The walk back to the dormitory felt as if she were heading to the edge of the world. The leaves along the mountain path swayed wildly, and the wind seemed much colder than usual. Emily moved slowly, her body alternating between chills and heat, her head pounding as if a hammer were striking it, the pain so intense it made each breath feel scalding.
Finally, she reached the dormitory building.
Emily leaned against the glass door of the building, gasping and coughing, her last bit of strength slipping away. Her vision blurred, and her legs felt weak, gradually sliding toward the ground. It was so painful. Young, where are you? Didn't you promise to become an angel to keep loving me? But where are you now…
Suddenly—
A pair of warm hands supported her, a concerned hand placed gently on her forehead.
"You're burning up."
Upon hearing those words, Emily's tears burst forth like a dam breaking, streaming down her cheeks. She whispered through her sobs:
"Young—!"
She knew that Young couldn't bear to see her sick. Whenever she felt unwell, he was always deeply concerned, coaxing her to take medicine, urging her to go to the hospital, and staying by her side as she slept. How could he ever abandon her? Through her tear-filled haze, she clung tightly to the hand that offered comfort. This time, she would never let him go, not even if it meant dying.
"How long have you been sick? Have you taken any medicine? Are there any fever reducers in the dorm?"
The voice was gentle and compassionate.
No…
It wasn't…
It wasn't him…
Tears dried on her cheeks, and Emily's eyes were slightly swollen. She managed a bitter smile as she tried to steady herself: "I'm good, Auntie Carolyn."
The dormitory manager, Miss Carolyn, was Yuki's aunt. She was in her forties, very thin with graying hair, and dressed in outdated but impeccably clean clothes. Her temperament was gentle, and she was very kind to the girls in the dorm, never complaining no matter how late they returned. Everyone liked her and affectionately called her "Auntie Carolyn."
Carolyn helped Emily up to the fourth-floor dormitory, gently pushed open the door, and assisted her onto the bed, tucking her in with the blanket. She sat by the bedside, wiping Emily's forehead.
"It seems like your fever is pretty high. Yuki, go downstairs to the management office and get the thermometer," Carolyn said without looking back at Yuki, who was engrossed in her hamburger.
Yuki nodded, setting down her hamburger before heading out.
A warm current flowed through Emily's heart. Except for the first few days after arriving at Elm Academy, when her classmates' cold and disdainful attitudes had deeply hurt her, she had tried hard to ignore their reactions. She understood that their dislike was a natural response to her peculiar behavior. If she saw a girl going out of her way for a boy, she'd probably think the same way.
So, she couldn't blame them; it was her actions that seemed strange.
Yet, she felt so alone, with no one to talk to, as if she were living in a cold, iron box.
"Auntie Carolyn…"
Tears welled up in Emily's eyes.
"What would you like to eat? Stay in bed today, and I'll have Yuki bring something from the cafeteria for you," Carolyn asked with a gentle smile.
"I don't want anything."
Emily sniffled, and for some reason, Carolyn's kindness only made her want to cry more.
"I'll get you a cup of warm milk," Carolyn said, placing the wrung-out towel on Emily's forehead.
"I can't drink it…" Her stomach felt so blocked.
"Warm milk will help you rest better," Carolyn coaxed softly, her eyes filled with tenderness.
The words were so familiar…
Emily's heart ached with a sharp pang!
...
...
"I don't want to drink it!" She buried her head under the blanket, weakly shouting, "I'm sick, and you're still making me eat! I hate you!"
He sighed, "Come on, you need to eat to get better."
"No!"
She deliberately shouted in a petulant tone, hiding under the blanket and secretly smiling. She loved being sick, as long as it wasn't anything too serious—just a little cold with sneezing, a runny nose, and a slight fever. It looked serious but wasn't really that uncomfortable. He'd panic, his face pale and flustered, treating her like a princess and fussing over her.
"How about some porridge?"
"No!"
"A bowl of vegetable and egg noodles?"
"No!"
"Maybe a small bowl of steamed egg custard?…" He leaned close to her ear, softly coaxing, "How about it?"
She gulped down a large swallow of saliva.
"No!"
She wasn't about to give up the chance to "torment" Carolyn easily!
Carolyn sighed again, helplessly looking at Emily, who was tucked under the blanket and rejecting everything offered. Her elegant brows furrowed slightly, eyes filled with concern.
"Emily, if you keep this up, I'm going to get angry!"
"Get angry, get angry!"
Emily stuck out her tongue, thinking he'd never really be angry with her. She knew he liked her very much, and that made her feel bold and secure.
But this time, she was wrong!
Carolyn was truly angry. She pulled the blanket off Emily with a decisive motion, glaring at Emily before pressing her lips firmly against Emily's pale, sickly ones.
"You… what are you… doing…"
Emily pounded Carolyn's back and kicked her feet, trying to avoid passing her cold onto Carolyn.
"I want to be sick too!" Carolyn's feigned anger had a childish quality as she kissed Emily and murmured, "When I'm sick, I'll make sure to experience all the trouble and worry you're feeling…"
"Naughty!"
Emily laughed through her frustration, "Alright, alright, you're terrible, you've ruined all the fun!"
Carolyn held Emily in her arms.
Emily took a deep breath, savoring the pleasant pine scent from Carolyn.
"Emily…"
"Hmm?"
"Promise me you won't get sick again," Carolyn said softly, kissing the short hair on Emily's head, "I'll be so worried."
…