The first and second day of the competition was packed with schedules. When the three were not competing, they would either rest or watch the other teams to learn. They've passed the elimination and octofinal phase smoothly, thanks to their hard work and partly luck on their side.
Their journey stopped as they ended up in fourth place, something which is totally more than Althea had expected. After all, they were placed around 28th place last year.
"Thea, Dev, good job!" Karin squealed as she hugs Althea and Dev when the result was announced. Althea chuckled and hugged Karin back, her happiness contagious.
"Good job, everyone." Their teacher patted their shoulders in such a teacher-ly way. Telling them that they will have some time to hang out tomorrow before going back to their hometown, and the three nodded eagerly.
"Let's get on stage." Althea took Karin's hand and beckoned Dev as their team's name was announced to receive the prize.
Hearing the thundering clap as they walked and her friend's jubilant faces, she couldn't be more thankful in her heart.
For her, this competition wasn't just a way to get more achievement, but partly to avenge her team's lost last year, and somehow lessening the guilt in her for last year's result, even though it wasn't her fault to begin with.
Getting down the stage, she held her phone then took some pictures with her teammates and the trophy. She nodded at the satisfying picture and sent it to Ray with a caption, "Got the fourth place."
"That's nice. Congratulations." Ray replied after some time.
"It's thanks to you."
"Not really. It's your own hardwork."
"I could only work so much by myself. It was you who kept on sparing ideas with me, helping me with difficult topics for practice and supporting me all the way." Althea smiled as she remembered her fiery speeches as she defended her argument and Ray countering them one by one with his forever calm-or more like expressionless- face during their video calls.
"Then, it's my pleasure."
Althea sighed at this man who unconditionally supported her all the way even as he was busy with his own studies. He didn't only help her practice, as whenever Althea became so pessimist of her capabilities and insecure of herself, Ray would always bring her up. In his own way, of course.
For instance, this one moment when she was starting to regret her choice of joining the competition as she felt she wasn't good enough, Ray told her, "You have potential, Thea. Even more than me. Use it or waste it, the choice is yours," She watched as his lips turned up slightly and his eyes glinted, as if seeing right through her, "But your life will be affected drastically by your decision."
Althea felt indescribable feelings rose to her heart. Maybe it was because she didn't know someone could put so much trust in her, and someone great at that. Maybe it was because she knows Ray wouldn't give empty praises nor words, or maybe it was because she felt something more towards this man who she couldn't even touch.
"Thea, teacher said we're going to the amusement park tomorrow!" Karin exclaimed, clinging to Althea's arm which tore away her attention from the phone.
'Amusement park, huh... I only went there once on my sixth grade.' Althea tried to remember her experience that one time and nodded softly at Karin.
It wasn't a good memory...
***
"Vice-pres, vice-pres, let's ride that!" Dev pointed at the unbelievably high roller coaster and Althea felt a shiver run up her spine.
"Hm? Mhm. I think you can go with Karin instead." Althea smiled as best as she could, covering up her unwillingness to ride that-- that monstrous thing.
"But I wanna go with you..." Dev's whine reminded Althea of her little brother's whenever she refused his pleads.
Noticing the pinch her friend is in, Karin took Dev's hand and dragged him to the roller coaster queueing place, "Dev, Althea is still tired. Let's go, let's go!" Karin left with a small wink directed to Althea and Althea sent a grateful glance to her friend. She's safe, for now.
While the two were enjoying their ride, Althea looked around to the other facilities provided by the park. She went inside an aquarium and saw many kinds of sea creatures she hasn't seen before.
She only visited the sea once before, and obviously couldn't see much of its creatures. She stared at the weird fish looking like a small shark but with a different head, and wondered if Ray knows about sea creatures as much as he knows about... well, practically everything else.
She took her phone again only to realize that she had checked on it more than she usually does. She bit her lower lip as her finger hovered upon the call button.
"Thea?" Ray's face down to his chest was soon reflected on the screen, and Althea's eyes widened as she realized he wasn't wearing a shirt. Her eyes wandered at the well-shaped body with slightly fairer skin than his face and arms and looked away before she noticed any further details.
"S-sorry! Did I interrupt something?" Althea stuttered as she covered her phone screen and whipped her head to see if anyone is near her and saw him by any chance.
"No, I'm just changing after working out," Ray replied, amusement thick in his almost monotone voice.
"I thought you're not one who picks a call when underdressed?" Althea hissed at her phone as she exited the aquarium in quick steps to find somewhere quieter. Well, quiet enough to accommodate her and this man who has no awareness of what his action is doing to her heart.
"I'm not. But it's your call."
'It doesn't justify your actions, alright!' Althea slapped her forehead as she remembered that the only time she got to see some boys half-naked was in her swimming class. And it sure as hell was awkward for her who is not familiar with boys in general, and been living her life in such family and society with strict rules regarding the interaction of man and woman.
Sheltered and conservative, she knows.
"Well, what did you want to say?" Ray asked as soon as he was done putting on a black shirt, the cloth covered his body properly but didn't hide the healthy muscles of his arms.
"Nothing, I just--" Althea stopped mid-sentence and asked something she didn't plan to, "What do you think love is, Ray?" Althea watched as Ray raised his eyebrows to the question.
"Not sure." Unexpectedly, this guy who was like the all-knowing being for Althea uttered this.
"You can google the generic and scientific definitions of it. But I don't think you should adhere strictly to what is being mentioned." Ray held his chin, something he always did whenever he was thinking.
"After all, feelings are too complex and diverse to be defined by some words," He shrugged, "So if you believe it's love, then it is." Ray smiled as he reached out to tap on his camera, gesturing like he was caressing the frowning girl in front of him.
"I see." Althea nodded in contemplation, her tied hair bobbing up and down as she moved.
"Then, Ray..." Althea looked resolutely at the man, "I think I love you."