“Care to show me who?” Isis followed her gaze from my pointed finger to the person.

“Oh my God, what is Cassian doing here? Let me drown myself,” I buried my face over my hands.

“Who, exactly, is Cassian?” Isis asked impatiently.

Footsteps clicked on the ground and grew closer to our seats.

“That would be me.” A gray cotton jacket as his outer wear with a long black turtleneck hugged his body. I eyed his darker gray pants and monochrome sneakers in awe. How could someone wear lots of monochrome clothes?

I darted my eyes around my outfit, a striped knitting rainbow sweater with high-waisted blue jeans. I blinked numerous times. I wondered if I was the most colorful person on the bus right now. Even Isis wore a white basic tee and dark blue A-line skort. Zen’s a bit unusual, he looked like he lived in the 90s. Though, he kinda pulled it.

I fell silent and the tension became awkward. I cleared my throat and chuckled to ease myself. 

"Isis, this is Cassian. Cassian, this is Isis," I pointed out their names and Isis nodded in acknowledgement. Cassian, well, Cassian was unfazed.

"Hey, you're not introducing me to Smurfette? How sad," Zen pretended to clutch his heart and pouted. He leaned onto the seat in front of Isis, which made him more laid-back than usual. Our conversation last week didn't make us different towards each other, instead it made us a little acquainted.

Isis' face was scrunched up when he leaned on her. 

"You better stay away from me, twerp." She wrapped her arms around her chest, leaning backwards to the seat. Unconsciously, a double chin emerged from her face.

He purposely made his face appear with his own double chin to mimic her.

"We're double chin partners now, aren't we?" He wiggled his eyebrows. I choked on my water, luckily I didn't drink in a hurry. Or else, I would bursted on Cassian's shirt.

I accidentally looked around the bus, and spotted two familiar figures. My instinct told me that I had to see them.

"Isis, wait for me here." I was already out of my seat and lightly bumped on Cassian's shoulder. One of his eyebrows went down, and the sides of my mouth went up.

Turned out, it was Katarin and Eugene beside her.

"Katarin!" I called out. I waved as I approached their seats.

"Um, who?" She asked warily. Her eyes went on me to her seat partner.

Her seat partner let out a groan.

"Tarin, she's our Economics group partner," Eugene sighed and gave me an apologetic look.

"Oh, oh! Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! I always had a hard time recognizing peeps," She smacked her forehead and threw me a sheepish look.

Eugene shook his head.

"It's okay, I'm still glad Eugene remembers me," I chuckled and Eugene's lips curved slightly.

"Oh my, you're a ball of sunshine, much like our Eugene here." She ruffled his hair and his ears went pink. Okay, yep, she really has a hard time recognizing people.

"Stop-" Katarin cleared her throat.

"Nuh uh, Genie boy, you don't get to order me around," she said in a somewhat seductive tone and oh boy, Eugene was blushing from head to toe.

"Okay, that's my cue to dash," I whispered to myself and Katarin waved me with a thumbs up. I would say that Katarin wore the pants in their relationship. 

Katarin and Eugene were both Korean. They met when they were in the first year of high school and since then became inseparable. Katarin had unique dyed pink hair paired with Eugene's all black vibes. Even though Eugene was covered in tattoos,– surprisingly, the principal allowed us to have tattoos– he still had a cute appearance which Katarin always teased him about. Though it contrasted with Katarin's resting bish face. People always were confused when she stayed calm and thought she was angry and thankfully, Eugene was her saving grace. Not only that, Katarin has really bad ass eyeliner. Isis sometimes gushed about it whenever we had phone calls.

"Hey! You should have dragged me to their seats!" Isis wailed, Zen still hovering over her.

"Welp, it seems like you're busy and their seats are far away." Isis swatted Zen's palm and pouted when I said that they were far from us.

"Go the hell away, you duck," Isis glared at him and Zen raised one of his eyebrows. 

"Sure, sure. Just so you know, I'll be back. It was nice teasing you, Smurfette," Zen nodded at my direction and turned back to his seat. He gave a hard pat on Cassian's shoulders because he left him earlier.

Isis groaned, "Who the hell bid goodbyes like that?" 

I shook my head, "Definitely, him."

Isis groaned again.

I chuckled and turned on my mobile phone, eager to work on the next book review assigned to me. Of course, I wouldn't be so excited if it was not a good book to review. I read the blurb yesterday and I was intrigued. 

I didn't reach until 500 words when the bus came to a stop. Some students hopped off the bus and left for toilet break, and Isis was one of the students who needed it. Along with Zen, following her like a goofy puppy. As I stayed, Cassian instantly captured my eyes when I looked around.

I should had talked to him, but I was afraid that he would brush me off again. But nothing ever stopped me from approaching him. I tapped his shoulder to accompany me outside the bus, watching the scenery around. He was hesitant at first, but gave in when I gave him my puppy face. Was it that bad for him to follow me forcefully?

