Within My Stratosphere • SOTUS

Chapter 7. Cherry Blossoms

[Arthit]

[Location: Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai]

Ever since that lavish dinner a couple of weeks ago, Arthit became increasing aware of the number of run-ins they've been having with members of other companies. Even though they were working on the same project, it seemed unusually frequent. Currently they were all on a '3 day, 2 night' work related retreat at the Doi Inthanon National Park. It was fully sponsored by Industry Enterprise and Co., and there had been only one requirement: everyone involved in the joint project had to participate.

No one was complaining; it was mid-February and the parts of the mountains were dyed pink with cherry blossoms. It was breathtakingly beautiful. According to P'Prem, the higher-ups had organized this trip for two reasons. One, to help them not lose sight of the objective, and really understand nature; two, to intermingle and form stronger bonds between the three companies.

Due to the distance, they had all flown and were charted over to their lakeside bungalows. It was a short distance away from the local restaurants and markets, and a trail that led to a couple of waterfalls.

The first day was mainly spent traveling, settling in, and exploring the royal twin pagodas. For those who had the energy, there was also the option of the Ang Ka Luang trail. 

After Arthit managed to send P'Bright off with two of the interns, he collapsed on top of the bed. He was completely drained. For the main portion of the trip, he had somehow become P'Bright's personal butler. The taller counterpart was obviously more energetic than himself, so it had been difficult trying to keep up.

But that was not all.

He must have been cursed. Getting assigned to the same room as P'Bright, this trip was going to be hell. He had already experienced the prelude to P'Bright's snoring on the plane; he wasn't sure if he could handle the processional, recessional, and postlude of it as well. He needed to get as much rest as he could before P'Bright came back. Day two was supposedly filled with group activities, and he did not want to pass out from fatigue.

[---Day 2---]

Exhaustion was an understatement. After an entire morning of team building activities and workshops, Arthit was ready to call it a day. Last night, P'Bright's snoring did not disappoint, and lived up to its expectations. With dark circles all the way to his knees, Arthit felt like death.

Alas, there was yet hope.

After lunch, there was a planned team scavenger hunt activity. Everyone was going to be paired randomly, and this was Arthit's only hope. God, please. Anyone but P'Bright. He needed at least a few hours away from his senior.

According to the instructions, there were a total of 25 different scavenger hunt lists. They would be paired randomly by drawing numbers out from a box. Half of the group had already been assigned numbers this morning. Theirs were given in the order the person arrived for workshop. Arthit was in the latter group. When he had woken up this morning, P'Bright was already gone. Seeing him now sitting on the opposite side, made him think things that grandma Su would not have been proud of.