Nate paused, watching her stubborn attitude. He blew out a frustrated breath and combed his messy curls with his fingers. "Fine! Whatever!!!" He yelled under his breath and turned to follow the rest of the other classmates.
After reaching the platform, the air was thick with the smell of diesel and ozone. One of their friends checked to see if everyone had their ticket, then placed their luggage on the floor.
August's legs were numb and shaky, and she couldn't stand it any longer. She sank onto a cold, metal public bench with tons of unanswered questions raised in her mind.
Accidentally, across the platform, her gaze landed on a particular face, Daisy and her brother. They were standing near their own luggage, still looking perfectly calm. Holding a ticket, dragging the luggage and stopping according to their seat alignment.
August tried to avoid their attention, but Daisy's laughter grabbed her whole attention. Watching Daisy and her brother still playing on the platform in the same energetic way kept remember her past memories.
August's gaze fixed on Daisy's wide, cute, dimpled smile and her brother's bright smile; his messy top knot shone in the sunlight, and the way they held their hand, everything seemed unreal. August felt a pang of jealousy. She missed the days when she felt that light, that was untouched by the world. She stared at them without blinking her eyes, her mind drifting into a dark, quiet place.
"You are not supposed to raise your voice at your brother!"
"Obey!! Obey what I say!!!"
"You are just a girl, bitch!!!"
"It's all your fault?" A harsh, sharp yell echoed from somewhere down the tracks, snapping August back to reality and making her hands and legs still shaking.
GRRRRRRRRR!
"Finally, the train came!!!" Sara screamed and jumped into her place.
"Passenger, be attentive... Train 123, the last train, has arrived at the junction. Stand according to your compartment and keep your luggage safe." The automatic voice announced in a cold, mechanical tone.
The train engine's arrival sound echoed through the whole platform, vibrating through the concrete.
August rose weakly, her legs feeling like they were made of lead. She reached for her suitcase, but her vision blurred for a second. One of her friends stepped in, shifting the heavy bag toward the train steps before she could protest.
In the neighboring carriage, Devin and Daisy stepped into the narrow, wood-paneled corridor. Devin moved with a practiced ease, dragging the suitcase on left hand, checking seat numbers as they passed the sleeping berths.
"Devin!!!" Daisy chirped, her voice muffled by the lollipop she was aggressively licking.
Devin sighed, hoisting their suitcases and a heavy piece of luggage into the overhead racks. "What now, sister?"
"She's also the nearest compartment; can I ask her IG?" Daisy was excited as she bounced into her seat.
Outside the window, the platform began to slide away as the train lurched forward. Devin rolled his gaze upwards and couldn't handle the annoyance. "Stop!!" Why are you so eager towards her?"
Daisy cutely gave a nonchalant shrug, her head tilting to the side. "I don't know... she gives off such a positive vibe. Even after I slammed into her, she didn't get angry. Having a friend like her would be good for me... and you," she added with a mischievous, low-toned tease.
Devin pressed a small smirk, curled up as he hid it by rubbing his nose, "Don't be delusional... She probably won't even remember your face."
Daisy arched her brows like a dare. "Really? Are you sure?" She questioned, "She stared at us at the junction for ten minutes straight without even blinking. You didn't notice? Maybe she is also interested!"
Devin let out an exhausted breath, "Daisy!! My little one..." he leaned back against the headrest, his voice softening. "She wasn't staring. She was zoning out. She looked exhausted... like she needed a thousand years of sleep."
"No!!! Not at all," Daisy refused.
Meanwhile, in the next compartment, the atmosphere was far from quiet. August's friends were packed into the opposite seats, four to a side, their laughter echoing off the plastic walls. They were passing phones around, scrolling through photos of the trip.
"Finn... You look so funny in this image," another man laughed and mockingly made the same expression.
August didn't laugh. Her eyes were narrowed, focusing on nothing. A sudden chill swept through her, and her hands began to shiver violently, making her teeth chatter. She wrapped her arms around herself, leaning her heavy head against Sara's shoulder.
Noticing August's eyes were red, and her body heat could boil the water. "Wait... August? You're burning up!" She pressed a palm to August's forehead. "Your body is boiling. You have a fever?"
The laughter died instantly. Eight pairs of eyes landed on August.
"Yes… She suddenly got sick! Sara said, her voice concerned as she helped August rise toward her seat.
"It's okay, three more hours! We will reach our house!" Finn said.
"I think she needs rest!" another friend said.
"Hey! I have fever pills... Can I help her?" Nate interrupted, standing up before Sara could move toward the sleeping berths.
The rest of the group exchanged silent, knowing glances. A few smirks played on their lips. "Yeah... Nate's right. He's got the good stuff," Edward said, playfully prying Sara's hand away from August's arm.
"Are you kidding me?" Sara muttered, wanting to stay, but the others pulled her back into her seat, settling her down with a chorus of "Let them talk."
Nate stepped close and wrapped his arms around August warmly to make her comfortable. He doesn't speak or ask anything.
August looked at all her friends with a creepy, annoying glance, then jerked her arm away from Nate's touch. "This sucks," she hissed, her jaw clenched as she stumbled toward her berth without waiting for him and without making a drama.
Nate followed her back without wasting a chance. "I am just helping you... I am not here for apologies or a conversation. Just the meds." He murmured, his tone cold and confused.
August paused, turning back with a fire in her eyes that defied her shivering body "Did I ask you to help me?" She questioned as she looked into his green eyes, "Mind your own business!" She lip-synced as she fell into his chest in sudden loss of balance and dizziness.
"August, are you okay?" Nate caught her, his arms locking around her waist as she went dizzy in his grip. He didn't wait for her to argue. He balanced her weight and settled her into the seat. From his bag, he pulled out a blister pack of tablets and a fresh bottle of water.
He sat nearby, held them out. August stared at the pill, then at his green eyes. She didn't have the strength left to be stubborn. Instead, she took a pill and swallowed it with a gulp of water. Then she, within a few seconds, slammed against the sheet and collapsed back onto the sleeping cushion.
Nate moved in silence. He slid a sleeping pillow under her head, then knelt down to remove her shoes, tucking them neatly under the seat. He pulled a heavy bedsheet over her, tucking the edges in to trap the heat.
With a soft click, he turned off the overhead light, plunging her corner into shadow. He sat in the opposite seat, the blue light of his phone screen illuminating his face as he scrolled through reels, staying awake as a silent sentinel while she drifted into a deep, drug-induced slumber.
"Beep!"
"Beep!!"
"Beep!!!"
All the passengers in the train got the same notification in unison.
Everyone pulled out their phone and looked at the screen.
An anonymous link is displayed above the screen.
Daisy was leaning against his brother's shoulder and restlessly scrolling through the videos from IG reels. Suddenly, a sharp beep and a link notification appeared above her screen.
The same rhythmic beep filled the entire compartment.
Devin and Daisy exchanged a confused glance before both tapped the link. "What's that?" he murmured in a mysterious tone as both were curious, and their gaze locked onto the screen.
The page took a heartbeat to load, the white screen glowing too brightly in the dim cabin light. Then, bold, black letters bled onto the screen, and there's a small invitation under the emoji.