Her eyes stirred open slightly, the harsh white ceiling light piercing through her lashes. She winced, instinctively covering her face with the back of her hand to shield her eyes from the brightness.
"You are awake?" a calm voice said from nearby.
She turned her head sluggishly and blinked, adjusting her vision to the figure in front of her, a man in a doctor's uniform with a friendly face and a clipboard tucked under his arm.
"What happened to me? How did I get here?" Her voice came out hoarse and confused.
"You passed out at the school, so you were rushed here. You had a fever, and thankfully it has subsided now," the doctor replied gently.
"Who brought me here?" she asked, still disoriented.
"My cousin did!"
"Your cousin? Who is your cousin?" she asked, her brows creasing as she stared at him, puzzled.
"He's one pretty boy in your class named Rain Piper," the doctor said sarcastically, rolling his eyes with a teasing smirk. "I'm Iris Piper, your attending doctor."
"Rain? Rain brought me here?" Her voice lifted in shock. She blinked fast, struggling to process it. "Where is he?"
"He waited for several hours for you to wake up. Since you didn't, he went to contact your friends and get you a meal as well."
"Oh." Her reply was soft, barely above a whisper.
"You need enough rest. A very long rest. You were burning up badly earlier. Thankfully, Rain brought you here fast enough."
"I can't believe he saved me again," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Just then, the door burst open.
Rain rushed in, breathless, his hoodie slightly skewed from running. His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose as he skidded to a stop at her bedside.
"Are you okay? How do you feel now?" he bombarded her with questions, his voice laced with concern. His words stumbled over each other.
Frances glanced at him, then down at her hands. She noticed his fingers wrapped tightly around hers.
Rain followed her gaze, startled, and immediately pulled his hands back, flustered.
"I'm sorry… I… I didn't mean it," he stammered, rubbing his thighs nervously, clearly embarrassed.
"Did you bring food?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Oh yes! Yes, I did!" he said quickly, grateful for the shift. He opened the bag he brought and pulled out a packed meal, his movements rushed but eager. He handed her the warm box, then opened the Sterling cup and passed it to her.
"Thank you."
"It's fine, it's nothing," he said with a small, awkward smile.
Frances looked at him from under her lashes. "Why are you always dressed up like a thief?"
"A thief? This is what a thief looks like?"
"Only a mischievous person will cover his face with his hair and still wear glasses and still covered up with hoodie. You forgot your nose mask cover today."
"Oh, I didn't! I will wear it now." He fumbled into his pocket, pulled out the nose mask, and put it on quickly.
Frances shook her head and scoffed, watching his antics.
"Idiot, he is really slow," she muttered under her breath, then glanced at him out the corner of her eye. "I wanted to see his face and he went ahead to use nose cover again."
Rain stood awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, still completely oblivious to her small wish.
"How did you manage to save me today too?" she asked, this time more seriously.
"I just found you outside and brought you to the hospital."
"You were just walking outside casually and found me lying down there?" She narrowed her eyes at him, skeptical.
He looked away immediately, guilty.
"I can't tell you that I was waiting for you downstairs because I was worried, right? She'd call me crazy if I say that!" he thought silently, then brushed off the question by gently nudging the drink toward her lips.
Frances took the fresh juice happily, it was the second time this week that she had enjoyed something this good.
"You do know a lot of good food spots, don't you?"
"My chef made them."
"What? Your chef? Do you stay alone?"
"No, no! I don't. I stay with the family, but my dad hired the chef to send all my meals because I don't eat in the school cafeteria."
Frances slapped her thigh dramatically. "How could I have forgotten that! You are neat freak, you can't eat in school and you can't go home in the afternoon to get food."
"Yes! So my bodyguard picks them up and brings it to class every day. If I have an extra order, he will also make them immediately."
"That sounds so cool. Your chef is very good. I love his food."
"If you like it, I can always order more for you."
"Oh my, you are so sweet," Frances said casually.
Rain's cheeks flushed pink, and he scratched his head, smiling down at the floor. His heart thudded a little faster in his chest.
"The juice is so nice too. Very fresh," Frances said, sipping the drink. But then, something felt amiss.
She looked at the cup in her her and and froze.
It was her favorite Stanley cup. The same one she had kept for weeks now.
"Hold on! How did you get this cup? Isn't it supposed to be with the milk delivery guy?" Frances said, her eyes narrowing.
