章節 25: Swoon.

I was finally back home and out of that wretched hospital.

No more awful food and nauseating smells of drugs. Thank God.

Mother and Father were treating me like a fragile egg, rigid and alert 24/7, scared something bad might happen to me again. It was starting to get on my nerves. I wasn't a little kid and I didn't need them hovering around me every freaking second of the day. I just wanted some goddamn space!

"I'm fine mom. I've taken my drugs and I'll remember to eat lunch on time and drink a lot of water. " I sighed as I transferred some of my textbooks into my school bag, more than ready to resume school. My friends visited me in the hospital a few days before I was discharged and kept me company for three hours. I remember their well wishes, their warm smiles and silly jokes in attempt to make me laugh.... I remember feeling down because I thought a certain someone didn't follow them and that he didn't want to see me. Dazzline must've noticed because she was suddenly calling his name. I remember how he walked into the room looking shy? I remember the smile, which I failed to hide well, tugging at my lips as he told me hi.

"Hi," I had said back to him with a smile. We simply just stared at each other after that, not really saying anything else, but our eyes saying a lot of things. I remember Aaliyah coughing beside me as she mumbled to Dazzline and Alyshia, "This is so painful to watch." Earning a harsh glare from the other two girls. I'd never forget the feeling of his warm hands on mine as he held my hand for almost three hours, sitting on the bed next to me where Dazzline was previously sitting on. I didn't say it out loud, but I was thanking her in my mind for letting him sit next to me. Although, we barely talked, us holding hands was more than enough for me at that moment.

I forgot about my pain, I forgot about my rules, I forgot about Aaliyah's warnings and simply just enjoyed the feeling I was having.

I wondered how it'd be between us today. Would we go back to not talking at all? Or would he be nicer to me. Would he attempt to strike up a conversation? Would he approach me? Or was that day at the hospital just a one time thing.

Sigh. Look at me overthinking because of a boy, once again.

"Please don't skip your drugs, Fayth. It's very important you take them at the right time, and you should make sure you eat something first. Do not take them on an empty stomach, okay?" She cupped my cheeks so I would look at her. Her eyes showed how worried she was , and how unhappy she was about letting me out of her sight, but truly I was okay. I felt fine.

"Yes ma. Can I go now? I'll be late."

"Let me get my keys, I'll drop you off." She dashed out of the room before I could tell her I was okay with walking there myself and returned with her car key's dangling on her index finger. I sighed and followed her out of the house and into the car. I sat at the passenger's seat, putting on seatbelt and staring ahead as she drove out of our home. The only sound that could be heard was the voice of Mercy chinwo, singing her newly released song 'obinasom'.

By the time I got to school, a few juniors would come crashing into me to hug me. It took my by surprise each time, but at the same time brought a smile to my face. I was only gone for a week, but everyone was acting like as if I'd gone missing for years. It was sweet, actually.

"MY BABY!!" Dazzline had screamed the moment I walked into class, once again taking me by surprise as she pulled me into a bear hug and lifted me up from the ground. Or, atleast, tried to. One leg was on the ground, the other was flying in the air, so was the rest of my body.

"Put me down!" I giggled, tapping her on the arm until she eventually put me down.

~•~

~Bela Amuta~

"Fudge!"

What a great way to start my week.

Bumping into my crush, my eyes red and swollen, and his cellphone on the floor with a crack in the middle of the screen.

Fudge indeed.

I fell to my knees and picked up the phone before he could, fresh tears forming in my eyes.

Oh my god, what have you done Bela?

"I'm so sorry." I whispered, raising my head to look at him. He looked taken aback for a moment, then an undecipherable expression appeared on his face.

Oh no. He must be pissed.

"I swear, I didn't mean it. I-ill buy you a new phone, I promise! I think I've got enough money in my piggy bank to buy a new one. I'll get it for you before the end of this week, prompt, and maybe -" He raised his hand, a really scary look on his face. He was glaring at me. Damn, my rambling must've annoyed him.

Just great. Well done, Bela.

"Just- stop talking. It's fine." He snatched the phone from my hand before I could register his words.

Fine? It's fine?

He's not going to yell at me and curse me like he does to basically everyone that breathes the same air as him?

...is he feeling sick today?

"It's fine?" I voiced out, rising from my kneeling position.

"Yes."

"But-but I broke the screen." I stated quietly, astonished.

"And I said it's fine. It's just a small crack, it can be fixed." He said.

"Oh."

"See you later, Bela" He walked around me and headed towards the library. I was still in momentary shock, wondering how he had just let that go without causing a scene.

"Holy shit." He called me Bela. He just called me Bela.

He knew my name?

Swoon.