A Part of your Constellation - Straykids x Reader

Flickering Bonds

Aera blinked slowly as the sterile scent of antiseptic and the faint hum of the fluorescent lights filled her senses. The familiar surroundings of the university nurse's office came into view, causing her to sigh in mild frustration. It happened again.

The white sheets underneath her felt cool against her skin as she pushed herself up, adjusting her posture on the small bed. She could feel the lingering ache in her head, a reminder of the dizzy spell that had brought her here in the first place. Her fingertips grazed her wrist absentmindedly, tracing over the faint outlines of her soulmark, still incomplete after all these years.

"Thank you," she murmured softly, her voice still hoarse from the brief rest, as she turned toward the nurse in charge.

The older woman looked at her with a warm, yet mildly concerned expression. "You should take it easy, Professor Aera. This is the second time this week you've been here. Your schedule is far too demanding."

Aera forced a small smile, dismissing the concern with a polite nod. "I'll be fine. I just need to keep moving."

The nurse gave her a knowing look but didn't push the subject further. Aera was known for her resilience—always brushing off fatigue, always pushing herself, never wanting to admit weakness. She didn't have the luxury of slowing down. There was always something to do, always a class to teach, always a reason to keep going.

With a final wave of thanks, Aera stepped out of the small room and into the university hallway. The cool air hit her face, the buzz of student chatter, a faint background noise as she made her way toward the staff room. She absently ran a hand through her hair, her mind drifting to the class she was supposed to be teaching next. As she entered the staff room, the familiar sight of her colleague, Professor Hwan, greeted her. He sat at his desk, engrossed in grading papers, the pile next to him growing shorter as his pen scratched across the pages. His glasses perched on the edge of his nose, and he didn't look up as she approached, sensing her presence before she even spoke.

"Back from the nurse's office again?" he asked without preamble, his voice tinged with concern. He finally lifted his eyes from the papers to glance at her. "You alright?"

Aera hesitated for a moment, debating how much to reveal. She didn't want to worry him. They had worked together long enough for him to know her well, and she appreciated the camaraderie they shared. But today, she just couldn't muster the strength to put on a brave face.

"I'm fine," she said quietly, offering him a weak smile. "Just a bit tired."

Hwan didn't seem convinced, his brows knitting together in mild concern. "You've been pushing yourself too hard lately. You know, it's alright to take a break once in a while."

Aera sighed and glanced at the clock. Her next class was in just twenty minutes—Jeongin's class. They would notice if she wasn't at her best, and she didn't want to be a disappointment. But as she stood there, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to grip the edge of the desk to steady herself.

Hwan immediately rose from his chair, his earlier concern turning into alarm. "Hey, are you sure you're okay? You don't look good."

Aera took a deep breath, shaking her head slightly. The dizziness passed, but it left a dull throbbing at the back of her skull. She wasn't fine—not really. But admitting that felt like weakness. She wasn't used to asking for help. Still, she knew pushing herself through another lecture might make things worse.

"Hwan," she said after a pause, her voice softer than usual, "would you mind covering my class today? I... I'm just not feeling up to it."

His expression softened, and without missing a beat, he nodded. "Of course. You should've just said something sooner."