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'Not again.'
Jo Euishin crouched in a corner away from the presence of any passing students.
He held his temples, his brows furrowing deeper at the pressure.
It was pathetic, in a way.
He had suffered from migraines for longer than he could tell, starting from some point in his past world's high school days. It hadn't been this bad then, and compared to the terminal illness later, the pain of a headache was hardly ever felt.
But now, it emerged again every so often, and Jo Euishin had trouble figuring out the triggers.
With chess, it was easy.
He just had to avoid it, except the times he had to participate in the tournament matches.
But what was he supposed to do when the pain sprang up in the middle of class, so blinding and immediate that he felt his vision blur?
It was even worse when the tiger sitting beside him noticed it—how could he not, when he was overreacting so much?—and the others must've too, given the many glances they sent his way throughout the rest of the class.
Really, it wasn't that big of a deal. He had dealt with so much worse in the past, so what was the problem now?
Jo Euishin felt his eyes sting as his head throbbed again, but he could only stare at the recovery item card in his hand in despair.
He had already used more than the advised dosage through the week. Any more than this, he would not only be risking an overuse, but the recovery items might just stop having any effect on his headaches.
'I can't do with that.'
It was fine with chess, since the issue was primarily psychological, but he had to at least deal with headaches arising from other causes without disturbing everyone in class.
'Wouldn't sleep make it better?'
He had been sleeping less, but it had never really affected him all that much in the past. There hadn't been any recent 'stressful' events either.
Jo Euishin wondered if he was overreacting, given that the pain usually subsided on its own.
'…probably.'
As soon as his thoughts reached that far, he stood up and dusted his uniform, heading for the Newspaper Club room.
***
"Let's stop here for today."
Jo Euishin blinked, a bit surprised at Eunho's words. There were a lot of topics left to discuss, and the night was still young, so was something else the matter?
"I have a class early tomorrow, so let's discuss this after school."
'Ah.'
Euishin keenly felt his own inconsideration, having not considered his dongsaeng's busy schedule at all, but it was at least good that the latter was taking care of his health properly.
"Euishin hyung. It's better if you sleep early too."
Euishin nodded readily, not wanting to disturb the other's rest.
Briefly, as he stood up holding Olmu, he felt glad that the discussion had ended early, since he could feel himself losing focus again—a recurrent sign of yet another attack.
However, when he considered that he was feeling glad about something that was wearing out his junior, he felt guilty, wondering if something had gone wrong with his mind.
Woof?
The pain was getting sharper, but it would simply go away after some sleep.
Thinking so, he quietly went to his room, oblivious to the tigers' gazes following him.
Jo Euishin didn't realise that he had forgotten to say that he would go back to rest in the dorm again, something he always mentioned at least once, and for the first time, that fact didn't comfort the tigers at all.
***
"Jo Euishin. Don't go today."
'I'm fine. It's not that bad.'
Jo Euishin rubbed his eyes, pressing his temples along with it.
He had hoped resting for the night would help it, but not only had he overslept, his head had started throbbing again, even the dim light from the curtains as if burning his eyes.
"Just rest for today. I'll let Hwangho know."
Euishin wanted to argue back, but his head was bowed down as he winced at another sharp bout of pain.
What was the problem anyway?
He wasn't in the cold and empty dorm, where his body never felt comfortable, and he wasn't playing chess again. Then why? What was he doing wrong?
Briefly, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching close.
When Baekho helped him lie back down again, he didn't have the strength to even protest back a bit.
'…you don't need to.'
The tiger pressed on one side of his head, massaging his temples, and even though the pain lessened immediately, Jo Euishin tried to push the tiger's hand away.
"Why? I don't have anything else to do."
"…"
Why did he sound so proud saying that?
Euishin would've argued back immediately, but when the tiger said something so ridiculous with that tone, how was he supposed to answer?
'Whatever.'
His body was exhausted enough that he didn't notice when he fell asleep again, under Baekho's watchful gaze.
