"Ugh..." Yi Tan woke up feeling something heavy on him. He looked down to see a beautiful face snuggled upon his chest. "Ermm..." Yi Tan was trying to figure out why Mei was attached to him like he was some kind of body pillow. She had half her body wrapped around his.
Sighing, Yi Tan gently shook Mei. Mei's brow furrowed as she slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes coming in contact with Yi Tan's. Her cheeks instantly blushed. She was about to say something, but Yi Tan stopped her and pointed over at Ana. "It's best if we do not make a scene."
Mei quickly caught on and nodded her head as she slowly got up. She couldn't believe she had actually latched on to Yi Tan in her sleep. "Sorry..."
"No need to be. No man would complain about a cute girl using him as a hug pillow." Yi Tan couldn't help teasing the seemingly cold faced girl a bit.
Yi Tan's words caused Mei to blush more as she lowered her head. Deciding to forget the situation, she turned and began shaking Ana. "Miss, you need to get up."
"Mei… five more minutes... " Ana mumbled before rolling over.
Mei frowned, but then a smile appeared on her face as she snuck a glance at Yi Tan, who was slowly getting up. "Miss, if you don't get up, I will tell Tan all about your most embarrassing moments starting from that time you we…."
"I'm up!" Ana yelled. Her whole body shot right up. She turned and glared at Mei. She couldn't believe this girl would do something like exposing her biggest secrets!
Yi Tan only shook his head. He slowly crawled out of the tent to find Tim passed out with his arms and legs spread out. His mouth was half open, and an owl perched on his head, pecking him in the face. "How can he even sleep like that?" Yi Tan raised his foot and kicked this brother of his in the side.
"Shit! Ouch! Who!?" Tim jumped up, ready to fight, causing the owl to fly away. "Huh? Brother, why!?"
"I am surprised you got up. Don't you feel that your face hurts a bit? I mean, that bird was pecking you for quite some time." Yi Tan chuckled, looking at all the red marks on Tim's face.
Tim frowned and rubbed his face. If Yi Tan had not said anything, he would not have of realized it. Now he could feel many stinging sensations all over his face.
"Pfft! What happened to your face!? Hahahaha!" Ana, who just came out of the tent, burst out laughing, pointing at Tim.
"Humph! I should say the same to you. No make up really makes a girl… mumph!" Yi Tan quickly covered Tim's mouth.
"Let's not go there. You don't want to become enemies." Yi Tan wondered if Tim was going to last if he was going to be this hot headed.
"Ahh, fine! Let's go line up." Tim yelled and scratched his head. He understood what Yi Tan was telling him.
Mei looked at the two boys, but her eyes were mainly on Yi Tan. She blushed slightly as she remembered how she woke up this morning. She then went back into the tent and began packing things up.
"Let's help them break down the tent." Yi Tan saw Mei busying herself and felt he should help out as well. She had helped him greatly with his stomach.
"Alright." Tim agreed readily.
The group of three and one slacker went to work breaking the tent down. After about ten minutes, they had it all packed up. The group got their things together and walked towards the building where the awakening ceremony was going to be held.
Many teens were lined up here. The admission for new awakenings was ages twelve to sixteen. There were hundreds to maybe even a thousand teens here waiting to awaken. Yi Tan looked at the large group and knew this was going to be a long, long day. The first thing one had to do was register. There were ten booths set up, each manned by an academy teacher.
Yi Tan and Tim lined up behind Ana and Mei. "The closer I get to the awakening, the more nervous I get.." Tim couldn't help but speak out his feelings.
"Would you shut up or go to another line? I don't need you to remind me of what is to come!" Ana turned around and scolded. "Why can't you be more like Tan, cool, handsome, composed, handsome."
"Miss, you said handsome twice." Mei pointed out.
"I know. I was making it known that this boy here was not handsome." Ana said while sticking her tongue out.
"You!" Tim couldn't help but point his finger at the arrogant little girl. "Humph, no one would like you anyway with that flat… Mumph!"
Both Yi Tan and Mei reacted at the same time, covering Tim's mouth. Ana glared at Tim and turned around in a huff. Yi Tan and Mei looked at each other and let out a sigh. Yi Tan did not know why but he knew if he let Tim finish that sentence, things would not be good.
