Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her luggage and started walking again.
But a few moments later, the feeling returned—much stronger and darker this time.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up.
She could feel a heavy, piercing gaze locked onto her, watching her every move from behind a thick, ancient tree.
She stopped dead in her tracks and whirled around again, her eyes darting through the shadows.
But once again… there was no one there.
Just the empty, silent forest.
By having her walk through the entire night, it shows just how huge that forest is and how exhausted but determined Piya must be!
Pushing her fears aside, Piya chose to ignore the eerie feeling of being watched and just kept walking.
Hour after hour, she dragged her heavy luggage through the snow.
Eventually, the terrifying, endless shadows of the woods began to fade, giving way to the soft, golden light of dawn.
Slowly, the freezing night melted into a fresh, crisp morning.
As the thick tree line finally broke, Piya stepped out of the forest and stopped in her tracks.
There it was—'”Mount College”‘, standing tall, mysterious, and magnificent in the morning light.
A tired but victorious smile touched her pale lips.
“‘Thank God I took the risk and cut through that forest,'” she thought, catching her breath.
“‘If I had waited for that morning bus, I would have been horribly late for my admission. Even though the path was confusing and I almost got lost in the dark a few times, I made it here so much faster.'”
Brushing the snow off her jacket and gripping her luggage with renewed energy, she took a deep breath of the freezing morning air.
The terrifying night was over.
She had finally arrived.
Piya was still admiring the grand college building when a sudden noise cut through the morning silence.
A girl with short, edgy hair bounced into view, casually juggling a football with her feet while blowing a large pink bubble with her chewing gum.
She was wearing a loose t-shirt and casual half-pants, completely unbothered by the chilly morning air.
Before Piya could even react or step out of the way, the girl suddenly stopped, popped her gum, and delivered a harsh, violent slap straight across Piya’s face.
“SLAP!”
The sharp sound echoed across the empty courtyard.
The force of the blow was so sudden and intense that Piya’s head snapped to the side, her check burning instantly with a stinging heat.
Stumbling backward into the snow, she dropped her luggage, her mind completely blank from the sudden shock.
Please don’t take personal actually see their that girls bets with me to slap you am sorry.
“SLAP!”
Piya slaps that girl infront of every one .
“SORRY!”
Don’t take personal ,piya said to that girl .
They glared at each other, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
But just as Piya braced herself for a full-blown fight, the girl’s furious expression completely melted away, dissolving into a loud, genuine laugh.
“I love it!” the girl chuckled, clutching her stomach.
“You are just like me, babe. I love your attitude!”
Piya stood there frozen, completely shocked by the reaction.
She had fully expected a brawl, but the girl did the exact opposite of what Piya anticipated.
Stepping forward with a wide, friendly grin, the girl offered her hand for a handshake.
“I’m Misha,” she introduced herself.
Relief washed over Piya, and a genuine smile broke across her face as she shook Misha’s hand.
“Piya.”
“Oh, nice name!” Misha said cheerfully, before winking.
“Though not nicer than mine, of course.”
“Definitely,” Piya replied, chuckling at her endless confidence.
Misha tossed her football into the air, catching it smoothly under one arm.
“I’m guessing you’re a new student, right? Where are you staying?”
“Actually, I just arrived from my flight yesterday for new admissions,” Piya explained, picking her fallen bags back up.
“I’m staying in the college hostel.”
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a boy jogged up behind Misha and wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a classic, teasing friend drag.
“Oh, hello!” Misha snapped, elbowing him off playfully.
“I know my elder sister is dating your brother, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like this!”
“Oho, Misha… don’t you know how much I love you?” the boy teased, dramatically putting a hand over his heart with a mischievous grin.
“Ewww!” Misha gagged, making a dramatic nausea face.
“Gross!”
“Misha, please stop making that face! People are staring—what are they going to think of me?” he groaned, looking around nervously.”
Oh, please, you idiot!
I don’t care at all what anyone thinks!” Misha retorted, tossing her head back.
She turned to Piya, pointing a thumb at him.
“Piya, meet Kabir. He’s my elder sister’s boyfriend’s brother.”
“Hello,” Kabir and Piya said in unison, exchanging polite nods.
“Oh, I know,” Piya added with a subtle smile.