New day and we'll be busy, I woke up early and left our tent silently so I can't wake Sam and Liz.
Last night was very cool so I suppose the two enjoyed their sleep, I can't even sleep that much because I've been trapped by those two hitting me every now and then.
I walked over the others who also woke up early to get some breakfast, it's just our second day so we should take our time on doing the activities.
"Good morning Tine, I brought cocoa powder, I'll just have boil some filtered water for you guys" my classmate said.
"Great, thanks Louanne" I pat her back before tying my hair into a bun and start making fire.
"Tine, I'll get some cups for the drinks, do you want to get something inside the rest house?" one asked.
"Nothing else, thanks for the hard work" I smiled and she gave me a thumbs up.
The teachers provided some pan and pot for us to use on cooking and the rest of it is for us to work, we didn't bring any plates so we simply chopped off some banana leaves and place it over the table so we can have something to place the food on.
I was already cooking the rice when the others started waking up as well, Sam and Liz helped out on serving the food when some of our classmates suddenly swam back the shore with a couple of sea foods.
"Wow you got lobsters and crabs" the others cheered.
"Alright let's cook them so we can have breakfast- watch the claws" James instructed as they brought it to the rest house to clean.
After preparing, everyone gathered on the long table once again and started feasting over our meal, we have a busy schedule today so it's better to start early so we can rest as early as we could.
After the meal, me and Icer seperated from the others to start with our first task, our teachers have announced it while we were having our breakfast earlier.
"Come on" he pulled me thru the thick forest for our activity.
We started our hunt by looking for a certain flower, I look at the rolled paper in my palm and opened it.
"It says here that we should look for lilies, lotus, and daisies" I told him.
"Nope, it means we should trace their close families and figure out what makes them survive their habitat" he meaningly said, oh right he's one of the people who organize this event, tsk.
"Let's start with the lilies" he pointed on our left and I saw a lot of lilies.
"What about the others? Where are they heading to?" I asked, reffering to our classmates who was rushing towards the ocean just now when they passed.
"I also put some shells, stones and common sands on the list, some of them can dive to find a certain thing" he shrugged, I shut my mouth to avoid irritating him with my questions and sat near the lilies.
"Is this activity related to forensic science?" I asked while opening my notepad.
"Kinda, depends on how we put it. Now, are you familiar with the close families of lilies?" He asked, I nodded.
"Tulips are one of those, we also have nightshade, tiger lilies and easter lilies" I replied and wrote down my answers.
I had him sketched out the flower while I do the rest of the work, I admit that this is kinda exhausting but I somehow enjoyed exploring the forest while doing the whole activity.
Before lunch came, we walked back towards the camp site. The teachers prepared the food for us and we thanked them for it, at least we won't tire ourselves so much.
I sat with Sam and Liz who were talking about my cousins once again and I had no choice but to listen to them- as if they got a choice on my cousins, some of them are already engaged, and some of them are dating someone from an influencial family, just like my older sister.
"Why don't you introduce us to them?" Liz nudged me, I almost choke on my food but manage to glare at her.
"I can't and I won't" I looked away.
"Tsk fine, whatever suits you then okay" Sam grinned.
"Drop your high hopes ladies, my cousin's are reserved for the other ladies" I suddenly smirked making them frown.
"Fine we won't" they obeyed.
After our lunch, we all went back on doing our activities, this is the second activity and where doing a treasure hunt seperately. Each of us picked up some random papers inside the box that our science teacher prepared for us and she also said that whatever item we picked we should identify what is being describe on the paper and find it.
'I may be small but I worth more than the stars in the night sky'- that's what mine said, small but worth more than the stars in the night sky huh?
Let's see. Jewelries are worth a couple of fortunes but diamonds doesn't exist in a place like this, I pointed the paper in the sun and a hidden clue was written below it that says:
'I don't shine, I am hidden on a hard closet where you can't open so easily'
I sighed and walked over the rocky sands, I saw a starfish there and a few little fishes that are trapped in the little holes because of the processes of high tides and low tides.
I kept walking while admiring the sea when I stepped on something and pain immediately flashed throught my foot, I look down and saw a shell, oyster or clam shell I suppose?
Why the h*ll is this here? I bit my lower lip when I saw my toe getting a small cut but the bleeding isn't that bad, I grab the shell and was about to throw it back to sea when I finally realize something.
"Well what do you know? Looks like your the answer to my treasure hunting little one" I pat the shell and slowly walk back towards the campsite.
I was really happy when I reached the site, looks like I finished the treasure hunt first, I was about to celebrate when Ace walked out of their tent, yawning.
"Oh, you're back too?" He asked, my jaw dropped.
"H-how? I-I mean, you finsihed first?" I asked.
"Yeah, well it says 'I don't have anything but senses, I'm lonelier than black and I can hurt you' so I brought the sea urchin here" he happily pointed at the table.
