A Sick Study Date
Time passes fast when you’re with someone you like. Even if they’re sick and asleep…
Yeah, I’ll just focus on studying.
Time did pass quite fast. I think I was three hours in with my battle against maps when Mary first opened her eyes and whispered a hey.
“Oh.”, I turned back towards her. “Hey.”
No need to ruin what’s perfect.
“I’ve been having nightmares recently…”
“Oh… I’m sorry to hear that.”, I got up from the ground and went towards her. I placed my hand on her forehead, “Looks like your fever’s down…”
“Hehe.”, she smiled. “No wonder I’ve been having sweet dreams.”
“What kinda dream were you having?”, I chuckled.
“You mean what kinda dream I am…”, her eyes suddenly got large, it’s as if she solved a case not solved for a hundred years.
“You alright…?”
“Yes!”, she suddenly got up from the sofa.
“Where…”, her eyes darted everywhere in the living room, “Am I?”
“The living room?”
“Your living room?”
I mean, it might as well be. I nodded.
“Oh…”, she flopped back to the sofa. “How did I get here…”
Did she really sleep walk her way here?
I patted her back, “Do you want to go to the hospital?”
“No…”, she turned towards me, “No. I’m fine.” She let out a small smile and touched my hand.
“If you say so.”, I smiled, I couldn’t help but worry… I have to trust her though so I got down and went back to studying.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting beat up by the maps of Japan…”
She laughed as she sat down beside me, “Using my notes huh…”
“Makes the beating really tolerable….”, I look into her eyes “Thanks…”
Mary took out her books from her bag.
“Are you sure you can study?”
She nodded, “I did come here with that goal in mind. Can’t back away now.”
“I mean… you can…”
“True…” she took out her geography book as well, “but I’d rather party up with you.”
I let a smile, or the smile just came out on its own, I know I couldn’t stop it.
“Oh! You’re up!” the mother randomly came in, she looked towards Mary, “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” Mary got up, “Thank you for having me. I’m Mary.”
The mother smiled, “Hello Mary. Any friend of Akari is welcome here.” She then patted her shoulders, “You should really take care of yourself more though… does your parents know you’re here?”
Mary awkwardly laughed, “Yes…”
She didn’t look comfortable, “Can you please bring the thermometer?”
“Oh right! Thank you for reminding me Akari.” She smiled at the both of us, “I’ll also being you both snacks and orange juice. I hope you like that.”
“She loves orange juice…” I smirk.
Mary looked at me with her mouth open. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that…
“Yes, Aunty. I do love orange juice.” She was all smiles again.
“Great!” The mother then went on her way while still smiling.
Mary sat down beside me again, “Thank you, by the way.”
“For leaking out your love for orange juice…?”
“Yes.” She chuckled, “Well…” she looked at her book while starting to play with her pen, “It’s nothing, just… thank you.” She looked up towards me and I nodded.
It didn’t feel like my place to ask her questions, I’m just glad I helped her out.
The study session went on strong, the silence was rather comforting too. I did try to steal glances on her randomly, instead of stealing glances on my phone. Hopefully neither of them noticed.
This went on till the mother returned.
“Here.”, she placed a bunch of cookies and orange juice on the table and gave Mary a thermometer.
“Thank you.”, Mary started to use it.
I glanced towards the cookies, I really wanted a bite but it didn’t feel right with Mary sitting right beside me with a thermometer in her mouth. I’ll refrain.
“Oh my.” The mother took the thermometer when it started to beep, “It’s 38 degrees.”
Wait what?
“Ahh…” Mary chuckled, “Looks like I’m still sick.”
Oh right, it’s Celsius… that makes sense. I pull up my phone, trying my best to hide it. What is it… around a 100 degrees, light fever but she’s still sick indeed.
I don’t know if Mary saw my worried face or not but she looked at me, “It’s better… it was worse.”
“How worse?”
“Way worse.” She chuckled. Is this how she hides her secrets? She’s already sick, I don’t want to disturb her more.
“Fair… enough…”
Is it really fair enough.
“Alright…” The mother had a look of worry too, but she chose not to talk about it. Maybe it’s the genetics… I wish.
We started our study session again and I was finally able to consume the cookies in front of me. Mary’s orange glass was only half empty however. She really was sick…
The study session went as normally as it could have, we merely exchanged glances and answered our doubts. It was mostly me questioning and her answering but who’s counting?
I really didn’t want the time to end but time listens to no one. Not even the second male lead… I’m not going to continue that thought.
“Looks like it’s getting late.” I look towards Mary who was really deep into her books.
“Did you say something?”
I go closer to her, “It’s getting late.”
“Late…?”
She’s still in her books. Should I go closer? No. This is the appropriate distance.
“Yes. It’s six pm.”
She didn’t reply. I got up from my place and stretched my legs.
It really is getting late and I don’t know how far she lives…
I patted her shoulder which finally got her attention, “Oh! Yes, sorry! I-“ she took a glance towards her phone, “Oh no…” she suddenly got up and started to pack.
“It’s really late and I…” I help her pack her things, “Lost track of time. Thank you.”
“Do you have a curfew?”
Mary nodded, “Something like that… I have to catch the train…”
“Wait, I’ll go with you.”
“There’s no need…”
“Yes need.” Those words came out of my mouth. “I mean… wait…”
I go to Akari’s mother, “I’m going to go drop Mary off…”
“Of course you will!” she got up and followed us to the house entrance.
“You really don’t need to…” Mary insisted again.
“He really needs to. Stay safe and…” The mother smiled towards Mary, “I hope you visit us again someday.”
