Serendipity | A TayNew Omegaverse AU

Chapter 7

New's POV

Thankfully, my weird sickness faded over the weekend, and the following week flew by. One day, Gun and I had lunch together, then I spent the evening painting random flowers in vivid, vibrant colors as I was assisting Krist to finish an art project. It was relaxing and precisely what I needed after a stressful two weeks.

My heightened discomfort and ache after practice, on the other hand, remained. I began to use hot water bottles on my lower back and feet far more frequently than I had before. It seemed unusual, but I deduced it was due to a lack of sleep, which was sadly all too common. I've been sleeping a lot less than usual, which has been really annoying. My brain refused to turn off.

Now it was the weekend, and I was looking forward to some much-needed rest and leisure. I've booked a face masking treatment as well as a massage to perhaps soothe my strained, sore muscles. It was something I was looking forward to.

Krist and I were chatting and laughing as we returned from the cafeteria where we had breakfast. We sat on our couch as we continued to catch up. We spend Saturday mornings recapping our week. I'd finished sharing my story, and it was now Krist's turn.

He was halfway through telling me about his newest unit in one of his music classes when a wave of nausea hit me hard. I dashed to the bathroom, barely making it before puking into the toilet. My best friend was taken aback, but rubbed my back, assuring me that I'd be fine while offering me a wet towel to wipe my face with.

I felt dizzy and sick, and it was all bizarre because I had been great only five minutes earlier, and I hadn't eaten anything unusual. This was the third time this had happened, and I thought it was all over.

"Are you sure you're still not sick?" Krist asked, concerned.

I sagged and shook my head. "I haven't checked yet, but I'm willing to bet all my money that I don't have a fever or that I haven't eaten anything strange. I have no idea what the hell is wrong with me."

Krist's face was paler than usual when he opened and closed his mouth.

I stared at him, "What?"

"Nothing."

I scowled. "First Win, now you? Just tell me!"

"Uhm..." Krist hesitated. "It's just... you haven't slept with anyone since you and Earth broke up, right?"

I swallowed my pride and cleared my throat, embarrassed that I had never told Krist about my lapse in judgment.

"Actually... I did sleep with someone." My best friend's expression of surprise triggered a defensive response in me. "It was just a one-night stand, and then he asked if I would help him with his rut and..."

The beta's mouth dropped open. "You did?"

I nodded slowly, fidgeting. "Yeah, why not? The sex was good."

"Did he knot you?" Krist asked bluntly as I rolled my eyes — he looked borderline deranged.

"It'd be a really unproductive rut if he didn't."

"You were on birth control, right?"

I was utterly taken aback and blinked. "Uhm, yeah? I wouldn't have let him fuck me bare if I wasn't."

"And do you know this guy well enough?"

I chuckled. "Not really. It was a one-night stand and then a rut, there wasn't much time for talking. Why?"

Krist frowned. "I just... don't you think these symptoms are a little familiar?"

I blinked again, my mind blank. Krist looked at me with sad eyes. The realization stroke me abruptly and my mouth fell open in shock.