***
"Jo Euishin."
Euishin looked up, surprised to see the other. He had been resting in his usual spot after lunch, and Jiho never disturbed him unless it was for something urgent, so his mind quickly grew alert.
However, instead of any bad news-
Fwish
Hwang Jiho quietly took a seat beside him, taking out a thermos from his bag.
'…?'
"Hahaha! I guess you're surprised, eh?"
He wasn't surprised, just wondering if his ages old classmate had lost it again.
Why was the Nok Head's medicine here? Surely he wasn't going to be fed with something bitter when his head was already hurting?
"Here. Hyangrok sent extra this batch, since he was satisfied with the latest specimens."
Jo Euishin blankly took the cup from the tiger.
'When did he pack this?'
As he watched Jiho drink the same, he reluctantly took a sip as well.
'…it's good.'
Was this the only reason Jiho came here?
"…"
The tiger wasn't speaking much today, or even laughing like he usually did.
Jo Euishin finished the tea in silence.
He had expected some matter to pop up eventually, but Hwangho only refilled his cup when he looked at him again.
'…?'
The tea was good, so it was fine, but he was hoping the tiger would bring up the topic quickly.
'Is there really nothing?'
Jo Euishin looked back at the cup in his hands, feeling odd.
Was it because Hwangho's presence had suddenly distracted him?
His head didn't hurt as much as before.
His body felt lighter too, though he still felt a little drowsy.
"Well done."
'…?'
Why was the geezer praising him for finishing tea? Who did he think he was he treating like a child?
"Hahaha! Don't be upset, Jo Euishin. This body is just glad you look better."
Better?
Did he look better after having the oddly delicious tea?
After some thought, Jo Euishin added a word.
"You too."
"…?"
For a moment, Hwangho doubted what he had heard.
However, as soon as he realised the meaning, Euishin had already walked away, his steps quicker than usual.
"Wait, Jo Euishin!"
He would've waited for the geezer if he hadn't started laughing so loudly again.
***
'Finally.'
It wasn't from the relief of having his headache gone, but from finally ridding himself free of Hwang Jiho's pursuit.
Well, it wasn't a pursuit as much as it was following him around like usual, but Jo Euishin considered it the same in his current state.
He found an empty classroom in the corner, opening his device to see if it had any classes or club activities scheduled for the day.
Tap
Lately, everyone around him had been acting odd.
Starting with good morning greetings, as if it was agreed on in advance, his kind playable characters abruptly began asking each other of their health, which eventually turned focus to him too.
For a moment, he had doubted if it was because of his recent problem, but he dismissed the thought quickly. Still, just for confirmation, he had asked the tiger reading his mind if he looked sick.
"You look like you."
It wasn't a helpful answer per se, but at least it meant he didn't look sick or anything like that.
Jo Euishin stepped into the quiet classroom, heading to the back row.
Not just his classmates, but the tigers had been acting odd as well.
"Euishin hyung. Would you mind having some tea right now?"
He had thought something urgent enough to warrant Eunho's attention must've come up, but oddly enough, his dongsaeng didn't mention anything. Rather, he simply talked of school and extracurricular activities while having tea, and, lost in the idle talk, Jo Euishin had forgotten most of the concerns in his mind, chatting with his dongsaeng like he once used to in the past.
Besides, the tea wasn't even medicinal.
Was it because Eunho had a lot of work recently? Did he simply wish to talk to someone out of stress?
Euishin sat at the corner most desk, heaving a sigh.
Even Jeokho and Kim Shinrok had, oddly enough, accompanied him to school a few times by now, and the former had even come to pick him up after classes—when Hwang Jiho was already by his side.
'I can't tell.'
He didn't understand what the problem was, or if there was even any problem.
He felt rather odd these days.
It wasn't like this earlier, but now, in the absence of any sudden and continuous scenarios without a break, Jo Euishin found himself thinking back to his past world often.
