Chapter 17
1053 Words
"I'll carry you." Johnny said when he noticed Ems hesitation.
Johnny slowly goes down with the help of Taeyong. He then helped Ems to go down where she is seated. He carried Ems the same way Jaehyun carries Ann.
Lucas goes down with the help of Taeyong, then he mischievously asks Doyoung if wants to be carried. Doyoung just laughed at him then held Lucas' hands as he jumped carefully off the tree.
After gathering all the fruits they picked, they decided to go back to the river to get water supply. Lucas and Taeyong carry the fruits they collected.
When they reached the river..
"I think you can put me down now." Ann said to Jaehyun.
"You sure?" He asked.
"Yeah. I should be fine." She said,
Jaehyun put her feet down first.
"Thanks," Ann said.
She felt relieved that she is no longer that close to Jaehyun. Her heart beats frantically while holding on to him. She can't even tell if its his heart beat she is hearing or if it's hers.
Johnny also puts down Ems as she requested.
But on the other side..
"Yah! Yah! Yah! Stop it!" Jeno is still pleading with Jaemin to stop tapping him.
Jaemin is playfully acting like he is riding a horse as he piggy back on Jeno.
"Jaemin-ah..." Doyoung said to reprimand him.
"Sorry, Hyung." He said then he mounted off Jeno's back.
They collected some taro leaves to make water bags and filled it with water from the river. After collecting water they all headed back to their base.
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"Didn't you hear their screams?" Haechan said as he argued with Mark.
They also heard the screams earlier but Mark decided to stay where they were. He decided to wait some more time for the other to return, instead of going after them right away.
"What if they don't return?" Haechan added.
"As I said we'll just wait for a little more before we go after them." Mark reiterated.
He knows that going after them without knowing anything about what's happening will just put everyone at risk. He is silently praying that anyone from the group will return to give an update if anything bad happens.
" But, Hyung.. " Haechan is still pleading with Mark.
"Just listen to me okay?" Mark said with a serious look on his face. He wants Haechan to trust him.
"Okay! I'll wait for now. But if the sun is about to set and they are still not here, we'll go after them."
"Okay" Mark agreed.
They patiently waited for the others to come back...
A few hours later..
Jaehyun and Ann come out of the forest followed by everyone.
The two men welcome the newcomers happily.
"What happened to you guys? What were those screams?" Mark said.
Ann and Jaehyun looked at each other and tried hard not to laugh.
Haechan and Mark both scratch their heads and feel left out and confused due to the reaction of the two.
Then Johnny explained what happened in the forest.
Haechan and Mark couldn't help but laugh as well, especially on how Johnny narrated the story.
"See.. I told you.. It's best that we did not go after them." Mark said in between laughs.
Haechan just nodded while still laughing.
"How about you guys. Did you see anyone or is there any sign of a rescuer?" Taeyong asked.
Haechan and Mark both stopped laughing. They both gently shake their head in response to Taeyong's question.
"They'll come eventually." Lucas said.
"Let's enjoy the fruits that we have collected." Doyoung said.
"Wow!!! You brought a lot!!" the two exclaimed.
Once again they are all gathered in their little space. Enjoying the fruits they collected.
Jaehyun and Ann are sitting side by side.
"I didn't know that wild papayas would taste this good." He exclaimed while munching on it.
"You should try the mangoes. These are really good." Ann responded.
After the bountiful lunch and cleaning their space they just all sit there and stare at the ocean.
Jaemin is secretly observing Jaehyun and Ann.
He's sitting behind the two. Earlier he felt a little jealous when Ann ran to Jaehyun and the latter carried her.
He's still unsure about his feelings towards Ann. It somehow makes him feel uneasy. He then felt someone's arm around his shoulder.
When checking whose arm is it.. It was Jeno!!
He's smiling at him. He felt comfort upon seeing his friend and knowing that he understood him without having to explain anything.
An hour passed when they noticed a group of dark clouds forming in the horizon.
"Hyung.." Jaehyun said to Taeyong.
"What should we do now?" Haechan asked.
Taeyong just stood up and looked at it. Just by looking at the upcoming dark clouds he knows that it's going to be a strong one. Even the waves are starting to get bigger and nearer to where they are.
"Should we stay here, Hyung?" Jaehyun asked.
"Let us look for a different place to stay." Doyoung said.
They all stood up and gathered their remaining supply and started to head inside the forest. They need to go somewhere higher and away from the huge waves.
Taeyong decided to head to the cliff. There are huge trees there to protect them and it will be high enough to keep them away from the ocean.
They are now climbing onto the slope when the rain starts to pour.
"Be careful guys. The path will be slippery." Taeyong shouted to everyone on his back as he led them up the cliff.
Jaehyun stayed beside Ann l as they all moved up to the cliff. He even held her on her right arm as they climbed up. The two of them are at the end of the trail.
Ems stayed beside Johnny as he helped her. The two walk in front of them.
They are already in the middle on the way to the top when a lightning and thunder strike.
It made Ann sit and shiver in fear.
Jaehyun comforted her. He hugged her and patted her on the back.
Johnny and Ems looked back, but Jaehyun just gave them a signal to continue walking.
"We'll follow, Hyung." He said.
The others continue to walk, not knowing that Jaehyun and Ann were left behind.
- Writer
