Pestilence Plagues | ONC 2021

02 | Sick Cold

[LAYTON HALLS Y2]
Can't make it today. Not feeling too awesome. Don't have too much fun without me! :P - 10.32am

With a groan, I slammed the tablet down onto the bedside table, and threw my face into my white fluffy pillow. The tablet was given by Vindex, used strictly for schoolwork. It was a complete disappointment. The tablet was entirely disconnected from the outside world. Its two best features were the internal messaging application among other school tablets and the school forum. They were essentially supposedly used for asking questions and discussing homework.

Letting loose another muffled groan into the poor pillow, I reluctantly pushed myself up to a comfortable sitting position, and grabbed the tablet. A few quick taps on the screen later, I conjured and sent a short reply to Layton.

[HAYLEY CLARKE Y2]
Dork. You sure you're okay? Need anything? - 1.53pm

I hope he was okay. Maybe he ate something weird yesterday at the annual Family Day buffet. I wouldn't know for sure. The last time I had seen him was yesterday morning when he had left for Family Day. While he was out spending time with his father, I spent the whole day doing multiple sketches of the view from the window that overlooked the populated green fields in my room. There really wasn't much point going down if no one was coming for me. I didn't want pity looks or anything. A soft ping interrupted my train of thoughts. I lifted the tablet up, stifling a yawn.

[LAYTON HALLS Y2]
I'm fine, just a little sore. Might have teleported a little too much yesterday haha! I'm good. Got a decent supply of snacks. Did you just wake up? What time did you sleep last night? :P - 1.54pm

[HAYLEY CLARKE Y2]
Glad to hear it isn't anything serious. And yes I did. Slept around 4. In my defence, I finished the sketch that you requested. - 1.55pm

[LAYTON HALLS Y2]
...Fine. I'll forgive you this once. Just this once. Bring it to dinner!! I'll be there!! - 1.55pm

[HAYLEY CLARKE Y2]
Dork. I will. See you later. - 1.56pm

[LAYTON HALLS Y2]
See you! - 1.56pm

I suppose I had to start the day now. I gently flipped the pristine white covers that were protecting my legs from the devastating cold, and let my feet slowly come into contact with the freezing white marble tiles. I hate winter. From the wretched icy winds, to the piercing frosty snow that pelts against your unprotected skin, I hate it all. The only good thing about Winter was the hot chocolate, and shorter school days.

I shuffled my way to my brown wooden desk across the single bed. It was a mess. Stacks of unsorted worksheets and notes were piled on the right side, a yellow small rock with a simple smiley face from Layton weighing them down. To the left were the textbooks all piled up, some of them a little worn-out from the frequent flipping of pages and the regular plummets to the ground.

I swapped the tablet in hand for the A5 sketchbook on the table. It was still at the page from last night's work. The pencil drawing was a request from Layton. He wanted a scene of two silhouettes, himself and Mr Mysterious Boyfriend, sitting at the roof of the school, staring into the forest as the sun set. A Valentine's Day gift, according to Layton. He planned to use the back of the sketch to write a small message. He was such a romantic. I tried to draw it as accurately as I could based solely on Layton's description. I could only hope it was good enough. With an uncertain sigh, I slipped the book into my backpack.

I pulled the simple wooden chair out and sat down, as I plugged the tablet in to charge. A measly 6% was not enough to last the day. I pulled up the school forum application, hoping that someone had posted the headlines from this morning's news. With a few clicks and swipes, I found a pinned thread listing today's headlines.