Techinically he's not holding the same rank as me when he can't finish this simple task, I mentally rolled my eyes.
"What about yours?" He asked.
"Oh my treasure is inside this shell, I came back to open it" I cracked a laugh but suddenly whince in pain when the sand touched my wound.
"Hey, what happened?" He immediately rush to me and checked my foot.
"Sit here, I'll get some first aid on my bag" he grab a chair and I sat on it, letting him do as he please.
I took my multi-purpose knife on my pocket and attempted to open the shell but it was so hard so I gave up, Ace returned immediately with his first aid.
He cleaned my wound before applying some ointment to it and covered it with a bandaid, I just notice that he's wearing a black sleeveless fitted shirt showing off his biceps, my face puffed pink and I looked away, what is happening to you Cursetine?!
"That should do it, do you want me to open it for you?" He pointed at the shell, I handed it to him and he opened it without any effort.
"Geez thanks Ace" I smiled when he handed me the shell.
"Also for treating my wound, I really appreciate it" I look away with my cheeks still flustered with pink.
"No problem" he replied and watched me pinch the oyster until a pearl came out, it was a white pearl, I held it out and smiled.
"Beautiful" I mumbled.
"I'll get some coconut juice" he complied and I simply nod at him.
I secured the pearl inside my pocket and threw the shell back to the sea, some time passed and one by one of my classmates started to return back to the camp.
I was talking to James and his friends and Ace suddenly took my hand and place the freshly opened coconut juice on my palm with a recyclable straw on it.
I was about to thank him when he left immediately after handing me the drink, I smiled and look at James while taking a sip on my drink.
"You two..." he smirked, I choked on my drink and his friends laughed out loud making me glare at them.
"No way!" I denied.
Let's just say that after finding out about my traumatic summer vacation, I started to notice Ace giving a lighter aura when he's with me, he also smile a lot lately and would take care of me even it's too unoticable.
"I think that guy has a thing for you" he said.
"You're out of your mind" I grinned and clicked my tongue.
"Hey that's his straw right?" I once again choked on my food when I heard Troy pointed the straw on my juice.
"Hey that's enough, she's gonna d*e from choking" Icer chuckled beside him.
"Whatever" I waved my hand like shooing them away before walking off to find my friends.
I found the two grilling some bananas while teasing each other, I sat next to Liz and she immediately lean over my shoulder before yawning, poor girls they must've been tired.
"Alright you two, let's get you dressed up so you can head to bed early" I patted their heads.
"Well Icer proposed to have a class gathering by the camp fire later, we can't miss that" Sam said.
"He did? Wow, I didn't know about that" I pouted.
"It was too sudden but the teachers agreed and let us have some fun time" Liz informed me.
When the teachers came, one by one of us presented our treasures and as expected to our section, no one failed the treasure hunt but of course, the first 5 to return have the highest points which gave me relief.
After announcing the activities for the next day, everyone returned to their tents to take a small rest while I walk towards the back of the rest house alone, the cold breeze blew making me hug my jacket close to me.
I made sure that no one saw me when I climb over the railings to get to the back of it, I sighed in relief when I saw him waiting beside the ladder towards the rooftop.
I approached him and he immediately gestured towards the ladder, I nodded and climb up first while he make sure that no one is around the area.
When I reached the top I sat on the roof and waited for him to come up, when he did, he gave me a smile before sitting down next to me.
"Aren't you tired?" I asked to lessen the 'sudden' awkward atmosphere growing between us.
"Not really, I enjoyed exploring the whole place" he replied.
"What about you? I assume Icer still bosses you around" he muttered.
"Not really but he is the one who gives the instructions and I'm the one who decides the right or wrong thing" I joked he grinned.
"Suprisingly, you're the only girl who survive being his partner" he commented, I shrugged.
"I don't know, Icer is a bossy type of gentleman but nah- sometimes you just need to push him out his radar to act more human-ly" I quoted.
"What do you think of him?" He suddenly asked.
"Probably just a sibling, he's bossy yes but I somehow enjoy his company" I answered.
"I see" he nod his head and we both fell silent.
"Do you perhaps like someone? Or have any ideal guy?" He asked, now why is he asking me that?
I remained silent for a while thinking what kind of guy suits me.
"Maybe someone who's very keen in sights and words, would always prioritize actions than words to express his feelings to me, a guy who's willing to be my shield against all odds and of course understanding- the type that he won't jump into conclusions immediately unless he heard my side" I answered honestly, I saw him smile a little but didn't bother asking why did he asked that question so suddenly.
"It's twilight soon..." he mumbled.
"Yeah," I agreed and looked over the sky above me.
The orange coloured sky slowly turned into indigo as the ocean swallowed the sun, when the sun finally got drowned by the body of water, a beautiful twilight appeared in front of my eyes once more, a smile formed on my lips, not just because of the view but something else I don't even know myself.
