“Everyone, this will be a long trip so settle down. Don’t start eating just yet, we don’t have that many plastic bag to go around”
“Yes Miss”
A soothing voice can be heard from the front of a certain school bus. The voice was from Chloe, the substitute teacher responsible for class 11-E on their final school trip. There were 2 buses following behind, and god know how much sound others are making just basing on this bus alone.
After calming the rowdy class down, and securing a seat next to the bus driver; Chloe sat down hugging her coat close to her body, put her short wavy hair behind her ears and slowly fall asleep. It was a chilly morning, the school contacted her just last week to fill in the spot for Mrs. Sarah since she contracted a disease sometimes not long before that; it was indeed bad luck for a newly graduated teacher to lead a class that is not her own on a school trip that is so far a day and will last for at least a week.
Chloe has a lot to do being the new teacher and all, coming with the new class syllabus, marking exams, etc. Something that she’s still learning and preparing to one day secure a permanent teaching position in the school. Not that it was hard to do; since she was quite popular with the student, seeing how attractive and young she is compare to most ‘senior’ teacher whom started teaching since the school was still in construction.
It will be two more months until her 21 birthday, Chloe in doing extra work for others teacher hoped to get a week off to celebrate it with her mother who lived quite far away from where she is currently working. Being 21 years old, and having a quarter of Asian blood and the rest white, Chloe was an extremely beautifully female in every sense. Having curves in all the right places, and waist so small as if inviting males for a long satisfying hug.
Despite having such a seductive body, Chloe diamond-shaped face was like a work of art itself. Round and innocent looking brown eyes as if demanding protection from a male at all time. Accompanying with a beautifully shaped nose, red moist lips and alluring eyelashes, one couldn’t help but take a breath every time they take a glance at her face. That’s right, with such a gorgeous looking face, it is hard to look straight into her eyes while starting a conversation.
Her jade like skin due to working in door most of the time has attracted countless love confession and flirting from college students and others alike. How could teenage boys resist the charm of an older girl teaching their class, especially one so pleasing to the eyes like Chloe. The bus driver couldn’t help but sneaking a peek at Chloe tired sleeping face. Being in the job for a few years’ now, it was his first time seeing such a young and pretty looking teacher.
Although having no makeup on her face, albeit only lip balm and face moisturiser, Brendan the bus driver couldn’t help but wonder why such an attractive young lady would choose to be a teacher in a small school such as Grand High. While looking in the rear mirror, he met a bunch of sharp looking pairs of eyes, and divert his gaze back to the road. It looks like some male students notice him looking at their goddess, and express their hatred toward whomever dare to sneak a peek.
That’s right, hatred. Class 11-E was known for their rate of absence and leaves from a student. It was not a bad class really; it’s just their teacher Mrs. Sarah was more of a housewife of an inn than a teacher. She loves to gossip, and is a very nice person to converse with, most of the time really. Since the town they are living in are although prosperous, but it’s still a town. Everybody know each other. Students who doesn’t want Mrs. Sarah to talk about their parent often skip her class.
Yet everyone showed up on this school trip, why? It’s because it is a known fact that Mrs. Sarah take a sick leave around this time of the year to visit her daughter family leaving so far away, and will usually be replace by a substitute teacher. There is a very high chance that Miss Chloe will lead their class on their final excursion, this will be like an early Christmas present. The boys held that small glimmer of hope until the school trip begins.
Satisfy that the bus driver diverts his gaze, the males resume their original activities. Whether it’s hanging out with their mates, playing cards or video games. Some people at the front even quiet down so their goddess would have a relaxing sleep. It’s not exaggerate to say they were worshiping Chloe, but it can’t be help that their substitute teacher is like every teenager dreams come true. The female students ignore this as usual. Boys are so stupid they thought. Sure their teacher is quite good looking, but it will trample their pride if they admit she’s better looking than them. Not every girl thought of this of course, but seeing that Chloe is such a sensible person and easy to get along with, they didn’t mind the boy’s idiotic behaviour.
