Chapter 4: Not gonna end well

Previously...

"Extra shirt, extra shirt," I repeatedly said as I check my stuff.

Gosh! Why is there so much stuff in this bag?

"Uhh, Nini? What are you doing?" he asked again but I ignored him.

I just keep digging through my stuff until I find my extra shirt.

My smiles widened. I immediately took out my extra shirt when I saw it.

"Extra shirt!"

Gradually my smiles faded when I saw who was in front of me.

"Ta-da! Welcome to the sapphire group!"

"You better be kidding me."

---

Nini

"You better be kidding me."

I don't know if the camp counselor planned this for us to be together in the same group or it was just fate.

I mean, us? Really? Just before leaving the university, the four of us were together.

I don't know if we will get along and will our group be fine.

"Wait, you three again?" Rhyss said.

Even Rhyss is shocked too, I mean who doesn't?

Our group contains a nerd, a girl who likes to pop out of nowhere, a competitive and complaining boy.

"I knew you would know them!" happily our camp counselor said.

We only know each other earlier though.

"Thank you, it's good that someone chose us! I thought we would be left here without a group," Gavyn said.

"You're very welcome! I chose you because you are all..."

"destined," she said causing me to look at her.

I can't help but frown.

What was the last word she said?

"Destined?" Gavyn repeated what she had said.

Our camp counselor immediately turned her gaze to me.

This aura again.

"Uh, Ms. Gill?" Rhyss called by her name.

She turned to Rhyss and smiled.

"Yeah, destined. You're all destined for the sapphire group. Isn't that fun?" she said while smiling.

Destined for the sapphire group? Is that why no one chooses us because they all know we belong to this group?

"If you think about it, I don't see how is it going to be 'fun'. But I'm happy to know the reason why no one chooses us because we already have an assigned group," Gavyn said.

"Wait a minute, let me get this straight," Rhyss interrupted.

"Destined? As in the four of us?"

Ms. Gill, our camp counselor, nodded in response.

"But, why? How?" he asked again.

We all frown as he said those words.

"Rhyss, I chose you all because you four are special," Ms. Gill replied.

"Well, I know that I'm very special."

"Special child you say," I murmured.

Rhyss immediately looked at me.

"Did you just say something?"

"Nothing," I answered.

He slowly looked at Ms. Gill, again.

"As I was saying..."

I saw Gavyn turn to me and was going to speak when I immediately preceded him to stay quiet.

"Ms. Gill, I know that I'm very special but, them?" Rhyss said and looked at the three of us.

My eyebrows met.

"It's not like I'm foredeeming them but, a nerdy boy," he said, referring to Gavyn.

"Hey!"

"A..."

He immediately stops what he was about to say when Nathalie stared at him.

Even I getting some chills by her stare.

"A-a creepy girl who likes to pop out of nowhere," he said and after that, he turns his gaze from me.

"Lastly, a girl who likes to read boring romance books and have no friends."

I was surprised by what he said.

Okay, about him underestimating me is fine. But telling how boring someone's masterpiece is? Gosh no! That's below the belt!

"They're all with me in the same group?!" unbelievable Rhyss said.

Ms. Gill nodded while smiling in response.

How can she smile while Rhyss insulted us?

"But, that's not fair!" he said loudly.

"Excuse me, Rhyss. What's not 'fair' here is that you insulted us. You don't even know us well enough to do that," I replied to him.

"I agree with Nini, you clearly said earlier that it's not that you're foredeeming us but what you said is an insult, it's just like you said someone an offensive thing then you said after no offense, it's the same," Gavyn commented.

"I'm just stating my first impression to the three of you, Gavyn. Stop overreacting will you?" Rhyss replied.

"Did I hear it right? First impression? Do you call that first impression? Wow Rhyss, that 'first impression' of yours is very, very insulting," I answered.

I can't help but to be mad, I'm not just standing for myself, I have to stand up for Gavyn and Nathalie too. Rhyss said is unacceptable.

He looked at me

"Oh why, Nini? Does it hurt? Does it hurt knowing the truth about you?" he said while smirking.

I immediately stay quiet after what he said.

"Oh? What's wrong Nini? Why are you so quiet now? Is that because I told you the truth?"

I just keep looking at him. He slowly walks to me.

"Which is the painful part, Nini?"

"Knowing that the books you are reading are boring?"

"Or," he said and leaned forward to me.

"Knowing that you don't have a single friend," he said while whispering to my ear.

I was stopped by what he said, it felt like something big was on my chest.

I can't explain it but, I only know one thing for sure.

I was hurt by what he said.

"Hey, hey. Don't fight, okay? You've just been together in this group and now you all almost fight. Always remember that I picked you all for a reason," she said and pull Rhyss away from me.

"You may not see it but, if you four help each other. You'll gonna make a great team, got it?"

I look at Rhyss and his grin is still there on his lips.

He got me there.

"Alright, how about if you follow me to our tent and there, I will discuss or tell you about our activities and schedule for today? Is that cool with you all?"

I looked away and nod.

"Great, now follow me!" she says happily.

They all started walking towards our tent while I, put away the shirt I grab inside my bag.

I just sigh.

I sling my bag on my shoulder and started to walk.

"This way to our tent!" Ms. Gill said as she pointed the way.

When I got in front of our tent, I stopped first. 

"It looks like my day is unlucky, huh?" I murmured.

I touch the necklace on my neck, dad said this necklace is called a locket because when you open it inside it, you can see or put a picture of your loved ones.

I just giggle when I saw the picture of Mom and a baby me on both sides of my heart necklace.

Well, at least I have your mom on my side. Somehow my day is still okay.

"Nini? Are you there already? You can come in now, the camp activities will start in a few minutes!"

