The Test of Courage

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"WHEN YOU'RE INSIDE, be sure to stick close to each other. In the case whereby you're split from your partner and unable to find the next checkpoint, send up this flare and stay put. We'll come and get you," the teacher instructed. He handed us a flare each, quickly moving on to check the next on his list. "Don't dilly-dally, but also don't run or rush. You might trip and end up injured, or even worse, dead. There are cliffs and random drops here and you might plummet to your death if you veer off-course. Be careful."

Both of us nodded, lips pursed. I took a quick glance at the woods, nibbling on my bottom lip at the same time.

"Take care of each other. Now off you go."

Just like that, we were sent off into the dark.

There weren't lights provided so we improvised, using the torchlight from our phones to help us find our way. The map was in Xavier's hands, long fingers curled around the paper as he confidently led us through one checkpoint to another. He only had a small sling-bag across his body, just enough to hold his handphone, a small lighter, and his emergency flare.

The night around us was a dark veil. No moonlight could squeeze its way through the thick canopy above our heads. Every few seconds, an owl's hoot would echo through the trees from the skies above our heads. The only thing in my mind was how this was the perfect scene for a horror movie. The sheer idea of dying in a cold and dark forest with my corpse left as breakfast for the beasts sent shivers down my spine.

"Aiko?"

I spun my head around to look at Xavier, running my hands up and down my arms to rub the cold away from my skin.

"W-what?"

"Are you scared?" He had a single eyebrow quirked up but there was no laughter on his face. Instead, Xavier looked genuinely curious.

"N-no! Of course not. W-why would I b-be scared? What is t-there to be scared of?" My denial was a little over the top, filled with flinging hands and insincere laughter.

I tried my best to wave the idea off but Xavier only got curiouser and curiouser.

"You're a horrible liar, Aiko," he said pointedly.

"I'm actually a great liar! It's just... sometimes somethings can't be hidden." I stuck out my tongue childishly at Xavier, sticking my nose high into the sky.

Xavier shrugged. "If it helps you to sleep at night."

Our conversation died there, returning us into the eerie silence of the night. While the world around us held no words to spare, it offered the hum of crickets and the rustle of leaves. At first, I thought it was the only sound I would have to deal with for the night but I was soon proven wrong.

A crackle hit the heavens, splitting the skies with a deafening roar of thunder. Even through the thick gathering of the tree leaves above our heads, I could make out the distinct silver of lightning.

I smelled the rain before the first drop even hit my face. The salty breeze of summer's first dew carried no hints of floral delights with it. Instead, it brought along whiffs of the sea, dragging the ocean's breeze along with it to rain over our heads.

The raindrops hit the top of my head once, then twice, then it became a constant light drizzle. The rain and the wind moved the woods around, falling in a melody that went sha-la-la.

Xavier stopped in his tracks, forcing me to turn back. What I saw was him with a hand outstretched, his palm facing the skies as he looked up. A single raindrop landed on both the center of his palm and on his right cheek at the same time.

"It's raining," he stated the obvious. "What bad luck."

"Unfortunate of us indeed," I agreed. "Harr must already be out of the forest by now. He was the first pair, after all."

"Yes, but it might already be Jules's turn," Xavier theorized. Then, his voice dropped a little softer, a quiet murmur to himself that I happened to overhear. "I wonder if she brought an umbrella or raincoat with her."

I grimaced at the thought of Jules walking about in the rain and in the dark with someone she wasn't very close with. Hopefully, the teachers would have some sense to cancel the rest of the pairs' walks until the rain stopped. It would be too dangerous to walk around in the rain.

As the seconds flew by us, the rain only grew. In no time, it was a heavy downpour, scattering past the leaves and leaving us soaked from head to toe. My shirt clung stubbornly onto my skin, sticking onto every crevice of my body uncomfortably. Water seeped into my shoes, eliciting a squelch from it whenever I moved my feet the slightest.

I grimaced at the sound and sensation, skin crawling in disgust.

