Magnetic

ELEVEN

DANAI

The world was blurry when Nai opened her eyes at first, and she rubbed at them to regain some clarity. For a few moments, Danai had no idea where she was, before the TV in her living room came into view, playing episodes ahead of what she was watching before she knocked out on the couch. Danai groaned, barely able to stretch after she felt the ache in her back, her body still weak and heavy with illness. She laid on her back, staring up at the ceiling for several minutes while she tried to remember what she'd come to the living room for in the first place. Something in her brain just knew that binge-watching was second on the list.

Nai took in a deep breath before a few unconvincing coughs left her mouth, and they jogged her memory like a smack to the head. The chicken noodle soup was in the fridge, and she was supposed to eat it. She glanced down at the floor, her eyes landing on the slippers that had been tossed aside before she managed to grab a blanket and collapse onto her sofa.

Getting sick was not something Danai enjoyed, not since she'd left her parents' home. Back then, when she stayed home from school or events to get better, her mom would buy Nai her favourite fruits, make her soup and tea, then massage her feet while she told her stories or let her watch all the TV she could handle until she succumbed to sleep, after which her mom would turn off the TV and read or work close by.

Now, while living alone, it just made life substantially harder. She had to take care of herself, and be able to anticipate the illness coming on so she could prepare for it. That's what had happened the day before, when she felt a scratch in her throat in the afternoon that several coughs couldn't get rid of. By the time the day was over, her skin had that hot and achy feel, so she went over to the store and bought the makings of her mom's chicken noodle soup and managed to make that before bed. It had been sitting in the fridge all day, and her stomach had been empty aside from the water and tea she'd managed to drink.

Her mind went to Everitt, and she cursed her heart for that hopeful little flutter. Danai sighed as she thought about the previous day, and how well things had been going--until they weren't. She didn't want to get her hopes up with Everitt. Well, she didn't want to get her hopes up with anyone, but it seemed different with him. Initially, the daily breakfast felt like an invitation to maybe become friends at the most, or sex friends considering their most recent encounters. He never asked for much more than her company, however, and that gave her hope. Danai got comfortable, because she thought that this might finally be it. She'd finally have someone who, at times like this when it would be nice to be taken care of, would be there for her. He'd make her lay down, even though her mind was itching to be productive, bring her soup, tea, and give her a massage as she fell asleep and her body tried to get better. He'd maybe tease her about her inability to relax, which would help her relax, and they'd settle into a comfortable silence while she let herself believe that it was safe to...

Love him?

"God, I'm such an idiot." Nai chastised herself, because Everitt had said it himself that he didn't want there to be talk about them. If he was feeling the same way as Danai, or at least something close, then why would the talk matter? What would be so bad about people knowing they were something? She couldn't even think they were dating, because were they? It was all too confusing, and frustrating, and painful because it felt like this was the other shoe in the process of dropping.

"I have to get up," Danai whispered to herself while she let her eyes close, relieved at how much better her head felt when she did. The TV playing on the other side of the room was like white noise, as though there was someone else in the townhouse with her. She figured she should probably go back to bed at some point, but Nai had no idea how she'd walk up all those steps with how woozy and exhausted she was.