Sleeping through my alarm, I quickly ran towards the school as the morning dew surrounded me. If Kari hadn't woken me up, I would have missed the trip. As I approached the school, I saw several busses parked in front of the school as students were heading inside the busses. Mimi saw me running towards the bus and waved towards me.
"Tai, hurry up; we're waiting for you," Mimi shouted.
"Sorry for the wait," I said, trying to catch my breath.
"Thank goodness you've arrived," Mina said.
"We thought you couldn't make it," Michael replied.
"What are we waiting for," I asked. "Let's go."
"Actually, this is the second year's bus," Izzy said. "The third year's bus is over there."
"My bad," I said. "I'll see you guys at the shrine."
"Take care," Mimi replied.
I ran towards the mentioned bus and found an empty seat behind Matt and Sora.
"What took you so long," Matt asked.
"I overslept," I replied.
"Typical," Sora said. "I bet Kari woke you up. You're such a handful as an older brother."
"Way to kick me where it hurts," I replied. "But, at least I made it."
"Yeah, by the skin of your teeth," Matt answered.
"Let's just focus on the camping trip," Sora replied.
"You got the ingredients," Matt asked me.
"Of course," I answered. "I don't want to starve all night and wait until tomorrow night to eat a proper meal."
Slowly, we felt the bus move.
"Here we go," Matt said.
"We're on our way," Sora said. "I can't wait."
Episode 10
Once the buses arrived to the parking lot, we headed towards the visitor's center where our guide greeted us. After informing us about the various locations we can relax in during our free time, the guide took us to the campsite where we will be spending the night. After giving us a quick tour of what the campsite had to offer, we set up our tents to mark where we will be sleeping for the night. Once we were done setting up our tents, we were allowed some free time to have our lunch. While the campsite had a prep area where we can prepare our meals, there weren't any outlets available for us to plug things in. There were two large refrigerators for us to store our food, provided that we clean it out by the end of our tenure. Sora, Matt, and I gathered with Mimi, Izzy, Michael, Mina, and Yolei and sat around one of the wooden picnic tables in the campsite to enjoy our packed lunches.
"So, do you guys know what you want to do during our free time tomorrow," I asked.
"There're a number of rivers around this area," Matt said. "Maybe we can try going to one."
"I'd like to visit some of those waterfalls," Mina said.
"Then, let's find an area that has both," Sora replied.
"What will we be doing in the river," Michael asked. "Fishing? Rafting? Perhaps swimming?"
"But, I didn't bring my swimsuit with me," Yolei replied.
"I believe the campsite offers rental swimsuits among other things," Izzy said.
"Cool, let's all rent some," Mimi said.
"I'm not sure," Yolei said. "Can't we just relax by the riverbank? We don't have to swim if we don't need to."
"It depends on how deep the water is, really," Matt said.
"I wonder if there are any shallow rivers for us to dip our feet in," I replied.
"I'm sure we can ask the guide for more info about additional options that fit our criteria," Izzy replied.
Once we were done with our lunch, our guide led us to the mountain temple where we would spend the afternoon assisting the shrine employees. A majority of the work needed was cleaning up the areas around the shrine. They divided us into groups and sent us to various areas to pick up trash. As I was foraging for rubbish, I noticed that my bag was getting a little heavy. I was surprised how much garbage people would throw away so openly at nature. I returned to the temple to get rid of the contents in my bag. When I arrived, I saw Mina standing in front of the shrine with her hands in prayer. Seeing her so focused made me want to pray, and I did not consider myself to be that religious. Standing next to her, I threw some change into the collections box and rang the bell, which startled her.
"Sorry, did I surprise you," I asked.
"No, it's okay," Mina replied. "I'm curious. What did you just do?"
"I rang this bell over here."
"I thought it was for decorative purposes. I didn't know it needed to be rung."
