The air in the infirmary felt thick with tension as Xavier's voice sliced through the quiet room. "What's wrong with her?" His tone was abrupt, sharp, like a demand for answers, not a question. The nurse glanced at him, taken aback by the intensity in his gaze, and for the briefest moment, she wondered who this girl was to him to make him this worked up.
Damon, standing just a step behind, raised his hands in mock surrender. "Bro, chill," he said, trying to ease the atmosphere, but Xavier's glare was enough to send an icy chill down his spine. The look was a silent warning, a reminder of who held the power in this room.
"She's fine," the nurse replied, her voice calm but professional. She paused, observing the boys' puzzled expressions. "It's dysmenorrhea."
"Dys what now?" Damon asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. Zendaya, who had just entered the room, couldn't help but face-palm herself at the boys' obvious ignorance.
"Dysmenorrhea... she's on her period," the nurse clarified, and the discomfort that spread across their faces was almost palpable. It was clear none of them were accustomed to discussing such things so openly, least of all with a nurse in front of them.
Xavier's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. He was still processing the information, his mind racing. "She fainted because of that?" His voice was quieter now, a hint of concern that hadn't been there before.
"Yes," the nurse replied, nodding. "The pain, combined with stress, can sometimes cause someone to faint." She gave them a reassuring smile, though Xavier's brows were still furrowed in worry.
Xavier exhaled slowly, as if the tension in his chest had loosened just a fraction. "Okay," he said softly, though it felt like an effort. The weight of the situation had been almost too much for him to bear, but hearing that she would be fine seemed to offer him a little relief.
The nurse could see that Xavier was hesitating, as if still unsure whether he should leave. His eyes lingered on Kamsi, still unconscious, lying peacefully on the bed. His gaze softened, just for a moment, before he looked back at the nurse.
"She just needs rest," the nurse reassured him, noticing the subtle shift in Xavier's demeanor. "And she can take her medication once she wakes up."
Xavier nodded slowly, but his feet seemed reluctant to move, as if torn between leaving and staying. With a final glance at Kamsi's sleeping form, he turned and left the infirmary, his mind still swirling with unanswered questions.
Zendaya, who had been silently observing him, couldn't help but notice the change in Xavier. There was something different in the way he had acted—something she hadn't seen before. A flicker of genuine concern, even if he was trying to mask it under his usual indifference. She bit her lip, unsure whether she was reading too much into it, but she couldn't shake the thought: **Was he really worried about her?** Perhaps... did he really care?
As the door closed behind him, the quiet hum of the infirmary seemed louder, and the weight of the question lingered in the air, unspoken but pressing.
As they exited the infirmary, the tension in the air was thick. Xavier's eyes immediately locked on Gilbert, who was hurrying toward them with a concerned expression. The urgency in Gilbert's voice was unmistakable.
"How is she?" Gilbert asked, his words laced with worry. The moment Xavier heard them, something inside him twisted. It wasn't the concern he had for Kamsi—it was the way Gilbert seemed so eager, as if he had every right to check on her. Xavier's jaw tightened.
"She's fine," Xavier replied, but his tone was colder than he intended. His frown deepened, and his eyes narrowed. It wasn't just the worry that stung—it was the realization that Gilbert, so calmly and openly, was rushing to Kamsi's side, as though he had any claim on her. The thought alone sent a wave of irritation coursing through him, and for the first time in a long while, he had to fight the urge to punch his friend. Instead, he blocked Gilbert's path, standing firm in front of him.
"She needs to rest," Xavier growled, his voice low, almost possessive.
Damon, who had been watching the exchange with growing amusement, raised an eyebrow. "Bro, chill," he muttered under his breath. But Xavier didn't move, his eyes still locked on Gilbert, who had yet to move aside.
Gilbert shook his head, the corner of his mouth twitching into a small smile. He understood, but he wasn't going to let Xavier's petty jealousy stop him from showing care for Kamsi. "Alright, fine," Gilbert said with a sigh, turning to leave. "But don't take too long. She'll need support."
Xavier remained silent as the group returned to class, his mind buzzing with unspoken thoughts.
---
Kamsi spent the rest of the day in the sick bay, resting as the nurse had advised. When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, she picked up her phone to find a message from her mom. The text read: I'm sorry baby, but I won't be able to pick you up today, there's an emergency at the hospital. Kamsi sighed, rubbing her temple. She'd have to take the bus, again.
