Hanji's POV

This week, I wanted to try horseback riding. This was my first time attempting to do so, and I could barely contain my excitement. As I was standing near the barnyard, I heard a familiar, annoying voice.

"Erwin, I know how to ride a horse. Don't humiliate me."

"Riding ponies do not count, Levi," I turn to the voices, seeing Levi on a horse. He's struggling a bit, but I could tell he has some sort of experience with horses. Probably when he was a kid? "Looking good, Levi."

Levi rolled his eyes as his horse walked along the fence. "As I said, I know how to ride a horse. Stop humiliating me."

"I have never seen you ride a horse before,"

"Well, you never known me for my entire life, have you, Erwin?"

Erwin began to chuckle, "I've known you for most of our lives, Levi. Straight from elementary school. And to be honest, you still haven't changed." Erwin leans against a wall, "Say, when are you going to get a girlfriend?"

"Probably never, and I don't care if I don't have one. I'm not some attention-."

"Language, Levi, we're on campgrounds."

"Shut up, Erwin."

They continued talking like an elderly couple, bickering about small things that I don't understand. Must be a guy's thing or something. My attention was drawn back to the horses that I would be riding in a group. Nanaba didn't want to ride today, so it's just me. Alone with people that I don't even know. Heck, I think they were younger than me.

By the end of the lesson, I was offered to go on a ride with a few other people as a small trip. Of course, I agreed. Only 5 other campers are going- not including the counselors or the instructors. It should be fun. 

*   *   *

I saw a few of the campers getting to their horses. They were all around... 10 years old. Most of them were girls. But there was one person that I didn't expect to see- again. Levi was petting his horse before heaving himself onto its back.

Our eyes met, and I could see the surprise on his face. We were one of the oldest people here not including the instructor. We didn't speak another word until the instructor was leading us out on the trail.

"Do you like horseback riding?" I ask him, seeing that he was never going to speak to me. "If you're still mad at me for all those things I said, I'm sorry."

"If I wanted an apology, I would've asked for one." He grumbles. "But I accept your apology."

"So, is there any special reason why you decided to go horseback riding out of all days?" I ask, slowing my horse's pace to meet Levi's. "I mean, I thought you would want to go horseback riding. Think of all the dust and dirt that could get on your big boy pants."

Levi gave that deadly stare with his gray eyes before shaking his head. "Erwin suggested I go with the campers from our group. He doesn't have experience with horses, but Erwin conveniently remembered that I used to ride horses when I was a kid and said I should go with the campers."

"So why was he teasing you about not knowing how to ride?"

I should never have said those words. Once they left my mouth, I regretted saying them. The look on Levi's face confirms it. The way his pupils grew small with surprise and anger, I wanted to drop out of the trail.

"You were listening to our conversations?"

"I got curious. I'm sorry."

Levi rolled his eyes, turning them back to the path. "I haven't ridden a horse ever since I was little. He thought I forgot to do so, and he was treating me like a child with a horse. And for future reference, do not eavesdrop on others' conversations. It makes you sound like a creep or a freak."

"I'm already known as a freak. What else could make me worse than a freak?" Levi kept his mouth shut afterward, but I should've been the one embarrassed. After all, I was in the wrong for listening to his private conversation. But one's curiosity kills the cat. It's just sad like that.

*   *   *

We were on our way back down from the frozen waterfall when I spotted an old, beaten path. I smirked, turning to Levi, "Are you a snitch?"

"A what?"

"Snitch, Levi. Do you know what it means?"

"I know what it means. What are you-."

"Then you better not tell the other counselors." The smirk on my face grew as I gripped the reins before rushing my horse onto a different path. I hear him call my name in anger, but I ignored him. I followed the path up a hill, not stopping until I saw the beautiful view.

Closing my eyes to feel the wind on my face, I smiled at it. The smell of summer invaded my thoughts as the brisk wind of autumn began to move. It's almost the end of the first month of summer, and autumn is already on its way. The bright colors of the trees are still in full bloom from spring. A trickling, sapphire blue river crawling like a snake across the dying tall grass. 

I wish I had my phone or something to preserve this view forever.

The clip-clopping hooves of Levi's horse came behind me before I heard his annoyed voice. "Why the hell did you go off like that?! You're not supposed to."

Turning around, I scoffed, wanting to remember the view forevermore. "If I didn't, I would never have a view like that. Report me, if you want. I won't be here after next week. Then, I'll be out of your hair."