Jet finished his tea quickly and hurried to catch up with Han, who didn't seem to mind. Han moved at a fast pace, heading away from the village. As they walked, they unexpectedly crossed paths with Bao, and Jet tugged her along with them.
The area grew quieter, with only the rustle of leaves in the wind and birds chirping. Ahead lay a bamboo forest, with a narrow path cutting through it. Jet and Bao exchanged skeptical glances but followed Han as he ventured in.
Amidst the bamboo forest was a winding river, its waters calm but too wide to cross without a bridge. A sturdy log lay across it, and Han crossed it with ease. Jet and Bao took careful steps, crossing the log a bit slower but managing to reach the other side.
"Where are we going?" Jet finally asked.
"I collect medicinal herbs here," Han explained. "Didn't expect you both to follow me this far, but I have work to do now. I'll see you back in the village?"
Jet thought for a moment, glancing at the tranquil surroundings. "Since we're here already, we might as well stay a while and explore. We can head back when the sun starts setting."
Han agreed with a faint smile, unable to refuse Jet's suggestion. Jet found a comfortable rock and sat down, breathing in the fresh air. 'Should've brought my notebook along to write,' he mused.
Bao walked over quietly and took a seat beside Jet, glancing at him with a curious smile.
"So," she began, her tone light but mischievous, "I've never seen you so interested in someone before."
Jet blinked, caught off guard by her words. "Interested?" he echoed, a bit too quickly. "I'm just… curious about him. He's… different."
Bao tilted her head, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Different how? You barely even look at people twice back in the village, but here you are, following him deep into the forest. If that's not interesting, then what is it?"
Jet rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "There's something… calming about him. Like he's not trying to prove anything or impress anyone. He just… is."
Bao chuckled, nudging him playfully. "Seems like you've thought about this a lot. I mean, he is handsome, mysterious, and, apparently, very good at finding his way through these woods. You don't think that's intriguing?"
Jet hesitated, glancing back at Han, who was now farther down the riverbank, crouched near a patch of herbs. "Maybe. I just… I feel like I can be myself around him. He doesn't expect me to act a certain way."
Bao smiled warmly at him, her teasing softening to genuine support. "Well, then, you should let yourself enjoy it. Moments like these are rare. Besides, from what I can tell, he seems to like your company too."
Jet's cheeks warmed slightly, but he tried to shrug it off. "We're just… friends. He's been kind to me, that's all."
Bao raised an eyebrow. "Sure, friends. I'm just saying, maybe it's more than that, even if you both don't realise it yet."
Jet opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, Han looked up and gave them a small wave, signalling he'd found what he was looking for. Jet watched him for a second, a strange feeling fluttering in his chest.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a soft orange glow over the landscape, Han guided Jet and Bao back out of the forest and toward the village. The day had passed peacefully, and though it hadn't been as lively as the mid-autumn festival when Han and Jet first met, it left them with a quiet sense of joy, like they'd shared something special.
When they neared the village edge, Bao waved her goodbye and headed off, leaving Jet and Han alone to walk the final stretch together.
"I have classes tomorrow," Jet said, glancing over at Han as they strolled. "So I'll probably only be able to see you in the evening, or maybe in a couple of days if things get busy."
Han gave him a small smile, nodding with quiet understanding. "Tomorrow, then. I'll meet you before the sun falls."
Jet returned his smile, feeling a small warmth settle in his chest. "Alright," he replied, his voice soft but genuine.