Oruk Leaves

~

Ruya

~

I restlessly awaited Sian's arrival and when he did arrive, I started jumping around him anxiously. Yuho was still not with us, and it was a relief to me, since I really didn't want people watching me ingest human blood. It would be disturbing.

"So why did you want the sample." Sian asked as soon as he got inside, closing the door behind him. He looked rather awake for the night.

"I will tell you, but why had Gigi called?"

He rolled his eyes, "Always selfish aren't you, wanting to know everything without exchanging information first. Anyway, it wasn't really a big deal, but he just wanted to inform me that Rose has her minions ready to strike, meaning we are going to get into mess very very soon."

"I thought she forgave us or something, I mean we didn't want to be involved with her in the first place."

"She doesn't seem to care, call it arrogance or whatever they call it these days."

"So Wang's mark should protect us right, if we get it done?" I was anxious and the news was worrying me more.

"It can and may protect us, I am not against it, but I want to know why haven't you accepted the deal already..."

I shrank back as Sian stared at me with a purposeful eyebrow raise. His question was valid and I couldn't help but feel selfish, like Sian had worded out earlier. I was endangering both of us, just because I was confused.

"I..."

"You?" he encouraged.

I looked away skittishly, "I just don't want to get marked like some slave okay, even if it is all for bigger reasons, I don't feel comfortable with it."

"Bigger reasons... " Sian tasted the phrase, "but Ruya, it won't be that hard if you just take the mark and ignore the others, I know it is humiliating to get marked, being a proud Mafia member myself I don't like the feel of it, but I know it wouldn't matter much in the long run."

"I know but..."

"But what, is there anything else I should know, apart from your crazy need for vampire blood?"

I winced at his accusing tone, "Where did you get the blood sample from."

He huffed, knowing very well that I was diverting the topic. "I asked Gigi for it, and he asked some douche bag in the vicinity to give me some of his blood. It confused him as to why I was even interested, I simply told him you wanted it."

"Okay, so I will tell why now, just... don't laugh or judge okay?"

He nodded, a little curious now.

And I took a deep breath before starting with my small tale. By the end of it he was left wide eyed. "So you telling me you actually had the guts to kiss him and suck his blood like some vampire dude?"

I groaned, "You are judging me!"

He smirked, "Sorry, but it was worth a judge, how am I supposed to let it go like it didn't happen. And stranger is he made you his friend, and even stranger, you became his friend."

"I was feeling guilty!" I whined.

"Yeah, I suppose, though I still think it was that Jashuen's fault, no offense."

"Why would I take any?"

I had left out a chunk of pieces while retelling my tale, I hadn't mentioned Jashuen's change of voice like two people had been speaking at one time and also I didn't talk about the locket he gave me.

All in due time.

"Try it then," Sian nudged me, handling me the small red container, "I know you aren't one of them, but it is strange."

I nodded, taking hold of it with slight tremble.

"If something happens restrain me or lock me inside this room."

He took my warning, "Go ahead."

I opened the container, closed my eyes and took a sip of the blood. I knew drinking vampire blood wouldn't make me into one, it never worked like that, the process of turning consisted of consummating, biting and a lot of blood transfusion.

As soon as the blood dribbled into my mouth I blanched, throwing out whatever went into my mouth. "This is so gross," I spit out the rest of it, "It is actually bitter and... tastes like rotten eggs."

"Congratulations, you aren't a rogue," Sian patted my back affectionately, happy.

I nodded with relief, feeling a bit tense, since rogues were hunted down even by the night crawlers, they were abomination, since they drank vampire blood.

"Now I want to try human blood."

Sian sighed, "Ruya, there is no way you are vampire, I am telling you."

"I have to be sure Sian."

Sian cut his index finger gingerly with a knife and presented it to me, "Try, but I am telling you it would be gross as well."

And before I had even licked a drop I knew it would taste bad, and it did.

Sian smirked, "See, you are no vampire or any rogue, maybe you have a kink for Jashuen's blood."

I blushed, "Shut up, it isn't like that."

"Then how would you explain what it was."

I shrugged, "I don't know, don't care, I will just ignore it for now." I was too relieved to think about it.

"Alright, then call your father, we need to be updated enough."

I sighed, so the time had finally come. "Fine I am calling him, but if we fight it will be because of you, I am still not over what he did."

Sian nodded, his presence supportive enough.

--

Father hadn't picked the phone, not even his men did, it was unsettling.

I knew something had happened, but what?

Sian was worried but he tried to hide it from me, which was okay, since I wasn't feeling very emotional.

The next day came by soon with the arrival of Yuho and he smelled fresh, like he had recently bathed.

"Where have you been?"

"Around."

It was cryptic but I did not prod him, we weren't very close friends yet to take that step where I knew about his private life.

"Ruya?" Yuho asked after a short pause, "d-do you want to come with us to the north block, Bambam is throwing a party."

"You didn't seem the type to enjoy parties."

He flushed, mostly embarrassed, "I do enjoy night outs, decided to ask you since you are basically a part of Wang's group now."

"I haven't taken the mark yet."

He nodded, "I know, but that is the only option you have. So... what do you say?"

I looked at the still snoring Sian, I knew he wouldn't turn the invite down. "I will ask Sian too, will it be a problem?"

Yuho laughed while dismissing it sincerely, "I had already assumed Sian would come with us, it was you I was doubtful about."

I frowned, "Am I that weird?"

"N-No not at all, it's just that you are skeptical of hanging out with other, like an introvert, so I though you... h-hated crowds."

"You aren't wrong... " I sighed, "But I will go this time I guess, I want to see what a night crawler party is like."

Yuho chuckled, "It is nasty, but fun."

"Fun huh, alright, you have got me, I am going with you. I assume Blen will be there as well."

He coughed shyly, "Yes, so be ready, by 8 we leave."

--

After our classes, we were returning back to our dorm when Sian suddenly told me he needed to meet up with Seok in some nearby cafe.

"I won't be gone for long, I will come back before 8, we are rocking in that party."

I laughed, patting his back as he started to leave. "Isn't Seok already taken?"

Sian smirked, "So what, both him and Gigi like me, I am going to enjoy it today. They are cute... and caring."

"Caring... really?" I joked, "night crawlers aren't softies, but yeah who am I to judge."

"Be there later, keep your guns out, fairies can strike any time, or you want me to babysit you?"

"I will be fine Sian, you know me."

He chuckled, "Then you won't be fine, but I am leaving anyway."

I nodded, watching him go. I knew it wasn't serious, whatever he had with those blonds, but if he was enjoying it even a bit, then good for him. Because I wasn't having as much fun, Blen wasn't really that much of a bestie to share secrets with and neither was Yuho. And I was too awkward to do much talking with newer people, unlike Sian who had already formed friendship with several of our classmates.

Looking around I noticed the empty alleyway, and the strong sun. It was a good weather.

And walking along I wondered what Jashuen was. Yes, he was a friend, but now that I think about it, it would be awkward to be around him, knowing who he was, the marking deal, the choosing sides thing, my sucking his blood... I cringed. It was definitely not going to be good.

Also, he was out of my league, like very rich and noble and all that cool stuff, while I was a lowly mafia's son. I wasn't even thinking of forging relationship with him, I wasn't interested in men, but even friendship was unlikely.

"Hello," a pretty voice spoke to me, making my entire skin crawl. I would know that voice anywhere, unfortunately.

"Luer," I started, looking behind me, at the post she leaned against, the old buildings stark contrast to her pop pink skirt and black tee. She was chewing a bubblegum, as if it was fresh meat, if that made sense.

"Why do you look so scared, it's just me."

I wasn't really scared of her, I was more pissed, but I knew I couldn't fight with her again. "Do you need something?" I certainly was more polite then I should have been.

She pouted, fluttering her eye lashes, "Why do you hate me so, okay so maybe I was jealous, but you didn't have to pour all that water over me, humiliating me and my queen was a sad thing, a bad idea."

She was saying all things as if I was a bad kid, and she was trying to make me understand it. What rubbish.

"I am sorry then, but again, you don't just want an apology do you."

She started giggling, "You are right I don't want any apology," her eyes turned all black as she moved closer to me, "if you want to repent, chose our side, the more humans the merrier."

I took a step back, her eyes dark and strange, while her voice reminded me of terror, just like I had felt with Jashuen, but hers was nothing compared to his dominance. He had made me sweat a bucket, so obviously, I wasn't as affected with her show as I had been with his.

"I know you are afraid, but we won't hurt you if you chose our side, a little vittle blood is all we ask for." She smiled brightly, but her eyes didn't change back to normal.

"Sorry, but I won't choose your side, I don't like people like you."

And I watched as her smile faltered, dropping off into confusion. "I said you can join our side and we won't harm you, it will be good for you. You will also receive better treatment."

"No, please just leave," I moved away from her advancement, trying to walk away.

But as thought she was persistent, she used her fast legs to catch up with me and block my path, "You should listen to me," she growled even though she was a fairy and I caught a whiff of something foul coming my way, like an odor.

Her hair started to rise slowly at the tips and if I didn't know better I would have thought she was using her powers.

But she wasn't, for I would have felt fear and dread if she had been using anything, for she was stronger than me, but what she was doing now was just growling, shading her eyes black and hissing like a cat.

Okay so hissing and growling were worlds apart, but she had succeeded in mixing the both of them.

"I am not afraid of you." I said boldly, my fingers ready to hold the gun again. If she could threaten than I could as well, consequences be damned.

What I wasn't expecting was her alarmed look, like she was confused with something.

"Why isn't this working on you, works on everyone," she boiled, raising her hands to touch my arm, but a short spark like electricity deflected her hand back, like a static charge discharging against her, protecting me.

The result being her startled scream.

"Y-You," she managed, looking at me with venom and such hate. "What protection defies even a fairy," it was like she was talking herself, "human made charms don't affect us."

I remembered Jashuen's locket and it looked like she remembered something as well, as her eyes went wide and her lips parted in a silent gasp.

"Why has he given you something like this? He could be the only one... his charms are the only ones us fairies hate the most," she snapped, stepping away from me in revulsion or fear I didn't know.

"He is my friend," I told her, knowing she was talking about Jashuen. Although it felt futile with the way she was glaring at me, holding her injured fingers tenderly.

"He doesn't make friends, either you are his follower or his slave. Doesn't matter which, you have it bad buddy," she seemed to realize my situation, concluding her facts on her own.

And it made her smirk suddenly, eliciting a shiver down my spine.

"But he knows I am joining Wang's side, don't go on blabbering anything you like."

She paused, her eyes widening huge, and then she started to laugh, so much that her body shook with quakes. "Oh my, then it is a worse situation for you. Now I feel pity towards you."

"What are you on about woman," I bit out, "care to explain why I am pitiable?"

She stifled her remaining giggles, "Because... then you are his lover aren't you, for no vampire gives his stone to just anyone. Either it is to enslave, mark or protect. Which one did he give you?"

And we both knew the answer to that. It was the locket!

~

["What does it do?"

"It protects you from evil."

"B-But why are you giving it to me?" I couldn't stop myself from asking him this, why would he gift me something for protection.

"Each of my friend has it, so you will receive it as well."]

~

"B-But he said his friends have these as well," I argued.

"I told you, his followers and slaves have these but then you yourself said you are none of those, so you are his lover then, protection stones are for lovers. Why else would he give you this, he isn't kind enough to hand over such worth to just anyone."

I scowled at her, "Friends could have that too, plus he knows I am human."

She grinned, "Maybe, maybe not. Good bye my Ruya, enjoy the ride now, you are already involved."

"I am not involved in anything, I am taking Wang's mark tomorrow."

She tutted, "You took a gift from Jashuen Xergo, and he didn't ask for anything in return? How so... well maybe," she hissed, "because you are branded."

"What does that mean?" Branded like a cattle for slaughter?

She leaned closer, but did not dare touch me again, "In our world predators mark their preys, and they gift them a branding jewel as their symbolic way of protecting their property. You have received the same my love, you aren't a slave nor would you be his team mate, you are now branded as his, meaning he has targeted you as his goal."

I pushed her away, watching her smirk grow wider, even though I am sure she felt the spark of my protective barrier against her skin.

"We are just friends."

"I believe you," she said innocently, "but isn't that your point of view."

"I am straight if you haven't learned already."

"It is Jashuen we are talking about, and he isn't just any man, if I hadn't been on the Queen's side, he would have been my goal."

"As if he would have been interested in you."

She laughed, "Careful there, your jealousy is showing, no wonder he branded you."

And with that said she left me alone with me thoughts. Jashuen's gift burning hot under my sudden attention.

Luer could be saying rubbish for all I knew, but then, what if she wasn't, had Jashuen really branded me? It was worse than being marked.

"Shit," I cursed, punching the wall next to me.

~

Mark

~

I waited as Wang brought a cup of coffee for me, and JAYBEE, sitting on the window seat

JAYBEE the whole time was smirking at me, clearly insinuating something vulgar, but I wasn't a fan of Wang, as much as JAYBEE liked to believe. So no, Wang just brought me a coffee, there was nothing else there.

"JAYBEE, what have we got."

The lad thankfully gave me a reprieve, turning to Wang with a new grin. "I heard the two werewolves on your side are getting chummy with Aariye, are they joining them?"

"Which two?" Wang questioned.

"Yuho and Blen, they even invited him and his troop to Bambam's party tonight. How did that happen?"

"But wasn't Yuho rejected by Xergo?" I asked in confusion, "Why would he associate himself with that guy again."

"Clearly you didn't hear about it," JAYBEE snorted, putting down his milkshake, "Yuho, that young alpha pup actually killed for Jashuen Xergo. Blen was with him. Those two are potential mates, so their strength together was impressive."

I sighed, closing my eyes briefly. "Who was the victim?"

"One of the queen's."

Our table fell silent.

"Did Xergo ask Yuho to kill her's? He never before made any moves."

JAYBEE shrugged, "Nobody knows for sure, but if Aariye and team are talking to him, then that means, they accept his... sacrifice."

"Rose won't let this go," Wang mumbled, trying not to attract too much attention to our table.

"I am rather amused," JAYBEE declared, "Jashuen Xergo had been silent for a long time, but now he suddenly condones Yuho's play. It wouldn't have meant anything if he had kept himself shy of this, but he is letting his immediate associate with the culprit. It is something that Rose is confused about, she has been trying her best to not show since morning, but I had went to see her first hand after this murder and she looked very pale."

"She is frightened and so are other family heads."

JAYBEE agreed, he was part of Rose's team, but he was a hunter like us and had chosen to support her, we never knew why but he was a good friend and even a better informant. Though he wasn't a spy, just told the obvious, while also keeping his secrets intact.

"And speaking of, this Seraun and Sian, have they considered themselves some sort of God? Or perhaps another Jashuen Xergo."

I shook my head tiredly and JAYBEE elaborated, "I know they are humans but they are so naive, didn't they know they should keep quiet in front of the queen. It was their first week."

"They are just humans, they didn't know anything about the ongoings," Wang defended, "Nobody had told them before of what to do and what not to, Mark did give them a hint but it seems to me like Luer came in between."

JAYBEE laughed, "Yes, that girl was smitten with Seraun, she kept ranting about how she would suck him of-"

"Please," I interrupted, "I do not want to hear the details."

"Well then, she was so angry when Seraun humiliated her in front of the queen."

"And the Queen?"

"Rose was silent, which is more dangerous than her anger. A silent Rose is a conniving monster." JAYBEE rarely ever kept his snide remarks aside and it showed, he was fearless, but still bowed to Rose.

"She would poison you for calling her a monster."

"Nah, she likes it."

Well, seemed like he wasn't wrong.

"I think Ruya is just impulsive," I regarded, "and more emotional, Sian is much more clever than him."

"Still he remains by his side like a sidekick," Wang put in.

"I have heard he was seen with Seok and also with Gigi," JAYBEE reminded us.

"Seok and Gigi don't just associate with anyone," I had never seen the blond group act out before.

"Never."

"What is so special about them?" JAYBEE asked, "all I see is a duo of stupids."

"They refused to take the mark yesterday, I had offered."

JAYBEE silently watched Wang, looking puzzled, "They joining team Jashuen Xergo then?"

"No," I confirmed, "but Ruya is the indecisive one. And he seems to know Jashuen Xergo."

"So..." JAYBEE paused, "does that have to do with the rumor of them making out in class?"

Huh?

"Ruya is straight JAYBEE, Edward had first hand experience, he told me."

"You sure?"

"100 percent, he cringes at the thought of liking men." I had seen him with my own two eyes.

"Then rumors sure are getting vaguer by the day."

"You won't be coming for Bambam's party will you," I asked him ending the discussion.

He shook his head, "You two enjoy your team, and tell me if you see Aariye, things are bound to get interesting when he makes a moves."

~

Ruya

~

The party was at full swing when I arrived with Sian, I could hear the loud beats even from outside.

The relatively silent night in the north block seemed even more prominent now.

Blen and Yuho had reached earlier than us so they were probably inside. And the only thing stopping us from going in was a decorative neon door.

So Sian knocked on it and I wasn't surprised to see no one there, it was an enchanted door. So it opened on its own.

"Seems like everyone is invited."

I agreed with Sian, but things in a night crawler community were certainly interesting.

The grand opening, seemed to be fitted with giant corridor, upon which neon lights flashed the dim interiors made of intermediately arranged Tuscan columns.

The pointed arched passage lead us towards a more louder place of gathering. Which we assumed was where the main party was taking place.

But unfortunately, the opening we found was an eating dining space with great number of pleasant aesthetics. The people gathered here were all students and seemed to be filling their plates with various types of extravagant dishes.

I didn't mind the delicious aroma reaching my nose, but we had to be somewhere which wasn't here. So we rushed to a new direction, ending up at a totally crowded place.

The loud music, the dark atmosphere, flashing lights, the strong stench of alcohol and drugs, everything was here.

"Where will we find Yugyeom and Yuho in this mess?" I shouted over to Sian, who was already looking around at the half drunk chaotic crowd.

"I will search around you go and stay over there, I don't want you getting lost on me."

I looked at the shady corner where a small chair was placed, a table full of beer cups next to it.

"I am not a baby Sian, I will search too."

Sian rolled his eyes, even in the dark I could see it, "Just go and listen to me for once."

I wanted to stomp my way across the hall, but then decided against it. What good would it do for me.

Once in the corner, sitting on the chair, I had a clearer view of the occupants, and curse my eyes, all I could see were people dry humping against each other, girls fondling each other's body and kissing each other erotically. Males either half dressed in the crowd touching others, or doing drugs and drinking all over their friends.

It was as if someone had sent in a succubus team of exhibitionist here to perform the most outgoing sexual act they had in their arsenal.

I had to close my eyes when a particular sight caught me, it was a couple doing 69, against the wall. All I could think of was how strong the male's arms would have to be to hold his female partner up like that.

I shook my head, Yuho had been right, it was nasty. At one look it looked like it was the normal everyday party, but staying here a bit longer had shown me too much to consider it normal anymore.

