Everywhere was silent in the dark night, except the timely chirpings of cicadas. The view down the mountain can show the dim lantern lights in the village dotted like stars, on the land, serene and aesthetic. A view to be watched with their destined ones.
But, here everyone was asleep.
The teachers' tents were not so near the students' ones, but not far away too, in case of emergencies.
The principal, as always was nowhere to be found, maybe in his car, sleeping soundly. But somewhere, nearby in a tent, the tension between two people was evidently in the air they were breathing in.
Professor Qing has intentionally or not, but assigned his tent with only professor Lin.
There was no miss Lu or principal to disturb them.
But the air was so thick that no one dared to even breath loudly.
Both were pretending to fall asleep while facing each other's backs. Professor Lin was cursing inside his mind, that why he was assigned with him. Afterall, he didn't know the real culprit, and thought it was just arranged like this.
He should've left with his father to sleep in the car.
But no.
He had to pretend, he isn't his son, to pretend that he was not favoured, not that he actually was.
On the other side, professor Qing was thinking, how to talk with him again, specially after what he did and said in their last meeting.
While this was the teachers' side, the students' side was nowhere good either.
Because, there were not two but three people, with their own load of a mind to be able to snooze.
Back when everyone has yet to move to their tents.....
Anning when returned, Baizhi was nowhere to be seen. She guessed, she went into the tent.
Obviously, she couldn't go there, because, in the first place - that was not hers, which she will always regret, and other than that - Raya and Kritika are also present there and she doesn't want to see them.
She then, also stepped in her tent and started to make her bed. Well, that was already provided by the college.
Here, her mind was in a mess and was not able to fall asleep and there, someone was not able to sleep because of what her messed mind did.
Sizi was not sleeping. Just staring at the roof of the tent in a daze. She couldn't help replaying whatever happened behind that tree, specially those disgusted eyes looking at her like never before.
She wasn't the one to mind other's behaviour too much. But this time the other was someone else.
You really hate me, don't you ?
Otherwise, why have you never shown that expression to anyone, but me ?
Yeah, I was sorry for the bus incident, but I just couldn't help myself when it's about you.
At this point, a single stray tear finally fell down from the corner of her eyes.
About you, being in someone else's arm. And you, who treats physical touches like darts, happily wanting to snuggle more.
Sizi shut her eyes tightly, wanting to erase that memory.
But alas, human brain always tends to do that thing which you tell it not to.
It hurts so much like this. This unrequited, one sided love, really hurts so much.
How many times, I have tried to not fall like this, but here I am, doing the shit that I always thought as rubbish.
She changed her position, so that now she was lying on her back. Only thinking the same thing, she reprimanded herself over and over.
It's a sin. A sin.
A sin. But why ?
Baizhi was not able to sleep too. Besides her, Raya and Kritika were already snoring.
While coming back to her tent, she was almost crying. Raya and Kritika when saw her in the middle of their discussion, they almost tripped seeing her like that.
Those beautiful peach blossom eyes were red and puffy, but the defiance to shed a single tear, can't be mistaken despite her pitiful look.
They were ready to confront the culprit who had caused this, but thankfully Baizhi stopped them. Otherwise, there would have been another drama to be seen.
Still, they were worried about her. They had just met in the bus, but because of Baizhi's nature and friendly behaviour, they got quite close in just a short time, specially Kritika.
Now, Baizhi was not able to sleep. She was feeling like something's going to happen tonight, or maybe the starting of something.
But the feeling wasn't right.
She told herself that this was just because of her disturbed mind, but the instinct won't let her sleep.
In Anning's tent, there were only two members previously as assigned. But now, there were three, because her tent mate's friend had also joined them. On the same small bed, moreover.
Just looking at them while gossiping in each other's ears, Anning feels her eyes stinging. That's why, she turned her back towards them.
After a while, both of them rose from their nestled bed and went out of the tent, squealing like some squirrels, excitedly going to share some secret with another of their friend.
Anning hears the receding footsteps and turns back to see the isolated tent. She was not scared of the lonely tent, in fact relieved.
When she finally settled her mind, and started to think of some important matters, her phone binged.
Looking at her phone which was now behind her, she furrowed her brows first, thinking what it might be this late at night.
She grabbed it and saw a message on her WhatsApp. It was a photo.
After opening it, what she saw left her breathless.
There was a picture of her own, but in her tent when she was busy overthinking, just a few moments ago after those pair of friends left.
And looking at the angle it was from a far upper corner, opposite of her side.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
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