The next morning, as we entered the second day of the School Carnival, everyone seemed even more hyped up. I went to school at around 9 AM as no instructions were given to reach school early. As I entered my classroom, I saw that the ones who had enjoyed the first day were all present. When I reached upto the class rep and asked him that what was going on, he told me that it had been already decided before the School Carnival that on the first day, half of the students would be allowed to enjoy the carnival while the rest would work in the class stall. Whereas fir the second day, the other half which worked were allowed to enjoy the carnival and the first half of the students were to attend to the classroon stall.

As I had worked the day before, so the class rep told me to enjoy the carnival. After hearing that, I was kinda relieved. I mean, now I could just loiter around listlessly while avoiding a certain someone. Yes, that's right. I decided to avoid Jason as much as I could and then I would proceed with my plans for the last day of the carnival.

While walking out of the classroom, however, my avoiding plan almost got disrupted but luckily I quickly hid behind the pillar as Jason and Marcus entered our classroom. I sighed in relief and climbed down the stairs hurriedly so as to reach the school field, where the stalls were set up, and also to avoid Jason.

As I walked out of the building and reached the area where the stalls were set up, I noticed a familiar face. It was Chris. I hurriedly went towards the particular stall and called out to him, "Chris!" After hearing my voice, he looked up and saw me. And then he whispered something to his classmate, I guess, and then he left the counter. He was attending to a food stall set up by their class and it was serving Japanese food, mainly noodles. And Chris was assigned to make Yakisoba, a sort of noodle dish, famous in Japan.

Thereafter, he approached me and put his hand over my shoulder and we started to walk away from his stall. "What are doing here? Don't you have your own classroom stall? And where are your other friends?" As he bombarded me with questions, I just explained to him about the set up in our stall and told him that I was let to enjoy today and about the question regarding friends, I just told him they were busy. At first, he gave me a side-look, full of suspicion. But then, he just gave up after not getting any reaction from me.

We, then, started to walk through all the stalls in the field, one-by-one. It was kinda fun. We ate food, played games, clicked pictures and everything was fine. But inspire of this, something didn't feel right. The plans that were made for the four of us had reduced to plans being fulfilled by only two of us. Further, the fact was that I wanted to enjoy the Carnival with Jason and that had been the original plan before everything turned sour.

As we started to venture all the carnival stalls, suddenly, I noticed the silhouette of two familiar people. It was Jason and Marcus. They too were venturing the stalls. Thinking that things might get awkward, I rushed Chris to walk in the opposite direction with me. Even though Chris refuted at first, I just told him we should have some lunch or something in the food stalls that we had went past by, after hearing that, he finally agreed to go in the opposite direction.

But, while walking, I noticed that some of the students started to stop in their steps and began whispering about something and all of them were staring towards one direction. As I turned around and saw who they all were staring at, I realised they all were staring at none other than, Jason and Marcus. I kinda found it wierd and something definitely felt wrong. I wanted to ask someone what was wrong but before I could do that, Chris dragged me to one of the food stalls.

For lunch, Chris and I just had noodles from his food stall and some snacks along the way. But one thing was for sure, I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. I was too curious. As we continued eating and loitering around, before we knew it, it was time for the Carnival to be wrapped up.

I thought of leaving thereafter, but the committee leader of the school play, told the play committee volunteers to stay back. So, I told Chris to leave and so he bid me farewell and headed back earlier. I, too, went to the school auditorium where the play was to be held.

When I entered the auditorium, everyone was busy talking among themselves. While trying to start up a conversation with one of the committee members, they just told me that since the play was going to be held the next day, last minute checks and rehearsals were to be carried out. After saying that, they just left. For a couple of minutes, everyone kept on talking amidst themselves and in the midst of all this, I noticed Jason and Marcus entering along with some of their other friends. Once again, some of the students started to stare at them and began to whisper.

What are they even whispering about while staring at Jason and Marcus? This thought kept on lingering inside my head and before I knew it, the committee leader had entered the auditorium. She took the mic and began to speak. "Okay everyone, settle down. Please pay attention." After hearing that, everyone gathered near the stage and I too went near it and stood still, and then everything went silent.

"Okay, so we all know that the play will be held tomorrow, right?" Everyone nodded. "Um, so, I thought of doing last minute checks and a rehearsal of the play. Because we don't want it to be a flop right?" Again, everyone nodded. "Okay then, let's get started. First of all, the ones who were in the props teams please check on the props. Secondly, the costume designers, please take the actors to the back stage for a last minute fit-check and the makeup team should also follow behind them. Thirdly, the special effects team, which is kinda like my team, please stay back near the stage, so that we can discuss about the lightings and all. And so, everyone dismissed."

After hearing that, everyone started to begin their work. As a member in the props team, I went with them. While rest, went with their respective teams. I started to check the background prepared by some of us. While checking, I noticed that some painting if the background had not been completed so I brought the paints from the backstage and started to paint. One of my classmates, started to put detailings on the trees and bushes by making leaves and linings on the tree trunks.

While working on the props, I noticed that Jason was talking with someone in the backstage. I couldn't exactly make out what they were talking, but he seemed angry as I couldn't see his frowning expression. I wanted to go and ask him but as awkward as we were, I couldn't exactly do that. As I kept on giving glances towards his direction, I felt someone's gaze on me. But when I returned around, I didn't notice anyone. It felt weird but I just left it be.

After the finishing touches of the props were done, the in-charge of the props committee went near the committee leader to talk about something and when he came back a few minutes later, he told us that we were to set up the stage early in the morning, so the members of the props team were asked to assemble in school at around 7 AM itself. We all agreed and thereby, we were asked to keep the props in a safe place and then, dismissed, that is, we were told that the work was done so we could all leave.

We all carried the big props together while some if the small ones were carried by the bulky guys in the committee. Each of us, thanked each other for the hard work we had done for the play and then everyone started to pack their belongings. I, on the other hand, didn't bring anything so I simply got ready to leave by changing by P. T shoes, that is, the shoes which we had to wear inside the auditorium, with my sneakers, that I had worn to school. Thereafter, as I walked towards the exit of the auditorium, I noticed that Jason was still arguing with someone, while the other committees were finally wrapping up their works as well.

Something was definitely not right...

As I kept on thinking about the thing relating to Jason, before I knew it, I had reached the school gates and outside of it was my driver, who was waiting for me. He greeted me and opened the door of the car. I hopped in and both of us, headed back to my house. After reaching home, I freshened up, had a light meal prepared by the housekeeper, e-mailed dad about the day and tucked myself inside my blanket. I wanted to think more about the thing that had happened to Jason, but it seemed I was too tired as, as soon as I put my head on the pillow, I was fast asleep.