That group of five members settled down awkwardly, Raya and Kritika keeping their distance from Sizi while the rest of the three sat down with Baizhi in the middle maintaining distance between the two.
They silently finished their rest of the meal, even Kritika the most talkative one was silent as if sensing the situation.
Baizhi couldn't bear this awkwardness and inquired about her own question.
Baizhi, " Sizi, what happened ? Did you two had a fight before, too ?"
By seeing the situation just now, she could guess that they both had argued before too that's why Anning was incensed by her behaviour just now.
In the bus, they had parted on bad terms but that time she didn't asked anything instead waited till now.
Sizi first glanced at Anning who was busy in eating, completely ignoring them, and then at Baizhi who was looking at her curiously.
Why are you asking me instead of her ?
But she smiled outwardly and answered, " Oh, nothing in particular. Just a small argument, nothing else. "
And then she whispered in her ear, " You know, she is always in a bad mood, right ?"
Kritika heard that clearly and pursed her lips to suppress her laugh. If she had heard it then Anning sitting beside them had heard it clearly too, but nothing on her face betrayed the fact.
Baizhi looked at her, contemplating whether to ask more or not. Then she decided against it and kept shut.
Not long after, Kritika said to Baizhi, " Actually, Zizhi, I-- ouch "
She stopped mid sentence because of a zab from Raya, beside her. She looked at her, aggrieved, and zabbed back with her elbow.
But Raya didn't explained anything instead telling her to call Baizhi properly. " How can you give nickname to anyone. Where is your propriety ?"
Kritika, " What propriety? She is my friend. can I not call her so. "
Raya, whispered in her ear in a way that broke no argument, " Just call her by her full name. Don't ask too many questions. Understood ? "
Kritika just nodded her head, still confused and continued to talk to Baizhi.
Kritika, " Actually, Baizhi-- uh? "
She is only now noticing the gaze of the one beside Baizhi, Anning. She was looking at her- no glaring- her hard enough to bore holes on one's body. But when she heard calling her again by her full name, she took her eyes back and pretended like nothing happened.
After this many times of interruption, she dropped whatever she was saying and continued on her food.
Not long after, the time was up and they have to go back in the bus to continue their journey. They all packed their belongings and first went to the back of the bus to give their bags. The area was full and thus it took some time for them to successfully secure their bags, still the most introverted one, Anning was the last to do so.
She doesn't even says anything if someone pushes her and give their belongings first in spite of coming late. Seeing this Sizi just took her bag, which she was holding until now to give to the conductor, then shoved some unwanted elements aside and gave her bag in the storage.
Anning was first shocked by seeing her bag suddenly vanishing and instinctively tried to snatch it back, but once she saw who it was, she let it be and then thanked her in a small voice not meeting her eyes.
Sizi scoffed and took her hand to leave this congested place, and after reaching the door of the bus only did she shook her hand off. She went first, then looked back to check if the other person was coming or was again being shoved.
Anning too, looked back, and went after her.
Baizhi was in the bus already and was seeing this whole exchange from the window. She didn't saw the scene from the back of the bus, but seeing just this, felt her insides frosting over and again got upset.
Anning knew Baizhi was seeing them, but she still couldn't help with the eye contact. The storm was on the way, and she was thinking how to deal with it.
She just reached her seat, which she was on before the break and sat there. This time, she didn't want to know who sat beside her and only minded her own business.
Just now, when she was dragged by Sizi, from the corner of her eye, she spotted professor Lin on his way back to his car, with professor Qing sending him off.
But the strange thing was that, both the professors- no, only professor Lin- was in a bad mood and professor Qing was............ coaxing him.
Wait, the strangest part was that, that professor Qing has his arms around professor Lin and he was whispering in his ear, smiling. Whereas, professor Lin just ignored him, but wasn't minding those disrespectful arms.
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