n

n

nAdrian held Cassidy tightly, savoring every remaining second he had with her.

nOnce the rain lets up, this dream will be over. He will no longer be able to embrace her like this. And after their divorce, he can't call her as his anymore. His heart will continue to yearn for her, but he can't pursue her starting from that point on.

nThis way, Cassidy will be more than free to look for her happiness - one that may be in the form of a different man.

n'And I'll be spending the rest of my days in sadness and despair. What a well-deserved punishment for an asshole.'

nAdrian is silently sitting on the floor while leaning against the wall near the window. All the while, Cassidy is nestling comfortably in his arms, still deep in her slumber. She fell asleep after that intense session they had earlier. He did want to go further than that, but he restrained and told himself not to be too greedy.

nBeing with her like this is enough - he'll just make sure he'll remember everything about this moment.

n

"Adrian...

" Cassidy called all of the sudden, talking in her sleep.

n

"You're a good man.

"

nAdrian was a little nonplussed to hear this. But it did make him smile. He's glad that it's how she sees him. At least, he's able to leave such a last impression on her.

n

"Please, don't be too hard on yourself.

"

nWhen she added that out of nowhere, he stilled for a second.

nNot being hard on himself will be hard to do, though he does appreciate the concern. Without her, he doesn't how he'll be himself again. He could smile because of those who stayed by his side, but he'd still not be the same as he was when he's with her.

n

"You shouldn't worry about me anymore, Cassidy...

" he said and leaned down to kiss her on her forehead, making her sigh in bliss from the warmth and softness of his lips.

n

"You'd already done that all your life. I'll just learn to take care of myself from now on.

"

n---

n

"Cassidy! Adrian! Where in the world are you two?! Answer me!

"

n

"M-Ma'am Irish, calm down! Don't do something so dangerous! You might fall!

"

n

"Shut up! What if they're lost out there?! Starving?! Freezing?! Hurting?!

"

n

"I'm sure they'll be fine, Ma'am Irish-

"

n

"How'd you know?! Were you with them?! Huh?!

"

nAt the moment, Irish is arguing with one of the pilots maneuvering their family's private helicopter.

nShe called for backup as soon as she heard the news that Adrian and Cassidy had gone missing in the woods. They did decide to wait for the downpour to come to an end before they begin their search, but it ended up pouring on and on until midnight. She could no longer bear another hour past that time, which was why she set out the instant it let up a little.

nNow, Irish almost has her whole head out of the helicopter - repeatedly shouting their names into the night using a megaphone she got from who knew where.

n

"You crazy woman...

" Asher muttered from behind her, having joined the search party as well.

n

"Can't you calm down for once? You're like some mountain beast who kept howling out loud in the middle of the evening. The students back at the campsite are most probably terrified of you now.

"

n

"Don't butt in, you freeloader! At least, I'm doing something unlike you...!

" Irish retaliated without so much as glancing at him.

n

"Besides, you're just freeriding on our chopper! If you weren't Cassidy's friend, I would've left you down there treading a much harder path! You'd be wet and dirty! So, you've got no right to complain!

"

n

"Right, right... Still can't believe you'll actually call for a freaking helicopter, though. A good thing, nevertheless. Even if I search down there, I might not be able to find them because of the rain.

"

n

"Then, be grateful to me, dumbass!

"

n

"Oh, I thought you're doing this for Cassidy?

"

n

"What? Can't you do something as small as thanking me? Spineless.

"

n

"But being grateful to you is such a big thing - in a really bad way, that is.

"

nShe just decided to ignore him this time and went back to calling for Cassidy and Adrian. Talking with this kind of man will only be a waste of her time and energy, anyway. And they've got a much more important matter to attend to.

nWith that, her loud screams continue to pierce through the night.

n

"Cassidy...!!! Adrian...!!!

"

n

"Ughhh... Damn woman blasting my eardrums!

"

nUnbeknownst to them, the people they've been looking for turned out to be the ones who found them instead.

nWith how loud their conversation was, the megaphone ended up absorbing everything and throwing them all out there. Because of that, the two got to hear their childish banter and nonsensical exchange. They stood there outside of the cabin and stared at the helicopter roaming around up in the sky.

nWhile Cassidy only makes a flat and unamused expression at how Asher is acting like a kid again, Adrian can't help but cast down his look in shame of having a sibling like Irish.

nBoth of them are back in their clothes, having only woken up after hearing all the shoutings. If those two weren't arguing every five seconds, they would've already shouted back and called for their attention. Right now, though, they can only stand around in silence.

nThat's until Adrian started to talk to Cassidy.

n

"Cassidy, may I ask for a favor...?

" he questioned without looking at her.

n

"Can we not bring up what we agreed on tonight once we return? About the divorce, I mean. I don't wanna worry the kids.

"

n

"You want to see through this outing?

" she questioned back, somewhat caught off guard.

n

"I do. I mean, the main reason you came was the boys, right? Let's continue the trip for them. I also hope that you'll also continue to hang out with them even after this.

"

n

"I've already promised myself that I would. I wouldn't leave them without telling anything again.

"

n

"That's good to know.

"

nRight then, Adrian finally turns to look at Cassidy and smiles his sincere smile, unknowingly making the same pain she felt earlier well up within her once more.

n