As they go around the bonfire, there are some people who feel heavier as time passes. The ignorant felt a little happier about this camping. Hanon, Catherine, and Mike are the people who felt as if their nerves are going to break down at any moment.
Unable to withstand the pressure, Catherine pulled Mike's shirt.
"Let's go..."
She whispered. With just that, Mike knows what she meant and nodded. He leads her as the man between them. Their group of friends saw this and had their jaws almost drop.
Eline trembled before furiously shaking Mira who sat beside her. The cool and calm Mira didn't mind as she too was shaking.
"Kyaa...!"
Eline let out a small shriek out of excitement.
"Is Catherine finally going to do it? Is she? Is she!?"
"I-I don't know. But I hope so."
Mira replied with a red flush on her face. Josh and Dan felt left out but they are not dumb.
I didn't know that's been happening... they thought.
On the other hand, Hanon and Nick glanced at each other. These two may have both teacher-student and gangmates relationships but that's it. They don't actually know each other nor have they talked more than just a few times necessary. They actually only talked this much when Hanon helped him enter the group and remove his 'outcast' status.
However, with that glance, they knew that they are somehow on the same side. Not on the same boat but on the same side at least.
Meanwhile, Mike and Catherine went to the place where they think Teren and Iesa went to. They know they might be interrupting something but... the pressure - it's nerve-wracking, they can't stand it.
"Ugh... it's colder and darker than I thought."
Catherine complained as she shivered. If it was before they met Teren, she would've used this chance to hug Mike's arm while saying that she's scared and cold. However, she's not that insensitive, she knew that Mike too is scared and cold.
She learned that Mike is not that reliable when put on the spot like what's happening now. He may take the lead but actually, he wants to just follow Catherine's back. It's only because of his pride that he was able to. But once the pressure becomes heavier, Catherine knew she will have to carry him figuratively... or maybe even literally depending on the situation.
Only because of Mike's charisma did she fell in love with him but, she's a bit disappointed when she saw this side of him.
'If I'm unable to accept this weak side of his, then maybe, I didn't like him that much in the first place.'
She thought as she tried to distract herself.
"B-be careful on where you step on, okay?"
Mike said which she nodded in reply.
'Well, at least he's still kind.'
But it was really dark there. They don't even know what they're stepping on if not for flashlights on their phones. Even still, they continued to venture until sometime later, they can hear faint voices.
They slowed down. Looking at each other, they nodded and turned off the flashlight of their phones. Afterward, they sneakily continue. They don't know why but they felt that disturbing the voices would be much worse than just eavesdropping.
The voices became clearer and louder.
"Bye..."
"Yeah, bye..."
"..."
"..."
"Umm, I'll go first."
"Yeah, be careful."
"..."
"..."
"Actually, one more time?"
"Eh... okay..."
Mike and Catherine finally saw who those voices came from and as they expected, both came from Iesa and Teren respectively.
Catherine gasped when she saw this.
"T-they're kissing...!"
"Shh..!"
"Sorry..."
Catherine then peeked at Mike's reaction and saw that there was not an ounce of envy plastered on it.
'He's no longer jealous? But... I don't feel relieved too. I guess this situation is affecting both of our emotions...'
She thought while looking at the couple under the spot of moonlight...
"... how long are they going to kiss?"
Just as she asked that, it was answered.
"Maybe they'll go back now. It doesn't seem they will take the next step."
"Next step?"
Catherine asked Mike.
"Ugh... look, they're just kissing, if they're going to take the next step... Teren should've been... touching her in some places while doing it."
"H-huh? I don't know that."
"They're alone and they should be feeling the heat now. There's no way doing it wouldn't cross their mind."
"... you seemed experienced."
"Well... I have exes... hahaha..." Mike dryly laughed.
Catherine just nodded. Although she was not expecting anything, she felt a little disappointed.
After their little whispers, the couple in front of them separated further and became silent. There was a long gaze before Iesa spoke first.
"Then... I guess that's already too much?"
"I think so..."
They couldn't keep their eye contact while talking though.
"Then, I should go now."
Iesa said that but she was not moving as they held each other's hand.
"Okay..."
"..."
"Um, actually."
"Yes?" Iesa looked at Teren with blinking eyes.
"You look pretty in that dress."
He bashfully said as if he used all of his determination and resolve to squeeze that compliment out of his mouth.
"R-really?"
Iesa closed her eyes, held her cheek, and slightly squirmed.
"Yeah..."
"You look handsome in that too..."
"In my school uniform?"
"Ah... y-yeah?"
Teren laughed at Iesa's failure of flirting back.
Behind the bushes, Mike and Catherine felt some tingly feeling growing in their hearts while watching this comical scene.
'Ah... I want someone like that too...' the two gazed with envy.
After that, the two unexpectedly kissed again and then said goodbye and then flirted and then kissed again and then... and then...!
'When will they separate!'
Catherine felt crying out blood from jealousy. She's not jealous because Iesa has Teren but because they have love, yes, love!
'I want that too!'
Even Mike clenched his fists. Instead of pressure, they're getting frustrated from watching this. They just want to end the torture.
"S-should we step in?"
Catherine suggested, startling Mike.
"N-no...! Let's wait first."
"But they're forever flirt and kiss and flirt and kiss. Can't they just have sex, climax, and finish it?" Catherine let her complaint flow out.
"No, what they have is love...! They're not doing this so they can taste each other's body!"
Mike argued.
"But... love isn't real!" Catherine wants to cry, "At this point, we will have to wait for their saliva to dry before they're done with it."
"Le-"
Mike was about to answer back but heard ruffles nearby. Both of them turned their heads and looked up to see Teren looking down on them.
His darkened face was pointed at them. But upon closer look, behind the shadow, his face was reddened while his eyes were swirling from embarrassment instead of being cold.
"What are you two doing here?"