CHAPTER 42: YOUNG ETHAN'S SAVIOR

"I didn't know that she saw me in my study room while I was holding the butterfly bracelet that she gave me when we were young. I know she remembers it based on her facial reaction. She was clearly in shock. Didn't she know that I am her childhood friend? Then, she should know it by now."

The Butterfly bracelet.

I can still remember everything. It's very clear in my mind. I have engraved her memory in my mind and in my heart. I couldn't possibly forget about her. She gave me the chance to live again. She became my strength in those times. If it was not because of her, then I wouldn't be the person I am right now. I owe all my success to her. That's why I vowed that day to be with her for the rest of my life no matter what.

FLASHBACK:

"I don't want to be in that orphanage!" Ethan yelled.

"Then would you prefer to live in the streets with those thugs out there?" His uncle threatened him. Ethan shook his head.

He didn't have a choice. His uncle didn't want to raise him either. His uncle said that he couldn't raise him along with his 5 kids. It was too much of a burden. Ethan cried along the way but he couldn't do anything about it.

He stepped out of the car. He could see a lot of children younger than him and older than him. It would be a whole new world for him. He was not into socialization. He was usually aloof. So how could young Ethan manage to live in this new world?

Well, no matter what, he needed to survive anyway. However, surviving meant getting used to the bullies in the orphanage. Young Ethan didn't know how to fight back, so he took all the insults they threw at him. But who would know that those times would come to an end.

It was the orphanage special outing day. Everyone was required to join the 3 night's camp at Violet Mountain. They had to hike 3 hours before they arrived. Ethan was not use to do physical activities; he didn't even know how to swim. More of his childhood days were focused more on studying. He was definitely brilliant. Books were his only best friends when his parents were both alive.

Some boys did crazy things to him, he tried to avoid them but to no avail.

He was about to set his foot on a bamboo bridge but one of the boys pushed him. He lost his balance and he fell to the river below. He was struggling for his life. Suddenly, a hand caught him and swam towards a safe rock. Ah! Safe at last! He was able to breathe deeply.

"Thank you for saving me." He mumbled trembling. He lifted his eyes to see who was savior was, but to his big surprise he saw a little girl drenched in water.

'What? A girl saved me!? What a shame!' He thought. After a while the teacher with the children came down to see them.

"How are you? Are you okay?" The teacher asked Ethan. He nodded.

"And you Erika, don't do that again-----" The teacher was cut off when Erika attacked another boy. The boy was laughing at Ethan since he fell out from the river. Anger was very visible in Erika's eyes.

Everyone witnessed Erika landed a hard punch on the kid's face. His head twirked. Then she kicked his balls.

"Erika! Stop it at once!" The teacher shouted but it seemed like she didn't hear it.

"You!" Erika pointed the boy who was curling in pain on the ground. She was so mad.

"Don't ever do that again! Not with that boy and not to anyone else! Do you think that pushing him into the river was a joke!!" She yelled at the kid. The boy widened his eyes. Did she see them do it?

"Jordan? Did you push Ethan?" The teacher asked seriously.

Erika glared at him. "Dare to lie, I'll make sure to cut your tongue as well!"

"I-I ... We, we were just having fun teacher! Him, falling into the river was an accident!" Jordan lied. However, he was slapped in the cheek after his statement.

"You!" Jordan glared at Erika. Erika smirked.

"That is for your lies! I saw you guys push him and was laughing at him when he was drowning!" Erika defended.

"Erika! Stop that! And you Jordan and friends for your punishment, you will be the janitors for the whole 3 days camp. And you are not allowed to sleep unless you wash all the dishes."

"What! No!" The bully boys shouted in unison.

Then they continued hiking. Erika noticed that Ethan was always alone. So she decided to stay with him. They stuck with each other for that 3 days camp, they became friends.

Erika became his anchor. She was always there for him. Whenever those bully boys tried to approach Ethan, Erika was always there to rescue him. That moment on they became inseparable. No one tried to bully him anymore.

"Try to punch harder! Punch like a man!" Erika yelled at him. She was trying to teach him some punch moves.

"It hurts!" Ethan answered.

"You'll get use to it soon." She assured her. "How could you protect yourself from someone in the future?" She stated.

"You will be there to protect me right?" He grinned.

"Ahh! You're hopeless! You're the man, you should be protecting me." She teased him.

"Don't worry. I'll get stronger when I grow up. Then from that moment on I will protect you." He boasted.

"You must!" Erika laughed.