Chapter 11: Practicing for the Color Sports Day—Why Are You Just Telling Me Now?
⸻
Groooow!!
I looked up at the bed and almost let out a heavy sigh again. "After falling that hard… am I really still thinking about him, Ray?"
Just whispering his name in my mind, the image of him stubbornly popped up again. My cheeks heated instantly, forcing me to lower my face to hide my embarrassment. By the time I could gather my thoughts, I had already drifted back into sleep, a faint smile still lingering on my lips.
After muttering to myself for a while, I dragged my aching body from the bed and lay back down. This time, I pulled the blanket all the way over my head, letting fatigue and wandering thoughts slowly sink me into darkness.
I didn't even notice when I fell asleep. Suddenly, I felt as if I were standing in the middle of a vast open field, the horizon stretching endlessly. The emptiness… it was overwhelmingly lonely. The grass was dry, brittle under my feet, and even the stubborn cows seemed uninterested in grazing.
Fwoosh!!
I jolted violently as the scene abruptly shifted—like I had been warped somewhere else. Now it looked like someone's quiet garden. Only the wind whispered through the leaves, their friction sending shivers down my spine.
"What exactly do you intend to do?"
A soft, lilting voice came from nearby. I froze, my heart hammering, before slowly stepping toward the sound.
And what I saw made my jaw drop—
There he was: another version of me, standing beside him… But what made my blood boil was the small guy standing opposite him. It was Khwan-Khao.
Khwan-Khao again.
I suspected he might be one of the reasons I ended up here… actually, he was definitely one of the reasons I had to stay for something.
Wow, damn. This guy had the look of a sly villainess in a cheesy soap opera. Eyebrows arched arrogantly, lips curling into a mocking smile, and every word he spat out was sharp enough to stab Ray's past self straight through the heart.
"Don't delude yourself… you'll never match me," Khwan-Khao's voice rang out, eyes haughty, lips twisting in cruel amusement, as if stepping on someone's throat.
Past-me stood frozen, red eyes glistening with pain from those words. Meanwhile… I, present Ray, hiding behind a tree, clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. I ground my teeth, trying to contain my fury.
Whoa… was that a laugh? Sounded like a Siberian wolf howling at night, grating on the ears more than chalk on a blackboard.
Then Warun lifted his chin, voice steady but sharp:
"I don't need to 'compare' myself to you… because I've always stood higher than you."
Ouch! That stung. Hard. The comeback was satisfyingly brutal.
He paused briefly, eyes trembling just slightly before hardening again. His fingers dug white marks into his palms as he grinned like a demon unmasking itself.
"Warun… you talk too much," the voice cut in, low and icy, completely different from the earlier mocking tone. "But you have no idea… you're playing with fire."
He stepped closer until our faces were almost touching. His eyes shone.
"I like Khun Theer… no, I love him! And if you don't stop meddling with him… I swear I'll do everything I can to make you vanish from his path."
Every word dripped venom, like a knife sinking deep into Warun's heart.
Past-Warun remained frozen, but I—present Ray—couldn't hold it anymore.
"Fuck… that mouth of yours…" I cursed silently, glancing around to see if anyone was nearby.
…dead silence.
No one could see me.
I carefully stepped out from behind the tree, stopping at a corner where he was standing, acting like a melodramatic villain. And then…
I couldn't shout or hit yet.
So I did the only thing I could—flipped him off fully.
"Take that!" I muttered under my breath, grinning wickedly as I raised my middle finger like it had a spotlight on it.
Of course, he didn't see it. He just kept laughing dryly, still acting superior. But for me… oh, the satisfaction was immense. A little spiritual revenge, at least.
I was observing everything, irritated as hell, when suddenly I heard footsteps approaching. I turned, but couldn't see clearly in time.
Eeeeek!?
Khwan-Khao screamed, tears welling. Reality slammed into my head—
The pavilion… I was sitting there. I remembered it perfectly. The wind blowing hard, the water rippling below… then thud! Something struck my head sharply, and everything went black as I fell into the water.
"Shit… is this why I died?"
I stood frozen, heart pounding. Couldn't believe someone could play this dirty.
Footsteps approached—thump thump thump. I turned to see Khun Theer running, his expression a mix of shock and worry. Before any explanations could come out, he raised a hand to his face, sobbing uncontrollably like a victim in a melodrama.