"Soft..." Tim said softly, which caused Mei to frown and then wipe her hand on Yi Tan. "You! You act like I am a disease!"
"Are you not?" Mei retorted coldly before turning around.
"Brother, is it just me, or do these two girls seem to dislike me?" Tim asked. He didn't understand he had done nothing wrong to anger these two girls.
"I really don't know what to tell you." Yi Tan shrugged and turned around himself. Yi Tan did not want to get involved. One did not want the ire of two beauties since that was scarier than thinking about the awakening.
After about three hours, Yi Tan stood in front of an old man who sat behind a folding table that had a stack of papers on it. "Take this and sign it. It's just a death waiver. If you turn into a monster during your awakening you give up all rights to any belongings you have on you to the academy. Your bag also has to stay here. If you awaken, you will get it back."
Yi Tan did as he was told and signed the form before handing over his bag. He watched as the old man took out a tag and put it on the bag before handing him a ticket. The tag and the ticket both had the same numbers printed on them. "Don't lose this, or you won't be able to get your things back. Now move on and get in line for the awakening."
Yi Tan nodded and walked to where Mei and Ana were waiting. "Took you long enough. Let's go." Ana said impatiently. Yi Tan scratched his head and didn't move as he said: "I will wait for Tim here. I can't just leave him behind."
"Humph! Fine..." Ana snorted, but she still waited. Mei turned to hide her laughter. Yi Tan was actually surprised that Ana and Mei were even waiting for them. He figured that the two would have already left to go wait in line.
Mei leaned over as if she knew what he was thinking and whispered: "Miss, thinks of you two as friends now that she has gotten to know you. She won't turn her back on her friends even if she acts indifferent like this."
Yi Tan nodded. He could understand this. "Then I will be in your care."
Mei blushed slightly. "Umm, Tan, can I ask a favor from you?"
"Sure. You helped me a lot, so whatever you need me to do, I will try to help the best I can." Yi Tan was not an ungrateful person. After what she did for him, if he could help Mei out, he would not hesitate to.
"If by chance I turn into a monster during the awakening, can you look after my miss? She is a bit stubborn, but she has a good heart." Mei asked. She could only ask this of Yi Tan because she felt Yi Tan would not harm Ana.
"If that is all, then that is easy. But don't think bad things, I am sure you will be just fine. If anyone should be worried, it is me." Yi Tan pointed to his stomach. He wasn't sure if his injury would cause any abnormal reactions.
"If we both make it through the awakening, I will check your injuries again and see if the stitches can be removed." Mei felt a bit more relaxed after talking with Yi Tan. It was like his words were able to calm the anxiety that was rising within her.
"Then I will be counting on you." Yi Tan said with a smile.
"You two are rather close. Nothing funny happened while I was sleeping last night, right?" Ana chimed in, giving both Yi Tan and Mei a suspicious look. She had noticed the two were whispering a lot. They seemed to be rather close for two people who had just recently met.
"That's because while you were sleeping… mumph!" Mei quickly covered Yi Tan's mouth, her eyes opening wide in panic.
"What, what!? What did you two do!? You couldn't have!? Oh my god! Right next to me!?" Ana yelled out.
Her voice causing others to turn their head and look at them.
Yi Tan chuckled, pulling Mei's hand down but not letting go as he said: "Little girl, you really got bad thoughts running through your head. What did you think we did? We slept just like you."
Mei quickly pulled her hand out of Yi Tan's and stomped on his foot. As she quickly explained. "Miss, I was just asking him to look out for you if the worst happens during my awakening."
"Humph! Causing people to misunderstand why you didn't just say that in the first place!" Ana stomped her feet and blushed. Now it was like she was the one with the perverted mind.
"Now, now. Tim's here. Let's go line up." Yi Tan decided to drop the subject.
Tim on the other hand, walked next to Yi Tan and whispered: "Did you?"
Yi Tan only smiled mysteriously and whispered back: "Real men do not kiss and tell." Before walking off catching up to the two girls.
"Huh!? What's that supposed to mean!? Did you or didn't you!? Tan! Brother!" Tim yelled out chasing after the group.