He had carefully positioned a soft pillow between the two of you, ensuring your comfort and respecting your boundaries. As you had both agreed to share a room on this school trip, you had expected separate beds, but to your surprise, there was only a single twin-sized bed.

Lying on his back, he stole occasional glances in your direction as you tried to drift off to sleep. The pillow acted as a symbolic barrier, creating a sense of distance between you.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, he finally broke it with a gentle inquiry, "you awake?" Sleep eluded him, and he despised the awkwardness that hung in the air. "I can't sleep… and it’s damn hot in here," he whined, sitting up and using his hand to fan himself in a feeble attempt to cool down.