"Hic… sob… Warun… he insulted me… said such harsh things… I… I can't take it anymore, Khun Theer!"
The trembling voice was dramatic, but his acting was almost convincing.
Past-me opened my mouth to explain, but Khwan-Khao cried even harder, tiny body shaking like someone completely helpless.
I was stunned—why wasn't anything explained?
"…"
Silence. I looked around, wondering why my past self was so quiet. The world seemed frozen. Only Khun Theer's eyes were on me… wavering, confused, uncertain.
"Ah… just like that… and you believed it?"
My chest felt crushed under a giant stone, the pain stealing my breath.
Rage surged, making my body tremble. I ground my teeth and stepped forward… then punched Khwan-Khao square in the face.
Blaaak!
Even though no one saw, at least I got some satisfaction.
Damn ridiculous.
Suddenly, the punch I had just thrown toward Khun Theer felt real—thunk!
"Owwooo!"
The scream startled me, heart dropping like it was ripped from a dream. I opened my eyes quickly—
My four friends were crowded around the bed, expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.
James lay sprawled on the cold floor, hands clutching his cheeks, face twisted in pain as if betrayed by the world.
"Hey! James! Why are you on the floor, man? Sleepy or what?" My hoarse voice cracked from just waking, leaning to look down.
James snapped his head up, eyes wide, voice full of anger:
"Sleepy my ass! You hit me!!"
I froze, jaw hanging. Words caught in my throat. Scratched my head nervously, like a guilty kid.
"Oh… really? Uh… my bad."
I raised my hands apologetically, giving a sheepish smile. "Sorry, man… I was dreaming."
Jan, arms crossed at the foot of the bed, eyebrows nearly colliding, erupted:
"What kind of dream makes you hit a friend! I've never seen this before!" Her voice mixed shock and sarcasm, glaring at me like I was a weirdo.
I shrugged, trying to act normal though my heart raced. Looking out the window instead, I muttered,
"Nothing… just some random dream…"
Inside, I was screaming profanities.
Random dream my ass! Khun Theer, damn it, don't even talk to me!
I rubbed my head in frustration, eyes half-closed. "And… how did you all even get in here?" My voice was groggy and irritated.
James, still clutching his face, shrugged and grinned cheekily:
"Kicked in, dude. What did you expect?"
I gawked, spinning toward him. "Damn it! That punch earlier? Consider it light! Might have to give another one!"
James flinched, hands raised, grimacing. "Okay, okay! White flag! Don't hit me again! Owwooo…"
Khun Thomas leaned against the door, arms crossed, shaking his head with mock annoyance, voice calm but irritating:
"We asked your mom first, that's why we came in."
"What the hell permission! What are you doing here this early!?" I snapped, eyes wide, brows furrowed, hair frizzed like a crow caught in a storm.
Maria at the back, hugging a book to her chest, calmest of all, said evenly:
"Emergency matter, apparently."
I frowned sharply. "What emergency?"
Khun Thomas exhaled, serious tone creeping in. "In three days… there's the competition…"
I blinked, confused. "Competition? Explain. I still don't get it."
James jumped in, panicking, hands flailing. "Sport Day! In five days!" Voice loud, gestures nearly hitting Jan beside him.
I froze, jaw dropped. "What!? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
All four exchanged quick glances, then said loudly in unison:
"We just found out too!!"
I slammed my hand on my knee, thwack! Frustrated. "Then why do I find out late!? Nobody told me!?"
Jan, arms crossed, rolled her eyes, sarcasm dripping
"See! That's the point! Teacher asked Khwan-Khao's group to inform friends, but the letter never came! I had to call the teacher again to find out. They weren't messing with us."
The moment Jan finished, the tension in the room snapped like a taut string.
Maria, who normally radiates angelic composure, now shifted—her eyes glinting sharply, lips pressed tight. Her voice sliced the silence like a blade.
"Those others… if I ever catch them, I'll rip their heads off and smash them into the ground."
Immediately, the four of us froze, as if cursed. The air thickened, icy and oppressive, sending shivers crawling up my arms. Outside, faint chirping from birds—jip-jip—barely broke the silence, but somehow it made the chill worse.
I blinked, fully awake now, pausing a moment before tilting my head slightly and teasing, "Well then… I guess we're not allowed to lose!" I raised my hand, mock-challenging myself.
