Okay, Hema took her words back. Twenty minutes ago, she said, 'this is just Central Park. In fact, everything went wrong. What could've gone wrong?'
Hema was scared to death.
Well, she is not as scared as Rasya—because Rasya is now tightly gripping Hema's arm, and her head won't stop looking around. Hema swears Rasya is almost crying—but still, the forest at night is really scary.
The sound of the owl hooting echoed. The crackle of the bushes can be heard every five minutes, and oh-don't forget the sound of crickets and other nocturnal animals. Then the silence and the air suddenly cooled sharply.
Rasya had tightened her jacket and was a little sorry for not bringing a scarf. For God's sake, this is just Central Park! A place he often visited as a child with his family to learn cycling. Then why is Central Park so scary at this time of the night? Well, even if it was daytime. But still.
"Yes, because a forest is a forest."
Rasya and Hema jumped in surprise. They gave a small shriek and ran to Sadewa, who was a few steps ahead of them—forgetting that Nakula was behind them. And yes, it was Nakula who spoke earlier too.
"Nakula, please stop scaring me like that, you bastard!" Hema threw Nakula a box of biscuits she had been snacking with Rasya amidst their fears.
Nakula chuckled. "Sorry, after all, your reactions were so cute. Acha too. I think you're brave because you seem very fierce every day. It turns out that you are very soft inside," Nakula didn't want to pinch Rasya's cheeks in annoyance.
"Yes! I'm not afraid, really! I'm just cold ..." denied Rasya.
"Oh, is that so?" The scornful tone that came from Nakula was heard clearly because they knew Nakula didn't believe any of Rasya's words.
"Then how about we split it in two? Hema can be with me and Nakula with Rasya," suggested Sadewa. And Nakula certainly didn't miss that sly grin that Sadewa was hiding.
Hema and Rasya looked at each other.
Rasya knows Hema is hesitant because Rasya is not very close to Nakula. They are quite close now, but that doesn't mean Rasya will be comfortable with him. She is willing not to spend time with her long-life crush as long as Rasya is fine and comfortable. And Hema always put her best friend in life and death.
So Hema doesn't matter. There's still plenty of time to approach Sadewa because her best friend is the most important for her. And Hema is sure that Rasya also thinks—
"In that case, okay."
-so. Or maybe not.
Huh?
"Ah, are you sure?" Hema immediately turned quickly to Rasya. Rasya smiled faintly at Hema. "I think the best thing right now is to divide us, Hema. I mean, we're both equally cowardly, and we're both equally unreliable." She chuckled nervously and scratched the back of her head.
Hema blinked. Was Rasya deliberately so that she could be closer to Sadewa? But Hema immediately caught Rasya's whimper. Ah, it turns out Rasya is serious. To cover up her nervousness and suppress her heart which was beating 'boom-boom-boom-boom-boom', Hema pinched Rasya's cheek, which was groaning in pain.
"Hey, you think it's because I'm a coward that I can't protect you, do you?" A coping mechanism by Lee Hema, ladies and gentlemen.
Rasya brushed off Hema's pinch and rubbed her cheek while grinning. "You just ran a race with Sho-chan and lost, really," Rasya grumbled.
"It was one time! Just once, Acha!" Hema stomped her foot in shame. Damn.
"Guys, guys, if you don't stop fighting, time will get late," Sadewa stopped bickering with the two friends. Sadewa glanced at each other with Nakula, and they both agreed. Even Sadewa couldn't hide his amused smile.
So adorable.
"Fine!"
Hema and Rasya answered at the same time and then looked away. Hema approached Sadewa and Rasya approached Nakula.
"What are you looking at?" Rasya grumbled fiercely because Nakula had been watching her with an annoying grin. Nakula shrugged his shoulders and smiled broadly. "No," he answered.
Rasya rolled her eyes and turned on her tiny flashlight, and they started walking again.
The hooting of owls sounded then, and the chirping of crickets filled their silence. Sadewa turned his flashlight to illuminate the road in front of them. Then there was the sound of a growling stomach.
Rasya and Nakula laughed while Sadewa just smiled, amused. Hema's face was so red that it reached her ears, and she lowered her head in shame.
"Hey, I'm hungry, you know!" Hema stomped her foot.
"Here," Sadewa handed them the package of bread Mahesa had smuggled in.
("Guys, wait a minute, take this," Mahesa opened his bag and handed his four packs of bread and two bottles of mineral water."
"Uh.. can't we not—"
"Just pretend you don't know. I know you guys will think it's better if Hema doesn't go on patrol if she's hungry. For God's sake, she'll keep complaining and making your heads hurt," Mahesa glanced at the pouting Hema.
"I don't know if I should be annoyed or thank you," Hema pressed her lips into a line.
"Here," Mahesa gave Hema a chocolate bar, making her face light up instantly.
"Thank you, big bro. You know I love you, right?" Hema jumped joyfully and immediately opened the chocolate package and shared it with her team. Mahesa rolled his eyes. "You just said you love me. Already go there," Mahesa waved his hand.
Rasya mumbled 'thank you,' as did Sadewa and Nakula. Hema waved. "Bye boo, love you." Mahesa waved back with a flat face.