Just as she was about to slip her phone into her pocket, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. "Hey, girl," Zendaya greeted, stepping into the room with her usual cheerful energy. But when she saw Kamsi's slightly downcast expression, her smile faltered. "What's wrong?"
Kamsi sighed. "Bad news—my mom's not coming."
Zendaya's shoulders slumped with disappointment, but she quickly brushed it off. "No worries, we'll just take the bus. It's not a big deal."
Before either of them could move, a voice called out from behind them. "Kam!" The two girls turned, surprised to see Gilbert walking toward them, his usual calm demeanor replaced with genuine concern.
"Hey," Kamsi greeted with a smile. She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks from the lingering embarrassment of what had happened earlier, but Gilbert's care for her put her at ease. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes soft and sincere.
"I'm much better," Kamsi replied, smiling faintly. "Thanks for checking on me."
Gilbert nodded, his expression serious. "Good. Then let me drop you off. It's the least I can do."
Kamsi hesitated, opening her mouth to decline, but before she could say anything, Gilbert cut her off. "Come on, I insist," he urged gently, his tone leaving little room for argument. "It's on my way."
"No, really—" Kamsi started, but Gilbert simply raised a hand to stop her.
"No buts," he said firmly, but with a smile that softened the demand. "You're coming with me, alright?"
Before Kamsi could respond, a sharp voice interrupted them. "No, she's not."
The group froze, and they all turned to see Xavier standing there, his posture rigid, his eyes fixed on Gilbert with an intensity that sent a chill down everyone's spine. Gilbert raised an eyebrow at his friend, but his expression didn't falter. He was used to Xavier's mood swings by now.
"And why is that?" Gilbert asked, his voice smooth, almost mocking. He was standing tall now, facing Xavier without backing down.
The silence between the two men was thick, and Kamsi could feel the weight of their gazes on her. Her stomach twisted, and she wished she could just disappear. She didn't want to be caught in the middle of their rivalry.
"Because she's coming with me," Xavier declared, his voice low but confident, filled with a possessiveness that Kamsi couldn't ignore.
Kamsi's heart skipped a beat. She didn't make any plans to go anywhere with anyone, let alone be dragged into a tug-of-war between two guys. Her eyes darted between them, feeling the pressure mounting as both of them looked at her, awaiting her decision. The tension was almost suffocating.
Gilbert shifted his weight, casually slipping his hand into his pocket as he turned his gaze toward Kamsi. "Why don't we let Kam decide for herself?" he said, a faint challenge in his voice.
Xavier followed suit, his gaze narrowing as he too turned to Kamsi, awaiting her answer.
Kamsi's stomach tightened. She hated being put in the middle of this, but there was no escaping it. The weight of both of their gazes felt like a thousand pounds, and for a moment, she wondered if they were both playing some kind of game with her.
"I'll go with Gilbert," Kamsi said quietly, surprising everyone—especially Xavier. His face drained of color, his expression frozen in shock. The declaration left everyone speechless. Xavier, so used to being in control, had never expected her to choose Gilbert over him. His mind reeled as the words sank in. He hadn't anticipated this. He hadn't thought for a second that Kamsi would make that choice. It stung more than he cared to admit.
A smug smile appeared on Gilbert's face, but Xavier stood motionless, his mind racing. Why Gilbert? He could feel the jealousy simmering inside him, and his pulse quickened as he tried to process her decision. No... this couldn't be happening. Had she really chosen Gilbert? Did she like him? No, it didn't matter. Xavier's grip on his emotions tightened. He wasn't going to let this go. He couldn't. He would win her over—no matter what.
As Kamsi, Zendaya, Gilbert, Damon, and Xavier made their way to the car, Xavier's temper flared. Without warning, he stepped forward, giving Damon a subtle, sharp head gesture. Damon looked at him, slightly taken aback, but he knew what Xavier wanted. He quickly moved aside without a word.
Xavier threw Damon his bike keys. "You're riding Jexa," he said, his voice almost casual, but with a possessiveness that didn't go unnoticed.
Damon caught the keys, his eyes widening in disbelief. Jexa was Xavier's prized bike, and no one ever rode it. No one, except him. But now, here he was, offering it to Damon... just so he could be closer to Kamsi.
"Why?" Gilbert asked, raising an eyebrow as he observed Xavier's sudden shift. "I thought you were riding on your own."
Xavier simply shrugged, a childish grin forming on his face. "I changed my mind."
The group stood still for a moment, the air thick with confusion and unspoken emotions. Everyone,
"..."