Chapter 4 THE SCHOOL’S CLINIC
Anya eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she could not understand where she was.
The sky above her was ink-black, scattered with faint stars. The garden was silent, empty, the night air sharp against her skin. She was lying on the grass exactly where she had fallen.
No one had found her.
Her ankle throbbed painfully when she tried to sit up. A wince escaped her lips.
She reached for her phone with trembling fingers and immediately dialed Liana.
"Please pick up… please" she whispered.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then, "Anya? Why are you calling this late?"
"Liana… please… come get me. I’m at the school garden"
"Why? I’m on my way!"
The call ended.
Barely five minutes later, the sound of fast footsteps broke through the silence, and then Liana burst into view, breathless.
"Oh my God! What happened to you?" She crouched beside her, her face scrunched in shock and worry.
"I passed out"
"Why?" Liana demanded, helping brush the dirt off her arm.
"Some crazy guy did this to me just because I touched his cat"
Liana froze.
Her eyes widened instantly. "Oh my! You mean you met Nikolai?"
"I don’t know who that is" Anya muttered, still trying to steady her breathing.
"How does he look? Is he as handsome as they say?" Liana asked, curiosity burning through her concern.
"I didn’t have time to check him right" Anya said weakly.
"Right, right…" Liana sighed and slipped an arm around her. "Come on, let’s get you up, and take you to the clinic"
She gently lifted Anya, supporting most of her weight as the injured ankle buckled again.
"Don’t worry," Liana said softly. "I’ve got you"
Liana tightened her grip around Anya’s waist as they limped toward the path leading out of the garden.
The campus was unnervingly quiet, the kind of silence that made every sound echo with crickets, distant wind, their footsteps on the pavement. The walkway lights cast long shadows, stretching and shrinking as they moved.
"Liana… don’t bother," Anya whispered, wincing. "Just take me to my hostel. I’ll be fine"
"No," Liana said firmly, shaking her head. "Your ankle is swollen. You’re going to the clinic"
"Please, I don’t want any stress—"
"I said no, Anya" Liana’s voice softened but didn’t lose its edge. "You passed out alone in the garden. That’s not something we ignore"
Anya swallowed, her throat tight. The cold night bit at her skin as they walked, and each step sent a sharp pain up her leg.
The campus lights illuminated their path in soft pools of warm yellow, but the rest of the campus remained swallowed in darkness.
"Who is… Nikolai?" Anya finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liana let out a breath. "We’ll talk about him when you’re not limping and half fainting," she said. "Right now, clinic first"
They reached the long walkway leading to the school clinic. The building stood alone, its white walls glowing under the dim security lights.
Liana pushed the glass door gently.
"Hello?" she called out.
A faint echo answered her.
Inside, the clinic was just as quiet but the lights were on.
"Come on" Liana murmured, helping Anya inside. "They’re always open for emergencies"
Anya’s fingers gripped Liana’s sleeve.
"I’m scared" she admitted.
Liana squeezed her hand. "You’re safe now. You have me"
They stepped further in, the smell of antiseptic thick in the air, and Liana guided her.
A door creaked open down the hallway, and a young man in a white coat stepped out, adjusting a stethoscope around his neck. He looked barely older than them, maybe twenty-two but strikingly handsome. Sharp jawline, soft brown hair, warm hazel eyes.
"Good evening" he said, walking toward them.
He stopped when he saw Anya limping, supported by Liana.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice calm.
Liana didn’t answer.
She was too busy staring, staring hard.
Her eyes were fixed on his face as if she had forgotten her own name. The doctor blinked at her, slightly confused.
"Miss? I asked what happened"
Liana didn’t hear a thing.
"Miss?" he repeated, leaning a little closer.
She snapped out of it immediately. "Oh—I—yes! Sorry. She sprained her ankle. And she passed out earlier"
He nodded, unfazed. "Alright, I’ll take a look. Please help her sit"
Liana guided Anya to the small examination bed while the young doctor crouched down, carefully examining her ankle. His hands were skilled and gentle, and Anya watched him silently, still shaken, still replaying the earlier horror in her mind.
"You’ll be fine," he said after a moment. "It’s a sprain, nothing broken. But you need rest and observation for tonight. We can’t let you leave the clinic"
Anya blinked. "Why?"
"Hostels close at 11," he explained. "It’s past midnight. They won’t open the gates until morning"
"Oh" she whispered.
Before she could worry about being alone, Liana spoke instantly.
"I’ll stay with her," she said, stepping closer. "She’s not sleeping here alone"
The intern doctor looked at Liana who was again staring at him like she was seeing the sun for the first time and gave a small smile.
"That’s fine. There’s an extra bed in the resting room. I’ll bring some ice and pain relievers"
He stood and walked away, leaving Liana still looking after him, starstruck.
Anya nudged her lightly.
"Liana…"
"What?" Liana whispered.
"You’re staring"
"Shut up," Liana muttered, cheeks warming. "He’s… extremely handsome. It should be illegal"
Anya managed a small laugh, despite the pain.
The doctor disappeared into the supply room, leaving them in the quiet glow of the clinic lights.
Anya turned to Liana, her voice small but sincere. "Thank you… for staying. Really"
Liana waved her hand dramatically, rolling her eyes in that playful, dramatic way she always did.
"Oh come on, it’s nothing. Friends should be there for each other," she paused, smiling softly, "even though we only met today"
Anya smiled genuinely.
Maybe… maybe she wasn’t completely alone.
Liana squeezed her hand gently, then sat beside her.
"Now rest," she whispered. "Tomorrow will be better"
She pulled Anya into a warm embrace.