The others turned to look, so I rattled off eagerly, eyes sparkling, "So… what competitions are there anyway?"
Thomas exhaled, heavy, almost defeated, yet his tone stayed clear as he tried to give the info. "There… it's the annual sports event. Day one has two or three games… starts with singing and debates." He scanned over to me, raising his hand slightly, as if saying, listen up.
I nodded, smirking, gesturing along, "This one's my thing—especially debates!" and chuckled softly.
Then Jan interjected, high-pitched, half excited, half teasing, "Debate how to get their heads smashed instead, huh!" She pressed a hand to her chest, laughing faintly, wickedly.
I raised my eyebrows, shrugging playfully, "You're about as much trouble as me, then." I grinned slyly.
Jan smirked, nodding in agreement. "Exactly… true friends."
No kidding. We've even argued with teachers in debates before—they practically flipped us off once.
Thomas pressed a hand to his forehead, exasperated; James rolled his eyes slightly, weary; Maria seemed momentarily dazed, her eyes calculating our madness.
Thomas continued, calm but pressing, "Anyway… Day one also has polo. All of us are in, except Maria."
Maria smiled and waved casually, "I'll cheer from the sidelines." Her tone neutral, yet her eyes sparkled.
Jan and I exchanged a quick, amused glance. I muttered low, "Piece of cake." and gave a thumbs-up.
The others looked at each other, puzzled. James tilted his head, laughing faintly, "Cake?"
I nearly shook my head, replying loudly, laughing, "Damn straight! 'Piece of cake' means easy, damn it!" I made a pouty grin, teasing.
Maria tilted her head, voice calm but interested, "Can you guys play?" She nodded slightly, assessing.
Jan exhaled confidently, "Totally pro." Her smile playful; Thomas's gaze met mine slowly, sending a quiet I know you've got this despite my nonstop teasing—he could tell I was capable, especially from our last driving chaos.
He exhaled, then continued, steady but deliberate, "Next day… a real mess. Starts with racing." He rubbed his chin, as if evaluating the scenario. "Not a problem, Ray. I know you can handle it."
I raised a brow, grinning, and mock-saluted, "Ha! Canoes tip? Just a little pain. We're thick-skinned anyway!" My voice carried confidence and mischief.
James nodded vigorously, chiming in cheerfully, "Exactly! Especially you, Ray!"
I made a fierce face at him, chuckling inwardly at his bluntness.
Suddenly, Maria's irritation flared again, voice rising slightly, "The second day's special event… those idiots won't even play!" She gripped her forehead, exasperated. "Only rivals James and Thomas are in, but not enough players, so the seniors they know step in. Teacher didn't approve at first, but then Khwan-Khao cried."
Jan tilted her head, high-pitched, "And you know this… how?"
Maria chuckled faintly, voice cold yet amused. "I overheard it from the others in class." Her sharp gaze made everyone freeze for a moment.
I sighed. Huh… the real minions are starting to show.
Then Maria grinned creepily, tilting her head at me, voice quivering slightly but mischievous, "I'll crush them completely."
I flinched slightly, feeling the heat of imagination flash through, remembering the past… where I had almost died.
I spoke, letting my friends gauge the situation, half-joking, half-serious:
"I… once had a rock thrown at my head, fell into the water, and at midnight I went to check the sounds…" I paused, inhaling, shaking my head lightly, pretending to think. "Before that, I and Khwan-Khao were fighting, and he told me straight up… 'I like P'Theer—no, I love him! And if you don't leave him alone… I swear I'll do everything to make you disappear from his path.'"
I whispered, covering my mouth slightly, almost laughing—but everyone went silent, stunned. I raised my brow, half-teasing, "Believe it?"
"Believe it!" they shouted simultaneously, serious yet excited.
Jan spoke, voice firm, frowning, fists clenched, "I'll kill him if he messes with my friend!"
Others echoed, preparing to strike, "We've got your back!"
I nodded confidently, raising a hand to calm them. One hand rubbed my hair lightly. "Stay calm. The best revenge is not letting them win. So, we have to win the sports competitions."
James spoke, serious, corner of his mouth twitching, brows furrowed, "Alright. Let's plan."
I smiled faintly at them, ruffling my hair lazily, "But I need a shower first."
While I got ready, they unpacked breakfast. I sat at the table, facing fragrant toast and tofu, picking up my spoon slowly, wary of mess.
