The house was a small, square building with a single door and a few windows. Nevertheless, the lawn was well-kept.
She reached for her phone in her crossbody bag, but a hand was placed on top of hers. She looked at Ares, frowning.
"What?"
Ares shook his head. "No need. I don't think she'd easily make a mistake about the address."
Nova gave up trying to reach Orlyssa but still felt they were at the wrong place. She just hoped the owner wouldn't be some crazy old man who would yell at them for entering his compound.
She pressed the bell, then rushed down the doorstep. After fifteen minutes, she began shifting her weight, sighing. Ares could see her impatience radiating from her.
In the next moment, the door slowly opened, and a head stuck out.
"You came? We-lcome."
She was wearing a mask, and her eyes were bloodshot.
Nova opened her mouth, but immediately shut it. She blamed herself for being unobservant yesterday.
As soon as they entered the house, Orlyssa gave them masks. Ares stared at his for a few seconds.
'When in Rome,' he mused, before putting it on.
Though faint, his nostrils could pick up sharp scents of alcohol from different locations in the house. Someone was a chronic drunkard.
Nova averted her gaze from a can of juice on the table, staring at Orlyssa. "You look so weak. Have you eaten?"
Looking away, Orlyssa pointed at the can on the table.
Nova face-palmed. "You can't be serious. You're just choosing comfort over getting well?"
Still looking away, Orlyssa bit her inner cheek.
There was something Nova wanted to confirm with her, but it would have to wait. "Well, I'll make some real food."
She placed her bag on the table, then walked to the kitchen.
Though Ares agreed to tag along of his own accord, he would have appreciated it if Nova hadn't left him alone with Orlyssa. She seemed too inquisitive, and there was no telling what she would ask. To prevent her from asking a question, he thought he should be the one to steer the conversation. Unfortunately, before he could think of a topic, Orlyssa spoke.
"Uhm, I just had an idea. I have your cousin's number, so I thought maybe I could get yours?"
'Very easy.'
"Good idea, though I lost my phone and haven't replaced it yet."
Orlyssa dramatically slumped, pouting. However, after a second, a bulb lit up above her head. "Money? I can always chip in."
Ares's spine suddenly warmed up. Why was she going off-script? He removed his mask, giving her a lopsided smile. "Eh, you're so tender. I'd consider that when I'm up against the wall."
Behind the mask, a small smile graced Orlyssa's lips. She slid a little closer on the couch, then locked her eyes with his. "Can you guess what I want to do now?"
At this point, Ares began doubting whether she was really ill. He looked at the ceiling, slowly moving his eyes side to side. Given her condition, what would she want to do? He gazed at her for a second.
"You want to sleep?"
Orlyssa shook her head. "Close... I'm pooped, so... I'd like to rest a bit."
She continued staring into Ares's eyes, and he gazed back with a question mark written over his face. It was as if she were trying to be considerate of what she was about to say. Was it that sensitive? Her eyes flicked toward the kitchen, then back to him.
"I'm beaten, so... if you don't mind, could you help me get to my room?"
'Oh.'
Maybe such a request was truly sensitive to her.
"You don't have to be too reserved with me." He closed the distance to her and placed his hand around her waist.
"Eep!"
She flinched, the aching in her muscles easing for a moment. His straightforwardness, plus his comment. Orlyssa crimsoned.
She put her arm around his shoulders and led him to her room. As he laid her on the bed, his arm on her back, Orlyssa looked up at the hood on his head. Now that she remembered, she had never seen him with it down. She raised her hand, but before she could pull the hood back, Ares held her arm.
'That was close. What the hell is she thinking?'
Before the atmosphere could turn tense, he removed the face mask from her and placed his palm over her head.
"Hot."
Around 40°C, which was more serious than he had imagined. The corner of his lips unconsciously lifted a bit. She was stronger than she looked.
Since he had only tried it that night on Nova, who had physical harm, he wasn't sure whether it would work on an illness. Nevertheless, he still gave it a shot while gauging her reaction.
Orlyssa's heart hammered in her chest. She looked up at him as he intently stared into her eyes. What was he planning to do to her? Wasn't something like this too soon? Besides, her condition wouldn't allow it.
As she pressed her lips tightly together, the clammy sweat all over her body suddenly cooled and dried, and her limbs lightened, as if a great weight had been lifted.
'36.9.' Ares inwardly sighed.
He went to remove his hand, but Orlyssa firmly held it onto her head.
"I think what my body needs is you." Her cheeks flushed.
Was this love? Ares let his hand relax.
He would have to do something about her before she started making his already challenging life rough.
As Orlyssa had closed her eyes, her ears picked up a crescendo of footsteps. She quickly removed Ares's hand from her head, boring her eyes onto the open door. Nova entered the room, carrying a bowl of hot chicken broth, and placed it on the bedside table.
Since Orlyssa was unnecessarily wringing her arms and darting her eyes around the room, Ares decided to leave.
"I'll get some fresh air outside."
Nova sat on the bed. The glassiness in Orlyssa's eyes had cleared. She looked at the door, then at her.
"What did you two do?"
Orlyssa's chest tightened.
"Do? Do what?"
Fidgeting while avoiding eye contact. She was very obvious.
Nova lifted her arms into a shrug. "I mean, do you even need that soup? You look much better to me."
Furtively smirking to herself, Orlyssa thought, 'It's magic. Like in Beauty and the Beast.' She sat up and took the bowl in her hands. "Even so, I'm hungry."
After taking a sip, she raised her head. "Tasty!"
Nova stared at her blankly. She would have to forgive her for prying into her life. "You, do you really live with your parents?"
The smile on Orlyssa's face instantly vanished, her expression turning deadpan. "I thought you'd pretend you haven't noticed."
"Well, pardon me for being a little bit nosy."
Orlyssa chuckled, then looked up as though ruminating. "I don't want to remember those assholes; they made my childhood a living hell. If I hadn't moved in with my aunt sooner, I'm sure I'd be a worse person than you know."
Nova furrowed her brows. So she was conscious of her character? What a weirdo.
Orlyssa continued, "I've always lived envying other people's perfect lives... that's why I tried to mess with you that day. But, it wasn't purely out of jealousy; a part of me desired your friendship."
She was fidgeting her hands and legs, as though assaulted by the embarrassment of her own words, so Nova slightly redirected the topic.
"Does she drink? Your aunt, that is."
Orlyssa raised her eyebrows, gaping her mouth into an 'o'. "Ah, you stumbled upon them? She's a big addict that her life worries me."
Whoever her aunt was, was a rather irresponsible person. What kind of an adult leaves liquor bottles on places like countertops when they know very well they are living with a teenager? She was lucky Orlyssa wasn't that kind of person.