"We better get going." I tightened my grip on my backpack, clasping the straps hard. Thankfully, the bag I carried was small and waterproof. "The faster we make it back to camp the better. We've already passed the halfway point so going back would be a longer trip for us. We should move forward."

Without looking properly, I took a step behind only for the soil beneath my feet to crumble. The mud had softened with the rain, offering no support. This led my foot to sink into the soil, bending at an awkward angle as my balance went off. I was sent tumbling towards the ground before I could even scream, hands flailing wildly in the air.

My voice was stuck in my throat, eyes widened in panic until my hands hit the soft and cool mud. Palms flattened against the ground, a few splatters flew onto my clothing and face, dyeing me in a layer of dirt.

"Aiko!" Xavier's large hand grasped my upper arm a second too late. He hadn't been able to stop me from falling but he didn't seem to be letting go. Instead, he dropped down to his knees, hand still pressed against my skin. "Are you alright?"

Heart still thundering wildly against my chest, I could barely even manage a nod.

"Yeah," I breathlessly said. "Just a little shocked."

"Come on, let's get you back up on your feet."

Xavier's other hand reached for my other arm, carefully pulling me back up. However, once I stood to my full height and weight was applied onto my right ankle, a sharp searing pain shot through my nerves. I grimaced, hissing in pain as I crumbled back down only to fall into Xavier's awaiting arms.

"Woah!" His grip on me tightened, holding me up so that I wouldn't slam back down into the mud. "Careful."

My palms were pressed against Xavier's firm chest, fingers instinctively gripping on the fabric of his shirt in fear of falling to the ground. It was only after he spoke had I looked up and realized how close we were. Our bodies were rammed against each other so closely that I could feel his body heat radiating off of him. When he breathed, I could feel his warm breath fan over my skin. His eyes were blue this time, glowing like droplets of water glittering under sunlight. There were flecks of white in the blue print, matching icicles after a night of rain in winter.

Yes, Xavier Park's eyes were always cold from before we struck a deal. However, right now, there was so much warmth in his expression. Even though his true eye color was hidden behind a thin layer of unnatural color, the eyes were still windows to one's soul. Every emotion was reflected in them. All I could see was a moment of worry and I felt my heart skip a beat.

Just a beat.

"You must've twisted your ankle," Xavier murmured his thoughts aloud, eyeing my right foot. "You wouldn't be able to walk in this state."

Gently, Xavier's grip on me loosened. He was careful not to release me all too quickly, most likely afraid that I would just collapse to the ground. When he was sure that I could stand well enough on my left leg, he dropped to a crouch in front of me.

"Get on," he said.

"What?"

He turned back, his face not showing much emotion. Xavier's expression didn't lean too far on either side, both positive and negative. It remained neutral. Since he was no longer up close, I couldn't read Xavier's expression as well as before.

"Get on. I'll carry you back. If we stay any longer in this rain you'll get sick. And there's no way you'll be able to make it back to camp with your foot like that."

"Are you sure?" I asked, wrinkling my nose. "I'm not very light."

"And I'm not very weak. Get on. I'm not repeating myself again."

The rain wasn't getting any lighter nor was the night young any longer. Biting my lip, I hobbled over to Xavier, pressing my hands on his shoulders before I leaned towards his back. Once he felt my weight against his back, Xavier moved, hands hooking my legs under my thighs near the back of my knees. Squealing a little, I wrapped my arms around his neck, forcing myself as closely as possible against him.

"You okay back there?" he asked, turning his head a little. He adjusted his grip on my legs, making sure that I wouldn't suddenly fall off.

"As long as you don't drop me," I replied.

Xavier lightly scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. Slowly, he began to walk before picking up his pace. He was much more careful than before, cautiously checking the ground before each step as well as our surroundings. Every once in a while, he would push me up a little if he felt as though I was sliding off.

We moved through the rest of the route in silence, accompanied only by the music the rain provided. Somewhere through the walk, the heavy downpour slowed down into a light drizzle. The dark clouds above our heads broke apart along with the canopy of trees. The leaves made way for the silver moonlight to shine through, drenching us in a gleaming silver bath.

