Luke hates this.
Luke hated this bad luck.
No longer in the woods, Luke was now back on the top bunk with all kinds of bandages covering the stitches and leg casts. Indeed, Luke had just returned from the Hospital last night. That too because Luke asked. Being there a bit longer gave me a fright remembering what happened in the old ward. But actually, a week ago, Valley said, Luke was found on the edge of the Maple woods about a mile from the backyard gate. Lay down with a lot of blood and torn wounds on the hands, feet, and hair pulled out. Two girls who were on picket duty at the ranch with me that day, reported that Luke had gone missing chasing piglets that had escaped from the stall stall. Valleyentine Rose also told me that it took three days and about two hundred volunteers to find me.
"That's impossible, Valley," Luke argued. Reject the truth.
"I know you won't believe this, Luke. But you actually disappeared during that time and were unconscious until yesterday. Your grandmother wouldn't even leave the forest until you were found. She camped there crying all the time.”
Luke couldn't say anything. It's unbelievable. How could he have been missing for three days when at the time he had, it was still afternoon. The sun is still shining, the light is still there. The possibility of Luke getting lost in it was only about three or four hours. Or maybe Luke passed out after seeing the fox girl throw the wolves away? If that was true, then how could he not bleed to death? Dizzy. The more you think about it, the more confusing it gets.
“… Na. Luke. Are you okay? Don't daydream like that, it just scares me."
Valley shook Luke's body and he immediately came to his senses and chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Ah no. I was just… erm, just trying to remember.”
“What do you remember? What happened to you in there to make you covered in wounds like this? I know you're probably still traumatized that you refuse to testify before the police. But, you can tell me if you want, pal. I won't reveal it to the others."
" I don't know, Valley."
"If I'm being honest, I believe that what happened to you has something to do with the van being attacked by so-called Maple Woodland tribesmen," Valley said, half whispering.
Their room is empty because this is the time when everyone is going to school. However, Valley said he wanted to accompany her and this conversation ensued. Valleyentine Rose's statement made her tongue itch to reveal it. But, gradually, this is what he asked first. Just want to make sure.
"Yeah, you could say that. But, Valley, I want to ask you one thing. When I disappeared, do you know where Gaelic was at that time?”
"He?" Valley shrugged while shaking his head, “How should I know. To be sure, he joined your search. Almost everyone here is looking for you. Why? What's wrong with Gaelic? Is he the…”
Valley's sentence hung so that Luke felt that there really was something behind it all. Then, he saw Valley's awkward movements. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. Had avoided making eye contact with him before he finally returned to expressing a second statement that was quite surprising.
" Well , actually I've always wanted to tell you about this, Luke. Do you remember that incident in the van the other day and I shut your mouth?”
"Yes."
“Back then, what exactly did you see?”
“I saw a huge wolf come out of the woods and crash into the van. You yourself, what do you see.”
“Yeah, same. I saw it too. But other than that, I actually saw something else too. You won't believe this, Luke—”
“Hurry up. Don't go around like that," he said angrily.
“Okay, sorry. I actually saw that Gaelic was there.”
Luke gaped in a split second. " No way!" he exclaimed spontaneously.
“I really saw it. One of the people who chased after and put on a fur coat was Gaelic. I too was shocked when I saw Gaelic for the first time in the cafeteria when he was breaking up three boys who were fighting, but I was sure that it was him. His massive body is second to none.”
“Ah, you did say that he was quite okay, right?” Luke protested at him.
"Yeah, he's quite okay. I mean, I really love his muscle . I'm not gonna lie about that, it's just that I'm always talking about the Gaelic running after our van. When you asked me about Gaelic the other day, I actually wanted to say this, but I'm afraid you'll spread it to other people and threaten my existence here.”
“Hey~ how can you think like that? Do I look like a girl who would spill other people's secrets?” Luke pursed his lips reflexively. frown.
Valley giggled “Yeah, I was just being on guard. But after that, I started to think again that maybe Gaelic really is a bit… erm, not quite right.”
“Well, that's what I thought too, Valley. But instead you say that I'm just too sensitive. Damn it.”
“Ha ha, sorry… sorry. So, what did you have to do with Gaelic existence when you disappeared in the forest?”
Luke paused. Steady before answering. Then, I said, “Gaelic is there. In that forest. Behind me and had time to attack me—”
" No way !" Now replace Valleyentine Rose who shouted spontaneously. The disbelief he had before.
“Oh, I'm serious, Valley! You see this cut on my cheek? He slapped me with his claws.”
"Scratch…? You mean nails?”
"Not. Scratch. I was pretty sure with my eyes that it was a claw because the hand also swelled up a bit and… oh, my goodness. I almost forgot to say this too. Well , when I asked about Gaelic the first time around, something actually happened too.”
"What's that?"
"He came into this room. He's in our bed."
"What?!" Valley reflexively covered his chest with both hands, his face looking angry.
Luke nodded, giving his statement a strong impression. “He even went up the stairs and stared at me for a long time. Luke was silent for a while and had tried to talk to him, but he only smiled. That's how it is. If you remember it, it gives goosebumps.”
“Ah, damn it! Even though I thought he was quite okay, I didn't expect his behavior to be such a jerk! You pervert! How could he sneak into the girls' room! We have to report it, Luke! Must!"
"I guess it's a bit of a waste."
“ Why ?”
“I said this to Dem once, but he said that kind of thing wasn't too strange since every caretaker has a spare key. After all, he also said, there was a caretaker who often sneaked in to take Sammy out. So, if we report it is also useless. Gaelic might just get a rebuke.”
"But Gaelic can be punished for hurting you, right?" guessed Valley.
Luke shrugged. “Should have, but I have no proof. Besides, actually I still can't believe that I was trapped in the forest for three days.”
they both finally fell silent. Luke didn't know what Valley was thinking for sure. However, he himself recalled everything that happened in the Maple forest. About piglets, about solitude, about Gaelic, about wolves and about fox girls.
“Oh yeah…” Valley's voice broke his mind. He got off the bed and had time to go to his bag before returning to Luke, “… while at the hospital, the only ones allowed to visit you were your grandparents. That's why one of your friends left this letter to me. Here."
A pink envelope was handed to Luke.
Valley said again, “If I'm not mistaken, your friend's name is Rei. The one with cat-like eyes.”
Luke smiled, but immediately his smile faded when Luke realized that there was a memory connected between this letter and the incident in the forest. Because that girl, that fox girl—hope her eyes weren't wrong— she was Rei Suzurao .
***