When Anning thought about the scene just now and imagined what might Baizhi had seen, she facepalmwd herself.
She had followed her trying to clear up things, but she was gone. Around the bonfire, she saw Baizhi sitting with Raya and Kritika, who knows what they were doing, keeping their head so close.
She went there and said to Baizhi, " Zizhi, please listen to me, first. "
Baizhi didn't even look at her. Resigned, Anning again tried to say something but was interrupted by Kritika.
Kritika, " Now, now. Why not anyone is talking about propriety, to not give anyone nicknames? "
Anning and Raya both looked at her, simultaneously. Better to say, both glared at her - Can't you see the situation, first.
Kritika hmphed and glared back at Raya, to which Raya's only answer was to pick her up and toss her in the tent made by them.
She apologized and went away in the same tent, planning to teach her some lesson.
After both the troublemakers were gone Anning sat beside Baizhi and again tried, " Zizhi, please. "
This time Baizhi looked at her, but with contempt. The hurt in her eyes visible enough, and then she just stood up and made to go in the tent too.
But before she could step forward, Anning took her hand and dragged her to somewhere peaceful.
Baizhi struggled to get free. What was there to hear - a futile excuse, or an apology, when she was clearly there with someone she had been staring for who knows how long.
That gaze can't be mistaken, because she had never seen it before. Never.
Even if she hadn't been holding the other's hand herself, but she could have dodged that, right?
But did she ? No.
Baizhi was thinking all these, since being there, and didn't know that Anning was herself a whole mess while her wrist was snatched. Even the snatcher was regretful.
Currently, the person who has caused all this, was looking at them from afar. She didn't wanted to be around the campfire again and has chosen to stay just outside her tent.
When Anning has dragged Baizhi in the quiet, she followed them unconsciously, like her feet not obeying her.
She saw Anning grabbing Baizhi like her lifeline depended on it. The sour taste in her throat could not get worse, it even started to taste bitter.
On this side, Anning held Baizhi's hand so that she couldn't struggle free. After coming to a halt they faced each other, Baizhi with her arms crossed in front of her chest and determinedly looking away.
Anning, " Zizhi, it was just a misunderstanding. I was leaving that place, when she---"
Baizhi snapped, " She, what ? She forced you ? You weren't able to dodge ?"
Anning, now gets angry too, since its such a trivial matters, but Baizhi isn't hearing anything, " Why does it have to be such a big matter ? It's just holding- -no grabbing hand, by mistake. What's there to fuss about so much ?"
Baizhi again snapped, " Yeah, exactly. Its nothing. But the staring during the bonfire was really something, no ?"
Sizi, who was quietly listening to them, now exploded--- Wait.... what are you saying ?
Anning, herself widened her eyes, not able to refute the obvious but still her mind was not at ease.
Seeing her silent, Baizhi took the opportunity to free her hand and stalked off. Anning wasn't able to stop her, but instead spotted someone else, who was staring at her in a daze.
Sizi, still hasn't realised she was caught on eavesdropping. She stood still like a log, when Anning approached her behind the tree, she was hiding.
She tilted her head up as Anning was taller than her, and was now coming closer, and.... closer. Sizi backed up more and more until her back hit the trunk, but Anning wasn't stopping.
She stopped only when they were three inches apart from each other's nose. Sizi wasn't ready for this closeness, and instinctively tried to escape in the side, but was suddenly trapped by Anning's arm, caging her.
She widened her eyes, because this position isn't quite correct. Especially, from the person who literally adhered on safe distancing.
She couldn't help but stare questioningly at eyes above her, but only got back a death glare, like she was going to be eaten.
She isn't a cannibal, right ?
Anning looked down at her and whispered dangerously near her ear, " What are you doing here ? "
Sizi, " I- I was j- just passing by. N- Nothing else. "
She tries her best to stop the stutter in her voice, but her throat was blocked, leaving it dry. She swallowed down her saliva to keep her throat moist, but to no use.
Anning, then braced her other hand beside her head too, and seethed, " Sizi, don't think I don't know what you are doing ? If you want to be two faced, then at least make one of it prettier.
"Maybe, it will help other's eyes. "
She then pushes herself off of her and goes in the direction of camping, without looking back.
Sizi was frozen on the spot, still in same position sticking to the trunk. She stares at Anning's retreating back and just feels dizzy.
Just now, the contempt, the disgusted look and meanness in the other's eyes was clearly visible. She wasn't even trying to hide it.
She feels like something in her broke, and the only thoughts were--
I really don't know what I did. Why do you have to behave so mean ?
The corner of her eyes stings, but she holds back. She knows it is of no use, but what can she do about it, the tears are involuntary.
After cooling down a bit, she calmly goes back towards the camp and enters her tent without anyone noticing.
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