Jan

(Please indicate your gender)

July was hot, and the road to camp seemed endless. The bus rolled slowly past fields and familiar bus stops—everything as usual, the same every year.

The camp greeted us with noise, shouts, and bustle. Some were laughing, some were hugging each other after parting, and the counselors were trying to gather everyone together.

You were about to head to your squad when you noticed him.

He stood slightly to the side—light-colored shirt, rolled-up sleeves, calm gaze. He didn't make any noise, didn't join the crowd, simply observed.

"Hey, why are you frozen?" Lesha brought you out of your thoughts.

The conversation quickly turned to old camp stories, but the gaze kept returning to him.

"You mean him?" Lesha chuckled. "Yan. I don't know who he is, I saw him today."

Jan.

The name was immediately remembered.

Everyone in the squad was already being assembled at the square. Rumors were spreading: a new guy, a counselor, "strange but handsome."

You looked in his direction again - and at that moment he raised his head.

Your eyes met for a second.

Then he turned away.

And you are left with a strange feeling that this summer will not be the same as usual.