The next morning, as the clock struck five, I had already prepared breakfast for everyone. I finished it fast, hoping to get the loads of thinking out of my mind; however, whatever distraction I made, I failed badly.
I found myself standing at the kitchen counter after turning the stove off and cleaning up the mess I made while cooking, slowly drifting to the comforting tingles and muffled moans that were sending thrills all over my body from yesterday's unwanted rendezvous with Nick.
"Stop it, Heureu!" I mumbled to myself, almost in a threatening tone. "Brush it off! You only needed to do that to save him!"
The fresh scent of the newly picked spices in the garden filled the vast space of the cabin, from the kitchen connecting to the living area, with a comforting aroma while my body was being wrapped by the warmest of blankets and the warmest cup of strong coffee, walking towards the couch. Every step was too heavy to take. My mind wouldn't let me take advantage of the quietness.
I turned my gaze outside and realized it was still early, but the sun was already starting to show itself out of its hiding place, showering a drizzle of faint lights upon the lines of trees in the forest, enveloped in heavy mist, creating a cozy effect.
My eyes were glued to the beautiful scene outside. But that didn't last long, as my shoulders dropped in despair and I let out a defeating sound that escaped through my mouth while rubbing a hand over my face.
"This is not happening," I mumbled in exasperated breath as my gaze fell back to the floor after realizing that I was trying to smile while looking out at the peaceful scenery.
"What is not happening?" Nick's voice startled me; I almost dropped my coffee.
As the morning breeze rustled through the leaves on the branches overhead, the thumping inside my chest grew louder as I slowly turned around to face the man who had made me sleepless the whole night, even though I had taken two sleeping pills to help me brush off the steaming churn, stirring my whole body after the intense kissing activity I had with him.
"I am starting to like something beautiful," I nervously said, watching him as he sat down across me and reached his hand forward to put my mug onto the table before taking my trembling one into his own.
"Well then, that's a good start," he said, smiling and reaching out his hands to caress my face. His thumbs brushed gently over the corner of my eye, and my cheeks turned slightly red.
"That is not good." I snapped back to my usual snob persona and brushed his hands off my cheek.
"Oh, for a moment, I thought you were starting to be kind. So, after knocking me out yesterday, how did we manage to go home?" Nick asked. My heart sank, though I should be happy that he had no memories of our encounter last night.
"You don't remember?" I asked. My voice had a hint of hope that he could remember.
"Ah, how should I remember when you knock the senses out of me?" He shook his head, looking at me with his mocking eyes.
My eyebrows furrowed, and I felt my hands clench in dismay, but it was for the better. I let out a deep sigh and decided to go back to my cold attitude. Being soft would not do any good.
"Well, I dragged you around the forest after tying your feet with the laces of your shoes." I recovered from my weak state and smirked before walking back to the kitchen.
Nick's face fell into greater shock. "You did what? You are the rudest person I have ever known!"
"What? So, you would have prepared to be left alone? You see, I do not have much patience with going back and forth when I could just rest and leave you there until you wake up and find your way back!"
"Yeah, so much to expect from you! As long as I am alive. I guess that is the reason why I could not move a single muscle when I woke up." He sounded disappointed as he took a sip of my cup of coffee.
I flinched at his actions and was about to grab back the cup from him, but he immediately stopped me. "Don't act as if you cannot make a new one. This is the payment for taking advantage of my situation. Besides, if you worry about sharing our saliva, well, we did more than this, right? Nothing to worry about, since you don't have a boyfriend to. As long as you are my nurse, then you are mine."
Wow! What happened to him? Did he hit his head? He sounded more cocky this time! A less lame version of him was making it hard for me not to linger on the night I had with him.
"Whatever!" I crunched my face and proceeded to make a new coffee, but Cavin interrupted me.
"Good morning, love---" My eyes widened in shock, and my feet sprang towards Cavin, who had just woken up and was already prepared to destroy my day.