"Debates, me and James got it," I said flatly, eyes determined.
Normally I'd pair with Jan, but she's more pissed at those guys than me now, so I dodged for a moment—don't want anyone getting hurt.
Jan nodded, understanding. Still irritated, but calming. I continued, half-laughing, half-serious, "And singing… we all do. I've got a song in mind. Simple, Thai-English mix, I'll play piano and lead, Jan… you play violin and duet with me."
⸻
Jan smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She tilted her chin slightly, her voice steady and confident.
"Sure thing. I've been waiting for you."
"Now Maria…" I glanced at our friend sitting cross-legged, her mischievous smile already hinting she knew I'd mention her.
"You're on the Thai khim."
Maria laughed softly, a clear sound that carried confidence. She deliberately tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I can handle it. Just waiting for the right moment to show off."
Thomas, who had been silent for a while, looked up, raising an eyebrow as he answered curtly, voice serious.
"Viola. I got it."
James, still yawning and rubbing his eyes, quickly chimed in.
"Okay, okay… Saxophone's mine."
He dragged the last word lazily, but the smirk at the corner of his mouth betrayed that he was getting into it too.
I looked at each friend in turn, raising an eyebrow and snapping my fingers lightly.
"Give it everything, guys! This song has to hit hard!"
Laughter and quick replies echoed around the table:
"Yeah!"
"Got it!"
"No worries!"
The energy started to pick up, becoming contagious.
I put my pen down, shifting my posture to a more serious one, voice deepening.
"Finally… polo. This one's tougher. James, you're number one, leading the offense, scoring and blocking them from breaking through."
James straightened, face stern but eyebrows teasing as he shot me a glance.
"Alright. Hope I don't get kicked off the horse, huh?"
Everyone burst out laughing.
I turned to Thomas, who had been sitting upright the whole time.
"Thomas, you're number two, crucial in offense. Support James and cover me."
Thomas nodded shortly, eyes serious, no hint of hesitation.
"Understood."
I pointed at myself, smirking confidently.
"I'm number three, the heart of the team. I control the game, plan, and pass the ball."
Jan met my gaze, raising her hand slightly as if declaring herself. Her voice was resolute.
"I'm number four, the back. I won't let anyone score."
I nodded strongly, full of confidence, before finishing:
"Everyone's role is crystal clear. And Maria… you're the captain, overseeing us."
Maria raised an eyebrow, smirking like a queen, resting her chin on her hand, relaxed yet authoritative.
"Sounds good. I'll make sure to yell at you all so you stay focused."
Laughter erupted around the table, tension easing slightly but the seriousness still lingering.
I scanned everyone slowly, speaking with a firm tone.
"These five days are going to be brutal, but we need to sleep together, train together, eat together. Training starts with the essentials first. As for polo… I'll plan in detail and discuss later."
Everyone nodded in unison, the seriousness evident in each of their eyes.
Day two… the racing topic.
I raised an eyebrow, scratching my head.
"I have no idea what the track looks like," I admitted, voice half confused, half frustrated from the lack of information.
Maria crossed her arms, leaning back like a queen, speaking calmly but with a confident smile.
"Most of the route will be newly cut highways… not as crowded with cars as nowadays."
I nodded slowly, starting to understand.
"Oh…"
She continued, serious, eyes dark and sharp.
"There are both imported private cars and government vehicles for various missions. The main point isn't life-or-death racing… mostly for entertainment and testing performance."
"Oh… got it," I said, pointing at my friends casually, voice playful.
"So if it's just for fun… everyone's riding with me!"
My words made the group pale. Sweat dotted their faces. Their eyes darted nervously, as if looking for an escape route.
I blinked at them, raising an eyebrow, voice firm.
"What? Riding with me isn't a good idea?"
Jan let out a heavy sigh, looking as if she was exorcising a ghost, face showing pure annoyance.
"What's good about it, Ray… I've been riding with you half my life. How many times have we nearly died?"
I grinned mischievously, leaning closer.
"So what… you're coming with me anyway. And that's a statement, not a question."
Maria chuckled softly, clapping her hands lightly, tilting her head to look at me.
"Alright, alright… if we die, we die together. I'll talk to my grandfather. Go all out. And then we'll check the track in person, fix anything that's off."