The days he had spent alone, dousing himself in painkillers, compared to now, when he had trouble fending off so many others from tracking him.
"…"
Placing the school bag by his side, he put his head down on the desk.
Confirming the alarm and the properly locked door, he decided to put aside his thoughts for now, falling into slumber quickly.
***
Jo Euishin blearily opened his eyes, the absence of light being the first thing he noticed.
'…?'
His vision was dim, and his head didn't throb as much as before.
Then why did it feel so heavy?
The feeling of someone grabbing his head-
'…!'
Jo Euishin nearly bolted up from the seat when a familiar voice caught his ears.
"It's me."
'Huh?'
"…Baekho?"
Blinking again, he could clearly make the tiger's figure sitting beside him in the dimness, wearing familiar white robes.
"Yeah. Don't get up."
Euishin felt dazed as the tiger patted his head, and even though he wasn't really trying to get up, the firm hand assured that he wouldn't be able to either.
'How is he…'
No, why was it so dark in the first place? He could tell that it was the same classroom, then how did that tiger get here?
He wanted to check his device, but his mind felt too sluggish to think properly. His head wasn't hurting as much, so did something else happen?
"The class was cancelled, so I came to pick you up."
…Class?
Vaguely, Jo Euishin recalled saving an alarm for Gong Cheonghwon's class later in the day. No wonder he hadn't woken up earlier. Baekho must've turned his device off after the class had been cancelled.
He thanked the tiger briefly in his mind, feeling relieved that he hadn't shamelessly missed another class again.
Lately, the headaches had been growing worse, and he found himself losing focus more easily every other day.
He felt guilty for wasting everyone's time, but-
"Jo Euishin."
Euishin looked up at the voice, meeting Baekho's gaze. He couldn't tell what the latter's expression looked like since it was too dark.
"It's okay. You didn't waste anyone's time."
The tiger was speaking like that again, even when he knew half of the words didn't reach his ears.
"Hwangho was worried a lot. So were the others."
So he did end up worrying them over nothing after all.
He had tried his best to hide it, but was it because the others, especially the tigers, were particularly keen? They noticed-
"It's not that. It's because it's you."
Jo Euishin didn't look at the tiger this time, feeling a hand massaging his temples.
"We were worried because you were in pain. It's as simple as that."
How was that simple in any way?
And he wasn't necessarily in pain, rather, he didn't even feel it most days.
"Just because you're used to it doesn't make it better."
"Why are you talking so much today?"
"Because I don't like seeing you in pain."
"…"
He closed his eyes, kicking the shin of the tiger who didn't dodge, earning him a quick look from Euishin again.
'…stupid tiger.'
Why was he smiling when his neat robes got dirtied?
Jo Euishin didn't feel guilty this time, since the tiger definitely deserved it.
"Is it better now?"
He closed his eyes again, not bothering to respond.
When he had rested his head on the desk earlier, he had felt his neck and back strain as he fell asleep. Now, there was a soft support underneath his head, the cloth being distinct enough that it could be easily spotted in the darkness.
"…"
Euishin glanced at the other, who was wearing robes of a similar hue. The tiger always wore the same attire, so he must have a lot saved up in his wardrobe, right? Still, was it okay to use something like that as a pillow? Why was he carrying his own spare clothes around in the first place?
'I hope he didn't steal.'
Jo Euishin heard a familiar laughter beside him, and without realising it himself, a very faint smile had spread across his own face as well.
"Jo Euishin."
He felt drowsy, even after taking a nap. There weren't any more classes to attend today, but he remembered having other tasks, so shouldn't he get up quickly?
"It's okay. Rest for now. It wasn't anything urgent."
He wouldn't have normally believed the tiger's words, but since Baekho never lied to him, he decided to trust him this time.
"Don't worry, Jo Euishin. I'll be here."
Jo Euishin closed his eyes, wondering if the tiger was talking about staying here or meeting him in his dreams. As a hand patted his head, he felt his senses growing dimmer, quickly falling asleep again.