Track 10: Vulnerable

"Vulnerable" by Secondhand Serenade

"Share with me the blankets that you're wrapped in

Because it's cold outside, it's cold outside

(It's cold outside)

Share with me the secrets that you kept in

Because it's cold inside, it's cold inside

(It's cold inside)"

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Summer's POV

"So how was your first day?" Gio asked me through the phone after we wrapped up our first day of summer tutorial in our first village, Sitio Mapagpala.

"It was fine. Everyone seemed enjoy their day." I simply said. After the incident in the welcoming party, Gio and I didn't have any encounter. This is the first and it feels awkward.

"Then, that's good. The jeepney will come to fetch you guys by five in the afternoon. Will that be fine?" he asked me. I looked at my watch and saw that it was only quarter to four.

"That's fine actually." I said as I glanced at the team members playing with the children assigned to them. I also saw Shien singing and playing his guitar in front of some kids and their mothers. Some of the parents of these children will come back by four in the afternoon. I walked away from them to hear Gio clearly. "They are still enjoying the company of the children assigned to them. We can still wait."

"Well, that's good to hear," Gio said and paused for a while. I felt a weird feeling in that kind of silence.

"Gio?" I called his name.

"Sam," he said in his serious tone. "I'm sorry for leaving you like that at the party."

I sighed and said, "It's okay Gio. It's an emergency right?" I asked him even though at some point I know what really happened that night.

"Yeah, but still I want to apologize. Did you wait for me?" He awkwardly asked.

"No," I lied. Yes, I tried to wait for you but I know that you will not come back. But still...

"Oh, that's good to hear. When I came back, the party's over. I didn't see you since then." He explained like I was asking him.

"But we are good, right?" he asked me.

"Of course," I said. "Gio, I need to go now, just contact me if you still need something." I wanted to end the conversation actually. It's suffocating and hard because of the things I saw and heard. It feels like I was lying to him.

He bid his goodbye and hang up on me.

"Was that Gio?" Shien asked me. I startled to his sudden appearance on my back.

"Oh my god, Shien! Why do you always do that?!" I screamed at him. He doesn't look bothered at the volume of my voice.

"Is that a yes?" he asked instead. I rolled my eyes at him and nodded. He was now carrying the guitar on his back.

"Why do you asked?" I fired at him.

"What did he said? Did he apologize?" He fired back.

"It's not your concern anymore," I just said and placed my phone on my small sling bag. I walked away to leave him. I don't want to answer his questions because I don't want to know more. Gio, Sass, and he have so many secrets that I don't want to be involved with. I am not good at lying so I better distance myself from them. After all, I will just be here with them for a month. What worse could happen, right?

"Hi, Miss Sam," A little girl approached me with a smile.

"Hello. What's your name, little lady?" I asked her while leveling my height on hers.

"My name is Trisha and I am six years old." She enthusiastically smiled at me. She looks like a smart kid.

"Who's your teacher for this week?" I pat her head as I asked.

"Sir Alfredo," she said.

"Alfredo?" I asked because I can't remember someone in our team with a name like that. "Who was he?"

"He was the most handsome teacher I have ever met. There he is!" She said while pointing at the annoying guy behind me. Alfredo, huh?

"Hi, Trisha!" He waved at her. The kid giggled and run towards him. He carried the girl and whispered something in her ear that made the girl laughed and nodded.

"Miss Sam," the kid called my attention, "My teacher said that I have to tell you something."

I looked at Shien who was grinning while carrying the girl. What was he planning anyway?

"What is it?" I played with them.

"You look cute when you're irritated," the kid said that made Shien laughed.

What the hell?

I was about to hit Shien when a sudden heavy pour came. He ran towards the near house and stayed with Trisha inside. While I, on the other hand, guide the children outside to come and stay in the same house. I was about to stay with them when a heard a cry from the nearby forest. I think it comes from a child. I started counting the children inside the house and I realized that we are missing someone. It was Joel, our handicapped student.

"What's the problem?" A girl from my team asked. I immediately removed my sling bag and gave it to her. I told her to keep my phone in check, just in case Gio will call to pick us up. I asked Shien to keep the members and children safe. Their parents will get mad if they are harmed. It's my number one priority as the leader to keep everyone safe.

"Sam!" I heard Shien said. "Where are you going?"

I just glanced at him and left without a word. I can still hear the loud cry. I ran towards the forest and find the one holding it. When I came inside, the rain became so loud with thunders echoing the place. It became very hard for me to find the sound. I am silently praying that Joel is safe.

It's getting darker but I can't still find him. I cannot hear his voice anymore and I felt weak and shivering from cold. When the rain stopped and I still can't find him, I resolved to go back and ask for some help. But after I few steps, I slipped through the mud and felt my head bumped into something hard. I wanted to cry for help but the dizziness overcame me. I felt tired and weak. And for a moment, I felt so alone and hopeless. I shut my eyes out and prayed that someone helped me.

WHAT IS THIS COMFORTING WARMTH IN MY BODY? I asked myself as I try to open my eyes. There I saw Shien's face, so close to mine. His arms are encircled to my waist, while I am laying my body to him. We are hugging each other intimately. I also noticed that we are not wearing anything except the thick blanket that was covering us. I felt my cheeks burned to that sudden realization.

What the hell?! My mind was screaming.

I was about to get out in our embrace and crawled down smoothly so that he will not wake up. I don't want him to see my body if he did not have a chance to see it while I am sleeping nor let him see my body for one more time. Just the thought of it makes me so disgusted. I was about to crawl down when I realized a hard thing between my stomach. I've shut my eyes out in frustration.

What will I do? All I can remember was that I hurt my head and passed out inside the forest. How did I end up being with Shien naked and frustrated?

I tried once more to remove his arm on me but failed when I heard him say, "Don't move."

"Let me go," I said with conviction. I wanted to get out of this situation! Now!

"Just sleep. We will talk about everything tomorrow morning." He lazily said and hugged me tighter.

"You don't need to hug me. I can sleep on my own!" I hissed him that gained a chuckle from him.

"You will not do that. We only have one blanket and all our clothes are soaking wet. But if you can stay the cold night without clothes," he said and open his eyes. "I can certainly allow you. It will be a good motivation to stay up all night."

I gulped to what he said. He was intently looking at me, melting me with those strange look I have never seen my whole life. The kind of look that makes you feel... wanted.

"Do you want that?" he huskily asked. "I am too vulnerable right now."