Rufus turned serious all of a sudden as Cassandra washed his back.
"Why do you have so many scars on your back? What happened?"
Cassandra hadn't noticed all of Rufus's scars until today. While most of them had already faded, they still didn't disappear completely.
She'd never seen his back this close when they were together before. 'Why did he have so many scars?'
"I fell from a cliff and got caught with one of the branches so those are scratches,"
Rufus said nonchalantly. He didn't say more but it was obvious that there was definitely more to the story.
Cassandra scrutinized the scars closely. She reached out and stroked them. The scars were flat on the skin so they couldn't be felt by the hand but the discoloration against the skin was a bit alarming. This was definitely a serious injury before.
"Does it hurt?"
Cassandra reluctantly held the shower head in her left hand and used the other to stroke Rufus's scars. Her fingers brushed the marks carefully, afraid that Rufus might get hurt.
What happened? Rufus wasn't telling her anything—he was mysterious like that and Cassandra's heart longed for him.
"No. Do you feel bad for me?"
Rufus asked with a smile on his face. He cocked his head to the side and gazed at Cassandra.
"Should I?" Cassandra pouted.
Rufus thought she was adorable for caring enough to touch his scars. Did she really believe that Rufus couldn't do anything just because he broke one leg?
"You're not making any sense. If you don't stop, you're going to have to take a shower on your own!"
Cassandra's face reddened as she tossed the shower head into Rufus's hand.
He wouldn't stop making fun of her even if all she was trying to do was help him! Well, if this was how he was going to be then she might as well just leave him to himself.
Cassandra turned around to leave but Rufus grabbed her arm to pull her towards him.
"Come on, let's finish what you started,"
Rufus said, smiling. Cassandra could tell that he was only teasing her.
"No, I'm leaving!"
lot these past few days and she
on, don't get mad now. We'll
himself from laughing but hard as he tried, he still couldn't get the smile off
got some
help him finish his shower. She then soap him up,
medicines. The nurse was in the middle of explaining something, "Take care of your legs, okay? Keep them untouched as much as possible, especially the
naive. She kept darting her eyes around, looking everywhere but not
nurse left, Cassandra walked
score, looks like she likes
able to get back at
guess, but I
said sincerely. Cassandra didn't know what to
Cassandra started to feel all the exhaustion.
his bed and gestured for her to come over, "Come,
gently, his heart softened at the
Cassandra had
him that wanted her to go home and rest, but the selfish part of him wanted her
it's okay. The sofa's
to sleep next to
you're not next to
begged and
know what to make of this child-like Rufus. This wasn't the Rufus she knew because
fall asleep if you're
her quilt and made herself comfortable on the sofa—ignoring
raised her head to see what was going on, but next thing she knew, she was about
are you getting
she ran towards his bed
coming to you
innocence but if you looked closely, there was
sleep next to you!" Cassandra yielded.
what he
bed side by side, Rufus twirled Cassandra's hair
"Have you decided yet?"
in a low
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!