Chapter 49 No Hard Feelings

Li and I came back without having any trouble at all. Mona is beyond happy after seeing all the stuff we brought to the car and she started sorting all of it while looking so cheerful, as if nothing apocalyptic is happening in this country.
I helped her organize the things in the back of the car, trying to distract myself from worrying too much about Jayson and Timothy who both are still not coming back from scavenging somewhere in this place.
"I wonder where those two went?" Li asked while loading the tents into the car. He looks satisfied with all the things have taken from the grocery store and the good thing is, it will provide us for almost a month if we'll consume all of it wisely.
"They should be alright, Li. I know Jayson won't let anything happen to them. I just wonder what part of this place they went so I could check on them, though. I'm getting a little worried. I hate when I feel nervous about something. It turns out bad afterwards." I answered Li as I placed the canned goods inside a box where all the preserved ones are being stored. "Do you think I"ll need to go search for them?"
Li looks at me, thinking of what to say but it is obvious that he"s also worried. It made me wonder if he"s worried about Timothy and Jayson though, or he"s worried because I have to leave them both again and look for the two. I smiled at him and patted him on he shoulder, making him know that I won"t leave them two again.
"Thanks, Harriet. I"m sorry if I look so lame and being too anxious but I"m afraid that there would be a time that you all went somewhere else and I am only left to fend for Mona. I am scared I won"t be able to protect her just how you guys are protecting us." He lowered his head, feeling ashamed that he doesn"t have any ability to fight. "I could only fix things and work on gadgets and any kind of machine. I am not trained to be a warrior so I"m really sorry if you think we too are just a burden."
I chuckle at him but I sympathize with his feelings. It must have taken him a lot of courage to admit it to himself, let alone tell it to me. But Li"s a reasonable guy and I admire him for being so brave despite all the things we have been through. I pat him on the shoulder again, holding myself to smile so wide at him because I don"t want him to think I am making fun of this heart to heart talk "It"s alright, buddy. I believe you"re doing your best to protect Mona. The same reason why I am here... well, we"re all here because of my family."
"What are you going to do about Timothy and Jayson though?"
I frowned. Although I know what he means about it, I pretended I didn't know because it"s still an embarrassing topic for me. I can"t tell him me and Jayson had already kissed the night before we arrived at Melvin"s camp. Li has a big mouth sometimes and I think I am not ready yet to tell Timothy that I had already chosen Jayson over him.
I laugh at him a little, "What do you mean? What should I do at any of them?"
Mona poked my shoulder with her shoulder which made me. Her eyes are squinting on me teasingly as if she knows something already. I cannot blow up my facade so I raised both my eyebrows at them and they both sigh.
"We"re just worried what would any of them feel if you"re going to choose. I don"t think Timothy could handle it. You know he"s a very sensitive guy and he"s doing his best to prove to you that he"s worthy enough of your attention." Li explained while making sure the tent won"t fall from where he tied it. "I somehow understand his feelings though. You know, being not as brave and skilled as Jayson. But I could feel you have your eye on Jayson so I think it would be kind if you tell Timothy about it as soon as you can. Just so he won't get hurt too much about it.
I stare at Li. I never thought he cares about Timothy this deeply but I understand what he"s trying to say and he"s right. The thing is, I"m scared and have no idea how to tell him about it. I sigh and look down on the cracked pavement under my shoes. If I"m going to tell Timothy about it, I need perfect timing so at least I could lessen the damage I"ll cause him.
Mona made a sign on me and Li smiled, as he translate it, "She says just follow what your heart is telling you, and everything will be ok,"
I smiled at both of them, "Of course!" I exclaimed. "But before all of that, we have to survive all of this first and get to bunker twenty-eight so we can finally go back to Zone four," I made my voice extra cheerful to change the mood.
Li closed the door of the back of the car and smiled happily, glad that we"re all done arranging things. "I found an induction cooker which I can run on a battery." He said, showing me the stuff and realizing it"s a brilliant idea because that means we don"t have to make fire and worry about the smoke it could make, a dangerous thing that we wouldn"t want to happen because as time passes, more enemies are getting in our way.
"Oh my god, Li! You"re a genius! What do you want to cook for tonight? It should be good or Timothy might complain again," I joked at them and we all laughed in low voices, still wary of making any loud sounds that might attract danger.
But even before Li decide what to make, We heard heavy footsteps coming towards us and we all quickly hid ourselves behind the car.
I exhaled when I saw Li and Jayson"s faces. But there is someone behind them.
A girl.