[Nova Mei Quinoa]
The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the university clinic, casting long shadows across the barren floor. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Jow's unmoving form on the bed. Lean May sat beside him, a deep furrow etched across her brows as she gently dabbed a damp cloth against his fevered forehead. The steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was a constant reminder of how fragile his condition really was—and I could feel my frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
We had skipped our afternoon classes. Jow's condition came first. No arguments.
Watching Lean May like this—so tender, so quiet—was strangely disarming.
The silence shattered with a knock on the door.
My eyes narrowed as I turned toward the sound. The door creaked open, revealing a girl with ash-gray hair, dressed too neatly for a casual visit. She stepped in, clutching a plastic bag filled with snacks and drinks. Her gaze met mine, and irritation bloomed in my chest.
> What does she want? Who the hell is this bitch? <
The girl’s eyes flicked toward Lean May—and immediately, her expression soured. I felt the tension snap in the air as she approached, her every step laced with judgment.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice clipped and sharp. "You shouldn’t touch an unconscious patient. That’s inappropriate."
Her words struck like a slap. Lean May froze, her hand still resting on Jow’s face, surprise softening her features.
I stepped forward, blocking the newcomer. My instincts flared, protective and wild.
> Who does this girl think she is? <
"I'm just… trying to cool him down," Lean May replied, her voice faint and uncertain, the weight of the stranger’s scrutiny pressing on her.
"It doesn’t matter," the girl snapped, narrowing her eyes. "That’s not proper procedure. You might be doing more harm than good."
The heat surged in my chest, and I couldn't stop myself.
"What’s your problem?" I hissed, stepping closer, voice low but laced with warning. "Lean May is doing her best. Back off, wannabe nurse."
The girl turned to me, irritation written all over her face. "I’m just looking out for him," she shot back, though her tone cracked beneath her bravado. "You don’t even know what you’re doing."
"And you do?" I sneered. The air grew thicker, crackling with hostility. I felt Lean May's unease, but I couldn’t—wouldn’t—let this girl belittle her.
Jow lay there, unconscious, oblivious to the storm swirling around him. The fragile peace we’d been holding onto had splintered, replaced by something raw and personal. I studied the stranger, trying to figure out why she needed so badly to assert herself here.
The clinic suddenly felt smaller, the walls inching inward with every heartbeat.
> This girl really came here to hurt Lean May—twice in one day. Who does that? <
The air prickled. I stepped forward again, arms crossed tight, not asking—**demanding**—answers.
"Who the hell are you, stupid bitch?" I said coldly. "You walk in here like you own the place."
The girl straightened, chin raised, her pride on full display.
"I’m Ruffa Belhaid," she declared with dramatic flair. "And I’m Eyeden’s future wife. I’ve been in love with Eyeden Ylliard Hayle for six years, and no one’s going to change that."
> Six years? Seriously? This weird woman... <
Her words landed like a gut punch.
> I’ve never even had a crush last longer than two months—except for Lean May. <
I didn’t want Lean May to worry more than she already was. A hand-chop to this girl’s head to knock her out and remove her from the clinic crossed my mind more than once.
I moved toward her.
"Nova, stop!" Lean May called out firmly. "Don’t make this worse. We should be focused on Jow."
I clicked my tongue, biting back my frustration. Reluctantly, I stepped back and sank into the chair near the bed, still radiating irritation.
"You’re annoying," I muttered at Ruffa. "Why are you even here? Jow doesn’t need you. Hell, he probably doesn’t even know you."
Her expression darkened. She crossed her arms and shot me a glare.
"Oh, I’m the annoying one?" she scoffed. "Look in the mirror, vulgar girl. I saw you earlier—you were carrying Eyeden like a bride. Who the hell do you think you are, touching my future husband like that?"
> Great. She saw that. Of course she did. So did everyone else… and no one helped me. I must really have that bad a reputation. They probably all thought I did something to Jow. <
The blood in my veins boiled.
