Eviternity

-Chapter 9-

It was dismissal time. They finally finished gym class. The class walked back after changing in the locker rooms. They used their lockers and did all the dismissal time routines everyone had.

Lyved had already woke up from her nap, covering her face when she saw that some of her make-up smeared onto her sleeve. She took a coughing mask from her bag and wore it discreetly. She was about to leave to the field outside to do community work until Mary held her hand tightly.

"Hey." Mary said sternly, almost threateningly.

"Yo." Lyved casually answered back.

"Don't come near Callum, ever." she said, smiling at the end and walking away.

"Gladly." Lyved muttered under her breath.

She walked to the field and took a broom from a janitor's closet. Apparently, she didn't see the rodents and lizards inside. She coughed from the dust and just started sweeping the pavements of the yard. She soon saw the janitor, looking for his broom.

"Sorry about this, but I need to leave. Can you sweep the yard for me?" Lyved said.

"Sure, I don't get why they still make you kids do our work." the janitor giggled. "If you did, I won't be paid!"

Lyved smiled politely and walked to the gate, holding tight to her bag. She adjusted her mask since the blisters on her face were just really itchy. It was almost sure that she had an allergy to cinnamon. She didn't need to visit the hospital for that.

While walking mindlessly, she accidentally bumped onto a person. She looked up and saw Callum, ecstatic to meet her.

"Lyved! You look awfully familiar. Are we past acquaintances?" he asked.

"I helped you know if this was the correct school you're going to." Lyved answered monotonously.

"No, like... if I met you in the province of Water Hill?"

"... I--"

Dragen bumped in and held Lyved's hand. He had a look of determination on his face. He smiled wide at Lyved.

"Come here, I need to tell you something." Dragen said.

"Me first!" Callum argued.

"No, I asked first." Dragen countered.

"Ah! Are you perhaps Dove?"

Everyone went silent. Lyved stared at Callum with confusion. Dragen opened his eyes in shock. He looked at Lyved and held her hands tight.

"Dove?" Dragen asked.

"I-- I'm Lyved.." Lyved said, confused.

"No.. no. I'm sure you're Dove." Callum said with sureness. 

Dragen dragged Lyved to the center of the field, giving Callum a 'don't follow' look. His eyes were filling with tears. Is this truly Dove? Is this truly the Dove I know and love? 

"Hey, why are you dragging me here?" Lyved said, a short while before they stopped.

Dragen took a breath in and turned around to stare at Lyved with teary eyes. Lyved softened her heart and reached out to Dragen's face. She was never really comfortable with people crying. Hell, if it was a kitten, she would still reach out and help.

"Are you alright?" Dove asked.

"Dove, please... are you really Dove?" Dragen asked through his whimpers.

"I don't know. I want to say yes to stop you crying, but I want to say no because I want to be honest." 

"Dove.. Dove.. why did you leave..?"

Lyved just stared at Dragen. She set him down on the grass and stroked his hair. It was a familiar feeling. She smiled sweetly at him.

"I'm here now, right?" Lyved said, unsure in what to say.

"You won't leave?" Dragen asked.

"Of course not." Dove said.

Lyved looked at his hair. She didn't understand to what was happening. All she knew is that they were mistaking her for this girl named 'Dove'. She just stroked his hair while he was crying. She watched the sun set down from the horizon.

"Come on.. we need to get home." Lyved said. She stood up, leaving Dragen sitting on his own. As she was about to walk away, Dragen held her hand tight.

"No, I need to talk to you." he muttered.

Lyved smiled and kneeled beside him. Dove continued stroking his hair for his and her own comfort.

"What is it?" Dove asked.

"I love you." Dragen said.

"I love you so much that I had been following you for so long. I thought I lost you once. I thought I had moved on, but here you are. I was following you until now.."

Dragen looked up to Dove. Their faces were awfully close to each other. Dove just stared.

Today was a weird day. Mike knew her allergy without her talking about it in the first place. Callum called her Dove, and now.. Dragen was confessing to her. It was a pretty not normal day today.

"Will you accept me?" Dragen asked.

Dove looked at him. Lyved looked at him. Time passed by so slow, she wanted to run away. She didn't want to answer. Lyved only knew Dragen as that spoiled underclassman that always messed with her and the Red Hounds. Lyved isn't Dove.

Besides... she already lost her heart to someone else. She couldn't afford giving a fake one to another person. She only looked at Dragen with pity.

"... is that a no?" Dragen muttered.

".. I.."

---

"Doctor.. please.. is she going to be alright?"

"... she's been neglecting her medicine."

"Please.. just save her.. please.. don't die on me.."

"Doctor! Her digestive tract is so blocked! We need surgery as soon as possible!"

"Alright."

"Stay with me.. please.."