Chapter 182 Heart-to-Heart Talk (2/2)

”I understand,” Betty said, ”I'm sorry for even doubting you and him.”

Beatrice nodded, satisfied.

”But ... erm, after that ... so, how do we go about me getting him back?” asked Betty tentatively.

Beatrice shrugged, shaking her head and looking just as lost, ”Honestly, I do not know. I've never had a boyfriend before either. I wouldn't know how to get one.”

They looked at each other in despair.

This requires a lot of thinking.

✿✿ Sam ✿✿

By the time Sam got back home, he was soaked to the skin. The distance to home from the bus stop wasn't far but it wasn't near either. Added to the fact that Sam was walking slower than normal as well.

He was so immersed in the feeling of the cold rain falling on him, numbing his body, that he didn't' realise that he was shivering by the time he got home. His parents hadn't returned yet either, so he simply trudged into his room, leaving a trail of water on the floor.

Seeing that, he took off his wet clothes and put a towel around his waist. He went to get a mop and cleaned up the area before finally going for a bath. Too tired to care about anything, he went straight to bed after the shower.

~ The next day ~

Sam's mother, Rozita, was starting to get worried. Sam was always at the breakfast table at this time. He was like clockwork.

She looked at the clock on the wall and quickly dried her hands. She had been qashing up the pots and pans, and did not realise the time.

Knocking on Sam's door, she waited a while before opening the door a crack. She saw a bundled up Sam, still in bed. Worried, she entered quietly.

”Sam?” she called out but he didn't answer. His face was all flushed and scrunched up, as if in pain. She touched his forehead and was appalled at how hot he was.

She sighed and went to the kitchen to make some chicken porridge. Once it was simmering, she took a basin with some water and a small face towel. She entered Sam's room again and started wiping his face and chest.

Rozita sighed.

Sam rarely got sick, but when he did, it would be bad. He was also the clingy, whiny type of patient. Sam's personality changed when he's sick. He's like a hopeless, dependent baby. Although she didn't like Sam being sick, she liked that part of him a bit. He was a good son but too independent at times. She was unable to spoil him.

She could now.

When Sam felt the cooling sensation of the damp towel, Sam started snuggling closer to that source of comfort. He felt his head being patted and something cool was placed on his forehead. It felt nice. His whole body was aching and he felt so hot, so the careful and gentle care made him feel more comfortable and he fell back asleep.

✿✿ Sakura Academy ✿✿

Beatrice took a deep breath right outside Sage Class.

This is it. This would be the first test. To look at Sam, be next to Sam and talk to Sam normally. To force herself to treat him as normal as before. She held her breath as she opened the door and walked in.

To her surprise, Sam wasn't in yet. She looked at the time and noticed that it was 10 minutes after the time Sam always comes in. This ... was strange. She noticed that the other Elite Five weren't in yet, but that was normal. Their timing was haphazard and sometimes they came before Sam, though more often than not, it was after.

Beatrice went to her desk and started work, thinking that the 'bomb' was delayed for now. She couldn't help but wonder what happened to Sam and if he was alright. He wouldn't skip school just because he had his heart broken yesterday, would he? He didn't appear to be that type, as he took his responsibilities as a student seriously.

By the time school officially began and Sam hadn't turned up, Beatrice's started getting really worried. She went over to Kyle to ask him.

”Oh, Sam?” Kyle said, ”He's sick, so he won't be coming in for a few days.”

”Sick?” Beatrice repeated, surprised.

”Yeah, can you believe it?” Kyle replied with a shrug, ”We're going to visit him this weekend. Wanna join?”

Beatrice nodded, then asked, ”Can I bring Betty along?”

Kyle gave a smile that Beatrice noted was the Macbeth smile. The smile that meant he had something up his sleeve. Her eye twitched.

Kyle looked surprised at that eye twitch, then laughed while shaking his head, ”Will she need any help?”

Now it was Beatrice's turn to look surprised. So Kyle figured out why Betty wanted to come along? Then Beatrice mentally slapped herself. Why wouldn't he know? It was obvious, if one knew all the facts - which Kyle did.

”No,” Beatrice said, ”Well, yes but she has to do this on her own. Do you think it's a bad time though? As he's sick?”

Kyle's mouth twitched at that as he was busy suppressing a laugh.

Bad timing? No. It was perfect timing. When Sam makes up his mind, he's as immovable as a mountain. Stubborn to a fault. From the way Sam resolutely threw away the paper bag, Kyle knew that Sam had made a firm decision to cut Betty out of his life.

Sam would not change his mind easily - if at all.

However, when he's sick, he's much more susceptible to following his heart. His defences would be down and it would take 70% less effort to get him to change his mind. Kyle had been reviewing his plans last night on how to get Sam to accept Betty, should she take that step in getting together with him. When he got the call from Sam's mum this morning about Sam being absent, Kyle couldn't help but grin widely.

Now, Beatrice said Betty would want to visit Sam so he can scrap the earlier plans he had made in manipu-... er, persuading ... Betty to visit.

”Oh, no no, not at all,” Kyle said, ”It's best that she comes when we're all there, right? Less awkward and all that.”

Beatrice agreed.