Stress Balls

The next few days passed by slowly for Alex. Maybe because he couldn't do anything but just rest in his own room.

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Name: Alex Collins

Age: 20

Status: Recovering (17%)

Strength: 3

Endurance: 6

Charm: 7

Skills:

Basic Endurance (Passive): Increases stamina recovery rate by 5%.

Beginner Persuasion (Passive): Slightly improves chances of convincing others.

Irresistible Charisma (Passive): Increases the chance of making interactions with an opposite gender

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Even without doing anything, his recovery percentage was still increasing by 1% each day. It's nice, but it was too slow.

Alex sighed, staring at the ceiling. His body felt fine like usual but every time he tried to move his legs, nothing happened.

It was frustrating him. He just wished to walk again and do things normally.

He was also starting to get bored since most of the time he could only watch TV and scroll on his phone.

"Remembering that…"

Alex let out another sigh. He hadn't seen Emily since the day they kissed in his room. At first, he thought she was just on a different shift, but as more days passed, he didn't catch a glimpse of her.

*Knock *Knock

A soft knock on the door echoed.

"Sir Alex, are you awake now?" A woman's voice sounded outside the door. It was another nurse that had been tending to him.

"Yes," Alex answered.

The door opened and a young nurse stepped inside.

The young nurse looked to be in her early twenties, with long black hair tied back in a low ponytail. Her uniform was neat, and she wore thin glasses that framed her round and gentle eyes.

She was pretty, but not in the same way as Emily. Unlike Emily's confident presence, this nurse seemed shy and more reserved.

"Good morning, Sir Alex." Her voice was soft and polite. "I'm Nurse Liana. I'll be assisting you today."

"Morning." Alex nodded. He could see that the woman was a little bit nervous.

'She must be new to this job since she also looks young,' he thought

Liana moved quietly, checking his IV and vitals with careful and precise movements as if she didn't want to commit any mistakes.

As she worked, Alex finally asked.

"Is Emily still on leave?"

Liana paused briefly before nodding. "Yes, Sir. She had some personal matters to handle, so she took a few days off."

Alex let out a slow breath.

'So that was the reason…'

Liana put on a small smile on her face.

"Do you have any matters you wish to discuss with her, Sir?"

"No, it's fine," Alex replied and smiled at the woman.

Since he had gotten the Basic Seductive Aura, he noticed that he had gotten more confident in talking. His heart wasn't beating faster out of anxiousness and he was also not nervous anymore.

It was a refreshing feel, and Alex had to admit that he liked that change in his character.

"Alright, Sir." Liana nodded as she finished up. "If you need anything, just press the button."

With a polite smile, she turned and left without saying anything more.

Alex just chuckled as he stared at her. She looks cute, especially the way she looks so focused on her work.

After a few more hours of being alone, Alex looked at the clock and it was past lunchtime already. He was alone. Claire, went home since she also had matters to take care of in the house.

Claire made sure, though, that he was already fed and everything he needed was just within his reach, so it wasn't that bad to be alone.

"I wonder when two of them will arrive." Alex's forehead creased. Sienna and Mia said they'd visit today but they still haven't arrived.

Just as Alex was starting to wonder where the two were, the door suddenly swung open.

"Alex!" Sienna's voice rang out as she stepped inside, carrying a small bag.

Mia followed right behind her, her arms were crossed.

"You're awake. That's good."

"Took you both long enough." Alex chuckled. Though the two were annoying him last time, he still can't deny that they can lift up his mood and ease his boredom.

Sienna rolled her eyes. "We got held up. Mom made us pick up some stuff for you." She lifted the bag.

"Snacks, water, and a few things you might need."

Mia walked over and set a small container on the bedside table.

"And some fruits. You better eat everything, lil bro."

"You guys sure sound like Claire."

Sienna pulled up a chair while Mia adjusted his pillows. Mia was extra nice today that she hasn't started teasing Alex yet.

[68%] 

"Of course," Sienna said with a grin. "We have to take care of you"

"It's you guys that are annoying." Alex shook his head in disbelief.

Mia and Sienna burst into laughter, their playful energy quickly returning.

"You really missed us, didn't you?" Sienna teased.

Alex scoffed. "Not really."

"Anyway," Mia grinned and pulled something out of her bag. "Here, I got you something."

She tossed a small, round object onto Alex. With his quick reflex, he was able to catch it by his palms. He looked down and saw a familiar item. It was a stress ball.

[71%] 

"A stress ball?" Alex looked at Mia with questioning.

"Yeah," Mia chuckled.

However, Alex found himself staring at the stress ball in his hand. His hold on it tightened.

He remembered that when he first moved to their family, he was sad and depressed due to the death of his father. But then Mia and Sienna were there for him. They teased him nonstop in a way that made him laugh.

And, on his 11th birthday, the two gave him a stress ball. It was a small inexpensive thing, but the two saved up some of their allowance just to buy it.

They said that whenever he's feeling sad or alone while they're not there, then he can just play with it.

Even though they annoyed him constantly, they were also the first ones to defend him, the first ones to notice when he was upset, the first ones to quietly make sure he was okay.

Alex's grip on the stress ball loosened as a small and genuine smile formed on his lips.

However, it quickly dropped when Mia leaned in slightly to him while a mischievous look could be seen in her eyes

"By the way, do you know that there's also another form of stress ball?"