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Ali…why are you crying?
…
“Al…”
Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinked once, then twice to clear her vision.
“….where---” She tried to speak but a sharp pain from her side prevents her.
Her eyes darted her surroundings, but all she can see are curtains from all her sides, completely blocking her from seeing outside.
She flinched.
Something just nudged on her legs, slowly she raised her head up to check what it was.
“Ali?” Her voiced cracked as the pain from her side is back.
Laying on her legs, was Ali, sleeping soundly.
Seiran took a moment to look at her face, before her eyes becomes blurry. She tried to wipe her eyes but it only worsened as more tears rolled down her cheeks.
I’m….alive….
She touched her cheeks, she squeezed her arms, hugged herself, before sobbing.
The pain sharpens as she continues.
It hurts… I am glad it hurts……
Her trembling body soon calms down, as a pair of hand held her cheeks lifting her head up, she met the gaze of her lover’s teary eyes.
“Seiran…” Ali’s voiced cracked. “…welcome back…”
Ali pulled Seiran to her chest, she wrapped her arms around her. Seiran returns the same treatment before nudging her face on her lover’s chest.
Despite her side aching, Seiran ignored it.
“I’m back…”
--- (After a while…) ---
“Does it still hurt?” Ali caressed Seiran’s cheeks.
Seiran shakes her head, playing with a glass bead on her neck.
Ali smiled, she lifted Seiran’s hand, pressed fingertips together. She slowly slides her fingertips down her lover’s own fingertips before locking their hands together.
Ali’s hand…so warm… Seiran thought to herself as she holds tighter.
“How did I…end up here?” Seiran asked.
“Mimi carried you.” Ali said as she opened the left curtain that surrounds the bed.
It was currently night time.
Not too far from Seiran bed, another bed was occupied by Sheena, and Mimi who is still covered in blood, are now sleeping soundly.
” So, I’ve caused trouble for them….” Seiran lowered her head, letting some of her black her fall.
Ali sat down beside her, leaned forward, before brushing the loose hair and tucking them on Seiran’s ear.
“Seiran…” Ali lifted her head. “They cried too, especially Sheena.”
Seiran glanced at the two girls sleeping.
“They were just as worried as I am…” Ali held Seiran’s hand. “I was waiting at our room when Sheena called me to the infirmary.”
Seiran lowered her head more.
“When I get in the infirmary, Ms. Fran was already healing your wounds.” Ali tightens her grip. “I was scared; Mimi was soaked in blood, while you lie still on this bed, I have no idea whether you’ll survive or not…”
Ali wiped her eyes.
“But, seeing as you are now…” Ali placed her hands on Seiran’s chest before leaning in. “I am glad…”
Seiran stays silent, pulling Ali close to her until their bodies are pressing against each other.
“I’m sorry…” Seiran muttered. “I’m sorry for making you worry, Ali.”
“Don’t be, as long as you came back safe…” She buried her face on Seiran’s chest. “I’ll be fine, so you don’t have to worry.”
Ali was trembling.
Seiran could feel the hand on her back trembling uncontrollably, she can hear her muffled sniffle, she can feel her white dress getting wet as Ali sheds tears.
“I had a dream…” Seiran started. “That, you were crying and no matter how many times I called out you never turned your head.”
Seiran gently stroked Ali’s hair to calm her down before she continues.
“I tried to run towards you…”
Seiran reached to her aching side.
“But no matter how fast I ran…”
Her voice trembles.
“…the further I drifted away from you…”
Ali lifted her head to look at what kind of face Seiran is making. Her vision was still blurry, so she tried to wipe it, but Seiran already did it for her.
Seiran sighed. “But then I woke up…”
She traced the bridge of Ali’s nose all the way down to her dry lips, before leaning over, letting the tip of their nose touch each other’s.
“Thank you for staying by my side, Ali.”
They held each other close, their bodies pressed together as they shared their warmth, despite the aching feeling, Seiran continued to laugh quietly as Ali is tickling her other side.
They were so into each other that they haven’t notice the presence that are watching them.
The next moment—
“Mimi!” Sheena tried to yelled but promptly stopped herself, her arms were wrapped around the energetic Mimi—still covered in Seiran’s blood. “I told you to let them be…”
“But look,” Mimi cheerfully pointed. “Seiran is awake now!”
Seeing both Sheena and Mimi, Seiran’s face turned red, quickly covering her face by balling both of her hands in front of her face.
Ali on the other hand, calmly smiled at the two girls. She glanced at the flustered Seiran then let out a giggle.
“H-How long have you been listening, Mimi?” Seiran voice trembles as she questions Mimi.
Mimi put a finger on her chin. “When Ali opened the curtain!” Mimi explained. “Sheena told me to pretend to slee---”
Sheena immediately covered Mimi’s mouth. “W-We really was asleep before…but…” Sheena tried to explain. “We woke up at the worst moment, so when I heard the curtain getting opened, I panicked and…”
Mimi, finally broke free from Sheena’s grasp, hurriedly went to Seiran.
“Seiran!” She started. “How are you feeling now?”
Seiran was still flustered but had slowly lowered her hands. She looked at the eyes of the girl in front of her.
She opened her mouth, about to respond but—
“Get to bath, brat.” Ms. Fran yanked away Mimi. “I let you wait long enough.”
“Let go of me!” Mimi tried to fight back. “Sheena!”
“Sheena, you can wait inside your room now.”
Sheena flinched, but with no other choice, she soon obliged.
“I-I’ll prepare some snack on our room, Mimi.” Sheena looked at Seiran and Ali before whispering. “I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow.”
Ali and Seiran nodded.
Ms. Fran then turned her attention to both of them.
“Ms. Maud, I suggest getting some rest.” She turned her head to Seiran. “Especially you Ms. Lizzy.”
Both of them freezes.
Ali insisted in staying, as she have had slept a long time waiting for Seiran to wake up.
Ms. Fran stared at them for a moment before scratching her head.
“Whatever. Just make sure to get enough sleep you two.” Ms. Fran sigh.
Ali and Seiran smiled, before locking hand with each other, watching Ms. Fran and Mimi leaved the infirmary.
Ali sat on a chair next to Seiran, before resting her head on Seiran’s shoulder.
“It got lively all of a sudden.” Ali giggled.
“Yeah…”
Feeling tired, Seiran slowly closes her eyes.
She can hear Ali still saying something, but her words quickly become inaudible as she continues to drift asleep.
“Goodnight, Ali…” Seiran muttered as she finally closes her eyes.
“Goodnight, Seiran.”
Seiran… I wish you were more of a scaredy cat…