They are now working together. Hema and Shona finished collecting twigs and helped Sadewa, Nakula and Rasya try to set up a tent. To be more precise, Rasya and Sadewa, because Nakula just sat leaning against a tree and playing games on his cellphone.
The four spent fifteen minutes figuring out how to set up a tent. Even Hema has opened a series and is looking for articles on how to set up a tent.
Why are they not helped by the teachers or the student council?
"Well, it turns out that camping like this can also get grades which will affect their final semester grades, even though it's a little absurd considering they have just started a new school year," said Rasya.
That's why they had to be able to pitch their tents.
("How will you be independent if you just pitch your tent and ask for help? The world is much tougher than this," said their algorithm teacher, Mr. Donovan. Rasya just rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Sure, bitch." which was heard by Sadewa and Hema, and they giggled together.)
"Looking good, lads," Nakula commented in a terrible British accent, watching his group of friends busy pitching their tents. And smirked when Sadewa glared at him.
"Oh, thank you, kind sir," replied Rasya with an equally terrible British accent, but sounding sharper and more sarcastic, don't forget Rasya's famous round eyeballs.
Nakula's grin grew wider. They spent almost an hour together, making Nakula and Rasya click quickly. Even though they are bickering more often with Shona as a sprinkling of spices here and there, it's clear that the two of them feel good for each other. Nakula had never felt so comfortable with strangers in such a short time. Because Nakula always put up a wall for people he had just met. But Rasya easily destroys the wall.
"Yes, Nakula Andaru! Help us, or I will throw you into the lake!" Hema exclaimed. Her patience was on the brink now. She no longer wanted to dwell on setting up a tent.
Nakula shrugged his shoulders. "You guys are just too stupid―ouch, Sadewa!" Nakula complains dramatically that Sadewa accidentally hits him on the head when he walks past Nakula. They all laugh.
Nakula grumbled and got up and saw what was wrong with their tent. Then start moving on their own. Ten minutes later, the tent stood firm.
O-okay.
Nakula smiled proudly and contentedly while clapping his hands as if cleaning dust. Hema gawked, Shona gasped, Rasya raised her eyebrows, and Sadewa's mouth was wide open, and Nakula was sure his chin would fall to the ground. He chuckled at the reaction of his group mates.
"Okay. What the fuck?!" Hema shouted.
Nakula still smiled and ignored him, starting to stuff their bags into the tent.
"Dude, I didn't know you could pitch a tent," Sadewa said quietly. He hadn't recovered from his shock.
"You forgot that I was a scout boy in middle school?" Nakula's brows dipped in irritation.
Then Sadewa realized and muttered 'ah'.
"Oh, you're a scout boy?" Rasya is interested. Nakula nodded. "At first, when I was in high school, I still wanted to, but it turned out that my schedule collided with basketball practice."
"Nakula joined the Jamboree abroad several times," added Sadewa.
"Really? Wow, how cool!" Rasya exclaimed excitedly.
"Thanks," Nakula chuckled nervously, then scratched the back of his head that didn't itch—avoiding Rasya's gaze because her cheeks felt hot instantly. Sadewa had a sly smile out of the corner of his eye. You'll see, you were a traitor! Nakula swears he will avenge Sadewa.
The whistle sounded again, making them look away and see Sena holding the loudspeaker.
"Anyone who wants to swim in the lake, you can go to the lake!"
Then Sena explained how important it was to be careful and such.
The five of them looked at each other. "I'm going to swim!" Shona jumped and entered the tent, rummaging through her bag, maybe looking for a buoy or something.
"Are you swimming?" Hema asked the other three. Rasya immediately shook her head. "The lake contains wild animals such as frogs, lizards, and frog eggs," Rasya shuddered.
Hema scoffed. "Of course, you would say that. You two?" Hema looked at the Andaru brothers, who looked at each other.
"I don't think so," said Nakula.
"Uh... me too," Sadewa nodded, scratching the back of his neck.
Hema nodded. "Neither do I."
"So I'm the only one swimming? Oh well," said Shona, who was already holding her life jacket, shrugging her shoulders, and running towards the crowd of students who were getting ready to swim.
***
And at dusk, Shona was caught with a fever. After almost two hours of swimming, the sweet teenager with Japanese blood cleaned her body. She complained a little about Rasya, who was helping several other students prepare dinner, and Rasya told her to rest in the tent.
And when Rasya was about to wake up Shona when dinner arrived, Rasya slightly felt Shona shivering violently.
Panic, especially when Rasya touched her cousin's forehead and felt her body temperature was so high, Rasya called her friends. Hema ran to report the situation to Mahesa and Sena, as well as one of the teachers in charge of the activity. The school doctor examined Shona, and the result was that Shona really couldn't continue the camp because her condition continued to decline.