"It's so majestic isn't it?" He asked.
"It's magical, thank you for bringing me here" I smiled and turn to him.
Our eyes met and- 'due to my sensitiveness of making eye contact on these gorgeous men'- my cheeks immediately heat up and my stomach flipped almost literally saying- I'm sick.
"It's not a problem, I'm suprise that you like this kind of thing" he chuckled huskily, if I'm just a simple girl I would totally fall for that- too bad I'm not tho.
"I'm not really into scenary before but I just recently found out that twilights are magical and amazing to witness" I replied, I felt him froze for a bit so I turn to him.
His eyes have a confuse look but he didn't dare to ask me, I cleared my throat before standing up, it's getting late now, the others would get suspicious if they found out that we're missing.
"You head back first, that'll avoid them questioning you, just lie to them or something" he shrugged and smirked.
"Yeah sure, thanks Ace" I giggled before climbing down the ladder.
I quietly walk back towards the camp site just in time when some of our classmates went out of their tents to prepare for dinner, it was a good thing that they didn't notice I left especially because the two girl friends of mine.
Our teachers are already resting so we set up the table a little farther away from where we built our tents.
Everyone was chatting but my mind is flying somewhere else, if everyone will stay up late tonight then there's a possibility that we'll be up late tomorrow, not to mention that I'm having a lot of mental blocks when I lack sleep.
After dinner, all of us formed a circle with the large campfire in the center, James has his guitar and Sam was singing along the tune he played.
Sam is also a great singer, a talented girl like her can capture a lot of hearts but we rarely hear her sing, I also noticed that everyone is so focused on listening to her singing, I smiled.
Liz was also busy sleeping next to me, I sighed before shaking her shoulders lightly, I heard her groaned but later on sat up straight while rubbing her eyes.
"Ooh sweet! You're singing" she cheered at Sam.
Sam rolled her eyes at her before taking the guitar away from James and played her tune, I took a quick glance at Icer's place, his eyes are glistening with an impressed look and he also have this sly smirk on his lips.
I sighed then suddenly Liz stood up, startling me and then suddenly offering her hand to me, I gave her a confuse look but I realized what tune was Sam playing by the guitar.
That's the theme song of our family, I had showed them a video of the dance a couple of times but I didn't know they'd memorize it, Liz chuckled when she saw my reaction before pulling me up and started to dance around the camp fire.
The other's cheered- mostly girls and joined in the line while dancing around the campfire, well they sure are fast learner's with those basic steps that Liz does, no doubt they immediately learnt it on the spot.
"Come on Cursetine!" They called, I raised both my hands to surrender before lining behind Liz and dance to the tune of the guitar.
The campfire is also dancing to the music and the warmth that comes from it lessen the cold breeze brought by the night.
I twirl twice and stopped, Sam noticed my state and stopped playing making the others stop dancing as well.
"Why are we the only one dancing? This is so unfair" I complained to the gentlemen.
"Now that you mentioned it..." Sam mumbled.
"Nah, we enjoy watching you ladies have fun" Icer assured.
"No, no- that won't do, come on, I'll play the guitar, all of you have fun" I pulled Icer and Ace up but they both pulled me towards the center with them.
"They didn't said that phones are forbided" James said and we all looked at him, he has his palm on his chin, thinking.
"So what should we do?" Liz asked.
"Party time!" Most of them cheered.
"Shh!" I hushed them when the lights of the rest house suddenly turned on once again and our research teacher walked out the terrace.
"You kids! Go to bed already!" Ms. Tan yelled.
"Oh they're done with their 'thing'?" Icer and James smirked.
"What thing?" Liz asked.
"Nothing, better keep it to ourselves, come on kids, let's head back" Icer smiled brightly, I rolled my eyes- but isn't that a crime?
"We ain't kids Ice, you too James, stop painting negativities to these children" Samantha scolded them and dragged almost all the ladies back to where our tents are.
"Blazing flames under the moonlight" someone spoke behind me.
"What now?" I asked, he would be a handsome statue by just looking up the full moon above us.
He gaze down at me and smiled "I said you're amazing" he repeated and stroked a few strands of my hair away from my face.
"Well, good night" he finally stated before walking back to the camp, totally leaving me behind.
I look back at the campfire, I guess he meant by the quote 'Dancing like flames under the moonlight' it's quite impressive that he read those kind of cliché stuffs.
Either way, the Ace I know today is totally different from the past years, he changed, and I like it. I instantly shook my head when I remembered what my cousins warned me about boys.
They are so over protective and all. I walked back to our tent and saw the two getting busy with their stuffs, I, of course we should check our things from time to time before heading to bed.
On my side, I prepared my clothes for tomorrow before plopping down my sleeping bag tiredly.
"Good night Tine" the two said.
"Good night Sam, good night Liz" I replied before my sleepiness took over me.