I snapped my fingers, then smacked the table in satisfaction—until pain shot through my hand and I yelped. I quickly masked it with a stoic, movie-hero expression, lifting my chin. Then I shifted topics.
"Now… the last one. Longboat. This… this is the hardest."
The table went silent immediately. Everyone turned to look at each other, worry clear on their faces.
James was the first to raise his hand, scratching the back of his head before speaking with a serious tone.
"I've seen this race before. Everyone has to row together, at the exact same rhythm. If you're off even a little, the boat goes nowhere."
He took a deep breath, then continued, explaining as if to someone completely new.
"The coxswain, the person at the front, sets the rhythm… beating a drum or tapping something to make sure all rowers row together, in perfect timing. If the rhythm is off, it's over.
Besides that, the coxswain signals the direction, steers the boat along the right path, and keeps everyone motivated so no one collapses halfway through."
Thomas nodded slowly, his face tense, absorbing every word carefully.
James pressed on, his voice firm.
"There are other positions too. The stern controls the rudder, keeping the boat balanced. And the rowers… everyone must synchronize perfectly."
When James finished, the room fell silent. All eyes turned to me in unison.
I widened my eyes and flinched slightly.
"Me…?"
Silence. Nobody objected.
I exhaled sharply, muttering in frustration.
"This is it… I can barely keep the boat afloat, and now I'm supposed to be the coxswain—beat the drum, control the direction… what the hell!"
Jan chuckled, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow teasingly.
"Come on… you're perfect for it."
I froze, then pouted, muttering under my breath.
"Damn it…"
Light laughter echoed around the table again, easing the tension briefly. Yet everyone knew deep down… the longboat race was the hardest challenge yet.
⸻
Thomas shifted slightly before speaking in a calm, serious tone.
"The main feature of longboat racing… is that the boats are carved from single logs, beautifully crafted. Rowers sit in line, using arm strength and perfect timing to row… which means we need a skilled boatmaker… and we need to find one fast."
James raised an eyebrow, eyes sparkling with mischief and excitement.
"So… we can design the boat ourselves, right?" His tone was playful but with a hint of seriousness.
I slapped my knee, eyes shining.
"Hell yeah! It has to be a boat that turns heads—like, even a dog walking by will look back!"
After finishing the plan, we split up to get things done. María took charge of talking to her grandfather, Thomas called an assistant to find a skilled craftsman, while Jan, James, and I stayed behind, engrossed in our sheet music.
The sound of pens scratching paper mixed with humming as Jan and I tried to fuse Thai and Western notes together.
"Hey, Jan and I used to be in a school band. Westerners can play, and even if Thai music isn't our forte, we know the notes and the vibe," I said, grinning at James.
James nodded slowly.
"Can't argue with that… sounds serious already."
Time passed quietly. Thomas returned, a bit tense, exhaling before speaking gravely.
"It's close to the race. Everyone's scrambling to find a boatmaker. But my assistant recommended one guy… insanely skilled. Problem is, he's isolated for some reason. Anyone else who asked got rejected."
I raised my eyebrow, folding my arms against the chair.
"He won't help anyone?"
"Yeah," Thomas nodded.
"But I marked the route. We can check it out first."
"Okay," I muttered quietly, thinking maybe it won't be as impossible as it seemed…
But I swallowed my optimism when we hit the road heading to meet him.
The old engine of the car hummed alongside the eerily quiet surroundings. I sighed deeply, gripping the wheel, eyes on the rough road ahead.
"Hey, Thomas… you sure this is the right way?"
Thomas' face remained calm, though his eyes twitched slightly.
"Yeah. This is what I was told."
James looked around nervously, pouting.
"Are you sure? This doesn't look like a road anyone normally uses."
Thomas' insistence grew, his face showing irritation.
"This is the road. Trust me, we'll get there."
I snapped my head toward him, frowning.
"You said 'we'll get there' four times already, Thomas! I'm about ready to remember it by heart!"
Thomas hesitated slightly, then replied stubbornly, quiet but firm.
"Yeah, yeah… trust me. We'll get there this time."
Silence fell inside the car. Only the sound of wind rushing past the windows and leaves rubbing together filled the air. Tall trees surrounded us, thick mist hovering low, almost engulfing the car. The eerie atmosphere made me think… I should have brought a pendant or something for luck…
Thomas pointed ahead.
"Here… stop here."
