Love Alarm [Based On A True Story]

Blood & Enemies

Unlike any other day, I was a little later than usual to school today. By the time I reached, the sun was all out and brightly shining like it was already afternoon, and the corridors and classes were already crowded with students. I was so used to coming early and being greeted with empty hallways that all of this felt weird to me.

Nonetheless I still made my way to my class, and as I did, I found out it was just as crowded as the rest of the school. Everyone was already present, and that includes Stefen.

Seeing him laughing and talking with his friends as the morning sunshine fell on his blond locks, I involuntarily begin to blush lowering my head down in an attempt to hide the smile that was forming on my lips despite my better judgement. Without looking up at anyone, I searched the first empty seat and dropped my back there, which happened to be a solo seat beside the windows, third in the row.

This is what my whole week had been like ever since all the girls found out my secret. I would wait in the class as it slowly filled with students until Stefen himself would show up, then the giggles and whispers and smirks and shoves would begin, and like the lovesick puppy I had become, I could not shrug them off easily. It all made me rather...shy.

It took at least a few minutes for the girls to notice that I was already present, and before I knew it, Meave was right by my side, slapping my back like she always did. It didn't hurt as much as the first times for I would already expect it and then brace myself for it.

"There is the lover girl! You are late!" Meave exclaimed, making me blush at her nick name but I pretended to be nonchalant as I replied. "I'm twelve minutes earlier than the bell. I'm not late."

Meave all but rolled her eyes. "Twelve minutes early for the bell but not your usual early. You are one of the first to arrive, if you exclude Samantha and...eh...Pearl."

"Pearl isn't always an early comer, she often comes later than usu- UGH!"

The sudden jolt of pain in my abdomen had me reeling backwards, sending my body into a sudden shift and making me lose my balance as I collapsed back on my chair which was right behind me. Before I knew it, Meave's worried face was right in front of me.

"Ariana! Ariana are you alright? Of course you are not, what a dumb question. Ariana what's wrong?" Meave fired her questions at once.

My eyes stung with tears as I tried to pull in the pain, but it only hurt terribly, making me gasp for breath through my mouth instead of my nostrils. The words barely left my mouth. "It...it...hurts...it hurts..."

"It hurts?" Meave repeated, looking from my face to my chest. "Where does it hurt? Your chest? Is it the gastritis again? I knew it wasn't just a normal thing."

The last part was just a muttering meant for herself, but I heard it all too well considering how close we were. I shook my head to deny it, pressing my hand harder against my abdomen. "It hurts, in here. It feels like someone is cutting it open."