Rain's heart skipped a beat. His face turned pale, and he stared at her wide-eyed, words caught in his throat.
"Oh! I grab now! You picked it up from my desk, right?" Frances smirked, enjoying his panic.
He laughed nervously, exhaling shakily. "Yeah sure! Sure! I picked it up from your desk and then washed it and made the fresh juice. I hope it's to your liking."
"It is! I like it," Frances hummed, sipping happily, momentarily forgetting her sorrow.
Rain watched her, completely mesmerized.
Her eyes sparkled a little, her lips curved gently, and her expression looked lighter than it had all week.
He couldn't keep his mouth closed. He was drinking in the sight of her like she was a miracle that somehow landed in his arms.
This was the longest conversation he had ever had with Frances since he had known her.
And he had known her for years, since they started Dudley together.
She was like the sun his hands could never reach. She walked through the school halls like she owned them, fierce, loud, vibrant. And he had been a shadow, silent, awkward, unnoticed.
Even though they were always in the same class, they were still a million miles apart.
But right now, sitting beside her, watching her laugh softly while drinking juice from his hands, this moment felt like a dream.
This was how it feels to love and be loved.
Rain's fairytale dreams were soon shattered when the door slammed open and loud footsteps stormed in.
Her friends rushed into the hospital room, their faces pale and eyes wide with panic.
"Frances!!" their voices echoed in the room, overlapping in chaos as they nearly collided trying to get to her bedside.
"Oh my bestie, what happened to you again? I was so scared hearing that you fainted. I couldn't bear it," Evie said dramatically, clutching Frances's hand.
Frances blinked at him, then suddenly burst into laughter. "What is wrong with you? I'm fine now. It was just a fever. I feel better now. Stop being dramatic."
"It's good to see that you're fine. You look brighter than you looked this morning," Lawrence said from the back, hands in his pockets.
Frances glared at him. "I'm not gonna talk to you anymore, Lawrence. I very much hate you now," she snorted and turned away from him, arms folded like a stubborn child.
"Oh, my little big sis, don't be mad at me. I just want you to be happy." He leaned over, caressing her back lovingly, teasing her.
"You want me to be happy and y'all are running away leaving me behind," she said slowly, her voice hurt and her face falling.
"I'm sorry, big sis. Kindly forgive me, okay?"
"I know my best revenge, before you dump me, I will dump you all. I will get a boyfriend and follow him to college."
"It depends on how fast you can get into a relationship, because as far as I know, you don't even like boys."
"Does she like girls?" Evie said and gasped dramatically.
"I don't! I like men. I just haven't seen the one that I like yet."
"How about we arrange a blind date for you?"
"Hell no! What is a 16-year-old girl doing on a blind date? It's just a boyfriend, right? Don't worry, I will get one soon."
"It's not about getting one. You need to love him."
"Do you think I can cohabit with someone that I don't like? I will just beat him to death. I'm open for love now. I'm ready! Fully ready!"
"Hope you are not getting into a relationship because of us!" Abby asked genuinely concerned, his brows pinched with worry.
Frances shook her head. "Shut up. It's because of me! I want somebody that I will love to death and he will love me to death and we will get married and be happy," Frances said dreamily, eyes glittering like she could already see the future.
"Everything about Frances is problem. Why are you loving to death? Why can't you love happily?" Cora scoffed.
"Let's even get someone to date her first. It's hard getting a boyfriend with her bad attitude."
Frances flared, grabbed the clipboard beside the bed, and threw it with perfect aim. It hit Lawrence square on the head.
They all burst into laughter.
"Rain brought Frances to the hospital. Where is he?" Abby asked, glancing around.
"How did you know that he brought me here?"
"His bodyguard came to inform us earlier." Coco said softly
"Ohh, he was standing right there before you guys came in. Where the hell did he go to?" Frances asked no one in particular, eyes scanning the corners of the room.
"He probably disappeared. Rain doesn't talk to people. How do you expect him to stand in a room full of people? He will probably be nervous," Lawrence said, nodding sagely.
"He seems to have anxiety."
"Is it not obvious? That's why he is always covered up and also stays away from people."
"True, true!"
"I hope you are fine now, Frances?" Evie asked, cutting off the banter. His brows creased with genuine concern as he reached for her wrist gently.
"I'm fine now, baby. I'm not gonna die."
"You better not!" They all smiled warmly, and chatter filled the room again as the afternoon sun stretched lazily across the white hospital walls.