"Well, that makes sense, since you're new here. Then again, I'm not a complete expert myself. I just do it because that's what my parents have taught me to do , and I just follow what they said. I didn't really question it that much, now that I think back on it."
"Is there a certain method when praying at these shrines?"
"Well, I was taught to put money in the collections box over there and ring the bell. Then, we would bow twice and clap twice. Finally, after we're done praying, we bow once. I'm not sure exactly why that's the standard procedure, but that was how I was taught."
"I don't think I have any Japanese currency on me at the moment."
"It's okay; I have some extra change for you to throw in."
"Oh, I couldn't possibly ask that from you."
"It's fine. You didn't know about it, so it's okay. It's not much anyway, so it's on me. Think of it as a learning experience."
"Well, if it isn't too much trouble…."
"It won't be. Come on, try it."
I gave a few coins to Mina to throw into the collections box and had her ring the bell. After bowing twice and clapping twice, we both went into prayer. I prayed for simple things, such as my family's health. When I was done, I noticed that Mina was still praying, so I continued to think about other things to pray about. However, every time I was done praying, Mina still engrossed herself in prayer, which made me pray some more. It got to the point where some of the students who saw us started talking about us, which made me a little uncomfortable. Soon, Mina was done praying, and the two of us gave our final bow.
"That was very relaxing," Mina said.
"I'm glad you enjoy it," I replied. "Are you a spiritual person?"
"Yes. Usually, in my family, we would pray about five times a day."
"Five times? I barely do one, if ever."
"That's understandable. To be honest, instead of praying, I usually meditate five times instead."
"I've heard of meditation, but I've never actually done it myself."
"That's perfect. Would you like to try a quick session right now?"
"I don't see why not. It beats cleaning up the trash around the temple."
"Tai…."
"I'm kidding. Of course, I'll take part in the meditation. Do we have to sit down cross-legged somewhere?"
"No, that's fine. We can meditate standing as well. Here, give me your hands."
I presented her my hands for her to hold on to. She closed her eyes, and I followed suit.
"Take a deep breath in, and breathe out. Take a deeper breath in, and breath out slower. Now, inhale even deeper, and exhale very slowly. Now, I want you to focus your energy on your extremities, starting with your toes. Move that pressure up to your feet, then to your knees, then to your hips, then to the bottom of your spine. Now, drag that pressure all the way up your spine. Let it pass through your gut, your stomach, your lungs, and your heart. Feel that pressure growing. Now, I want to you send that pressure to the top of your spine and up to the crown of your head. Finally, I want you to send that pressure out of your head through a tiny hole and let it burst away. That's all your negative energy dispersing out of your body.
Now, I want you to collect all the energy around you. Collect the beauty of nature, the sounds of things you enjoy, the bonds you have with your friends. let it form into a large white sphere on top of your head. This is your positive energy. Now, I want you to send that energy in through the same tiny hole on top of your head. Let it pass from the crown of your head to the top of your spine. Then, send that energy to the bottom of your spine, traveling to your heart, your lungs, your stomach, and your gut. Next, send that energy to your hips, your knees, your feet, and, finally, your toes. Now, take one final breath in, and one final breath out. Open your eyes.
So, how do you feel, Tai?"
"I feel different and relaxed, in a good way."
"Good. I'm glad it had some effect on you. Spending time organizing your thoughts and relaxing yourself, even if it is just for a few minutes, can help with your mental fortitude. If you ever feel stressed or pressured, always remember to breathe. It can work wonders on you."
"I'll keep that in mind. This was a nice session. Do you mind if we have another one of these again?"
"Of course. Let me know if you need to have another guided meditation. I would be more than happy to assist you any way I can."
"I'm glad to hear it. Anyway, I should probably go back now. I need to dump all this away and grab another bag. I'll see you later tonight at dinner. I can't want to try out that dish you were talking about."
"I hope it suits your taste. I'll see you later, Tai."
