Home Gallery Wattpad Upvote monsteracademy   "To put it clearly, I'm going to a school filled with monsters?" FOURTY-NINE: A Downpour of Emotions You and Lay reached the clinic safely. The school was quite deserted, except for a few zombies that Lay successfully ‘killed’ along the way. The sky had turned gray, which added to the ominous atmosphere of the school. The clinic lights were off, however it wasn’t locked. You had expected for the clinic to be out of bounds. Dr. Jung was nowhere to be found. Your feet was hurting more and more with each second. It had gotten really hard to walk, but you didn’t want to bother Lay so you didn’t tell him and pretended that the pain was still tolerable. There was no one inside. Lay carefully helped you sit on one of the beds before he turned to lock the doors and windows. He also pulled the curtains close. It had started to drizzle outside. “We made it just in time. Let’s see if I can find the bandages,” Lay told you, proceeding to opening the cabinets and drawers. “I think it’s on the second drawer in that cabinet near the window,” you told him. He went over the cabinet you were referring to. “Wow, how’d you know?” He asked as he pulled a compressive wrap from the cabinet. “I come here often,” you told him. “Why am I not surprised,” he chuckled. “Oh, we need ice.” Lay went through more drawers, took a few things and disappeared behind a wooden partition. He came back out carrying an ice pack. “We need to apply cold compress to limit the swelling,” he told you. “Oh. Okay,” you replied, not really having any idea about first aid. He pulled a chair near the bed and sat down. He took your foot, laying it on his lap while he gently removed your shoe. He then proceeded to removing the sock. He gently slid your sock down your leg as he held your foot as though it was something that was gonna break. He then carefully slid the sock below your ankle until he finally removed it from the rest of your foot. “It’s gotten a bit more swollen,” he said, but you were barely listening. You can’t explain it, but your face was heating up real bad. There was something about Lay’s gentle and slow movements in taking the garment off that sent tingles from your foot to the pit of your stomach. It made your heart pound wildly in your chest Garment?! Sock, Joo Ri, sock! Taking the sock off! My god why do I feel like a ert! You squirmed uncomfortably. “Sorry, did it hurt?” Lay asked, a bit alarmed. “No, no. It didn’t,” you immediately replied looking awkwardly guilty. He then took your foot in his hand, while taking the ice pack on the other. You felt all the more uncomfortable when you realized that he was holding your bare foot with his bare hand. You began to feel self-conscious. Oh my god. Did I wash my feet properly last night? I wonder if it feels rough. I wish I listened to Hye Bin about getting my feet manicured all the time. Does he think it’s ugly? DOES IT SMELL?! “This might hurt a little,” Lay told you, not showing any hint that he was disgusted or the least bit uncomfortable with holding your foot. He gently pressed the ice onto your swelling ankle. You gave out a squeal which you quickly choked into silence, remembering that there were still zombies outside. “Just endure it a little,” he encouraged somewhat apologetically. You clenched at the sheet, desperately trying to hold in a scream as Lay moved the ice around the swelling area. Tears were forming at the corners of your eyes. You finally reached for a pillow and buried your face into it along with your scream. You had no idea a sprain would be this painful. “You can endure it, Joo Ri,” Lay soothed. “It’s okay. Just a little bit more.” The seemingly endless torture finally ended after a long while. Lay took the compressive wrap and gently wrapped your foot with it. “It’s done,” he finally said, gently setting your foot down. You removed your face away from the pillow to take a look at your perfectly bandaged foot. “Thank you,” you sniffled. You couldn’t help it and had been crying into the pillow the whole time. “There, there. You did well in enduring it. Good girl,” Lay smiled, patting your head. “Sorry for crying like a baby,” you sniffled, embarrassed of feeling and being treated like a little child. “It’s fine. Chanyeol and Baekhyun are worse,” he told you. “They literally wail like babies.” “Really?” You finally laughed in the middle of sniffling. “Yep. Actually, rather than babies, they sound more like dying dinosaurs.” The both of you laughed. Lay went over to the window to take a peek outside. “It’s still raining.” “How long do you think it will last?” You asked. “I’m not sure. The sky is pretty