Amongst the worshipper, there was a unique male student, and that is Kip. Kip dad being the town only doctor’s is held in high regard by everyone in the town. His dad studied his medical degree somewhere in the city where he met his wife. Due to the sickly condition of his wife, they moved back to his hometown after giving birth to their only son Kip. Kip grow up being loved by his parents. He was a smart and energetic boy, although not as popular the school football team captain or the school jocks, no one bothers him much since his dad is a doctor and they might get treated by him one day.
He inherited his good look from his mother, and his charming smile from his dad. He has a lot of friends due to his easy going attitude, he doesn’t hang out at one place for long though, due to him getting bored of conversation from people his own age. Kip loved to play games and read books, but that doesn’t make him a nerd. Who came up with that word anyway he thought, dad loved studying, and look where he is now, a respected member of society.
That doesn’t mean Kip can’t do sport. If there is one thing he loves to do, that is swimming and running. He joined both the club for access to the tracks and swimming pools, the teachers don’t care much about those activities since the school provides no scholarship toward those two sport. When Kip was a still a young boy, he once overheard his sickly mother told his dad she loves seeing her son being so energetic, running around the yards, pretending to be a superhero as such. Maybe that’s why he joined the two sport club, wanting to make his mother happy is his number one wish. Until she passed away 2 years ago.
His mother was an artist, she loved to paint due to her not being able to move around much. Kip learned of colour and the beauty of life through his mum. He wanted to experience life more than what the small town in his life can offer; and that’s why he read, love and learns. He received a lot of love confession over the years, but never accepted any of them. He just hasn’t found anyone like his wonderful mother is to his dad.
After his wife passing, Kip dad did not become devastated and loose his love on life, but remained a dutiful father due to it being his wife final wish. Kip wanted a love like that, he never thought he would find one if he persists a life in this town. That is until he met Chloe. Ever since his mother passing, Kip turned colder and seemingly detached to life. Slowly drifting away the group of close friend he spent his childhood with.
"Why does it matter if I have friends or not anyway". The person he loved most just wasn’t there to witness him grow up.
It was as if he got strucked by lighting on their first meeting; there was just something about Chloe that make him felt madly in love. "She's the one for me. Mother, are you seeing this. I think I found another person I could pour all my love too" Kip thought after he first saw her entering the his classroom as a substiture teacher.
It was a sweet kind of love, one sided maybe, but sweet nonetheless. He has made sure the classroom always stayed clean whenever he has a chance of having Chloe in his class. Helping her carry heavy box of textbook etc. Little things like that. There is always competition of course, but he doesn’t mind them. What is meant to to be will happen sooner or later.
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Kip was a bit weird that way, she was older that him by four years after all. He doesn’t mind the difference through. He was quite tall for his age 1.8 metres at least, athletic and muscular on the thin side. Kip hair of a strong mix of brown colour, with a pair of youthful green eye that seemed mischivous at first glance. He looked handsome and a little older than his real age. His face reminds him of his mother so much that it pierce his heart whenever he looked in a mirror.
He was seating halfway in the bus, next to a window. The buses were travelling smoothly on a seemingly never ending concrete road, but the landscape were becomning a darker shade of green by the minute. The trip destination was setting camp in the dense natural pine forest after all. It was a fresh change of pace for him. The students are allowing to bring snack for the campfire, aside from that, fresh change of clothes and necessities and all they need to bring. Nothing much really, the food and everything else is provided by the school.
“Hey man, can I borrow your headphone, I forgot to bring mine” The boy sitting next to him look awake now and was in need of something to do. Kip nodded and pass his headphone to the boy slowly; it's not like he needed it anyway. Once they arrive there will be nothing there to charge the electronic devices with he thought. That was when everything started. A buzz rang in his head, and a panel popped up in front of him.
Kira node Ata weid
SAKU RESUE YITCHS MAKED JUEID
CMAIO LOTa CPaod 10:00
Kip was quite surprised, so was everyone around him. Nobody knew what that panel was. Even Chloe awoke from her sleep, looking as confused as everybody was. Kip suddenly had a bad monition. This can’t be natural he thought. This kind of event simply can’t exist, it seems everyone can see the message, but only their own message.
From other perspective, it looked like Kip was just staring into space. There was a commotion starting everywhere, even on the other 2 bus. It appears everyone can see it, even the bus driver. The vehicle came to an abrupt stop. And people keep looking around for information.
