I had no idea when I finally fell asleep.
Maybe I was still smiling because of yesterday.
Or maybe my mind was still replaying his words.
"I remember seeing you during our farewell."
As usual...
I was sleeping peacefully.
Suddenly someone started shaking my shoulder.
"Wake up!"
I slowly opened one eye.
It was my best friend.
She had already gotten ready.
Her hair was tied neatly, and she was wearing a comfortable hoodie.
"You seriously sleep like the world has ended," she complained.
I looked at the clock.
"Oh no!"
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"Everyone has already reached the dining hall."
"Teachers."
"Our classmates."
"Even your senior."
"And..." she smiled teasingly,
"He is also waiting."
I immediately sat up.
"What?"
"Why didn't you wake me earlier?"
"I've been trying for the last fifteen minutes!"
Without wasting another second, I grabbed my towel and almost ran into the bathroom.
My best friend laughed from outside.
"Don't slip!"
Within twenty minutes I somehow managed to get ready.
"I deserve an award for getting ready this fast," I said while wearing my shoes.
She rolled her eyes.
"You deserve an alarm clock."
Both of us laughed and hurried downstairs.
---
The breakfast hall was already crowded.
Students were talking loudly.
Teachers were discussing the return schedule.
The smell of hot tea and freshly made breakfast filled the room.
The moment I entered...
my eyes automatically searched for only two people.
They were already sitting together.
As soon as they noticed us...
they smiled.
I immediately thought,
I'm dead.
They're definitely angry.
I made everyone wait.
I slowly walked toward them.
"I'm... sorry..."
"I woke up late."
Instead of complaining...
both of them simply smiled.
"It's okay," my senior replied.
He looked at me and asked,
"So..."
"Ready?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
He smiled.
"Good."
That was it.
No teasing.
No complaints.
No lectures.
I secretly sighed in relief.
---
We all sat around the same table.
Just as my senior was about to stand and bring breakfast...
he suddenly spoke first.
"You stay."
"I'll bring everything."
Even my senior looked surprised.
"You sure?"
He smiled.
"Yeah."
"You all waited for us yesterday."
"Today let me do something."
Before anyone could stop him...
he walked toward the serving counter.
I quietly watched him.
My best friend noticed.
Without saying anything...
she slowly kicked my foot under the table.
I immediately looked at her.
She was trying very hard not to laugh.
I glared at her.
She mouthed,
"See?"
I ignored her.
A few minutes later he returned carrying four trays.
"Careful," he laughed.
"The plates are hot."
He placed everyone's breakfast one by one.
My senior thanked him.
My best friend smiled.
And I...
just looked at him.
Why did such small things make my heart so happy?
Breakfast passed with endless conversations.
We talked about hostel life.
Funny professors.
Exams.
School memories.
Even the rain from yesterday.
At one point everyone laughed so hard that even the students sitting at the next table looked at us.
For a few moments...
life felt unbelievably simple.
---
Soon our teachers announced,
"Everyone, finish your breakfast."
"We'll leave in fifteen minutes."
After finishing breakfast, no one wanted to leave immediately.
Some students were clicking group pictures in front of the hotel.
Some were buying small souvenirs from nearby shops.
Teachers were reminding everyone not to forget their luggage.
I quietly stood near the entrance while watching everyone.
The cold morning breeze was making everything feel peaceful.
Suddenly my best friend came running toward me.
"Come quickly!"
"Everyone is taking a group photo."
Before I could react, she pulled my hand.
The photographer asked everyone to stand properly.
"Tall students at the back."
"Shorter ones in front."
Everyone kept changing places while laughing.
I somehow ended up standing between my senior and him.
For a second...
I didn't know where to look.
The photographer smiled.
"Everyone say cheese!"
Click.
One photo.
Then another.
Someone suddenly shouted,
"No serious faces!"
Everyone started laughing.
Without realizing it...
I also laughed loudly.
At that exact moment...
another picture was clicked.
Honestly...
