Steven
Sunny did not come to school tomorrow morning either.
I waited, thinking that she was just late, but she did not come at all.
I tried to message her, but she was not replying, as well as to Shiela. I heard Shiela telling our classmates that Sunny wasn't answering her messages, either.
What happened?
Is she okay?
Our professor was busy lecturing in front when I felt my phone vibrate.
I was about to dismiss it when I remembered it could be Sunny. So I fished out my phone and put it down. I do not want our professor to catch me doing it.
I was excited to see her name, knowing that she was the one who texted me or what.
'Hi, Steven! Sorry late reply. I just got up and I am not feeling well. I won't be able to attend our class today. Take care on your way home, okay?'
That was her message.
So, she is sick.
She has not feeling well since yesterday. That is why she did not come with Grandma.
She is not avoiding me because of what happened, right?
Yeah, right. She would not have texted me back if she was trying to avoid me in the first place.
It is just me who is overthinking it.
When break came, Shiela told the others that Sunny was sick. Maybe she messaged Shiela too, since she does not want us to worry.
"Steven! Let's go. We are going to eat at the cafeteria." Marco invited.
I was about to say no when Justin held my arms. "Sunny's absent today. We will take care of you for today." He said.
"What am I...a child?" I asked him.
He nodded. "Yes, yes. Let's go." He replied and pulled me towards the boys.
Since I can't do anything, I go with them involuntarily. I know they would force me to come with them if I told them I did not want to go, and I am avoiding that. It will cause more chaos. I would rather follow them than get into more trouble.
After we ordered our food, we sat down on the free seats.
"Did you know the news about Sunny's ex-boyfriend?" Philip asked me.
I shook my head. "No. Did he die or what?" I asked back.
The others laugh at what I have said.
"Dang. You changed, man." Philip replied.
I am just saying how I really feel about that bastard. Just thinking of him makes me annoyed already.
"So, although Gino's friends deleted the videos from the other department that day, a video came out of Jake coming here and saying something bad, and you fighting for Sunny. Now they are canceling that two-faced man, as well as his girlfriend." Mark shared.
"Serves them right. Sunny does not even harm animals, so how can they accuse her of that as if she is the one at fault." Ivan added.
"Karma is really around. Do not dare to harm kind people, they do not fight back, but karma will get revenge for them." Chris commented.
"But that is not what we need to talk about." Justin said.
I turned to him and waited for him to continue what he wanted to say.
"What about you and Sunny? How's the progress?" He asked.
Uhh, this is what I wanted to avoid.
"We know already. Even before you admit it that day. We can tell, Steven." Gino seconded.
"Now, tell us. We will not stop bothering you." Jericho even warned.
"They are right. Now that you have admitted and even confessed to her indirectly, share it with us. We are waiting." Bentley said.
"Tell us, we might be able to help you. You know?" Sam added.
They are all talking continuously, not leaving any space for me to answer them one by one. They are like Mavin, they would not stop until they got what they wanted to hear.
As much as I wanted to keep quiet, I did not think they would leave me alone. They won't definitely let me live until our class ends. I think it's better to tell them now.
They know about it already. So there is no point in keeping it anymore.
"I like her. That is a fact." I confirmed their allegations.
"We know it, man." They all replied as if they had heard me saying that many times already.
"Now that you already know, what do you want me to say more about?" I asked them back.
"Come on! Like, what are you going to do? Are you going to court her or what? Are you guys together already?" Marco replied.
I shook my head. "Not yet. I do not think this is the right time to ask her. After what happened, she might avoid this talk for a while. I also do not want to force her, even though they broke up months ago." I explained.
"You've got a point there. Sunny might be shocked after what his ex-boyfriend did." Gino added.
"You have to wait for her. Can you do that?" Philip asked.
I turned to him. "That's easy for me to do. I am not rushing her, nor myself. We can take it slowly. I do not mind waiting." I answered.
"WOOOOAH! You're the man!"
"You sound cool now!"
"Make sure, or else we are the ones who will chop you if you hurt her too." They said it while smiling, as if they were not giving me a warning.
"Well, I like you more than that, Jake. I know you will take care of Sunny better."
"Yeah, she deserves better!"
"Minimize your voice. The students are already looking at our place." I scolded them.
But instead of minimizing their voices, they continued talking loudly. The topic is not about me and Sunny anymore, but I can't tell them to shut their mouths up.
I opened my phone and went to messenger to message Sunny, asking if she had taken her lunch too. She is not online, but I guess she was resting.
Using a gadget will make her head hurt more.
After our lunch, we went back to our room. I can still hear the other students whispering and talking about the issue, but I can't do anything about it.
It is not our fault, so I do not have to worry about them talking behind our backs.
The class went on, and I made sure to take down all the notes for her. I am sure she will worry about it and will panic now that we have had quizzes on some of our subjects today.
