Allergic to what?

We were in the cafeteria and Alex took out orders as we waited there. I saw Nadia giving me death glares, but I just ignored it. She and her immaturity. 

Alex arrived with our food, and we started to dig in. I don't know what had happened, but the next second the piercing agony in my chest consumed me, stealing the very essence of my being. Gasping for air, I struggled to focus my blurry vision on Alex and Lara, their faces etched with fear and concern. 

"Stay with us, come on! What's happening?" he was frantic with worry.

"Do something, call for help!" I heard Lara shout.

Through the haze, I saw Nadia drawing near, her words an ominous whisper in the surrounding chaos. "I heard you had a great time with him at the beach. Enjoy heaven now darling," she murmured, a chill creeping down my spine.

"Get away from them, Nadia! What are you---" Alex tried to drive Nadia and her minions away.

I tried to respond, to reassure my friends, but my voice failed me, drowned out by the unrelenting torment within. Alex and Lara attempted to shield me from Nadia's cryptic message, their voices a distant echo as darkness encroached upon my consciousness. 

Just as I teetered on the precipice of oblivion, a pair of strong arms enveloped me, lifting me from the abyss. My eyelids, weighed down by an unseen force, refused to part, shrouding the identity of my savior in mystery. And as the void beckoned, I surrendered to its unfathomable embrace, the echoes of those last moments etched in the recesses of my fading mind.

The heavy and nonstop sigh awoke me as I found myself in a hospital gown and a man beside me with his head down. 

I smiled as I realized it was Antonio. "Hey." 

"Are you okay?" 

I just laughed at some realizations that hit my head.

"Why are you laughing? Does it hurt somewhere?" 

"Don't you find it funny too? I always find myself in a hospital or a clinic and you..." That made me stop and my laugh suddenly disappeared. " Being the first person that I always see the moment I open my eyes."

"Why? Are you sick of my face?" he joked.

"N-no, it's just... Wait, where are they?" 

"Alex went downstairs to buy some food, with Lara I guess?" he replied, and I nodded.

"What happened?" I asked out of curiosity because I, too, was not aware of what was happening.

"Are you allergic to peanuts? Look at your swollen face." He laughed, teasing my face that is now round as a ball. 

"Yeah, but I didn't put any on or order ay peanuts--no way!"

"Why?"

I remembered the face of Nadia and what she whispered to me. I clenched my fist and smirked. I immediately got off the hospital bed and Antonio tried to stop me.

"Where are you going?" 

"If I die, I don't want it to be in Nadia's hands. If there's someone who needs to die, it must be her, in my hands."

He carefully brought me to face him and gently grabbed my shoulder, giggled, and tapped my forehead, but not that hard.

"I already took care of her. I investigated the moment I sat on that chair and waited for you to get consciousness," he explained while pointing to the chair he was sitting on earlier which was on the side of the hospital bed.

"Why?"

"Just because."

He turned his back on me, took his key from the table and tried to go out, but I stopped him like he stopped me too.

"I'm sorry Mr. Antonio Dawson, but I don't accept 'just because' as an answer." and it was my turn to smile.

He then leaned closer so that I had to step back until I was cornered and the smirk on my lips disappeared.

"Well, Ms. Kaesu Cadieux, it seems that this man is unable to breathe if anything happens to you, so I had to settle things myself."

I frowned at his answer. "Have you been this dedicated and loyal to anyone your Uncle works with?"

He didn't answer me but left me with a chuckle instead, and I stood there, like a stone, trying to process everything.

Before I get too distracted, I know Nadia has been taken care of. But I must step up and settle this matter myself. This is a job I took, this is the situation I chose. This should be my business that I have to take care of.

 You have been so silent for too long, Nadia. I must admit that I underestimated you. I thought you were just a mere obsessed lady, but it seems like this obsession could take me somewhere. Why don't we make your obsession a little challenging? 

I went back to bed and was about to close my eyes when I heard a knock. I said that it was open and Canim was revealed in front of me.

"I'm sorry." 

I could feel that he was sorry, but I didn't know why my heart didn't want to hear that from him.

"She's my childhood friend and I never knew she could come to a point that she could almost kill someone-" 

"Hey, I'm not dead yet. Don't give me that pity look." I tried to make the atmosphere as light as I could, and I didn't want this conversation to be all about Nadia.

"Don't worry though. I was paid a hefty amount on this one, but at least now I can feel that your money didn't go to waste. And I think I had better start the job."

He seemed a bit confused, but I just winked at him. 

We heard another knock on the door, and it turned out to be Lara and Alex.

"Oh! Mr. Li is here?" Alex was surprised. 

"We just talked about business." I quickly replied to avoid a misunderstanding.

"And what business?" Alex slyly asked. I glared at him to keep him quiet.

"Aren't you leaving?" Lara coldly asked Canim, but he just gave her a blank expression and left.

Right, after I fix the matter with Nadia, I'll figure out what's between those two and why I am involved so much in their conversations.