Yuxuan (REMASTERED)

Chapter Nine

I followed Yuxuan back into the forest with my things. There was no hope of my suitcase being repaired, so I held it tight to carry everything inside. Going through the stone blockade was nearly the death of me.

The amount of stress I was going through should've put me in my grave. I tugged the case through the cracks, but it wasn't fitting. I looked like a fool, using my foot to push my weight.

Yuxuan stood nearby, watching my failed attempts. I puffed and wiped the sweat that kissed my forehead. It was very hot. This weather wasn't helping me. I wasn't even wearing that much clothes.

The skirt I wore when we washed ashore was completely ripped up to my upper thighs. And the shirt I wore was ripped at the sleeves. I have the leopard to blame for it. My hair was very tangled and all over the place. After getting wet, my curls weren't easy to manage.

I wanted to cry. Nothing was going my way. I had half a mind to jump into a pond and sink. But I knew my parents wouldn't be happy if I didn't fight.

"Ughhhh!" I tried to pull my bag through again with all my strength, but the handle snapped off. I flew back and smacked the ground. That was it. The last straw.

All my tears finally came and I let out the most painful wail. Yuxuan walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder, but I slapped it away. "Leave me!" I sniffled. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't broken my bag! I hate you!" I tossed the broken handle aside and cradled my legs.

I rested my forehead on my knees, giving up. I was too mentally and physically exhausted to continue. I just wanted to have a nice big meal, take a warm bath, and lay on my bed back at home.

But I wasn't home. I was on some godforsaken land with a wild man who was ruining this entire experience for me.

"Alex..."

"Go away! I don't want to hear it." I dismissed his call.

"Alex," Yuxuan cupped my face. It wasn't until I looked up that I noticed he had already pulled my bag out of the crack. My sobs faltered and my lips opened.

"How did y-you...?" My voice cracked.

I couldn't believe he managed to do it. Yuxuan wiped the rest of my tears away. He had done it before, I guess to show comfort. This man was smart enough to understand that I was distressed.

We didn't speak the same language, but he could read my gestures. He had to have learned how to do that by associating with other people. But why was he alone?

Yuxuan pushed my bag closer to me and I took it. We both stood up and continued to wherever he was taking me.

I'll admit, I was a bit embarrassed by my meltdown. It was very childish. But his polite deed had stirred a curiosity within me. I needed to know more about him.

Eventually, we settled by a large body of water surrounded by fruit trees. My stomach growled at the sight. I placed my bag down and reached for a fruit, but Yuxuan stopped me. He grabbed me by my wrist toward another plant full of round plump purple fruits.

He picked two and handed me one.

"Thank you," I murmured and took a bite. The fruit was bitter at first, but it became sweet. The fruits looked very familiar. Plums. They had to have been plums. I hadn't seen these fruits in London before.

"Since you can't understand me, or Thai, I'll have to teach you so we can communicate. You seem like a nice fellow, but I am unsure of your intentions." I opened my bag and pulled out one of my empty notebooks with a pencil.

I had planned on using them to take down as much research on elephants as I possibly could, but right now, my survival was more important. I was depending on Yuxuan to help keep me alive. After all, without him, I probably would've been well-digested in that leopard's tummy.