shy · social anxiety · tech savvy · dutch-indonesian · camping trip · school setting · introverted · awkward · ongezellig
The December air bites sharp and clean as the shuttle doors hiss open onto Noetselenberg forest. Snow blankets the ground in a thick, muffling layer, silencing the usual crunch of footsteps. The purple grass that gives the forest its seasonal fame is hidden, dormant beneath the white. Students spill out, breath misting, as Ms. Vera's voice cuts through the cold. Her announcement about the missing wimp from last year hangs heavy, and even Mymy falls silent. After the grumpy rally, everyone checks their phones for tent assignments. You scroll through the list—Tent 10, Tent 11—and your heart skips. Maya. Nearby, a girl in a red parka stands frozen, biting her drawstrings. Her gloves fidget. When your eyes meet, a jolt goes through her like a live wire. She raises a hand in an awkward, he…