"Are you okay?"

"I don't think so."

She panicks, placing the back of her hand on my forehead, finding out about my-above normal body temperature.

I got abruptly awoken by the heat blanketing my whole body every now and then since 4 in the morning today. The last three days have been really tough, with the boundless piles of school assignments to complete in the very last minute, as usual, leaving me with no choice but to pull an all-nighter. I've been sleep deprived then.

"Adeline your body is very warm. You're sick. We are going to the doctor now," she announces, jerking out of my spacious bedroom so fast that I didn't have the time to reject her offer. Well, it is more of an instruction than an offer. Her instruction alerts my gut in fear.

The hospital sits on the second row of my nightmare list after insects; specifically roaches. After being destined by the head of the insects kingdom to terror my entire 17 years of breathing, I strongly approve that roaches have satisfied their king and queen since the second I was born.

Let's travel back in time, recalling one flashback story of a happy roach roaming around my kitchen floor, making an attempt to halt my good afternoon as I savour the rich and fudgy brownies, freshly made from the house oven. Heck, it was heaven and hell at an instant.

"What the hell!" I exclaimed, hopping to the the granite countertop from the padded bar stool, sharing the same level with my half-empty plate of heaven brownies and my phone. An intense stare occurred between the little brown-almost black, stone sized devil and my hooded hazel eyes, creating tension through the distance. And guess what? It had its antenna wagging, duplicating dogs asking for attention. But attention will be the last I would ever give to that thing. My only two solutions were:

i) To escape

ii) To die on location

And the second option was more likely to happen because the devil was now fencing the space between the counter that's supporting my body and the door to the living room. And that's when I thought it's time to prepare my death letter. At the same time, I heard an unpleasant squeak coming from the second floor of the two-storey house, winning my own disaster.

Aiden.

Yes, the 21 years old Aiden Wade, childishly whining on whatever video game he was currently playing. It was four days after christmas, where he comes back from Arizona to celebrate the holiday together with the family. And at the time, Mom and Dad were out for grocery shopping.

I grabbed my phone that was sitting 10 centimetres away from me and dialled Aiden's number.

The other line answered the call with a curse and a deafening sound of screeching tires on the background. Since the second he stepped on the house porch three months ago, he's gone nowhere else but his PS4. Home is where the victory begins. I hate it when he and his soulmate meets. "Hey yes what's up?" he exasperated.

"Come down and help me!"

"Adeline? Why are you calling me on my phone? We are only 5 metres away so why don't come you up and I'll hel–"

"I said come down now, there is no time. Don't make me repeat my self please before I cry!"

"Shit but–"

"Aiden please!" I yelled.

I ended the call and waited for my fate to come.

After a minute that felt like a century, my only help trudged to where I was, looking all lost and asked, "What happened?"

I pointed to the roach that was still fencing the area, a feet away from Aiden but he didn't recognise the little thing. "Look at that little devil in standing in front of you!"

He crouched, moving his sight away from me, aiming to the floor and magnifying his field of vision. His brows furrowed. "It's just a cockroach."

"What do you mean it's just a cockroach?!"

"You're 17 Adeline."

"I'm technically still 16 and will you please kill it!"

He shook his head in a disbelieve. "Does mom have an insect spray or whatever that thing is called?"

In no way I am making any journey to the hospital today. Or any day. Escorting myself to school visualises a better fortune than ending up with a bunch of doctors, nurses and different kinds of lab components needled to my core like I just got diagnosed with some kind of distinctive disease. Those three, four including me, can't converge in the same room. It's always better to avoid the tragedy beforehand. Damn, it's such a shame that they've built a wreck out of me.

Oh, calamity.

"No mom, I'm not going to the doctor," I snap. "I'm gonna be okay and I'm getting ready for school."

She walks back to my room as a response to my announcement, with her tote bag on her arm, all dressed up to pursue her plan of bringing me to the hospital. But that will still not happen. I set my feet on the wooden concrete, aiming for the bathroom but my unstable head disagreed; it shifts my mass back to the queen sized mattress, but before I could fall, mom catches me. "Adeline, you're definitely not okay."

"I'm still breathing."

"You're having a fever and you almost fell down unconscious. There's no way we're neglecting this. You look perfect, now let's go."

She helps me stand, but I stop her from any further movement. "Mom," I hiss, placing a tight grip on her palm with mine, "Please."

She lets out a long sigh. Mom sits me down on the surface, then holds my thigh. "Fine. But you're not leaving anywhere today."

What's better than a full day nap?

