For flip sake...I'm gonna have to revise secretly on my phone.
Aggnus turned and left the room, returning shortly with a wooden stool. It clunked onto the carpet. Alfie watched as she hoisted the heavy bowl onto the stool, her face straining with the effort. A fresh few basil leaves slipped from her fingers, gently landing in the water. Descending gracefully, they swirled, forming a mesmerising tapestry that mirrored mosaic art.
"Here, lower your face into the bowl and cover your head with this towel so the heat doesn't escape."
She handed him the towel. He snatched it, flinging it over his head and leaning into the steaming water. A weary sigh escaped his lips, muffled by the undulating water.
"Don't complain, little lamb. This will only do you good."
The steam caressed his face, tiny droplets clinging to his vellus hair. His skin flushed pink as he felt himself warming up, like a turkey in an oven.
"Make sure to stay like that until your nasal passages clear up. When I was a child, your grandma always added basil leaves to the water. It acted as a decongestant and made the remedy even more effective."
More talk about grandma's absurd remedies...
An irritating tingle spiralled around his eyes, making them water uncontrollably. He blinked repeatedly, but the discomfort persisted. The strong scent of basil filled his nostrils, invigorating his senses despite the congestion.
"Mum the basil stings...I don't think this is a good idea."
Aggnus' eyes rolled around her head as she looked down at the towel. Her arms folded as a mischievous smirk manifested its way onto her face.
"You're overreacting, it doesn't sting."
He remained seated, the tension in his neck growing with each passing moment. His body began shifting restlessly.
Oh wow. One of my nostrils just opened up...I can breathe through it!
Dull footsteps faded as Aggnus left the room. Alfie's phone buzzed repeatedly, inching closer to the edge of the bedside table. Peeling back the towel, he reached for his phone, his thumb sliding across the screen. A new message had appeared.
Keiko: Nerd! What were the themes for the 1984 novel again?? I forgot. 10:09
A small puff of air escaped Alfie's decongested nostril as he finished reading the text. A dimple appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Yeah, you're on your own now. Don't expect me to help you.
His thumb slid up the screen, revealing a slight smudge from the rapidly building condensation.
Keiko: Listen, nerd, I'm gonna call u at lunch even if u can't speak properly. U better answer the phone. 10:11
Ridiculous
He exited the message, tapping away at various settings before switching off the phone.
I don't wanna hear anything from you right now.
YOU ARE READING
A Rift Between Us
General FictionTwo secondary school students, Alfie and Keiko, find themselves entangled in a web of misunderstandings and unspoken feelings. Alfie, a diligent student with dreams of attending Westminster Kingsway College in London, and Keiko, a spirited girl desp...
