TSCEIAB Ch. 44

 

After leaving the parking lot, I was taken to the emergency room at a nearby hospital.

I thought it was too much for just a sprained ankle, but the paramedics were adamant that there was nothing I could do.

 

“Fortunately, there’s no problem with your bones. You’ll be fine if you wear a brace for the time being. I’ll schedule an outpatient appointment in five days, so make sure to come in.”

“Thank you.”

 

After a simple examination, I was finally free to go.

 

‘Phew……. Now I can go home.’

 

I felt dizzy with the complexity of my thoughts. I remembered the voice calling out to me, the trembling hands, and the distorted expression.

Luckily, it wasn’t long before my dad came running over and shattered my thoughts.

 

“Haley! Are you okay?”

 

Perhaps the hospital contacted him, his face was pale as he rushed up to me.

 

“Dad. I’m fine.”

“W-where, where are you hurt, and how badly? Huh?”

“I just sprained my ankle. They said I would be fine if a wear a brace for the time being.”

“My goodness…….”

 

He looked like he was about to collapse as he carefully examined my swollen ankles.

In his eyes, it looked like I had broken my ankle. I could feel people glancing at us in the fuss.

Exhaustion set in.

 

“Let’s go home now. I want to get some rest.”

“Uh, y-yes! We should. …… Do you want me to carry you?”

“It’s not that bad.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The sudden gate that opened in the school parking lot turned out to be a Class C medium-sized one.

Luckily, there were high-ranking espers in the school, including Hugo and Olive, so they were able to be suppressed it quickly.

I heard that the gate was completely closed at dawn that day.

 

“It’s a good thing that no one died. What would have happened if the students had gotten involved?”

 

The next morning.

Dad breathed a sigh of relief, after seeing the news.

In the meantime, news related to our school was being reported.

 

-With the cooperation of Espers with regeneration abilities…….

 

Thanks to the efforts of the auxiliary espers, the damaged school seemed to have been completely restored.

Some students were slightly injured, but there were no serious injuries or fatalities.

Moreover, since the school had been restored, the director had decided that it would be better to return to normal as soon as possible rather than issue a closure order.

 

[For students who may be shocked by this incident, the Counseling Center will actively provide counseling. For inquiries, please contact the number below.]

 

This message came from the school.

 

“Phew……. I don’t know what’s going on here. Haley, when are you going to the hospital again?”

“Five days later……. Well, since a day has passed, it’s four days from now.”

 

My mom, who was watching TV next to my dad, asked me a question as I sat there in a daze.

I guess Mom was very surprised by what happened yesterday, it seemed that she had just taken a day off from work today.

 

“Haley, they said the school will resume normal classes. What are you going to do?”

“…… I want to relax a little at home. Is that okay?”

“Yeah. You must have been scared. It wouldn’t hurt to take a break. Your complexion is pale.”

“You’re not feeling sick, are you? Dizziness, fever, anything like that…….”

“No. I guess I was just a little shocked. I’ll go rest in my room.”

 

I smiled awkwardly and turned away. My parents’ concerned gazes followed me, but I pretended not to notice.

As soon as I got to my room and closed the door, a sigh escaped me.

 

“Haa…….”

 

Once I was alone, the thoughts I had barely put off came flooding back.

As I started thinking about the fact that Hugo recognized me and why he pretended not to know me, my head started throbbing again.

 

‘Wait. Could it be what Melissa and Hugo were talking about that time…….’

 

Could it be that I was the topic of their conversation?

It was strange when I thought about it.

It was suspicious that Melissa approached me.

 

‘Melissa knew me……. Did Hugo put her on me?’

 

I thought we were friends, but I guess it was not the case.

Melissa had just approached me with a purpose.

 

‘To get me close to Hugo.’

 

Staggering in confusion, I managed to get to the bed and sit down.

 

Bzzz- Bzzz- Bzzz-

As I sat there for a while, my phone next to me started vibrating.

 

[Alexis]

 

The caller was Hugo.

 

“…….”

 

My fingertips twitched for a moment, but I didn’t answer the call. I won’t be able to say anything good now.

 

Bzzz- Bzzz-

As I didn’t pick up, the vibration soon stopped.

I turned off my phone and carelessly put it on the nightstand before pulling the blanket over me.

My mind, overwhelmed by all sorts of thoughts, quickly became clouded.

