Arwen, his face contorted in pain, managed to explain through clenched teeth, "I got hit by a ball on the nose while playing volleyball. It hurts, and it won't stop bleeding."
Nurse Logan nodded empathetically. "Let's take a look and see what we can do," he said, leading Arwen to a nearby examination table. Gently, Nurse Logan examined Arwen's nose, assessing the damage. After a few moments, he let out a sigh of relief. "Good news... Your nose isn't broken," he assured him, his words offering a glimmer of comfort.
Nurse Logan placed a bag of ice wrapped in a cloth against Arwen's swollen nose, providing immediate relief. He then reached into his drawer, retrieving a small bottle of painkillers. "Take these, they'll help ease the discomfort. It will be a little swollen for a few days but your nose will be good as new," he said, handing Arwen a glass of water.
Arwen gratefully accepted the painkillers and took a sip of water. As the coolness of the ice and the medication took effect, a wave of relief washed over him.
Keele walked over seeing how red his nose was her brows knitted. "Is it painful?"
she asked and Arwen shyly shook his head no. Keele sat next to him and pulled out some candy from her pocket and Arwen was a little confused.
How many things did she have in there? She was like a magician pulling a lot of things out of a bag of tricks. Kilin's phone buzzed in her pocket and she stepped out. The message was from her mother. It seemed that she wouldn't be able to pick her up and her uncle wasn't back yet.
She had already asked Luna's mother about it and she agreed that Kilin could take a ride with Luna. Kilin didn't like this suggestion at all. Luna was bearable but her aunt who didn't even know how they were related always gave her that look that I am only tolerating you and I don't like you.
Kiki: Why can't I just take an e-hail cab or something?
Kiki: I can even go with Keele at home.
While she was waiting for her mother's response she heard someone speaking beside her.
"Hey... I am sorry that you had to witness that. I just lost myself in the spirit of competition," said Ross and Kilin didn't understand why he was apologising to her. She wasn't the one who was bonked on the head with a volleyball.
"You don't need to apologise to me," he said dismissively as she glanced at her phone. Her mum had replied to her message.
"I also need to apologise on Wyatt's behalf. It was a stupid dare and he had to get you involved," he suddenly said and Kilin who had her head lowered about to open up the chat box with her mother was startled.
"What do you mean a stupid dare?" she asked her voice devoid of any warmth like when she spoke to Keele. Ross's Adam's apple rippled his breath stagnated. He thought she had already seen it on the school forum. Someone at the party that night had already spilled their guts and it became hot gossip. She was being made fun of for believing that Wyatt would set his eyes on her. It was ridiculous to think of.
***
Bang! Bang Bang! Bang!
"You will hurt yourself if you keep throwing balls like that?" said Keele worried for her.
She left Kilin for a second and when she came out of the infirmary, the girl was fuming like a bull ready to ram Ross into the wall.
"A dare... it was all for a freaking dare and here I was thinking well, I don't know... that he changed his mind or something. But nooooooo, it was a freaking dare. A sick and twisted game for their amusement."
Keele, "..."
She desperately wanted to murder Ross. Kilin was perfectly fine not knowing that information.
After finishing picking up the balls Kilin put them in storage. It was then that her phone rang and her heart froze seeing that her aunt was calling her.
"Ugh, fudge. I forgot to reply to my mum. My aunt is picking me and I told her I would rather go home with you or order a ride," she said and Keele felt for her. That aunt of hers always looked at Kilin like she owed her billions.
"I have to go," she said and Keele hugged her while saying,
"Let's abuse newbies in the game tonight. That always makes you feel better."
In fact, while Kilin was venting it out on the balls she had been imagining them being Wyatt's and his stupid friends. She banged that volleyball so hard in the ball cart that it almost toppled over.
***
Mrs Branson, an elegant and affluent woman, sat in the backseat of her sleek Maybach, her slender figure accentuated by a form-fitting pencil skirt and a stylish blouse. Her neck shimmered with expensive jewellery, each piece tastefully chosen to enhance her natural beauty. Thin stilettos adorned her feet, adding a touch of sophistication to her ensemble.
Beside her, Luna was doing her homework on her tablet her expression serious like it was due any time soon. Mrs Branson's impatience was palpable as she tapped her perfectly manicured nails on the armrest, casting disapproving glances at the school's entrance.
"Where is she?" Mrs Branson asked sharply, her voice laced with irritation. "I explicitly told her mother that she should be ready on time. We have a busy schedule today, and she knows better than to keep us waiting. Tsk, what more can you expect from a mistress."
As if summoned by her words, Kilin darted out of the school's entrance her hair a dishevelled mess with a backpack slung over her shoulder.
She hurriedly made her way towards the car. The driver, a stoic figure in a crisp uniform, swiftly opened the door for Kilin, who stumbled inside, breathless and apologetic. "I'm so sorry, Aunt Scarlet. I had to pick up sports equipment," she stammered, her voice filled with genuine regret.
Mrs Branson's icy gaze met Kilin's, but there was no warmth or forgiveness in her eyes. She simply turned her head, redirecting her attention to the passing scenery outside the tinted windows, ignoring Kilin's presence as if she were invisible.
As the car drove off the atmosphere at the back was extremely tense she asked, "Don't they have people to do that?"
Kilin felt so suffocated being here. She just couldn't understand why her mother forced her to interact with this aunt of hers. It was obvious that she didn't like her.