The Mystery Continues...(VW2)

Chapter 7: I promise I won't run off

"Go Robby, or I'll kill you myself, I swear!" I threatened an already-pale Robby as he groaned again, trying to squirm out of my tight grip on his arm. He may be a kickboxer, but yet again, he won't do anything back when I'm the one wrestling him.

"But whyyyyyyy -" he stopped when he saw my death glare, "It's just a fever."

"It's just a fever," I mimicked him with a funny voice, "And that's nothing to you? You're unwell, Robby! What if it's the covid 19, and what if you've to get admitted at the hospital? You have to go home."

Robby suddenly stopped struggling and I instantly loosened my grip on his hand, and for a second, I thought he got afraid at the thought and would finally come with me to the sick room. But instead, he slowly, calmly, got his hand out of my loose grip as I watched in confusion, then moved back a few inches. I thought he was about to run to class suddenly, but of course, he didn't do that. That wasn't possible for him in this state.
"What?" I asked in curiosity, wondering why he went silent. He didn't actually look scared or anything.

"If I'm having covid 19, it'll probably get passed on to you if I stay that close," he said, gesturing to the large distance between us now, then shrugged, "just keep moving, Rose, I'll follow behind."

I started to feel my heart warm, but then realized that he could possibly be acting to run off when I turn to the front again, now that there's a distance between us. He probably just found an excuse when I mentioned the covid 19 thing. Agh, stupid me!

"But -" I started in protest.

"It's fine, Rose, go on," he said, nodding his head in assurance, "I promise I won't run off."

I raised an eyebrow. I wanted to trust him, but at this, I just couldn't. I was doing this for his good, but he didn't want to go, just for me to not be alone here. This is so complicated. How the hell can I make him understand that I'm not alone? How can I tell him that I don't necessarily need his presence to make me less bored, without hurting his feelings?

However, I turned around and went anyways. If I asked him to stay with me to keep him on watch or infront of me, since he wanted the distance between us, it would make him feel worried that I don't trust him (I do, but just not in this situation). And he should obviously not be stressed in such a state. He needed assurance, not more stress and worry. So I decided on letting it go and went to the sick room, with Robby supposedly trailing behind me. I tried to glance back from the corner of my eyes than directly turn around, but I couldn't do that properly, because, well, I'm human, not an alien. Since I heard his footsteps behind, I kept going, hoping he wouldn't ditch me.

After I reached the sick room, I turned around with a heavy sigh, meeting Robby's eyes immediately. He smiled, "See? I didn't run off"

This time, my heart really melted, because what he said was heartfelt and not a pretense to ditch me and run to class. He really cared about me, and whatever others thought about him, and however others teased him for that, he kept being close friends with me without any problem. And that's what matters.

I smiled back, "Well, good for you then. Otherwise, you know what happens - I'll kill you-"

"- And that would've been better than dying because of covid 19 but since I can't trust you with killing me, I'm going home," he grinned at his own comeback. I rolled my eyes and pretended to clap, "Wow, nice one. Now let's get going!"