"Miss Turner are you listening?" asked the History Teacher. Nobody responded and Sei felt her neighbour nudge her with her elbow. She looked at him and was astonished by his beauty even tough he was frowning actually.
'What are you doing? ' was he mimicking to her with an urgent look in his eyes. She started frowning too.
—Answer. It's you Miss Turner ! —
—Oh my, Dotti. Are you the one talking in my head ?—
—Yes, Dumbo. Now, answer—
—Hey, you're the one who threw me here without explanation so don't insult me—
Realizing that she was the one called, she answered hastily.
"No"
She heard several people gasping.
"Miss Turner, do you feel well ?" the teacher asked again, looking worried this time.
".....No" Sei answered hesitantly. She suddenly noticed that she was feeling feverish and her throat was sore.
—Dotti, help ! Can you please explain who and where I am ? I'm starting to feel sick—
—You're Melanie Turner, one of the top students of the High school. She's a senior and she's an hard-working person who won't miss a class even if she's sick. You're actually in your history class and you're not focused. Which is unlikely of the usual Melanie. Don't raise suspicions—
—Whose fault if I'm raising suspicions actually ?—
"You should go to the infirmary then. Can you go alone?"
".....No"
Her head started pounding and her heart rate increased.
'Why would you come while being so sick' Sei thought trying her best to stay conscious. 'Okay now I'm Melanie'
"Mister Matthew, can you accompany her ?"
"Yes, Sir"
The hot guy next to her stood up and held her arm so she wouldn't loose balance while getting up.
Melanie felt like she could faint anytime on her way to the infirmary. Usually she could withstand feeling a bit sick but it seemed that this time was quite serious.
Gayle helped her lay on the bed and saw her sighing in relief. Even though they weren't close, they knew each other since freshman. They always competed against each other for grades and during contest, which create a certain amount of respect between them. He was so used to her cold and efficient attitude that seeing her trying to hold her trembling, made her look so vulnerable.
—Ting! Gayle's Lovemeter increase by 0.5—
—Lovemeter ? But most importantly, 0.5 ?! IS THIS A JOKE ?!—
—Don't scream. It's on a scale of 10 and his lovemeter is already at 4.5. I can make it a scale of 100 or use hearts above his head if you want —
—No need. Adding a 0 won't change the final result anyway and the heart will be too distracting for me. What about the mission I had to complete? Is it related to the lovemeter of this cutie next to me?—
—...Somehow. But first of all you have to make him leave. Melanie's character setting don't allow you to let people see her when she's the weakest—
—What? Look at his face. He looks so concerned that he can jump out of the window if I tell him that it will heal me. This is good opportunity to fill his lovemeter.—
—You don't even know if you really need to fill it. Why are you such a troublemaker? Just listen to me and make him leave—
—Okay, okay—
"Thank you, Gayle. You can leave now" Melanie said without even looking at him.
"The doctor isn't there. I can't leave alone while you're like this"
Melanie stiffened while hearing his concerned voice. She could easily imagined the look on his face too. She had always hated it when people pitied her.
"I'll be fine. Please leave now. You can't do anything for me and you'll just miss the class"
There was a moment of silence before she heard the metal chair rub against the ground.
"Okay....Take care"
Sei waited a bit after the door closed before starting whining.
"In addition to the fever, I felt like someone beat me to the pulp. All my body is aching."
"Her abusive mother probably beat her again" Dotti said while appearing next to her.
"Excuse me, what ?"
"Let me give you the world setting. Melanie actually lives with her abusive and alcoholic mom, which also addicted to money games"
"The usual trashy mom so"
"Yes. In the original storyline, she will drag Melanie with her in her precarity. Melanie will have to take several little jobs instead of pursuing university, in order to repay her mom's game debts."
"Why did she just ditch her ?"
"Even though, her mom was a burden to her, she was still her only family. Just like you and your NaNa "
"Don't compare my NaNa to this woman. But I got what you said"
"Several years later, her mom will die, still leaving with mountains of debt. Melanie was left with no other choices than to continue to repay since the creditors would come after her. She managed to pay it all but at the end she was run over by car without being able to truly enjoy her life"
"I feel you girl. If I could I would banish cars in novels or dramas."
"What non sense are you saying ? Anyways one of Melanie's regrets was missing an important science contest during her senior year in high school. The prize could have prevent her for taking jobs after her graduation since she could have cover her mom's debt at that time. Your mission is to win this contest. Easy, right ?"
"....I barely keep up with any of my science class, so winning a contest...."
"Don't worry. It's 'Melanie' the one who will compete. You just have to make her attend the contest."
"By all means ?"
—I'll first take care of her useless mom—
—You can't do that !—
—You're spying on my thoughts again !—
—The moment you accepted my proposal I got access to all of your memories and thoughts. Even the dirtiest ones. You really ain't a virgin in your mind anymore—
—Is privacy a foreign concept to you, Dotti ? You can't search someone's secrets like this. And when were you planning on telling me this ? —
—....Now ? —
"You can't act too much out of character's original behaviors or you'll failed the world"
"I can failed a world ?"
"Oh the doctor is here, I'll answer you later" Dotti said before disappearing.
—Dotti, answer me !—