It has been a few weeks since they finished their camping. Julian was looking over his schedule for the day as he ate his lunch in his classroom. Since his midterm was finally over, he could make time to visit Nerida in the woods. When he was done eating and packing his lunch box into his bag, Aaron appeared before him and sat on the chair of their classmate in front.
"Hey, have you visited Nerida?"
"Not yet. Why do you ask?"
"Well… you see, when I got there yesterday, Nerida wasn't there, so I tried asking the locals. They said that it has been three days since they saw Nerida. It is normal for them, but when I waited until 6 PM, she didn't appear, so I just left. So, I ended up asking you."
Suddenly, Julian felt chills run down his spine. He immediately got his bag and stood up.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"I'm sorry, but I am going to skip class now."
"Why? You never skipped classes!"
"I have a bad feeling. So, I am going now, Aaron."
"Dude, wait!" Aaron tried to reach out to him.
"What?" Julian patiently asked.
"I know of a secret place where you can go out of school undetected."
Julian's eyes sparkled then nodded his head. "Thank you, Aaron. I owe you."
***
Once Julian arrived where Nerida was camping with bated breath, he saw that the place was left unattended. He scanned the area slowly and carefully.
"Huh?"
There was something that crumbled. He remembered that Nerida liked to sit right at the edge of that cliff. So, he went directly below the cliff instead of going up there. When he passed through shrubs, his gaze caught a foot and a pool of blood. He trembled as he speculated that it might be Nerida, so he swallowed his fear and cautiously went over. When he saw a splinter attached on that person's leg and a band tightly tied on its thigh. There, he saw Nerida.
"Nerida!"
Nerida looked at him then carefully put her forefinger over her lips.
"... what happened?" Julian whispered as he approached quietly and sat beside her.
"There were some people that came over with an injured person with them. In fear that they might see me, I immediately hid from my campsite. I was surprised when they threw the injured person off the cliff. He already broke a few of his bones before he was thrown, and I am nursing him to health. If an emergency personnel came and saw that their victim was alive, I don't know what they might do to me or the victim. They were a scary bunch…."
"I understand. How can I help?"
"Can you watch over him for now? I will just pack all my things and we'll take him to one of my friend's cabins. I'm sorry for making you do all these, Julian."
Julian shook his head then said, "It's completely fine for me. Go now, I'll wait for you."
"Thank you," Nerida smiled brightly then left.
Julian looked at the unconscious man sprawled on the grass. If you removed the injuries on his face, he would indeed be quite a handsome man. His body was skinny and flimsy. With his broken bones, he just looked more fragile than he originally was. Julian was afraid that if he tried carrying him to the cabin, the man might scream in agony. He shook his head and watched the man breathe difficulty through his nose and mouth.
"I'm sorry, it took long. Let's go now. Can you carry him? I gave him painkillers, so it'll be fine as long as we don't directly touch his injuries."
"Okay," Julian nodded, then situated his backpack on his chest. Nerida carefully put a few towels on his shoulders.
"Hmm… Julian, can you carefully grab his hands?"
"Okay."
Nerida gently hoisted the man's torso and settled him on Julian's back. She also carefully parted the man's legs for Julian to hold the back of his thighs.
"Then, grab his buttocks."
Julian did those and the man was safely carried on his back. Nerida led the way and they crossed mountains, and finally arrived in front of a suspicious cabin. Julian was heaving as his legs trembled and his teeth clenched. Nerida immediately opened the door and Julian came in with bated breath. Once he was led towards the bedroom, he carefully settled down the man, with the help of Nerida, on the bed.
Julian, with no strength left in him, had collapsed on the floor with a thud. Nerida helped him up as he trusted his body to Nerida. Before he knew it, he was already on the soft sofa in the living room.
"I'm really sorry for that," Nerida said as she washed a cup and filled it with water from her water bottle. She offered it to Julian and he accepted it with a tired smile.
"I'm just glad... that I can… haaah... sleep-- wait, no. Help. Yes, help."
Nerida chuckled as she found Julian's slip up adorable. She combed his sweaty hair with her fingers with a warm look in her eyes.
Julian sighed in content as he relaxed his body and claimed sleep.
***
When Julian opened his eyes, he could see the wooden ceiling of the living room. His body was still aching, but he did his best to stand up. The blanket that wrapped him warmly slipped off of him. He stretched painfully and he could hear his joints crack. Then, the door opened and Nerida came into the cabin with a backpack and bags on both of her arms.
"Good morning, Julian," she gently greeted.
"Good mo--wait! I have school!"
"I'm sorry for looking into your phone, but I already informed your friends and Sir Tray. They say that they will come up with an excuse for your parents. But Sir Tray said that you and Aaron will have to go to the disciplinary room for skipping lessons."
"..."
"The doctor came earlier this morning to check up on Liam, so you can leave now."
"What?! There's no way I am leaving!"
Nerida smiled wryly then settled the bags she brought to the supermarket on the wooden table.
"You have school, right?"
"How about you?"
"...."
"Don't tell me… you're skipping too?"
"Well, some sort, yes."
"So, you're already prepared for the discipline, huh?"
"Hahaha. Yeah, I am. Anyway, I prepared tomato soup. You can have your breakfast now," Nerida said as she settled down groceries after groceries on the table and segregated them.
"You seem… really used to living alone… and taking care of someone."
"Is that so? You're right though. I used to work in an orphanage while being an orphan myself."
"How much were you earning?"
"What? I don't earn anything. Since the orphanage was understaffed, I volunteered to take care of the children while the older children would take care of the orphanage."
"How old were you back then?"
"Hmmm… let's see… I lost my parents when I was five. Lost my guardian when I was six. Orphaned when I was seven. Adopted when I was ten. That sums up my life."
"Adopte--"
"Nerida?!" Someone suddenly shouted from the bedroom.
Nerida and Julian immediately went inside the bedroom and saw a man who was crying in pain as his eyes went around the room.
"Liam, it's okay," Nerida coaxed.
When Liam stopped his gaze at Julian, he trembled.
"Liam, Julian helped you get here. He's not a bad guy, don't worry."
"Re-really?"
"Julian, can you stay outside for now?" Nerida gently asked, and Julian nodded.
He went out of the room with its door opened, just for a precaution in case something might happen. Then, he leaned on the wall that separated the bedroom and the living room. He could hear them talking to each other clearly.
"Where are we?" Liam tentatively asked.
"We are in a cabin far away from where you fell down. Julian carried you here."
"Thank… thank you."
"No problem. I just finished cooking tomato soup, so you can also have your breakfast along with Julian. Since your arms are still injured, let me spoonfeed you. Is that okay?"
"Spo-- what?!" Liam exclaimed as he coughed then groaned in pain. "I think the painkiller wore off…."
"It didn't. Anyway, I'll go scoop up a bowl for you."
Julian was conflicted. Should he let this girl spoonfeed a man, or should he swallow his pride and let himself spoonfeed the man? He gazed at the doorway beside him as Nerida appeared.
"Ah!" Nerida exclaimed in shock. "So, you're just there! You surprised me. Come, I'll scoop you a bowl too."
"Do you have something to do after you fed Liam?"
"I have to arrange the groceries, so there will be space for us."
"I'll feed Liam," Julian resolutely said.
"Pardon?"
"I don't know where to put the groceries, that's all. I am taking one of your tasks for today."
"How about your classes?"
"... one absent day is fine…. I'll be back to school tomorrow."
"Are you really sure about this?" Nerida asked.
"Of course! I can always catch up! I have Reed, Jahleel and Aaron with me. Well… maybe not Aaron…."
Nerida smiled brightly then nodded. "Understood."