After we finished our duties, the teachers gathered everyone back at the campsite so we can prepare for our dinner. Matt, Izzy, Michael, and I were sitting at one of the picnic tables as Mina, Sora, Mimi, and Yolei were cooking at the open fire pit.
"I'm surprised by the number of students who know how to cook," Michael said. "I'm so used to my parents doing the cooking for me, so I was never really taught how to cook. I have newfound respect for some of these students."
"Well, in Japanese schools, we have something called Home Economic class," Izzy explained. "It basically teaches us basic household chores, mainly cooking and sewing."
"Impressive," Michael replied. "I wish my school had something like that."
"To be fair, we have it once a week, and we aren't really trained to be chefs or anything," Matt continued. "That's what culinary school is for. Plus, even with those classes, I can barely cook a meal for myself. It's just not for everyone."
"Still, having some knowledge is better than nothing at all," I replied.
"So, would you say that you'd want to be with someone who knows how to cook," Michael asked. "They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
"You sound like my younger brother," Matt said.
"You have a younger brother, Matt," Michael asked.
"Yeah, and all he ever talks about is women," Matt replied. "Honestly, it's a bit overwhelming."
"I'll make sure to let TK know the next time I see him," I told him.
"Watch it," Matt replied.
"Well, if he is as handsome as you are, I can understand why," Michael replied. "Besides, I'm sure you have your fair share of girls trying to vie for your attention."
"You should've seen his desk on Valentine's Day," I said to him. "He had such a massive pile of sweets, it got me all jealous."
"You're exaggerating; it wasn't that much," Matt quickly cut in.
"So, is there any particular girl you're interested in," Michael asked.
Matt looked over to the four girls who were cooking our meal.
"I knew it; it is one of those four girls," Michael said. "So, which one is it?"
"Yeah, Matt, which one of them is it," I goaded.
"Don't you start, too," Matt replied.
"It has to be Sora, right," Michael asked. "Since you guys are in the same grade and all, it makes sense for romance to blossom between you two."
"Sora and I are just friends," Matt said. "If anyone has a claim on her, it's Tai," Matt replied.
"Hey, don't throw me under the bus," I said.
"You're the one who started it," Matt replied.
"This is one of those famous love triangles that I've heard about," Michael questioned?
"Okay, everyone, calm down," Izzy replied.
"Fine, let's put Sora to the side, for now," Michael said. "What about Yolei? I met her once in the Digital World, and she's more mature and sure of herself since then. Maybe younger girls like her tickle your fancy?"
"I actually don't know her as well as I should," Matt replied. "Tai and Izzy would know her more, since they've been around her more often."
"True, but not as much as the other DigiDestined," Izzy replied. "Yolei is an excellent hand to have both among the DigiDestined and in the Computer Club, so I know how hard she has worked and grown throughout the years."
"So, do you have an interest in her, Izzy," Michael asked.
"I respect her abilities, but not in a romantic sense," Izzy replied.
"Okay, well, what about Mina," Michael continued. "A mysterious transfer student from an exotic land that came over to study has to pull your heartstrings in some way."
"That's the kind of story you hear on television," Matt said. "Let's not mix fantasy with reality, okay? I just met her."
"Wait, it's not Mimi, is it," Michael asked.
"What made you come to that conclusion," Matt asked.
"Well, you were with her when we were at the shopping market, so I thought…," Michael said.
"Please don't complete that sentence," Matt replied.
"Give him some slack," I told him. "There's a reason he's a bit concerned."
"What, are you interested in her," Matt asked Michael.
"Of course," Michael replied. "What's there not to like about her? She's fun, pretty, and sociable. She's the complete package. Who wouldn't fall for her?"
"Is there anything you want to add to that, Izzy," I asked.
"Huh? Why me," Izzy asked.
"Are you trying to go after her, Izzy," Michael asked.
"No, of course, not," Izzy swiftly replied.
"You answered that very quickly," Michael said. "It's a bit suspicious."
"Hey, guys, we're ready," Sora said in the background.
