The Coffee Disaster
Saturday Afternoon...
The university bus finally arrived at Green Valley Leadership Camp.
The place looked beautiful.
Tall pine trees surrounded the cabins.
A peaceful lake reflected the bright blue sky.
Fresh mountain air filled everyone's lungs.
Emily smiled.
"Okay..."
"I take back everything I said."
"This place is gorgeous."
Ryan looked around.
"It is."
Professor Wilson gathered all the students.
"Welcome to Green Valley Camp."
"For the next two days, you won't just work on your business projects."
"You'll also compete in different teamwork challenges."
"The winning team will receive bonus points."
Everyone cheered.
Jessica didn't.
She was too busy staring at Emily.
...
Later...
Professor Wilson announced the first challenge.
"The Forest Treasure Hunt."
Each team would receive a map.
Hidden around the forest were five wooden tokens.
The first team to collect all five would win.
Ryan smiled.
"This sounds easy."
Emily laughed.
"You just jinxed us."
...
The challenge began.
Ryan and Emily quickly found their first two tokens.
"Only three more," Emily said excitedly.
Suddenly...
Jessica quietly pulled one of her teammates aside.
"I have a better idea."
She smiled coldly.
"If they can't find the tokens..."
"They can't win."
Her teammate looked nervous.
"What are you going to do?"
Jessica held up Ryan and Emily's map.
She had secretly switched it while everyone was distracted.
"The wrong map will lead them into the old forest."
Her friend gasped.
"But that's dangerous."
Jessica shrugged.
"They'll find their way back eventually."
...
Meanwhile...
Emily frowned.
"This path doesn't look right."
Ryan checked the map again.
"It says the next token is near the waterfall."
"But..."
"There isn't any waterfall."
The deeper they walked...
The quieter the forest became.
Even the birds had stopped singing.
Emily looked around nervously.
"I think..."
"We're lost."
Ryan finally sighed.
"I think you're right."
Emily forced a smile.
"Well..."
"This is officially our worst date."
Ryan laughed.
"It's not a date."
Emily looked away.
"...Right."
For some reason...
Both of them sounded disappointed.
...
A few minutes later...
Dark clouds covered the sky.
Thunder echoed through the mountains.
Then...
Rain began to fall.
Within seconds...
It turned into a heavy storm.
Emily shivered.
"This wasn't in the weather forecast."
Ryan quickly took off his jacket.
"Here."
Emily shook her head.
"You'll get cold."
Ryan gently placed it over her shoulders anyway.
"I'll survive."
Emily looked at him.
"You always act tough."
Ryan smiled.
"And you always pretend you're not scared."
She looked away.
"I wasn't scared..."
"...Until now."
Ryan noticed her trembling hands.
Without saying a word...
He reached for her hand.
"It's okay."
"We'll get back."
Emily looked at their hands.
Neither of them pulled away.
Somehow...
Holding his hand made everything feel safe.
...
After almost an hour...
They finally found an old wooden cabin.
"It looks abandoned," Emily whispered.
Ryan carefully opened the door.
The cabin was empty.
At least it was dry.
Rain hammered against the roof.
Lightning flashed outside.
Emily quietly sat beside the fireplace.
"I guess we're trapped."
Ryan nodded.
"For a while."
Silence filled the cabin.
Not awkward.
Comfortable.
Emily looked at Ryan.
"Can I ask you something?"
Ryan smiled.
"You usually do."
She laughed softly.
"Why did you really refuse Jessica?"
Ryan looked at the rain outside.
"My whole life..."
"Everyone made decisions for me."
"My future."
"My career."
"My friends."
"My relationships."
He took a deep breath.
"I wanted one choice..."
"That belonged to me."
Emily's heart skipped a beat.
She wanted to ask...
"Was that choice me?"
But she couldn't.
Instead she smiled.
"I think..."
"You made the right choice."
Ryan looked at her.
"So do I."
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them looked away.
For one quiet moment...
The world outside disappeared.
Then—
Crash!
A loud sound came from outside the cabin.
Emily jumped in fear.
Without thinking...
She wrapped both arms around Ryan.
Ryan instinctively held her close.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them wanted to.
A few seconds later...
Emily realized what she had done.
She quickly stepped back.
"I... I'm sorry."
Ryan smiled gently.
"You don't have to be."
Their hearts were beating much faster than before.
Not because of the storm.
Because of each other.
...
Back at the camp...
Professor Wilson counted the teams.
His smile disappeared.
"Where are Ryan and Emily?"
Jessica pretended to look surprised.
"I thought they were ahead of everyone."
Professor Wilson frowned.
"They've been missing for over an hour."
His expression became serious.
"Everyone."
"Start searching the forest."
Jessica's confident smile slowly disappeared.
She had only wanted to ruin the competition.
She had never expected things to go this far.
And somewhere in the middle of the storm...
Two fake lovers were slowly falling in love...
Without saying a single word.
