Chapter 18 (1/2)

”You're such a drama queen! You weren't even hit, the h.e.l.l did you faint for?!” scolded Lina while sitting beside the hospital bed which had Jeremy on it.

Jeremy was quiet. I bet it hits a sore spot. ! Lina complained internally.

Honestly speaking, Lina was the type of person who just loved scolding people who were sick. Defense mechanism - wanting to prevent or hide her worry and uneasiness from showing. As for how worried she was when hearing Jeremy collapsed; only G.o.d knows. That's why she followed along in the ambulance.

”It did it, Lina…”

Jeremy's voice came out between his breathing and whisper. At first, Lina felt like continuing her babbling, but looking at Jeremy's pale white face, she closed her ear to his mouth.

”What did you say, My?”

”That thing… that thing made Arul like that…”

Lina was stunned. She had already thought that it wasn't Jeremy who did it, but never would she have thought…

”Arul… he's in a bad condition, right?” Jeremy asked.

Lina nodded. ”He's in the ICU. Too much blood was lost.”

”What should we do, Lina? I didn't do it. It's that thing. I swear!”

”I believe you. But… you're the only one there, My…”

”No! Mut and Wan were there too! They saw…”

”They saw you kicking Arul,” Lina finished Jeremy's sentence.

Jeremy laid down and looked up the ceiling with a surrendering look. ”I didn't do it, Lina. His nose suddenly started bleeding… then everything too! After that, I heard… I heard…”

”What did you hear?”

Jeremy shook his head. It's pointless to say anything. Even if he did, people would only think he's crazy. Hearing voices, delusional - there might be people saying he had schizophrenia. Especially when he's a person of art. People like that were the ones commonly inclined to having mental illnesses, right?

As Jeremy was planning on what kind of friend he would make in the asylum, Lina was suddenly visited by someone.

CGTSS's counsellor was standing beside the bed, with another person that Jeremy felt familiar…

”This man… this man….!”

Jeremy was like a girl in her teens who found her idol. Lina looked at him weirdly, the counsellor made a face saying 'it can't be helped' and Khalil looked confused.

”Brother! I'm a huge fan of yours!” Jeremy said while reaching for Khalil's hand and shaking it a few time.

The confused Khalil looked at the counsellor. She smiled and just shrugged. What's with this kid? Was he hit in the head or something?

”He's really your number one fan. Because of you, he's trying to revive the CGTSS' Drama Club,” explained the counsellor.

Khalil nodded in understanding while Jeremy nodded energetically like a cartoon character.

”See what I mean?” she said again.

When she said so, Khalil suddenly observed Jeremy, making him become somewhat agitated. He suddenly felt self-conscious when his idol was checking him out like that.

”I don't see the resemblance. What's similar?” Khalil questioned.

”It's not the looks, but the characteristics… personality, probably,” answered the counsellor.

Lina and Jeremy exchanged glances. What are they talking about?