The Assassin's Kryptonite

Runaway

“Stop scratching.”

He gently said as he pulled my leg in front of him. Because of what he did, I lost my balance and slumped on the ground.

He looked shocked as I said a slight ‘aww’. It’s not actually painful, I was just shocked. But I immediately saw the worry in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he exclaimed as he helped me stand up.

I shook the boxers I’m wearing to get rid of the dirt. “It’s okay,” I smiled at him, but he just averted his gaze once again.

“Do you need some help?” I asked, referring to the casavas.

“No,” he shook his head. “Just sit there,” he added.

So, I did what he told me. I watch him dig casava plants after casava plants.

“How are we supposed to carry all of that?” I asked curiously because I’m looking at the amount of cassava that he has already dug and I bet that’s at least five kilos already. And he doesn’t look like he’ll stop anytime soon.

“I’ll carry them,” he answered without looking back at me.

“Yeah, I mean how?” I asked again.

He looked at me and I was expecting an answer from him, but he just pointed something somewhere right where I’m sitting and there, I saw a wooden hamper with a single handle.

“Oh….” I exclaimed as I stood up and walked towards it. It has a lid as well and it looked like a fancy picnic basket with a red towelette inside. I took the hamper and put it beside him. “I’ll collect them,” I exclaimed, not waiting for his reply as I took the cassava pieces and put them inside the hamper.

“Why are we getting so many anyway?” I asked curiously as I continued collecting them while he continued digging. “Won't they go bad?” I asked again when he didn’t answer.

I waited for him to open his mouth but aside from his f*****g breath, nothing came out of it. As expected of course.

After a few minutes, he stopped digging. He helped me put all the cassava on the hamper and then he carried it with one hand.

“Let’s go,” he exclaimed as he led the way.

He brought the big knife with him, and I was about to ask why because I thought he’d leave it there but then he started cutting the tall grass on our way. I smiled while watching him. Well, at least now I won’t have to scratch my skin because of the itchiness.

I thought we were going to go straight to the house, but he stopped in front of the falls, so I did as well.

“What are we going to do here?” I asked curiously. Instead of answering me, he just scanned the whole place with his eyes, so I copied him. Well, I just want to know if some men are watching us again.

“Can you wash these?” he motioned the hamper. Oh, that’s it. Of course, the cassavas need to be washed since they’re under the ground and there’s dirt all over them.

“Sure!” I answered excitedly because finally, I can do something to help.

I started taking the cassavas outside the hamper and placing them on top of one of the big rocks near the stream. I was about to wash them when I saw Trevor walking away.

“Where are you going?” I asked. Well, I didn’t see any of the men I saw before but I still don’t want to be left alone here. I’m scared and even though Trevor clearly told me that he’s one of them, I still trust him with my life.

“I’ll be back,” he answered and then continued walking away to the direction of the mansion.

I can’t help but snigger. “I asked where you’re going,” I was talking to myself like a crazy woman. “Why can’t he just answer my questions?” I added as I continued washing the cassavas.

Maybe because my attention was divided or maybe because I have too much in my mind but while I’m washing a massive piece of the cassava, it slipped my hand and started getting away from me.

“Oh my god!” I couldn't help but shout because the stream was too fast, so I started running after it. Trevor will kill me! This is a simple job that he tasked me with and yet I can’t even do it right!

Ugh! Camille you’re such a noob! All you can do is be a brat!

I tried running after the cassava, but the stream was just too fast that it went out of my sight immediately. I don’t know where the stream ends but as I go farther away from the falls, the rocks get sharper and sharper and steeper as well.

“Why the f**k am I crying over a cassava piece?” I exclaimed as I felt my tears falling down my cheeks. Ugh! Now I’m all wet! What would Trevor tell me now, huh? That I’m useless? Of course, I’m useless! I don’t f*****g know how to do things! It’s because I neve had to do something all my life!

“Aww!” I wailed louder when I felt a painful feeling on my feet. Well, I’m sure I was cut with these stones!

