Chapter 3

Aria

“Did you bring your medicine?” Nathaniel asked as we walked toward the school building.

I opened my bag and quickly searched through it. After a moment, I found the small bottle and showed it to him.

“It’s here,” I replied shortly.

When I got home yesterday, I had already started feeling sick. By midnight, my fever had gotten worse. Nathaniel only came home late that night since I was currently staying at his house. After my parents died four years ago, his parents insisted that I move in with them. Nathaniel had been living there mostly with their house staff anyway, since his parents worked in the United States most of the time.

I didn’t refuse their offer. Nathaniel had been my childhood best friend for as long as I could remember, and after losing my parents, their home had become the closest thing I had left to family.

My fever spiked early this morning. To be honest, I felt guilty seeing Nathaniel take care of me the entire night. I knew he barely slept. He even told me not to attend school today, but I insisted because we had exams in two subjects. Once the exams were over, I planned to go straight home and rest.

“I’ll walk you to your classroom,” Nathaniel said firmly. “Then text me once your exam is finished. Don’t leave the room until I get there. Clear?”

I couldn’t help but smile at how serious he sounded.

Nathaniel had always been like this—protective, dependable, always looking out for me no matter what.

“Clear,” I answered softly. “Thank you.”

Instead of replying, he simply leaned down and kissed my forehead.

That was normal between us. Nathaniel had always been affectionate like that. There had never been anything romantic between us, at least not from my side. I knew he liked me—he admitted that a long time ago—but he promised he would never force anything and would remain my friend no matter what.

Still, I avoided letting myself feel anything more. Losing people once had already been painful enough.

Fortunately, nothing unusual happened while we walked to my classroom. I was secretly relieved that I didn’t run into Zachary Knight anywhere in the hallways. Just the thought of dealing with him again while my head was spinning like this made me feel even weaker.

Besides, if I was being honest, my illness was partly his fault. The freezing water his group had poured over me yesterday had probably worsened my condition.

Damn that guy.

The first exam ended without any problems. Surprisingly, my fever didn’t affect my concentration much. I managed to finish the test with a clear mind, although my head started throbbing again afterward. I pulled out my phone and sent Nathaniel a quick message like he told me to.

A few minutes later, I suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom.

Despite the dizziness creeping back, I forced myself to stand and walk out of the classroom. The restroom wasn’t far anyway, just a short distance down the hallway.

When I stepped outside after washing my hands, I froze.

Three guys were standing in front of me.

Normally there were six of them, but even with only half their usual group, I recognized them instantly.

Zachary Knight and his friends.

I lowered my gaze and tried to walk past them without acknowledging their presence. Unfortunately, before I could even take two steps, someone grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

Zachary.

What the hell.

Not today… please not today.

“So now you’re pretending I don’t exist?” he said with a mocking smile. “Why? Regretting the day you decided to mess with me?”

“I’m not in the mood to fight today,” I answered tiredly. “Can we continue this tomorrow?”

My vision was already starting to blur.

“You mean you can’t handle me,” Zachary scoffed arrogantly. “You started this little game, and now you’re backing out?”

His fingers were still tightly wrapped around my arm. I closed my eyes, not because of the pain, but because the dizziness was becoming unbearable.

Nathaniel… I need you.

“Bro… she looks pale.”

One of his friends stepped closer, concern flickering across his face.

“Are you okay, miss?” he asked cautiously. Then he turned to Zachary. “She looks really sick. Maybe you should let her go.”

Zachary laughed.

“Relax, Patrick,” he said dismissively, pulling me slightly away from his friend. “Of course she looks pale. She’s scared.”

He smirked at me.

“She probably thought I’d just forget what happened yesterday. Nice acting, though.”

I gathered the last bit of strength I had left and shoved his hand away.

To my relief, he actually released me.

I tried to take a step forward, but the ground beneath my feet seemed to tilt violently. My legs felt weak, and I knew immediately that I wouldn’t be able to keep walking.

Before I could even steady myself, Zachary grabbed my arm again.

This time, I didn’t have the strength to fight back.

My vision darkened at the edges.

Voices started sounding distant.

And then—

Everything went black.

Zachary

“She’s pale. Miss, are you okay?”

I didn’t even realize Patrick had already stepped closer to her.

One second he was standing beside me, and the next he was right in front of the girl, studying her face like she was about to collapse.

He looked back at me, clearly concerned.

“Bro, she looks really pale. Let go of her for a second.”

His tone irritated me immediately.

I let out a short laugh and shook my head.

Was he seriously worried about this girl?

“What’s wrong with you, Patrick? Of course she’s pale,” I said with a mocking grin. “She’s scared.”

I glanced down at her, amused.

“She probably thought I’d stop bothering her after what happened yesterday.” I shrugged casually. “Relax. She’s just being dramatic.”

But Patrick didn’t laugh.

The worry on his face didn’t fade as he kept staring at her.

That was when I noticed something strange.

Her breathing looked uneven.

Her lips were slightly parted, and her face looked… weak.

Before I could say anything else, Aria suddenly yanked her arm out of my grip.

Yeah.

I know her name.

Of course I do.

Don’t get the wrong idea.

It’s not like I’m interested in her or anything.

She just happens to be the only girl in this school stupid enough to argue with me every single time.

But before she could even take two steps away, I grabbed her arm again and pulled her back.

“What? Running away now?” I smirked.

