Love And Deepspace

Precious Bonfire (Xavier)

"Looks like we're all here. We can hit the road now." I said, after taking a headcount, i'm the last one to climb aboard the vehicle. I slump into my seat, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Just as i finished with work, camping-related tasks immediately headed my way because i was the group leader.

Sighing, i close my eyes. Today won't be a vacation for me. It'll be a trial by fire.

Just then i heard the bus door open and shut. 'Someone's here? But didn't everyone board the bus already? Who could it be....'

Opening my eyes, i see Xavier has suddenly appeared along with two golden, crispy hash browns in the paper bag he's holding.

"Hungry?" He ask as he handed me one. "....yes." i said in tired tone. He lowers his head, uses his teeth to take out a hash brown, and hand me the bag with the other one in it.

The comforting warmth of good jump-starts my mind. I blink my eyes widening in delayed realization.

"Wait? Xavier?! Why are you here? I thought you said that you weren't coming." I said in shock and suprised. "I meant-- i'll be there when i wake up." He said making me confused. "I thought it was just a polite way of saying no. A subtle rejection." I said with a pout.

"If i really didn't want to go, i would've told you directly." Xavier said,

His eyes exhibit pure honesty, but when he looks at me, my gaze becomes filled with surprise.

"Oh no, i forgot to get you camping gear!" I said worried, "it's okay, i can sleep anywhere." He assured me. "We might not have enough food--" i started, "then share a grilled sausage with me." He cut me off.

Xavier removes the headphine around his neck. He then puts them over my ears. "What are you doing?" I ask confused, "let's take care of those bags under your eyes first. Then you can go back to work, Captain." He said while giving me a wink, making me smile.

The soft hum of the white noise flows from the headphone allowed me to relax a bit. I rub my eyes and let my heavy eyelids fall.

"Huh, Xavier?" I heard a colleague said in surprise. "You never show up at any grouo activities. Why'd you come today?" He ask, "oh, i just felt like it." I heard Xavier replied, "you wanna to join us? We're going to the bonfire party tonight." The colleague said,

"Let's talk later." Xavier said in a soft and low voice. He turn to me and saw me sleeping peacefully. "She's sleeping." He said,

Muffled voices are slowly drowned out by the sound of running water. Unknowingly, i slowly sink into a dream.

After a short break, i found myself busy once again the moment we got to the campsite. But i expected it.

"Captain, i'm missing a tent pole." One of my colleague said, "there are spares in the camper van. Just grab a pole with the same serial number as yours." I said to him, he looked at me greatful before walking to the van.

"Captian, i think my electric grill is broken." My other colleague said from the distance. "I'll check it out in a bit." I shouted back as i continued setting up my tent.

"Captian. I'm here to collect the food for our group." Another colleauge said, "why? Someone already collected it?" I ask turning to face him.

After sorting out a myriad of issues for my colleagues, slightly confused, i find myself carrying around a brand-new eletric grill.

"Whose grill is broken...?" I ask, "it's fixed." Out of nowhere, Xavier swoops in, snatches the grill from my arms, and return it to the camper van.

"He just forgot to turn it on." Xavier said, "i think someone else was looking for me...." i said, "nope." He said shaking his head a bit as he wrap his arm around my shoulder guiding me to his campsite.