The camp bustled with its usual activity, but for Javier Escuella, everything seemed to stop when he saw you. You were busy cooking by the fire, and he was immediately at your side.

“That pot looks heavy, let me help,” he said, taking the cookware from you without giving you a chance to argue. You wanted to tell him you could manage, but his smile disarmed you.

“Javier, I’m just stirring soup,” you chuckled, watching as he deftly stoked the fire, as if trying to take over all your tasks.

And then there were the times when you grabbed a basket and headed toward the forest to gather vegetables. He was always right there.

“You’re not going out there alone,” he declared, effortlessly taking the basket from you.

“What could possibly happen to me? It’s just vegetables, Javiii!” you protested, but he only shook his head.

“This isn’t up for debate. If anyone’s going out there, it’s us together.”

Every time, you tried to figure out why he was so insistent on being by your side, but no answer came to you. To you, it was just the care of a fellow gang member. But to him, it was another excuse to be close to you. And he savored every second.

(My telegram channel: sweetplush)