Shona is a person who gets sick easily. Therefore Sanjaya always warns Shona to take her vitamins. And yes, Rasya forgot to remind Shona, who is not very immune.
And finally, Shona was ushered home by one of the student council members.
"So, the four of us here, patrolling too?" Nakula spoke up.
Rasya scratched the back of her head that didn't itch, looking at the bonfire in front of them—they had just had dinner, by the way.
"Yeah, what else do you want? If you want to go home, please swim in the lake and have a fever too," Hema answered sharply.
Nakula chuckled softly. Okay, it looks like he's getting used to the sharp talkbacks from Hema and Rasya; one of the similarities is that Nakula and Sadewa met.
"Besides, our tent will feel wider," added Rasya.
"He's your cousin, in case you forgot." Hema raised her eyebrows high at Rasya.
Rasya took a deep breath. "What else do you want? I'm speaking facts, idiot. Sho-chan is often careless with her body."
Sadewa and Nakula looked at each other. Again, they listened to the debate between two friends closely related to a love-hate relationship.
"Ehm, Acha, if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Sanjaya is not of Chinese descent?" Nakula said, now slightly interrupting the small debate between Rasya and Hema. Rasya nodded slowly at Nakula's question.
"My mother is also of Chinese descent," Rasya added.
"Why did you call Shona Sho-chan? Is he of Japanese descent? Isn't she your cousin?" Nakula asked in succession.
Rasya was silent, smiling slightly at Nakula's question, who seemed enthusiastic and full of curiosity about Rasya.
"She's the son of my biological father's younger brother, a Japanese."
"So, Mr. Sanjaya is not your biological father?" With his slightly sparkling eyes, the higher the tone of Nakula's voice, the more he looked at Rasya because of her answer.
Rasya was silent, smiling slightly. Hema, who had been Rasya's debate partner, now inched a little closer to her best friend.
"It's a story for another time," said Rasya in the end, with a smile on her plump lips.
"But— ow!"
Nakula no longer continued his speech when Sadewa hit him on the back of the head. His twin seemed to be glancing at him warningly.
"Can you shut up?" Sadewa asked quietly—then glanced at Rasya, who looked different because Nakula was talking about her family.
Understanding what his twin meant, Nakula now took a deep breath.
"Sorry, Acha. I didn't mean to talk about your family's privacy. I'm just a little curious."
Hema squinted and raised one eyebrow, hearing Nakula.
"Ah? Since when did you call Acha?" asked Hema as if probing.
Nakula blinked. "I think it's Rasya's nickname,"
"Yes. And that's only for those closest to her. And… since when did you get close to Acha?"
Nakula is silent. His eyes were still blinking slowly at Hema's words, unsure what to answer. Because he is also not that close to being close to Rasya. Uh, Nakula got a little scared.
"Come on, Hema, it's just a nickname. You don't need to correct Nakula like that."
Hema wrinkled her nose. Yes, too. It's just a simple nickname.
"Guys, time for patrol!"
The four teenagers now turned their heads towards the source of the voice. Without a second warning, now the four of them got up from their seats and headed toward Mahesa and Fredy, carrying a piece of paper.
"This is the route," said Mahesa, handing the paper to Nakula, and Sadewa turned on his flashlight to read the map.
"Okay. Time to go on patrol."
Mahesa patted Sadewa on the shoulder and nodded to the other four. "There's only four of you, so I guess..." Mahesa checked his watch and continued, "it's okay. You guys patrol for just an hour."
"One hour?! If you say only one hour?!" Hema exclaimed dramatically. Mahesa looked at her flatly. "The others got two hours. You will also get two hours if your members are complete," said Mahesa.
"But, spending an hour in... in the forest there, without knowing what kind of creature is there! It could be werewolves or vampires or maybe ogres!" Hema's hands twirled to explain dramatically.
"Hema, really. You didn't believe what Sho-chan said a few hours ago, did you?" Rasya looked at Hema sceptically.
"Well..." Hema blinked, and her eyes avoided Rasya. "We'll never know, right?"
"If Hema wants to stay here and not join the patrol, that's fine too. We won't force you," Sadewa suggested with his trademark smile. Hema blinked.
Hema looked at Sadewa, Nakula, Rasya, and Mahesa and then looked back at Sadewa. Then Hema turned and looked at the tent behind her and around them. "Uh..." he mumbled.
"It's okay, Hema. No one will force you to come," Rasya smiled reassuringly.
Hema looked at her own tent and thought, what would she do if she didn't go on patrol? Cell phones are not allowed, and snacks have run out. Cards and toys cannot be played with because he will be alone. Hema sighed.
"I'll go."
Sadewa, Nakula smiled, nodding. "Are you sure, Hema?" Ask Rasya. Hema looked at her best friend and gave a thumbs up,
"I mean, it's just Central Park, right? What could've gone wrong?"