CHAPTER 5: THE FIRST PHOTO MISSION
The project had been assigned for less than twenty-four hours.
And the group was already regretting it.
Lunch break had barely started when Mira slammed her tray onto their usual table.
"I've come to an important realization," she announced dramatically.
Kai didn't even look up from his food.
"This should be good."
Mira pointed at the project sheet again.
"We should've pretended to be sick."
Jaden nodded.
"Too late now."
Across the table, Liora was already flipping through her notebook with excitement.
"I've been thinking."
Evren, who was sitting beside her, sighed quietly.
"That's never a good sign."
Liora ignored him.
"Our project theme is 'Documenting Everyday Life,' right?"
Kai shrugged.
"Unfortunately."
"So we should take photos of real moments."
Mira squinted at her.
"…That sounds suspiciously like work."
"It is work," Jaden said.
Liora leaned forward enthusiastically.
"But it'll be fun."
Evren rested his elbow on the table.
"Define fun."
She turned toward him.
"Photo missions."
Kai froze mid-bite.
"Photo… what?"
"We go around school capturing real moments," Liora explained.
"Students studying, laughing, eating, walking—just normal life."
Jaden considered it.
"That's actually not a bad idea."
Mira stared at the two of them like they had betrayed her.
"Why are you encouraging this?"
Kai pointed at Evren.
"Because he's the one who'll be forced to carry the equipment."
Evren looked up slowly.
"…Why me?"
Everyone at the table answered at the same time.
"Because you're Ren."
Evren sighed.
"This is harassment."
Liora smiled sweetly.
"You volunteered."
"I absolutely did not."
Kai leaned back in his chair.
"You've been her assistant since kindergarten."
Evren threw a crumpled napkin at him.
Across the table, Mira suddenly leaned forward with curiosity.
"So when does this 'photo mission' start?"
Liora looked around the cafeteria.
Her eyes sparkled.
"…Now."
Jaden sighed.
"I knew this was coming."
Ten minutes later, the group was wandering through the school hallways.
Liora walked ahead with her Polaroid camera ready.
Evren followed behind her carrying a small bag with extra film.
Kai looked around like he had been kidnapped.
"Just so we're clear," he said, "I did not sign up for field work."
Mira was walking backwards while recording a video on her phone.
"This is documentary footage of our suffering."
Jaden walked beside Kai.
"Try to look less miserable."
"I refuse."
Liora suddenly stopped.
Click.
Everyone jumped slightly.
Kai blinked.
"What did you just photograph?"
"Those two students laughing," Liora said.
They looked across the hallway.
Two girls were leaning against lockers, talking and laughing.
The Polaroid slowly developed in Liora's hand.
She smiled softly as the image appeared.
"See?" she said. "Real moments."
Evren glanced at the photo.
It actually looked pretty good.
He didn't say anything though.
Kai leaned closer to inspect it.
"…Okay that's actually kind of cool."
Mira gasped dramatically.
"Did Kai just compliment something?"
"Don't get used to it," Kai said.
They continued walking down the hallway.
Students passed them in every direction.
Some waved at them.
Others just stared curiously at Liora's camera.
"Wait," Mira said suddenly.
"Take a photo of Jaden looking serious."
Jaden frowned.
"I always look serious."
"Exactly."
Liora raised the camera.
Click.
The flash went off.
Jaden sighed as the photo printed.
"Wonderful."
Kai peeked at it.
"You look like a detective."
"Perfect," Mira said. "That's the vibe."
A few minutes later they reached the courtyard.
Students were scattered around benches and trees.
The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves.
Liora's eyes lit up again.
Evren noticed immediately.
He already knew what was coming.
"Don't run," he muttered.
Too late.
Liora was already moving across the courtyard taking photos.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Kai watched her with disbelief.
"She's unstoppable."
Mira nodded.
"Photographer energy."
Evren stood quietly near one of the benches.
From here he could see Liora laughing as she tried to capture a group of students tossing a ball.
For a moment, he just watched.
The sunlight caught in her hair as she moved.
She looked completely happy.
Like the world was exactly the way she wanted it.
Evren didn't realize he had been staring until Kai suddenly appeared beside him.
Kai crossed his arms.
"You're doing it again."
Evren blinked.
"Doing what?"
"That thing."
"What thing?"
Kai nodded toward Liora.
"That."
Evren frowned slightly.
"I'm literally just standing here."
Kai smirked.
"Sure."
Before Evren could respond, Liora walked back toward them with three new photos in her hand.
"Look!"
She showed them proudly.
One photo showed two students racing across the courtyard.
Another captured Mira mid-dramatic pose.
The third one showed Kai looking confused.
Kai stared at it.
"…Delete that."
"It's art," Liora said.
"It's evidence."
Jaden examined the photos carefully.
"These will work well for the project."
Liora beamed.
Evren reached into the equipment bag and handed her another pack of film.
She blinked.
"Oh."
"I noticed you were running out," he said casually.
Liora smiled.
"Thanks, Ren."
The nickname slipped out naturally.
Kai looked between them suspiciously.
Mira whispered loudly to Jaden.
"See?"
Jaden nodded.
"I see."
Evren ignored them.
The bell suddenly rang across the school.
Students immediately started rushing back inside.
Mira groaned.
"Tragic."
Kai stretched.
"Finally."
As the group walked back toward the building, Liora slowed slightly.
She looked down at the Polaroids in her hand.
Real moments.
Real laughter.
Real memories.
She slipped them carefully into her bag.
Beside her, Evren walked quietly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Liora nudged his shoulder lightly.
"Ren."
He glanced at her.
"What."
"This project is going to be fun."
Evren sighed.
"I have a bad feeling about that sentence."
She laughed.
And somehow, hearing that laugh made the long day feel a little lighter.