dark. An hour or two maybe,” he answered. “Let’s stay here for a while so you can also rest your foot.” “Okay,” you smiled, happy about the idea. Lay walked over to one of the beds in the clinic and lied down. You did the same. The dim room, the rain pouring outside, the silence. It was peaceful. And though there was a curtain separating your beds, you felt safe knowing Lay was there. It was the most peaceful you’ve been ever since you arrived at MA. You had always wondered what it was with Lay. Though his presence was enough to wreck your nerves, at the same time he was also the only person who makes you feel comfortable and calm and safe. It was ironic. You yawned, Feeling drowsy. “Are you sleepy?” He later asked. “A little,” you replied. “You can sleep. I’ll wake you up when the rain stops,” he said. “Lay,” you said after a while. “Thanks for today. And sorry for the hassle.” “No need to thank me. And it’s not really a hassle. I’m actually the one giving first aid to the soccer team,” he told you. “I don’t only mean that. But also for not leaving me on my own. For getting me safely here. And for still being here now,” you said, feeling a little embarrassed. “Gomawo.” “You’re very much welcome,” he chuckled softly. “You’re our precious, clumsy Joo Ri. I just can’t leave you alone even if you force me to.” You sighed for the nth time today. You just love his gentle voice. Especially his laugh. “Sorry for always bringing you guys trouble. I’m supposed to be your manager but it seems that I keep bringing you guys into a lot of mess lately,” you sincerely said, feeling slightly ashamed. “Ani. There’s no need to apologize. Life’s just like that. Every one of us has troubles. And it’s our duty as friends to help each other out. Actually, I’m thankful. The guys kinda forced you to be our manager but you never left us, despite some of us being difficult sometimes. And you always look out for us, not only in the club but outside the club. Your presence bring a lot of good things to us. You’re not trouble, Joo Ri. I really like it better that you’re here.” You smiled with tears forming at the corner of your eyes. You couldn’t help it, hearing Lay say that despite everything that happened lately, especially the one involving Kai and Chanyeol. “Joo Ri?” Lay called out. “Yeah?” You answered, quickly blinking the tears away. “I thought you fell asleep on me,” Lay laughed. “No,” you laughed along. “But that sounds like a good idea with a weather like this. I should just probably withdraw from the game and take a good nap.” “Why?” “Well, I can’t walk anymore. You should go and win this game. I’ll stay here and wait for it to be over, or wait for zombies to find me. Whichever comes first,” you chuckled. He reached for the curtain and slid it away a little so you could see each other’s faces. “I won’t do that,” he told you. “It’s fine though. Even if I don’t give up now, I’d still lose sooner or later. I’ll drag you along if you keep sticking with me,” you told him. Lay laughed. And you did your best to keep a sigh from escaping your lips. You really loved his laugh. “You know, in movies, the ones who leave their injured friends behind are jerks. So I’m not gonna do that,” he said simply. “Well, this is not a real life and death situation so you wouldn’t really be a jerk if you leave me behind,” you laughed. “Well, I’m still not gonna do that. Besides, people who do that eventually die later in the movie,” he answered. “But this isn’t a movie,” you chuckled some more. “Then how about, we pretend that this is a movie. I am the leading man, and you are my leading lady,” he said. “What?” You laughed. He nodded. “I am that cool main character who will save the world. And since I’m supposed to be a hero, I can’t leave my leading lady behind, right? Hero’s don’t do that.” You laughed some more. “What?” He asked. “It just sounds so funny. It’s like we’re little children playing superhero,” you answered, still laughing. “Well, we’re literally playing a game,” he smiled. “So how about it?” “You sure? You could lose,” you told him. “We won’t lose,” he assured you. “Okay,” you chuckled. You still thought it was a bad idea, at least for Lay. But there was no winning against him. Saying that you were his leading lady was enough to convince you anyway. “Why do we always end up arguing like this?” Lay laughed. “You’re right,” you also laughed at the realization. “And you always win.” “I’m glad I always do.” The two of you sat up when you heard a rattling sound. It was coming from the doorknob. There was a click before the knob was repeatedly both sides. “Shhh,” Lay signaled. He slowly got up and carefully made his way