That night at home, Levi was his usual self—light touches, arms around her waist in the kitchen, a kiss on her shoulder as she scrolled on her phone. But Havana wasn't responding the way she normally did. She didn't pull away, but she didn't lean in either. Her laugh felt muted, her mood harder to read.
Levi noticed.
Later, when they were in bed and he reached for her again—soft hands tracing her arm, lips grazing her neck—she shifted slightly away. Not with annoyance, but with quiet resistance.
He didn't push it. Instead, he lay beside her in silence, puzzled, watching the ceiling while she pretended to fall asleep.
By morning, after brushing his teeth and standing in the doorway with a towel around his waist, he finally asked.
"Havana… did I do something?"
She looked at him from the bed, unsure for a second whether to say it. Then she did.
"I saw you yesterday. Talking with that girl."
"Amira?" he asked, brows lifting slightly. When she didn't respond, he sat down beside her. "She's my assigned partner for the field trip. I didn't choose her—faculty did."
Havana looked down at her hands. "She's… beautiful."
"She is," Levi admitted honestly. "But I wasn't flirting. I was trying to be friendly. We're going to be paired for the trip, and I didn't want things to be awkward between us. That's all it was. I swear."
He reached for her hand. "You really think I'd do anything stupid like that after everything between us?"
She looked at him, still unsure, still quiet. But his tone was steady. There wasn't a hint of guilt—just clarity.
"If it bothers you," he added, "I'll keep my distance. But I need you to trust me, Vana."
A pause. Then a small nod.
And for the first time that morning, she leaned into him. Just slightly. But it was enough.
The morning light filtered through the curtains, painting warm stripes across the bed. Havana stirred first, blinking slowly as she adjusted to the soft brightness. Levi was still asleep, one arm flung across the pillow where she used to be.
She slipped out of bed quietly, tied her satin robe, and padded into the bathroom. The sound of running water and her soft humming soon drifted back into the room.
Levi woke to the smell of mint and the faint splash of water. He stretched, groaning as he sat up and ran a hand through his messy hair. He walked into the bathroom and leaned against the doorway, watching her brush her teeth.
"Morning, sunshine," he said, voice still husky with sleep.
She glanced at him in the mirror, gave a slight smile, and nodded. "Morning."
They got ready in silence. Havana made coffee while Levi packed his bag for class. They moved around each other with practiced ease—pouring water into the kettle, passing a shirt without asking, brushing shoulders as they reached for the same mug.
But there was a quiet distance in it all.
They ate a light breakfast—bread and scrambled eggs, shared on the couch. Havana scrolled through her emails.
It wasn't cold between them. Just careful. Like they were trying not to step on something fragile.
When it was time to leave, they left together—side by side, bags slung over shoulders, sharing the elevator down, the street noises wrapping around them as they walked toward campus.
And though they were close, neither reached for the other's hand.
Back at Levi's school, the atmosphere buzzed with energy as the details of the field trip were finally laid out. Students gathered in the main hall, chatting and shifting in their seats as the supervising lecturer took the stage.
Levi sat near the middle, arms folded, Amira at his side—smiling, leaning in every so often to whisper a comment.
"The field trip will be a week-long outdoor camp," the lecturer announced, "meant to help you freshmen build camaraderie, sharpen observation skills, and adapt to real-world field conditions. Expect hikes, group tasks, bonfire sessions."
There were a few gasps and murmurs in the crowd. A week. Outdoors. Together.
Levi blinked. He hadn't expected it to be this immersive.
Beside him, Amira lit up. "Sounds fun," she said, nudging his shoulder. "You ready for the wilderness, partner?"
Levi chuckled politely. "Guess we'll see."
As the lecturer read out the paired groups, Levi and Amira's names came up again. They'd be assisting in cooking duties, and co-leading their smaller assigned group.
Levi nodded, scribbling notes, but part of him already dreaded the awkwardness it might bring. He knew Havana would have thoughts about this—rightfully so.
He made a mental note to talk to her that evening. To explain everything clearly before it snowballed into more misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, Amira sat back in her chair, legs crossed, clearly enjoying the setup.
the briefing continued, the lecturer clapped his hands to regain attention.
"Each participant will be provided with essential gear for the trip," he announced. "This includes individual tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, mess kits, and basic survival tools. You'll only need to bring personal items like clothing, toiletries, and any necessary medication."
A wave of quiet relief spread through the hall—camping was one thing, but at least no one had to share a tent.
Levi relaxed a little in his seat, glad to hear that part. The thought of being in close quarters with Amira for a full week had felt uncomfortable—even if she hadn't done anything overt yet, her energy toward him was clearly shifting.
"Solo tents, huh?" Amira said beside him, giving him a side glance. "I was hoping we'd get stuck together, partner."
Levi chuckled lightly but didn't respond, keeping his eyes on the lecturer.
After the final slide faded from the projector screen, the lecturer stepped forward once more, his voice steady over the settling noise of the room.
"That concludes the briefing. The field trip begins next week—Monday morning, sharp. You all have three days to prepare. Gears will be distributed this weekend, so make sure you're available for pickup. No latecomers."
The room buzzed again—excitement, nerves, and a few sighs from students already dreading a week without Wi-Fi or comfort.