Chapter 71
Na Yeon lay motionless on the forest floor, her body battered and bruised. A large, ominous bruise marred her forehead, and her right leg oozed blood, staining the surrounding leaves. She had succumbed to the pain and shock, passing out cold.
The students, who had been oblivious to the unfolding drama mere moments before, now rushed to her side with frantic concern. One of the boys, without hesitation, scooped her up onto his back, cradling her limp form as they navigated the treacherous terrain.
As they emerged from the woods, the students quickly alerted the teachers, their voices laced with panic. The atmosphere shifted from chaos to crisis mode in an instant. The teachers sprang into action, swiftly assessing Na Yeon's condition before rushing her off to a nearby hospital.
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Shantel, Minji, and Chu Chu sat in a nearby cluster of trees, observing the chaos unfold. Shantel's voice was laced with anxiety as she whispered, "I told you that wasn't a good idea! What if she dies?"
Minji's eyes darted nervously between Chu Chu and the commotion, her face pale. Chu Chu's response was laced with a forced confidence, but the faintest tremble in her voice betrayed her growing unease. "She won't," Chu Chu said, her words more reassuring to herself than to the others.
The tension between them was palpable, each girl lost in her own thoughts about the potential consequences of their actions. Shantel's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Minji's gaze remained fixed on Chu Chu, searching for reassurance that seemed increasingly elusive. Chu Chu, meanwhile, struggled to maintain her composure, her confidence wavering with each passing moment.
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Sarah's pov
I was savoring the last bites of my meal when the tranquility was shattered by the commotion unfolding outside the woods. The Blondie girl, who had been clinging to Hyun Min's side yesterday, was now being carried out, she was lifeless..with bruises all over.
"Oh my god!" I muttered, my eyes wide with horror as I watched the scene unfold. "She rolled off a cliff!" I heard a student exclaim, and the teachers sprang into action, their faces etched with concern.
The chef, who had been watching the scene with a mixture of shock and disdain, shook her head. "She was careless!" she said, her voice low and matter-of-fact.
I turned to her, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Do you know her?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
The chef's expression turned stern. "Of course I do," she said. "She's hot-tempered and rude." Her words were laced with a hint of disapproval, as if she had witnessed Na Yeon's behavior firsthand.
As I watched the chaos unfold, I couldn't help but wonder what had really happened. Had it been an accident, or was there more to the story?
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As the news spread like wildfire, the atmosphere shifted from concern to relief. The remaining teacher, trying to restore order, announced that the camp was being cut short and they would be heading back to school. "Please take your time packing your bags," she said, her voice calm but firm.
The students, eager to escape the tense atmosphere, scattered to their rooms, their footsteps echoing down the hallway. The chef, too, began packing up the kitchen, her movements swift and efficient.
I made my way to my room, my mind still reeling from the events that had transpired. As I opened the door, I was surprised to see Hyun Min already on the phone, his expression serious. I paused, my eyes fixed on him, and my greeting died on my lips.
"We are going back to school..." I started to say, but my voice trailed off as I took in the sight of Hyun Min's intense gaze.
I silently began packing my bags, which didn't need much attention since we would be leaving the camp soon. The room felt smaller, the air thick with unspoken words. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through Hyun Min's mind, and what the journey back to school would bring.
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Hyun Min's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in simmering frustration as he listened to his mother's scathing words. "Mother, I didn't—" he began, but she cut him off, her voice escalating like a tempest.
"How could you be so reckless?" she demanded, her words slicing through the air like a razor-sharp blade. "Na Yeon fell off the cliff? How could you fail to prevent this?"
Hyun Min's face contorted in a mix of indignation and helplessness. "Mother, I'm telling you,I wasn't even there" he protested, but his mother's ire only seemed to amplify, like a wildfire consuming everything in its path.
"I won't hear your excuses, Hyun Min," she snapped, her voice icy and unforgiving. "You were supposed to be responsible for her well-being. Now she's injured, and I'm still in the dark about the extent of her injuries.
Hyun Min's eyes blazed with resentment, but he knew better than to challenge his mother's wrath. He took a deep breath.
As the call ended, Hyun Min's face contorted in a mixture of anger and frustration, his features twisted in a scowl. I hesitated, unsure whether to approach him or give him space. Prudence won out, and I quietly gathered my bag, my eyes fixed on the floor as I slipped out of the room.
I was greeted by the sight of the other students assembled in front of the buses, their bags scattered about. A teacher stood at the front, her voice strained as she addressed us. "Okay, please... we're leaving earlier than expected," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "We shouldn't be leaving at this time, but due to the... tragedy that just occurred, we can't continue to stay here. So, we'll head back to school."
Her voice was laced with a hint of desperation as she instructed us to form a line and board the bus. "No rushing, no pushing. Sit anywhere you like," she said, but her words were lost in the chaos that erupted as the students surged towards the bus. The air was filled with the sound of chatter and shuffling feet, and I watched in dismay as the students pushed and shoved, eager to secure a seat.
"No rushing!" the teacher repeated, her voice growing louder, but it was a futile attempt to restore order. The students were beyond reason, driven by a mix of excitement and anxiety. I stood frozen, feeling a sense of unease wash over me as I watched the scene unfold.