But the moment I pulled her closer—

Her body suddenly went limp.

Everything happened so fast.

One second she was standing in front of me.

The next—

She collapsed.

“Shit, bro! I told you!” Patrick cursed loudly.

Good thing my reflexes were faster than my brain.

I caught her before she could hit the floor.

If I hadn’t, her head would’ve slammed straight into the tiles.

“What the hell…?”

Her weight rested against my arms, lighter than I expected.

Too light.

Her head tilted slightly against my chest, and strands of her hair brushed against my hand.

Patrick stepped closer.

“What happened to her?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered.

I pressed my palm against her forehead.

The moment my skin touched hers, I froze.

Damn.

She was burning.

Her temperature was ridiculously high.

Patrick leaned closer and frowned.

“I told you she didn’t look okay.”

Up close, her face looked even paler.

Her lashes rested against her cheeks, and her lips had lost their color.

Doesn’t that annoying monkey-looking guy she’s always with take care of her?

What was his name again?

Nathaniel or something.

Why wasn’t he here?

Why the hell was she walking around like this if she was already sick?

Why didn’t she say anything?

If she had told me, then maybe—

Wait.

Maybe what, Zachary?

I frowned at my own thoughts.

What was I even thinking?

It’s not like I care.

I’m just not used to seeing someone pass out right in front of me.

That’s all.

“Hey,” I muttered, lightly tapping her cheek.

“Wake up.”

No response.

Her breathing was still there, but her body stayed limp in my arms.

Her face looked… exhausted.

“I’ll bring her to the clinic,” Patrick said quickly, stepping forward.

“No.”

My voice came out sharper than I expected.

Patrick frowned.

“What the hell, bro? Just because you bully her doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care about what’s happening to her! Think for once—”

“I said no.”

He stopped talking.

I adjusted my grip on Aria, lifting her more securely in my arms.

Her head rested against my shoulder now, her hair brushing lightly against my neck.

“I’ll take her to the clinic,” I said flatly. “Not you. Not anyone else.”

Patrick raised an eyebrow.

But he didn’t argue again.

Without another word, I walked down the hallway toward the clinic.

Students stared as I passed by.

Some whispered.

Some looked shocked.

I ignored all of them.

A few minutes later, we reached the clinic.

The nurse checked Aria quickly while I stood nearby.

“Nurse, how is she?” I asked once she stepped outside.

“She shouldn’t have come to school today, Mr. Knight,” the nurse said firmly. “She has a high fever. She needs proper rest.”

She glanced down at her clipboard.

“She actually came here yesterday to ask for medicine.”

I frowned.

“She came here yesterday?”

“Yes,” the nurse nodded. “Around eight in the morning. She already had a mild fever then. She stopped by here before going to class.”

Before class.

Which means—

When we poured that cold water on her yesterday…

She was already sick.

For a moment, something twisted in my chest.

I immediately shoved the thought away.

So what?

She deserved it.

“Please watch over her for a moment, Mr. Knight,” the nurse said. “The Dean is calling me.”

Then she left.

I stayed outside the clinic room, leaning against the wall.

I had no intention of sitting beside her.

She could deal with her own problems.

Just my luck.

Out of everyone in this school, I had to be the one stuck babysitting her.

A few minutes later, a phone started ringing inside the room.

I sighed.

Curiosity got the better of me.

I pushed the door open and walked in.

The sound was coming from her bag.

I pulled out her phone.

The caller name on the screen made me scoff.

Babu.

Seriously?

Without hesitation, I answered.

“Hello? Aria? Where are you?” a guy’s voice said from the other line. “Sorry I couldn’t drop by earlier. Our professor kept us overtime.”

His voice sounded familiar.

“Aria? Baba?”

Babu and Baba?

That’s ridiculously corny.

“She’s at the clinic,” I said flatly. “She passed out earlier.”

There was a pause.

“Who is this?”

“Someone who’s getting annoyed watching over her,” I replied. “If you care that much, come here already.”

Then I ended the call.

I tossed the phone back into her bag.

But as soon as I did, my gaze drifted back to Aria.

She looked… different while sleeping.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

Harmless.

Maybe you should stay asleep forever.

Then maybe I wouldn’t be messing with you all the time.

I leaned slightly closer without realizing it.

For the first time, I actually looked at her properly.

Her skin looked soft.

Her eyelashes were long.

Her nose was small and delicate.

And her lips—

I caught myself staring.

Then I noticed something worse.

I was smiling.

I immediately straightened up.

What the hell am I doing?

“Get well soon,” I muttered quietly, even though she couldn’t hear me.

“I still need someone to bully.”

I glanced toward the door.

“Your Prince Charming should be here soon anyway.”

I pulled out my phone.

Then an idea crossed my mind.

Click.

I took a picture of her sleeping.

Perfect.

Blackmail material.

But as I stared at the photo on my screen, another thought crossed my mind.

How exactly am I supposed to blackmail her with this…

…when she still looks pretty even while sleeping?

Damn.

I seriously need a check-up.

I’m starting to talk to myself now.

And somehow, it’s all because of the annoying girl lying right in front of me.

Before I completely lost my mind, I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

Then I walked over to the bed.

For a moment, I just stood there.

Watching her.

I clicked my tongue.

“Don’t misunderstand,” I muttered.

Then I pulled the blanket up slightly and adjusted it over her shoulders.

“Just get better already.”

Without looking back again, I walked out of the clinic.