Mai opened her eyes then quickly squinted them back. The afternoon sun dazzled his eyes. Where is this? What happened? Mai looked around her, it was like she was in a park. Suddenly someone grabbed her arm and made Mai gasp, Mai turned her head. A boy lay beside her with a bloody head, his hand gripped Mai's arm then his closed eyes opened, looking at her sharply and coldly. Mai screamed hysterically, she didn't dare to look anymore. Slowly the hand no longer gripped then Mai fearfully opened her eyes again. This time she was in a room but this room was similar to a hospital treatment room. A boy lay weakly on the bed with his head wrapped in a bandage. Mai slowly approached, wanting to know who it was. His mouth opened when he recognized who it was, the boy. Someone tapped her on the shoulder and Mai turned her head.
"It's your fault... Your fault!" snapped a girl she didn't know. The girl was beautiful, her eyes and hair were brown just like the boy. Mai shook her head. She was scared.
"You have to take responsibility!" said the girl again. Mai shook her head while covering her ears. Then there were other people behind the girl, an old man, and an old woman. They looked angry and fierce. Point at her and talk like that girl.
"It's all your fault, you're hurting him!" they accused her.
"No, no!!" Mai screamed, then everything was dark.
Mai opened her eyes. Her breath hitched.
Just a dream... it was just a dream, she thought but the dream was different, she was in the hospital.
Mai is getting more and more confused. She looked around her, where is this? The smell of medicine is strong. White curtains, white sheets, and pillows. It's like... At the clinic. Mai immediately sat down, her head felt dizzy. She looked down at her bandaged hand. Huh, when did I get hurt huh?
"Mai, you're awake, I was really worried. Thomas told me that you fell and then you were hysterical. You came back again, duh, you must be really scared." A girl hugs her.
The girl was wearing a black and white dress and also two braids, dress code orientation. Mai recognizes her as Ivani, one of her best friends, who is closest to her among her other four friends. Ivani is also the one who worries the most if Mai's illness recurs like it is now.
Wait, did I fall? How can I fall? Mai's focus was distracted by Ivani's words just now. Oh yeah, she was being punished for being late and told to run around the field, and then she fell and bled. Mai shuddered, she let go of Ivani's arms and looked at her knees. Her knee was bandaged too. Did she faint? She didn't remember what happened after she fell. Who took her to the clinic?
"Why me?" She asked.
"You don't remember?" Ivani asked back.
Mai shook her head.
"You fell and got hurt, then you got hysterical," Ivani said.
"Hysterical?" Said Mai. Wow... I mean she was screaming like that, like crazy. Ah, she could have guessed it, the disease recurred. Annoying panic attacks.
The door opened and a man in an alma mater coat with identification appeared, he must be one of the inspection committees. Mai also noticed a white tie marked with a red cross on the man's left arm.
He's the Health Section committee, right? Did he bandage my wound?
Mai turned to his face and instantly got goosebumps. His face was familiar, like familiar.
The man's face reminded Mai of the boy in her dream. A tall man with skin that is too light for a man. His hair is reddish-brown, matching his almond-shaped brown irises. With long and curly eyelashes that make Mai jealous, as well as a sharp nose, Mai knows this man must be a half-blood. He is handsome, very handsome.
Mai immediately lowered her gaze, she felt uncomfortable because the man was also looking back at her. The look in his eyes was familiar to her.
"Ah, it's Aaron. He brought you to the clinic and treated you," Ivani said awkwardly. Ivani always does that in front of handsome men, especially when it comes to Caucasians, foreign men are Ivani's favorite type. Mai smiled slightly at Ivani's behavior, forgetting for a moment her uncomfortable feelings.
"Well, if you can smile, it means you're feeling better," said Aaron, greeting him in a friendly manner.
"Mmm, yes. I'm getting better, thank you," said Mai slowly. I hope she doesn't do anything embarrassing. She had no recollection of what happened after she fell.
Aaron approached her, standing next to Ivani. Their close enough distance made Mai's uncomfortable feeling resurface. The girl chose to lower her gaze, not daring to look at the owner of those brown eyes.
"Your injuries are minor but I'm more worried about the panic attack. Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.
