Chapter 3 FALL IN LOVE

Her eyelids raised, the girl blinked to get her focus. It took her a moment to recognize that this was the roof of the infirmary. And she was lying on the bed in the fairly quiet infirmary.

Apparently unconsciousness had taken her until eleven o'clock in the afternoon, long enough. Her gaze went blank again, trying to dive into her mind, replaying the series of events that had led her to end up here. Suddenly the door opened, and interrupted of Alexa's thoughts. Fortunately, the person that appeared was her best friend.

"Alexa, you're awake." A bright and relieved smile appeared on Alice's face.

She nodded while her palms held her head. "But my head is still very dizzy," she replied without trying to get up.

"Stay down, and go back to rest," Alice said as she patted Alexa's shoulder. "Really, I still can't believe how you could get into an accident like that and hurt someone else."

As if her guilt wasn't enough to drive her into distraction, Alice's words sent her further into a pit of regret.

The girl pouted, "I don't know, I feel so guilty."

"Of course you do!"

She looked annoyed. "What does that mean?"

Alice Madison winced as she regretted her words. Maybe it wasn't just a curse that Alexa would throw at her, but something more, like a scratch?

"I mean, he can't run the hundred-meter race, because his leg hurt."

She was shocked again. Another fact that she knew made it even better to remain unconscious and unaware of any information about Jonathan Flint.

"Really?" she sighed in disbelief, breathing as much oxygen into his lungs as she could. Oh my God, what was this?

Why did she have to crash into Jonathan Flint? A role model student whose presence was quite important. Maybe not only him would judge him, but probably all the A class students would look at her with annoyance because their talented athlete failed to represent their class.

"If only you were a little careful Alexa ... Ouch!" Before Alice could continue, her hand flew up to punch Alice in the arm.

"Who are you really friends with? His or me?" asked her.

Alice Madison grimaced again and raised both hands. "Sorry, because I feel a little sorry for him." She sighed, "Considering how he tried to protect you."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Trying to protect me?" she repeated doubtfully.

Alice Madison leaned forward to whisper, "You don't remember how you bumped into him and then fell down?"

She raised one eyebrow, then shook her head in disbelief. It had happened so fast, her eyes couldn't capture every detail easily. It was probably true that she had missed a lot. And the limited capabilities of her brain couldn't record everything.

Alice brought her mouth to her ear. "You ran into him as he was taking the stairs, almost reaching the last step. Then you both fell down, but his arms were around you, as if to protect you from getting hurt. If you look at the accident scene, it should have been Jonathan Flint who fainted, and not you."

Alexa was surprised again.

"You were surprised, weren't you?" responded Alice Madison. Then she continued her words, "I was, too. Yeah, though it could have been a reflex movement or a deliberate attempt to protect you, I don't know."

Apparently, the awkwardness could not be digested by Alexa's brain, so the girl could not come up with a proper response.

"But he's quite gentle, isn't he? Even though both of his elbows had to be injured besides his legs. But at least his head isn't bleeding like yours." There was a tone of admiration in Alice's voice.

She nodded. Perhaps, that was the only thing she could be thankful for. When things had gotten so bad. For her and for Jonathan Flint.

***

After Alice Madison left. She tried to close her eyes to reduce the dizziness that was still tormenting her head.

A moment later, she felt a gust of fall breeze from the wide-open window right beside her bed. A sweet and fresh scent entered his nostrils, a perfume that was quite familiar to her nose. If she recalled, she didn't know the last time she had smelled that scent, but it was clear that it had been around her once in a while.

Lulled for a moment by the scent, the sound of sneezing interrupted her, sounding clear and close. It was strangely familiar to her ears.

Her memory recognized the distinctive sneezing sound, somewhere she had accidentally heard it. Unfortunately, her brain could not bring up the memory she needed.

Alexa was interested in finding a voice amidst the sneezing that had not stopped. A shred of hope grew, wanting the sneeze to continue before finding its owner. But it was not Alexa's intention to have the person tortured by his sneeze.

The girl tilted her body to the side, her eyes able to see the white curtain beside her, closed. Slowly, her right hand reached out to touch it. Then opened the curtain that was a barrier for her to know more.

When the curtain opened, her eyes could catch Jonathan Flint there. Lying on his side like her, his eyes were looking straight at her, with no intention of looking away.

Her whole body froze, her consciousness absorbed by Jonathan's gaze. Her hand still reached out to touch the curtain, but could not move to close the cloth again. The only thing she could do was breathe silently, in silence, and keep breathing in the calming scent of perfume that filled the room.

So is that the scent of his perfume, Jonathan Flint?

The cold air also enveloped her, strangely her heart suddenly felt warm when Jonathan's gaze did not leave her eyes. How ridiculous, what kind of feeling is this? Surely her heart was beating out of control.

How is it that when misfortune strikes him on the worst day of the fall, the girl can fall in love so easily?