’s settled. We go. Bus or train?”

  “Train,” Luca said. “Tonight. 9 p.m. Straight route. We’ll reach around 5 a.m.”

  Anvi nodded approvingly. “Perfect. Just don’t overpack.”

  Luca pointed instantly at Anaya.

  “You first.”

  She sighed, hands raised in surrender.

  “Fine. I won’t overpack.”

  A beat.

  “…No promises.”

  ---

  The rest of the day dragged on.

  Each lecture felt longer than the last, minutes stretching endlessly. Pens scratched pages. Teachers spoke. But none of it really reached them.

  Their minds were already somewhere else.

  Rain tapping against windows.

  Finally, the last bell rang.

  Outside, the rain had softened into a mist, blurring the edges of buildings and people alike.

  “Pack wisely!” Noah called out, wagging his finger like a concerned parent.

  “We remember,” Anaya replied, amused.

  “Anvi,” Luca said, half-serious, “take him home. And make sure he survives.”

  “Yes, boss,” she laughed.

  “And make sure he’s on time,” Anaya added.

  ---

  The station buzzed with life.

  Rain pattered steadily against the roof. Coffee machines hissed and groaned. Steam curled into the air from paper cups, mixing with the earthy scent of wet roads drifting in from outside.

  Luca sat on a cold metal bench, bag resting at his feet. Anaya sat beside him, jacket damp at the sleeves, completely unbothered.

  “I knew they’d be late,” Luca murmured, glancing at his watch.

  “Of course,” Anaya replied. “If it’s Noah and Anvi, being late is tradition.”

  Through the mist, two figures emerged—slightly breathless, eyes bright with excitement.

  “I’m exhausted,” Noah announced immediately.

  “The trip hasn’t even started,” Anvi teased. “Maybe we should leave him here.”

  “No chance,” Noah protested. “Look how energetic I am.”

  Laughter followed them as the train screeched into the station.

  Tickets were checked. Bags adjusted. Seats claimed.

  Luca placed his bag down and pulled out a steel bottle. Steam escaped as he poured hot tea into four cups, warmth spreading instantly.

  “Cheers,” he said softly.

  “Cheers.”

  Outside, rain traced silver lines across the windows as the train slowly began to move.

  The night stretched ahead—long, uncertain, and alive.

  And somewhere between laughter, silence, and the steady rhythm of rain, their journey truly began.