Next Level

Level 6

《J acquired new skill [setting a tent]》

While Jisoo was struggling with putting up the tent, Jennie quickly managed to handle it. She also helped Somi, Lisa and Rosé set up their respective tents.

They got the rest of their suitcases and bags from the trunk of the Van and brought them to their small camping site they built in the forest.

Thanks to Lisa joining their club, they were enough members to be an official club and not just a circle. They also had to find a teacher who would advise the club.

The only teacher they found who would be willing to do the job was the one who is currently parking the Van.

All the students call her by her first name - Sunmi.

"What's going on here?" Sunmi unzipped a tent and saw Jisoo laying on the inside while playing with her Switch. Jennie was beside her and sighed.

Jisoo ignored her while Jennie casted her an apologetic look. The other members were next to Sunmi and sighed as well. It was Jisoo's idea to go hiking and yet she is hiding in her tent.

"Jisoo! Out now!" Sunmi called the student who hesitantly crawled out of the tent.

"I'm not done yet..." Jisoo pouted, taking her Switch with her as she walked out.

"You said you'd leave the game here..." Jennie pouted back.

"Yeah Jisoo. Listen to you girlfri- Ow!" Lisa groaned as she was elbowed by the brunette.

Jennie's cheeks puffed up in anger, she crossed her arms and marched up to Chaeyoung and Somi, leaving the others behind who trailed after them.

"You should go to the back Jen. There is no way you can hike a mountain." Somi teased.

Jennie snorted. "As if I can't hike a mountain."

"You sure?" Chaeyoung arched a brow. "You get tired easily."

"Who gets tired easily?" Lisa butted in, trying to smoothly talk to Chaeyoung.

"Jennie does." Jisoo answered, catching up to them. "But it's okay, Lisa has a back for a reason."

"You should offer to carry her!" Lisa clicked her tongue.

"Why me? There is no way someone like me can carry Jennie. My back will break."

Jisoo's words floated in the air, none of the girls responded but each of them pursed their lips and held their breaths. There was one thought they were sharing and that was-

"Wow you are an idiot!" Sunmi laughed, breaking the silence.

"What's wrong?" Jisoo blinked, not understanding why everyone suddenly tensed up.

"You think I'm fat!?" Jennie's lips formed a big pout and her eyebrows furrowed.

"That's not-"

"Well, I'm sorry, I had no idea I'd be such a huge weight on your shoulder!

"Jen no-"

"I like to eat, what about it-"

"I'll carry you!" Jisoo interrupted her, exhausted. "I'll carry you, if you need me to, so.... relax please?"

Jennie's cheeks suddenly donned red as she shook her head furiously. "You don't need to! Thanks though!"

The brunette calmed down and turned bashful while the others could breathe in relief as the argument was a short one.

They stepped on the stony road and began the hike of the mountain. The ground wasn't even, it was full of pebbles and twigs, there were gaps in the ground and they could easily stumble or had to climb up a bit to reach somewhere to lay their feet on.

Admittedly, Jennie was exhausted. After like ten minutes, her breathing sped up and her legs were starting to burn.

She glanced at the others and they were still in a perfect condition. Even though Jennie is the type to get into fights and hold her ground, stamina has never been her strong suit. It was something she suffered from since a child as she had a low lung capacity.

"We are at the top!" Lisa gleefully announced and Jennie thanked her lucky stars for it.

She slumped on the stones, the second they reached the top and closed her eyes. Jisoo squatted next to her and uncapped her water bottle before holding it up as Jennie drank from it, taking big gulps.

"So students, listen, we can't just skip school to take random trips unless we give a good reason. Like for example if you are the photography club, you'd take pictures of the scenery right now and participate in competitions," Sunmi explained.

"But because we have nothing like that, we will just lie and make up a story!" She finished her motivational speech.

The students glanced at the teacher with unimpressed eyes.

"What? I also like to skip work to go camping..." She shrugged.

"This is why she is my favourite teacher." Lisa grinned.

《J changed 'Sunmi' to 'Crazy Teacher'》

And this is exactly why she is the only teacher that fits their club. She will pretend they do serious work and in return they give her goods and serve as an excuse for her to spend time with them instead of attending another class.

After they were done being fascinated with the view where they could see the entire forest, as well as a blue sky that was covered with clouds, they went back down.

Jennie was sure her ankle must be swollen but she still kept up with the others and walked all the way down, suppressing the pain.

Her feet hurt a lot when they were back at the camping place but that wasn't what made her gasp. It was the fact that their tents were torn into pieces, the car was upside down, and all the food, suitcases and bags were gone.

"We were robbed!" Lisa squeaked.

"Our clothes!" Somi gasped.

"Our food!" Chaeyoung frowned.

"MY SWITCH! MY ANIMAL CROSSING ISLAND!" Jisoo screamed the loudest and ran to what used to be her tent, searching frantically for her Switch.

"Chu, it's gone." Jennie held her shoulder and tried to pull her back.

"No! My island!" Jisoo said desperately holding onto the remains of her tent as Jennie pulled her away from that.

"It's okay Chu." Jennie gave her a hug and patted her back. "You will find another Switch. In an electronics store."

"Guys... I don't think it was a robber...." Sunmi trailed, pointing to the huge pair of footprints on the ground.

"A dinosaur!" Lisa stated, horrified.

"No, a bear..." Jennie rolled her eyes. Wait a bear?

"Our phones are smashed too..." Chaeyoung informed them as she found them crushed.

On a positive note, no more games to keep Jisoo distracted, now Jennie gets her full attention. In fact, maybe she should hand that bear a basket with a honey pot and red wine to express her gratitude.