The final morning at the hotel arrived much too quickly. Sunlight spilled through the curtains. The excitement of the previous night had faded into something quieter.
Something warmer. Something that felt dangerously close to happiness.
Jarnell stood by the balcony window, looking out over the hotel grounds. Below, staff moved luggage carts across the driveway.
Guests checked out. Cars came and went.
Life moving forward. Behind him, Jayden was finishing packing.
Far too relaxed and too pleased with himself.
"He was staring into the distance again," Jayden said.
"I'm thinking_"
"Dangerous."
Jarnell rolled his eyes.
"You say that every time."
"Because it's true."
Jarnell turned.
Only to find Jayden smiling at him again.
That smile was becoming a problem.
The entire group gathered for breakfast.
Jonas,Calvin,Alvin,Brian,Jayden and Jarnell.
Plus several younger relatives who kept running around the dining hall. Brian watched Jarnell for approximately thirty seconds before speaking.
"So...!!?"
"No."
"I haven't asked anything."
"But your eyes say something already."
Brian looked proud.
"That means you know what I was going to ask." Calvin nearly laughed into his coffee.
Alvin shook his head.
"You two aren't even trying to be subtle anymore." Jarnell looked down at his plate.
Jayden looked completely unbothered.
Which somehow made everything worse.
After checkout, everyone gathered outside.
Luggage, Cars and Goodbyes.
The trip was officially over. Or at least it should have been. Jarnell walked toward Jonas and Calvin's car. His bag over one shoulder. Ready to leave. Then Jonas frowned.
"Oh."
"What?"
"There isn't enough room." Jarnell blinked.
"There was enough room when we came."
Calvin looked at the back seat. "Not anymore."
"There are literally empty seats."
"Interesting observation."
Jarnell narrowed his eyes. Across the parking lot, Brian suddenly shouted—
"Same problem over here!" Alvin nodded dramatically. "Terrible situation."
"There are three empty seats in your car," Jarnell pointed out. "Tragic, isn't it?"
Silence.
Jarnell slowly looked at all four of them.
Then at Jayden who was standing beside his car trying very hard not to laugh.
You planned this?. "No," Brian replied immediately. "Yes, you did."
We would never._ "How would i even believe you when you are already doing it!!!?."
Jonas folded his arms. "We are deeply offended."
Calvin nodded. "Deeply."
Jayden finally opened the passenger door.
"Get in." Jarnell stared.
Then looked at his friends again. All four were smiling. Every single one.
"…I hate all of you."
"Love you too!" Brian shouted.
And with a long suffering sigh— Jarnell got into Jayden's car. Exactly as everyone had intended.
The road stretched ahead quietly with music played softly through the speakers.
For the first few minutes— neither of them spoke. Then Jayden glanced sideways.
"You know they're never going to let this go."
"I know."
"They're probably celebrating right now."
"They definitely are." Jayden laughed.
The sound filled the car comfortably.
It wasn't awkward, not forced. Just familiar.
Jarnell looked out the window.
Then quietly admitted—
"I had fun." Jayden nearly missed the turn.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"No, I need confirmation." Jarnell sighed.
"The trip was nice." Jayden smiled so widely Jarnell immediately regretted speaking.
Campus felt strangely ordinary after the hotel. Students walking between buildings.
Friends chatting. Classes continuing.
Jarnell and Jayden walked together with Jayden holding both his and Jarnell's bags.
Jonas spotted them first and then Calvin.
Then Alvin and Brian.
"All together now," Brian announced dramatically. Jarnell immediately turned around.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Whatever you're about to do." Brian grinned.
"Good morning, lovebirds." Calvin laughed.
Alvin looked impressed. Jayden simply smiled. Which made Jarnell's life significantly harder.
Later that afternoon, Jarnell found himself beneath the large tree behind the music building. His usual quiet place. The place where nobody bothered him. Or at least—
nobody except one person.
Jayden appeared a few minutes later.
As expected.
"You always find me." You always come here.
"That's not the same thing." It is if I know where to look.
Jarnell hated how much sense that made.
Jayden sat beside him. Shoulders brushing lightly. Neither moving away. The silence felt comfortable now. A long way from where they started.
"You know," Jayden said quietly, "you've changed."
Jarnell looked over.
"And do have you." Jayden smiled.
"Good." For a moment neither spoke. The afternoon breeze moved softly through the trees. Students passed in the distance.
Then Jarnell quietly said—
"…I'm glad I came." Jayden looked at him.
Really looked at him.
"The trip?"
A pause.
Then Jarnell shook his head slightly.
"No."
Another pause.
And this time— Jayden understood.
Across campus, Jonas, Calvin, Alvin, and Brian watched from a distance.
Brian smiled first. "Took them long enough."
"Very long," Alvin agreed.
Jonas folded his arms. "At least they got there."
Calvin nodded. "Finally."
Under the tree, Jarnell leaned slightly closer to Jayden. Though not enough for anyone else to notice. Just enough for Jayden to feel it.
And for the first time since they met—
there was nothing left to hide.
Because somewhere between friendship, jealousy, laughter, late-night conversations, and stolen moments— they had become something real. Something worth choosing.
Something worth keeping.