What was that she just saw, and why the overall feeling is as expected and not surprising her in the least bit ?
In fact, the fact that it was not surprising caught her off- guard.
Professor Lin, so indifferent, let anyone put their hands around his shoulders. I'm not dreaming, am I ?
Whatever, better to keep your nose to yourselves, specially in case of teachers. For example, professor Lu.....
She was also looking at them, the pair of the indifferent and ardent professor. Why was it smelling like something was burning ? No- one here is cooking, right ?
Not long after, the bus started moving, after receiving a signal from professor Qing. Baizhi was again sitting with Raya and Kritika, and Sizi with those pair of friends, while Anning alone.
This time Anning closed her eyes from the start to avoid motion sickness, and fell in fitful slumber, keeping some of her senses open.
Some hours later, they reached their destination and the bus came to a halt. The teachers were counting the students and letting them go down the bus one by one.
Anning was also awake now, though groggy from that disturbed sleep.
Yes, disturbed, because just now she woke up due to the same dream, she happened to see just a few days ago.
It was even more unsettling, due to fact that she never even dreamed in her beloved bedroom, but now she was dreaming in a bus. Even the same dream, just her consciousness going in and out due to the bumpy ride.
Everyone was to stand in a row in front of professor Qing, so that he can give them further instructions. The staff members started to bring out the tenting materials as the Sun was almost going to set out.
Professor told them about the area and how they were going to proceed further. He has a clipboard in his hand and on it, everyone's name were already written.
The area was a nice one, selected by their esteemed principal, without any wild animals haunting them. There was even a village near the foot of the mountain, and the given area was surrounded by lush greenery.
After that, professor Lu told them to not litter the area and maintain discipline to avoid any casualties. The mobile toilet van will be here soon, and if possible, they are advised to control a little longer.
Although the van will be here, but it will be used only for washrooms and not bathrooms. So they have to manage in the spring nearby. The timing of boys and girls will be separated, and with each group, there will be a professor accompanying them, for safety reasons.
As for the tent allotment, everyone will make a group of twos or threes to stay in one tent. Since, professor Lu was a lady, and there were no more lady professors, so she was assigned with a (the only) lady staff.
Anning was looking for Baizhi and others, but they were nowhere to be seen from her standpoint. She was assigned with a girl, she had never seen before, and they were making the tent, after being instructed by the staff.
Whilst in between, she stole a glance of Baizhi with Raya and Kritika, making tents while laughing on a joke, made by Kritika. Raya as always used to it, didn't laugh, just smiled at that bad joke.
After some hours, the Sun was already below the horizon, making the sky dye in orange- red glow. Everyone was done with tent making and were planning to lit a bonfire, to make the supper.
The marshmallows, ready.
Skewers, ready.
The games, ready.
Everyone, ready.
The fire, yet to lit.
Anning stared at her marshmallow, thinking what to do with it. She had seen in movies and anime, how to shallow roast them on fire, but had never tried.
She was sitting at a distance from both of her sides, one of them was her new tentmate, busy in talking with her friend. The teachers were also sitting with them, laughing and enjoying, just being in the limit of propriety.
From where Anning sat, she can see Baizhi with Raya and Kritika, while Sizi sitting beside... professor Lu.
Huh...? So that's why, she was so silent and gloomy.
Hmph..! serves her right.
Anning thought as she saw another pair of professors. Professor Lin and professor Qing were also sitting together, accompanied by other male teachers. They were talking quietly, whilst waiting for the fire to lit, probably about the matters on hand.
Soon after, the staff finally succeeded in lighting the fire, at which everyone hoorayed.
After just being litted, the work load pressured it so much that it was almost going to be snuffed out again. Thankfully, professor Lin stepped in and stopped those brusque students.
He instructed them to stay at a safe distance from fire and not crowd it so much, after all the fire has just started. Despite this, a certain professor, sitting beside him, again thrusted his skewer in the fire, even when there was no space left.
Professor Lin resisted, with all his might, to smack the other on head.
No, no. He can't do this. They are professors after all. Cool down.
He forcefully caught his wrist and yanked it back, glaring hard. Professor Qing, realized he was in the wrong and smiled apologetically back at him.
Cough, cough... someone's seeing you, wait the marshmallow is burning. Professor Lu hastily pulled her skewer back and blowed on it, but alas.... it is already burnt.
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