I shrugged and cleared my throat.

"So, um, I promise this is not an interview, but I want to know aside from your super healing, do you have any superpowers I have to be aware of?" I asked.

He briefly looked at me and said; "Why do you have to know?"

I should have known this was going to be difficult. So, I tried again.

And he rejected me again.

The bus parked near a cliff so we had to be careful if we wanted to take a walk.

I seemed to ignore that warning when I almost slipped and flew over the cliff. 

"Woah!" I exclaimed, my arms flailed. It didn't grab any of those non-living things, instead it grabbed Cassian's arm. 

"Hey!" He called out, not hesitant to help me set up my position.

I panicked. Even more when he scraped his finger and I was worried if someone noticed his strange phenomenon. He sighed and went back when I was stable. Toilet break was over minutes ago, and the bus was filled with silence, as most students slept like the dead. Including Isis and Zen. 

An hour later, an announcement came up.

"Greetings, students. We are five minutes ahead of Shuwei and there will be weather changes where today will be a little misty and windy. Be careful and enjoy the rest of the day visiting around." 

Isis yawned, "Oh great, windy is nice." 

I disagreed.

First thing we both did was explore the street food corner. We ate lots of delicious food and Isis got creeped out by the famous fried cockroaches. 

"You know, the principal is too nice, isn't it?" 

I choked on my water, "Are you serious? It's a one time thing he's giving us this kind of trip. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts."

Isis frowned and sighed, "You're right…"

A silent moment wafted around us until I broke it when I spotted a weird donut in a stall.

"Hey, let's check that out!" I gushed in excitement, tugging Isis' sleeve.

"Wait a sec, I want to pee." Isis already rushed towards the toilet as I gave her a disbelief look.

I walked towards the stall and bought the weird-shaped ones. It tasted yummy, though. Just as I was about to take another bite, a misty-looking cloud flew around the crowds in the middle of the street food corner. Some were confused with shoutings, others were, well, vanishing into thin air. 

The people gradually became fewer and fewer when I heard nothing but only my erratic breaths and heartbeat.

Then I saw a dog.

A scary, black dog. But, its eyes were sparkling red in a menacing way and they were directed to me. The paws moved its way to me and I let out a startle yell.

I couldn't seem to move my legs from the ground and started to run and when the dog, if I assumed correctly, it was a bit like a hellhound instead. No, it was, indeed, a hellhound. Then it shifted.

Now it was a hellhound shifter. He was still a kid despite his shape as a hellhound. Not more than twelve years old, I presumed. His hair was deep black with gold highlights around it, his skin was tan with black markings like tattoos curled around his arms. His eyes were the color of blood and bits of gold were shining like diamonds. He was wearing a black bodysuit that kind of looked like he was used as an experiment. 

"Well, here's the one who caused all this fiasco," he clicked his tongue and snickered.

I was utterly confused. But, I stood like a statue because I was scared that I could piss myself.

"What do you–"

And I was cut by Cassian.

"Stay away from her, hellhound." Cassian's voice was deep like a clap of thunder, he grabbed around my collarbone and pulled me closer to him. I stumbled back when we were closer than we used to. I could feel his body heat and breath. My heart beat faster than usual, and I was afraid that it would burst through my body. But I realized that the situation I was in right now made my heart like that.

 But I was even more confused when Zen stood like nothing's happened and stared at me like I had two heads.

The hellhound shifter cackled like what a villain normally does. 

Zen spoke: "Stop messing around, boy."

The hellhound instantly took it as an offense and glared at Zen.

"Don't let the upper be hectic then," the hellhound smirked.

He turned his gaze upon Cassian. His eyes which were filled with bits of gold disappeared and replaced with more red around his pupils.

"And you," he scoffed lightly, "I think you are the one who should stay away from her."

He cracked his fingers one by one.

"But not until I scarred your face!" The hellhound shifter ran towards our direction and I screamed and closed my eyes tight like a normal human did in this situation. But I sensed a flash of light and he never came. Instead, I found Zen and the hellhound shifter gone in thin air. The misty-looking clouds scattered slowly and I could already see the street food corner… blurred and vanished?

"What in the world just happened?" I gasped.

"You'll say that a lot when you're bulldozing your way into my life." Cassian flicked his gaze on me and squinted.

"It was that hellhound shifter that made some places disappear and foggy, originally Shuwei was sunny most of the time," Cassian explained.

I wanted to reply, but a shrill sound called my name out loud.

"Rheanne! Where the hell are you?! Rheanne!" I almost wanted to bang my head on a wall.

Isis turned and her eyes became glassy when she found me.

"Oh, my God! You're safe, thank God!" Isis hugged me and I smiled when she squeezed a little tightly.

Isis settled herself and her eyes wandered around, searching for something, or rather someone.

"What are you looking for?" I asked cautiously."

"No one," she shook her head without looking at me.

