The second day of the festival kicked off with vibrant energy. Students filled every corner of the campus, chatter and laughter blending with the upbeat music playing over the speakers.

    Stalls decorated with colorful banners lined the grounds, and the aroma of food wafted through the air.

    As we entered the main festival area, my attention was immediately drawn to a massive poster hanging on the wall near the amphitheater.

    "Treasure Hunt Event – Organized by the Archeology Branch.

    Uncover the artifact and win exciting prizes!"

    It was scheduled after lunch, and every student body could participate. My eyes scanned the details, but my mind was already set.

    I must get to that artifact today, I thought. The idea of the treasure hunt stirred something in me—I must know what that stone leads to.

    But for now, there were other activities to enjoy.

    "Let''s try the food-tasting challenge!" Claire suggested enthusiastically, pulling me out of my thoughts.

    "Food tasting?" I raised an eyebrow, glancing at the sign-up booth nearby. It was a singular event, with blindfolds involved. The challenge sounded fun, and before I could react, Maya grabbed my arm and dragged me to the registration desk.

    "You''re doing it with me," she said firmly, her no-nonsense tone leaving no room for argument.

    We signed up, and soon, the event began. Participants were blindfolded one by one, handed small portions of food to identify.

    A crowd gathered around to watch, their cheers and playful jeers filling the air.

    I slid the blindfold over my eyes as the first plate was brought to me. My senses heightened, and for some reason, as each bite hit my tongue, I just knew what it was. Sweet, savory, bitter—I nailed them all effortlessly.

    When my turn ended, I pulled off the blindfold to find Maya smirking at me. "Not bad," she said, crossing her arms.

    "Not bad?" I echoed, mock-offended. "You did great yourself, Miss Medical Student."

    "Well, identifying food isn''t exactly medical training," she teased.

    In the end, I won the challenge—well, almost. As the final scores were announced, I deliberately slowed my answers in the last round, letting Maya take the top spot.@@@@

    Afterward, she looked at me with a knowing smile. "You know how to cook, don''t you? No wonder you''re so good at this."

    Before I could respond, a group of girls overheard her and immediately pounced.

    From the corner of my eye, I noticed Zayn blushing furiously, his gaze fixed on Natasha. Meanwhile, the boys in the crowd weren''t even trying to hide their reactions. Some were openly drooling, their hands suspiciously low on their pants.

    Natasha waved at someone in the audience—a boy who smiled proudly at her. Probably her boyfriend, I thought. She returned his wave with a warm smile before walking offstage, leaving the crowd in awe.

    "Damn," I muttered under my breath. "That was some event."

    After the show, the five of us gathered for lunch. We found a table in one class room, the cool breeze a welcome relief from the festival''s hustle and bustle.

    Natasha, still in her lingerie, sat down gracefully with us.

    "Are you comfortable?" Maya asked, concern in her tone.

    Natasha shrugged. "It''s a bit cold, but I''ll change after lunch," she said, taking a sip of her juice.

    We all complimented her performance, showering her with praise for her boldness. "You were incredible up there," I said sincerely.

    "Yeah, I didn''t know you had it in you!" Claire added, grinning.

    Natasha smiled shyly, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Thanks, guys. It was... definitely outside my comfort zone, but I''m glad I did it."

    As we ate, Natasha accidentally dropped her spoon. She bent down to pick it up, and my breath hitched. Her ass, barely covered by the thin fabric and her panty line, was right in front of my face.

    Gulp.

    Something ignited inside me, an uncontrollable heat rising despite the fact that I''d spent the entire night with Maya.

    "Hey, Natasha," I said, my voice lower than I intended.

    She looked up, a piece of cake halfway to her mouth. "What is it?"

    "Can we talk for a moment? Outside?"

    She hesitated, her brows furrowing slightly. "Um... sure, I guess." She set down her fork and followed me as I stood up.

    We left the table and we reached a secluded area near the washrooms. I opened the door and gestured for her to step inside.

    "What''s this about, Austin?" she asked, her voice soft, a hint of nervousness creeping in.

    I closed the door behind us, locking it with a quiet click.

    She turned to face me, her cheeks flushing as she realized how close we were. "What happened, Austin?" she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper.