Chapter 28: Seizing the Chance
The classroom echoed with scattered coughing. Students tried hard to muffle the sounds so they wouldn't disturb the lesson, but the winter cold made it difficult to control.
The windows were shut tight against the biting wind, trapping the stale air inside and making it even thicker. Most of the class looked drained and listless, forcing themselves to stay awake and pay attention.
Margaret wasn't doing much better. She kept her head lowered, eyelids heavy as she stared at the board and the teacher. Her face carried a sickly flush mixed with unnatural paleness. Every so often she covered her mouth and let out a quiet cough.
The dry lecture barely registered in Julian's ears. His mind felt foggy as he watched her. Margaret slowly shifted her gaze sideways until it landed on his face. The soft lines of his features, the clean angle of his jaw—she couldn't look away. The hunger inside her kept rising.
Two kinds of pain twisted together in her body. Suddenly the teacher's voice faded into nothing. The remedy was right beside her. She lifted her hand and reached out, desperate to grab hold of him.
"Julian!"
The teacher's sharp call snapped Margaret back to reality. Her hand jerked away at the last second.
"Please answer this question."
Julian stood up, glanced at his notes, and gave a clear, fluent response. After the teacher nodded, he sat back down.
He glanced at Margaret. She looked weak, head resting on her folded arms. Her cheeks burned with feverish color, yet she forced a gentle smile, pretending she was fine.
Julian checked that the teacher was still deeply into the lecture, then quickly scribbled a short note on his draft paper and slid it between their desks.
"Feeling really bad? Are you sick?"
"Not sure. My head is spinning and my throat hurts."
"Think you have a fever?"
"Probably."
The bell rang suddenly as the teacher wrapped up the lesson and dismissed the class.
The room stayed heavy and oppressive. Most students immediately collapsed onto their desks, lifeless, as if the cold had drained every bit of energy from them.
Margaret raised her hand and pressed it to Julian's forehead without hesitation, then touched her own to compare. The temperatures didn't seem too different.
"I don't think I have a fever… Julian?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
He blinked out of his daze. Margaret's complete disregard for personal space always stirred something awkward and warm inside his chest. The memory of her cool palm still lingered on his skin.
"Do you have any cold medicine? You should take some before it gets worse."
"Kayla gave me a few packets this morning." Margaret pulled a small green plastic bag from her drawer along with her water bottle. The water had already gone lukewarm. "Did you fill this up for me?"
"Yeah. I got here early and noticed your bottle was empty, so I refilled it."
"Thanks."
Her voice sounded hoarse and weak. She took a couple of sips after opening the medicine packet, looking a little better.
"Aren't you going to mix the medicine? Want me to prepare it for you?"
"There's still so much water in the cup… I'd have to dump it."
"Just pour it out. Taking the medicine matters more. Hand it over—I'll make it for you."
"…Okay."
Margaret handed him the packet and cup in a daze, watching as Julian took them and left the classroom.
With his seat empty, Emma Collins—who had been watching from nearby—quickly slid into the spot. Her face was lit up with gossip-hungry excitement.
"Spill it, Margaret! What's going on between you two? You said you didn't have feelings for him!"
"Do we really look like there's something going on?" Margaret replied calmly.
"Come on! This is the first time I've seen you get that close with any guy. And now he's making medicine for you."
"So you think Julian likes me?" Margaret tilted her head, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
"Pretty much. What about you? Do you actually like him?" Emma glanced around and lowered her voice. "I'm totally team you two. Every time I hear those other girls bragging about how close they are with him, it drives me crazy. You should just claim him and shut them all up."
Margaret didn't answer right away. She simply smiled at the enthusiastic girl until she noticed Julian returning with the cup, the pale yellow medicine liquid warm inside.
"He's back," Margaret said quietly.
Julian stood by the desk as Emma stopped talking and started to get up. "It's fine. You two can keep chatting. I can stand for a minute."
"No, no, we're done talking. Sit down, Julian."
Emma stood, giving Margaret a pointed look before walking away.
Julian sat and passed her the cup. "Drink it while it's still hot."
"Thanks." She held the cup with both hands and took a small sip, looking sweet and obedient.
Then Margaret lifted her gaze to him. Her pale skin carried a feverish glow as the corners of her eyes curved. "Julian, do you want to know what Emma and I were talking about?"
"What? Some girl talk? Am I allowed to hear it?" Julian rested his chin in his hand, not thinking much of it.
"Come closer. I'll whisper it." Margaret smiled mysteriously.
Curious, Julian leaned in, tilting his ear toward her. Margaret cupped her hand near her mouth and whispered softly against his ear, "Emma told me I should seize the chance and make you mine before some other girl steals you away."
"Huh?" Julian's heart stuttered. A faint blush crept up his neck.
"So… should I take that chance?"
Margaret watched him with playful intensity, clearly satisfied by how flustered he had become. Her dark eyes drank in every awkward reaction as he struggled for words.
"I… what… Margaret, you…"
"Relax, I'm only joking." She reached out and lightly tapped his forehead, then casually opened her textbook as if nothing had happened.
Julian sat stunned for a moment before turning away. He nervously spun his mechanical pencil between his fingers.
The cup felt pleasantly warm in Margaret's hands. The yellowish liquid carried a slight bitter scent, but after she drank, a faint sweetness remained. It spread gentle heat through her chilled body.
Moments like this were incredibly precious. She wished they would never end—that Julian would stay by her side, that he would belong only to her. But no matter how she looked at it, this fragile dream was coming to an end.
He was beginning to attract attention from the shadows. Greedy eyes were already watching him. Margaret felt a deep unease. If Julian was taken from her, what would she do? Would that sweetness meant only for her end up belonging to someone else?
The more she loved him, the more terrified she became of losing him.
Margaret tightened her grip on the cup until the heat burned against her skin. She stared into the liquid. The calm surface reflected something dark and ravenous staring back—her own black pupils swirling with barely contained hunger.