"I didn't say who, though," I smirked and crossed my arms.

Isis blushed and nudged my shoulder to express her embarrassment.

Cassian stood behind me and we embraced the confused murmurs around the crowds. I just wanted to offer Cassian a nearby milkshake for his help earlier, when my stomach growled in pain.

And I fell.

"Urgh, oh my God I think I ate too much!" I clutched my stomach and my face scrunched, making my expression turn into a funny one when I heard a small chuckle behind me.

Cassian chuckled.

He chuckled.

I should have been ecstatic, but my stomach kept twisting like crazy. Luckily, Isis had a great stomach and she was safe from this crisis. I rushed to the bathroom and finally released myself. But holy, that was embarrassing. I wanted to drown myself inside a hole. I finished and met again with Isis bickering with Zen because of something and Cassian looking uninterested. 

A smile appeared on my lips as we walked together to the hotel.

***

There was a pool party tonight and it was already crowded and filled with students, even teachers too.

I guessed they didn't know about the hellhound shifter, considering that they were relaxing right now. I bet tomorrow we were going to visit a museum nearby, typical Mister Rogers a.k.a the principal. 

Of course, I brought my swimsuit. Well, a swimsuit that was disliked by Isis. 

"Girl, I hope you say that you're not wearing this swimsuit." Isis picked her swimsuit from her luggage and, yeah it was very different from mine.

A red plaid ruffles two-string bikini and the skirt came into my sight. Though, I had to tie the strings behind to keep the bikini intact. 

"You should wear this." She placed it into my hands and took her one-shoulder blue striped bikini. 

As I thought for a few minutes, I think it was better to wear what Isis lent to me than become the laughingstock of the year.

We headed to the pool and brought our bathing robes, placing them on the bench with our things around them.

Isis jumped inside the pool and laughed hilariously, clearly enjoying the fun. Some laughed along and played in the pool like there was no tomorrow. I dipped my foot into the pool and slid down inside. 

Some were dancing like monkeys and waved their arms like jellos, but still, fun was all they experienced. Though, I grew irritated when Isis splashed the water on me and my hair was dripping wet now yet it hadn't touched the water. I wasted no time swimming like an Olympics champion, but I was swimming like I had asthma every time I came up for air. A commotion broke inside the pool and my best friend Isis surely was the one who started it. 

"Gaaaah!" A sound escaped from her as if she was challenging everyone in the pool and charged forward.

Water flew from the pool and Isis created a big mess when one of the swimmers roared.

I sighed harshly and found Isis in the middle of the crowd with water splashing everywhere. I was sure that my thighs and arms would be covered in light bruises. I bumped someone's arm hard and gritted my teeth. Maybe some angry bruises too. I grabbed Isis' arms and we moved away from the provoked mass, well I forcefully took Isis away though.

"Girl, are you insane?" 

Isis stared at me as if I had two heads.

"Nope. It was just boring and people swam like they were in some serious competition," she pouted and poked my arm repetitively.

I rolled my eyes and Isis's eyes went wide because I got annoyed.

"Alright, alright. I'll go get a drink." Isis stepped up from the pool and climbed the stairs with her wobbly feet.

I swam to the edge and saw Cassian hanging around the bench near it. Zen and Isis should be hanging around somewhere, well, more like irritating each other until one of them exploded when I saw Zen follow Isis quietly behind her. They had these tensions that I didn't want to ruin for my sake. I felt my bikini top loosened, but it probably was just the pool's doing.

I dipped my head for seconds and quickly came up. I saw Cassian glance at me and stood up, heading towards the drinks section. My feet went instinctively and I decided to follow him when Cassian's jaw dropped and wrapped his eyes with his hand tightly.

"What?" I asked carefully since this reaction from him was rare. Super rare.

My eyes wandered around my body and I found out that my bikini top was gone. Gone inside the pool full of people.

I let out a startled yelp, my eyes looked around to see if anyone noticed my yelp. Thankfully, it was only Cassian who noticed, BUT STILL, I was embarrassed from head to toe. I covered my boobs and shivered. If I called for help, people would know. If I called for a towel, people would also know behind my blushing cheeks. And also, I knew some people on this trip mostly around my grade. So, there was only one solution.

"Hey!" I whisper-yelled. 

Cassian still had his palm around his eyes, but he answered back.

"What?"

"A little help here, please." I fiddled with my bottoms and grabbed them tightly, afraid that they would drift off my body. 

"How?" I almost growled at him, it was me who was half-naked in a crowded pool, not him alright?

"Help me find my top…" I was getting redder than before, oh God help me. 

***

so after 3 chapters released, how would you feel about this book?

does Cassian and Rheanne's relationship getting closer or... not?

how'd you feel about Zen and Isis? POWER COUPLE ALERT!

note: this is a first draft!
this is also a fantasy romance book so there will be gazilions of fictional scenes!

enjoy and stay tuned for next monday!