Chapter 212: Preparing for Battle
For over twenty years, life was a breeze. Ronan, Helen, and Brad had turned me into a total slacker. When stuff hit the fan, all I could do was bawl my eyes out.
If I wanted to get Brad back safe and sound, I had to toughen up and get my act together.
The school sent three teachers and three students. These kids were the big shots on campus, always eager to learn and take charge. Among them was the tall and handsome Adam Price, who had won the university bodybuilding competition three times in a row and even wrote me a letter on the campus forum.
But I had no clue he wrote to me until Mindy saw it and told me. With so many students confessing their feelings every day on the forum, I didn't pay much attention, and the letter got buried under new posts.
Daniel knew too. When he saw Adam in the group for this trip, his hands clenched instantly.
Adam, on the other hand, was super chill, not bothered by Daniel's attitude at all. He sat next to me, all smiles and friendly.
But I was in a foul mood and not up for chit-chat. Plus, I didn't know him well and had no idea what to say, so I just gave him a polite nod.
From Regalia to Silverbrook City, it was at least a four-hour flight. After switching my phone to airplane mode, I put on an eye mask and tried to catch some Z's to gear up for the upcoming battle.
It was midsummer, and the AC was blasting in the enclosed space. I was only wearing a simple short-sleeved T-shirt and capri jeans. Even though I was sleepy, I felt too cold to doze off and ended up hugging my arms.
Just as I was debating whether to get up and grab a jacket from my bag, I felt a sudden warmth around me and a faint scent of oranges.
My body warmed up, and I drifted off with the scent of oranges, not even checking who had so kindly provided the comfort.
I slept like a log until someone next to me nudged my arm, waking me up.
"Half an hour until we land."
I opened my eyes, stretched a bit, and still felt the warmth. I looked around but couldn't find its source. The cold air from the overhead vent was still blowing at the same temperature.
Weird, was it a dream?
No, the scent of oranges was definitely real.
I lifted my arm to sniff it but didn't smell anything. What was going on?
If someone had really covered me with a jacket, I should at least say thanks.
Since I couldn't find the person, I decided to let it go. Nothing was more important than saving Brad.
"What's up?" Adam asked curiously, raising an eyebrow as he noticed me fidgeting.
"Nothing."
Adam turned back, a slight smile on his face.
I quickly looked away. As handsome as Adam was, I already had Brad. No matter how good someone else was, I wouldn't be swayed. Of course, appreciating beauty didn't conflict with my loyalty to Brad.
As we strolled out of the airport, two other teachers from National Capital University in Silverbrook City greeted us and led us to a minibus.
Larry and the others were up front, quietly chatting about the latest situation with the two teachers. I sat not far behind, straining to catch their conversation, but their voices were too low to make out.
This just made me more anxious, wishing I could sprout wings and fly straight to the mountains.
"When stuff happens and we're powerless, the best move is to do our best and leave the rest to fate. Mudslides are nasty, but people do survive them. I heard this disaster isn't too bad, and so far, no casualties reported. Instead of freaking out, think about what you wanna do when we get there or where Brad might be based on what you know about him."
"You know him?" I was puzzled that Adam mentioned Brad so directly.
Who "him" was referring to was obvious.
"Yeah, you two are kinda famous at school."
This confused me even more. I didn't know we were so well-known.
"You're joking, right?"
"I'm not joking."
Really, everyone knew?
I laughed awkwardly.
The minibus stopped in front of a hotel, and we went to our assigned rooms to drop off our luggage. I was itching to head to the mountains right away, but Larry stopped me. He said the situation was still unclear, and we needed guides and a professional team. Plus, Silverbrook City personnel were already on-site, and we could only help from the sidelines.
Larry mentioned that the continuous rain made the rescue super dangerous and tough. Several areas still posed a risk of further collapse. Without proper prep, we wouldn't be allowed to enter the site.
I had no choice but to squash my anxiety and wait in the room for the school's next instructions.
I had never felt so anxious before. My heart felt like it was hanging in mid-air, ready to burst out of my throat and fly to Brad's side.
Maybe the universe knew my anxious heart; an hour later, the rain stopped, and the clouds thinned, hinting at a clear sky.
The gloom in my heart lifted too. Continuous rain could cause secondary collapses and mess up rescue efforts.
With the rain stopped, the rescue would be a lot easier.
After packing my stuff, I lay down to rest. Not long after, Larry sent a message saying to get ready and that we would leave in another thirty minutes.
I quickly changed into sportswear and sneakers, packed essentials like water, my phone, a power bank, and disinfectant wipes in a small backpack, and ran out to find Larry.
Just as I opened the door, the door opposite opened too. Adam, dressed in light camo and carrying a backpack, stepped out. He looked me up and down, then smiled and said, "What a coincidence, let's roll together."
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