At K.D. International School of Education in Mumbai, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as students gathered for their field trip. The buses lined up in neat rows, their vibrant colors contrasting against the clear morning sky. Parents waved goodbye, some with cheerful smiles, others with teary eyes. Amid the bustling crowd, a boy named Surya stood, his arms crossed and a deep frown etched on his face.
Before the departure:
"No! I wanted to go with you. Why am I stuck with these kids?" Surya protested, his voice tinged with frustration as he sulked beside his older brother, Leo.
"There's nothing we can do about it," Leo replied with a patient sigh, ruffling Surya's hair affectionately. "The principal divided us into groups based on numbers. You'll be fine. Just enjoy the ride, and I'll find you as soon as we reach the campsite. Deal?"
Surya pouted but relented. "Ha, fine… but this is so unfair."
Leo chuckled, his warm smile briefly lifting Surya's spirits. "Take care, little bro." He gently guided Surya toward the bus and helped him find a seat before departing.
As Leo disappeared into another bus, Surya slumped into his window seat, muttering, "This is going to be the most boring trip ever." He leaned against the window, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh.
Surya stared out of the window, watching the cityscape fade into rolling fields and distant hills. The hum of the engine and the chatter of younger kids filled the air, but none of it interested him. His mind wandered to Leo. What's Hyung doing now? he wondered, his mood clouding further.
Suddenly, a soft, melodic voice broke through his thoughts.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Startled, Surya turned to find a girl standing beside him. She wore a vibrant red dress, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she carried an air of confidence that reminded him of a princess from a storybook. She looked about his age.
"Uh… sure, go ahead," he mumbled, shifting slightly to make room.
"Thanks," she replied with a polite smile, carefully settling into the seat beside him. Her delicate fragrance—a blend of jasmine and something citrusy—lingered in the air.
As the bus started moving, Surya resumed staring out the window, sulking quietly. The girl, intrigued by his obvious displeasure, stole a few glances at him before finally speaking.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her tone gentle yet curious.
Surya didn't bother to look at her. "I'm fine," he replied curtly, letting out another dramatic sigh.
Her eyebrows knitted together in irritation, but she composed herself and tried again. "What's your name?"
This time, Surya turned to face her, his expression indifferent. "If you want someone's name, you should introduce yourself first. Don't you know that?"
The girl's face turned red, not from embarrassment but from barely restrained anger. What is wrong with this boy? she thought, clenching her fists. But she forced a smile, determined not to lose her temper.
"Fine," she said, her voice clipped. "I'm Lyla Maze. And now, what's your name?"
Surya gave a small shrug and muttered, "Surya."
"Surya," Lyla repeated, her irritation melting into curiosity. "That's a cool name. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, I guess," he replied, turning back to the window.
Lyla's patience snapped. "What's wrong with you? I'm trying to be friendly, and you're acting like I don't exist! Am I some kind of joke to you?"
Her outburst drew a few amused chuckles from the back of the bus. Someone even whispered, "Young love, huh?"
Lyla's cheeks flushed crimson as she sank back into her seat, mortified. Surya, however, seemed unaffected. He continued staring out the window, lost in thought.
The journey continued, the bus winding through narrow mountain roads as the cityscape gave way to lush green valleys and towering cliffs. The early morning sun painted the horizon in soft hues of gold and orange, but Surya barely noticed. His thoughts lingered on Leo, his heart heavy with longing.
Next to him, Lyla observed his distant demeanor with growing curiosity. Though he had been rude, something about him seemed... off, almost sad. She couldn't ignore it. She sighed, her earlier frustration ebbing away as concern replaced it.
"Is something wrong?" she asked again, her voice softer this time.
Surya glanced at her briefly, then turned away. "It's nothing."
Lyla hesitated but pressed on. "You keep looking out of the window and sighing. It doesn't seem like 'nothing.'"
Surya frowned but didn't reply. Lyla exhaled deeply, trying to suppress her irritation. Why is this boy so difficult? she thought. Still, something about his melancholy drew her in.
"Did you come with your siblings?" she asked, her tone gentler.
At this, Surya's expression shifted. His previously gloomy face brightened slightly as a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Yes, I did," he said, his voice softening. "My older brother. His name is Leo. But…" His smile faded. "He's on another bus."
"Oh," Lyla said, surprised by the sudden warmth in his tone. "Well, I'm here with my brother too—Arthur Maze. He's my big brother, and he's super protective. It's kind of annoying sometimes." She chuckled, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Surya looked at her, intrigued. "Really? That's cool. But you know…" He leaned back in his seat, a smug grin spreading across his face. "I have another big brother, too. His name is Lee Jin, and he's the oldest among us. So, technically, I've got two older brothers looking out for me."
Lyla raised an eyebrow, a playful smile forming on her lips. "Two big brothers, huh? Well, aren't you lucky. I only have one older sibling, but she's amazing. My sister, Alice, is the best. She's super smart and always knows how to make me feel better when I'm down."
They began exchanging stories about their siblings, the ice between them slowly melting. The bus continued its journey, the scenery outside growing more dramatic with every turn—a patchwork of green valleys, rugged cliffs, and shimmering streams that reflected the sunlight like liquid silver.
---
Their conversation turned to lighter topics.
"What's your favorite food?" Lyla asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"Kimchi soup," Surya replied, his tone warming as he thought of his mother's cooking. "My mom makes the best kimchi soup in the world."
Lyla grinned. "That sounds delicious. For me, it's white sauce pasta. I could eat an entire bowl of it without stopping."
Surya chuckled. "An entire bowl? You must really love it."
"I do," Lyla said, her eyes narrowing playfully. "And don't judge me—I bet you'd do the same with your kimchi soup."
"Touché," Surya admitted, laughing.
Their conversation grew livelier, and soon they were discussing everything from favorite movies to hobbies. It wasn't long before they discovered an unexpected similarity.
"Let's say our favorite color at the same time," Surya suggested, his excitement contagious.
"Okay!" Lyla agreed, matching his enthusiasm.
"One, two, three…"
"Silver!" they said in unison.
Both froze, staring at each other in surprise.
"Wait, your favorite color is silver too?" Surya asked, his eyes wide.
"That's my line!" Lyla exclaimed, equally stunned.
After a moment, they both burst into laughter.
"Why silver?" Surya asked after their laughter subsided.
Lyla hesitated, her expression softening. "It's a bit embarrassing," she admitted.
"No one's listening," Surya said, his tone encouraging. "You can tell me."
Lyla sighed, then began. "When I was little, my grandmother used to tell me stories about a guardian angel with silver wings. She said he was brave, kind, and always ready to protect those in need. I guess the idea of him stuck with me."
Her voice grew wistful as she recounted her grandmother's tales. The memory brought a soft smile to her face, and Surya found himself listening intently.
"That's… nice," he said after a moment, his voice quieter.
"What about you?" Lyla asked, turning the question on him.
"Me?" Surya hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "I like it because...."
As he was about to say something the bus suddenly lurched, throwing Surya off balance. A loud bang reverberated through the air, followed by a sharp screeching sound. One of the tires had burst. The bus swerved violently, causing panic among the passengers. Surya's grip tightened on the seat in front of him as he looked out the window, his heart racing.
Lyla gasped beside him. "What's happening?"
Surya's eyes widened with fear. He could see the edge of the cliff just beyond the road, a sheer drop into the abyss. The bus was no longer under control. It was veering off the road, and there was nothing anyone could do.
The driver's frantic attempts to regain control were futile. With a deafening screech, the bus crashed through the divider and teetered on the very edge of the cliff. The sudden tilt sent the passengers tumbling forward, their screams filling the air.
"Hold on!" Surya shouted as the bus tilted dangerously to one side. He reached out instinctively, grabbing the handle of the seat in front of him with one hand and holding onto Lyla with the other.
"Surya, I'm scared!" Lyla cried, her voice shaking as she clutched his arm, her body trembling.
"I won't let go," Surya assured her, his voice steady despite the terror rising within him. He tightened his grip on her hand, not wanting to lose her. "I'm here. Just hang on."
But the bus shuddered once again, the weight of the tilt becoming unbearable. The next moment felt like it happened in slow motion. Lyla's grip slipped from his hand as the bus shook violently, her body sliding away from him.
"No!" Surya yelled, reaching desperately, but it was too late. Lyla's hand slipped from his grasp, and with a gut-wrenching scream, she disappeared from his sight, falling into the abyss below.
"LYLA!" Surya cried out in sheer panic, his voice choked with terror and helplessness.
The bus shuddered again, its tires no longer gripping the road, and it plunged over the edge of the cliff. Surya's heart pounded in his chest as he clung to the seat, trying to stabilize himself. The world around him seemed to slow as the bus tipped further and further.
"Lyla…" Surya whispered, his eyes wide in disbelief. His body was shaking, his heart racing. "Lyla…"
His world blurred as the bus began its final descent. Everything seemed to be happening in a nightmare, a surreal blur of faces, screams, and chaos. In that moment, all he could think about was Lyla's terrified face and her desperate plea for help.
With one last, desperate cry, he called out, "Leo Hyung! Help me… Please, where are you? Hyung… Hyung… please…"
The bus lurched forward with one final, sickening jolt, and everything went black.
---
A sharp, piercing cry echoed through the silence.
"HYUUUUNNNNGGGGGGG!"
"SURYAAAAA"
Leo's eyes shot open with a scream as his heart slammed against his chest. A cold sweat broke out on his brow. He could still hear the echo of Surya's scream in his mind—so vivid, so real. His blood ran cold, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe.
"Wh...What .....was .....that...?"