"You think you know me?" I spat, grinning at her. "Go on, tell me what you’ve heard."
"Nova Mei Quinoa," she snapped. "I’ve heard enough since I transferred this Monday. My classmates warned me to stay away from you. And when I saw you carrying him—his uniform soaked in blood—I knew you were dangerous. I won't forgive you."
"None of this is your business," I said. "Now leave before I make you. You’ve heard about me, right? Then you know I’m the vice president of the karate club."
She paused, faltering for a split second.
"You should be in class," I added. "Or did you already forget? You’ve only been here for a few days and you’re already cutting."
She ignored me, walked toward Jow, and placed the plastic bag at the foot of his bed.
"You’re awful," she muttered before turning around and walking out, slamming the door behind her.
I glanced at Lean May, who let out a long breath.
"Obsessive girls really do exist," she said softly, resuming her gentle dabbing on Jow’s forehead.
I leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. "I should’ve hand-chopped her shoulder. Just a warning. Just a light fracture."
Lean May laughed suddenly.
"You’ll just end up in the rumor mill again if you do that."
I pouted.
"Let them talk. I’ll just beat them up. Simple as that."
---
At exactly 3 PM, Jow’s eyes fluttered open.
He slowly sat up, scanning his surroundings in confusion.
Lean May, half-asleep, had slumped forward, her upper body resting on the edge of the bed beside him.
"Are we in a hospital?" he asked, turning to me.
I shook my head. "We’re in the university clinic."
He pressed a hand to his face, then stared at his palm. A long sigh escaped his lips. His eyes softened when he noticed Lean May beside him, and he gently ran his hand through her hair.
"Nova... I can’t see anything with my left eye," he said.
My jaw dropped. My brows knit together.
> His left eye? Blind? But it’s 3 PM—the curse should’ve lifted by now. What’s going on? <
"What do you mean?" I asked.
I clutched at the hem of my skirt, alarm rising as I watched him start to cry.
"Maybe it’s because of the curse," he said hoarsely. "I rejected my soulmate... and this is the price I have to pay."
"J-Jow, try using your ability again—wait, no—"
He fell silent, tears streaming down his face. Then he whispered, “I don’t see any strings. Not on you. Not on me. There should’ve been one more left, right? Has the curse broken? And in exchange... I lost my eye?”
His voice trembled. He clutched his face, hands shaking.
"I can’t say for sure... we don’t know the full scope of this ability, or what’s happening to you," I said quietly. "Maybe you’re free now, but... I don’t know, Jow."
A chill gripped my spine. The change in his eyes—like he was being swallowed by darkness—terrified me.
“All I ever do is hurt people,” he murmured, voice now emotionless. “No matter how much I try to change, I keep going back to what I really am.”
He looked at me and smiled—a twisted, hollow smile. “Nova... I dreamed about the past. And I thought, maybe I shouldn’t have tried to change at all.”
“That’s not—"
I didn’t get to finish. His eyes closed. His body collapsed backward onto the bed. Unconscious, again.
---
Seeing those eyes...
Watching him fall like that...
Memories surged.
The copper taste of blood filled my mouth—the aftermath of a brutal brawl. My left arm throbbed, my head pulsed with pain. I knelt in the mud, rain dripping down on me as I cradled my broken arm.
In front of me: a monster in human form. Jow. Battling the gang members I couldn’t defeat. His fists crushed jaws, ribs, bones—his violence both terrifying and beautiful. A savage ballet of destruction.
He had only passed by, by chance, with his own gang. But he had intervened. Saved us. Saved *me*. He dragged me from the chaos before I could even thank him.
I passed out in the dirt. Woke up later among my battered gangmates, the enemies gone. The wreckage they left behind was a silent testament to Jow’s fury.
Now, the monster who once saved me—was the one lying broken. Helpless. And I had no idea how to save him.
---
To be continued.