Day 3 cont
I woke up finally feeling refreshed and all.
The rain has already stopped as well.
I wonder what time it is, though.
As soon as I opened my eyes, the light illuminated them, telling me that it was already morning.
I guess it had rained all night.
The memories of yesterday came rushing back to me.
It's nothing much, but at least it's worth remembering for me.
After he had uttered the words,
"I think we are going to spend the night like this."
I can't tell you just how worried I felt as to what he meant by that.
I guess he saw my discomfort, as he also added.
"I mean, it's probably going to rain all night," he added.
"Yes, yes, of course," I was quick to say.
Sometimes, I've got such trash on my mind.
I was actually thinking that he wanted to come close to me.
But why would he want to?
We are only married couples in front of the world, but teachers and students behind the scenes, and I think I got that straight from the beginning.
But here I am, fantasizing about being close to him.
"So, tell me all about the Masai Mara River," I said, just to get my mind off fantasizing about him.
At least not when he's in front of me.
"Uhmm, there is a lot to say about it, but I can tell you one thing: it's a very nice view, especially when you are looking up at it from the helicopter, and it's most amazing during the wildebeest migration from Serengeti to this park and vice versa," he said in amazement as he tried to recall all those memories of him watching the view.
"And if we are lucky enough, we might spot some of the wildebeests migrating back to the Serengeti," he added.
"I hope so," I said.
"So, tell me, how is the field trip treating you so far? I hope you are enjoying it," he asked.
"Well, it's great so far if you remove the walking part," I said.
He smiled, like a real smile on his face, not all those forced smiles that he always plastered on his face.
He looks kind of at ease now that we are talking.
He feels more of himself.
"You youngsters are really lazy, but let me tell you, though, that these types of trips are more enjoyable when you do them on foot than in a car," he said.
Well, I had to agree with him on that.
"Yeah, you are right; I'm sure even your children don't like walking either, do they?" I asked.
Why did I even ask that question? I, too, didn't know.
He frowned.
"I'm really sorry. Did I say something wrong?" I apologise.
"No, no," he quickly said.
"It's... it's... I don't have any children," he says.
Well, that's kind of hard to believe, but since he is the one telling me, I would believe.
I wanted to ask if he had a wife, but I refrained.
This is a personal question, and I have no right to ask him that.
But there is a ring on his finger.
I looked intently at the ring, only to find out that it looked exactly like mine.
Wait a minute, does that mean that he was not married all this time?
What a waste of youthful years!
Even though he is still a little bit younger than most of the professors back in our school, his not being married all this time—that's so sad of you to ask me.
But then I couldn't ask, so I just concluded that he wasn't actually married.
That made me feel relieved that at least he is not cheating on a poor, innocent woman back at home.
The blankets and warmers arrived just at that point, and he collected an umbrella and went out to collect them.
He was away for a while, but he eventually came back.
"Here is your blanket," he said, handing one over to me.
I thanked him and quickly wrapped myself inside. I didn't realize just how cold I was until I was wrapped in a warm cloth.
He picked up his sleeping bag and started to head out.
Just where does he think he was going?
"Uhmm, sir, you can sleep in here tonight; I'm fine," I said.
He hesitated for a while but finally gave in.
I moved to the farthest end of the tent, and he placed his sleeping bag just close to the entrance.
He switched on the warmer and spoon; it was warm inside.
But still not warm enough, I thought.
I always like cuddling when it's raining, and now I wish.
Stop it right there, I cautioned myself.
"Good night," he said.
"Good night," I answered, and in no time, I fell asleep like a log.
Now, here I am, standing in the middle of the field, stretching my wretched bones as I kind of slept uncomfortably yesterday.
My legs are even sore from me twisting them at an odd angle.
"Good morning, sunshine," Nina says in a singsong voice.
Her friend waved at me.
"So, tell us all the details; how was it last night?" she asks.
"Cold," I answer straight away.
"Not you though, I bet, so tell us, was he loving or rough?" she asks again.
"Gosh! You really got to get your head out of the gutter," I say.
And here I was, thinking I had the dirtiest mind yesterday.
"You don't have to deny it, you know; I mean, you are literally wearing his shirt," she pointed out.
"Oh my goodness!" That's when I remembered that I was actually still wearing his shirt from yesterday.
"It's not what you think; I was feeling cold, and then he gave me his sweatshirt to wear, really," I try to explain.
Why am I even explaining myself to them?
"Really, then why did he ask that no one should disturb you during the roll call?" her friend asks.
They have already done the tool call; I guess I really did oversleep.
He did that, but why did he?
Now he will have all these students breathing over my neck with a suspicious look.
I mean, what kind of lunatic would think of doing such an act in the middle of a forest?
I tried to walk away, but Nina quickly held me, like she was trying to help me walk.
The whole of the camp is now looking at us.
"What is it now?" I ask.
"Careful there; you are limping," she says sympathetically.
"It's nothing; I just slept at an odd angle yesterday," I said.
"I bet you did," she says as she keeps on dragging me.
"And I guess he is rough by the way you are walking right now," she whispered in my ear.
I gasped at her comment.
But before I could say a word, he just appeared in front of me out of nowhere.