I walked towards where I was sitting a while ago and checked my foot. There’s a long cut just below my biggest toe and it’s bleeding profusely so I dip my left foot on the water so I wouldn’t have to see the blood.

But then when I lifted my foot, the blood continued coming out from the wound that made me sick.

“What the f**k happened to you?!”

Because I was too engrossed with what happened to my foot, I didn’t notice Trevor who just got back from wherever he went. He immediately ducked beside me and checked my foot.

He put pressure in the wound which made it bleed more.

“Ouch!” I squeaked because of the sting. I mean it’s painful but bearable. I just can’t take the amount of blood that’s oozing from the cut.

“Let’s go,” he made a move to carry me, but I immediately stopped him.

“Where are we going?” I was confused because I’m not cleaning the cassavas and I didn’t want to leave them here because what if they’re caught by the streams again? we won’t have anything to eat!

“I need to treat your wound,” he answered briefly.

“Can’t you just treat me here?” I asked pouting.

We stared at each other, and I thought I pissed him off again but then he opened his mouth. “Okay, wait for me here.”

“Of course! Where would you think I would go?” I jokingly replied.

He didn’t answer as he just turned his back on me and walked away. To avoid looking at the gaping wound on my foot, I just continued washing the cassavas just so I could do something worthwhile.

“Will he notice that a large chunk of the cassava is missing?” Well, if he’s going to be mad then I’ll just go into the forest again and dig some. I think I can do that! I tried to talk myself into positive thoughts because I’m feeling the stinging pain on my foot.

After just a few minutes, Trevor came back with the medicine kit in his hand. Well, I remember so many things with the medicine kit. If not for that, I wouldn’t learn the truth. I don’t know if I should be thankful or be mad.

He pulled my foot from the water again as he sat next to me. He submerges his feet on the water so he can put my foot over his legs.

“Will you stop doing that?” he suddenly exclaimed. I was confused at first but then I realized that he might be talking about me continuously washing the cassavas.

“Why?” I was confused. Isn’t it better to multitask? “Did you just roll your eyes at me?” I asked. Well, he didn’t exactly roll his eyes but it’s like he just gave me a side-eye! Is he that irritated?

“How did you get these?” he asked.

Oh no, I don’t have a choice now but to tell him about the running cassava, right? Okay, let’s call it the runaway cassava who pretty much wanted to get me in trouble.

“Well….” I hesitated. Well, he hasn’t been treating me like before! I don’t know if he’ll even take any bullshit from me now!

“The runaway cassava-”

“The what?!” he asked confusedly as he cut me off.

“The cassava…. Who ran away,” I explained further but he still has this confused expression that I really tried hard not to smile or something! I don’t want to offend him more! Ugh, I can’t believe I’m thinking about all these silly things now when just last month, I was the b***h in this household.

“The runaway cassava…?”

“Yes! The cassava ran away from me while washing it,” I tried explaining again. “So, I had to run after it there,” I added as I pointed at the direction where the runaway cassava went.

“And?” he asked again.

“And the rocks there are though! They’re so sharp!” I can’t help but pout as he continued cleaning the wound with a cotton and antiseptic.

“Why did you even think of running after a cassava anyway?” I don’t know if it’s just me, but I thought I heard amusement with the tone of his voice! Or am I delirious now because I feel like I’ve lost a lot of blood already.

“Well…. “I averted his gaze. “I was scared that you might scold me for not doing anything right,” I bowed my head because of shame. I mean I just realized how I’ve been a pain in the ass for him. I literally made him do all the work while I waited for the food to be served in front of me. Come to think of it, I even made him carry me anywhere!

I know I’ve been a big jerk and if he hates me for that and doesn’t believe me when I say that I like him, then I fully understand. Who would like a brat like me who’s ungrateful anyway?

“And that runaway cassava is a big chunk of cassava I tell you!” I added as I looked at him.

My mouth went from putting on a big - o when I heard him chuckling.

“Did you just f**k laugh at me?” I almost wanted to hit myself when there’s excitement laced in my voice! That’s just so flirty Camille!

“I didn’t,” he tried to deny it as his smile vanished but I knew what I saw.