His Idea

Derek awoke to the warm embrace of sunlight on his face, signaling the dawn of a new day. The events of the previous night had led to an unexpected slumber at his desk as he diligently typed down his plans for the upcoming summer break. Stirring from his sleep-induced haze, he noticed Jasper, his friend, an enthusiast of anime, sprawled across his own desk, likely having succumbed to the charms of a late-night anime marathon.

Derek gently shook Jasper, awakening him from his deep sleep and asked him to get ready for class since it was almost time. And then he made his way to the bathroom for a bath.

Derek's plan for the day centered around meeting Melissa and sharing the summer break plans he had made the previous night. His heart brimmed with excitement at the prospect of this vacation, viewing it as another stride toward capturing Melissa's affection and igniting a deeper connection between them.

Upon arriving in class, Derek spotted Melissa engrossed in a conversation with Jessica at her desk. Undeterred, he made his way through the rows of desks until he reached her. With a warm smile, he politely inquired, "Hey, do you happen to have a few spare moments? I'd love to share the summer break plans I have drafted out."

Melissa's eyes met his, and a pleasant smile graced her lips as she replied, "Yeah, sure, Derek."

She turned towards Jessica and confided, "I forgot to mention this to you, but Derek has put together some exciting plans for this upcoming summer break. You should definitely join us; it'll be a lot more fun if you're there."

Jessica's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as she responded, "Absolutely! I was already planning to spend the summer break with you, so count me in!"

Both Melissa and Jessica turned their attention toward Derek, eagerly anticipating the details of his summer break plans.

Derek was a little nervous because he wasn't sure if they'd like his ideas.

"Well, I've been considering a trip to the beach. How about Blue Bay? It's relatively close by, and we can easily rent a place near the beach for our stay. What do you both think?" He asked.

"I own a retreat house in the Blue bay, we can stay over in my place," Melissa said casually.

Melissa's casual revelation left both Jessica and Derek in awe. It seemed Melissa's family background held some surprises, including owning a retreat house in Blue Bay. She and her parents would visit it during summer when she was a kid.

Derek got another idea. Her connection to the beach and the memories she shared from her childhood visits added an exciting dimension to his summer break plans.

"Is it possible for us to stay in your place then?" Derek asked Melissa.

Melissa smiled warmly and replied, "Yes, absolutely! That would be wonderful."

Derek's face lit up with excitement as he said, "Fantastic! We can create new memories in your beach house."

Melissa smiled and nodded in agreement, appreciating Derek's enthusiasm.

"I'll inform my parents about our stay," she said.

"Alright, sounds good. I'll keep you posted on the travel plans," Derek responded before heading off, leaving them both excitedly anticipating their upcoming summer vacation.

As soon as Derek left , Jessica playfully teased Melissa, saying, "I think he likes you."

Melissa chuckled and shook her head, replying, "It's nothing like that, Jess, we are just good friends."

Jessica continued to playfully tease Melissa, "Friends, huh? But the way he looks at you is different. I don't think he sees you just as a 'friend', not forgetting all the efforts he's been putting, the weekend outing, then now this summer vacation plans."

Melissa's expression shifted slightly as she responded, "Well, I hope not, because I actually like his friend, and if he does have feelings for me, things could get quite complicated!"

Melissa hoped that Derek wasn't in love with her because she was in love with Jasper- his best friend. She would be stuck in a triangle if that happened. 

She was also fearful that it could strain the friendship between the two guys if things took an unexpected turn in that direction.

Little did she know that Derek was head over heels for her and that the very thing she feared had already unfolded beneath the surface, waiting to reveal itself. The dynamics of her relationships were about to take an unexpected turn, and she was on the brink of discovering the truth.

 "Let's hope things don't take that complicated turn." Jessica said.

Attempting to lighten the mood she then asked with a playful tone, "Do you think your man will come for this vacation?"

Melissa sighed but with a hint of optimism, she replied, "I hope he does. I agreed to go, hoping he might join. It would be the best summer break of my life if he comes." 

Melissa was filled with a sense of excitement for the upcoming summer break for the first time. In previous years, she had spent it at her cousin's place, and while they explored different destinations, it hadn't brought her the same joy. However, the idea of revisiting a place from her childhood, alongside new friends, ignited a genuine eagerness within her. She was eager to create fresh memories in a familiar place, hoping that this summer would be truly unforgettable. 

There were just a few days remaining for the summer break to start.

Melissa sat down to have her breakfast. Her father inquired," sweetheart do you not have any plans for this summer? Your cousins have been asking me about whether you'd join them this year too."

Melissa's eyes widened as realization struck her, and she exclaimed, "I completely forgot to tell you both!" She hurriedly continued, "I've actually made plans with my friends to visit Blue Bay this summer." 

Melissa's parents were taken aback and overjoyed. It marked the first occasion when Melissa had shared her plans to go out and spend time with her friends for summer break. 

 "To Blue Bay!?" Her mother exclaimed in excitement."It's been ages since we've been there. It's the perfect place, sweetie. Have a fantastic time!" She added.

Melissa's father nodded in agreement and said, " I'll inform the caretakers and have them clean up and prepare the place for your friends to stay." 

Melissa expressed her gratitude with a warm smile, saying, "Thank you so much, Mom and Dad. I love you both so much." It was a moment of appreciation for her parents' love and support.

Her mother offered a loving reminder, saying, "Make new memories there with your friends, and don't forget to share all the details with us." Melissa's parents were clearly excited for her and looked forward to hearing about her experiences.

She kissed them both on their cheeks and left for class. 

Derek was waiting for Melissa to arrive at the classroom eager to discuss the travel plans with her.

She greeted him with a warm "Good morning!"

Derek replied with enthusiasm, returning the greeting, "Good morning!"

Derek followed Melissa to her table and initiated the conversation, saying, "Since the summer break is next week, should we discuss the travel plans?"

Melissa agreed, responding, "Sure, why not," and tapped Jessica's shoulder, who was sitting in front of her, inviting her to join the discussion.

Derek suggested, "Well, I was thinking maybe we should take the train. Train rides are comfortable compared to car rides."

Jessica quickly agreed, saying, "I agree." 

Melissa inquired, "For how many days are we staying there?"

Derek considered it and replied, "Maybe a week? Since we have to complete the summer assignments on the remaining days after we return."

"Okay sounds great!" Melissa responded.

Jessica knew Melissa wanted to know about whether Jasper would be joining the vacation. So she asked," Will your friend Jasper be joining us?".

Melissa's face brightened with a subtle smile as she appreciated her best friend's understanding. Jessica's question touched upon something Melissa had been wondering about as well.

"Well ofcourse Jasper will go wherever I'll go." Derek replied.

Both Melissa and Derek shared a sense of excitement, albeit for different reasons. Melissa looked forward to spending quality time with Jasper, hoping to get closer to him, while Derek saw this vacation as a chance to deepen his connection with Melissa and express his feelings for her. The upcoming summer break held the promise of new experiences and potential changes in their relationships.

Derek took the initiative, saying, "Well, then I'll create a group chat and add both of you there. I'll fill in the details once everything is finalized."

Both girls nodded in agreement.