to the door. There was a slight banging. Whoever was outside was trying to push the door open. It was a good thing that Lay locked the door from the inside with the bolt lock that was installed there. “It’s locked from the inside. Someone must be there,” a voice said. You were relieved that it wasn’t a zombie, but you thought the voice sounded so familiar. “Yoboseyo! Is anybody there?” The person outside called. “Can you open up? I have a patient who needs assistance.” Lay immediately opened the door, revealing a very drenched Kai. “Kai!” You and Lay both exclaimed. “Hyung,” he exclaimed. On his back was park Chae Rim, Lay’s special project partner. She had Kai’s blazer over her head, covering her. But she was still a bit drenched, though not as much as Kai. “Park Chae Rim-sshi!” Lay exclaimed when he saw her. “What happened?” He asked as he opened the door, letting Kai and Park Chae Rim in. “I was on my way to the Student Council office when I saw her along the way. She was clinging to the wall. She didn’t look okay so I decided to see what was wrong,” Kai explained, placing Park Chae Rim on the bed where Lay was lying earlier. “What happened?” Lay asked worriedly. “Well, I was trying to find a safe place to hide just like everyone else but I suddenly felt dizzy,” she replied. Lay placed a hand on her forehead. “You have fever,” he told her. “I was not feeling well since this morning but I thought it will go away after I take some medicine,” she explained. “You’re soaking wet. Cover yourself with this first. I’ll go see if I can find a towel,” Lay told her, handing her the blanket. Kai was shaking the water off his hair in the corner. “You should dry yourself too. You’re drenched,” you told him. “I’m fine,” he answered, running his hand through his wet hair. “What happened to you?” “I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle,” you told him. “I’m not surprised,” he chuckled. Lay came back later with hand towels. “These are the only towels I could find,” he informed, handing a few towels to Park Chae Rim while tossing another one to Kai. Park Chae Rim was shivering as she dried herself. ”Let me help you with that,” Lay offered, taking the towel and gently rubbed it on her hair. You watched in silence, your chest feeling somewhat heavy. You looked away, looking around the room at anything other than Lay and Park Chae Rim. You met Kai’s gaze. He was staring. You awkwardly smiled then just settled on staring at your toes. “Kai, can you check if you can find where the thermometers are?” Lay requested. “Okay,” Kai answered and proceeded to looking for the thermometers. “Here,” he said, handing one to Lay. Lay placed the thermometer on her ear. After a while, there was a beep. “Your fever’s really high,” Lay told Park Chae Rim, reading the result. Park Chae Rim sneezed, then wrinkled her nose. “You need to see Doctor Jung,” Lay said. He turned to Kai. “Do you think Suho knows where he is?” “Possibly,” Kai answered. Lay looked at the wall clock. There was still a little more than an hour before the event ends. “We need to inform Suho,” Lay said. “It’s still raining,” you told him. “I’m fine. The game will be ending soon anyway. I’ll just wait here. I can’t possibly burden you like that,” Park Chae Rim said. “But your fever’s a bit high. We can’t wait,” Lay answered. “I’ll go. I was heading there originally and I’m already wet,” Kai offered. “You can stay here and accompany her until Doctor Jung arrives.” “Thanks. But you don’t really have to accompany me here. I’m fine, I can wait for Doctor Jung alone. Besides, you still need to look for the cures right?” Park Chae Rim said. “I can’t agree with that. With a fever that high, someone has to stay here and make sure nothing bad happens until Doctor Jung arrives,” Lay insisted. “I’ll go with Kai,” you said after a while. “What?” They all asked, looking at you. “Lay’s right. You can’t wait here alone. Someone needs to watch over you in case something happens,” you told Park Chae Rim. “I’ll go with Kai to the student council then after that we can look for the cure together. Then maybe we three can meet up somewhere once everything’s okay here.” “But like you said, it’s raining Joo Ri. I think you should also stay here with me then we can go once Doctor Jung arrives,” Lay disagreed. “But we would be wasting time then. The game will end in about an hour. A little rain wouldn’t hurt,” you told him. “I still don’t think that’s a good idea,” Lay hesitated. “But we have to save the world right?” You smiled at him. He stared at you then laughed. “Okay,” he finally resigned. “Okay let’s do that. But only if Kai promises he’ll watch after you th