People could be so shameless, I wondered how long I had to stay here, the tension and the noise in the air already making my head ache.

Good thing was, I had yet to see vampires sucking blood and werewolves rutting. Oh wait...

Sorry, I saw both. I knew I wasn't hallucinating.

Where was Sian, coming to this party was a bad idea.

"Ruya!"

I turned in the direction of the voice and found Blen with Sian and Yuho, I absently noted that we all were wearing black, like variations of designs, but all black.

And I wondered if I had dressed too much for the occasion.

"You both want to dance a bit?" Blen opted to ask. "Since you know, we are dressed to kill."

I looked at the crowd suspiciously, "Too much in there but... I could try." I had wanted to get away, but now, if I tried to, I realized Yuho and Blen would start thinking of me as a nerd or a prude or something along the lines. So I agreed.

--

After 47 bumps, 3 toe stepping and 23 assault on my hips and thighs, I finally let out a breath of relief when Sian decided we needed to eat and drink first.

I was sweating profusely due to the suffocating crowd and crazy dancing, it was only when we stepped out in the open corridors did I realize I did had a bit of fun and even if it was in the mix of nasty crowd.

"That was nice, I don't even remember who it was I kicked," Sian confessed and we all laughed.

"Well if we had company then such incidences wouldn't have happened," I was being cheeky towards Blen and Yuho, it was interesting watching them do hip thrusts and tango on the floor. Their hands not staying to themselves. it was like they had forgotten all about us.

But I was happy for them, they were serious about each other as far as I knew.

"So we gonna eat?"

"I have a few friends," Yuho told both of us nervously, "I would like to i-introduce you both to them, they are nice, different team but great. I... I think they would like you."

"Oh then let's go!" Sian yelled at the top of his lungs, he was excited, mostly his adrenaline rush.

--

Once in the dinning hall, we were surprised to see Aariye and June, both of them eagerly shaking hands with the werewolf duo.

Sian just greeted them with a big smile and I echoed the gesture.

"Coincidence isn't it, that we know each other," June acknowledged and that broke the silence as Sian started with his party experience asking them about the rest, mainly Seok and Gigi.

"Sadly they weren't able to come, but maybe next time."

Sian pouted at Aariye, "But they said they would come, last minute drop isn't nice."

"I feel the same way, but they got called suddenly, things got rushed and so they couldn't come."

I understood the complications, they could arrive anytime, "Then let's enjoy with the members who are present."

Everyone agreed and we found a big table for ourselves.

The 6 of us enjoyed the hot food and chattered about our teacher, classmates, hobbies, classes, etc. I didn't put in much from my side, but it was comfortable and that's what I had wanted. The loudness of the party hall reaching us less.

My ears were still ringing though.

"Want to try out the Sasame sweet cakes?" Aariye looked very eager for us to try and from what I could see, he liked the dish himself so much that he wanted everyone to taste it.

"I can try," I volunteered and Aariye happily presented me with the food item. The cake size wasn't big, it was just the size of small strawberries.

I picked up one cake and everyone watched me in anticipation, as I bit into the white product.

After I chewed it and tasted it well, I found that I liked it, it was not bitter, not salty, just sweet and minty. It was tasty.

"It is good," I praised and Aariye babbled about how it was meant to be his secret recipe.

"And speaking of recipe, where is Bambam? He was the main ingredient." June pointed out, his eyes looking around at the increasing footfall of the crowd.

"Don't know, must be somewhere, who knows, the host is always busy," Blen opted to state.

I tuned out the conversation in the favor of drinking my daily tonic, the vial small enough to not bother me as I carried it in my pockets. I didn't particularly hide it, but I wasn't keen on letting anyone see it, so I drank it when no one was looking my way.

But before I could keep away the vial, my throat started to burn strangely and my stomach became queasy.

I coughed, suddenly garnering attention, had I not done the right thing by taking it just after the sweet cake?