I hit the brake and the car slowed. Everyone turned toward the spot he indicated—dense trees flanking the road, abandoned, no houses, no animal sounds.
James swallowed hard, whispering shakily.
"Are… we going to see the same thing as last time?"
Before anyone could respond, whack! María's hand smacked James' head sharply. Her expression darkened.
"What the hell are you saying! Shut your mouth, James!"
The car went silent immediately, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing mingled with the damp scent of morning fog.
⸻
We parked the car by the side of the narrow path and stepped into the forest. From the very first step onto the damp, uneven ground, silence wrapped around us like a heavy blanket.
It wasn't long before we stumbled upon an old shrine tucked alongside the trail. Shadows from the towering trees sprawled across the wooden roof, giving it a solemn, almost eerie aura. Without speaking, everyone turned to each other simultaneously, and, almost instinctively, we raised our hands in silent respect, faces tight with tension.
"Damn… quieter than that graveyard last time," I muttered under my breath, scanning the dense undergrowth around us.
The air was thick with the faint echo of distant owl calls. Tall grasses clawed at our legs as we moved, and twisted branches arched overhead, forcing us to duck and weave. Every gust of wind made the leaves scrape together with a grating, crunch-crack sound that made my skin prickle.
Then—crack! My foot landed on something hard, something heavy. I froze, heart hammering, before turning and calling out, voice shaking, "Hey… you guys…"
Jan spun around, pale, and instantly raised her hand in warning. Her voice cut sharp through the stillness.
"Don't talk! When you see it… you're not supposed to speak, got it?"
I blinked, eyes wide, shaking my head rapidly. Panic had me blurting, "No! This time, I can't not speak!"
James froze too, lips trembling slightly.
"Don't say anything! Stay quiet!"
"Can't… I have to say something!" I shouted back, my voice bouncing off the trees.
James glared, panic sharpening his features.
"The old folks say you never talk when you see something like this!"
I gritted my teeth, eyes wide, shouting almost at the top of my lungs.
"And who the hell told you what to do if you step on a giant monitor lizard's tail!?"
"Whaaaaat!!!" The four of them screamed in unison, disbelief written all over their faces, before ducking their heads to look at my foot.
And sure enough—there it was. A massive monitor lizard sprawled across the path, eyes sharp and wild, locking on to me like it was sizing me up.
My face went slack, lips trembling.
"Look at it… it's staring me down!"
Thomas ground his teeth, voice low and calm despite the tension in his face.
"Slowly lift your foot… it won't do anything if you don't freak out."
I nodded rapidly, sweat pouring down, and gingerly shifted my foot off the creature. But before I could relax—the tail whipped the ground with a sharp thwack, tongue flicking out with a hissy fshhh!
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" My scream ripped through the forest like a banshee.
Chaos erupted instantly. Everyone scattered in all directions, but I was screaming the loudest because the damned lizard took an immediate interest in me and started chasing directly.
"Help meeeeeeeee!!! Aaaahhh!!!"
My wails echoed across the thick, humid woods as my friends sprinted wildly in every direction. The earlier silence had vanished completely, replaced by a chaotic, comedic horror movie scene.
Jan, running her own path, spun around, eyes bulging like they might pop out of their sockets.
"Help how, huh!?!" she shouted back, her panic barely contained.
James barreled across in front of me, panic-stricken.
"Shit! The boar's goring me now!" He twisted around a tree to dodge, stumbling over a root, almost toppling completely.
Thomas lagged a bit behind when suddenly something resembling a small monkey leapt onto his arm. He yelped, startled, voice cracking.
"Ah… Aaaah! Help meeee!" Both hands gripped the intruder, struggling to shake it off, but the thing held on like glue, chattering furiously.
⸻
We left the car by the roadside and plunged into the forest. The moment my foot touched the damp earth, a heavy silence fell over us.
Not long after, we stumbled upon an old shrine standing alone along the path. Shadows from the towering trees draped over its wooden roof, giving it a sacred, slightly eerie air. Without speaking, we all exchanged glances and quietly raised our hands in a respectful bow, our faces tense.
"Damn… even quieter than the cemetery last time," I muttered under my breath, scanning the overgrown grass.
The forest hummed with distant owl calls. Tall grass brushed against our legs, and bent branches forced us to duck and weave. Every gust of wind made the leaves rustle with a sharp crack, sending shivers down my spine.
