Chapter 60: THE NEIGHBOR FROM CABIN 6

Tap... tap... tap... Kai walked back toward the camping area with several pieces of wood in his arms. Crack... Occasionally the dry branches bumped against each other, creating a distinctive sound. Behind him, Mira followed with a smaller armful of wood—but her face remained enthusiastic, even though her arms were starting to ache.

"Sir," Mira said while walking. "Is this much wood enough for a whole night’s campfire?"

"More than enough," Kai answered. "If it’s not enough, we can get more later."

Mira nodded with satisfaction. She quickened her pace, wanting to reach the cabin quickly and put down the wood.

When they arrived at the camping area, the other members were busy with their respective tasks. Tap... tap... tap... Their footsteps blended with other sounds—CRACK! tent poles being hammered into the ground, Rustle... eating equipment being arranged, and occasionally Mira’s laughter still lingering from the trip earlier.

On the left side of the yard, Ella stood with her hands on her hips, watching Rin, Luna, and Nora setting up the tent. Rin lifted the tent pole with her strength—her arm muscles tensing as she drove the pole into the ground. THUD! THUD! THUD! The ground was dusty, but the pole stood upright.

"A little to the left, Rin," Ella said, her hand pointing to a better spot. "The tent will be tilted if it’s there."

Rin frowned, but she obeyed. THUD! She drove the pole in again, this time in the correct position.

Luna stood beside the tent, her eyes observing the lake view. "How about the tent facing the lake?" she suggested softly. "So we can see the sunrise from inside the tent."

Ella blinked, then smiled. "Good idea. Let’s shift it a little."

Nora stood near them, her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes observed the surroundings—alert as usual. "Make sure the pegs are strong," she said. "The wind will be strong tonight."

Rin nodded, then took a wooden mallet and started hitting the tent pegs. THUD! THUD! THUD!

On the right side of the yard, Iris stood with her hands on her hips, watching Aria and Eve arranging the eating equipment. Aria carefully placed the plates on the wooden table—her hands were still trembling slightly, but she tried to stay calm. Clack... The plate was placed carefully.

"Good, Aria," Iris said, a mysterious smile on her face. "You’re getting more skilled."

Aria smiled shyly. "I-I’m just trying to be careful."

Eve sat on a wooden bench, her laptop open on her lap. She was noting something—maybe the number of equipment, maybe something else. "The number of plates is twelve. Spoons twelve. Glasses twelve. Everything is enough for ten people, with backups."

"You always count," Iris said.

"Data," Eve answered briefly. "I like data."

Fay sat near the tent, hugging her doll. She didn’t help much—but she occasionally lifted her head, watching her busy friends. There was something in her eyes—something like calmness.

Lydia stood on the cabin terrace, observing everything from a distance. Her black dress fluttered gently in the wind. Her black umbrella lay beside the chair. Her eyes moved from one group to another—observing, noting, assessing.

Kai Checks the Tasks

Tap... tap... tap... Kai walked toward the center of the yard, placing the wood he was carrying on the ground. CLACK! The wood fell, creating a neat pile. He took the remaining wood in his arms, then placed it beside the cabin as backup. CLACK!

He wiped his hands, cleaning off dust and wood splinters. Then he walked toward the first group—Ella’s group.

"How’s the tent?" Kai asked.

Ella turned. "Almost done, Sir. Rin is putting in the last peg."

Kai nodded, observing the firmly standing tent. The tent was quite large—could hold four people. Its position faced the lake, exactly as Luna had suggested. "Good. Make sure the back is also strong. The night wind can be strong."

"Ready, Sir," Rin said, lifting her wooden mallet. THUD! She hit the last peg.

Kai walked toward the second group—Iris, Aria, and Eve.

"Is the equipment ready?" Kai asked.

Iris turned with a mysterious smile. "It’s ready, Sir. Aria has arranged everything neatly. Eve has counted everything."

Kai observed the arranged wooden table. Plates, glasses, spoons—all neatly arranged. "Good. Make sure nothing is broken or damaged."

"I’ve checked them one by one," Aria said softly. "Nothing is broken."

Kai nodded. He walked toward Fay sitting near the tent. The girl was still hugging her doll, her eyes staring at the lake.

"Fay," Kai said, his voice gentle. "You’re not helping the others?"

Fay lifted her head. Her empty eyes looked at Kai. Slowly, she shook her head slightly.

"Do you want to just rest?"

Fay nodded.

Kai smiled slightly. He didn’t force her. "Alright. If you need anything, call me."

Fay nodded again. Kai continued his rounds.

He walked toward Lydia standing on the cabin terrace. Tap... tap... tap...

"Ms. Lydia," Kai said. "You’re not helping?"

Lydia turned, smiling faintly. "I’m supervising. As you asked."

Kai nodded. "Good. Everything is going well."

"Yes," Lydia said. "The children are very cooperative."

Kai observed all his students who were busy. Some were setting up tents, some were arranging eating equipment, some were just sitting and observing. Everything was going smoothly.