"Shut up, Cavin! He doesn't remember!" I hissed, still covering his mouth and dragging him down to the couch.
"Ouch!" Cavin mocked me, his face forming an annoying look that he used to do when he teased me back when we were young. "So, what is the plan now?" He changed the topic as our little scene in front of Nick caused a stir of emotions that we never expected.
"You two are close," Nick interrupted, standing up after grabbing the cup of coffee and walking towards the living room before sinking the couch across Cavin.
I saw Cavin grin before pulling me by my waist, causing me to sit on his lap, and he tried hard to keep me in his grip. "Yes, we do! We grew up together. We lived together, and the other could not survive without the other. It's like we were a package. You wouldn't believe that we had seen everything from each other, and I liked sleeping beside her all the time, naked! I prefer it that way."
I could not believe all Cavin had said! Nick looked a bit disturbed, and I didn't know whether he believed Cavin's explanation or not.
"Shut up, Cavin!" I hit Cavin in the stomach with my elbow, jumping off his lap, before walking back to the kitchen.
Though I wanted to clarify things, I didn't think it would be necessary. After an awkward silence and some awkward glances between us, I finally broke the tension: "I am going back today, so we have some notes to leave while you stay here!"
"NO!" Nick shot up from his seat.
"And why? Do you want to be shot and killed again? May I remind you, that you are a suspect on the run? When you come back surrendering and trying to present your plea, you will be dead in a minute."
"Oh, shut up! What do you know? You are just a nurse!" Nick exclaimed, clenching his fists in anger before releasing them in frustration.
My anger came rushing back to me, and I was well reminded that I had one reason for keeping him alive. Whatever unnecessary happenings were just a few glitches along my way of getting my revenge?
I slammed the knife I was using to cut the bread I was going to dip in my coffee and clutched it tightly, holding my breath. "And what do you know, Nick?" I shouted back. You're an ignorant, stupid, clueless sh*t that I had to keep because I need a job!" I knew this could lead to a fight between us, but I couldn't help but get irritated by his remarks.
"Yes, I am just your job! But that doesn't give you the upper hand to be better with everything! I am coming back with you!"
"No!" I fought back.
"Yes, I will, because I am not sure how safe I am with these people! When even you are not comfortable with your mother who abandoned you your whole life!"
Ok, that was too much! With my emotions raging in me, I rushed to him and grabbed his neck with both hands, pulling him closer and giving him a firm squeeze. His face was contorted by pure agony as I squeezed harder.
"Do not ever cross the line of being my patient!" I growled before my mother came butting in, separating me from him.
When she successfully separated us, she glared at me with a warning in her eyes as she pushed him towards the sofa, telling him to take his breakfast. I stood motionless by the kitchen counter, catching my breath to calm my nerves, unable to tear my eyes away from Nick, who stood by the sofa.
"I studied the law and observed how the justice system was so corrupted that if you would just depend on them for the truth, you would end up being the wrongdoer. I am not asking you to trust me, because not even an ounce of trust I do have in you in return, I am just taking a risk. But you can hold on to my words that if you get a scratch when I get back tonight, I'll avenge twofold for you," I said as my jaws clenched in the refrain. "Now, while I am away, Cavin will be training you. Once I acquire the proof, you have to be prepared because, as I said, justice is not for the truth. We still had to play!"
"Why are you trying so hard to keep me?"
"I need to know more, so try to keep your part of being lame and get stronger. You don't have to know more!" I hissed, and with that said, I took the knife and cut my leg.
I saw Nick fall into terror as blood gushed out of my leg, and the next thing that happened caught him even more off-guard when Cavin happily launched a punch, sending me down to the floor.
"What is...stop!" Nick yelled, but my mother was able to get hold of him when he tried to stop Cavin.
"Relax, it's just part of the plan!" I gasped as Cavin hit me with a piece of wood, knocking my senses out.