The morning sun spilled golden light over the city, casting a warm glow that made everything feel fresh and vibrant. I stepped outside, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling in my stomach as I made my way to the designated shooting location. Today marked the start of our outdoor project, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it would be a pivotal moment for both my photography and with Evan.

As I approached on the field, I spotted our team gathered under a large oak tree. Evan stood in the center, he quietly listen beside with Carlos discussing the day’s agenda with Jenna, Valerie and Jessica. He looked effortlessly cool, wearing a fitted T-shirt and cargo shorts, a black cap tilted slightly back on his head. I took a moment to admire how the sunlight caught the contours of his jaw, making him appear even more attractive.

With my camera in hand, I snapped a few candid shots of him, trying to capture that focused look on his face. The sunlight caught his features just right, highlighting the way he furrowed his brow in concentration. I grinned, thinking about how much I enjoyed these little moments. It felt almost sneaky to be taking pictures of him while he was standing there, but I couldn’t resist.

"Hey, Moriah!" Evan called out, breaking my trance. "Are you planning to make a whole photo album of me?” Evan joked, turning around just as I was clicking the shutter.

I laughed, feeling a bit caught. “Just trying to capture the magic of your hard work!”

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just don’t let Jenna see. She might want me to pose for all the promo shots instead of focusing on the project!”  he added, grinning.

"So, you ready for today?" I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

"Absolutely!" he replied, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Jenna gathered everyone together, her clipboard in hand. "Alright, team! Let’s make this day count. Moriah, I want you to focus on capturing the energy of the project—our team dynamics, the interactions, and of course, the beautiful setting."

I nodded. The field is so alive with families, joggers, and people enjoying their Saturday, providing a colorful backdrop for our project.

I continued to shoot, stealing glances at him between the directed scenes. There was something about the way he poured himself into his work that made him even more attractive. I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement each time our eyes met during the shoot.

“Okay, everyone, let’s take five!” Jenna called out, breaking my focus.

During the break,  I noticed Jessica making her rounds, attempting to engage Evan in conversation whenever she could. She brought him coffee, leaned in a little too close during discussions, and laughed at his jokes, clearly trying to win his attention. I felt a twinge of jealousy creeping in, but I brushed it aside. I had to focus on my work.

"Hey, Moriah," Evan said, catching my gaze as he walked back over. "Are you ready for our the next shots?"

"Yeah, just trying to get the lighting right," I replied, adjusting my camera without glancing at him. "What do you think about this angle?"

Evan leaned in closer to examine the frame, his shoulder brushing against mine. "It looks good, but maybe try a little higher. You want to capture the full vibrancy of the scene."

I nodded, my heart racing at the contact. As I adjusted my position, Jenna called for everyone to gather for the first set of photos. I snapped away, capturing candid moments of laughter and teamwork, but my focus kept drifting back to Evan.

As the hours passed, I found myself getting lost in the rhythm of the day. We moved from one location to another, the laughter and chatter of the team creating an atmosphere that felt both professional and relaxed. But each time I caught a glimpse of Jessica leaning too close to Evan, my stomach knotted that I even want to vommit.

Eventually, we broke for lunch, and I found a spot on a bench to catch my breath. Just as I was about to dig into my sandwich, Evan plopped down next to me, a playful grin on his face.

"How’s the shooting going?" he asked, taking a bite of his own lunch.

"It’s great! I think I got some good shots." I replied, feeling a rush of pride.

"You always do. I really admire your talent, you know?" he said, looking directly at me, and I felt my cheeks heat up.

Before I could respond, Jessica sauntered over, her eyes sparkling. "Hey, Evan! I was thinking of grabbing some ice cream for everyone after this. Want to join me?"

I could feel my heart drop as I looked at Evan, who seemed to consider the offer for a moment. "Thanks, but I think I'll stick around and help Moriah with the rest of the shoot." he said, his tone firm yet friendly.

Jessica's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "Alright, maybe next time!" she said, before walking away.

"That was a close one." I said, unable to hide the relief in my voice.

"Close to what?" Evan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, nothing! Just... I don’t want you to feel pressured or anything. I mean.. you don't have to refuse Jessica just because we're talking right now." I stammered, I may do sound like I meant what I said, but I'm actually a bit lying ..specially to myself.

