🌲 Returning to the Hiking Trail
While the dark tale of the Kandis Srinjani Kingdom slowly faded into forgotten history, the night on Mount Srinjani continued to conceal mysteries of its own.
Alya had finally begun to calm down after resting for some time. Her face still looked pale, but she was now able to stand without too much difficulty.
Rico, who had been accompanying her all along, began considering the best way to continue their journey.
Earlier, they had been advised not to force Alya to keep climbing. However, Rico remained worried about letting her descend to the base camp alone while she had not fully recovered.
He also did not want to leave their other friends waiting for too long.
"Alya, are you sure you can walk?" Rico asked, studying her face.
Alya nodded slowly.
"I'll try. My head is still a little dizzy, but I feel much better than before."
Rico sighed.
"All right, then. We'll take it slowly. Once we reach Post 3, we'll rest again."
He then turned toward Hasan and Laras.
"Come on. Let's try to reach Post 3 first. Tomorrow, we can descend together. We're all exhausted and need some rest."
Hasan nodded in agreement, although he was beginning to feel soreness in both legs.
Laras adjusted the straps of her backpack and stood beside them.
"I hope the trail doesn't get too difficult from here," she murmured.
No one answered.
They resumed their journey through the darkness of the forest.
The night grew later. Cold air seeped through their clothes, while a thin mist began drifting between the trees. Occasionally, the sounds of nocturnal animals echoed in the distance, breaking the silence that enveloped the hiking trail.
Strangely, those sounds only made the atmosphere more unsettling.
Twigs snapped beneath their shoes.
Dry leaves rustled whenever the wind blew.
In some places, the trail was covered with slippery rocks, forcing them to step with extreme caution.
Alya walked in the middle of the group, occasionally holding onto Rico's arm whenever her body began to feel weak again.
Hasan, walking not far from Laras, kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.
After several minutes of walking in silence, Laras finally broke the quiet.
"Hasan, have you climbed this mountain before?"
Hasan turned toward her.
"Yes. I once came here with Keenan and a group of university students."
"Did you take this same trail back then?"
"I think so. But the atmosphere was completely different from what it is now."
"How so?"
Hasan smiled faintly, although his eyes remained focused on the path ahead.
"Back then, we started climbing in the morning, when the air was still fresh. The journey felt much more relaxed. We could reach the summit in the afternoon and descend the following day."
He shifted the carrier backpack on his shoulders to make himself more comfortable.
"There were also plenty of people on the trail. We greeted one another, joked around, and even stopped for quite a while to take pictures."
Laras chuckled softly.
"No wonder you looked so relaxed when we first started climbing earlier."
"Do I look unrelaxed now?"
Laras glanced at him with a smile.
"What do you think?"
Hasan laughed quietly.
"All right, I admit it. Tonight's atmosphere really is a little different."
"A little different?" Laras raised an eyebrow. "I think it's far more terrifying than just a little different."
Hasan nodded.
"Maybe because we climbed together in a much more enjoyable atmosphere back then. We didn't spend much time thinking about strange things."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Our mood was also lifted by the excitement back then. But now, after everything that has happened, it's difficult not to stay alert."
Laras's smile slowly faded.
She remembered what had happened to Alya earlier.
"I feel the same way," she replied quietly.
For a while, they continued walking without speaking.
Hasan then noticed that Laras was beginning to slow down.
"Are you tired?"
"A little."
"Want some water?"
Without waiting for an answer, Hasan opened his backpack and took out a bottle of mineral water. He handed it to Laras.
"Here. Have a drink first."
Laras accepted the bottle.
"Thanks, Hasan."
"You're welcome."
Their fingers briefly brushed against each other as Laras took the bottle.
It lasted only a moment.
Yet for Hasan, that small touch was enough to make his heart beat faster.
He quickly looked away, pretending to be occupied with watching the trail ahead.
Laras unscrewed the cap and took a few sips.
"Aren't you thirsty?"
"Not really."
"If you are, just say so. Don't exhaust yourself by being too busy looking after everyone else."
Hasan smiled awkwardly.
"Yeah, I'll drink some later."
Laras handed the bottle back before continuing along the trail.
As Hasan walked beside her, he tried to conceal the feelings that were becoming increasingly difficult to control.
The truth was, it wasn't the night that made him nervous.
Nor was it the dark trail or the strange sounds coming from deep within the forest.
It was Laras.
He had been attracted to her for a long time. Yet he had never truly found the courage to confess his feelings.
He preferred to keep them to himself, hoping that one day he would find the right moment.
Unfortunately, that night, he realized something that made his heart even more uneasy.
Rico.
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đź’” Unspoken Feelings
Unknown to Hasan, Rico harbored the same feelings for Laras.
From the beginning of their journey, Rico had often watched the girl from a distance. He liked the way she spoke, her simple smile, and her ability to remain calm even when they found themselves in unpleasant situations.
However, Rico had never confessed his feelings either.
He did not know whether Laras would return his affection or simply regard him as a friend.
That was why he had chosen to wait.
Unfortunately, without realizing it, the time he spent waiting gave someone else the opportunity to grow closer to the very girl he liked.
As he walked, Rico glanced toward Hasan and Laras.
He saw Hasan handing Laras a bottle of water.
He saw them talking and occasionally smiling at each other.
And he noticed how Hasan always stayed close to her.
Rico said nothing.
He simply turned his gaze forward again, trying to conceal the sudden discomfort building inside him.
Did Hasan like Laras too?
The question appeared in his mind without warning.
He tried to ignore it, but the longer he thought about it, the more suspicious he became.
Meanwhile, Hasan was beginning to feel uneasy as well.
He had noticed that Rico frequently paid attention to Laras. Although he did not yet know the truth about Rico's feelings, he was beginning to fear that he might lose his chance to get closer to the girl he liked.
The two of them continued walking in the same group.
They still spoke to each other as usual.
They still tried to appear calm amid the darkness of the forest.
Yet neither of them realized that something between them was beginning to change.
A rivalry that had never been spoken aloud.
Feelings that neither had dared to confess.
And a secret that was slowly growing amid an increasingly dangerous journey.
Ahead of them, the hiking trail continued toward Post 3.
Tall trees towered on both sides of the path, while the mist grew thicker and increasingly obscured their view.
Rico quickened his pace to make sure Alya remained within his reach.
Hasan walked beside Laras, occasionally stealing glances at her.
None of them realized that deep behind the trees, a pair of eyes was watching their every move.
Silent.
Motionless.
Waiting for the right moment.
Then, from the darkness of the forest, a faint voice emerged, almost drowned out by the wind.
"At last… you've finally arrived."
To be continued…