"Ruya what happened? You okay?" Sian sounded worried but my focus was on not showing my hurt face, it burned now, even in my stomach.

"How much had you had to drink." June asked kindly, as the rest of the table fell silent, they were all looking at me now as I started to groan aloud.

"He didn't drink at all, not even a sip," Sian elaborated, his attention on me.

I cried when a particularly nasty burn started to spread in my stomach and throat.

"You want to go back, what happened, where does it hurt?" Blen was as frustrated as Sian, worrying over me.

"Did you eat something bad?" Aariye asked.

I opened my eyes to them when I suddenly knew of a reason. "Y-You gave me that cake... w-what was in it?"

I knew it would be the cake, because my daily doze of medicine had no such side effects.

"Well it wasn't poisoned if you are asking."

I shook my head, "No need to be defensive, just tell me, what you put in it as an ingredient."

"Densnag twigs, Oruk leaves-"

"Shit," I breathed out heavily, my eyes closing back again as I leaned over to keep my head on the table.

"What is happening," June asked with concern, even though he wasn't really my friend, "what, are you allergic to it?"

I nodded shakily, still not looking at them, trying not to feel worse, my throat drying up fast, "I am allergic to Oruk leaves."

"Ruya, do you need to go see a doctor? Is it hurting much?" I could feel how worried Sian was getting.

"I have antidotes in my wardrobe," Yuho remembered, "I am a fast runner as well, I will bring it, it helps with allergies, any kind. And it will take some time to reach out for a doctor now at midnight, my way would be faster."

It was already midnight? Where had all the time gone to?

"It won't react negatively will it?" It was Aariye, his concern for a practical stranger baffling to me.

"No it won't, every allergy has the same root cause, I am sure it would work out well."

"Then go, we are waiting."

Everyone agreed with Blen and I was rushed out of the eatery to the outside lounge room, it was more peaceful and less agonizing here.

I felt the sofa beneath me dip under my weight as June settled me down. I think he carried me, for I was in no state to walk. My body was convulsing slightly, which was a very bad sign.

"I think even if Yuho is going for the anti," Aariye suggested as the rest listened, including me, "we can contact a doctor until then, the aftereffects could be bad."

"Then I will do that," June agreed, "I will come back soon, take care of him."

And after he left, Aariye sighed heavily and apologized to me for his mistake, "If I had known it would be poisonous for you..."

"I-It's alright," I whispered, it was now hurting too much to speak. "Sorry for dampening the mood."

Sian snorted, "Shut it, I am not yet that inhuman to make you embarrassed for this. It was an accident."

"Agreed," Blen stated.

Aariye chuckled, "We are sappy no?"

Everyone laughed at that, even me, though it hurt worse.

"Can I go outside?" I asked softly, "I will wait by the square around the entrance. It is too warm here." It was making me restless.

--

So I ended up sitting in front of the fountain outside the building, my stomach and throat burning and my eyes hurting. But the cool temperature of the night and the water body behind me was soothing.

I didn't dare to open my eyes though.

"The air is fresh, seems nice," Aariye muttered to himself, "at least the noise isn't killing my ears anymore."

"Yuho is taking his time," Blen added as a reminder. He was fretting I guess. And it made me feel his warmth, our bond of friendship strengthening. However I didn't want him to worry this much over me.

Sian sighed, his movement disturbing me since I was leaning against his shoulder. "We should be positive here, crossing over half the campus takes time."

"And finding a good doctor in the middle of the night does as well." Aariye said, sounding irritated. "They have emergency staff everywhere, but just yesterday they were called for a meeting in the arcs which goes for two whole days, so for until then only the student staff is available, which is just bad luck."

A minute later we heard someone's footsteps echo around the square and when the steps stopped I heard Aariye sigh with relief, "And here we thought you had left."

"I was going to leave, but settled for tomorrow."

Oh.

It was Jashuen. Only his presence seemed this unreal.

"And you couldn't have arrived at a better time." Aariye spoke with a smile.