"Sounds per–"

"And I'm calling your dad."

"No!" I exclaim. "He has more important stuff at work to worry about."

And when I say he has more important stuff at work to worry about, I'm being honest. Time is a precious little thing that will last, and I don't want him to waste it on me or on whatever illness I have. Not anymore. I'm already seventeen, still his baby girl but sooner or later, I'll be finishing high school, go to college, graduate and then get married. With whatever choice I'm given, I'll have to learn to tackle my own problems.

"Nothing is more important than you." She gives me a hug, then— "I'll give him a call now and I'll be right back with a thermometer and a lukewarm towel for your forehead to reduce the heat."

"Panadol cures everything, mom. Even heartbreaks," I joke.

Not that I'm heartbroken right now, by the way.

She chuckles, shaking her head, not expecting what I just said as she exits my room, leaving me alone.

I almost forgot that not going to school means I won't be able to give Devin a drive to school. I immediately grab my phone from the white nightstand. 2 missed calls and 3 texts from Kyle. Found out that my phone's been on silent this whole time. The top screen reads 07:47. Seventeen minutes late. That guy is probably questioning my tardiness right now. Oops.

[07:23] Devin: GMorning lil sis.

Typical morning texts I've been receiving since the first day we share a ride to school.

GMorning lil sis.

Strange at first, but guess I'm his little sister now. I just got sis-zoned.

Not a problem.

[07:35] Devin: It's still Wednesday, I hope you're aware that weekend hasn't come yet.

[07:42] Devin: Please tell me ur otw.

[07:47] Adeline: I'm skipping school today, sorry. :( Do come to my house if u want to use my car throughout the day.

He texts back in an instant.

[07:48] Devin: Nah s'okay. Wes covered me and we're already otw. Why tho? You okay?

Wesley is another football friend of his and Dean's that lives across Devin, from what I've been told.

[07:48] Adeline: I'm fine. Mom and I just have stg to do.

[07:48] Devin: smh good then, you got me worried for a second.

[07:49] Adeline: :)

Mom comes back with the equipments on her hands and takes a spot on the edge of my bed. And today's going to be a long and tiring day.

• • • • •

"Hey baby, wake up," whispers a male voice, so close to my ear and a hand stroking my hair, making me wake up from my deep sleep.

"Dad?" I rub my eyes, bringing back life into me. I glance over my window behind him; darkness has fully taken over the naked sky, returning back the dark hours. Just the moon, glowing bright in the silence. I've been sleeping for so long. "What time is it now?"

He checks the watch on his wrist. "It's almost seven."

The last time I was awake, was when Aiden called. I must've fallen asleep to his call then. "That was a good 4 hours of sleep."

I didn't do much during the previous 6 hours. My body declined on doing whatever the thing is if it requires leaving the bed. I did get a quick warm shower though, and it was the best thing I've ever felt so far today. The rest ware just bed, including breakfast in bed. During the time, I also managed to finish a novel I recently purchased. I guess this fever is all worth it.

"I know. Mom said you skipped lunch because you're stomach isn't cooperating. Are you sure we don't need to go to the hospital?"

"Yeah I'm feeling better now."

"Good then. She's currently preparing dinner, and guess who's joining us tonight?"

Joining us for dinner? A family friend?

"Who?"

Dad's eyes shift to the individual sitting on the other side of my bed, and I follow in curiosity. My jaw almost dropped when I see the piercing blue eyes watching me lying weakly on my bed. I haven't trust him enough that seeing my bed head is acceptable. As a matter of shock, I abruptly pull my body up, with the help of my two hands, supporting my weight on the mattress. Opposing my dull self is a a genuine face, his alluring lips curling into a signature smile of his. Grand.

"Devin?"

End of chapter song: Welcome To My Life by Simple Plan

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that I'm currently at the airport and I'll be out of country for 24 days. I can't promise for chapter 7 to be out anytime soon as I might be lacking some time to write and obv, a good server. But I'll make sure to have it up posted as soon as I'm done writing it! :)

And also, I want to make sure that you guys are not confused with the change in tense at some flashback scenes. I will be having a lot of flashback scenes as the story goes on, do ask me if there are some confusion happening. My apology for any vocab mistakes, let me know if you spot one.

If you enjoy this chapter, it'd be very kind if you give it a vote, and to also comment any questions you have regarding anything. I will surely reach to you as I find the time. :)

And of course, let me know by also commenting down wether you're #TeamDevin or #TeamDean! ;)

Have a great day!

LDAI