The road also seemed a little smoother, no longer filled with random pebbles and loose soil. Yet, we were far from camp. Man-made light couldn't be seen anywhere near where we were.

I rested my head against Xavier's head languidly, catching a strong whiff of his fragrant shampoo. It reminded me of spring, a symphony of flowers that danced in the breeze. It was so light and feminine, unlike what I had pictured guys would typically use for their hair. The thought made me chuckle softly.

"What's so funny?" Xavier's voice was a little husky, his words leaving his lips in questioning curiosity.

I shook my head even though he couldn't see it. Yet, with how my hair was falling against his bare neck, he could probably guess my movement.

"Nothing. Just that your shampoo smells really good. I didn't think you would use such a feminine scent." Closing my eyes, I left the smile on my face, making no movement to remove it anytime soon.

Xavier shrugged, his shoulders raising just a little before dropping.

"I don't care as long as it doesn't smell like shit and it protects my hair dye. Plus, it keeps my hair smooth. It's my hair so why should I care about what other people think?"

Raising a hand to Xavier's head, I smoothed down his wet locks, patting it twice patronizingly.

"Yes, yes. No need to get all defensive. I was just commenting offhandedly." My hand dropped back down, grasping onto my other forearm. "You know, Jules uses the same brand of shampoo. That was almost exactly what she said when I asked about it last time."

When Xavier stayed silent for a second too long, I cracked open my eyes. From where my face was positioned, I could see the side of Xavier's face if I craned my neck. There was an undeniable smile on his face, the corners of his lips tugged upwards just enough to show a sign of delight.

He looked painfully ethereal under the moonlight.

There it was again, the look of satisfaction and irrefutable joy at just knowing that he had something in common with Jules. There was purity in Xavier's smile, giving it a radiant glow I never knew possible before this entire shenanigan happened. It mirrored the moonlight but had the heat of the summer sun. It created a strong burn within my chest, one that erased my prior smile and replaced it with a frown.

I never liked unknown feelings and recently, there seemed to be a little too much of such things.

Our walk of tranquil silence dissipated once camp came back into view. Torches were lit and waved around, teachers and students alike scuttling about in search of people. It seemed as though we were the last ones to return to camp and they had everyone out looking for us.

"There! I see them there!"

The first voice I heard belonged to Jules. Her scream pierced through the night and in a flurry of arms and legs, she came running over within seconds. Harr followed behind her soon after, worry painting his features in excess.

"Oh my gosh," Jules gasped, her pupils focused on my ankle. It had grown red since the fall and was now throbbing numbly. I could barely even feel anything in my right foot. "What happened to you?"

"I fell." Shrugging, I curled a hand around Harr's neck when he came around to take me off of Xavier's back.

The latter handed me over to Harr carefully, making sure not to let go until Harr had his arms wound tightly around my back and under my knees. I inwardly cringed at how I was handed over from person to person like a sack of potatoes, particularly despising how I was so useless and unable to take care of myself.

When Jules heard my words, her face darkened. A glare was shot towards Xavier, her eyes filled with poisonous hatred. The look she offered Xavier was filled with accusation and a thought brewed within my chest.

Did Jules think that Xavier was the reason why I fell?

Without another word, Jules left with a harrumph, beckoning Harr to follow as she marched back to the dorms. Harr moved like a soldier, following obediently behind her. He must've also sensed Jules's mood was a little off, deciding that it was best for him to stay silent in such a situation.

Since Harr carried me in a bridal style, I had to look over his shoulder in order to see what happened behind his back. There, in the light drizzle of summer's rain, Xavier stood. His hair was a mess, sloppily swept to a side as water trickled down his arms and face. While he looked in our general direction, the look of disquietude hung on him was definitely not for me.

Without a doubt, it was for the girl that stormed away without as much as a word of concern for him. I bet I knew what was running through Xavier's mind at that instant. My heart soured at the thought, crumbling for him and his piteous state.

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