Visits.

I don’t know how long I was asleep for, but when I woke up, I heard a familiar voice talking to the nurse.

“So… He’s okay?” Thomas asked.

“Yes,” the nurse answered. “It’s possible this was caused due to stress, as he doesn’t seem to be ill. Now go! The boy needs rest, and I certainly don’t need people filling my infirmary!”

“Ahaha… Sorry to be a bother, ma’am.” Thomas laughed. “We’ll be going, then.”

Two other voices also apologized, but they did so with low mutters, and with how groggy I was, I couldn’t tell who they were. Had an idea, though.

After a minute, I sat up on the bed. My head felt a little heavy, but the pain was gone. Why was I here? Ah, right. I got a headache after… reading minds. God, what’s happening to me?

“You’re awake, then. How are you feeling?” The old nurse asked me. Well, I call her old, but she must’ve been close to her 60s, so not THAT old. If she could read minds, she’d probably slap me.

“Better,” I said.

She handed me a glass of water. “Drink. There’s nothing in it, but drinking water is important when you’re feeling headaches.”

I wordlessly took the glass and drank. I was thirsty anyway.

“But my, you’re a popular one…” The nurse chuckled. “Very rarely does someone get nine visitors for something as mild as a headache.”

I almost choked. “N-Nine people came to see me? How long was I asleep for?”

“Oh, barely twenty minutes. As soon as the bell for the first recess rang, three girls came to see you. Then three more. Just now three boys came to check if you were awake.” The lady chuckled again. “You’re lucky to have friends who worry about you so much.”

I pursed my lips as I felt my chest tighten. Just a few months ago, nobody would’ve come to see me.

“You’re free to leave, if you’re feeling better. If not, rest some more.”

“No, I’m fine now. Thank you very much. Who… Who came to see me? If you remember. I’d like to tell them I’m well now.”

The nurse smiled. “The first group were three girls. One of them had silvery white hair.” That was Mila, so the other two were likely Grace and Sarah. “The second group was your sister and her friends, a petite redhead and the student council president.” Isabelle probably asked if her brother was here, which is how the nurse knew. The other two were Noelle and Alice. “The last ones were three boys. Two of them were very tall, and the other one was a dark skinned boy with big muscles.” I had heard Thomas, so the two others were Kevin and Ben.

“Thank you very much.”

“Don’t move too much, you hear?”

I nodded slowly and left the infirmary. I headed to my own classroom first, as it was the most likely place I’d find my girlfriends. On the way, though, I ran into the other trio of girls the nurse mentioned.

“Oliver!” Noelle called and jogged towards me from the end of the hallway. Isabelle and Alice followed, walking.

“Ah, hello,” I greeted awkwardly. “The nurse said you all went to check on me?”

“Yes,” Alice said. “We heard you had to be taken to the infirmary, but not why. We were worried. Is it really just a headache?”

I nodded. “It was… strong, but I think I’m fine now.”

“Mom told you to stay at home!” Isabelle’s tone was half chiding and half worry.

“It’s gone now. Really.”

“Are you sure?” Noelle asked, her eyes full with concern.

I smiled “Yes, I’m sure. My head feels a little heavy, but I’m fine.”

{...}

I almost expected to feel something, to hear their thoughts, but nothing came.

“Maybe you’ve been inhaling too much cat hair…” Isabelle said, making her friends snicker. “Hey, I’m serious!”

I nodded. “Cake does sleep next to my neck sometimes.”

“Awww!” Alice and Noelle giggled.

“A-Anyway. Do you happen to know where Thomas is?” I asked them.

“We saw him, Kevin and Ben going up to the fourth floor,” Alice told me.

“Thanks. Well, see you all later.”

“Yeah. Take care.” Noelle waved at me, and I waved back.

I went up to the fourth floor and checked the guys’ classroom. They were inside already, at the back of the room.

“T-Thomas…” I said in a voice too low to be heard. There were other people inside, so talking louder would attract attention. It was… embarrassing, and I did consider leaving and talking to them later, but… Just suck it up, Oliver. “Thomas!”

That got their attention, along with that of every other person in the room.

I took a deep breath. Their gazes put pressure on me, but not nearly as much as it once did. What were they thinking? Was I bothering them? Would they gossip and talk behind my back once I left? The thoughts were still there, but I didn’t care as much as I did before. I had more important things to do and worry about.

“Oh, good! You’re not dead!” Thomas laughed loudly as he walked towards me at the entrance to his classroom. Ben and Kevin followed.

“Yeah, I missed my chance for some eternal rest,” I answered. “Oh well. Next time.”

“What? Are you tired of being popular with all the girls?” Kevin teased. “The nurse told us you were getting visits.”

“Only two of those visits are suspicious, though,” Ben said, grinning. “Damn lady killer.”

“Careful, guys,” Thomas said. “Your jealousy is showing.”

“Damn right!” Kevin said.

“I’m telling Lena,” I told him.

“Dude…” his shoulders slumped.

I chuckled.

“So? You okay, man?” Ben asked me. “Feeling better?”

“Yes. Thanks for going to check on me. It was just a headache, though.”

“A headache is not an illness, but a symptom. Go for a checkup,” Ben told me.

“...If it happens again, I will,” I agreed.

Thomas crossed his arms. “I was going to invite you to come with us for burgers tomorrow, but I’m afraid you’ll end up passing out on us.”

“I’m not made of crystal.”

“Clearly,” Kevin said. “Your arms and shoulders are bigger. Shit, am I really the lankiest of us four?”

“Want to give the boxing gym another try?” Ben offered.

“No thanks.”

“Bummer. What about you, Oliver? Ever thought of giving boxing a shot?”

I nodded. “I have.”

“Really?” Ben’s eyes brightened.

“Yeah. But then I realized I’d be getting punched. Threw that idea right out.”

Ben laughed genially. “Coward.”

“Exactly,” I admitted.

“Ben, you’re the only one insane enough to want to go pro at a sport that’ll make you lose teeth at best,” Thomas told him.

“Maybe the punches are already getting to him,” Kevin said.

Ben simply crossed his arms and scowled at them.

“Anyway. You coming with us tomorrow?” Thomas asked me.

“Ah. Tomorrow’s Friday… Yeah, sure.”

“Cool. Now go report to the other trio before you get scolded.”

“That’s… A good idea. See you guys later.”

I waved as I left, then made my way towards my own classroom.

Like Thomas predicted, the girls were worried enough that I did get a bit of a scolding for not staying home and resting if I wasn’t feeling well. Grace seemed especially concerned, thinking that what we did that morning may have had something to do with it.

But speaking of that morning… I hadn’t forgotten the things I’d heard when I read their minds. Not just passing thoughts, but deeply rooted desires they couldn’t bring themselves to talk to me about. I didn’t think it was a good idea to bring it up… But something inside me was telling me it was necessary.

Lunch was going to be awkward.