Chapter 17: Chapter 17
I let go of my undies and was ready to hit my head on the rock and fall into the water, but I felt nothing. When I opened my eyes, I saw Adonis looking at me, and just a little closer to his face, he would kiss me while his hands were wrapped around my waist. My breasts could drench the clothes he was wearing. I immediately broke away from him and jumped into the water so that he could no longer see my naked body. I’m so embarrassed.
“C-could you please?! Tell me if you will suddenly come in!” After I said that, I dived and went to the part where the water was falling. Even though the water was cold, I could feel the redness on my face, as if it was burning with extreme heat. Add to that my stomach with butterflies playing. It was as if they were playing and tickling my stomach as I thought of my chest brushing against Adonis. When I got to the falling water, I sat on a sizeable chunk of rock, and only then did my heartbeat calm down because of the pressure of the water falling on my head. I closed my eyes and sat down as if doing yoga. When I opened one eye, I saw Adonis picking up my clothes while still looking at me. I closed my eyes tightly and pretended not to notice him.
He was saying something, but I could not hear because of the noise of the water. When I finally opened my eyes, he sighed and left. I saw my dress already lying on bamboo. I didn’t notice that there was a bamboo chair there. If he hadn’t put my clothes in that place, I wouldn’t have noticed. When I cooled down, I then swam back. I waited for two minutes before finally getting up and sprinting to the bamboo to get dressed.
When I entered the hut, Adonis was gone again, but I saw our suitcases inside. There was a small dresser and then I put on the few clothes I had brought. While laying he entered with food and water. Two plates and two pairs of spoons and forks. My stomach growled because I had only eaten noodles. He brought with him fried fish, rice and some vegetables. He left the junk food we brought in the car. When I sat down at the table, I asked him.
“Where did they bury my parents?” I took the spoon and fork and cut the pumpkin and quickly chewed before he could speak again. I added that. “Our former servants? Did their relatives take them? Or bury them with them?” But I wonder more about how close Adonis has become to the people here. He is not from here and how did he know where my parents were buried? Why does he seem to be so committed to the people if he was just investigating Cole?
As he spooned the food, I stopped fiddling with the food. Also, I don’t know Adonis ’background information even though we’ve been together for a long time and he’s been helping me. I sat up straight and then let go of the cutlery. He looked at me as I looked at him seriously.
“Is there a problem?” As he spooned, he still couldn’t notice the doubt in my eyes. When he stopped, then he just focused his full attention on me. His forehead furrowed as if annoyed I didn’t answer him right away.
“I’m just wondering ...” My eyes narrowed as if curious about everything that was happening. Somehow, I think he dived too much into the information. Even where my parents are buried, he knows. Does he also know who buried them? “Why do you know so much about me? I mean ... It’s not surprising that you know I live in Guangdong because the Everdeens are well known, but to know where my parents are consigned to the grave is amazing.” I brought my body closer to the table and joked seriously. “Even the media does not know where my parents are buried because the ambulance station does not want to release information about my parents. Did you have anything to do with their deaths?” My voice was still serious that and it was as if I doubted him.
I won’t doubt him because who else will help you after killing your parent? Maybe when they found out where I was, the man who killed my parents would slaughter me either— that was Cole.
He sat up upright. Before he glanced at me again, he clutched his nape. I’m not sure what he was up to, but I noticed he was becoming a little uptight, so I burst out laughing. It was the first time I saw a shift in his attitude. Because of his bodily size and stance, Adonis is the epitome of Alpha. He’s the sort of person who looks like a boss, so it’s surprising what he did. I would have teased him more if I hadn’t become used to his stance. Even though the fact that we were in front of the table, I feigned a cough and then stared at his raised eyebrow, as if he was bored with my scream.
“I was just kidding! You! Doesn’t the word ‘joke’ really exist in your universe?” I wiped the corner of my eyes because there were tears there because of the energy of my laughter. I even sniffed as if I was from crying. He groaned and didn’t pay any attention to me anymore. Even when he was eating and finished, he didn’t talk to me.
After we ate, we went back to where the river falls are. I lowered my feet into the cold water as I sat on the boulder. My shorts were wet. I changed earlier because my previous clothes were a little wet and I might get sick. As he sat, he leaned over me. I didn’t look at him and looked at the clear water seriously. That water was so calm. The water is still nice; it flows and goes on. They are not disturbed and as they flow; they have different places to look at. As I played with my foot, I spoke.
“My dream used to be a teacher, to teach, to educate the children and adults who live here because the government does not cover it because of the distance. The data connection is also poor so no teachers volunteer to teach.” I stopped playing with my feet and then looked at him. “I want to teach them and help them pursue their dreams. I want to teach different professions because I don’t want them to limit the dream they have.” Unconsciously, I leaned my head on his shoulder. “However, because of the tragedy that happened to my family and my life, I don’t know if I can still do that. I don want to underestimate the ability and wisdom of the farmers but isn’t it because that’s what they dreamed of? That’s what they teach their children — as if that’s what they’re destined to be when they grow up.”
I couldn’t move when he suddenly smelled my hair. My eyes widened as my brain processed what he did like a stump. All I thought was that he was a robot who knew nothing to do but press and scroll on his iPad and phone. I didn’t know that he also had this side. Because I didn’t want to be awkward, I didn’t criticize what he did and just listened to what he was saying.
“You can do it while we are here. After we visit your parents, I will ask someone to deliver the materials you will need.” He also put his feet in the water because we only came here barefoot. “You are right. The dream they have should not be limited. They were not born to remain that way.”
To my delight at what he said, I turned to him, but both our eyes widened as we turned at the same time and the lips met.
It was a long time before we realized our lips were brushing together. I pushed him hard, so he fell into the river falls. While I quickly got up and ran to the hut. I left him there and never looked back.