Kip thought to himself: “What kind of technology is this, how can this be happening, is this a dream” He punched himself on the on his calf, hoping that it was a dream. But the throbbing pain told him otherwise. His punch seemed to surprise other people, giving him weird looks.
He didn’t waste time asking around. However, he had a bad feeling something terrible was going to happen, due to the countdown. It was then he thought “If only these would be translated to English” Another buzz sounded in his head. The message blinked twice and appear as follow
Try to survive human kind
Your world ordeal has come
Find your own path: 7:46
It was then that he received a really bad premonition. He has seen those kind of things before. He didn’t know what they are but from all the kind of movie and novel he has seen; they usually aren’t good. Like final destination and stuff like that. The countdown is blinking fast, he had to do something quick. He looked around, and an idea popped in his head. He put his hand up and clapped loudly above his head. Once he had most students’ attentions, including Chloe of course.
He said loudly “Everyone, listen to me. I won’t say it twice. Do not interrupt me because I’m only giving you a warning. I know every one of you can see the panel here, think in your head of translating this in English, and it will be readable. Now, if I’m right, something bad will happen when this countdown end, I don’t know what it is yet, but I don’t recommend you staying confined in this bus when it happen”
He stopped, looking around at people astonish face as they tried to translate their own panel. A jock stood up, one hand hugging his girlfriend, he appeared worried, and ask Kip “Hey, do you know what’s going on, why are you trying to scared us like this?” Kip didn’t know but he currently has a tense expression on his face. “Look, I am also clueless as to why this is happening.
But my intuitions are usually right. That message content is quite foreboding, and the countdown is not hinting as anything good. My guess, this should be some short of warning, just like what I’m doing right now. I suggest you leave the bus for now, and prepared for what is to come okay?” It was then the buzz appear again, and a new panel pop up
Tittle Acquired: The one who guess
Due to your quick thinking and questioning BEFORE THE APOCALYPSE STARTED, Forshadow is acquired
SKILL: FORSHADOW
Level: Beginner lvl 1
Experience: 2%
Grade: unique
You are able to guess what will happen when asking a yes or no QUESTION. Vague question will give uncertain answer
Cost: 2mana
Limit: 6 questions a day
The jock stood still, seemingly upset with Kip answer. Conversation started all around him. Kip couldn’t take his this time for granted, grabbing his hiking bag he walked straight to the front of the bus and then outside. The driver didn’t stop him. Based on what happened, he had an idea of what is happening. And it was nagging at him, telling him to run away as far as possible.
It was his favorite light novel genre. The world started turning to an RPG game, and everything usually go to crap. If the first message become reality, Kip knows he had no way of knowing if he will survive or not. But he knows he wasn't any safer here, people would become a hindrance. He noticed Chloe started to follow behind, along with the rest of the students. The countdown is at 4:06 now, there just aren't enough time.
“If you guys want to survive. I will now tell you something. What will come soon will be a sort of test. If I am right, what come soon will be a sort of game. I can’t give you anymore hint due to the time constraint; I hope you will try to understand.” Kip warned his school mates. Before anyone could say anything, he ran straight into the forest. Due to him being in the track club, no one could catch up him even if they tried. No one did anyway, since everyone were still in a state of confusion.
A few people seem to understood his warning, especially those who so called nerds that everyone looked down on; so they quickly packed their stuff and started running as well. Kip didn’t look back; he knew he needed to find a safe place to test what he is about to do. Only 1-minute remaining, Kip was running like a madman now, he didn’t dare to slow down until his breath become so ragged and his entire back covered with sweat.
Kip spotted a small stream ahead. Following the stream, he found a small waterfall that was so beautiful he momentarily forgot about the impending crisis.
"Wait a minute" he thought "Doesn’t waterfall usually have cave inside them". Not much time is left anyway, he quickly ducked under the water screen, to his surprise, there was indeed a cave inside, almost the side of a decent living room. The moment he entered the cave. An earth wake started out of no where. A buzz ran out in his head, he was starting to hate this sound now. Having only a few second to read the message, Kip was made to fall unconsious by unnatural mean.
Have you been prepared
THE MERGING OF WORLD HAS STARTED
WELCOME TO MALTEOR
CALIBRATING SYSTEM 1%