The journey was still a long way to go. Everyone in the bus was happily singing a journey song. Some students from the back side were even hooting ; and the teachers letting them off for the time being.
The overall environment was joyous, even the bus driver was bobbing his head on the rythm.
And Anning... She was just happy, feeling her surroundings. She was also humming lightly together with the song and vibing her head.
The seat beside her was still empty. Everyone was there with each other, arms around shoulders, literally dancing. But she ; she was like, everything happening around has nothing to do with her.
They were happy on their own.
And she was not fitting there, and maybe never will be able to.
The scenery outside the window is her only companion, staring back at her. The veil between her and the world might never would be taken off.
She was looking outside the window, replaying whatever happened, in her head. Now her memory was the only one remaining with her, making her smile. It was already noon, and the Sun was greeting them from from above. The heat has already started acting up, along with the cooling breeze from the windows.
Soon, it was time to distribute snacks. The bus stopped. Professor Qing, who was invisible since morning and only showing up now, announced that whoever needs a break can go down, the snacks will be distributed soon.
The journey through a bus is indeed tiring. Almost everyone got out of the bus following the teachers, stretching their bodies like they had risen from coffin after a peaceful slumber.
That's what Anning thought. She also came down, yawning, to get some fresh air and her books from the boot too. Following her, Baizhi also got down, further followed by Sizi. The conductor was already busy opening the back storage as requested by some students. Anning also goes there and asks to bring out her bag too.
After retrieving it, the toughest task was to search for a place to sit by, because once outside she doesn't want to go back in the bus again.
Her sharp eyes passed from one student to other, hoping to have some space spared.
After walking a bit, she found a blank spot underneath a tree, half dead already.
Though the place was a bit far, it was peaceful too. And anyways, some students were scattered around here as well, so there shouldn't be any problem.
After weighing the pros and cons, she sits there but was careful not to lean against the bark of the tree.
Who knows what creature of a insect might be crawling there.
Not long after she settled herself that she spotted a girl with a hand wounded around the arm of another girl, coming across her.
They both stood at some meters distance away from her, occasionally glancing her way. One of them was so cheerful looking that the other one seemed dull in front of her. They were discussing something with each other.
The cheerful one was shorter in height than the 'dull' one, whose height was approximately equals to Anning.
After glancing a few times, Anning resumed looking at her book with nonchalance, but she could still feel the gaze directed at her from time to time.
Uncomfortable, she squirmed where she sat and from the corner of her eyes, saw the two coming towards her. She decisively drilled her eyes in the book, but.... alas.
" Excuse me ", the shorter one said in an almost child like voice, " Can we share this place, please. Actually, there is nowhere to sit, and you were also alone here. So...."
She waited, her big eyes blinking but cautious too.
Now that the other party was up close, even wanted to sit there, Anning could openly see them. The shorter was cute and was looking childish, whereas the other's aura was frigid, though both looked good appearance wise.
They both wore matching best friend outfits, bracelet and even the bottle in their backpacks. She was feeling a little, just a little jealous or may be annoyed by the sweetness pouring just by looking at them.
Seeing the lack of response from Anning, the taller one now added," It's ok, if you are not comfortable, we will sit on the opposite side. I hope there won't be a problem then. "
Before Anning could even reply, a shout came from behind them --- " Kritika... "
The both strangers turned and from the space between them, Anning could also see someone sprinting towards them.
The one who shouted was Baizhi.
Baizhi was running towards their group of three , holding her bag in one hand. Once she got close enough, she saw Anning behind them and instinctively slowed down, the cheerful expression freezing on her face ; then, as if remembering something, turned a bit pink.
Kritika, the shorter one, oblivious to the change in the other's expression called back, " Baizhi.... here, what took you so long ? The places are all full now, only this is remaining and we have a new friend too. " She cheerfully added.
Baizhi hearing the word friend, stopped in her tracks, disbelief clearly written all over her face as she blurted out a " huh..... ? "
Friend ? She ?
The taller one beside her frowned and said, " Kriti, not everyone is your friend. We haven't even talked yet. "
Kritika knitting her brows too, said, " Oh, Raya.... ! Didn't we just talked ? "
Raya, " You talked. "
Kritika, " Whatever. But talked, right ? "
Baizhi hearing their dubious argument, interjected, " Okay guys, okay, fine now. Stop arguing already. "
She then looked towards Anning, smirking slightly, " Don't make a fool of yourselves in front of your new friend, alright ?"
Anning looked towards her smirking face and almost choked on her breath.
Baizhi knew Anning don't like to talk to strangers unless necessary, so making friends out of nowhere was almost an impossible feat.
Anning knew she was mocking her and straight forwardly ignored her.
Seeing these two act like this, even if Kritika remained confused, but Raya knew something was up between these two.
So she asked Baizhi, " Baizhi, do you know her ?"
Baizhi, eyeing Anning, replied mischievously, " May be. "
Kritika and Raya looked at each other and understood the whole matter. When they met Baizhi in the bus, she was upset and was always looking at someone constantly but didn't wanted to go to her, and sat alone in her seat.
Kritika was the first to start a conversation with her, asking why was she alone. But Baizhi didn't told them anything. Later on, they all sat together and started telling jokes, after which Baizhi's mood lighten up a bit, although she still looked distracted sometimes.
Raya only remembered now that the girl she was looking at back then, was the same standing in front of them.
----------------------------------