𝕲𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗, 𝕲𝖔𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖕 & 𝕬-𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙 𝕬𝖋𝖋𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖘 [ON HOLD]

1.5 | ｏ ｎｅ ｐｏｉｎｔ ｆｉｖｅ

Four Years Ago

Groaning, Annika sank into the pillows, trying to block out the buzzing sounds around her, as a streak of pain shot up the side of her head, and to the back of her skull.

She buried her face into the pillow, breathing deeply. Her nose scrunched as the strange yet not unpleasant odour of antiseptic assaulted her senses.

Jerking her head back, she let out a painful groan, before blinking blearily. She darted her tongue to wet her lips, only to realise that it was impossibly dry.

Annika frowned—— what had happened?

Her eyes widened as the memories from the previous night came rushing back like a torrential flood, sweeping away the drowsiness.

Right—— she sighed.

Maliha's bachelorette.

Her eyebrows furrowed.

Then what?

The door to her left opened, and a young woman in a white uniform entered the room. "Hey," she greeted Annika cheerfully.

Annika frowned, leaning back in suspicion.

Her eyes darted around the room, and her frown deepened, realising the fact that she wasn't back in her own apartment. Or Maliha's. Or Violet's.

"W-w-water," she croaked.

The nurse hummed, grabbing a glass of water and handing it to Annika who tried to raise her right hand only to stare open-mouthed at the dark blue cast cast around her left hand—— from her knuckles to the insides of her elbow.

"You fractured your wrist," the nurse piped up.

"H-how?" Annika cleared her throat, bringing the glass with her shaking right hand and gulping down the clear liquid in front of her, greedily.

The nurse shrugged, "No idea. But Sir's told me to not tell you."

"Who?" Annika's eyebrows furrowed.

"Err, I'll just let him tell you," the nurse mumbled. "Do you need anything else?"

"No," Annika replied in a hesitant tone. "Thank you," she added, smiling awkwardly. The nurse lingered, which made Annika look at her quizzically. "Did you still need something from me?"

The nurse smiled bashfully, before shaking her head. A few seconds passed before she nodded. "No, err, I mean, yes."

"Go on," Annika chuckled.

"Can I get your signature?" The nurse blurted out.

Annika looked at her with an amused smile, "Sure." She held up her hand, "Can't promise it would be legible."

The nurse bounced excitedly on her feet, "Oh, that's fine." Her excitement was palpable, as she held out a pen towards Annika who winced, struggling to sit up.

Annika but the inside of her cheek, as she accidentally put pressure on her left hand and bit back a scream. Letting out a soft whimper, she held the uncapped pen towards the pristine white uniform, and signed shakily.

"There," Annika smiled weakly.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The nurse bounced excitedly on her feet as a bright beam stretched her cheeks into a wide grin.

"May I know the name of the woman responsible for looking after my irresponsible drunk self?" Annika pointed to her cast, smiling amusedly at the young woman who looked to be only a year or two younger than her.