After hearing those words I looked at mom's picture once more before closing it.

Will I be affected by what he said? Will I be sad all day by what that stupid Rhyss said? Of course not! I am Nini Santos and no one can stop me from being me!

"I may not have a friend but at least mom is always here for me."

I immediately entered our tent. There I saw all of them sitting on the floor and waiting for me.

"There you are, Nini. Come sit next to me," Ms. Gill said and tap the floor beside her.

I nodded in response and sit beside her.

Remember Nini, don't mind Rhyss.

"Okay, now that we're all here. We only have a few minutes left before our very first camp activity would start so let's be quick, okay?" Ms. Gill explained.

"Before we start, I want you all to introduce yourself. You'll say your name, age, and the person or thing that always pops in your mind when you are sad or important to you, okay? So, I'll go first."

"Hello sapphire group, I'm your leader, Gillian Palmer, I'm looking forward to work with you all," Ms. Gill started.

"I'm 25 years of age and the thing that always pops in my mind when I'm sad is this!" she said and show us a picture.

"Who are those people?" Gavyn asked.

If you look at Ms. Gill's and the other's clothes, the design of it reminds me of an ancient outfit that some powerful royalties are wearing. There are in the forest.

"Those people are my friends," Ms. Gill replied.

"Y-you wear those clothes in the forest?" Rhyss said making Ms. Gill looked at him.

"Well, we are having a film that time, you know? For school activities."

We nodded in response.

"Next!"

"I'm Rhyss Casper Haxley and I'm 12 years old."

Ms. Gill frowned.

"That's all? How about-"

She didn't finish what she was going to say when Rhyss cut her off.

"I'm not sad so I can't answer your last question."

"Well, you don't need to be sad now. How about yesterday or the day you were sad? Isn't anyone important to you?" Ms. Gill asked again.

Rhyss stop for a moment.

"Rhyss?"

"Dad," he said.

"Dad is the only one who matters to me," he added.

"That's all?"

"I'm already important to other people because many love me," he said and looked at me.

Just let him, Nini. Let him.

"Okay, next."

Nathalie remained silent.

"Nathalie, Ms. Gill is calling you," Gavyn said and removes one of her earphones.

She immediately took it from Gavyn and put it back in her ear.

"Sorry Ms. Gill, she's a shy type of girl and doesn't want to interact with other people."

"Ooh~ Just like our other member," Rhyss said in a teasing tone.

Calm down, Nini. It's okay.

"Okay, I can see that. Next time, you have to participate okay?" Ms. Gill said to Nathalie but she just ignored her.

"If you want to know her name, it's Nathalie Lilian Garcia, she's 11 years old. I do not know what's the important thing in her, that's all the information I can tell you," Gavyn said.

Ms. Gill is shocked and nodded slowly.

"Okay... how about you?"

"I'm Gavyn Villanueva, 12 years old and the thing and person that reminds me whenever I'm sad are my parents of course, and my lab."

he have a lab?!

"Oh, wow. I don't even have a lab. Anyway, Nini, it's your turn."

I nodded, I was about to speak when Rhyss yawned.

"Rhyss?" Ms. Gill said and looked at him.

"Sorry Ms. Gill, I just feel a little bit sleepy, all of this talking is so boring," he said and looked at me.

"Oh, Rhyss. Nini continue."

I took a deep breath before answering.

"My name is Nini, I'm 11 years old and the most important thing to me is this necklace," I said and showed my necklace to them.

"That's a wonderful necklace, Nini. Can you tell us why it's important to you?" Ms. Gill asked so I nodded.

I opened my necklace and showed them the picture.

"This necklace came from my mom who died after I was born. This is the most precious thing to me because this is the only picture I have with my mom."

"This thing always reminds me that someone is always supporting me and waiting for me. I feel like this is my mom, especially when I think I have no one in my side."

I heard her applaud.

"That was a great story, Nini. You know, one thing I like about you is that you're always on the positive side."

I smiled at her and blush.

"Thank you."

Suddenly, we turned around when we heard a loud sound coming from a whistle.

"Everyone, please go to your respective group and go to the mini stage, we are about to start our camp activities! Make sure to wear your camp Ever Realms t-shirt, okay?" we hear it announce.

"It looks like our discussion session is over," Ms. Gill said and stood up.

"Come on sapphire group, wear those shirts cause we have some badges to collect!" she said and get out of the tent.

---

After changing, I immediately went to the mini stage and lined up where my group is.

There I saw the other groups.

"I'm jealous, the other groups have awesome members, but here? I don't even want to talk about it," Rhyss complained.

"Good morning students! Time check, it's already 11:30. Are you all excited for the first day of Ever Realms camp activity?"

Everybody answered yes, everyone become chaotic because of excitement.

I couldn't help but be nervous.

"Okay, I'll now give each schedule to our camp counselor in each group," Ms. Addi said while holding a bunch of papers.

"Wait? Didn't you say that every camp counselor already has our schedule?" one of the students asked.

Yes! I remember Ms. Dani said that.

"Yes, you're right there but, that schedule is for day two! These papers I'm holding are the schedule for today's activity!"

We all can't help but be surprised.

"Isn't it surprising and fun?"

She then gave the papers to all the camp counselors.

"Okay! Let's see who's our first two groups that will play!" she announced.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"When Ms. Addi said our group, we're already doomed," Gavyn commented.

"It's just the three of you, I can and will lift this team to win. You still need to practice," Rhyss said.

"And here are the first two groups that will play!"

Please not us, please not us...

"Come on stage, Emerald group and Sapphire group!"

I feel like cold water had been poured to me from what I heard.

Oh my gosh, please tell me I heard it wrong.

I turn around and saw my other groupmates. We are all looking at each other.

"This isn't gonna end well."

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To be continued...