Remembering what my mother had said, I abruptly stood up and rushed to the front of the bus.
“Uncle, can we take another road?” I asked anxiously. “My mom said there’s going to be a mudslide on this route today.”
The driver blinked at me, startled, then pointed outside the window where a light drizzle painted the glass.
“With just this little rain? You think there’ll be a mudslide?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, girl. This hillside is rock-solid. Go back and sit down.”
I bit my lip and twisted the hem of my shirt, unable to hide the nervous flutter in my chest.
“But… my mom really meant it. She was serious…”
The driver’s patience was wearing thin. His tone turned sharp.
“What is your mother, huh? A geologist? A weather expert? Why are you listening to her over common sense?”
I hesitated for a breath, then said the words quietly, but with all the courage I could gather:
“She… she said she was reborn.”
The entire bus fell silent for a moment—then burst into laughter. Even the driver couldn’t help but snort.
But after a few chuckles, his face suddenly darkened. He looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“Where are you from, little girl?”
His abrupt shift in tone startled me, but I answered honestly, “My father’s name is Ethan. My mother is Daphne.”
The driver’s brows furrowed. He glanced at me again, this time with a strange glint in his eye.
“Alright, alright. Go sit down. Uncle promises you—nothing will happen on this road. I’d stake my life on it.”
I had no choice. The bus was already merging onto the winding mountain road.
I returned to my seat reluctantly, but the knot in my stomach refused to loosen.
Though no one said it aloud, a quiet tension settled over the bus. The rain was picking up, and small pebbles were beginning to scatter across the mountain road up ahead.
The further we went, the more the driver slowed down.
Then, without warning—
Boom!
A deafening crash rang out as lightning split the sky. A massive boulder came tumbling down the cliffside and slammed into the road just meters ahead.
The driver slammed the brakes hard. The bus lurched and came to a stop just before colliding with the rock.
He sat frozen for a second, beads of sweat rolling down his face. Then he turned and looked at me, his expression pale, eyes wide with fear. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
The other twenty-two girls were silent, stunned.
Thankfully, the rockfall didn’t continue.
Snapping out of it, the driver unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped out. He quickly helped clear the debris with a few villagers who had come running.
When the path was cleared and the bus started moving again, the once lively chatter had vanished. Everyone sat stiffly in their seats, eyes fixed ahead until we were safely off the mountain road.
That’s when I felt a sharp cramp in my abdomen. A cold dread swept through me. I quickly rifled through my backpack—and my heart sank.
It wasn’t there.
With a bitter expression, I made my way back to the driver’s seat once more.
“Uncle… is there a convenience store or small shop nearby?” I asked softly. “Can we stop there, please?”
He turned to me, already exasperated. “What now? Why is it always you? Do you think this is a private car? There are a dozen people here—I can’t just stop unless there’s a reason. Speak clearly.”
I hesitated, cheeks burning. My voice dropped to a whisper.
“I… I just got my period. I didn’t bring anything.”
“What?” he frowned. “Speak up.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I’m on my period. I didn’t bring any sanitary napkins.”
The driver blinked, coughed awkwardly, then quickly averted his gaze.
“A-Alright, I get it. I’ll pull over at the next small store, okay?”
“Thank you, Uncle.” I bowed slightly and hurried back to my seat, face red with embarrassment.
A few minutes later, the bus pulled in front of a tiny roadside shop. The driver got out with me and waved me toward the entrance.
“Go on in, pick what you need. The bathroom’s over there.”
He pointed inside, and I followed his gesture, only to feel a wave of disappointment wash over me.
An indoor bathroom. Public.
Still, I turned back to him and said, “Thank you,” before heading to the shelves to find what I needed.
