Chapter 10: Ghost of camp: Camping in the forest (1).
The sun was shining brightly as the group gathered in front of the school, eager to start their preparations for the upcoming camp. Aria, Andrew, Pristina, Antosia, and the rest of the gang were all chatting excitedly, discussing what they needed to bring and what activities they wanted to do during the camp.
As they loaded up the buses, Aria suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia wash over her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about the smell of the bus and the sound of her friends laughing reminded her of a time long past..
They all entered the bus with other students. Andrew and Aria sat together, while Mikel and Dian sat together, and Anna and Krib sat together.
Pristin and Antosia sat together, even though Pristin constantly refuses to sit with her. It seems that Antosia had planned everything so there was no running.
Rachel had decided to come alone in his private car.
For some odd reason, Aria felt uncomfortable. Her mind was not at peace, but she tried to act like she was okay. Andrew noticed something different about Aria's behavior.
"Are you, I mean do you want to sit by the window?" Andrew asked with a worried expression on his face.
Aria gave him a slight nod, then they swapped seats.
As they sat down, Andrew couldn't help but notice that Aria's eyes seemed distant, her gaze fixed on something outside the window. He followed her line of sight, but all he saw was the passing scenery - trees, houses, and streets blurring together.
"Aria, is everything okay?" Andrew asked softly, his voice barely audible over the hum of the bus engine. "You seem a bit... off."
Aria turned to him, a faint smile on her lips. "I'm fine, Andrew. Just a bit... tired, that's all."
But Andrew wasn't convinced. He knew Aria well enough to recognize when she was hiding something. He reached out and gently took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers.
"Hey, you can tell me if something's bothering you," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm here for you, Aria."
Aria looked at him, her eyes teary.
"I don't understand me," she said. "I feel like I'm someone else. It's like I'm here, but I'm not. I feel dizzy. I feel like I want to die.
"I feel like I have someone in my past who left me and is important to me, but I can't see anything. It's always blurry. I feel like..."
Andrew caught her off guard. He hugged her tightly. Her hair was packed up, and tears rolled down her cheeks as she placed her hand on his back.
"Aria, I'm here," he said. "So don't worry. You're not alone."
He released his grip on her back, and she looked at him. He gently used his hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks. He looked at her green eyes, all red. It pained him deeply. He had never had these types of feelings before. He wasn't supposed to have any emotions. He is a parasite.
At least, that's what he thinks. But since Aria came, he felt different emotions.
Whenever she was happy, he was happy. When she was sad, he was sad.
He placed Aria's head on his shoulder.
As the bus continued on its journey, the sound of the engine and the gentle rocking motion seemed to lull Aria into a state of calm. She rested her head on Andrew's shoulder, feeling a sense of safety and security wash over her.
Andrew, meanwhile, was lost in thought. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way. He had always thought of himself as a parasite, a being without emotions or connections. But Aria had changed that. She had awakened something within him, and he couldn't deny the feelings that were growing stronger with each passing day.
As the bus rumbled on, Pristin and Antosia chatted quietly in their seats, their conversation punctuated by giggles and whispers. Rachel, sitting alone in his private car, watched the bus disappear into the distance, a thoughtful expression on his face.
He looked at his watch. A certain smile appeared on his face. At least Ashley didn't die for no reason. They had changed. The Parasites had changed. Their pride and high status was not affecting their friendship.
Pristin looked at Antosia. She was wearing a simple top and mini skirt. Normally, it wasn't like this, especially for a field trip.
Antosia turned to look at Pristin. "Don't you feel like you'll become a perfect darling?" she asked. "I do. If you don't, so from now on, you will be my darling. No matter how you disagree with you being my darling, I know you like me, Pristin. After what happened at prom last year, you've been avoiding me.
"I know she meant so much to you, but she's dead. Ashley is dead."
"Antosia!" Pristin yelled, his voice low. "If you still want to be friends, you better not cross your boundary again."
"I'm sorry," Antosia said. Then Pristin turned to the window. His mood changed drastically into his cold look. For some days, he had thought he would lighten up. But, it seemed like it was a wrong idea.
Antosia looked at him, then she turned to Dian, who had heard and saw everything. She gave Antosia a calm look.
Dian's expression was neutral, but Antosia could sense a hint of warning in her eyes. Antosia nodded slightly, acknowledging Dian's unspoken message. She turned back to Pristin, who was still gazing out the window, his jaw clenched.
The atmosphere around them had become tense, and the other students in the bus were starting to take notice. Mikel, who had been chatting with Krib, leaned over to whisper something in Dian's ear.
Meanwhile, Rachel's car was still following the bus at a distance. He was deep in thought, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Suddenly, his phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen, and a faint smile crossed his lips.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself, his eyes glinting with intriguing.
"Then he turned his car to the other direction, sending a text to the group, "I'll catch you up later guys."
As the group received Rachel's text, they exchanged curious glances. "Wonder what's going on with him," Mikel said, raising an eyebrow.
Dian shrugged. "Maybe he got an emergency call or something."
The bus continued on its route, leaving Rachel's car to disappear into the distance. Pristin was still brooding, his eyes fixed on the window as Antosia tried to make amends.
"Hey, Pristin, I'm really sorry about what I said earlier," Antosia said, her voice soft. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
Pristin's expression remained unchanged, but Antosia could sense a slight softening in his demeanor. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
Antosia looked at Pristin. She knew she had made a big mistake. Even though he was calm, she could tell that her words had hurt him. She shifted in her seat and turned away, trying to avoid his gaze.