THE BET 🦋

XX

We had been looking forward to our trip for weeks, and the prospect of getting away from the stress of school and enjoying some relaxation and adventure was a welcome relief. But despite the excitement, I couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
The reason for my nervousness was the fact that Jae-eon and his friends would be on the trip too. I was trying to avoid Jae-eon ever since I found out about the bet he had made with his friends, and the thought of spending a three days with him in close proximity was making me anxious.
I had been doing my best to keep a low profile and avoid him as much as possible during, but now that we were going to be spending some time together on a small island, that would be much more difficult.
Despite my nerves, I was determined to enjoy the trip and make the most of it. I had been looking forward to exploring the island, trying new foods, and making memories with my friends.
As I and Bitna made our final preparations for the trip, I tried to push my anxiety to the back of my mind and focus on the fun and excitement of the adventure ahead. I made sure to pack everything I needed, including my camera, sunscreen, and a good book to read on the beach.

Finally, the day of the trip arrived. Me and my classmates gathered at the bus station, all eager and excited for the journey ahead. The bus ride was long and bumpy, but we passed the time by singing songs and chatting.
When we arrived at the camp side, we were greeted by the stunning view of the ocean and the warm sea breeze. I felt my spirits lifting as I look at the beautiful surroundings, and I felt excited to start exploring.
Everyone scrambled to unload the van and start setting up their tents. Bitna and I quickly found a spot and began to unfold our tent, working together to secure the stakes into the ground. It was a little frustrating at times, but after a while, with Gyun-Hyuk's help we managed to get our tent up.
I noticed that there is a strange atmosphere between Bitna and Gyun-hyuk, and they didn't talk much. I have to ask her about it then, because I want us all to enjoy this trip together and to the fullest.
After making sure everyone had their tents set up and things unpacked, our professor stood in the middle of the camp to give us instructions for the coming days. I admire her for being willing to hold so many people accountable. We are all adults, but that does not change the fact that when we meet at such an event, we are like little children.
"Everyone, please listen carefully," she began, "I have put together a plan of activities that I would like us all to do together. You all know each other more or less by now, so this will be more of a trip designed to get you even more closer."
She paused for a moment and when she saw the smiles and the girls whispering and giggling at the same time, she realized how her words might have sounded.
"Of course I don't mean that literally. We don't want you to take away more from this trip than what you came here with." And with this sentence she winked at us.
There was laughter from all sides. During the year, this professor was quite strict, but as it turns out, some are totally awesome outside of school, and those who are awesome in school are often terrible in real life. A true paradox.
"We've decided to have a little barbecue tonight, because you're all definitely tired after the hard journey and unpacking, and you could use a little rest. And me too, of course," she laughed.
"We decided not to set a time for you all to go to bed because we all know that no one would keep it anyway."
Of course, this announcement was followed by a wave of excited screams. Everyone was probably counting on us being restricted these days, but it looks like they'll be lenient on us. It also made me very happy, because I won't see my classmates that often during the holidays and I really started to like them all.
"Okay then," said the professor, "that's all I wanted to say for now. We'll gather tomorrow morning and give ourselves further instructions. All I'll tell you for now is that you have something to look forward to, because we're going to explore the island. Enjoy tonight and I, with your permission, will go to rest in my tent. If anyone needs me, you know where to find me."
The professor said and walked to the edge of the camp.
"Let's find a good spot near the fire," Bitna said, tugging at my sleeve.
Our classmates started to gather around the fire pit, preparing for the grill party. We all chipped in to get the charcoal going, and soon the flames were crackling, the air thick with the scent of cooking meat.
I took a deep breath, taking in the beauty of the surroundings. The beach was just a stone's throw away, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing. The sky was filled with stars, and the air was warm and balmy.
As we all sat around the fire, laughing and chatting, I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with my classmates. Despite our differences, we were all here together, enjoying each other's company and the beauty of the island.
The meat was delicious, and we ate our fill, passing around cold beers and bottles of soju.
"Aren't you nervous from having him around?" Bitna asked suddenly.
I knew exactly who she was talking about. "Yeah, I guess I am," I replied, biting my lower lip.
"Hey, don't worry too much," Bitna said, placing her hand on my shoulder. "I know things have been awkward between you two, but maybe this trip is what you guys need to reconnect."
I wasn't sure if I wanted to reconnect with Jae-eon. It had been almost a month since I found out about the bet, and I still couldn't shake off the feeling of being used. But at the same time, I couldn't deny the fact that I missed his company.
As we were talking, we heard some commotion coming from the other side of the fire pit. I turned my head to see what was happening and saw that one of someone spilled the drink on one of Jae-eon's friends.
"Come on, man! Watch where you're going!" the person exclaimed, clearly annoyed.
Jae-eon stood up from his seat and approached the two. "Hey, guys, let's just calm down, okay?" he said, his voice calm and collected.
"What do you want?" he asked with a cocky grin on his face, and I knew that trouble was about to start.
"Apologize," he said, gesturing towards his friend.
"I don't want to," said that guy. "What are you gonna do about it?" he taunted, taking a step closer.
I swear that everyone went silent at that moment.
I could feel the tension in the air, and I knew that things were about to get ugly. I looked around, and saw that the other people at the party were starting to gather around.
"Jae-eon, stop," he said, trying to diffuse the situation. "It's not worth it."
But Jae-eon was already in the thick of it. He swung a punch at the guy, who dodged it easily and countered with one of his own. The next thing I knew, they were rolling around on the ground, throwing punches and insults.
I felt my heart racing with fear and anxiety as I watched the fight unfold. I wanted to do something to stop it, but I didn't know what to do. Finally, some of the other guys stepped in and broke them up.
Jae-eon was breathing heavily, his eyes wild with anger. The guy had a split lip and a bruise forming on his cheek.
The worse thing was that the professors also heard the noise and I saw them coming towards us. Apparently, several people noticed them and covered their mouths with their hands, because it was clear that them will not going to go away with this so easily.
As soon as the professors arrived, everyone immediately stopped fighting. They looked at the mess around them and sighed, shaking their heads.
"What happened here?" his pofessor asked, looking around at the group of students.
The guy who had spilled the drink earlier quickly spoke up. "I'm sorry, Professor. It was his fault. He spilled his drink on me, and then I got angry with his behavior and started fighting."
The professor looked at Jae-eon, who was still breathing heavily and staring at the ground. "Is this true?"
Jae-eon's eyes where extended with surprise. "No it's not."
Jae-eon's friends also tried to defend him because it really was an unfair accusation.
"Quiet," said professor harshly and turn his head back to Jea-eon, "Jae-eon, I know you've been having trouble lately, but this is unacceptable behavior. Fighting is never the answer. You are all adults and should know how to handle your emotions in a more mature manner. I will be reporting this incident to the university."
Nabi watched as the professor walked away, feeling a mix of emotions. She was angry at Jae-eon for getting into a fight, but also concerned about him. She knew that he had a temper, but this was the first time she had seen him lost his head.
The guys dispersed and Jae-eon walked back to the fire pit, his face bruised and bloodied. He looked at me, and I could see the anger and frustration in his eyes.
I didn't know what to think. Why did he start that fight? And why was he looking at me like that? I didn't want to get involved in whatever drama he had going on.
Without saying a word, I got up and walked away from the fire pit, heading towards my tent. I needed some space to clear my head and figure out what to do next.