I will just help her to review. That is all I can do for her.
After our long class, I sent Shiela home. I headed to the nearest pharmacy near them before going to Sunny's home.
I want to see her.
So bringing things to use for sick people is a good excuse.
When I got to the front of their house, I hesitated about knocking.
"What should I say?"
"That I am here because I want to hand this to her?"
"I can't tell them I want to see her personally, right? That would be embarrassing."
"Whatev―"
I stopped talking when the door suddenly opened, showing Auntie carrying a small garbage bag.
"Steven?" Auntie said, shocked by my unannounced visit. "Were you standing here for long? You should have knocked or called us. Come on in. Come in. I will just throw this for a while." Auntie said and headed out to put the garbage bag outside. "Come in. Why are you standing outside and did not knock? This kid."
"Uhh, I heard Sunny is sick. So I decided to visit her, I also bought some cooling gel sheets and some foods for her." I said and handed Auntie the plastic with the things I brought.
"You did not have to do this, but thank you. I will see her first, I need to check if she looks okay. She might get mad at me if I let you enter and see her ugly state." Auntie exclaimed, laughing.
I nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Auntie." I said my thanks.
"Mom is cooking in the kitchen. Stay here for dinner. I will check on her now." Auntie said.
I headed to the kitchen and saw Grandma stirring something.
"Grandma." I called her attention.
She quickly turned to my side. "Steven, are you here to visit Sunny?" Grandma asked.
I nodded. "Yes, Grandma. What are you cooking?" I asked.
"I am making chicken soup. Sunny needs this kind of dish since she is sick. Are you taking care of yourself? You just got out of the hospital. You better eat properly and avoid getting sick." Grandma reminded. "I do not want the two of you to get sick. You do not have any company in your house." She added.
I smiled at her. "I won't get sick again, Grandma. I am strong now." I assure her, not sure if that bullet will wound will make me sick again. "How about Fei? Is she still at work?" I asked.
Grandma nodded. "She said she would be home late today." She replied.
"Is someone sending her home? It might be dangerous to go home late at night." I told her my concern.
"We kept on telling her to message us and update us every time she was home late. We advised her to take a taxi on the way here and avoid walking alone unless she is with someone." Grandma replied.
"That's better. At least in that way, we will know that she will be able to go home safely. " I commented.
"Steven, you can go inside now." Auntie said as she headed inside the kitchen too.
"Eat dinner with us." Grandma invited.
"I asked him a while ago, and he does not have any option but to eat dinner with us." Auntie answered, laughing.
"If Mavin hears this, he will sulk again." Grandma added.
He will surely sulk.
I will text him to eat his dinner already.
"I will see her now, Auntie and Grandma." I excused myself and headed out of the kitchen.
I knocked before turning the knob to open it.
"Why did you come here? You should have gone home and rested." She greeted.
"Can you just be happy that I am here?" I retorted.
That is not what I want to hear.
She smiled faintly. "I am glad you visited me." She replied.
I checked her forehead and felt the hotness. "You are really sick. Have you taken your meds already?" I asked. "I brought some yogurt and fruits. Put a cooling gel sheet later before you sleep." I added.
She nodded. "After we eat dinner, I will take my medicine. What did you guys do a while ago?" She asked.
"We had quizzes―"
"What subject?" She interrupted.
I know she will react like this.
"Do not worry. I will send you my notes, but you do not have to study already. Just rest and make sure you are fine. I will help you review afterward, so that you can ask for the quizzes from our professors." I told her. "Our secretary told our professors already that you are sick. You are excused, so do not force yourself." I added.
She sighed. "Good heaven. I got scared." She said.
"Were you feeling bad since yesterday?" I asked.
She shook her head. "When Jake went to our room, I was feeling bad that morning. I was caught by rain before that happened. Maybe that is why I got sick." She shared.
"You rarely bring an umbrella, that's why." I retorted.
She pouted. "I did not want to get caught in the rain. It was sudden. It was sunny before I left our house. I did not know it would rain after a few hours. I took a quick bath when I got home too, but still got sick." She defended herself.
"Make sure to bring an umbrella next time. May it be sunny or not. Look what happened to you." I scolded her. "How are you feeling now?" I asked.
"My head still hurts. I hope I won't vomit again later." She said.
"That's not something we can stop." I told her. "Just rest and stop using your phone for a while. Just listen to music. It can help you relax." I advised.
"Steven, Sunny, let's eat!" Auntie yelled from outside.
We can hear her clearly since I left the door open.
"Will you eat? Grandma cooked chicken soup tonight." I told her.
She nodded. "I should. Hot soup will calm my stomach. I need to eat, even if it's a little, so I can drink medicine." She replied.
"Okay, then. I will guide you." I answered and helped her get up from her bed.
"Your arms are burning too. Let's check your temperature later."