~ 43: Marathon - Part 3 ~

I had noticed the way in which the baton was passed and I was very displeased. I couldn't keep that expression on my face for long as everyone started cheering for the final sprinters to reach the finishing line first.

Lucas had been made to stumble in the beginning since Aidan didn't give a warning while passing the baton and had almost crashed into him. He hadn't been very fair in passing it to him either as he was far away and Lucas had to go as near as he could without treading behind the line. At that moment, I was sure that the audience would put on the blame on Lucas if he didn't make it, even if it wasn't his fault.

As he had been the last to race, it was obvious that trusting him for the end would be critical and difficult. I could already hear some people cursing him instead of judging the situation right. I couldn't side with Aidan for what he had done, but the audience loved him more because he was 'normal'.

Luckily, two of the teams had either lost their momentum because they fell off the path or they couldn't run anymore faster as they stumbled quite a few times, trying to get to the finish line. Only Lucas and the 4th lane team remained on track.

The finish was so close that the winner couldn't be determined based on the timing. The 4th lane member had crashed the instant he had finished the race, and Lucas was lying down on the ground, clutching his leg.

I couldn't sit still any longer. Two of the team members were surrounding Lucas while Aidan just watched or probably scolded from afar. I ran towards them, leaving Mel behind to catch up with me if she wanted.

When I was within hearing distance of their voices, I knew that Aidan was lecturing him on running faster to increase that gap. The results weren't out yet and they said it would be decided shortly. So hearing him say that, after the near foul play he got Lucas into, shocked me. I couldn't stand the injustice as I went over with a first aid kit, letting the staff know that I'm ready to help because of the shortage of helpers.

I ignored Aidan and sat down beside Lucas. There was surprise written on his face as I aided his leg with a spray and ice pack. He huffed a laugh of disbelief and told me to go over to other sprinters, saying that he'll be fine. I could feel the heat of Aidan's glare as I treated his nemesis.

"What do you think you are doing?" he said in a dangerous tone.

"A deed of goodness that is deserved," I replied.

"What in heaven's world has he done to deserve any help? He literally made us lose on the track fields!"

"And do you know whose fault is that?"

I looked at him straight in the eye with a deadly countenance. I might have looked menacing enough as the members backed away, including Aidan. I gripped the spray in my hand to control my bad temper.

"Should I remind you what you did back there when you were passing the baton to Lucas?" I said in a mild tone to hide my rising emotions. "You stopped before you even reached the finish line, delaying him, and then you almost made him commit a foul by stepping back. Your shoulder thumped onto him causing him to stumble. And you dare to trash-talk about him?"

"So what?" he said indifferently. "It's not like anyone except you know that. No one cares for the pirate guy."

"I'm sure your teammates know the truth and so do the other participants who were watching the game. This whole thing has been recorded. Just because you're famous, you think you'll get away with it?"

"Do you care for him or do you care for me?"

"I care for justice. Your action is not justified in anybody's eyes. So don't even talk to me after today. We're done with whatever we had unless you decide to change."

I went back to treating him as he looked at me with an emotional eye. I saw him clench his jaw and close his eyes as I gently fixed his cramp and the small sprain he had suffered in the end.

"Who is he even to you that you care for him?!" roared Aidan behind me.

I felt all the people's eyes on us. I swiftly turned around and got in front of him. He didn't move an inch as he glared at me. His calm demeanour was now seething.

"He's the man who saved my life on that woeful day!" I yelled back. "You couldn't even save Mel so forget about me! Do you have any idea what could have happened if he wasn't there that night?!"

He kept quiet and pursed his lips with displeasure. He sat on the ground and held his head with his hands. I had lost all sympathy for him, though I didn't want to destroy his day. I needed him to know that I couldn't be with him if he didn't take things seriously and acted mature.

I tied the injured man's ankle and helped him on his feet. I handed him some extra elastic bandages, after telling him to keep the ice pack on until it melted. Then he could go for the other events if he was a part of them.

"Okay, brother," I said sweetly after I was done. "You're good to go."

"Thank you, little one," he said and kissed my forehead.

I saw Aidan pull back his shoulders as his green eyes looked at the affectionate pair of us. He gritted his teeth, holding back the awful question. So I answered him as I saw him tremble.

"He's my distant cousin," I uttered. "And you are still my friend. So the two of you better behave around me."

"We will," they said in a low tone.

Yet it felt like one of them was bound to break that promise sooner or later. At least that was what the little voice said.