"Drop down, idiot! Dodge it! In any circumstance you are being fired, it's best to stay low! You cannot wait for the bullet to hit you!" I yelled at Nick, targeting him with my airsoft gun while my eyes scanned the surrounding area just in case of any attack as I leaped through the vast forest chasing him.
"I'M NOT AN IDIOT! And I am not waiting for the bullet to hit me; I am running away from it!"
"Ah yeah, you are running with your body at the same trajectory as the bullet was traveling. If you are not an idiot, then what?! A stupid weakling?"
"Stop it or I'll tell my dad to fire you! You know you are too arrogant for a nurse serving her master!"
"Oh gad!~ Don't make me laugh, Daddy's boy!" We had just entered the forest after hours of trying to train Nick, who did nothing but run. "You've been shot before! Now is not the time to be cocky, stupid!"
"I am not stupid!" Nick argued as he tried to catch his breath. "Don't ever let me go out of this nightmare alive, or else I'll cut eighty percent of your salary!" He was out of breath after running all morning.
"Shut up!"
I saw him sprinting in another direction towards the back of the forest, and my mind raced to possible routes to take to be able to launch an ambush attack. After scanning the surroundings, I then took a sharp turn before running fast, and if my calculations were right, I'd be able to get ahead of him.
As I kept running, I could see a clearance ahead and a loud sound of falling water. The area kept getting colder and darker as I approached the edge. The trees were noticeably thicker in that part of the area, like a portal to another world in fantasy movies. The sky could not be seen as I passed through the lines of trees at the entrance of the clearance; only there were birds, a few flowers, and some leaves rustling above me. As the trees started to clear out a bit further into the open space, my heart started beating wildly, and as I felt the cold wind hit my face, goosebumps appeared everywhere on my skin. There was no sound except for the sound of rushing water, which was getting louder and louder by the minute until it became overwhelming.
"I got you now!" I heard Nick attack from behind, and even though I was too lost in great awe of the beautiful waterfall, I slit a huge grin before stepping back, slightly bending backward to avoid the stick he swung to hit me and grabbing it while I stood back straight again, using the same stick to hit him in the head.
"As expected, you are dumber. If you plan a sneak attack, keep your mouth shut!" I yelled at him in between my laughter and began hitting him more, and he was not even able to dodge any attack; all he did was cry and complain like a wimpy child.
"Stop it! Stop it!" I could see him annoyed; a slight change of rage could be felt radiating from him. "You are so full of yourself, why? You feel proud of flirting and using me when you want to while you have a boyfriend?" he was shouting, pointing a finger at me as the last blow I delivered to him made him fall to the forest floor.
I furrowed my forehead from what I heard: "Are you fucking serious? What are you talking about?"
I was starting to feel angry, and I could see him standing up on shaky legs, preparing himself for another attack. "It doesn't matter! I'm leaving!" Nick turned his back and started walking away.
"Brainless shit! How would you even go back? Your life is in danger, and you are too weak to even survive!" I chased after him.
He stopped and mumbled, "So what is it to you if I die? What do you want from me? Huh? My money? Or me? Just tell me!"
"F-king! I badly wanted to kill you, but I can't!" I launched another attack in so much frustration, as I am confused now.
We strangled each other with our hands as we both continued yelling and screaming about things none of us could understand, but all I wanted was for everything to stop and go away because I didn't want to think about it anymore. But it seems we're both too stubborn, and no one was willing to give up first.
Nick's grip got stronger, which surprised me, and before I knew it, he was pushing me so hard towards the waterfall that I could not help but gasp for air.
"THAT'S IT!" I squealed in delight, but he wouldn't flinch, and he was determined to get rid of me.
As my feet dragged against the forest floor, the sound of the dead leaves crunching under my shoes grew louder and louder along with the waterfall, but I did not falter; I didn't let him win. I shifted my hand to his collar, the other hand to his hand, using it to push me before lifting my feet to cling to his waist.
"Time to cool down," I smirked, and down we both fell into the water.
"WOOOH!" I yelled as I gasped out for air after being submerged underwater and laughed hysterically. It was so satisfying, and I was not surprised when Nick quickly pulled me close to him and hugged me tightly, his head buried in my neck. His hot breath hitting my skin made me shiver, and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around his neck. "You asshole, I can't swim!" He coughed out water and struggled against the strong current around him. "I can't die! I can't! My dad has to know I'm innocent!"
I chuckled at his statement, and I lifted myself to look at him directly in the eyes. "Calm down! Calm down! The water is just four feet!"
Nick seemed taken aback as his eyes widened before I pulled him up into a seat, and he looked at me with shock. "The water is four feet."
"Yes, it is!" I grinned at him, and I helped him stand. "Come on. Come up! Let's just cool down!"
"But..." he tried to argue, but I interrupted him.
"Cavin is not my boyfriend. And I am not flirting with you; I only did what I had to whenever you fell into shock, or you would die. So basically, I was saving you."
"Really?" he panted as the water dripped onto his hair and ran down his face. The water droplets traveled to his pointed nose, slowly going to his lips. I found it breathtaking.
"You want to learn to swim?" I tried to change the topic.
"What?" Nick was lost too.
"Let's just forget what we were into or what we were doing; let's just be other people for now—two idiots playing in a waterfall, having a great time." I breathed deeply and tried to calm myself down.
"Wow, you are bipolar!" Nick scoffed, looking up at the sky relaxed, and finally feeling comfortable as he rested his hands on the back of his head, his fingers caressing his wet hair.
My eyes followed his hand and landed on his face again. His cheeks flushed, and I could tell he was happy. I smiled at him softly, and I grabbed one of his hands and kicked one of his legs lightly to make him float on the water.
"What are you doing? I thought."
"Shut up! If you are left with no choice but to save yourself by jumping into the water and you don't know how to swim, try to float. Like this. Calm down, relax your breathing," I explained to him and guided his body to move naturally to the current.
After a couple of seconds, I saw his face light up, and he started laughing loudly, making me chuckle too. "I'm floating! I'm floating!" Nick's voice sounded high-pitched from joy and amazement, and I couldn't help but smile at him. "I'm floating! That feels good!" He was smiling like crazy, but after a few seconds, he stopped and looked at me seriously. "Why did you save me back then?" he asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"Just answer the question already! Why did you save me?! Why didn't you leave?" He asked again, this time sounding worried.
I stared at him for a few seconds and sighed. "I found you weak!"
"Wow!"
"Now it's my turn to ask: what is with Ferine that you kept going to her even if she doesn't want you?" I asked him straightforwardly.
His smile turned sad, but he managed to keep it: "I love her. I loved her for a very long time, but she can't love me back!"
It was a sincere answer, but something in me got hurt for him. "What a shame! People like her were too dumb to appreciate us and to love us back."
I was lost for a moment. I just wanted to be honest for once, as that was the length of time I longed for William.
"You got a story there, so why can't you be loved back?"
"Well, he's older, and I am just his problem."
"What a pity! We are just their problem," Nick exhaled. I could feel his pain for everything that he went through.
"Hey! We are so much more than a problem; you see, we are better; unlike us, they worry about the problem while we create one!" I grinned. "Now get up; let's go back now!"
"Wait, I still want to talk to you!"
"Enough with the talking; I still have to prove your innocence, right?" I winked at him and helped him out of the water.