Larissa had been ready to scold Luca for barging into the clinic like this. She was used to her nephew's antics—he had a knack for getting himself involved in all sorts of situations—but as soon as she saw the pale girl with him, her instincts as a doctor kicked in.
The feeling of reprimanding she felt towards Luca softened immediately. The girl looked exhausted, almost like she had been running on empty for days.
Larissa studied Harmony for a moment before asking in a kind but authoritative tone, "What's your name, student?"
Harmony blinked, snapping out of her increasingly irritated thoughts about Luca.
"Harmony Thomas, doctor," she replied, her voice polite but stiff.
Larissa's lips curled into a small smile, "Just call me Miss Larissa. That's what most of the students here do."
Harmony nodded but remained quiet. Larissa could tell by the girl's formal manner that this was her first time visiting the clinic.
'She must be one of those students who push through their ailments until they can't anymore,' Larissa thought.
"Go on, lie down on one of the beds," Larissa said, gesturing towards the rows of neatly made beds.
"They're all empty."
Harmony hesitated, glancing toward the door as if she was planning her escape.
"I think I'll just rest in the classroom. The break's almost over anyway," she said, her voice still polite but firmer now.
"I apologize for wasting your time."
Larissa narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone shifting from friendly to commanding.
"I'm the doctor here. When I say lie down, you lie down. Now go on."
Harmony felt a wave of frustration towards Luca wash over her. Because there was something in Larissa's voice that made it clear this wasn't a request—it was an order.
Reluctantly, Harmony moved toward one of the beds, casting a quick glare at Luca before lying down.
She thought to herself, 'I'll just pretend to rest until the bell rings.'
But as soon as her head touched the pillow, all her exhaustion seemed to catch up with her at once. She fell asleep almost instantly.
Once Harmony was fast asleep, Larissa turned her attention back to Luca, who was watching the scene with a mixture of guilt and relief.
"And you…" Larissa began, her eyes narrowing at her nephew.
Luca held up his hands in defense, "She looked really pale, and she was planning on sleeping outside. I couldn't just leave her there. So, I brought her here."
Larissa sighed deeply, her expression softening again, "I understand you're worried, Luca. But sometimes, your kindness won't be appreciated. Not everyone wants help, even when they need it. Miss Thomas is a prime example of that."
Luca frowned but didn't argue. He knew Larissa was right.
"But if I left her, she'd probably collapse," he said, glancing over at Harmony's sleeping figure.
"Look at her. She's already fast asleep, and it hasn't even been five minutes."
Larissa crossed her arms, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Then let her collapse," she said gently.
"Sometimes people need to hit rock bottom before they realize they need help. It's better for you to step back than risk their anger. You can't force someone to accept kindness, no matter how good your intentions are."
Luca's shoulders slumped slightly. He knew Larissa had a point, but it was hard to watch someone struggle when you knew you could help.
Seeing his conflicted expression, Larissa softened. She reached out and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"You're still a child in my eyes, Luca. You're growing up, but you've still got a lot to learn."
Luca ducked away, straightening his hair with a huff, "I'm not a child. I am 18."
Larissa chuckled softly, "Go back to class, Luca."
Luca waved goodbye, casting one last glance at Harmony before heading out the door. Once he was gone, Larissa walked over to Harmony's bed and gently brushed a strand of hair away from the girl's face.
"You on the other hand are working too hard, sweetheart," Larissa murmured softly.
"But you can't ignore your health."
She touched Harmony's forehead lightly, relieved to find her temperature was normal. Still, the girl's complexion was worryingly pale.
"You've been running yourself ragged, haven't you?" Larissa said softly, mostly to herself.
Larissa suspected Luca had noticed Harmony's deteriorating condition, so he brought her to the clinic instead of just finding another quiet place for her to rest. The fact that Luca had gone to the trouble of bringing her here meant he was genuinely concerned.
But Larissa also knew that no matter how much Luca cared, Harmony probably didn't appreciate the attention. Some people, like Harmony, saw kindness as interference, especially when they were used to dealing with things on their own.
With a sigh, Larissa gently tucked the blanket around Harmony and went back to her desk.
'Luca means well, but sometimes too much kindness can be overwhelming,' she thought, settling back into her chair.
'He'll learn that with time. I just hope it doesn't get him into too much trouble along the way.'
…
Harmony woke slowly, her eyes fluttering open as she heard the sound of a bell ringing in the distance. She sat up quickly, feeling disoriented. She hadn't meant to fall asleep so deeply. She checked her watch and froze. It wasn't the bell for the end of the break—it was the end of the day.
'I slept through all of my afternoon classes,' she thought, gritting her teeth in frustration.
"You really needed that sleep," Larissa's voice came from across the room.
Harmony turned her head to see the school doctor sitting at her desk, watching her with a knowing look.
Larissa stood up and walked over to Harmony, handing her a carton of milk and a cream puff.
"Here. Eat this before you go."
Harmony hesitated, "I'm fine, Miss Larissa. I don't need—"
"Eat it," Larissa said firmly, cutting off any protest.
Harmony glanced at the food in her hands and sighed. She knew there was no arguing with Larissa. She took a small sip of the milk and bit into the cream puff. The sweet taste was surprisingly comforting, more than she expected. It was only then that she realized just how hungry she had been.
She had eaten her lunch but it seemed that it was not enough.
Larissa nodded approvingly, "That's better. Now, you can leave directly from here. Luca brought your bag before afternoon classes started."
Harmony looked over to see her bag neatly placed on a chair next to the bed. She felt a small wave of gratitude, even though she didn't want to admit it.
"Thank you," Harmony said quietly, standing up and slinging the bag over her shoulder.
Larissa smiled gently, "And try not to be too hard on Luca. He really was just trying to help. Sometimes, his kindness gets the better of him."
Harmony looked away for a moment, thinking about Larissa's words.
"His kindness is good, but sometimes it's not what people need," she said softly.
"Sometimes, people just need space."
Larissa nodded in agreement, "I know. He'll surely learn that in time."
Harmony gave a small nod, "Thank you for everything, Miss Larissa. I'll be going now."
Larissa watched as Harmony quietly left the clinic, her footsteps light but her mind clearly weighed down by thoughts.
'They're both young,' Larissa thought as she returned to her desk.
'They'll figure it out eventually. But for now, all I can do is guide them when I can and let them grow on their own.'