The moment Faith's body hit the cold, hard floor, Cole's entire world narrowed in on her. He hadn't even realized he had been watching her so closely until that very moment. A rush of concern surged through him, and without hesitation, he moved.
His steps were quick but not frantic. He wasn't the type to panic, but something about seeing her a girl who was always composed, always firm and in control—lying weakly on the floor, made his stomach twist uncomfortably.
As he reached her, he crouched down, his brows knitted in concern. "Are you okay?" His voice came out calmer than he felt. "Are you dizzy? Let me help you up."
Faith, her face hidden behind strands of her dark hair, exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself. "I'm fine," she muttered, reluctant and immediate. She wanted to believe it was true, even as she attempted to push herself off the floor.
But the moment she tried, her vision swam. A wave of dizziness washed over her, making her hands tremble slightly as they pressed against the ground for support.
Cole didn't wait for her to admit weakness.
Ignoring her insistence, he reached forward and grabbed both her wrists, his grip firm and unyielding. Without effort, he pulled her up in one smooth motion, as if she weighed nothing at all.
Faith barely had time to react before she was standing again, albeit unsteadily. She swayed slightly, her legs feeling strangely weak beneath her.
"You're obviously not feeling good," Cole stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. He didn't release her wrists immediately, making sure she was balanced before letting go. "I'll walk you to the clinic."
His gaze flickered downward for a brief second, landing on the sweater tied around her waist. "Put that on properly. It shouldn't be there."
Faith blinked at him, still processing everything. His grip had been strong, too strong. She rubbed her left wrist lightly, feeling the lingering pressure from where his fingers had wrapped around her skin.
Meanwhile, Cole was already moving.
He crouched again, gathering the scattered tissues that had fallen from her pocket or hand when she collapsed. Without hesitation, he scooped them up, walked over to the waste bin, and tossed them inside.
Then, as if it were second nature, he moved toward the nearby wall-mounted dispenser, pressing down to release a cool stream of water into his hands. He scrubbed them methodically, rubbing them together before shaking off the excess droplets.
Faith watched him, her mind surprisingly preoccupied with the way he did everything so efficiently. He hadn't even asked, hadn't hesitated, he just acted.
She pulled her sweater on properly, following his earlier instruction, though she wasn't sure why she obeyed so easily.
"He's actually more firm than I thought," she mused internally. "He didn't ask me—he just did what he wanted. It's kind of…"
She didn't finish the thought.
By the time she snapped out of her daze, Cole had already turned back to her, his expression unreadable.
"Let's go," he said simply, his voice steady.
Faith hesitated, her fingers still lightly rubbing her wrist.
They walked side by side through the empty hallway. The silence stretched between them, thick but not necessarily uncomfortable.
Then, after a few seconds, Cole spoke again. "I can see you're holding your wrist," he noted, his sharp eyes catching even the smallest of details. "I must've gripped you too hard. I'm sorry about that."
Faith still didn't say anything. She wasn't sure if she was too tired to respond or if she simply didn't know how to.
She wasn't angry. Not really. But there was something about the way he noticed everything that made her feel… unsettled.
Cole didn't push for a response. He simply kept walking, his posture as relaxed as ever.
Before long, they reached the clinic. The moment they stepped inside, the faint scent of antiseptic filled the air, the sterile environment a sharp contrast to the warmth of the hallway outside.
Cole walked her inside but didn't linger. Without another word, he turned on his heel and left.
Faith watched him go, her thoughts tangled as exhaustion finally weighed her down.
Time passed in slow, hazy intervals.
Faith drifted in and out of light sleep, her fever making her head feel heavy, her thoughts sluggish.
At some point, the door creaked open, and familiar voices filled the small clinic room.
"Look at her. She looks so tired," Stephanie muttered, her voice unusually gentle.
Alex, standing beside her, folded her arms. "Ms. Nurse, how's she doing? And what's wrong with her?"
The nurse, a middle-aged woman with neatly tied-back hair, sighed as she glanced at Faith. "It could be a cold, but according to the boy who brought her here, she fell—maybe from dizziness. So, there's a chance it's a fever."
Alex frowned. "That sounds serious."
"I can't be sure," the nurse admitted. "I don't have the right tools to give a proper diagnosis. But we've contacted her parents—they'll be here soon to pick her up."
Stephanie pursed her lips. "This seems really bad…"
"It's not as serious as it looks," the nurse reassured them. "She's eaten some fruit, which is a good sign. If she can eat, she's not in any immediate danger."
She turned to them, her expression firm. "You can stay with her until her parents arrive, but no noise and no playing around."
"Yes, ma'am," they both answered.
As soon as the nurse walked away, Alex approached Faith's bed.
Reaching out, she touched Faith's cheek lightly before pressing the back of her hand against her nose.
"Your nose is so cold," she said with a small frown.
Stephanie took an immediate step back. "Don't be stupid! What if you get infected?"
Alex shrugged. "It's fine. I'll wash my hands later."
Faith let out a weak sigh. "Our test starts on Monday. Why do I have to be sick now of all times?"
Stephanie gave her a reassuring look. "It's not your fault. The weather's been colder than usual almost like it's going to snow. You'll be fine before then."
Alex smirked. "Or maybe your bad mood finally turned into a fever. You're always so grumpy especially when it comes to Cole."
Faith gave her a small, tired smile. "I can't deal with you right now. Even breathing takes effort, so I'm giving you a pass today."
Alex grinned. "I know."
Then, without warning, she leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to Faith's forehead.
Stephanie gasped. "Stop that! You'll get sick too!"
Alex just laughed. "Relax. If I catch a cold, it's destiny."
Faith rolled her eyes. "Pass me my phone. I want to check my texts."
Alex, instead of handing it over, grabbed the phone and held it out of reach. "Nope. I'll read it for you."
Stephanie sighed. "Why are you being so troublesome today?"
Alex smirked. "I don't know. This is how I usually act."
Faith raised an eyebrow, despite her exhaustion. "No, it's not."
"Yes, it is," Alex countered playfully.
Their lighthearted bickering continued, filling the room with warmth despite Faith's fever.
Eventually, the door opened again.
Faith's parents had arrived.
As they stepped inside, Stephanie and Alex exchanged glances before stepping aside.
Faith, still weak, let out a small breath.
For now, she could rest.