Are Five Days Enough?

Ferry Rides

❝ fear— to Isaiah his fear was being himself  ❞

08|   Ferry Rides

Aviana Sanchez |

| Day 1: 8 January, 10 am |

"Everyone, get your bags, we need to get on the ferry in five minutes," Instructor Lin told us to get ourselves moving.

Several watches have already taken the ferry to the offshore island nearby and now it was ours and the remaining watches' turn to take the ferry.

Everyone was lined up to get onto the ferry. The queue was tremendously long and everyone was whispering and murmuring about going to the island. 

Only fourteen watches get to go to the offshore island for the five days and seven watches in each base camp, Camp 1 and Camp 2 respectively.

"Listen up sixers—"

Yes, our instructor said calling us Watch 6 was too lame.

"When you get onto the ferry, the last two rows are assigned to us, and no choosing seats just sit down wherever there's space. It doesn't matter who you sit with either way over the next five days you are going to live with each other. Heard me?"

"Crystal clear," I muttered as my gaze flickered to the boy who already has his eyes trained on me.

Annoying blue-eyed freak.

Like you didn't like that blue-eyed freak. My subconscious bit back.

Shut up.

"Hey, Aviana, do you have a plastic bag?" Nisrina whispered in my ear.

I look away from Andre and shifted my attention to the girl whose face has significantly paled from when I last saw which was five minutes ago.

"I do, let me get it out from duffel bag alright?" I smiled at her reassuringly.

"Thank you, I don't do well with boats, especially those which go slow." She chuckled, her eyes showing relief and a hint of anxiety. I zipped up my duffel and handed her the plastic bag.

"Since we are allocated Camp 1 it's only fifteen minutes away so hang in there Rina." I pat her back. She looked at me a little stunned and her eyes held a twinge of sorrow.

"You alright?" I asked her.

"Yes, I am...just a little shocked. Only my mother called me that." She whispered that last part softly.

"I didn't know, I'm sorry." I apologized.

"It's okay, it has a nice ring to it. I don't mind you calling me that." She smiled.

I chuckled, "Alright."

"Guys, move in quickly alright? It's our turn to board." Instructor Lin gestured to us to move in quickly.

There was a seat in between Matthia and Isaiah and another between Andre and Jaden. "Quickly settle down everyone," A voice blared. I quickly moved in and plopped between Matthia and Isaiah.

No way in heaven or hell will I ever risk going near Andre.

"Hey Aviana," Isaiah put out his hand to me, trying to strike a conversation.

I shook his hand, "Hey Isaiah."

"What's a dream of yours?" Isaiah asked me.

"To become a doctor one day," I replied, the familiar memories replaying back in fast motion.

I shook my head. It's time to move on.

"What's yours?" I asked him.

"Stealing another person's dream," Matthia replied loudly.

I elbow Matthia in the rib. "Don't spark trouble, Matt."

Matthia scoffed and muttered a bunch of incoherent curse words under his breath.

"My friend Matthia can be a little grumpy towards strangers. Sorry." I shoot a smile at Isaiah, trying to cover up Matt's abnormal behaviour.

"No need to apologise, I can see that." He remarked.

"You don't seem Korean," I blurt out the blue.

"Sorry," I mutter embarrassed of myself.

"No problem, but it's true I am not Korean. I'm Chinese. **，***, Isaiah Lee." Isaiah spoke fluently.

**，*** — hello, my name is

"Wow, you're trilingual," I say, fascinated by the fact that he could speak Korean, English and Chinese fluently.

"I get that often," He smirked flirtatiously.

"We get it, you're multilingual blah blah blah, so what?" Matthia muttered loud enough for both me and Isaiah to hear.

"Stop acting like a brat Matthia," Isaiah commented. 

I sighed Matthia has been acting like an insolent childish brat since he arrived.

"I don't know what's wrong but try to act civilised alright Matt?" I mutter in his ear and hug him awkwardly from the side.

"Fine." Matthia huffed before turning to look outside. 

Yes, he got the window seat which I am still a little mad about.

"Do you have siblings?" I asked Isaiah.

"Yes, one," Isaiah replied.

"Ooh, I always wanted a sibling so how's he or she like? How old? Is he or she trilingual? Scratch that multilingual? Ooh, can you sibling speak French or Italian?" I asked excitedly, clapping my hands.

"Woah woah, calm down Aviana. He's my brother. Same age as me. No, he isn't trilingual, but bilingual he only knows how to speak Korean and English as per my knowledge of him." Isaiah chuckled. 

A faint red shade tinted my cheeks as I tucked a hair behind my ear.

"Are you two twins?" I ask him curiosity taking over me.

"It's complicated." Isaiah gave me a small sad smile. 

—

stay at home and wash your hands loves.

love, L