We Sat in the Last Row Together
Chapter 41 – The Photo They Didn't Know They Needed
The last day of the trip arrived faster than anyone expected.
It always happened like that.
When you were waiting for something, time moved slowly.
When you were living inside something good, time ran like it was late for a train.
Zhao Ming was the first one to complain.
"We just got here," he said while packing his bag.
"This is unfair."
"You said that yesterday too," Lin Yue replied while folding her clothes neatly.
"Because yesterday was also too fast," he said.
Su Ran was sitting on the bed, looking through the photos on her phone from the trip.
There were pictures of food.
Pictures of the mountains.
Pictures of Zhao Ming eating.
Pictures of Lin Yue reading.
One blurry picture of Jiang Chen because he moved when she tried to take it.
She smiled while scrolling.
"This trip was really nice," she said.
Jiang Chen, who was zipping his bag, nodded.
"Yeah," he said.
"It was."
---
Before Leaving
Before they left the town, they decided to walk around one more time.
They went back to the small street with shops, bought drinks, and walked slowly like they were trying to stretch time.
Near the end of the street, there was a small photo booth shop.
The kind that printed photo strips.
Zhao Ming stopped immediately.
"We have to take photos here," he said.
Lin Yue looked at the shop.
"That actually sounds like a good idea."
Su Ran nodded.
"Yes! Let's do it."
Jiang Chen didn't say anything, but Zhao Ming grabbed his arm and pulled him inside anyway.
"You are part of this whether you like it or not," Zhao Ming said.
"I didn't say no," Jiang Chen replied calmly.
---
Inside the Photo Booth
The photo booth was small, so they had to squeeze together.
Zhao Ming and Lin Yue sat in the front.
Su Ran and Jiang Chen stood behind them.
"Okay, what pose?" Su Ran asked.
"Normal first," Lin Yue said.
The camera flashed.
Click.
Second photo.
"Make a funny face," Zhao Ming said.
Lin Yue refused.
Su Ran laughed.
Jiang Chen just looked confused.
Click.
Third photo.
"Peace signs," Su Ran said.
Everyone did peace signs except Jiang Chen.
Su Ran grabbed his hand and forced his fingers into a peace sign.
Click.
Fourth photo.
Zhao Ming suddenly said,
"Wait, last one, last one! Everyone look at the person next to you!"
It was chaotic.
Lin Yue looked at Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming looked at the camera anyway.
Su Ran looked at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen looked at Su Ran.
Click.
The flash went off.
And the last photo captured Su Ran looking at Jiang Chen and Jiang Chen looking at her.
---
The Printed Photos
The photo strip came out of the machine slowly.
Zhao Ming grabbed it first.
"Let me see!" Su Ran said.
They all crowded around to look.
First photo: Normal.
Second photo: Zhao Ming making a stupid face while Lin Yue looked disappointed.
Third photo: Peace signs.
Fourth photo: Everyone looking different directions, except Su Ran and Jiang Chen looking at each other.
Zhao Ming pointed at the last photo immediately.
"Wow," he said slowly.
"This one… I feel like I shouldn't be here."
Lin Yue nodded.
"Yes. This photo is basically just them."
Su Ran looked a little embarrassed.
Jiang Chen looked away slightly.
Zhao Ming grinned.
"I'm keeping this photo forever."
"No you're not," Su Ran said, trying to grab it.
"I'm making copies," he said.
"You can't stop me."
---
On the Bus Back
On the bus ride back, everyone was more tired and quieter than the ride there.
Trips were like that.
Exciting at the beginning.
Quiet at the end.
Zhao Ming and Lin Yue were sitting together again, talking quietly.
Su Ran sat by the window again, and Jiang Chen sat next to her.
After a while, she said softly,
"I don't want this trip to end."
"Me neither," he said.
"But we still have university, and we'll still see each other every day," she said.
"That's true," he replied.
She looked at him and said,
"When we're older, we should go on trips again. Not just this once."
He nodded.
"Okay," he said.
"We'll go again."
She smiled.
"Promise?"
"Promise," he said.
---
Back to Campus
When they got back to campus, everything felt loud and busy again.
Students walking everywhere.
Cars passing.
People talking.
Back to reality.
Zhao Ming stretched his arms dramatically.
"Back to university life," he said.
Lin Yue looked at their campus buildings.
"Back to assignments," she said.
Su Ran sighed.
"Back to waking up early."
Jiang Chen looked at the three of them and said,
"At least we're still together here."
They all nodded.
That was true.
---
The Photo on the Wall
A few days later, Su Ran printed one of the photo booth pictures and taped it inside her notebook.
The last photo.
The one where she and Jiang Chen were looking at each other without realizing.
She stared at it for a moment and smiled.
Then she closed the notebook.
Because some memories didn't need to be shown to everyone.
Some memories were small, quiet, and important in a way that no one could describe.
The four of them sat together again in the cafeteria like always.
Same table.
Same noise.
Same people.
Zhao Ming was talking too much.
Lin Yue was telling him to be quiet.
Su Ran was laughing.
Jiang Chen was smiling again.
If someone walked past them, they would just see four normal university students having dinner.
Nothing special.
But if someone knew their story from the beginning, from the classroom, from the last row, from the exams, from graduation, from confessions, from all the small moments in between,
they would know something important:
Some friendships start loudly.
Some friendships start slowly.
And some start in the last row of a classroom and quietly become something that lasts for years.
And without any of them noticing exactly when it happened,
the Last Row Trio
had become something like a small family.