The sky which was previously dark and decorated with stars has turned bright blue with the sun returning to show its light for all living things on earth. The sound of birds chirping was heard melodiously, making a woman slowly wake up from her dreamland.
Her eyes opened. Her initially blurry vision slowly became clear. She rubbed her face with her hands and then got up from her sleep. She walked out of the tent, then spread her arms.
"Ughhh... the air in the morning is the best," said Della taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.
Due to many years of living in the hustle and bustle of a densely populated and polluted city, going to open nature places and forests like this is something she rarely does. And after a long time, she can feel and breathe fresh air free of pollution and without the deafening noise of vehicles. Which is something that makes her feel happy.
Also as a student at a well-known university, she often feels stressed and pressured to face the assignments given by their lecturers. And by going to this place, she felt like she could ease her mind a bit.
Della looked around. "Looks like I'm the only one who just woke up," said Della, looking at the other tents that were still tightly closed.
She turned back and walked back into her tent, then sighed. "Keira... Keiraaaaa!"
Della shook Keira's shoulder and called Keira repeatedly, to wake up her best friend who was still in dreamland. It didn't take long for the owner of the name to open her eyes, and...
"AAAHHHHHH!" shouted Keira loudly.
Della was surprised to see Keira who suddenly got up from her sleep and screamed. "Hey! What's wrong with you?!" panicked Della holding both of Keira's shoulders.
Keira looked around the tent and then took a deep breath. "Hah... thank God. I'm still alive," said Keira feeling relieved.
Della furrowed her eyebrows. "Why do you say that? Of course, you're still alive," Della felt confused hearing Keira's words. "Ah! Also, where were you last night?!"
Yeah, last night Della waited for Keira to return to the tent. She waited until she fell asleep because Keira didn't come back. Of course, she was also worried that something bad happened to Keira. and now she's going to interrogate Keira
"I... I'm lost," replied Keira.
"You got lost?!" Della checked all sides of Keira's body. "Are you hurt?!"
Keira rolled her eyes. "Calm down! I'm fine, but..."
"But?" said Della raising one of her eyebrows.
Instead of continuing what she said, Keira reached into her trouser pocket and pulled out her cell phone. "Look! Look at this!" said Keira showing her cell phone screen.
Della who had been staring at Keira turned to stare at Keira's cell phone. Then a few seconds later furrowed her eyebrows. "Isn't this the faceless painting?"
Keira nodded. "Yes! Look, the painting has a face!"
Della stared at Keira. "Huh? What are you talking about? This painting has no face at all," confused Della.
Keira flipped the screen on her cell phone. "What? Can't you see it?! Look, his face is so handsome--"
DEG
Keira froze, her eyes widened when she saw the photo of the painting on her cell phone.
Gone...
The handsome man's face that was previously in the painting disappeared. The painting returned to its original state; without a face.
"W-why is it gone?" said Keira with a trembling voice, couldn't believe what she was seeing right now.
"And also, why did you take a picture of that painting? Aren't we forbidden to take pictures of anything inside that castle?!" scolds Della. Because Keira has taken the picture.
As she said, when they entered Xerxes castle they were not allowed to take pictures of anything in there. But look at what her best friend has done now! If their lecturer finds out about this, they will get scolded.
And the worst part is that their grades will be threatened.
Keira fingered the screen of her cell phone. "I took a picture of it because I want to show you! If that painting has a face!" Keira said while looking at Della.
Last night she did take a picture of the painting with her cell phone because she wanted to show the face of the man in the painting to Della.
Della sighed. "Keira, how is it possible that a painting can have a face all of a sudden? That's impossible," Della then stood up. "We better go to the lake now. Looks like you need to calm your mind."
Keira shook her head still, looking at her cell phone screen. "But... but..." stuttered Keira.
Della rolled her eyes "Come on! Just get up!" said Della then pulled Keira's hand.
...
The sweet scent of pine trees greets Keira's senses, making her occasionally close her eyes to inhale this addictive scent. Her right hand touched wildflowers that were so beautiful and a little wet with the morning dew.
She likes this.
She liked this forest. How is it possible that a forest that looked so scary last night can turn out to be so beautiful in the morning? To her, this forest looks like some forests in a fairy tale, which can hypnotize every eye that sees it. And Keira is one of those people.
Her feet that were wearing sandals walked following Della who walked in front of her. Occasionally her feet were hit by drops of water from the grass around her. She also saw several frogs jumping from one bush to another, adorable.
"Della, where are we going?" asked Keira who had been following Della.
Della looked back. "Didn't I tell you before? That we are going to the lake," replied Della.
"Are you sure this is the right path? We've come far enough," doubted Keira. Because they had walked quite far from where they camped.
"Just trust me. You won't regret it when we arrive," said Della without turning back.
Keira didn't ask anything anymore, she just walked following Della who was their current guide. Finally, Della stopped her steps with Keira. "We have arrived!" exclaimed Della.
Keira stood beside Della. Her eyes were amazed to see a lake right in front of her. "Woah! This... this is amazing!" amazed Keira.
A green-colored lake surrounded by wildflowers and butterflies fluttering around the lake. As well as the sunlight that refracts its light on the lake, makes the lake's water glisten like diamonds.
Della turned to look at Keira. "What do you think? It's beautiful isn't it?" said Della with a smile.
Keira nodded. "It's very beautiful..." said Keira without blinking. She had never seen a lake this beautiful before.
"Well, That's what I said. That you definitely won't regret coming with me." proud Della flicked her long hair.
The two of them then walked closer to the lake, but no one was there. It was just the two of them in that very beautiful lake, which made it even better.
Keira still admires the beauty of the lake. "How did you find this lake?" asked Keira, feeling curious.
"I accidentally found it. I didn't tell anyone else, so you better not tell our friends about this lake," replied Della with a wink.
Honestly, at first, she wanted to tell their friends about this lake, but she canceled her intention. Because she wants to enjoy the beauty of this lake with Keira, her best friend.
"Okay, what are you waiting for? Now let's go swimming!" exclaimed Della raising her hands excitedly.
Keira nodded, she couldn't wait to swim in that lake. She took off the shirt she was wearing leaving only a black bra. Keira was ready to swim in the lake, before...
"Ah! Wait. I forgot to bring my camera!" said Della suddenly patting her forehead. "Keira, I'm going to get my camera. So wait for me here!" Della immediately ran and left Keira.
Keira was shocked. "Huh? But--"
"I won't be long!" shouted Della who then ran into the forest.
Keira fell silent and took a deep breath. Now she is alone in the lake. Her best friend was indeed very forgetful this was not the first time Della was like this.
Keira walked to one of the tree branches on the edge of the lake, intending to sit there but...
'Come here...'
Keira tensed and her whole body froze. "Della?" Keira turned to look into the forest. She was silent for a moment. "Della is that you?!"