11. Did She Forget?

A girl is calling on her cell phone. Her tone is relaxed even though the person communicating with her is very upset.

"Yeah, you make a lot of money. What's wrong with taking a third of it? My parents allowed me anyway."

"I need a lot. If you keep taking it, I will lack."

"Don't lie. I know you don't want to share your money."

"If you continue like this, I will change my password no matter what!"

"Try it. I guarantee you'll either go back to this password or you'll tell me your new one." The girl smile briefly and then lean forward from the chair with her left foot on her right. "Just so you know, my mom and my dad will tell me too. While you can't hide your password from them."

There was no answer from her cousin.

"Silence means defeat," said the girl. "If there's nothing important, don't call me. You know I'm busy even though you're busier, sis."

After that the call ended unilaterally by the girl. She put the phone on the table with a slight toss. Her hand reached for the bag on another chair and took out the amount of money she had just taken for her needs.

From that conversation, it is clear where she got the money from.

"Huh it's enough."

The girl put it back and immediately left the cafe. Soon the boarding gates will be closed. By walking, she could arrive in ten minutes and she had time to stop by to buy bread to share with her friends.

She didn't hesitate to use her cousin's money to buy what she wants. After all, according to her, her cousin really had to work hard so he wouldn't be a burden to the girl's family. Let her focus on her education while the cousin dropped out of school a year ago and lives with the only family she has besides her little family that was gone.

"Hm, it smells really tempting." She said as she smelled the bread she is carrying to her room.

Bugh

She bumped into someone who is running while looking down.

"Ugh--"

"Ah-- Oh? I'm sorry."

The two people are staring.

"Jessy? I'm so sorry. I'm in a hurry."

"It's okay. I'm not in pain." Realizing something, she glance down. "OMG! My buns!"

Reflexively Alice crouch down to pick up the buns and put them back in the bag. After that she handed it to Jessy.

"I'm sorry. Because I bumped into you, your buns fell."

"I said it's okay. After all, I didn't have time to dodge."

Remembering the blood that ran down her leg, Alice immediately ended the conversation.

"I have to go to the School Health Unit. See you."

"Hey wait! Are you sick?" Jessy grabbed Alice's arm.

Alice cursed herself. She shouldn't have said where she is going.

"I just have a stomach ache."

"You always have a stomach ache. Is the food here not suitable for you?"

"No, that's not it. I did--"

Realizing that she didn't have time to make up excuses, Alice backed away then turned around and ran from Jessy.

"What's with her?" Jessie was surprised.

Not wanting to bother, Jessy decided to walk to the room.

"Eh?" Jessie gasped. Her eyes caught a glimpse of something red on Alice's right calf.

She look in the direction Alice was running and confirmed that her vision wasn't wrong. Without thinking, Jessy follow her.

"Hey, hey, hey!! Alice!!"

Alice pretended not to hear and hastened her run.

"What's with your leg?" Jessy asked as she caught up with Alice.

Since Alice's run was weakened by her flowing blood, Jessy could easily catch up to her.

Alice kept running without answering Jessy. Jessy was silent until they arrive at the School Health Unit where there were no staff.

With a swift movement Alice took the equipment to treat her wound. If the items she brought were still there, she would not use the items in the School Health Unit.

Jessy stand in front of Alice who was sitting on the bed. Staring at her blood.

"Are you scratched?" She asked.

Alice nodded.

"There's a lot of blood. How's it going?" Jessy ask frantically.

Alice try to cover her calves from Jessy. "That's okay."

Noticing Alice's behavior, Jessy finally looked away. She glance at the buns then glance at Alice.

"This is for you." Jessy handed Alice a chocolate bun even though she didn't think about giving it to Alice at first.

Alice look up, slowly reaching out to accept the bread. "Thank you."

Jessy smiled and sat down next to Alice. Swinging legs while looking at the whole School Health Unit. This made Alice even more uncomfortable because she remembered the conversation about herself in the school lobby a few days ago.

Remembering something, Jessy glance briefly at Alice's left calf. It didn't work at first because Alice had folded her legs but as Jessy kept watching, she could finally see the bruises Hoover had said.

"Where did you go?" asked Alice who had been trying to find a topic so Jessy wouldn't focus on her feet.

"Buying bread." While answering, Jessy widened her eyes to see that Alice's left arm which was not covered had two bruises on it. It made het even more thinking about her conversations with his friends.

Alice's mind was muddled. Because she was in the same school and even in the same grade during elementary school, she is sure Jessy know what illness she had. At that time a school made a donation to Alice and her father. That is the reason Alice avoid Jessy.

"I'm curious about something, Lice. Answer if you don't mind."

"What's that?" Alice asked with a bad feeling.

"Why do you have so many bruises on your body?" Jessy asked quietly, trying not to offend Alice.

Already guessed such a question, Alice smile sadly.

Jessie narrowed her eyes. "Were you beaten or something?"

Seeing Alice look down made Jessy awkward. Since there was no answer for a long time, she decided to end it.

"It's okay if you don't want to answer."

Even so, Jessy still expected an answer from Alice. Of course, the expected answer is not confirming the question.

Meanwhile Alice was confuses. Why is Jessy asking this when she already knows the answer? Jessy already knew why she bruised so easily. Otherwise, Alice couldn't have been wary of her.

Alice looked at Jessy. It's odd but Jessy's eyes look like she don't know anything.

"This happens often. People say I lack vitamin K and the like so I get bruises easily." Alice recalled the sentences she had composed long ago when asked something like this. "Besides, my skin is thin, if I stumble or hit something, I get bruises easily."

"Is that so?" Jessie nodded. "I just found out that vitamin K deficiency could be the cause."

"I used to have bruises too often. Maybe that's why?"

"May be."

Alice glanced at the door. "Jessy, can you get some water please?"

"Okay." Jessy stand up, go out to the nearest dispenser to pour water for Alice.

Meanwhile, Alice hastily finishing her foot treatment and left the room in a different direction from Jessy.

It's already night but there are still people walking outside the room. Since there is still more than an hour of sleep, they are allowed outside the room.

Alice reached the end of the stairs. She sit on the highest step and lean to the left.

She frowned. "Did Jessy forget about that?"

"Or was she faking it?"

***