"Oh, look, the food's here," Izzy said. "Are you guys hungry, because I am famished."
"I guess it's about that time," Matt said.
"I can't wait to see what Indian curry tastes like," I said.
"Here you go, boys; I hope you're really hungry," Mimi said.
Mimi handed each of us a plate of purple curry. We looked at it dumbfounded.
"Is this what the Chicken Masala thing is supposed to look like," I asked.
"Well...," Mina started.
"We added a variety of spices to enhance the flavor of the dish," Yolei explained.
"Well, if that's the case, I don't see why we shouldn't be chowing down now," Michael said. "Time to dig in!"
Michael grabbed a large spoonful of curry and put it in his mouth. The moment he tried to chew on it, his face turned purple. He spat his food out and collapsed.
"Michael, are you alright," I asked.
"Was the curry too spicy," Izzy questioned.
"What exactly did you put in the curry," Matt asked.
"I added an extra bit of love into it," Mimi replied.
"That explains everything," Matt replied.
"I suddenly lost my appetite," I added.
"Oh, come on, it's not that bad, right," Mimi said. "You'll eat it, won't you, Izzy?"
Izzy tried to look at Matt and me for assistance, but we both turned our heads away, avoiding any eye contact. With nowhere to go, Izzy bravely took a bite into the curry, but he also turned purple. He forcefully swallowed the food before collapsing.
"I guess love is sometimes too painful to swallow," I said.
"Tai," Sora said.
"I told you guys not to let Mimi partake in the cooking," Matt said. "Why did you let her go anywhere near the curry?"
"She just wanted to help," Yolei said.
"Maybe your taste buds are not very refined," Sora answered.
"I don't need to have sharp tastes buds to know not to consume this mystery food," Matt replied.
"Well, you need to do something about that sharp tongue of yours," Sora replied.
"Did any of you taste tested it," I asked.
"Of course, we did," Mimi replied.
"Anyone besides Mimi," I clarified.
"To be honest, I was too afraid to taste test it," Yolei replied.
"And I can understand why," I told her.
"So, does this mean we're not going to have any dinner tonight," Matt asked.
"Don't worry," Mina said. "Because Michael procured a lot of chicken, I actually had a second pot prepared as well. It was supposed to be for our lunch, since I have it settled inside the refrigerator at the prep room. I could just take it out, and we can have it for our dinner instead."
"If you can, that would be great," Matt said.
"We're sorry that you have to go back and forth with that pot of curry," I said.
"Don't mention it. These things happen all the time back home," Mina said.
"I-It's okay," Michael said. "I-I can still do this."
"Michael, it's okay," Sora said. "You don't have to force yourself to eat it."
"No, I'm going to finish it," Michael replied. "It's filled with Mimi's love. That's more than enough reason to keep eating it."
"You're going to ruin your stomach eating that," Matt said.
"Michael, it's okay," Mimi said. "Have some of Mina's curry. I insist."
"Only because you said so, I will," Michael replied.
"I'll help you carry the pot of curry as a show of appreciation," I said. "Mina, can you show me where it is? In the meantime, can the rest of you tend to Izzy and Michael? They'll probably need some water and a bit of medicine to overcome their stomach pain."
"I can go ask the teachers if they have any medicine," Sora said.
"I'll grab some water for them to drink," Matt replied.
"I'll stay and watch over them with Mimi," Yolei said.
"Thanks, everyone," I said. "We'll be right back."
After an evening performance from the shrine maidens at the mountain shrine, the teachers sent us back to our tents to end the day. While the teachers were discussing plans for the next day, the students went inside their respective tents, preparing themselves for the night and the upcoming day. As Sora, Mimi, Yolei, and Mina settled themselves inside their tent, Mimi looked at them crestfallen.
"Hey, guys, I'm sorry for ruining dinner for everyone," Mimi replied.
"It's okay; keep your chin up," Mina said.