I think that became my favorite picture of the trip.
Because for once...
I wasn't pretending to smile.
I was genuinely happy.
After the group photo, my best friend whispered,
"I'm stealing these pictures later."
I laughed.
"I know."
The cheerful atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
None of us wanted to leave.
Before getting into the bus...
I walked toward the lake one last time.
The morning sunlight reflected beautifully on the water.
The mountains looked completely different from yesterday.
I quietly took out my camera.
Click.
One picture.
Then another.
The trees.
The lake.
The cloudy sky.
Our hotel.
Our group.
I wanted to remember every little moment.
Because I somehow knew...
some memories only happen once.
---
Finally...
everyone started walking toward the buses.
I climbed inside first.
Our luggage was already loaded into the buses.
Teachers were checking attendance one last time.
The weather had become brighter after yesterday's rain.
The roads still looked slightly wet.
The smell of fresh soil was everywhere.
While walking, one of my classmates started singing.
Within seconds...
almost the whole group joined.
Some were clapping.
Some were recording videos.
Even a few teachers smiled after seeing everyone's excitement.
I quietly looked around.
Maybe this trip would end today.
But the memories...
would probably stay forever.
This time...
without thinking much...
I sat near the window.
My best friend entered right after me.
I naturally expected her to sit beside me.
Instead...
she looked at me...
smiled mischievously...
and walked straight to the seat behind.
I stared at her.
"What are you doing?"
She pretended not to hear me.
Then she winked.
I immediately understood her plan.
"No..."
"Don't you dare."
She only smiled.
Meanwhile...
both of them entered the bus.
They looked equally confused.
My senior looked at the empty seat beside me.
Then looked at my best friend sitting behind.
Before I could say anything...
my senior smiled.
"You sit here."
He looked at him.
"I'll manage somewhere else."
"No, are you sure?"
"Of course."
"We'll talk later."
He nodded.
Then quietly sat beside me.
My heart instantly started beating faster.
I looked outside the window.
Pretending everything was normal.
The bus slowly started moving.
Students began singing songs.
Someone connected a speaker.
Some played cards.
Some started taking selfies.
For the first few minutes...
neither of us spoke.
It wasn't awkward.
It was just...
comfortable silence.
The kind of silence where words aren't really necessary.
I looked outside the window.
Green mountains slowly disappeared behind us.
The lake became smaller and smaller until it was no longer visible.
"It feels sad leaving," he suddenly said.
I nodded.
"I know."
"I think beautiful places should never have goodbyes."
He smiled.
"That's a nice line."
I laughed.
"I didn't even realize I said that."
He looked outside again.
"You should write."
I turned toward him.
"What?"
"You describe things differently."
"I've noticed that since yesterday."
I smiled shyly.
"Maybe someday."
He nodded.
"I'll read it."
Those four words...
"I'll read it."
Made me happier than they probably should have.
The whole bus became noisy again.
Meanwhile...
Again our conversation started with the simplest topic.
"So..."
"What did you think about the trip?"
"It was beautiful," I answered honestly.
"I wish we could stay one more day."
He smiled.
"Same."
Then we started talking about yesterday.
The rain.
The lake.
The food.
The photographs.
School.
College.
Life.
Hours passed without either of us realizing.
At one point he suddenly laughed.
"You know..."
"If someone had told me during school that one day we'd travel together like this..."
"I would've never believed it."
I smiled.
"Me neither."
Though inside...
I wanted to say,
"I dreamed about it."
But of course...
I stayed quiet.
He looked out of the window for a few seconds.
Then looked back at me.
His smile slowly disappeared.
His expression became unusually serious.
"There is actually something..."
"I've been wanting to ask you since yesterday."
I looked at him.
"What is it?"
He took a deep breath.
Smiled nervously.
And said some words...
Some words...
that I never imagined I would hear from him.
The moment those words left his lips...
my entire world seemed to stop.
And suddenly...
the journey back to college didn't feel like an ordinary bus ride anymore... ✨