Chapter 17

"Are you sure you're going to school today? You look pale! How about you let the fever pass?" It was the twentieth time that Nana asked me the same question this morning.

"Nana, it's exams week, I can't miss any of my class..." said I while coughing rigorously.

"I'll talk to your teachers at school to arrange a special exam for you until you get better..." said she while putting the back of her hand on my forehead sensing my body temperature.

"Nana, I thought we already spoke about this? You said you will not treat me like a child anymore..." I protested weakly.

"Alright, alright...you better come back to me in one piece, young man!" She kissed me on both cheeks and headed back to our house hesitantly.

I carefully inspected the new bicycle chains that I bought so as not to replicate that same incident that lead me to meet Larry.

Larry...if there's one thing this fever has ever done good, it's evaporating whatever mist there was in my head that spelled Larry.

I balled my knuckles into a fist to warm them up before holding the handlebars of my bike. My bruise festered and a bright yellow pus lingered underneath the dry scabs. Even worst was the tingling sensation it brought to my skin like it's being pricked by a hundred needles. My underarm lymph nodes also grew bigger and they were pulsating in pain.

For a brief moment, I thought that Nana's proposal wouldn't be so bad.

When I arrived at the campus, I was almost late for the first exam of the day which was Sociology.

"You alright Florante? You look pale." Said Ms. Gomez.

"Yes ma'am, it's just the room lighting I guess," Then I realized the lights were out because of course, it's 8:00 am in the morning. I sounded stupid but she did not pursue the topic.

I was the first one to finish the exam.

I rose from my seat to submit my papers in front when I suddenly felt that the room was turning upside-down. I struggled to maintain my balance so as not to fall on the floor and make a scene in front of everyone in the room. My eyes were watery and my stomach was churning. I felt nauseous. I haven't eaten my breakfast because I did not have an appetite for solid food.

"Florante, you're burning!" Exclaimed Ms. Gomez as our hands touched briefly when I handed her my answer sheet.

"Do you want me to bring you to the Clinic?" She looked seriously concerned.

"I'm okay ma'am. I can handle."

Truth be told, I was not okay. And I did not know how long I could handle. Every inch of my body ached. It felt so hot yet underneath my uniform, I was shivering from extreme coldness.

The school clinic was located in the STEM building, the same building where Larry attended his classes.

In my head, I rolled out two options; A.) Fall on the floor and be the joke for the whole semester or B.) Go to the clinic and risk meeting, Larry.

The Clinic felt like the less hard choice between the two even if it meant walking towards the STEM building under the excruciating heat of the sun. Even if it meant possibly meeting Larry in the building's corridor.

I was sweating all over when I arrived at the ground floor of the STEM building. The elevator was under maintenance so I had to use the stairs to climb up to the clinic on the 7th floor.

This time, I felt my body was about to give up due to exhaustion and fatigue. 

I felt my consciousness was slipping away as I leaned against the Bulletin board.

Is this it? Am I gonna die now?

My knees faltered and my vision started to black-out. I slumped against the floor and wondered if all the floors in the STEM building smelled like Watermelon.

I struggled to open my eyes before I passed out and saw Larry's visage

looking like a terrified cat.