Mirage

22

"As you can see, human's heart has 4 parts in total".

The class was full with students but it seemed like nobody was occupying considering of how loud the silence was. Some of them instantly yawned at the explanation the teacher did and some were already dozing off.

Not to blame anyone but biology obviously was tiring.

Sunwoo belong to the first group. His eyelids were heavy as if someone had hung dumbbells on both side of his eyes even before the class started. It got worst as the class went by, till the extent he nearly hit his head against the table.

He shook his head harshly, trying his best to stay awake but it did not seem effective. 

That was when from the corner of his eyes, he saw the constant movements from the demeanor next to him. It was as if his seatmate also had lost her interest for the class though every students knew very well that she would never.

Haeun's hands were trembling as she flickered her eyes from the whiteboard to her book, they were sweating every so often that she needed to wipe them out against her uniform. 

She tried to jot some notes in her book but something was holding her back. She then threw her pencil aside, squeezing her eyes tight, beads of sweats wetting her forehead.

Is she not feeling well? - Sunwoo thought alone.

It was then, one of their classmates was voicing out a question, curiously wanted to know how a human was considered dead if one's heart did not beat.

"Tch, what a dumb question", Sunwoo scoffed before the reality hit him, making his head turned towards Haeun. At that, he then noticed her condition worsened.

Her breathing became more heavier, the back of her palm every so often flew to her forehead - wiping those sweats formed, her bang started to be messy due to the wetness.

Unbeknownst to everyone in the class, Haeun was getting triggered by the chapter they were discussing.

Truthfully, she was not able to fully accepting her current condition. She kept drifting away from her own path whenever her doctor wanted to discuss about her illness. But right now, she had no other place to run.

She was stuck in the class that somehow sounded like everyone was discussing about her health. Their voices were ringing in her head, her view was spinning, her stomach turned every so often that she felt like throwing up.

"When the heart doesn't beat, the oxygen couldn't be transferred. So one would be considered dead".

The explanation from the teacher was correct, no lie laced but Haeun was getting enveloped by a feeling she did not invite. Her view was getting blurry that she started to feel lightheaded. Before she knew it, the class suddenly fell silent, all eyes were on her as her hand was floating high in the air.

"May I...go to the washroom?"

The teacher did not expect for anything to happen, or had happened. She gladly gave her the permission, resuming the class like usual as the girl left through the back door. 

Looking at how rushing she was at the time, Sunwoo could not break his stare from the girl even after the door was closed. He kept biting his lower lip, worries were clouding over him but why he was not able to ask?

He was sure that a simple 'how are you?' could have helped her.

Eventually, the boy did not want to have anything that he possibly would regret. So, he excused himself too from the class. He swiftly left through the same door as Haeun, his feet busily trailing the hallway whilst his eyes skimmed the area.

"Where are you Kim Haeun?" the unwanted feeling started consuming him, it was bad to be specific and he clearly did not like it.

However, he should have known that it was a sign.

As soon as he turned at a corner, there she was - the girl he was looking for, weakly supporting herself against the wall. 

The state she was in somehow had halted Sunwoo's universe. When she slid herself down, Sunwoo could not think of anything other than running towards her.

She was startled - who would not? She thought no one was there other than herself, she thought she would be suffering alone.

But here he was - her savior.

"D-Did you c-come out for me?" she stammered, pulling up her lips mischievously.

"No! I....I'm about to go to the gents", he retaliated with wavered pupils in which Haeun cackled weakly, the lie he told was too visible. "What's so funny?"

Haeun shook her head, the smile on her face was still there despite the pain she felt. 

Sunwoo seemed to notice the small frown that by reflex he took her hand, checking the reading on her watch. It was slightly low which made the colour on his face drain. 

"C-Can you help m-me?" she requested, slightly leaning towards his body.

"What is it?"

"I-I left my medicine in my locker", her eyelids started to be heavy. "G-Get it for me?"

"Alright, but first let me get you to the nurse room", he stood up first, holding out his hand for her to grab. Kim Haeun cackled again, this whole encounter was like a dream. "Faster!"

Successfully getting herself a help, Sunwoo was thinking to leave her there. But little did he know, he could not simply do that. Something about her lying down on the bed had urged him to stay, like how he did at the hospital.

He admitted that he knew nothing about her disease - what should he do to help, he did not have any knowledges but his eyes were glued on her watch all the time, examining the reading.

He got nervous when the reading drop. Every so often he bugged the nurse to check on the girl.

"What do you expect, Sunwoo?" the nurse sighed. "She's sleeping, of course the reading is low and according to her medical record, her heart rate is slower than a normal human".

"She's sleeping for too long, doesn't she?" he kept pestering the lady. "What if she's actually fainted? Is it okay for her to be here? We need to get her to the hospital right?"

It was then, an unfamiliar stare of the lady found his glistening orbs.

"Why do you concern too much?"

Right.

How long had it been since he stayed here?

How many classes had he missed?

"Perhaps it's because she is my seatmate", he shrugged unconfidently, hoping that the answer was sufficed.

"Or perhaps, you're denying a feeling that is developing inside you".