When Nicholas and Yong entered the forest, they took a moment to carefully observe their surroundings. The tall trees stood like endless pillars in silence, and the faint sunlight filtered through the leaves.
As usual, Nicholas confidently stepped forward and said,
"We should split up. If we each take a path, we'll find her faster."
Yong looked at him doubtfully and muttered,
"Nicholas… please just look properly for once. There's only one path ahead. We have to go together—the same path where we drew our designs."
Nicholas shrugged with a smug grin.
"Well, that's what I said! Let's go already."
Yong looked up, took a deep breath, and followed him in silence. After a while, when they reached a certain point, Yong stopped.
"We've come the right way so far. But if Mary took the wrong turn, then we need to go this way."
Nicholas looked around mockingly.
"You really brought us here? All you do is talk big. Poor girl got lost somewhere on this path."
Yong, frustrated, said,
"Don't start again. What does this path have to do with it? Let's go—this way."
"You don't need to tell me where to go. I think she went that way."
"That path's too easy. If Mary took this one, it's because it's more complicated. She'd be more likely to get lost."
"I'm going that way. Do whatever you want."
"Fine. I'll find her faster on my own."
Each silently headed down their chosen path.
Back at the camp, Mary walked in with her backpack and a calm smile. Helen and Michelle were shocked and overjoyed to see her.
"They found you! That was fast! We were so worried."
Mary looked at them in confusion.
"Who found me? I came back on my own."
Michelle asked, "So… you weren't lost?"
"Why would I be lost? The path was clear. I just went to another part of the forest and saw some of the students there. Stayed with them to sketch a new idea. Got a bit late."
Michelle: "So… what do we tell Nicholas and Yong?"
"What do they have to do with it?"
Helen: "When we saw you weren't back, we told them. They went into the forest to look for you."
Mary's eyes widened.
"What?"
Helen picked up her phone and called.
"No signal for either of them… It's fine, they'll be back in an hour or two."
Mary:
"They're going to be so angry when they get back."
"Let them be. Maybe next time they won't fight over nonsense."
But after two hours passed and it began to get dark, Mary grew worried.
"Helen, they're still not back… What if they got lost?"
Helen, now pale, said,
"We should tell the professor. What a trip… all Nicholas's fault!"
Mary, her voice shaky:
"It's not his fault… They went because of me."
Michelle:
"Mary, don't blame yourself for everything."
They all went to the professor. Helen started,
"Professor… we need to tell you something."
Professor: "Go ahead. Has something happened?"
Mary, nervously rubbing her hands:
"Two of the students haven't come back yet."
Professor stayed calm at first.
"The guard said everyone had returned."
"Nicholas and Yong… they thought I was lost and went back into the forest to look for me."
The professor paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Don't worry. If they're not back in an hour, we'll go look for them. The forest isn't that big. No wild animals either."
Deep in the forest, Nicholas looked up at the sky.
"Damn… it's getting dark. Mary… where are you?"
The sound of rustling leaves in the wind made him turn quickly.
"Who's there? Mary?"
The wind grew stronger. A fear he didn't want to admit began creeping into him.
"Yong? Where are you?"
Yong heard Nicholas shouting and rushed toward the sound. But suddenly, the voice stopped.
"Nicholas! Answer me! Nicholas!"
Finally, he heard Nicholas's faint voice. When he found him, he asked, panting,
"What happened? Why were you yelling?"
"Strange sounds… I don't know…"
"That's the wind, Nicholas. Are you seriously scared?"
Nicholas, trying to compose himself with embarrassment:
"Scared? No way… Did you find Mary?"
"No… There's a chance she went back. We should head back too."
"But which way?
This way?
Are you sure?"
"No… I lost the direction when you called out."
"Let's try this way. We'll reach somewhere eventually."
"Okay."
The professor, with a few others from the camp—along with Mary and Helen—entered the forest.
On the way back, Nicholas broke the silence.
"You always misjudged me… especially during our final year at university."
Yong stopped.
"After all these years, I know you well. You care more about appearances than the truth."
"Diana herself asked me to help her break up with you…"
"What?"
"I didn't want to hurt you… but somehow I ended up looking like the bad guy."
"Diana loved me… but it's like she changed."
"You got stubborn… Why only painting? Get another job."
"I love painting. I can't give it up."
"When will you start making money from it? Diana's thinking about her future."
"Stop it."
A moment of silence. Then Yong looked at Nicholas:
"Do you really have feelings for Mary?"
"Feelings? Nah… Look at how many girls chase after me."
"Girls who only hang around to spend your money."
"Jealous!"
"But Helen…"
"Enough! Do you even know if we're going the right way?"
At that moment, they heard the voices of the professor and others. They ran toward the sound. When they arrived, Nicholas instinctively hugged Mary. Everyone stared in surprise. Yong simply watched, then… whispered something under his breath.