But Hema turned and kissed Mahesa on the cheek with a loud 'much' sound and then ran after her friends after being almost hit by Mahesa.
"Bye, bye, Mae—poo!" Don't forget kiss-bye.)
Hema ate the bread, and Sadewa shared all the bread and gave a bottle of mineral water to Nakula. They chewed in silence.
Rasya finished her bread quickly—she was secretly hungry too. Then she saw Nakula drinking from the bottle of mineral water Sadewa had given him. Feeling cared for, Nakula turned and saw Rasya staring at the mineral water bottle.
"Um... do you want a drink?" Nakula handed him the mineral water. But Rasya didn't move and just blinked at Nakula.
No, no. It's not that Russia doesn't want to share or anything, but right if Rasya also drinks from the same bottle, it means that it becomes... an indirect kiss.
Rasya's face reddened. It's okay. Good thing it's dark in here.
Nakula, who didn't understand, just raised an eyebrow. "Acha? Do you want to drink or not?" Ask Nakula. Rasya finally gave in and took mineral water from Nakula's hand. Why would he think like that, anyway? It was clear that Nakula didn't think the same as him. They are a group of friends, and it is natural to share. Right? Right?
Rasya turned the bottle cap and started drinking, although she was a little hesitant. She lowered her head a little because she wanted to hide her cheeks which somehow felt warm.
When Nakula saw Rasya pressing the mouth of the bottle to her lips, Nakula immediately realized. They just had an indirect kiss. Nakula's eyes widened. Was Rasya silent a few seconds ago thinking that too? Nakula gulped. Good grief. If Rasya really has the same thoughts as him, Nakula feels stupid to death. Why is he so insensitive? Nakula covered his face because he was sure his face was already very red.
"Nakula, are you okay?" Rasya gently pulled Nakula's arm. Nakula blinked and looked into Rasya's brown eyes, and his heartbeat 'boom-boom-boom-boom-boom'. Damn.
"I... it's okay. H-just a little dizzy," he answered casually.
"Are you dizzy? You want us to go back to the tent?" Rasya stopped walking, which was then followed by Nakula. Oh, Nakula realized his mistake.
"Ah, no. It's okay. Maybe I feel a little dizzy because I'm tired and sleepy. No need to worry," Nakula assured. But Rasya was still worried. "Uh, Sadewa, He-ma...?"
Silence.
There was no one in front of them, and it was empty. Sadewa and Hema had walked far ahead without them knowing because they were too busy with their thoughts. Rasya looked at Nakula in horror.
They were already running forward in the next second, looking for the other two people. They can't be separated! Nakula will be killed by Tania, and Rasya will feel guilty for the rest of her life if Hema and Sadewa get lost because of their stupidity.
"Sadewa!"
"Hema!"
They shouted in a panicked tone. Rasya subconsciously grabbed Nakula's arm.
"Where are we going?! We don't have a map!" Rasha screamed in panic.
"Nakula, we don't have a map!" Rasya screamed.
Nakula's eyes widened in realization. Gosh, the ones who got lost were not Sadewa and Hema, but the two.
"Calm down, calm down. Acha, calm down, okay? Calm down," Nakula rubbed Rasya's shaking shoulder
"How can I calm down?! We're lost!" Her screams cut through the forest at night, and then the sound of a crow in the distance made Rasya flinch and embrace Nakula's arm tightly.
"Wait a minute... phone—"
"Idiot, we left our cellphones behind!" Rasya screamed again between annoyed, scared, and panicked. "After all, there will be no signal in this forest!"
Nakula cursed softly. Panicked, he also forgot that the teachers confiscated their cell phones. Nakula licked his dry lips and closed his eyes, trying to think rationally. He couldn't let his panic take over because if he panicked, who would protect Rasya?
"Okay, fine. How about we walk slowly straight ahead? And Sadewa said if we see a mark stuck in a tree, it's a sign that leads us, right? We'll try to find that mark," suggested Nakula trying to calm down. It seemed to work because Rasya calmed down and nodded slowly.
They started walking straight without letting go of each other's arms. It was getting late, the cold was getting sharper, and Rasya had to really close her jacket.
"Are you cold?"
Rasya was about to comment but pursed her lips again when she heard howling in the distance—echoing and splitting the night sky. She froze for a moment.
"Nakula, there are no wolves here... right?" She whispered in a trembling voice.
Rasya feels Nakula's breath rushing, and Nakula also feels nervous.
"Th-maybe it's a dog? Dogs howl too, right—"
Another howl, this time stronger and closer. Nakula and Rasya looked at each other. Their faces had the same expression, fear, panic, and worry.
"Th-it's just Central Park. What could've—"
Last howl.
Right behind them.
Without thinking, Nakula and Rasya immediately spurred their legs quickly. No matter the direction of origin, away from any creature behind them. Rasya swore she could feel the growl from the rustling behind them.
They ran without stopping, not caring about the scratches of broken branches or the thorns of wild plants scratching their bodies. Their instincts kept telling them to run.
The howl sounded again, and Rasya dared to look back and screamed when she saw two eyes as red as blood.