"Besides, Matt and Tai were acting like jerks anyway," Sora added. "Those two know nothing about a woman's heart."
"You sound like you speak from experience," Mimi said. "By the way, you still haven't told me which one of them you are going for."
"Sora, are you interested in either of them," Mina asked.
"I'm not sure," Sora replied. "I've been with them for so long that I've really only see them as childhood friends. It's going to take a while for me to see them in a different light."
"I wish I had that kind of strong connection with my team," Yolei said. "You guys are all relatively in the same age range, but I'm the eldest in my group, and, sometimes, I definitely feel like the oldest when I'm with them."
"Are you not a part of Sora and Mimi's team," Mina asked.
"I'm usually with another set of DigiDestined, but they are all still in middle school," Yolei explained. "To be honest, I get a little lonely sometimes."
"Is the high school life preventing you from seeing them," Mimi asked.
"Yes and no," Yolei replied. "I would text them every now and again to see how everyone is doing, but I also want to focus on my high school life as well. I think, for me, finding that balance is key."
"You know, you could always hang out with us," Mimi said.
"Would I not be intruding you guys," Yolei said.
"Of course not; why would it," Sora questioned. "You, Davis, Cody, and Ken are all part of our team. If any of you guys have any questions or concerns, you can always refer to us when needed."
"There's no need to shy," Mimi added. "Every now and again, Izzy and I pop up in Sora's classroom just to hang out and see what's going on. That's kind of like our go-to location whenever we want to talk about stuff. So, if we can do it, I'm sure you can, too."
"Going into the senior's floor sounds intimidating, but that sounds wonderful," Yolei said. "I'd love to hang out with you guys and learn from you as much as I can."
"Of course, we'd be more than happy to pass down what we already know," Sora said.
"I'm moved," Mina said. "All of you have very wonderful and positive energy radiating out of you. I have no doubt that the bonds you have with your team is as strong as steel and as difficult to sever. I am very glad I came to Japan and met all of you."
"Yeah, it's nice to do some girl talk every once in a while," Mimi said. "Speaking of, what do you guys think of Michael? I know he can be overwhelming at times, but he means well."
"He seems nice," Sora said.
"He kind of reminds me of those princes in the fairy tales," Mina replied.
"That's what I thought, too, when I first met him," Yolei replied.
"Good, I'm glad that you guys aren't seeing him in a bad light, because he's a good guy at heart," Mimi replied.
Suddenly, there was a slight rustling outside of their tent door, and the tent slowly opened.
"W-Who's there," Sora shouted.
Meanwhile, Matt, Izzy, and I were resting inside out tent when we heard someone knocking on our tent.
"H-Hey, are you guys awake," Sora said from outside the tent.
"Sora, is that you," I asked wearily.
"Please, can you let us inside," Yolei whispered.
"What are you guys doing out there," Matt asked, getting up. "This is the male side. You're going to get us all in trouble if you stay out there."
"We can't go to our tent right now," Sora said. "Something happened in there."
"Something happened," I questioned. "Like what?"
"I think I see a flashlight," Mina said. "Is that a teacher?"
"Tai, I think we should let them in and listen to their story," Izzy said.
"Okay then, come in, and hurry," I said.
Sora, Yolei, and Mina rushed inside the tent as Matt, Izzy, and I got up from our sleeping bags. We turned our portable light on as we sat in a circle.
"Is this tent smaller than the one in the girl's tent," Mina asked.
"That's because there are more people here than there should be," Izzy explained. "The maximum the tent should hold is four."
"Speaking of which, why did you guys come here," Matt asked.
"It's Michael," Sora responded.
"Michael, but he's right… wait, where is Micheal," I asked, looking around. "He was just here when we were calling the night."
"So, what about Michael," Matt questioned.
"Well, he came into our tent," Yolei added.
"He came in and then collapsed right in front of us. He's out cold," Sora explained.
