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With eyebrows furrowed in concentration, Avery tried to carefully chop the spring onions in front of her.
"Ow!"
She immediately retracted her finger as she felt a sharp pain when the knife made a small cut on her smooth skin.
She turned on the sink's faucet and placed her injured finger under it, letting the cold water flow freely as it washes away the blood.
"Let me see it."
Looking beside her, Pierre gently grasped her wrist.
"It doesn't seem to be deep," the lad turned off the faucet and gently pulled the youngest towards the high chairs by the countertop.
After Avery sat on one of the chairs, Pierre quickly applied a dressing over her injured finger. He was gentle all throughout the process, afraid that he would hurt her even more.
Avery couldn't help but smile, "Thanks, Pierre."
Pierre smiled back at her, "You have to be careful next time, Avi. Okay?"
Avery pouted while nodding.
"So, what were you making?" He asked as he made his way back towards the kitchen stove.
"Chicken porridge."
The boy only hummed and proceeded to chop the spring onions that Avery had failed to do. The youngest didn't bother to help the boy as he was really good with cooking.
She only stayed seated and silently observed her friend with a small smile playing on her lips.
After a while, Pierre was finally done making the porridge. It looked so good and was very aromatic.
He carefully placed a good amount of serving in a small casserole pot, "It's for Kali, right?"
Avery nodded, "Yeah. Her last meal was probably from last night so..."
Pierre helped Avery in bringing the newly cooked food to Kali's room.
When they entered her room, Kali was sleeping. But it seemed as if it wasn't such a peaceful sleep.
From the looks of it, she was having a nightmare as her head was turning every now and then. Beads of sweats were also forming on her forehead as her eyes were tightly shut.
"No... please... don't leave..."
The two could hear her mumbling nonsensical words yet they seemed to understand what it meant.
Pierre and Avery couldn't help but look at each other then back to Kali.
"It's a good thing that we stayed behind," Avery commented after seeing the eldest girl. Pierre only nodded as he went to her bedside table to place the food they had prepared.
"Cha... nd..."
The sudden mention of the eldest' name caused Pierre to halt in his movements. It was a low mumble but he heard it as clear as day.
He took a glance at the girl and saw how pained she looked in her sleep.
A sudden flash of guilt bloomed inside his chest for easily believing that the girl could actually do what the eldest had told them.
He didn't even try to hear her first before assuming the worst. Why is it that he only realized this now?
Feeling a tap on his back, he straightened up and faced Avery.
"I'll take it up from here. Thanks for bringing the food," Avery smiled kindly at him.
Pierre only gave a nod and a stiff smile to his friend before leaving the room with a guilty conscience.
