We spent almost an hour on the bus heading to the Sunsun Beach on the outskirts of Silver City.
Finally, we arrived and gradually, everyone alighted from the bus until we had all come down.
Jasmine walked closely behind me and out of nowhere, I heard her wretch. I turned quickly to check on her, only to see her face was as pale as dead skin.
She was a mess to behold.
"Are you alright?" I asked her.
I reached for one of the water bottles that was stacked just nearby.
"Here you go. Drink some water."
As she drank, I rubbed her back. I didn't understand how that worked though but it did whenever my mum did it to me as a child.
After a couple of minutes passed, life was finally returning to Jasmine's face as she went from pale white to the normal appreciable colour of her fair skin.
"Are you better now?"
She handed the water bottle back to me and took a few deep breaths before puffing her cheeks and blowing out.
"Yes. Much better now, thanks creep," she said, about to waltz away before I caught her hand.
"Tsk, tsk. Not today, Jas. You don't get to call me creep today."
I don't know what pushed me to do that but somewhere inside of me, I felt that if I didn't call her to order then she would continue calling that even as my date.
[ Excellent, master ]
[ Your Communication Proficiency has increased in the past few hours by 2% ]
[ Well done, master ]
"A compliment from Nova?" I thought.
I didn't know which one I was more excited about — the increase in my stats or the fact that Nova complimented me.
"We should go and join the others," I suggested, taking her hand.
I could feel her hand turn cold inside mine and I could hear her heart pound so fast that I didn't need any of my abilities to do so.
I glanced at her and she looked away.
Was she shy?
Even with the confidence she always tried to portray, Jasmine was a shy girl.
I guess her trust in me as White had something to do with her being vulnerable around Dickens but she didn't know yet that it was one person.
Perhaps, she might also be wondering why.
...
...
...
The Sunsun Beach was a haven of quietude.
A haven of tranquillity where the azure waves of the Aquaheim Sea whispered secrets to the golden, sun-beaten sands, and the gentle breeze danced through the palm trees, making them dance along in a tango.
Our group of scholars, our faces lit up with excitement, had embarked on a picnic adventure to this scenic setting.
We were armed with baskets of goodies and a contagious enthusiasm, we were ready to create unforgettable memories.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, we spread out the colourful blankets we brought with us, forming a patchwork quilt.
Laughter and chatter filled the air as we unpacked the picnic baskets, revealing an array of mouthwatering treats – sandwiches bursting with layers of flavours, crisp salads that mirrored the hues of the sea, and an assortment of fruits.
Eager to explore all that Sunsun Beach had to offer, we decided to begin our day with beach volleyball.
The sand felt cool beneath our feet as we formed two teams — the Blues and the Reds — and soon, friendly competition merged with the joyful symphony of splashing waves cheering us on as we smashed the ball to and fro over the net.
Every dive, every laugh, every triumphant point scored added to the vibrant scenery of our day.
"Guys, I think we should go for a swim," Rordon suggested, all fired up for a dive in the Aquaheim Sea.
With the sun at its zenith, we bought into his suggestion, deciding that it was time to take a refreshing dip in the sparkling waters.
The waves of the Aquaheim Sea embraced us like old friends, lifting our spirits and washing away the worries of our academic lives.
As we floated in the gentle swells, looking out to the endless horizon, a feeling of gratitude washed over us – for the friendships we shared, for the beauty surrounding us, and for the simple pleasure of being alive at that moment.
After the swim, appetites were rekindled, and we gathered once again on our colourful blankets.
As we savoured the delicious food, our conversations ranged from deep talks to silly ones, creating a tapestry of connection that was as heartwarming as the sun on our skin.
The birds of the air tried their best to join us in our fun time but our laughter seemed to chase the birds away, like a playful game of tag.
With the afternoon sun casting a warm glow, a couple of us decided to explore the rocky sides of the Sunsun Beach, where tide pools held secrets of marine life.
"Come on, Sheila. Let's go see," Bolzen said, as he stood and dusted his ass of the sand on his shorts.
"Mm-hmm," Sheila nodded, smiled and made a cute face at him.
She gave him her hand and he took it, pulling her up and close to his chest as they laughed.
"It will be fun, I promise."
"Of course. I trust you, Bolzen," Sheila joked as she playfully poked his nose.
...
...
...
Carefully navigating the uneven terrain, they discovered starfish clinging to the rocks, crabs scuttling about in their miniature kingdoms, and sea anemones swaying to a rhythm only they could hear.
Equipped with nothing but curiosity, these explorers felt like brave adventurers on an uncharted quest.
As the day progressed, the sky began its transformation towards the atmosphere of evening as the sun embarked on its descent.
The heat of the sun was waned and the weather was getting cooler with time.
Those of us who didn't take part in the uncharted quests gathered around a bonfire, cosied up around its crackling flames as we laughed and exchanged stories of our lives.
Albert looked at his wristwatch and then at us with regretful eyes like he hated what he was about to do.
He stood from the rock he was sitting on.
"I hate to be the bearer of this bad news, guys but we have to get going."
"Boo!"
"Boooo!"
He laughed as we continued to playfully boo at him.
Many of us were sceptical at first when we arrived here, not knowing what would happen but in the end, we had the best fun of the year yet.
It was a fun time... a fun time at Sunsun Beach.