"Out cold," Matt asked. "What, was he sleepwalking? Did he went to the bathroom and mistakenly thought your tent was ours? That doesn't make any sense."
"We're telling the truth," Sora stated.
"Wait, if the three of you are here, where's Mimi," I asked.
"She's back at our tent," Mina said. "She's keeping an eye on Michael in case something happens."
"We were uncomfortable with him inside our tent, so Mimi volunteered to stay with him," Yolei explained.
"Does that mean… she'll be sleeping with him," Izzy asked.
"Well, she's human," Matt said. "She can't stay up forever. She's got to have her beauty sleep to keep her skin fair. Isn't that what she usually says?"
"I guess, but still...," Izzy said.
"I'm sure it'd be fine," I said. "Out of all of us, Mimi knows Michael the best since they've been with each other for so long. So, she's the best person to keep a watchful eye on him. Plus, I doubt anything is going to happen between the two."
"I sure hope so," Izzy said, dejectedly.
"I hear footsteps," Yolei said. "Is someone coming?"
"Maybe it was the teacher from earlier," Mina said.
"Quick, everyone, get low and hide your presence," I said.
I quickly turned the light off as the six of us tried to get into a position that made us less suspicious. From a distance, we saw a glowing light slowly coming this way. Matt, Izzy, and I hid inside our sleeping bags with Sora, Yolei, and Mina next to us respectively. As the light was coming closer, Sora's hands started to shake. Matt firmly held her closer to his body to suppress her nerves. However, a different type of emotion started to form within Sora.
Mina and I peered out of our sleeping bag as the light finally passed by us. When I felt the teacher's presence was far enough, I turned the light on to signal that everything was safe. Yolei and Izzy quickly got up to recompose themselves, but Matt and Sora were hesitant to leave their position as they slowly left their sleeping bag.
"That was close," Yolei said.
"Too close," I replied. "I felt like my heart was about to stop."
"Same here," Matt said quietly.
"So, what are you guys going to do now," Izzy asked the girls.
"I don't think it's best if we leave now," Mina stated. "We don't know how many teachers are outside patrolling the student areas."
"It'll be a bit tight, but why don't we divide the tent in half between the boys and the girls," Yolei suggested. "We can stay until the sun gets up, and then quickly leave to hang out at the picnic tables. Would that suffice?"
"I don't see why not," I said. "It's better than having you guys go back out there and getting caught. What do you think, Sora? Sora?"
"Huh," Sora said. "Oh, yeah, I'm okay with that."
"Sora, is everything alright," Izzy asked.
"You didn't do anything to her, did you, Matt," Yolei asked.
"No, of course not," Matt said. "Come on; let's divide the tent, okay?"
Matt shuffled around our camping bags, creating a barrier as the rest of us went to our separate sides. Once everything was set, I turned the light off so we could sleep. Although it was a bit tight, most of us were able to get some shut eye. As we were sleeping, Matt peeked through the bags to see Sora's sleeping face. Her hand was out near the barrier of bags. Matt considered reaching out to grab her hand, but thought twice and went back to sleep.
The next morning, we gathered at the campsite for a quick briefing. The teachers gave us a set time to return to the campsite after our free time to take down the tents and clean up the camping grounds. Once our meeting was finished, the eight of us went to find the location the guide recommended us. As we followed the map, Izzy pointed out the spot, and we head towards that direction. When we arrived, we found a shallow stream where the water slowly flowed. Beyond the stream was a waterfall, which was a part of several cascading waterfalls out in the distance. We set up a spot near the rocky shore as several of us ran to the river to play in the water. Michael and I were sitting at our spot, watching the view from afar.
"This is nice, every once in a while," Michael said.
"So, where were you last light," I asked.
"Nowhere in particular."
"You can't lie to us, Michael. I heard what you did in the girl's tent."
"I've already apologized. What more do you want?"
"I'd like for you to understand that there are some things you just can or can't do in Japan. I'm sure Mimi has already told you this, but there are different rules and customs that we follow here that may not be as strict in the US. You've got to keep that in mind as you do the things you do."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
"It's not me you have to apologize to; it's them."
I looked over to the girls who were playing in the river. Everyone stopped as Michael walked closer to them.
"Listen, Sora, Yolei, I'm sorry for my actions last night," Michael said. "I know I shouldn't have entered the tent without your permission, but I went in anyway, and that was wrong of me. I'm sorry if what I did made you guys feel uncomfortable. Please forgive me."
Michael bowed during his apology.
"Michael, please, bring your head up," Sora said.
"No, I'm truly sorry for my inconsideration," Michael said.
"Guys, please forgive Michael," Mimi said. "Let's just treat this as a misunderstanding and have some fun, okay? I hate to end our trip together on a sour note. Please? For me?"
"If you put it that way, I guess we have no choice," Yolei said.
"I was planning on forgiving him anyway, so it's fine," Sora said.
"Thank goodness," Michael said. "I was beginning to think you might all start hating me."
"No, we would never do that," Yolei said.
"You just have to control your urges and ask before doing anything, okay," Sora said.
"I understand," Michael said.
"Great, we're all friends again," Mimi said. "Now, with that out of the way, let's keep playing."
Mimi grabbed some water and splashed it at everyone as they continued to play in the stream. As I was looking, I noticed that Mina wasn't a part of the group. Remembering what she wanted to do, I head towards the waterfall. Mina was sitting on a rock, letting the water rush down her head and back. I waited until she was done meditating before I interacted with her.
"Tai, I didn't see you there," Mina said, leaving the waterfall.
"So, this was what you wanted to do in this trip," I said.
"Yes. There aren't that many waterfalls near where I live, and I've always seen many people do this in the TV shows that I've watched, so I wanted to try it."
"That robe looks familiar. Weren't the shrine maidens wearing those? How did you manage to get a hold of them?"
"I had a discussion with the maidens after their performance. I informed them how wonderful their performance was and how spiritual their ritual made me feel. After a variety of deep conversations, they gave me one of their spare robes as a symbol of our connection."
"That's impressive that you got something like that from them. Usually, they don't do that, but I can tell they see something special in you."
"Please, I'm not as grand as you think. In fact, I must be the one to thank you."
"Me? But I didn't do anything special."
"That's not true. At first, I was afraid that my strong spiritualism might turn people off, but you were the first one to not only accept it, but even participated in one of my mediation session. You have no idea how much that means to me, and for that, I thank you."
"No problem. AS I said, I'd be more than happy to participate in your meditation sessions. Still, the main reason I was looking for you was because you weren't with us when we were all in the water. Come and join us. It will be fun."
"Of course, I am on my way."
After drying herself and wearing her school uniform, I brought Mina over to where the group was as we continued to play in the water. Soon, our time was about to be over. We headed back to the campsite to clean up our station and helped pack everything away inside the buses. As we were clearing everything, Michael walked up to me.
"Hey, Tai, thanks for putting up with me these last few days," Michael said. "I realized that I've been a bit immature since I came here, so I want to make an effort to be more reasonable and respectful to everyone here."
"Don't mention it," I replied. "Besides, I know how excited you are to be here. There's just a time and place to do everything, and it's simply learning that. You can still have fun and enjoy yourself while acting courteous towards everyone."
"Yeah, I've noticed. I'm sorry it took so long for me to realize that."
"Hey, we're still young, and we make mistakes. It's part of our youth. Besides, you and Mina don't have long here, so I want you two to take as much time as you want to learn about our life and how we do things. I'm sure, in time, you'll come to appreciate our culture while having some fun."
"You're right. Thanks. Anyway, I'm going to ask some of the students here if they would like me to help them pack up their stuff. I'll see you later, Tai."
After we've finished packing everything away, we finally got on the bus. Soon, we began our long way back to school as the buses drove alongside the setting sun.
*To be Continued*