Willow
After the most hurtful words from Leo, I find myself at the zoology building without knowing how I arrived. This is Leo’s side I’ve never seen before, and he called me desperate.
I stare at the door to the garden lab, and I try to ignore the feeling in my heart that is begging me to open it.
I have never opened the door without Professor Malino’s permission, but she has trusted me not to open it without her approval. My heartbeat quickens, because what I’m about to do could get me into a huge trouble.
I place my finger on the scanner. My fingerprint gets rejected, and an alarm goes off. The lab glows with red lights, and a loud noise that sounds like sirens fills the room.
I run to the door, planning to run away, but I panic, thinking about how the animals in the garden lab are probably distressed. I walk back with hands on my ears, and I try my luck again on the fingerprint sensor, but the alarm gets louder.
I’m so getting arrested, and if she did this to test if she could trust me, I have failed.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and Professor Malino’s name flashes on the screen.
*Press the button behind the fire extinguisher.* A text appears. I rush to the fire extinguisher and after pressing the button, I feel as if there are needles in my head.
Professor Malino calls. “Based on the quietness, I can only assume that you found the button?” She asks as soon as I place the phone on my ear.
“Yes, professor.” I nod, as if she can see me.
“Good,” she says, and then she hangs up.
Oh no! This is worse than getting yelled at. It would’ve been better if she yelled at me.
I take the slides of muscle tissues and continue to look at them under the microscope. I keep glancing at the door to the garden, wondering if Asclepius is okay.
I focus on my work, and when I’m done, I head to Leo’s freshmen class, where I’m his assistant. When I walk in, I find Professor Malino standing in front. I hide my face behind a book, and I turn around.
“Willow, where are you going?” She asks without looking up at me.
“I, I think I’m in the wrong class.” I turn to face her, to look for any sign of anger or disapproval, but I don’t see any.
“No, you are not in the wrong class.” She chuckles.
“Oh, where is Le... Where is Professor Brown?”
“He is not feeling well, and asked me to be the lecturer for the rest of his classes.”
“Okay,” I say, without knowing what else to say. Is she not going to bring it up?
“Do you miss Asclepius?”
I nod.
“I don’t think you will see him tonight.”
“Why?” I eye her suspiciously.
“He is not feeling well. I took him to a vet.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? What’s wrong with him?”
“I didn’t because I knew you would panic.”
“When can I see him?”
“I’m not really sure...” She shrugs.
“Can’t I visit him at...”
“No!” She says with finality. Is she punishing me?
“I’m sorry that I tried to open the door of the garden lab.”
She smirks. “Every time someone places their finger on the sensor, I get a notification, and I can decide to approve or reject entry.”
“I really apologize, I just missed him. The animals are probably distressed because of the noise.”
“That’s okay. The room is soundproof, and the sound is on a frequency that only humans can hear.”
“That’s smart,” I say, while handing out attendance lists to students who are walking in.
She smiles in return, and my mind gets occupied with thoughts of Leo. Did he make an excuse so that he could spend time with Chloe? Is she still here?
“Willow, are you okay?” Professor Malino disrupts my thoughts.
“I don’t feel well. I think I have a headache. You know, the alarm in the lab is noisy."
“Are you going to check up on Leo?” She smiles.
I nod, feeling a little embarrassed about my fake illness.
“What if I ask you not to?”
“Why?”
“He told you to stay away. Didn’t he?” She raises her eyebrows.
“He tells you everything.” I mumble.
“He has a reason. Please don’t do something you might regret. Just go and rest.”
I nod, and as soon as I walk out of the building, I call Chloe.
“What do you want?” She exhales.
“Where are you?” I ask impatiently.
“Why? Do you want to visit me at my man’s apartment?”
“No, because I’m already at your man’s apartment and I don’t see you.”
“What? I swear, if you ever...”
I hang up, and she calls, but I ignore her.
After confirming that Chloe is not around, the image of how Leo looked pops up in my mind. Then, Professor Malino’s words about how I should listen to Leo replays themselves too, but I decide to go, anyway.
I knock, and I don’t get any response from the other side.
“I know you are in there, Leo. Open the door!” I try my luck again.
“What do you want?” The voice on the other side groans. “I’m not in the mood for company.”
“Fine, I’ll just sit here.” I sit on the mat outside with my back against the door.
We remain in silence, neither of us willing to say any word or to get up. It feels strange, but comfortable. Then I hear a whimper, followed by sniffling.
“Leo, are you crying?”
“Go away, Willow.” He says in a low and shaky voice,
“I’m not going anywhere. Remember all those times when you were there for me? It’s time for me to do the same for you.”
“I told you not to act so desperate.” He growls.
“I don’t care what you say, you are not okay, and I’m not leaving until you open this door.”
“No! I don’t deserve any kindness from you. I’m a monster, and I want you to leave.” He replies.
“I’m not leaving. I know that you are stressed about something.”
“I will be fine, as long as you stay away from me. I’m begging you.” His voice sounds exhausted.
“I will stay away when I’m sure that you are okay.”
I hear a sound of him rustling with the keys. I get up and wait for him to open the door.
“Willow, you really need to stop...” He freezes, his eyes widening. He is looking at something behind me, and I feel a presence that makes my skin crawl.
He takes steps back with his hands up. “Don’t hurt her,” he breathes.