But in his heart, the footprints he’d seen earlier still bothered him. Hmm...

"Ms. Lydia," Kai said. "I want to check the surroundings for a bit. Make sure nothing is dangerous."

Lydia looked at Kai with an unreadable gaze. "Dangerous?"

"Footprints," Kai answered briefly. "I found footprints in the forest earlier. Maybe just other residents. But I want to make sure."

Lydia nodded slowly. "Alright. Be careful."

Kai turned, then walked into the forest. Tap... tap... tap...

Walking Through the Forest

Tap... tap... tap... Kai walked along the trail he had taken with Mira earlier. The pine trees surrounded him again—tall, lush, creating dancing shadows on the ground. Whoosh... The wind blew gently, carrying the scent of earth and leaves.

He observed the ground around him, searching for traces he might have missed. Hmm... The footprints were still there—still fresh. Kai followed them, his steps careful.

Crunch... crunch... His footsteps on the dry leaves. Chirp... chirp... The sound of crickets started to be heard more clearly as he went deeper into the forest.

The footprints led him to a more open area—a place where the trees were a little sparse. There, Kai saw something.

A man.

The man stood with his back to Kai—picking something up from the ground. His back was broad, with a thick dark-colored jacket. His hair was short—dark brown. Kai couldn’t see his face.

Tap... tap... tap... Kai stepped forward.

"Hey," Kai called, his voice calm but loud enough to be heard.

The man turned quickly. Rustle! His body spun, his hand raised—like he was preparing himself. But when he saw Kai, he lowered his hand. His face looked a little surprised—but also relieved.

"Oh," the man said. "You startled me."

Kai observed the man. He was around forty years old. His face was friendly—with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and a thin smile that looked sincere. His hands held several pieces of firewood—the same kind Kai had collected earlier.

"Sorry," Kai said. "I didn’t mean to startle you."

The man smiled. "It’s okay. I just didn’t expect to meet anyone else here."

Kai observed the wood in the man’s hands. "Are you collecting firewood?"

"Yes," the man answered. "I’m camping at cabin number six. My place is filled with bamboo trees—so I have to find firewood elsewhere."

Kai nodded. "Oh, I see. I’m camping at cabin number seven."

The man raised his eyebrows. "Cabin number seven? That’s a good cabin. The view is amazing."

"Yes," Kai said. "The kids really like it."

"Kids?"

"My students," Kai answered. "I’m a teacher. I brought them camping."

The man smiled wider. "A good teacher. Bringing your students camping. I used to go camping with my students too—when I was still teaching."

Kai blinked. "You used to be a teacher?"

"Yes," the man said. "I’ve retired. Now I just enjoy life—camping, fishing, reading books."

Kai nodded. "That’s a good life."

"Yes," the man said. "You’ll get there someday too."

They stood in silence for a moment. Whoosh... The wind blew gently, carrying the soothing forest scent.

"I have to go back," the man finally said. "The firewood is enough. If you need anything, my cabin is number six. Don’t hesitate to stop by."

"Thank you," Kai said. "I’ll remember."

The man smiled, then turned and walked away. Tap... tap... tap... His steps disappeared among the trees.

Kai stood in his place, watching the man leave. There was something strange—but he couldn’t explain what. The man was friendly. Too friendly, maybe. But Kai didn’t want to be prejudiced.

He looked at the footprints on the ground one more time. Hmm... The footprints did belong to that man. Nothing dangerous.

Haaah... Kai let out a soft sigh. He turned, then walked back toward the cabin.

Back at the Cabin

Tap... tap... tap... Kai arrived at the camping area. His students were still busy with their respective tasks—although some of them had finished and were now sitting and resting.

Mira, seeing Kai coming, immediately jumped up. "Sir! Where have you been?"

Kai smiled. "Just checking the surroundings."

"What’s wrong?" Rin asked, walking closer.

"Nothing," Kai answered. "I met the resident of cabin number six. He was collecting firewood."

"The resident of cabin number six?" Ella raised her eyebrows. "There’s someone else here?"

"Yes," Kai said. "He’s camping too. He said he’s a former teacher."

"A former teacher?" Iris smiled mysteriously. "Interesting."

"Nothing to worry about," Kai said. "He’s a friendly person. He even said if we need anything, we can stop by his cabin."

His students exchanged glances. Some looked relieved, some remained alert.

"Alright," Kai said. "The tents are done. The eating equipment is ready. The firewood is enough. Now—"

"We can play!" Mira exclaimed.

Kai laughed softly. Ha ha... "Yes. Now you can play. But don’t go too far from the camping area. And don’t go into the lake without permission."

"We can swim?" Rin asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes," Kai said. "But wait until I or Lydia is watching. I don’t want anyone drowning."

"Yay!" Mira exclaimed. "Let’s swim!"

HAAAH! His students cheered with joy—except Fay who just smiled slightly, and Luna who just nodded slowly.

Kai observed them with a smile on his face. But in his heart, he was still thinking about the man he’d met in the forest.