One of the advantages that Tasia got by living with her aunt and uncle was that she doesn't have to ask for permission to go anywhere, especially those related to school activities.
Unlike when her parents were still alive, she had to beg a thousand times. From prostrating to rolling around to be able to participate in school camping events and in the end still not allowed.
Tasia had already received a signature from her aunt and brought the money to pay for the four-day and three-night event at the Highwood province.
Finally, after the long and dizzying days of exams, the day that vacation hunters have been waiting for has arrived.
Tasia, Tata, Marya, Patra, Mark, and Hadyan chatted near the school gate on that blind morning.
"By the way, aren't you afraid to join this activity? What's more, the nature lovers club is not mushy like a middle school farewell party. Usually, we are trained to be the skill of independent and survive in the wild." Patra said, more directed to the girls in his group.
"Unfortunately, things like that won't happen. Because it's not just members of the nature lovers club participating. I know your club is holding this hiking event openly due to lack of funds, while your members are too few to meet accommodations." Tata answered smoothly.
"Shit. She's great." Mark whispered in admiration in Patra's ear. The guy immediately wagged his ear, his hand almost slapped Mark's disgusting face.
"Don't you dare try to fool and frighten us while Tata is here, Patra. She is the all-knowing goddess of information." Tasia laughed.
"So, you're part of the nature lovers club?" Hadyan asked.
"Yes, that's right. Mark and I love wild adventure and love to defy death." He embraced his classmates proudly.
"Why do you have to be so proud like that?" Marya said sarcastically.
"Because, a man who likes challenges is the real man." Said Hadyan.
"Nice Hadyan!" Mark patted Hadyan on the back. And he felt how hard the back he pounded until his palms felt numb.
Marya smiled gently, "Do you like challenges too?"
"I do. I love challenges, and once I want something, I'll never let it go until I get it." Hadyan answered confidently. But that answer made Tasia secretly grimace in discomfort, because she knew from the start that Hadyan had come to carry her.
"Wow! You're so cool, Hadyan! If only all men had your views." Said Marya and hugged Hadyan's arm.
"Eh? Looks like we should get on the bus now." Tata said when she saw other students starting to get into the blue bus parked in the school parking lot.
They sat in the very back row by Marya's suggestion, with the excuse that they would not have to scatter and be more comfortable when chatting.
The students used two large buses. During the trip, they joked and joked until the sun almost goes down. By that time, they had entered a very long highway.
"I am hungry!" Tasia exclaimed.
"Me too!" Patra continued.
"Hey, don't just complain! Get your food out!" As usual, Tata started to nag. Especially, because her stomach was also growling secretly.
"But my food was left in a big bag, it's in the trunk." Patra put on a sad look.
"Mine too, my bag is in the trunk beside Patra's bag," Tasia added.
"Soon, we will arrive at the rest area. You can buy as much food as you want there." Tata said dizzily, because they had stopped at the rest area several times, but no one was prepared for food. Even though they had already been given lunch boxes, their teenage body was still growing so the food didn't last long in their stomach.
After arriving, they all rushed off the bus to catch their needs.
Tasia and Mark went straight to the nearest mini market. They bought a lot of food because the journey was still long and it was getting late. Meanwhile, Parta's stomach suddenly started to churn, so he immediately looked for the toilet.
"I'm going to the toilet. You go back to the bus alone, okay?"
"Okay. Come on, let me take your shopping." Tasia took one of Mark's shopping bags.
"Are you serious? It's a bit heavy, you know," Mark asked worriedly.
Tasia shook her head with a smile, "Don't worry, it's not too heavy. After all, how can you go to the toilet with so many bags?" she chuckled.
Mark smirked, "You're right, thank you then. I gotta go now," He immediately ran to the toilet, and Tasia knew that he had been holding back the urge to pee all this time just to buy food.
"You've got a lot of groceries. You look like my mother when she came home from the market." Said Hadyan from behind.
"Eh? Hadyan? Where is Marya?" Tasia asked as looking around. Because she saw, as soon as Marya got off the bus, that silly girl immediately pulled Hadyan out to nowhere.
"Marya is in the toilet. I told her I'd go back to the bus first." He immediately took Tasia's shopping bags without permission and carried them.
"Wow.. it seems Marya was right. You are a real man," Tasia said in awe, but half-mocking. "Then, it's rude of you to compare me to your mother who just came home from the market. Could it be the reason you helped me carry these groceries?"
Hadyan laughed, "You're so fierce, aren't you? I didn't know you liked to nag."
"Well, I do like nagging." She said by looking away. "By the way, if you like cheerful girls, I think Marya is a match for you. She always makes people laugh with her funny behaviour, right?"
Hadyan nodded, "Yes. She is indeed a very funny girl. Whenever there is Marya, there must be a lot of people laughing."
"Hahahaha! Yes, she is funny." She replied as squinting at Hadyan. But the guy ignored her attitude. He didn't understand the real meaning of Tasya's words.
Arriving at the parking lot, they got onto the bus, but it turned out that the bus they were riding still looked empty.
"The others haven't come back yet," Tasia said. "Let's go down again."
Hadyan immediately held her arm, "No. I don't have the mood to go out."
Tasia looked confused, but still nodded and followed Hadyan to sit on the bus, "You look uncomfortable. What's wrong? Are you sick?"
Hadyan glanced at the window, "I just don't like being in the crowd watching me like that."
Tasia frowned then moved to sit beside Hadyan to look out through the same window. But she saw nothing but a row of tall cypress trees which were darkened by the dim light of the sun, "What crowd? No one seems watching you since we arrived here."
"They know I'm not human. So many people have died on this highway. Usually, I would be angry with those who stare at me so disrespectfully. But now I can't do it." The answer made Tasia shudder.