CHASE SEEMED TO BE exactly what was needed to brighten the mood. He started telling Milo and Luca about his unfortunate lack of a love life and the both of them seemed to just endure it, not looking invested enough to tell him to stop as they walked towards their tent. He was even helping carrying the stuff to set up another tent beside theirs, offering to take another bag from Milo to lighten the load. Mateo smiled happily at his friend, before glancing at Jay, who was drinking from his water bottle.
"So," he said," when are you going to make your move on Sahar?"
Jay choked on his water, coughing as he glanced at Mateo with wide eyes. "Jesus, never heard of tact?" He looked around then, relief flashing over his eyes when he saw Sahar walking in front of them, too busy chatting with Amir to have heard them. "What if she had heard us?"
"That would've been great," Mateo said," it seems like exactly the kind of push you'd need."
"Leave me alone, you lunatic, I don't want to be pushed to my death."
"Are you talking about your crush on Sahar?" Gabriela said as she started walking beside them.
"Did you tell her?" Jay accused Mateo, looking betrayed.
"There was no need," Gabriela said," it's glaringly obvious. You literally only stare at her."
Jay's lips parted, a few weak protests leaving it, but Mateo slapped him on the back with a bright smile, causing him to be choke again.
"As sharp as ever, Nena," he smiled," go and help this poor fool with me, will you? We are St Joseph's new power couple after all."
"Who decided that?" Jay frowned.
"It doesn't need to be decided," Mateo said," I just know."
Jay rolled his eyes, before a flush colored his cheeks. "I was actually planning on confessing this trip, but I don't know how yet."
"Tell her she's the most exquisite specimen you've ever seen," Mateo said," and then get on a knee."
"Do not do that," Gabriela said," just go and tell her you like her."
"That doesn't feel like enough," Jay said, running a hand stressedly through his hair," I don't know, I want to go and pluck flowers for her, but I know she'd be sad about the flowers dying, so I can't do that and -" He covered his face with his hands then and let out a quiet scream, before shaking his head.
"Did that help?" Mateo said.
"It actually did."
"Are you alright, Jay?" Sahar called out, eyes worried as she glanced at him.
"Yeah, no worries," Jay said, the words leaving his lips in a rush," I'm just fine, everything is chill over here, all good -"
Mateo elbowed him then and he stopped talking.
"You sure?" she said, gaze lingering on his. When he nodded, a soft laugh left her lips. "You really are funny, Jae-Soo."
He stopped in his tracks then, looking positively stunned at her use of his name. Mateo gave him a confused look, before his lips parted in an 'o' when he realized too.
"Ah, I'm sorry," Sahar said, a hand covering her lips," if you're uncomfortable I can say Jay, I just think your name is beautiful."
He breathed out and started walking again, his cheeks blooming like spring. "No, it's fine," he murmured," I don't mind when you say it."
"You mind when I do?" Mateo said, sounding offended.
"Let them have their moment, Mateo," Gabriela whispered at him, pulling him closer by his wrist.
"Sahar is right," Amir smiled, eyes flicking to her," Jae-Soo really is a nice name."
Jay frowned, gaze going from Amir to Sahar and back, and darkening. Before he could say anything, Mateo gave him a push in the back, causing him to stumble.
"Go and get your girl, dude," he whispered, before adding," not like Sahar isn't her own person, because she is, but -"
"I get it, shut up," Jay hissed back," and why do you keep hitting and shoving me? I feel assaulted."
"Go and cry about it to Sahar. Now off you are."
Gabriela gave Jay an approving nod and he sighed, before straightening his back and walking over towards Sahar. Looking at him making a move made Mateo feel like a proud father, but when he told Gabriela she just shook her head amusedly.
"Jay is too bitter to be your child," she said.
"Nothing wrong with bitter guys," Mateo grinned, slyly looking at her," or serious girls. It balances me out."
"Are you saying I'm the yin to your yang?" Gabriela said with a raised eyebrow," because that's cheesy, Mateo."
"Nothing wrong with being cheesy, Nena," he said, arm circling around her waist and pulling her closer to his side. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, leaning his cheek on her silken hair after. "You know you like the cheesy me."
"You're stupid," she said with an eyeroll," but yes, I do."
They arrived at the spot their tent was standing on then and Mateo walked over to Chase to help him set up the tent. On her right Jay, Amir and Sahar were the most awkward trio ever, though Sahar seemed oblivious to the tension between the boys as she talked avidly about human rights. To her left Milo and Luca were standing, both not looking keen on helping and bickering again. She wondered for a second which of the two would be worse and then chose the boys, not willing to get in whatever drama was going on with Sahar's newly formed love triangle.
"Hey," Milo said once he noticed her coming closer, pushing himself off the tree he was leaning against," are you coming to free me from this idiot?"
"I should be the one to be freed from you," Luca scoffed. He glanced Gabriela's way then, adding," though I don't think this crazy chick is any better."
"What?" Milo said, a slow smirk tugging at his lips, though the emotion didn't reach his eyes," you don't like your girls feisty?"
"Hell no, I like them sweet," Luca said.
"You mean compliant," Milo retorted.
At that he almost got tackled, but Gabriela stepped in between just in time. "Quit it, I'm not in the mood for this bullshit. Either you both get yourselves together and solve this childish squabble or you can go ahead and leave. I don't care either way."
Milo straightened his blazer, his smile catching the light off the golden rings on his fingers. "I should be careful, I might cut myself on that sharp tongue of yours." He glanced at Mateo then, a gleam of interest flashing in his eyes. "You are together with the hothead, right?"
"You can't call him a hothead," she said coolly, before adding," but yeah, I'm together with the hothead."
His words were velvet when he spoke again, a long drawl followed by a soft chuckle.
"It looks like this camp isn't going to be so boring in the end."
"Oh?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh," he repeated softly, gaze growing more intense as he let his eyes wander over her," there's nothing I love more than breaking up couples after all."
"That's a sick hobby," Luca frowned at him.
"You will never be happy because you can't show any true emotions," Milo smiled sweetly at him," we both have our flaws."
"And you honestly think that would work?" she said, not impressed at all.
"It may," he drawled," or it may not. Either way, I can sure as hell make him jealous." He leaned forward then, raven hair brushing her shoulder as he blocked her view of the others, whisper soft against her skin. "And nothing ruins a relationship like jealousy."
She placed a hand on his chest, voice as calm as ever when she spoke. "Step back right now or I will make you."
"Whoa," he chuckled, stepping away from her and raising his hands in a pacifying movement," no need for violence, let's just keep this at mind games."
"I'm not interested in playing," she said," go and find someone else to mess with."
"Oh, but I don't need to," he smiled, gaze wandering away from her.
She followed it, right at Mateo, who was looking at them with an undecipherable expression on his face.
"Look, it's working already."