Chapter 19 Acting Strong vs Acting Soft

"Here, this is the only room we can offer for now. I'm leaving this key to you then," the auntie said and handed the key to Jonathan. She then walked away, going down to a mini-village where her own house stood.

Jonathan and Stefani stared at the only small house up in the center of trees and plants around like it hasn't been touched for the past hundred years. Suddenly, it became windy and the roof that was made of bamboo and hay moved like it would be swept away like a wig from a big muscled bald man. Now Jonathan had to think if there was even a use of the key if the house looked like it didn't even need a force for it to be opened at all. It was a house that looked like the ones people see in TV documentaries in remote areas.

Jonathan shook his head. He needed to stay rational and practical. They needed a roof before it turned dark again. "Come on, let's head in-"

He turned and found Stefani already walking away even if it was obviously not okay for her to do so yet.

"Where are you going?" Jonathan, with his long legs, caught up to Stefani.

"I'm not going in there. I'd rather walk home."

Jonathan sighed, "Stefani, I already told you we can't go yet with your leg still not okay."

Stefani stopped and turned to Jonathan.

"None of these would happen if you didn't follow me you know!"

Great. Now she was trying to put the blame on Jonathan? Just who was the one who couldn't stay put under the tree? Just who was the one who went off, saying she'd be back with food to eat? If only Jonathan could argue back...

Jonathan sighed. If only he was in good shape, he could've done all those tasks and not Stefani. Stefani wasn't trained to be out of the city. She was a rich kid who didn't know anything about how the countryside works. They were practically surrounded by deep forests, high cliffs, small houses that were made in hays, bamboo, and other kinds of plants. Never mind a proper bathroom, even bus stations here were nowhere to be found in the area. The people here do not even use cellular phones. One of the people here mentioned it being a faraway province from the main city. It would take at least six hours to travel from this place to the city. Jonathan didn't know what to do but was sure of one thing for now: he and Stefani needed a place to stay for the night.

"Stefani," Jonathan called the younger.

"I'm going home!" Stefani grumpily exclaimed.

Jonathan frowned, "I told you we can't."

Stefani frowned back, "Why not? We can ride a bus and go straight home. I don't care if we have to walk for three hours to reach the road!" The old woman who offered them a place to stay - a small house made of thin plant walls - mentioned there was actually a road which was a three-hour walk from where they are right now.

"Oh! Why don't you just carry me on your back?" Stefani suddenly said.

Jonathan let out an exasperated sigh, "Stefani, I can't carry you for three hours straight in a muddy place like this." Jonathan knew it would be too dangerous for the both of them if he did so, considering the holes and fallen tree branches and twigs he'd seen along their way moments ago. He couldn't take the risk of Stefani's other leg being hurt, too. Not to mention, Jonathan doesn't know where exactly they were at the moment, it wasn’t like he had a map or anything. It would be too dangerous to even explore when the sun was only about to set, too. Plus, there was little chance a vehicle would be there as soon as they reached the road. It was a province, after all.

"Why not?! You used to carry me on your back when we were kids..." Stefani bit her lip and looked away, pouting. "Nevermind."

Jonathan was busy thinking of ways they could do he didn't hear Stefani clearly.

"Wait, what did you say?"

Stefani didn't answer the older as she started walking towards the house that was about to be blown away by just the wind alone.

"Hey! Stefani," Jonathan caught up again, now a bit annoyed too with the kind of treatment Stefani was giving him.

The truth was, Jonathan wanted to scold the brat. He wanted to be mad, he wanted to shout at her for being reckless. It wasn't even a day that had passed since Stefani was kidnapped due to her trying to escape then this happened. As soon as Jonathan woke up from his sleep, he felt his whole body still feeling heavy and weak. It must've been because of his wounded leg, luckily though they were able to cover it with leaves Jonathan had read about before. Then, Stefani told him she would look for and get some food for them, even after so many times Jonathan had told her not to. In the end, Jonathan forced himself to get up and follow the stubborn brat.

There he saw, with his own two eyes, how Stefani almost fell from a cliff after being startled upon seeing Jonathan. Heavens know how Jonathan’s heart stopped beating from witnessing such a dangerous sight. Luckily, Stefani landed on a steep inclined grassy area and didn't fall on the almost forty feet distance at the bottom of the cliff. Still, though, Jonathan couldn't help but feel his entire body going stiff and some part of him almost died just when his own two eyes saw the scene. Being kidnapped was one thing, but falling down from a cliff due to reckless stubborn behavior was another. Clearly, it scared the shit out of the mature always composed and collected man.