Evan chuckled. "Moriah, I appreciate you looking out for me, but I can handle it. Besides, I’d rather be here with you."

Those words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, everything else faded away. My heart raced as I glance for a second into his eyes, a million unspoken thoughts swirling in my mind.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the outdoor shooting site, the crew began to pack up for the day. Evan and I lingered behind, I feel like a sense of camaraderie growing between us. Atleast, I hope.

“Looks like we’ll be here a while,” Evan said, setting down his camera. “Why not make the most of it?”

“What do you have in mind?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

Evan smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “How about a night camp? We can set up a few tents and make it an adventure.”

I just laughed, the idea sounding both silly and fun. “Are you serious? We’d be camping out here?”

“Why not? It’ll be memorable. Plus, I brought marshmallows.” He pulled a bag from his backpack, grinning like a kid.

“Alright, you’re on. Let’s do it!” I raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in my eyes.

The crew helped set up a couple of tents, and soon they gathered around a small fire. The warmth of the flames crackled in the cool evening air as the stars began to twinkle overhead. Moriah took a moment to capture the scene, snapping pictures of the glowing fire and the silhouettes of her coworkers.

“Do you think you’ll get any good shots?” Evan asked, sitting beside me, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I hope so,” I replied, my heart racing a bit as I felt the warmth of his presence. “But honestly, this is just as perfect.”

As we all roasted marshmallows, laughter and stories filled the air. We gaze from across the fire, and for a moment, the world around us faded.

“You know,” I said, teasingly, “before I knew you, I never pictured you as the camping type.”

Evan chuckled, the firelight dancing in his eyes. “You’d be surprised what I enjoy. Besides, I think you bring out the adventurous side of me.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “Is that so? Well, you might need more adventures then.”

Just then, Jessica sauntered over, her smile bright. “Mind if I join? I heard there’s a marshmallow competition happening!”

I felt a pang of annoyance but quickly brushed it off and try to be friendly. “Of course! The more, the merrier.”

When everyone are now settled into the night, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Evan, who was joking and laughing with Jessica and to our other workmates who sometimes make a quick chats him. The campfire crackled, casting shadows and illuminating the bond forming from all of us.

After some few hours, others decided to drift off to their tents to get some rest. I decided to stay infront the camp fire just admiring the flickers of flames, without even noticing Evan came from behind and sat beside me, the warmth of the flames casting a cozy glow on our faces.

"Can you still remember our first meet at the camp too, ten years ago?" I asked, a smile creeping onto my face. He doesn't have any idea for how long I've been holding onto that memory, and finally now I was able to reminisce it again, difference now is he's beside me.

Evan chuckled, leaning back against the log. “I remember. That night feels like the same as this." He nudged her gently with his shoulder, a soft smile playing on his lips.

I let out a quiet laugh, eyes fixed on the flickering fire. "Feels like yesterday. You don't have any idea how I am so nervous that night for the last jam performance…and then you just showed up infront our dorm and just casually kissed my cheek!" I teased, glancing over at him, "I know its just normal for you, but you totally startle me." I added.

He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, I remember that. I think it surprised me as much as it did you. But hey, that moment definitely got us talking."

We shared a smile, the kind that held a thousand unspoken memories. I gazed up at the stars, thoughts drifting back to our late-night conversations, swapping stories, bonding over Narnia, and that sense of awe I felt when we discovered our shared love for books, music, and dreams. In those few days, I seemed to find a rhythm all our own, a connection I will never quite forgot.

“Remember that photo we took together?” Evan asked softly. "The one your friend snapped with my arm around you?”

I chuckled, nodding. "It was one of my favorites. I think I’ve still got it somewhere from one of my old cameras. I'll try to look for it." I looked down, fiddling with the edge of my sweater. "I used to look at it sometimes, just to remind myself of that night. It always made me wonder if I’d see you again."

Evan’s gaze softened. "Well, here we are."

I just smiled. It is true, finally here we are. I hope nothing else goes wrong, I don't want to let go this happiness infront of me. Under the soft glow of the dying campfire, surrounded by the quiet whispers of the night, I squeezed my hand, making sure that this is not a dream.

Maybe this time, we won’t let life get in the way.