And in that way, I fell into a deep sleep, as if escaping reality.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Another day passed.

Mom had gone to work, and Dad was out to buy groceries.

Left alone, I spent my time poring over my favorite classic literature.

I consciously read each word of the text I already knew, to clear my head as much as possible.

 

“Haley……! Haley!”

 

A familiar voice came through the window that had been opened for ventilation.

 

‘What’s this?’

 

Startled, I jumped to my feet.

I walked up to the window and glanced down, seeing a familiar car and a girl.

 

“Haley!”

“…… Melissa?”

 

She seemed to have spotted me too, as she raised her hand and waved it.

 

“Haley, let’s talk for a moment.”

“…… I don’t have anything to say.”

“I do. It’s important. Please, I’m begging you.”

 

I don’t know what the urgency is, her words got faster. ers expression was pale, as if something had really happened.

In any case, since we were once friends, I couldn’t just ignore her words.

 

“…… Wait a minute.”

“Thank you!”

 

Ok. Let’s hear what she has to say.

 

‘Maybe she approached me because she really wanted to be friends, not because of Hugo.”

 

Up until then, I wanted to believe in Melissa.

She was my first and only friend. It was natural that I didn’t want to lose her.

But.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Melissa, whom I met in front of the house, suddenly grabbed my hand and said:

 

“Haley, Hugo’s condition is really bad.”

“…… What?”

“Neither machines nor drugs are working. If this keeps up, it’ll be really dangerous.”

“…….”

“Please, even if it’s through radial guiding, can you at least meet Hugo once?”

 

I was so stunned that I couldn’t even laugh.

I listened to Melissa’s story in a daze, before I finally opened my mouth.

 

“So now……. you want me to meet Hugo?”

“…….”

“Melissa Caleb. Is that all you have to say to me?”

“Haley, I…….”

“I really thought of you as a friend. It was always fun to be with you, and I was so grateful that you approached me…….”

 

Unorganized words spilled out at will.

A feeling of reproach broke through the jumble of words.

 

“Was it because of Hugo that you approached me?”

“Haley. It’s not an approach…….”

“Is it right or not? Just tell me.”

“…… Yes. I talked to you at first because Hugo asked me to. But I also enjoyed being with you, and……!”

 

Melissa’s excuse continued. But nothing she said registered in my mind.

Suddenly, my vision began to blur.

Melissa looked perplexed.

 

“Ha- Haley? Oh my……. Haley, I’m sorry. Don’t cry, huh?”

“I……. hate Hugo, and I hate you too. Don’t ever come to me again.”

“Haley! Haley!”

 

I shook her hand off and went straight into the house.

 

Bang!

I heard Melissa calling from the other side of the closed door, but I pretended not to hear.

After a while, Melissa gave up and drove away.

 

“Ha…….”

 

Slid-

My body collapsed, leaning against the door.

I squatted down on the cold porch floor, tears streaming endlessly.

The melting snow in his heart froze again, and the buds that had sprouted died.

It was an unusually cold spring.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

After another day or two, my feelings subsided.

My eyes were swollen from crying every night, but my heart felt relieved.

It was only then that worries slowly started to creep in.

It was about Hugo.

 

<Haley, Hugo’s condition is really bad. >

 

Melissa’s desperate words echoed in my mind.

She said neither the machines nor the drugs worked, and that it’s dangerous. I couldn’t forget the voice that begged me to meet him.

 

‘Last time, they said the new drug worked for Hugo…….

 

Doubts crept in with confusion.

 

‘Could it be that Melissa is lying? If Hugo told her to…….’

 

I remembered a phone call from Hugo not too long ago.

If his condition was that serious, he wouldn’t have been able to call me.

But it was hard to conclude that Melissa was lying on Hugo’s orders, considering the many things that didn’t add up.

 

‘Maybe there is a problem with the supply of the medicine, or that he’s injured and can’t take the new drugs…….”

 

Melissa’s desperate expression was something she couldn’t have fake.

If that were possible, Melissa would be a great actress.

 

“Ha…….”

 

In the end, I stopped struggling and got up from my seat.

As I went outside, I saw my dad in the living room reading a book.

 

“Dad!”

“Oh, Haley? What’s wrong. Do you need something?”

“No, can I borrow your laptop for a minute?”