15 Recovered?

What started off as a bad cold suddenly turned into a fever. I was panting to catch my breath with my flushed cheeks and sore throat. The only benefit from getting sick was that I didn't have to attend class. Sob. I couldn't even say which one was the better of the two evils.

While I was struggling to recover from my cold, I wondered how Alex was doing. Was he even eating? If he wasn't, we would both be in the same situation. I couldn't eat anymore because my fever while he couldn't eat because of our -110 000 points.

* * *

One week later, I finally recovered. From today and onwards, I swore to myself that I would take better care of my body.

I see Alex's flushed cheeks as he silently walks with me back to our room. Maybe he was holding hands with me knowing I was feeling a little dizzy?

I was touched by his actions, but I felt like a older sister watching her younger brother trying to grow up.

I thought of myself as about twenty three years old now. I spent 17 years in my past life and six years in this life. Even though my academic skills were a bit lacking compared to these bright ten and eleven year olds, I was mentally over ten years older than them.

I gave Alex a warm smile to thank him for guiding the way. When our eyes met, he quickly looked away to the other direction and resumed walking while avoiding my face.

Aww. How cute.

Luke wasn't as cute as Alex. He would look at me directly and nag me all the time to behave a certain way.

When we got to our room, Alex didn't let go of my hand as his grip became tighter. \"I think we need to have a talk.\" Alex said in a serious tone.

\"What do you want to say?\" I asked very confused.

\"I'm not as good as Luke when it comes to looking over your health, but I think you shouldn't overexert yourself right after you got out of the infirmary room. I apologize for my behaviour a week ago when I pushed you to study after you asked for a break. However-\" (Alex)

Oh. So that awkward atmosphere was because Alex was looking for a timing to apologize. \"It's not your fault!\" I interrupted him.

\"I should have been able to look after my own health more and I didn't. I didn't want to burden you with more minus points,\" I said with convincingly.

\"Well, you don't have to worry about that. Just work on getting better!\" Alex said sincerely.

I nodded and got into my bed to rest onto my new pillow and blanket. If Alex was getting this worried, I was going to rest for the weekend.

* * *

I was on the way of walking towards my room when I saw Alex eating in the cafeteria. I went into the cafeteria curious of the situation. I tapped on Alex's shoulders to ask, \"What happened while I was away?\"

He managed to get rid of -110 000! I was shocked. He managed to do something that even Luke couldn't do.

\"Since you're here, why don't you eat too Rika?\" Alex added.

After struggling to digest even porridge during the last few days made my appetite go away. Even yesterday, I could only drink water and swallow some pills to get my nutrition.

\"No. I'll start eating tomorrow.\" I answered back.

\"Are you sure?\"

\"Yea. My stomach is still feeling unwell so I'll just take my nutritional pills again.\"

I left Alex so that he could resume eating in the cafeteria. I returned to my room to see that there were few changes. Instead of just a straw bed, there were two fluffy pillows and blankets.

Wow. Pillows and blankets were something like a luxury good to me lately. I was moved. Instead of grabbing another light novel as usual from my cardboard box full of clothes, food and books, I exited the room to go to the faculty office. After seeing how hard Alex worked, I didn't want to burden him with tutoring me since I was one week behind others in my studies. So I decided to ask my teachers instead for help.

But what I didn't expect was the faculty office to be closed! Right, it was the weekend so maybe that was the reason why? Maybe I wasn't used to concept of weekends of holidays that I forgot.

Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

I took out my marble and called Shelly. \"Are you free?\"

\"Yea, why?\"

\"Can you give me your notes so I can catch up on what I missed?\"

\"Sure, I'll transfer the files over right now.\"

On the my static screen projected from my translucent marble, a message appeared: Would you like to accept the files?

I pressed yes and the files came all at once.

Wow. There was over 1000 pages of notes. \"Thanks Shelly!\"

I ended the call while Shelly smiled back. Another useful function of the marble was that we could transfer files while we're in a conversation almost instantly.

I learned this in elementary when I got sick for an entire week and Luke would occasionally call me to check up how I was doing in the infirmary and to send me his notes.

Sigh. How was I supposed to cram about 1000 pages of notes?

I went to the library study room to start studying. Let's start from calculus!

500 pages later.

I was exhausted. Maybe I overdid it? I was limping towards the door to exit the room. I turned the door knob to open the door. Just when I opened the door, someone from the other side of the same door opened for door as well. I was about to fall onto the floor, however a warm hand pulled me up and I landed on his chest.

When I looked up, I saw expressionless darkened purple amethyst eyes and long eyelashes. \"Are you here to study as well?\" I asked.

\"No, I'm here to ask you when you're planning to return to our room?\"

Why did Alex care?

\"Why?\" (Rika)

\"Shelly was worried you may be over exerting yourself to catch up.\" (Alex)

\"Well, you finally got us out of minus points and I don't to burden you with more minus points again.\" I sulked.

\"I was going to return to our room right now anyways, so you can use this room afterwards if you want.\" I said smoothly.

\"...\" (Alex)

I was really awkward with Alex because I wasn't that close to him. He seemed like he was from another world with Luke and Allan. In their own little world that seemed unapproachable.

Even Shelly didn't talk to Alex that often even though they were partners. I guessed different pairs had different relationships.

I got up from leaning against his chest and started to walk towards the room. I felt my vision wavering a bit as I suddenly felt dizzy.

This was a bad habit that came from my past life. I would overdo it with my studying when it came to desperate situations like upcoming exams.

In my past life, it was based on your marks in exams that would determine your standing in going to a good university. I was sadly always be in the middle and would develop a cold after my exams.

Maybe I overdid it again in order to not burden Alex?

When I was about to take another step, someone grabbed my hand before I lost my consciousness.