Mary smiled in return and nodded, “Good bye aunty.”
They both waved good bye to each other and I waved back too, which made Akari’s mother smile a little harder and chuckled a little too.
“If you’re uncomfortable with me dropping you off…”
“No. No. I’m not uncomfortable… I just don’t want to burden you.”
“You’re not burdening me… It’s the least I could do…” I take a quick look at her, she’s doing much better compared to how she was in the morning.
The sunlight, especially the sunset really lets her hair come out in full force. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t keep it within me.
“I also enjoy talking to you…”
Mary chuckled, “Oh? Is that why you’re going with me?”
“You caught me red handed!”
“When you give it away that easily…” she was all smiles. I don’t think I did anything wrong or made anything awkward or so I hope anyway.
We reached the train station really fast... time really doesn’t wait for anyone.
Mary sat down on one of the benches there and I sat down on a bench close to that bench.
She looked at me, “Sitting rather far away…” she then got up from her seat and sat on my bench.
Looks like she’s declaring war.
“I hope you don’t mind…”, she chuckled. I don’t mind at all, if anything I prefer this…
“What did you want to be when you grow up by the way?”, she looked at the ceiling.
“Like… right now?”
“No. No… not now. Back when you were a kid…”
That came out of nowhere but thankfully I already had an answer ready.
“The ruler of the entire world…”
Mary suddenly went in a laughing fit, “That is so you!”
“Really?” I couldn’t help but feel a little awkward. Am I really that authoritarian?
“I mean…”
“I’m sorry…”, she wiped the tears out of her face, “I can totally see kid you wishing for that.”, she smiled. She was right, since kid me did wish for that so I can’t say much… but I do wonder what she even thought of me.
“What about you?” I asked.
Mary suddenly turned sombre. Why would she ask me that if she didn’t want to be asked that in return… did I do something wrong?
“I…” looks like she was in deep thought. “I wanted to be a writer.”
“That’s a nice dream…” but is that dream really that sombre?
She nodded, “I wanted to write a story about a princess and her loving family…”
“That’s cute.” I smiled, “You can still do that to be fair.”
She nodded and got up from her seat, “I can still do that.”
Her face shined brightly as the train came from behind her. With the light falling on her from behind, it was a scene that I’d never forget.
We got into the train and sat next to each other. She fell asleep on my shoulders soon after and I didn’t wake her up.
The view outside was great, and I was feeling great. I hope she’d feel great soon too…
She randomly got up and took a big yawn, “Looks like my station’s next…”
Wait, she’s right. I didn’t even ask for her station… thankfully her intuition saved me or else…
“Ahh… I see.”
Let’s not mention this.
We got down and started walking towards her house I assume. I mostly followed her. I don’t know If it was due to our study session, but I was already feeling tired. I wonder how tired she must feel…
She did leave far away from where we came from, and in an apartment from the looks of it. I followed her to her door.
Mary turned back, “I guess this is it…” she smiled.
I look behind her, the room was dark.
“Are your parents’ home…?”
“Oh…” she looked behind, “My mother’s probably working late…”
“I see…” I can’t leave her here like this. Especially when she’s sick.
“Do you have pasta?”
“We should have some…” she looked at me, “Why…?”
“Can I make you some pasta?”
“I mean…” Mary thought for a while.
“I can make some decent pasta.”
“No it’s not that I just-“
“Don’t want to bother me?” I go near her, “You’re not bothering me. I just want someone to try out my new recipe.”
“If that’s the case…” Mary opened her door and turned on her lights and I followed her in.
“You can go rest… After you tell me where the pasta is.”
She chuckled again and showed me where everything I needed was.
I then gestured her to go and wash up, which she thankfully complied with.
I’ve survived on pasta, but this isn’t survival. This is making an impression.
I try to make the best penne pasta possible which was hard enough to do on my own, but it was harder to do it with someone staring at me when I was halfway done.
Mary staring at me is not something that I’d mind, if anything it makes it less likely for me to make mistakes, or so I hope.
“Wow… you really can cook!”
“Did you not believe me?”
“I wanted to believe you…” she came near me and tasted the sauce, “Thanks for proving me right.”
This was worth it, I let out a chuckle.
Soon the pasta was ready, I put it down on her dining table and start eating.
“Thank you…”
“No need to thank me…”, I took a bite. It’s rather good, I’ve outdone myself. “But I’ll take it.”
“The pasta’s good!”
“I’m glad you liked it!” and I’m glad it was good, it has been a while since I’ve cooked.
We finished the dinner mostly in silence but it was comfortable. I didn’t know silence wouldn’t be awkward.
Mary came near me after finishing, “You done?”
I nod. She takes the plate away from me.
“Wait!” I get up from my seat, “I’ll clean it…”
“No!” she pulls the dishes back, “Let me do something!”
“No…” I sigh, “You’re sick, so I am letting you rest…” I put my hands on the dishes as gently as I could, “So please?”
I look at her with the full might of my puppy eyes. Which thankfully worked as she nodded and let go.
Cleaning up was rather easy too, although it did take a few minutes more but it was all worth it.
Sadly, all good things come to an end. It was time for me to go.
“Thank you… again.” she looked around the hallway, “For everything today…”
I nod, “Still not as much as I should thank you today.”
“Take care of yourself Mary and I hope you get well soon.” I raise my hand for a wave, “Goodbye.”
She waved me back, “Good night Akari.”
I close the door behind me, I wish she hadn’t added the last part but beggars can’t be choosers.
It’s late but thankfully, there’s still a lot of trains left. I run towards the station, full of joy.
This was a great productive day…. It really was.