Gosh, I had a panic attack in front of him. What does he think of me? He must think I'm a crazy woman.
Mai's face immediately turned red with embarrassment. It felt like she wanted to drown herself in the sea.
"Sorry, I've caused trouble." Said Mai.
"It's okay. The important thing is that you're feeling better now. You don't have to go into activities first. Just rest here, okay? If there's anything you can just tell me." Aaron said with a smile at her.
Mai glanced at her interlocutor briefly, stunned for a moment when she saw the smile on that face. The man looks even more handsome when he smiles. Ivani was even more than stunned, the girl froze with a blush on her cheeks. Gosh... It's obvious, Mai is embarrassed.
"I'll accompany her here for a while, okay?" Ivani asked in a spoiled voice as she began to realize the effects of her enchantment.
"Yeah, sure. I'll go first, ya," said Aaron with a farewell.
Ivani glanced at Mai and chuckled. Mai looked at her as a strange person.
"Oh my God, Mai. He's so cute. Why didn't Thomas tell you that he had a friend like him." Ivani said.
"Aaron's friend Thomas?" Said Mai.
"Yeah... He's a medical student, second year, and hopefully, he's still single." Ivani said with a smile to herself.
Mai shook her head. How could the girl fantasize in an unpleasant situation like this?
"Mai... You're okay right?" said Thomas. He entered suddenly along with a senior who was nicknamed Mai as the hedgehog man.
"It's all right, Thom." Said Mai.
"You make me anxious, you know that?" said Thomas.
There was a subtle swish that Mai felt when Thomas said those words. The attention that Mai craves, even if it's only a friend for now.
The hedgehog man looks engrossed in chatting with Ivani. It seems Ivani has already met him. Sometimes Mai feels jealous of Ivani who is easier to get along with anyone, unlike her who takes longer to interact with new people.
"I must be embarrassing. People must think I'm a crazy woman." Said Mai.
"Hahaha yeah you're embarrassing," Thomas said matter-of-factly.
Mai pouted too. As a friend, Thomas is sometimes too direct. His out-of-place honesty hit Mai's feelings.
"Because you're not only crying and screaming but also hugging people carelessly," Thomas said, he hasn't finished talking yet.
Mai's eyes narrowed. Hugging? Hugging who? She couldn't possibly hug Thomas right. Oh my gosh.
Mai's heart almost burst out at the thought of hugging the man she likes. Her cheeks immediately felt hot and might turn red.
"Sorry, Thom," Mai said while hiding her face. Mai wrung her own hands, embarrassed.
"Well why apologize to me. Apologize to Aaron there. Suddenly you hugged him, bypassing out in his arms again, and he was forced to carry you all the way here. By the way, it seems those women are getting jealous seeing you. Naturally, Aaron has a lot of fans." said Thomas.
Mai gawked. This is more than just embarrassing. This is a disaster! She hugged the unknown man subconsciously. Oh My God. If father finds out, she could be hanged.
"What? Did you hug Aaron? Fainted? Carried all the way here?" Ivani said by repeating Thomas's words, her face was between shock, envy, and dislike.
"Yee, it's normal. Why? Do you want to be hugged too?" Said the hedgehog man teasing her. Ivani glared at him.
"Why are the new kids this year brave. There's no respect for their seniors. What's good about it?" The hedgehog man said while holding his chin.
"Ah, I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm fine. I'm ready to join the Ospek activities again." Mai said, she immediately felt bad, afraid of being punished again. The hedgehog man laughed.
"It's not you... that Thomas, really annoying," said the man.
Mai was confused, she glanced at the hedgehog man and Thomas alternately. He needed an explanation.
"Oh yes, Mai. This is Riven, my bandmate. I think I've told you before but you may have forgotten. You already know Aaron, he's the vocalist of The Gray Whale, Riven's cousin." Thomas said by introducing Riven formally.
Mai also remembers. It seems that Thomas did tell the story. Thomas had a band with Eddo one of her best friends and three other guys, called The Gray Whale. Mai forgot the names of the three men because they were not in the same school and at the same time in different batches. Turns out they were Thomas' bandmates.