He's Thoughts

Dylan POV

I took overtime today because I have a lot of outputs to read that my students submitted this morning. I told myself that I will rest my body once I got home but as I walk towards the parking lot where my car is parked, I suddenly saw Anika walking but it looks like she's not okay. I was about to approach her but she suddenly falls off her feet. I ran to her to check if she's okay, but I saw that she passed out. Then a light shines in her chest, "Anika! Anika!" I called but she doesn't respond. I carried her and bring her to my apartment to take care of her and to make sure that she's going to be okay.

Once we got to my apartment, I immediately lay her onto my bed. I'm still worried about the light that keeps on glowing on her chest. She's not in pain though but the light keeps on glowing. I don't know what or how to take care of her, I've never encountered something like this before. I touch her forehead to see if she's feeling hot or cold, but her temperature seems normal. She's just unconscious and the light keeps on glowing.

I took a chair and sat beside her, I didn't know what do to make her feel better. Maybe I should just watch her whole night, maybe she just needs to rest a little bit to recover her strength again. I stood up and took the readings that I needed to check while I watch her.

But while I do my readings, I can't help myself get worried about the light that continuously glowing in her chest. "As long as you're not in pain Anika." I know you'll be okay. I whispered to myself and kept on telling myself that she will be okay and that light will eventually be gone.

A few hours later, the light is slowly fading away. I know Anika is strong and she'll be better soon. Now I know that I should just let her take a rest for the night. I wonder what happened to her and put her in that situation.

When I finished my readings, I looked at her and saw that the light in her chest is finally gone. Now all I need to wait is for her to wake up. It's a relief for me that the light is already gone. I stood up to get some coffee for myself, to keep me awake all night, and also to watch over her. But as I drink my coffee, I realized that I treat Anika differently today.

I have a feeling that whenever she's hurt or sad, I got worried and also hurt whenever I saw her crying herself out. I haven't felt this feeling ever since... since... Nicole was still alive. I opened the drawer of my bedside table and took a photo of me and Nicole when we were in middle school.

"I told myself that I will never feel this feeling again," I whispered as I look onto our photo. Then I remembered what Nicole told me before, she told me that "You'll learn to love again." I looked at Anika and thought of what Nicole said. "Maybe I could" I whispered, I sat next to her and looked at her. I really have changed and the reason for that is you.

After a few hours, I didn't realize that I slept a little. I looked at the time and it's already 4:06 am, I check Anika if she's okay. But her right arm caught my eye, her arm seems like it's slipping away slowly. "Anika?" I said as I hold her left hand. She's really cold, I really got worried about what is happening to her. I thought she's getting better but it seems like she's disappearing.

I just kept on holding her hand and I don't want to let go. If she's going to slip away, at least I held her hand until the end. It is now clear, she's already special to me.

I didn't sleep after that, I kept on watching her but the good thing is that she's already okay. She's not feeling cold anymore and her arm is already not slipping away. It's a relief for me that she's okay. Maybe I should offer her some soup so that she could eat. I know she's a ghost but maybe she would feel better if I offer her something to fill up her stomach. I went out just to buy her some soup.

When I got back, Anika is already awake and doing well. "Oh, it's just you. I thought..." she stopped when I walk inside and then I went straight to the kitchen counters. "What? A demon kidnaped you?" I said to her. I don't know what I should react, should I show her that I got worried? or just act normal?

But in the end, I think I didn't show that I got worried. Maybe it's not right to tell her, because why would a person get worried about a ghost who is already dead? But I don't know if it's right, maybe I should take the time.

After a few hours, I was about to go to work but I didn't saw where Anika go. She's feeling okay now so maybe she going outside wandering around. I should stop worrying about her because I know that she could take care of herself. But I also hope that I would be the one to take care of her and also to help her whenever she's in need. But right now, I'm busy and I need to finish some readings. It's almost exam week and I need to finish my exam papers.

I drove to the university hoping that Anika will be safe while I'm at work and I hope that what happened to her last night, would never happen again.

After a few hours, my morning class is done and I have free time until the afternoon. I was about to grab something to eat when my phone rang, and Faye is calling. "Yes, Faye?" I asked why did she call me. "I'm just hoping that I could have lunch with you today. Are you in?" Faye asked me and I said yes. We decided to eat on the school grounds. The school grounds are really wide and perfect for a picnic, especially in today's weather. Just cloudy weather is perfect for a picnic.

"You look different today," Faye told me as we ate our lunch. I got confused about what she said, what's so different? I wore my uniform, I didn't fix my hair today. "What do you mean?" I asked her. "You look... happy," she said with a smile on her face. "Maybe there is something that I'm already sure about," I said, and as I said that, I was thinking about Anika. It is really clear to me now, that Anika is special to me.

"And what is it?" she continues to ask me. I just smiled at her as a response, I don't want to talk about it for now because I know that what I am felt about Anika is really not normal. I'm a person, alive and living but she's dead and a ghost. Maybe the best thing to do for her is to just help her achieve her peace.

And maybe...

Just maybe...

Stop thinking that she'll be more than a friend to me.

To be Continued...