Suddenly—crack! My foot struck something hard and heavy. I froze, heart racing, and turned to my friends, my voice trembling. "Hey… guys…"
Jan snapped her head around, pale as a sheet, raising her hand immediately. Her voice firm:
"Don't speak! When you see it… you mustn't talk, got it?"
My eyes went wide. I shook my head frantically, panic rising. "No way… I have to say something this time!"
James' lips trembled slightly, fear in his eyes.
"Don't say a word! Just stay silent!"
"No! I really have to!" I shot back, my voice echoing across the forest.
James' eyes bulged.
"Ancient rules say you're not supposed to talk when you encounter something like this!"
I grit my teeth, eyes wide, nearly screaming:
"And who the hell told you what to do if you step on a giant monitor lizard's tail!?"
"Waaaaaaah!!!" All four of them screamed in unison, staring in disbelief at my feet.
And yes—right under my foot sprawled a massive monitor lizard, its wild eyes locked on me, as if sizing me up.
My face went pale, lips trembling.
"Look at that… it's staring me right in the eyes!"
Thomas gritted his teeth, speaking low and steady despite his serious expression:
"Lift your foot slowly… it won't do anything if we stay calm."
I nodded rapidly, sweating bullets, and carefully lifted my foot. But no sooner had I done so—the lizard whipped its tail, striking the ground with a thwack, its long tongue flicking out with a hiss!
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" My scream bounced through the trees, echoing like a ghost.
Chaos erupted instantly. Everyone scattered in different directions, but I screamed louder, because the damn beast focused straight on me, chasing relentlessly.
"Help meeeee!!! Aaahhh!!!"
My cries pierced the dense, foggy forest, while my friends fled in pandemonium. The serene atmosphere had vanished, replaced by a horror-comedy scene straight out of a movie.
Then came Maria's voice behind me, her footsteps rapid, her screams echoing. I turned just in time to see her barreling forward in panic, eyes wide, hands swatting at a massive rooster pecking at her.
"Fucking rooster!" she yelled, dodging sideways behind a tree, trying to escape, but the bird chased relentlessly.
And finally, Jan got swarmed by a flurry of bats, wings flapping noisily all around. He flailed, trying to shoo them away, face contorted in shock, shouting into the forest:
"Bats!?"
The bats swooped fast, shadows flickering around him, leaving me momentarily forgetting the monitor lizard still on my tail.
I turned to check behind me—the lizard was gone. But when I looked forward again… a massive wild buffalo was staring straight at me. Its eyes were so intense I had to blink several times, my heart pounding instantly.
"Does my face… look like your dad's or something!?" I muttered under my breath, stepping back a few paces.
The buffalo seemed poised to charge. I panicked, my scream tearing through the forest:
"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
I bolted, scrambling across rocks and roots, eyes wide, sweat dripping, lungs gasping.
The friends who had regrouped were awkwardly panting, some hunched over holding their heads, others wiping sweat from their faces.
After surviving the forest madness, we finally collapsed onto a boulder, gasping: huff… huff…
I sat in silence, listening. Was my imagination tricking me, or did I hear something whispering by my ear?
Fshhh~
Huh… what was that? I strained to listen.
Fshhh~~
Clear enough to freeze me in place. I didn't dare move a muscle, scanning left and right. My friends sat frozen, wide-eyed, as if they'd seen a ghost. Heart racing, each breath felt like it was being watched by something unseen.
Damn… it always happens to me…
I muttered to myself, voice mixed with fear, irritation, and exhaustion.
Fshhh!
I gritted my teeth, steeling myself, and snapped my head around.
And there it was… right in front of me… a snake. A massive one. Face to face. Our faces just inches apart. Not romantic, just terrifying.
I didn't waste another second—bolted flat out, the forest a blur behind me. The circle broke apart again, everyone scattering in chaos.
Finally, it all seemed to pause…
"We need to make merit… pray a little," James said, gasping for air.
I panted, sweat dripping from my temples and shoulders, voice weak, still catching my breath.
"Prayer won't help… after this… we need to build a temple!"
I said it with exhaustion, irritation, and a hint of dark humor.
I looked at my trembling hands, slowly wiped the sweat from my forehead, heart still hammering, finally gathering my wits…
Suddenly, a voice spoke from right behind me
"Quite the good boy… young man."