Chapter Eleven
The challenge had proven to be more difficult than the elite trio had ever imagined. With their basket of misidentified plants confiscated by the organizer, they stood in silence, their embarrassment lingering in the air like an uncomfortable fog. The reality of their failure was inescapable, and they couldn't shake the feeling of being out of their element.
Zed, Khalil, and Lotus watched the other students with growing envy. Lena, Cris, and Jay, on the other hand, seemed to be thriving in this environment. They moved with confidence, their baskets overflowing with carefully foraged fruits, herbs, and edible roots. The less fortunate trio worked together, peeling, chopping, and seasoning the ingredients with practice ease. There was no hesitation in their movements, no uncertainty.
It was hard for Zed not to notice the stark contrast between their group and the others. Lena, Cris, and Jay had clearly done this before. They were used to foraging, used to cooking in the wild. This was second nature to them and the elite trio felt completely outclassed.
Khalil, who had always prided himself on his charm and carefree attitude, now found himself feeling uncharacteristically humbled. He watched Lena expertly chop a handful of wild herbs, her hands moving quickly and with purpose. Cris and Jay were no less impressive, chatting and laughing as they prepared their meal. Khalil had always been the one to get by on looks and charisma, but in this moment, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort.
"I can't believe how well they're doing" Khalil muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He wiped his brow, trying to suppress the unease that was gnawing at him.
Lotus couldn't deny the reality of the situation either. His usually sharp confidence had been shattered and he was left feeling exposed. He glanced over at Lena's group, watching them with an expression that bordered on both admiration and frustration. "It's like they're born for this" he muttered under his breath, more irritated by their ease than anything else.
Zed, still trying to maintain his usual bravado, crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby tree. He wasn't used to feeling like this—weak, inept, out of control. It made his stomach churn. "At least we've got some skills outside this mess" he said but the words rang hollow in his own ears.
It was then that Lena, who had been observing the elite trio from a distance, made her way over to their cooking area. Her steps were measured, her posture confident but not arrogant. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of sympathy for them. They had come into this experience with the expectation that their wealth and status would carry them through, but now, reality had come crashing down.
"Hey" Lena called out softly, her voice steady but not unkind. "Looks like you guys are in a bit of a bind"
Zed looked up at her, surprised by the lack of mockery in her tone. He was ready for a jab, ready to hear her say something that would make him feel even worse, but it never came.
"Uh, yeah... we kind of... messed up" Zed admitted, running a hand through his hair. "We don't really know what we're doing"
Lena smiled lightly, though there was no malice in it. "I can tell"
Cris and Jay, who had been busy tending to their own meal, looked over at the interaction, their expressions softening when they saw how vulnerable the trio looked. After a moment of silence, Lena continued, "Well, we have more than enough to share and it's not like you guys are completely useless. You've got... talent in other areas, I'm sure"
Zed blinked in surprise, unsure of what to say. "You want to help us?"
"Help you?" Lena repeated, shaking her head. "No. I just figured we'd share. It's not about competition, right? We're all here to learn. You'll get it next time"
Her words felt genuine. Khalil gave a half-hearted laugh. "You sure?"
Jay, who had been quietly observing, piped up, he gestured to the large pot of stew they were simmering. "You can have some of this. Trust me, it's much better than eating grass"
Lotus and Zed exchanged a glance, the unspoken gratitude evident in their eyes. For all the competition, all the tension between their worlds, this simple gesture meant more than words could convey.
Lena handed them a bowl, the rich aroma of the stew filling the air. It smelled fresh, earthy, and comforting—everything that their hastily assembled mess of weeds and roots had failed to achieve. Zed took the bowl first, his expression still guarded but appreciative.
"Thanks" he said, the words almost foreign to him. He hadn't expected kindness in a situation like this but here it was, raw, and unadulterated. "I didn't think you'd offer"
"We're not all bad" Cris added with a grin. "Plus, it's not like we're eating this just to rub it in your face. We've all got to make it through the retreat"
Khalil chuckled and took his own bowl, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, I guess we do"
As they ate the meal Lena had prepared, something inside the elite trio began to shift. For the first time, they felt what it was like to be on the receiving end of kindness, the humbling feeling of being helped by those they once considered beneath them. The walls that had separated their worlds—luxury and privilege on one side, modesty and struggle on the other—seemed a little thinner now, their edges frayed by this simple exchange.
The rest of the retreat would continue and their paths would eventually diverge again, but for now, in this moment, the elite trio and the public school kids shared something more than just food. They shared a bond—one built on the understanding that, in the end, it wasn't about wealth, status, or privilege. It was about survival, humility, and the simple act of offering help when it was needed most.
And for the elite trio, it was a lesson they wouldn't forget anytime soon.