Did He Poison Me?

Amelia's soft gaze hardened slightly, her intuition detecting the undercurrents of distress radiating off Shakky. She carefully put Aria down on the makeshift bed nearby. The child stirred slightly before sinking back into sleep's arms. Rising, Amelia moved toward Shakky, her eyes examining her carefully.

"You are burning," Amelia observed, her hand resting on Shakky's forehead. Shakky blinked in surprise, her mind thrown off its tumultuous train of thoughts.

"Am I sick?" Shakky asked, more to herself than Amelia. Could her strange feelings, the maelstrom of emotions churning within her, be symptoms of some illness?

Amelia frowned, concern knitting her brows together. "I don't know," she confessed. "Jack is the knowledgeable one about medicine. Olvia knows a bit too."

Each name uttered was like a jab to Shakky's heart. Her facial muscles contorted into another grimace, but she quickly masked it with a brittle smile. Amelia, however, wasn't deceived.

"Shakky, is there a problem?" She inquired, her eyes searching Shakky's. "Did something happen between you, Jack, and Olvia?"

Shakky's grimace deepened, her hand clenched into a fist involuntarily. It seemed even her body was rebelling, betraying her emotions.

Amelia sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Come on, let's sit," she proposed, leading Shakky toward a pair of seats nearby. "If you're not feeling well, the last thing you should do is stand."

Shakky acquiesced, allowing Amelia to guide her. They took their seats, an awkward silence hanging heavy between them. Amelia glanced at Shakky, biting her lip as she tried to find the right words.

"Shakky," she began cautiously, "I may not be a doctor, but I know one thing for sure. Sometimes our bodies react to what's happening inside our minds and hearts. Are you sure...are you sure this isn't about Jack?"

Shakky's gaze flinched away, but not before Amelia caught the flicker of vulnerability flashing in her eyes.

Deciding to come clean, Shakky took a deep breath and mustered the courage to speak. "Amelia... I've been feeling... strange," she began, her voice a whisper in the quiet night.

"Strange?" Amelia echoed, her eyebrows knitting together in concern. "How so?"

Shakky hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. She swallowed hard, forcing the lump in her throat down. "I... I can't get Jack out of my mind," she confessed, her voice barely audible.

Amelia studied her friend, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "Go on," she urged gently.

Her heart pounded in her chest, Shakky continued, "I keep thinking about him... wanting to see him. Every time I close my eyes, I see his face." She paused, taking a shaky breath, "And when I do see him... when I saw him earlier tonight... it hurt."

Amelia frowned at Shakky's revelation. "Hurt? Physically?"

Shakky shook her head, her eyes moist with unshed tears. "No, not physically... it's hard to explain. It's like an ache... in my chest, in my heart. I watched him tonight, with Olvia... and it just... it just hurt."

Amelia remained silent, letting Shakky's words sink in. She saw the pain etched on her new friend's face, the confusion and turmoil clear in her eyes. A small, dry chuckle escaped her lips as the realization hit her.

Shakky's gaze shot up to meet Amelia's, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What is it? What's wrong with me, Amelia?"

Amelia gave Shakky a sympathetic smile, gently reaching out to take her hand. "Shakky," she began, her voice soft, yet firm, "You're in love."

"Love?" Shakky tasted the word on her tongue, unfamiliar and strange. She felt a shiver run down her spine as the weight of Amelia's words sunk in. "Is it... is it lethal?"

Amelia couldn't help but burst into laughter at Shakky's earnest question. "No, Shakky," she reassured, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's not lethal. It might feel like it at times, but it's not. It's... it's love."

"Love...is not a disease, Shakky," Amelia assured once again, her eyes twinkling in amusement. "It's a strange, compelling emotion that makes you want to know someone better, to protect them, to spend time with them, and it can be intoxicating, yes. But it's not a curse, either."

Shakky found herself sighing again, frustrated by her lack of understanding, "How can I get better? What is the medicine for this...illness?" she asked, her eyes seeking guidance.

Amelia's laughter rang through the air, rich and warm like the summer sun, "Love is not a sickness that you need to recover from. The 'medicine', as you put it, is to have those feelings returned," she explained.

Shakky blinked in confusion, "Loved back?"

"Yes, Shakky. It means to have the person you love, love you in return."

Shakky seemed to sink into contemplation, her eyes staring blankly at the distant sea. The idea that she was in love with Jack was a foreign concept. The man, with his calm exterior and hidden strength, intrigued her, yes, but love?

Amelia watched Shakky quietly before venturing further, "You've been drawn to Jack, haven't you?" At Shakky's hesitant nod, she continued, "It's not surprising. He possesses a certain charm that women find irresistible. Based on what you told me, it seems another woman has already fallen for his charm."

"I...I am in love with Jack?" Shakky asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. A chill ran down her spine as she considered the possibility, "Did he poison me?"

Amelia laughed again, this time with a hearty note, "No, Shakky. Love is not a poison. You can consider it as...appreciating someone too much. It could be his face," she offered.

Shakky found herself unconsciously nodding at Amelia's words. Indeed, Jack was a handsome man. His features were carved as if by an artist, a perfect balance of strength and elegance.

"Or it could be his character," Amelia continued, interrupting Shakky's thoughts.

Again, Shakky nodded, her mind wandering to their interactions. Jack was undeniably brash at first, a brute who held no regard for her feelings. But beneath that tough exterior, Shakky had glimpsed bravery, intelligence, an unpredictability that was both terrifying and exhilarating, and a steadfast loyalty that she couldn't help but admire.

"Or it could just be their aura. Some call it pheromones, a scent, an energy that they radiate."

Shakky paused at Amelia's words, her brow furrowing in thought. She had always been sensitive to the energies around her, and Jack's aura had indeed intrigued her. It was a powerful, steady energy that both intimidated and attracted her. A mix of calmness and stormy determination, like the serene blue sea before a storm.

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