SOUL DORM

20

Right behind you baby...

***

CHAPTER 20: 

TROUBLE

I spent that day in the infirmary. Angel Ria eventually handed over her shift to another angel and left, while my friends stayed by my side for hours. Since there were no other souls foolish enough to end up in the infirmary besides me, the entire hall belonged to us.

Ursa had mentioned that she had never seen this place used for anything other than minor sports injuries or class accidents. That's why they hadn't even felt the need to show it to me during orientation. Technically, the infirmary wasn't even inside the Dorm. Although you could reach it directly from all floors by pressing the red button in the elevator, its location was not marked on any maps, and even Ursa, as a representative, didn't know about it.

Yet, here I was, managed to find myself in this infirmary where no soul needed, visited, or even knew its location. For some reason, Diego thought this was quite cool. What I did was incredible. I had boldly confronted the Guardian and sacrificed myself for others. I was a hero. Although I didn't quite agree, I couldn't help but laugh along with the others as they mimicked me.

Then, we talked about his leap onto the stage for Blue, praising him for his courage until his cheeks turned crimson. Eventually, Lark pulled out her cards, spread them on my bed, and made predictions about all our futures. For Ursa, patience; for Diego, luck; for Helene, surprise; and for me, a fresh start. Though I didn't know what that meant, it didn't sound too bad after towers crumbling and swords falling.

When our stomachs growled, Diego dashed to the cafeteria and returned with a tray full of cookies and a box of milk. My gluttonous cat wasted no time joining Lola and Meer, eagerly sticking his nose into the food. And thus began my crash course in pet care. Using the Tamagotchi, I had to monitor his needs, feed him accordingly, put him to sleep, play with him, and train him. The hunger bar on the screen filled completely as the cat devoured a whole cookie in one bite.

While Diego and I were attempting to fill up the play bar by engaging with the cat, Lark chimed in, "You should also give it a name."

"My friends suggested every single name related to the color white. But the moment our eyes met; I had already decided on his name. I didn't need to think about it.

"Trouble," I declared. "His name will be Trouble."

Perhaps I was influenced by the song Mars was singing in the background at the moment of his birth. Or maybe it was the chaos he caused from the very first second of his existence... Either way, I knew I couldn't find a better name for him. The cat looked at me the moment I said his name, as if he understood I was talking to him. My friends, on the other hand, weren't so sure. Ursa's face frowned, Diego suggested a couple more names, and Lark narrowed her eyes. Only Helene thought it was a fitting name for his character.

The name debate was cut short as new visitors entered the infirmary. Diego was the first to spot them, frozen in an odd posture. We all turned toward the door, catching his unusual behavior. I, too, stood there, mouth agape. Even an angelic visit would have been more expected than this couple's arrival. Blue and Tarben approached us calmly. Blue offered the large bouquet she was carrying to me.

"Hello, Olive, we were worried about you... I hope we're not interrupting," she said.

Ursa laughed exaggeratedly to suppress Diego's sigh. "No, of course not, dear. You're most welcome! Oh, how beautiful those flowers are. Let me find a vase right away."