The dense Amazon rainforest buzzed with life as Mia adjusted her backpack, wiping sweat from her forehead. This wasn’t how her dream vacation was supposed to go. She had signed up for a guided jungle trek, hoping for a bit of adventure, some stunning sights, and maybe a little inspiration for her travel blog. What she hadn’t planned for was getting lost.
And definitely not with him.
Jason. The arrogant, insufferable, ridiculously good-looking photographer who had spent the entire trip mocking her city-girl ways. He was the type who acted like he knew everything about survival—until they actually needed to survive.
“We wouldn’t be lost if you just listened to me,” Jason said, stepping over a fallen log.
“Oh, you mean when you said, ‘Let’s take this shortcut, trust me’?” Mia snapped. “Yeah, I definitely should’ve trusted the guy who thought a ‘shortcut’ in the jungle was a good idea!”
Jason sighed dramatically. “Okay, first of all, I did trust my instincts. They just... slightly miscalculated.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Slightly miscalculated? We’ve been walking in circles for hours.”
A rustling in the bushes made them both freeze. Mia grabbed Jason’s arm, her heart pounding. “What was that?”
Jason gulped. “Maybe a monkey?”
The rustling grew louder. Then—ROAARRR!
Mia screamed and jumped behind Jason as a massive jaguar leaped onto a tree branch above them, its piercing eyes locked on them.
Jason slowly reached into his backpack. “Okay, okay, don’t panic. I have something for this.”
Mia peeked over his shoulder. “Unless it’s a ‘Jaguar-Go-Away’ spray, I don’t think—”
Suddenly, Jason pulled out a camera. A camera.
Mia smacked his arm. “Are you seriously trying to take a picture right now? We’re about to be cat food!”
“Relax,” Jason whispered. “They don’t attack unless threatened. If we just back away sloooowly—”
Snap! A twig broke under Jason’s foot. The jaguar tensed.
Mia panicked. “Run!”
They bolted through the trees, dodging roots and vines as the jaguar gave chase. Mia could hear Jason’s frantic breathing behind her.
“I—thought—you—said—it—wouldn’t—attack!” she gasped.
“It changed its mind!”
They burst into a clearing, and just ahead—a river! A rickety rope bridge stretched across it.
“No way that thing holds,” Jason said.
“Do you want to be a jaguar’s dinner or take your chances?” Mia shot back.
Without another word, they sprinted onto the bridge. It creaked under their weight, swaying dangerously. The jaguar skidded to a stop at the edge, glaring at them.
Mia let out a breath of relief. “Okay. We made it. We—”
SNAP!
The bridge gave way.
Mia screamed as they plummeted into the river. The cold water swallowed them, sweeping them downstream. Jason grabbed her waist, holding her close as they tumbled through the rapids.
After what felt like forever, they finally washed up on a sandy shore, coughing and gasping for air.
Mia lay on her back, staring at the sky. “I hate you.”
Jason laughed, sitting up. “You’re welcome for saving your life.”
“You’re the reason it needed saving in the first place!”
He smirked. “Yeah, but admit it. Best adventure ever?”
Mia groaned, turning her head to him—only to find him already looking at her, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement. Despite everything, she felt her heart skip.
Jason smirked. “You know, I think you like me.”
Mia scoffed. “I think I have a head injury.”
He chuckled. “Well, let’s hope we find help soon. Otherwise, you’re stuck with me.”
She sighed, shaking her head. “Lost in the jungle with the most annoying guy ever… yeah, this is definitely my worst vacation.”
Jason leaned closer, grinning. “Or maybe the best one.”
Mia rolled her eyes. But deep down? She wasn’t so sure anymore.
