CHAPTER 15: A WARM MORNING

It turned out to be a small mound of ice located on the floor near the corner of the wall. I wiped it with my right foot. My guess was right, this was a man-in-chamber alarm that had been freezing!

If this alarm wasn't frozen, I could have pushed the button with my foot. But it wasn't that easy. Even the button was covered by hard cold sheets of ice.

I tried to kick it hardly. Perhaps I could break the ice sheet that covered the alarm button. But it was really hard. This ice formed since very long time, making it very thick.

I looked back again, watching Suri with worry. She hadn't moved since the first time I saw her here. I kept thinking about it.

I was back in business with this freezing alarm. I kicked it hard before the cold hurted me even more. These repetitive movements were quite exhausting. But I had to do it anyway because it was my only hope.

Eventually there began to be a crack. Now, I kicked harder and harder until my toe hurted. The cracks became wider. The ice sheets started to scatter. The knob gradually became fully visible without the ice on it. I couldn't wait to get out of here, so I pushed that button right off my foot. Then I breathed a sigh of relief and leaned on the wall while sitting.

I waited for about two minutes until finally two uniformed harbor security officers came to this cooling room. They were naturally curious to see suri and I tied up.

"Are you two all right?"

"What are you doing in here? Who tied you up?"

The two uniformed officers immediately untied both Suri's hands and my straps. I didn't answer any of the questions that were asked, because they didn't matter to me at all. All I had to do now was bringing Suri out immediately.

I hugged her while I was gasping. I was very tired, but she was even colder than me. I had to go.

"Suri," I whispered to her ear.

I quickly took off my uniform jacket and put it on Suri. Then I hugged her again. My cheek was now against her cheek which very cold. I was losing my mind. Then I carried her as I walked to find early morning sun to help me warmed her up.

****

(Back to Suri's POV)

My head was dizzy.

I opened my eyes slowly. There was nothing I could do but open my eyes, because my whole body felt heavy to move.

But beside me, there was Dova in his white shirt with no school uniform jacket on, sitting with his head leaned on my right hand. He had likely fallen into such a deep sleep so he didn't even realized that I was awake.

I just realized I was wearing double jackets. Was this Dova's? Perhaps it was. I forgot about the event before we both got here. The only thing I remember was the big container truck in the harbor. And, oh! Where was the cursed painting?

I pushed myself to sit in spite of my dizziness. Dova woke up from the rocking of this bed that I caused.

"Suri," called Dova softly. He blinked his eyes and looked at me, "Are you awake?"

I sighed, then pulled my hand out of Dova's grip. Dova refused to let it go, and instead pressed my hand against his cheeks in turns.

"Are you feeling warm enough right now?" Dova closed his eyes while touching my right hand.

I suddenly got confused because of my friend's act. "What really happened? Where are we now? Where is the painting?"

Dova sighed. "You have nothing to worry about. Get some rest first."

I still tried to get out of bed.

Dova was then holding me back. "You haven't fully recovered, Suri."

I kept moving my legs. "Don't confuse me, Dova," I sobbed. "Where are we now? And why is your face bruised?"

Dova sighed. "We're in the hospital. Yesterday you fainted because of the cold."

"What about the painting?"

"It is safe," he replied. "Black mission team handed it over to Mr. Ferdy, we had accepted a favor that day."

I had been pushing myself out of my bed again. Dova propped me up when my feet touched the floor.

"Don't push yourself, you know I almost lost you." Dova hugged me. I didn't know exactly whether he was propping me up or hugging me.

"Please explain everything to me," I cried. "Why is your right foot bandaged?"

"There's a fracture in it's bone," said Dova casually. He even smiled when he said it. "Just a little fracture."

Tears came out of my eyes. "What happened to you?"

"I kicked the ice."

"You are lying," I concluded, and then pushing him slowly so I could stand.

"Trust me." Dova hugged me again. He pulled me back to sit on the edge of the hospital bed. "Have I ever lied to you before?"

I was still crying. "Never."

Dova laughed softly. "Now I want you to answer me, Suri. Are you still feeling cold?"

"No," I answered.

Dova stopped hugging me. Then he let out a deep breath. He focused on looking out at the window in the morning light. "Thank God," he sighed.

"You're the one who's always been cold to me. We're not close enough like we used to," I protested. But I realized this morning Dova turned more friendly than usual. He smiled a lot. "Why are you so kind to me this morning?"

"I have told you," he glared at me. "I almost lost you."

"Was I in danger?" I wondered.

"Yes, you was." Dova nodded.

"Do I have to be in danger again so we can be as close as we used to be?"

Dova looked at me deeply. He ruffled my hair and smiled. "Don't do anything foolish, Suri. Unless you're happy to see me covered in bandage more than this."

"I just want you to change."

Dova sighed again. "Well, okay. As you wish."

****

The two of us returned to The Elite Mastermind Academy's dormitory by taxi. Dova opened the door for me, and then he went in and closed it tight at last.

"The Elite Mastermind A cademy, please," Dova told that cab driver.

Taxi was going rapidly on the road. I thought I slept long enough. Now I feel so refreshed and healthy, while Dova still looked sleepy. I suspected he was up all night watching me. His head was down with his eyes closed. He tried so hard to sit as upright as he could.

"Just sleep," I grinned. "Don't hold back."

Dova suddenly dropped his head in my lap.

"I didn't mean like this," I protested awkwardly.

I was sure he heard my voice, but he was just staying silent. He kept sleeping. Seeing his tired face, I couldn't let myself to wake him up.

When we reached our destination, we both immediately stepped out of the cab. Dova accompanied me to the dorm elevator, then we split. Somehow, I got worried about him, because he looked so sleepy.

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