When fate plays its hand

Next to Willow was Hank, who was grinning like a puppy and holding a thermos. Meanwhile, Theodore stood behind him, weighed down with bags of all sizes

Miranda then quickly looked away as she and Willow weren’t exactly close.

“Hey, Miranda!” Madison waved from a distance, jogging over with a large, bulging backpack that looked heavy. She had packed sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, water, and, of course, plenty of snacks.

“I brought tons of stuff! We’ll share later, okay?” Madison said cheerfully.

“Sure,” Miranda replied.

“Wait, where’s Sebastian? He’s not here yet?” Madison asked, slightly worried after sprinting over and arriving five minutes early.

Sebastian, who had arrived earlier, said dryly from right behind her. “What makes you so confident I’d show up later than you?”

Madison made a face. “So what if you beat me by two minutes? I just overslept a bit. But… why are your bags so small?”

Sebastian and Miranda both had modest–sized backpacks, and neither seemed heavy.

“I heard the facilities at the National Botanical Gardens are pretty well–equipped, so I only brought the essentials, Miranda explained while Sebastian nodded in agreement.

Madison looked down at her oversized backpack, speechless. She realized she was the only one hauling around a load half–filled with snacks.

At 8:00 am, the instructor counted everyone and lined them up to board the bus. Their destination was a botanical garden about 60 miles away, a whole three–hour drive.

Onboard, Madison and Miranda sat together, while Sebastian took the row behind them. Soon after they started, they hit a stretch of winding mountain road. With no cell signal, Sebastian pulled out his Kindle to read a research paper.

Madison, ever the social butterfly, chatted enthusiastically with the students around them, exchanging gossip and stories. Meanwhile, Miranda, with nothing else to do, rested her chin on her hand and admired the scenery passing by.

The morning sun cast light over the layered mountain peaks, still wrapped in early winter fog that drifted like a delicate veil around the slopes. Though the sun hadn’t fully risen, its glow hinted at a clear day ahead.

gaze remained on the mountains until, by 11:00 am, the bus arrived at the National Botanical

Miranda’s gaz Gardens.

The garden was divided into four main areas, which were A, B, C, and D. Each section was further divided into smaller plots, with different species of plants cultivated in each.

After meeting at the entrance, the groups headed to check in and drop off their belongings. They had two days and one night to complete the assignment, with the final deadline set for 5:00 pm the following day.

They were required to collect samples of 10 specific plant specimens, accounting for 80% of the final grade. Rare plant specimens, if found, would earn an additional 20 points each.

Essentially, this was a mix of “required” and “optional lasks. Completing the main task would secure a solid grade, while rare finds would be a bonus. In any case, passing the assignment was the main goal.

Once settled in, Miranda, Madison, and Sebastian set off to begin their search.

“Which area should we head to first? Madison asked.

Sebastian glanced at his phone, checking their assigned list of 10 plants. “Half of them are subtropical species.”

“Subtropical… then let’s start with Area D,” Madison suggested.

“Sounds good,” Sebastian replied.

By 1:00 pm, they had combed through Area D and successfully located the assigned specimens. Moving quickly, they then headed to the adjacent Area B and completed that section within an hour. Finally, in Area C, they found the last specimen on their list.

Madison spread her arms wide. “That’s it? We’re done by mid–afternoon! Why did the professor allocate two days and a night for this?” Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

She then pulled out a bag of chips, offering some to her friends. “Want some?”

Sebastian took one chip, remarking. “So, you’re aiming for just 80 points?”

“What’s wrong with 80 points? That’s 20 points above passing!” Madison exclaimed.

Sebastian remained silent at Madison’s remark