Chapter 118 - Ingrained In All Senses

Saturday morning.

"Fuahh~" Iesa slightly stretched herself below the blanket as she woke up.

The warmth was different than just your usual blanket so when she looked at the source, she remembered everything that happened last night.

'AHHH!! We're sleeping on the same bed! We're like a married couple who had twelve children!'

She internally panicked but soon calmed down as she looked onto Teren's sleeping face.

'He's still sleeping?'

Iesa giggled before hearing thoughts from the outside.

She reluctantly get out of her blanket and took a peek. Around the bonfire, now extinguished, the group was sleeping. Except for Nick, Mike and the other boys were all over the place. It was as if there was a blasting drinking party last night which isn't true. 

They slept onto the bare ground with blankets on top of them. Hanon was looking around while scratching his head.

'They're still asleep in that position and place? Looks like they're really tired.'

Iesa heard him thought. It seemed that the group couldn't sleep so no one went back to their respective tents except for Nick. Therefore, they were all eventually knocked down together after talking all night. It was Hanon who covered them with blankets.

While the boys were sleeping on their own all over the place, the three girls were leaning on one another, sharing one piece of blanket. They were as close as ever.

Iesa didn't have any interest in them. She just looked just to be safe. That's why she excitedly returned to her original position with an innocent yet longing expression.

'I just want to watch him until he wakes up.' she lightly smiled...

...

Half an hour later.

'W-will he wake up if I lick his neck...?'

Iesa breathed quite heavily as she gulped. Over the past half an hour, she had tried staring, touching, and sniffing Teren non-stop yet he was still awake. Thinking that this was her only chance, she wanted to try to 'innocently' taste him next quite literally.

'I've tried his mouth before... so let's explore the other areas...'

She gulped as she stared at Teren's defenseless neck.

'J-just a little bit...'

...

Another half an hour later.

'Is Boss Hark still not awake?' Nick thought as he silently opened Teren's tent. For all he knows, Teren might still be sleeping so he didn't try to be loud. He slowly took a peek inside and his heart almost jumped out of his throat when he saw this absurd scene!

He expected to see Teren sleeping alone but Iesa, whom he thought was sleeping in the girl's tent alone was nibbling his ear. Although Teren is sleeping as Nick thought, he was not alone!

Iesa's expression seemed to be so intoxicated. She didn't notice that another person has been watching her stunt.

'W-w-what's happening!?'

With that 'loud' thought, Iesa snapped out of her separate world and her eyes rolled towards Nick's dumbfounded face that was peeking in the tent.

"I... was just trying to wake him up."

After that excuse, Iesa robotically sat up and got out of the tent as Nick gave way, not stopping her. He was curious and wanted to ask if the two slept together last night but stopped himself as he felt he would be in danger if he asked that.

"But he's still sleeping after all that?"

Nick decided to leave Teren be for now.

Sometime later, one by one, the others woke up yawning. They have a short time to sleep and on an uncomfortable place on top of that.

"I want to take a bath and sleep on my bed.'

Catherine sighed.

"I want to take a bath at the very least!"

Eline supported which woke Mira next. Her face twitched before trying to forget what happened last night.

Each person has their own way of defense mechanism. But the common one would be to try and forgot about the horrific memory. Without this defense mechanism to protect people from traumatic experiences, many have already brokedown or fall into madness.

Unless it was triggered, they would act like normal... or at least, act near their normal selves.

"Aren't there a river nearby?"

Eline said but Mira seemed hesitant.

"Are you sure you want to bathe... here?"

Understanding her worries, Catherine reassured.

"I don't think we have to worry... from the start, that man had the power to do anything he wants. If he didn't do it before the contract, I don't think he will after."

Mira and Eline nodded. As girls, they don't want to stay dirty. If only they didn't fall asleep onto the dirt then they wouldn't have to worry about it.

Afterward, they told the boys that they will take a bath. They said so threateningly.

Josh shook his head when he heard their tone.

"Don't worry, we were already told off by Iesa. She's already taking a bath there. Even if we're desperate... we wouldn't try to peek on her."

He shivered since last night, they had a long talk. Hanon talked about the world that exists under their noses while Nick talked about what not to do not to offend Teren. On top of the lists, thinking about touching Iesa is a great no.

Even with the contract, Nick warned, Teren will do something.

"Girls, if it's fine for you, make it quick. We have somewhere else to go. We can eat once we've reached the van. There, we have a lot of canned foods."

Hanon then said which made the girls hurried a bit. Upon reaching the river, they did find Iesa in her underwear. Since she realized it was just the girls, she didn't try to cover her body. But she hastened up and finish, making the three girls feel relieved when Iesa dressed up and walked off.

"It all makes sense now."

Eline said in her swimsuit. Although they brought swimwear, they still told the boys off since they will eventually change.

"What?"

Mira asked while washing her hair to remove the soil off.

"First, it was Iesa who acted weird at the start of the school, right?"

"Ahh..." Mira shivered, realizing that Eline tried to open up that kind of conversation.

"Then it's Nick who went absent only to come back with bandages. Although he doesn't wear them now, I can see the scar on his forearm from time to time. Then... it's you and Mike who acted weird." Eline looked at Catherine.

Hearing this, Catherine told them her first encounter with Teren. This gave them complicated feelings. Instead of threatening them, Teren chose to 'bribe' them so the two thought that he has that side too.

But, still, that was not enough to remove their intense hatred and fear towards him.

After that conversation as they were finally changing, Mira asked.

"I'm wondering about what Sir Hanon said earlier."

"Yeah, he said that as if we are included..." Eline frowned. She would've been fine with it if Teren was not included in the topic.

"I don't know anything about that too. Later, let's ask.." Catherine said and they walked back after a refreshing bath, albeit it's a little chilly.