I woke up having a terrible headache and feeling light-weight. It’s almost my time of the month and I’m not liking it, specially today. My body’s kind of sore and I’m starting to feel the faint pain rising just under my abdomen. I badly want to call sick but I have a major quiz scheduled today that I can’t miss. My professor doesn’t patronize the thing called ‘special quiz’ or ‘rescheduled quiz’ so I have no choice but to come to the university. Besides, I also have a practicum today so being absent is literally a big no-no for me.

“Are you alright?” Jongin-oppa asked worriedly the moment he saw me when I went down the stairs. I just nodded my head weakly and head to the kitchen to grab some Paracetamol and a cup of coffee. I need these to survive this day. He followed me inside the kitchen and stood beside me with a worried look on his face.

“You look really pale Hye Joon-ah. Why don’t you just stay at home and call it sick?” he continued.

“I’m fine oppa. Exams are just around the corner and I cannot miss the major quiz and practicum I have today.” I said as I gave him a small smile but frown a little when I felt my headache again. He looked unconvinced but nevertheless sighed.

“You need to call me if you need anything okay? Just text and call me whatever help you need today.” He said and gave me a comforting pat on my shoulders.

“I will. Thank you oppa, that’s so sweet. I am really your favorite cousin.” I joked at him and chuckled softly. He made a gagging face before he laugh as well.

“That’s gross you know. But let’s hurry up and get you to the university so that you have time to rest for a while before your classes starts.” He said as he left me alone inside the kitchen but not without ruffling my hair first in teasing manner.

“Yah!”

**

I gave out a sigh of relief the moment my head hit the pillow. Instant comforting sensation runs down to my system and I can’t help but to smile a little. My head’s badly aching and I can’t take it anymore. Minhee offered to take me here to the clinic right after our quiz and I didn’t even argue with her. I really need this or else I won’t have the strength for the practicum later. So here I am, lying down on one of the bed inside our clinic.

“I’ll leave you here to rest, Ms. Han. The medicine will take effect in few minutes. You can rest here until you’re feeling well. I’ll be just at my station so call me if you need anything.” The nurse-in-charge said as she gently smiled towards me.

“Thank you.” I nodded and smiled at her in appreciation. She nodded back at me before she turned her back to leave. She gave me one last look before she closed the curtain divider around the bed.

I sighed once again as I felt the medicine slowly starting to take effect. My eyelids started to feel heavy so I reached out my phone to set an alarm. It’s currently 10 in the morning and I need to be up before 1 in the afternoon to prepare for my practicum.

I have already set my alarm and texted my cousin to informed him that I am at clinic so that he won’t worry about me too much when I received a text message from Kyungsoo-oppa.

From: Do Kyungsoo

You’re already at clinic?

I smiled when I read his message. I have told him earlier that I’m thinking of going to the clinic because of my headache. He told me that I should have just stay at home and rest but I told him I can’t because of my quiz in the morning which earned me a frown emoji reply from him.

To: Do Kyungsoo

Yes. I asked Minhee to take me here after our quiz. My head’s breaking. :( meh.

From: Do Kyungsoo

Half day?

To: Do Kyungsoo

Can’t – practicum later @ 1pm.

From: Do Kyungsoo

Do you need anything? I can go out for a while to hand it over to you.

My smile widened because of this. Ever since that day, he has becoming sweet towards me, opening up, showing some affections and concern – though only when we are alone and via text messages. I don’t know if I have the right to feel like this since I am not sure what we really both are as of the moment, but I can’t help to feel giddy and soft. He told me he’s falling, so I think I have the right to be like this no?

With a heavy eyelids, I typed in my last reply to him before I set my phone down. A small smile still plastered on my lips.

To: Do Kyungsoo

I need sleep. I will sleep. Stop texting oppa and focus on your lecture even if it is boring.

From: Do Kyungsoo

Beats me to it, you caught me. But roger, ma’am.

Hope you’ll feel well already.

I’m worried.

I’ll come by after this class?

You’re not replying anymore. You must be sleeping already.

Sleepwell Hye Joon-ah.

:*

**

Time flies when you were really busy. The next thing I knew our midterm examinations were all done. I just finished my last practicum today and I can say that my results really did well.

I smile to myself as I transferred the Korean-inspired Aglio Olio dishes that I made for our exam – the bulgogi one and kimchi one – in a plastic to-go container. The theme of our exam is all about Aglio Olio and we were given 2 main ingredients that we needed to incorporate to our dishes. Hence, the birth of these pasta.

I packed them nice and clean before I went over to the rack just beside t