Although Garrick was quite embarrassed to ask the girl he secretly liked to help him set up the tent, he was really helpless. Instead of watching his makeshift tent collapse, he'd rather ask for help.
I do not refuse, this is too simple for me, moreover I know that Garrick is shy, if I refuse, his mood will be down.
In fact, the tent Garrick built was much better than most of the tents the other boys had built, but overall, it was still not sturdy and neat enough.
I showed Garrick how to first hammer the wooden stakes firmly, then how to tie the ropes and how to stretch the tent. Garrick understood very quickly, and soon he had rebuilt the tent much better than before.
Friends around were surprised to see this, they turned to look at each other, then I don't know who told who, they all approached me and spoke up.
"Esther, help us out. We haven't even set up a tent yet."
"Yes, our tents are so ugly, I'm afraid if there's a big snowstorm tonight, they'll fly away."
"Me too, Esther. I don't even know how to drive wooden stakes into the snow."
Seeing everyone so flustered, I was also a little embarrassed, but I can't help but admit that I was also quite happy inside.
Rarely have they been so friendly and talked to me so comfortably. I feel like I'm slowly mingling with people and not being the isolated ugly duckling I used to be.
Thanks to my help, setting up everyone's tent is not as difficult as before. They start to get excited and set up their own tents without the help of others. Even the clumsy Jade and the girls weren't yet mastered at setting up tents, but they were quite interested in watching everyone actively set up their tents.
Everyone expressed their gratitude to me, they looked at me and smiled more, which made my heart feel warm too.
There was only one person who had been sitting still until now, with an angry and displeased expression.
Kaylin was on a cliff, shivering, but refused to put on more warm clothes. Her tent wasn't set up either, no one wanted to help her, and she didn't ask anyone for help either. Maybe she's waiting for some guy who has a crush on her to help her set up a tent? But maybe she must be disappointed when half an hour passed, everyone's tent was built and hers wasn't.
It wasn't until everyone started chopping wood to light a fire and prepare to cook that she slowly got up and walked towards me. She didn't talk to me but pulled Garrick by the hand, looking at him with pleading eyes. Garrick's expression turned cold, as if her presence made him lose his joy.
However, he did not refuse. Kayin quietly let out a sigh of relief and safely returned to the small cliff and waited.
Everyone was busy preparing grilled food and hot soup. Everyone seems to be in a happy mood, everyone is talking to each other, not hostile and competitive as usual. Everyone's part of the work is very clear, men cut wood and light fires, women prepare food.
It seems that this is the first time the rich ladies and young masters have experienced a trip in such a wild place. They have to do everything, from preparing the bed to the food. This work is much more difficult for them than ballet, but it is undeniable that they feel attracted and curious to try things.
They are like a big child, often playing on the computer and watching TV in magnificent villas, now they can go to a new land and experience interesting things. Looking at Jade and the other mean blondes' radish-peeling and focused expressions, it dawned on me that maybe they weren't as obnoxious as I thought they would be.
I took some vegetables to wash. The academy has prepared but necessary equipment such as mini heaters for each tent or a water tank with a pump that draws water from a nearby spring. Therefore, although this is an experiential field trip, in reality, everything is not too difficult for us.
While washing vegetables, I overheard a conversation between Kaylin and Garrick. They seem to be at odds and arguing.
"Stop being childish, Kaylin. Apart from using that weakness to force me to do your will, what else can you do?" Garrick glared at her.
''You're the one who needs to think more clearly, Garrick. Do you think that just being nice to her, proving that Dominic cheated on her will make her leave Dominic and fall in love with you?" Kaylin laughed sarcastically, poking her red fingernails into Garrick's coat.
"So what? I wanted to. I used to regret listening to you and leaving her when she needed me to protect. Now everything is different. I confessed to her, and I will continued to pursue her. I don't want to regret losing my first love." Garrick spoke in a determined voice.
Kaylin was silent for a long time, she seemed to be shocked by what Garrick had just said.
"So you decided to choose her, not me?" Kaylin's voice trembled slightly. "This 15 year friendship for this betrayal, Garrick Harvey?"
Kaylin shouted and looked at Garrick with a disappointed look. She doesn't love Garrick, but Garrick's existence is indispensable in her life. They have known each other since childhood, he always protects and defends her no matter what she does wrong. From a young age, she loved acting, pretending to be obedient in front of adults but then bullied the children she hated.
Garrick knew her darkness well, and she had never hid her ugliness from him. Because she knows he will always be her friend to protect her and stand by her side. Everything changed until Esther Joan appeared.
At her birthday party, she saw Garrick for the first time because of a ragged, ragged country girl and completely forgot about her. He stared at Esther, sometimes even helping her to peel the cake. Despite her young age, she knew that Garrick had a crush on Esther.
But Garrick is her friend, right?
Because of that, she tried everything to make Esther never dare to return to Joan's mansion. As she expected, Esther disappears and Garrick will return to her, a loyal and caring friend.
Unexpectedly, many years later, Esther went to the same academy as them.
Although she tried everything, but Garrick was no longer defending and protecting her like he used to.
Kaylin's eyes were red, filled with resentment and unwillingness. I didn't understand her thoughts, but Kaylin's anger made me shiver.
"I'll tell her what a terrible person you are. Do you think she can still love you after knowing the truth?" Kaylin threatened.
"... It's up to you." Garrick really had no patience for Kaylin anymore. He knew he'd done something bad to Esther, and Kaylin knew it.
What he regrets is that he didn't apologize to Esther sooner, but let Kaylin use that weakness to threaten him again and again. Finally, his endurance had reached the limit, he no longer wanted to listen to Kaylin.
Seeing that Garrick really wanted to leave, Kaylin panicked and grabbed his hand.
"Hey, didn't you hear what I said? I'm really going to tell Esther your secret. She'll never love you."
Kaylin looked like she was about to cry, her voice sounded like she was pleading. She could lose everything, her boyfriend, her reputation or her dignity. But she definitely couldn't lose Garrick.
He coldly turned to look at her, his eyes were no longer as tolerant and warm as before.
"Kaylin, when you were a kid, I would just think you were naughty and joking around when you did those bad things. But now we're both adults. You should grow up and deal with the consequences yourself. "
"Don't... I'm sorry. I was wrong. Garrick, don't leave me. I only have you as a friend. Without you, I don't have anything." Kaylin burst into tears.
This is the first time I've seen Kaylin actually cry from heartbreak and not fake tears or pretend pity. She begged Garrick to give her a chance to correct her mistake, but he just gave her a disappointed look and quickly left.