“Let me clarify this, it’s my food. You and your so-called bros have stolen the wooden card from me!”

Rene hesitated for a few seconds, and held that last bun tight in his hand. “Fine, it is your card then, but I won’t give you the last bun anyways!”

“If I really wanted it, you won’t even get a single bite.”

Rene was chewing on his bread bit by bit. While we were sitting here looking at the flickering bonfires far away, I realized something really important all of a sudden.

“Wait, did you just say cards?! Like more than one card?!”

Rene nodded.

I almost fainted in front of him, just because of how excited I was. If I had more than one card, what else would I be afraid of? I would certainly bite my teeth and pull this through no problem!

“What is the point of having these cards? Like I said, they won’t last long anyways. My left foot is completely gone, how in the world should I survive after I have used up all the cards?” He pouted.

“Where are they!?” My eyes sparkled with eagerness, and acted like a crazy lady.

Rene was alerted, and stared at me with coldness.

“Why would I tell you? Don’t you think about stealing them from me. I don’t even have them here either, because I am not stupid like you.”

I smirked at the kid. “Steal? Hey, never look down on someone like that, not everyone is like you guys.”

“Of course, that’s because you are dumb.”

“If you think someone who helps you is a dumb person, then why do you accept the help? Does that mean you are even dumber?”

Why was I here to argue with a kid?

He seemed confused, then continued chewing and looked toward a different direction. I must have annoyed him a lot, but who cared, he annoyed me even more.

I took a deep breath and stared into the night sky, finally feeling alive and comfortable again after just one little meal. I won’t give up easily. Every time I thought of Grandpa Jin and Grandma Sha, my heart would ache indescribably. I must become stronger to fight for the justice they deserve. I must find those pearl hunters to avenge the villagers’ deaths! These thoughts would keep me going no matter what!

“Kiddo, your leg won’t heal up for quite some time, and there is no way for you to go get food. The cards are no more than trash unless we use them to exchange for food. It doesn’t look like you have anyone to trust on either, so I am the only one here to bet on. Here is the deal, if you share a bun with me everyday, then I will care for you until recovery. Otherwise I will let you be, but don’t expect me to continue to help without rewards.”

He was chewing silently.

What was the hesitation for? It wasn’t like he had any choice, this place was too harsh for anyone to survive alone, especially for a little kid like him.

“If we don’t stick together against the odds, there is no way to make it through alone.” I said.

“Together?” He seemed uncertain.

I smiled, “Yes, together.”

He thought for a brief moment, finally replied, “Deal!”

“Cool,” I said, “so how many cards do you have?”

Rene stuck out two of his fingers to make a “yeah.”

“Jeez, just two cards, then why make such a hassle about it?” I almost rolled my eyes backward.

“Idiot, it’s twenty!”

“If you call me an idiot one more time, the deal will be terminated immediately.”

Wait, did he just say twenty!?

My lord, twenty days free of starvation! Luck has finally found its way to me! Although I knew all these cards came from the suppression of others, I needed them to survive and this was the only option now.

“That is great! I can’t believe you are so sly to hide that many cards.”

“Why are you so happy about only twenty cards? For most, they would grant us another twenty days of food? What about afterwards, just starve to death?”

I came close to the kiddo, and held out a hand to rub his silver hair. He flinched at my touch, like he wasn’t used to any kindness before.

“What are you doing to me!” He squeaked like a chipmunk.

I laughed and gave a few hard rubs on his hair with my palm. He was left dumbfounded, blinking his brown eyes.

“We won’t starve to death twenty days later, because I would crack rocks everyday. My skills will improve, so making a living won’t be a problem. Don’t worry, alright! Just sleep well and eat well, hurry and get better so you can help out too!”

His little face flushed with redness, “I am not worried okay! I don’t give a damn what happens tomorrow!”

“Oh, what a brave little boy you are, not even scared of death. Then maybe you should just give me all the cards and give up now!”

“Don’t you dare me!”

“Yes, I sure dare you.”

Rene bit his lips, “Fine, I won’t argue with a girl like you.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle more, then stood up.

“Hey, where are you going!” He yelled with a fearful face, as if afraid to be abandoned again.

No matter how strong and tough he pretended, he was still a little kid who was afraid of being left alone in the dark. He must be feeling quite lonely right now. Before the mine collapse disaster, he had a group of “bros” to hang out with. Although all they ever did was to bully the weak ones and cause lots of trouble, it was still a sense of belonging. Now all his “bros” betrayed him, he was left alone to die just because of the disability.

I was actually surprised how fast Rene accepted the reality, considering his age. Perhaps he had witnessed similar things happen in the Underground, therefore was able to accept his own fate so quickly.

“Aren’t you thirsty after eating all that bread? I will be right back shortly.” I smile lightly.

The fear on Rene’s face disappeared, and was replaced with a sense of reassurance. Then he was a bit hesitant or embarrassed for showing his real emotions earlier, especially right in front of a weak girl like me, so he turned his face away.

“You have something to say?” I tried hard holding my smile back, because now he was just a normal kid.

The shadows of the boulders were casted onto his small body, but his pale face still glowed in the dark. He sure lost a lot of blood, and looked quite sickly. Right at that moment, I didn’t know why, but all my complaints and resentments of what he had done before were gone. Oh, I really hate myself sometimes, but what can I do?

Even though I did not have a younger sibling, I had a few cousins who were like little brothers to me. They were spoiled, mischievous, not much better than Rene. I couldn’t help but look at him like a little brother, at least in the moment right now.

“Do you really mean it?” His voice was softer than before.

“What?”

“That you will stay with me until I recover, that we will work together to survive this place…….”

I smiled, “Well, only if you talk politely and don’t call me dumb or an idiot, then I will keep my promise. Otherwise, you can call them all lies.”

“Fine, I will try to talk a bit nicer.”

“Good.”

I took out the anesthetic fruit from my pocket, stared at it for a couple seconds, then went over to put it in his hand.

“Eat it all up, don’t you dare to even spit out the stem or seeds!”

Rene held the purple anesthetic fruit while laying on the ground, and was confused, but he nodded. Afterwards I turned around to head toward the spring under starlight.

******************