The announcement came at the worst—or maybe best—possible time.
Our homeroom teacher clapped her hands to get everyone's attention, a bright smile already on her face. "Alright, class. As part of this term's activities, we'll be going on a three-day educational trip."
The room exploded with noise.
"Before you get too excited," she added, raising her voice, "you'll be staying in shared dorms. And no, you don't get to choose."
Groans mixed with laughter.
"I'll be picking the groups randomly," she emphasized, shaking a small box filled with folded slips of paper. "So don't complain to me."
My stomach twisted slightly. Random never felt random.
She reached into the box and started reading names.
"Clavin."
He raised a hand lazily. "Present."
"Xavier."
Xavier looked up. "Here."
"Hinata."
I froze for half a second before answering. "Yes."
Then—
"Aiden. Amira. Mira."
The class immediately reacted with teasing sounds and whispers.
The teacher nodded, checking her list. "Alright. That makes one dorm group of six."
Six?
I felt Calvin glance at me, his expression unreadable but curious. Xavier stayed calm, though I noticed his shoulders tense just a little.
The teacher continued, completely unbothered. "Now, the dorms are split into three rooms, two students per room. Since this is mixed, you'll decide among yourselves how to divide—appropriately."
Aiden didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, resting a hand lightly on Amira's shoulder. "We'll share."
Amira nodded, smiling. "If that's okay."
The teacher waved it off. "That's fine."
That left four of us.
Clavin looked around once, then grinned. "Guess that leaves me, Mira, Xavier, and Hinata."
Mira laughed. "I don't mind sharing with you."
"Perfect," Clavin said dramatically. "I'm charming and tidy."
That left—
Silence.
Xavier glanced at me, unreadable. I looked back, heart suddenly loud in my chest.
"I'll stay with Hinata," he said calmly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
My breath caught.
The teacher nodded again, already moving on. "Good. That's settled."
Just like that.
Random.
Unplanned.
Unavoidable.
As the bell rang, Calvin leaned over and whispered, "Wow. Random really likes you two."
I groaned softly. "It's not like that."
Xavier, walking beside me, said quietly, "It's okay if it's awkward."
I shook my head. "It's not awkward. Just… unexpected."
He smiled—a small one, just for me. "Then we'll handle it."
And somehow, I believed him.
Because out of all the people in that room, chance—or fate—had placed me right beside Xavier.
And I couldn't stop wondering what this trip was about to change.