rooms after resting. Everyone was ready to head into the forest. Mary, Helen, and Michelle packed their essentials into their backpacks and joined the others.
One of the boys laughed and said to his friends:
"Niclas and Yong haven't shown up yet… I think they're still trying to switch rooms!"
"Why?"
"Because they ended up as roommates!"
"Seriously? This trip is going to be fun!"
Helen, Mary, and Michelle looked at them curiously. Helen smirked.
"Seems like our professors planned everything well."
Mary said softly:
"I still don't get whether Niclas and Yong are friends or enemies..."
Helen replied:
"Of course they're friends. Their relationship just got messed up because of something that happened in the last year of college."
Mary asked curiously:
"What happened? I don't mean to pry, but…"
Helen glanced around—there was no private spot.
"It's too crowded here. I'll tell you later when we're alone."
"Okay. Sorry for being nosy."
At that moment, Niclas and Yong appeared in the distance, both looking tense. A few students smirked. Niclas walked straight toward Mary and stood silently beside her. Mary tried to hide her discomfort.
A few minutes later, the instructors arrived with smiles and announced that the students would go into the forest in groups. They were to sketch and categorize nature's colors on paper.
Mary, Helen, and Michelle decided to form a group. Suddenly, Niclas said:
"I'm coming with you guys."
Helen quietly turned to Yong.
"Yong, want to join our group too?"
Yong replied:
"I've got no problem with you guys… but I can't stand Niclas."
"That's exactly why I want you to come."
Yong bit his lip, hesitated…
"Alright… but—never mind."
"Thanks."
The five of them headed into the forest together. Along the way, Yong spotted a beautiful path from afar.
"Helen, look over there… the scenery is amazing. The sunlight is perfect too. Should we go sketch there?"
"It's really gorgeous. The color combinations are incredible."
Niclas, without looking, said indifferently:
"I say we go this way instead. It's better."
Michelle sighed in frustration:
"Oh come on, Niclas, not again!"
"I just said it's better over here."
Mary smiled:
"But you haven't even seen the path Yong suggested!"
Niclas gave a half-smile:
"Fine, we'll go where you want."
Everyone looked at him in surprise. Mary blushed slightly. But Yong, ignoring Niclas's reaction, walked toward the path he'd picked.
When they reached the spot, Mary looked around in excitement.
"Wow… it's beautiful! How did you know from that far away that it would be this stunning?"
Yong smiled:
"I have sharp eyes."
Niclas, holding a stick and poking leaves, suddenly turned around.
"If you'd seen the path I mentioned, you wouldn't find this place so beautiful."
Yong replied calmly:
"The same path you haven't seen yourself?"
"Nope! I checked it out before we came here."
"Wow, Niclas… Alzheimer's might be your new trait! Forgot we're roommates? You were snoring in bed before the trip!"
Mary, Helen, and Michelle burst out laughing.
Niclas snapped:
"You're confusing your own snoring with mine!"
"Sure, whatever you say… let's get started, guys."
The students unpacked their tools and began sketching. Since it was Mary's first time on such a trip, she relied more on Helen for guidance. After about half an hour, Yong looked at Niclas mischievously, then turned to Mary.
"Mary, come sit with me. I want to show you some important tips."
Mary happily sat next to Yong. As he explained, he gently took her hand holding the pencil.
"See? You need to draw these lines softly, without pressing too hard…"
Niclas saw the scene and frowned.
"By the way, Yong, why didn't Diana come?"
Yong quickly let go of Mary's hand.
"She had something to do. Couldn't make it."
"I heard she's planning to go abroad… is she taking you with her?"
Yong scowled.
"None of your business."
"Aha, so she's not taking you… I can tell by how you're acting."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Helen interrupted:
"Niclas, please… stop! What's gotten into you?"
"This is just me being me. He's the one getting on my nerves."
Yong turned to Niclas.
"You don't even know what you're talking about."
"Oh, suddenly you're all kind now! Trying to forget everything already?"
Yong stood up, directly facing Niclas.
"Forget what?"
"I don't know… maybe Diana?"
Yong grabbed Niclas's collar. Mary suddenly stood up, grabbed Yong's arm, and stepped between them.
"Enough! It's all my fault… I'll leave. You two are friends… this isn't right!"
Niclas and Yong stared at her in silence. Niclas tried to say something, but Mary quickly packed her things and left.
Helen scolded them:
"See what you've done? The poor girl thinks you're fighting because of her!"
Niclas turned to Helen.
"It's Yong's fault!"
"You know very well it was you! We shouldn't have come with both of you in the first place!"
Yong said softly:
"Helen… I know I overreacted."
Helen and Michelle picked up their things and walked away, ignoring both boys.
Niclas said angrily:
"What's your problem? You've been on my back since the start of this trip! And now you're holding Mary's hand!"
Yong retorted:
"Me? You're the one trying to get under my skin with your words… why do you care if I held her hand?"
"You're doing it just to spite me! What if she gets feelings for you?"
"You're the one who's into her!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
"Oh right, what would you know about feelings? You're just looking for fun."
"Yong, shut up!"
"Have you forgotten the final year of college? You're the one who broke me and Diana apart! But you failed in the end!"
"Diana never even wanted you from the start!"
"That's what you do… ruin relationships. And now, you've set your sights on Mary!"
Niclas grabbed Yong's collar again. But before the fight could escalate, a scream echoed from deeper in the forest. Both of them turned, alarmed, and ran toward the sound.
They reached Helen and Michelle a few minutes later—both looked frozen.
Niclas asked anxiously:
"What happened? Why did you scream?"
Michelle, her voice trembling:
"That… that thing on the tree… that's a snake, right?!"
Yong and Niclas stepped forward to check. After a few moments, they sighed in relief.
Yong said:
"No, it's just a piece of rope."
Helen's hands were still shaking.
"But it was moving!"
Niclas looked closely and gave a faint smile.
"It's nothing… it's just a squirrel chewing on the rope."
He looked around, as if sensing something—or someone—was missing.
"Where's Mary?"
Helen shrugged.
"We didn't see her. Maybe she went back to camp early."
Yong frowned.
"Alright… let's finish up quickly and head back."
When they returned to camp, everything was quiet. Helen and Michelle went straight to their room to rest. But… something wasn't right.
Mary wasn't there.
Worry began to grow in Helen's chest. She rushed out and asked a few students. The answer was the same each time:
"No, we haven't seen Mary."
She hurriedly tried to call Mary, but her phone was unreachable. Her heart dropped. Without a moment's hesitation, she ran to Niclas and Yong's room and knocked hard on the door.
Niclas opened it with a furrowed brow.
"What's going on? Why are you knocking like that?"
Helen said, her voice full of worry:
"Mary's missing."
Yong's voice came from inside the room:
"What do you mean, missing?"
"No one's seen her. She hasn't come back. I called her, but her phone's off… What if she's lost in the forest?"
Niclas exhaled, uncertain.
"Come on… the forest isn't that big."
"But what if she lost her way?" Yong cut in, already putting on his shoes quickly.
Moments later, he and Niclas rushed out of the room.
"We'll go look for her in the forest," Niclas said firmly.
Helen stepped forward.
"I'm coming too."
Yong stopped and said seriously:
"No. Stay here. If we're not back in an hour, tell the instructor. Don't wait."
All Helen could whisper was:
"Please… be careful."
And then, the two of them headed into the forest.