Kim took a deep sigh and turned off the TV. She leaned forward to stretch her back. It was 2:37 p.m. on Friday. Kim had her eyes on the clock every 2 minutes. 23 minutes for school to get over. Then she could have Stephanie, Rachel, and Grace come over.

There were proper 20 minutes left for her friends to come, plus the Hospital was at a 10-minute walk-distance. Kim washes her face and neck and takes her deodorant. She then puts on her beige sweatshirt and black running shorts. Easy to put on.

She leaned towards her window, which was just by her bed. She could spot her friends from her room on the second floor. Kim quickly tied her hair in a high pony. A nurse walks in.

"Stephanie, Rachel, and Grace ..."

"Let 'em in." Kim didn't let her finish. She wanted to keep a straight face but her perky smile didn't allow.

"Hi, girlfriend." Grace had her arms forward as she entered to hug her. Kim hugged back and hi-fived Stephanie and Rachel with both her hands.

"So how's school without me?" Kim asked, mocking them.

"You know, it's nice. Since you are not there, it's less population, so no crowd and we cheer without any mistakes in-between." Rachel replied in the same tone as Kim.

Kim slaps her on her shoulder.

"Of course, we miss you." She says, hugging her.

It felt nice for Kim to have some company after being attached to the same position and place for the whole day. You only get to stand when its Bathroom or the doctor asks you to walk, for progress.

Stephanie showed her pics of her cousin's Birthday party and Grace told stories about the hilarious accident in Chemistry lab while Rachel acted out the scene. Boring days of school turn out to be fun when you are not there. Kim laughed until a tear emerged out of her right eye. She wipes it off with her finger between her giggles.

"So how's everyone at school?" Kim asked.

"Everyone's fine. But when you get back, you're gonna get a lot of envy from first-year girls." Rachel said, folding her arms.

Kim's smile dropped. "Why?"

"Because of this- Hold tight." Rachel said with boldness.

"Rings a bell?" Grace asks Kim.

Kim shoved her face in her hands. She couldn't expose her flushed face. "It wasn't my fault. And I was not enjoying it." She said.

"Then why are you blushing?" Rachel asks, folding her arms.

"I'm not blushing." Kim replied as she covered her cheeks with her hands. Stephanie tries to pull away Kim's hand. "Rachel." She calls for help. "Tickle her." Stephanie commanded. Kim lost her grip.

"Alright." She said at last. "But it's all because it was the first time a guy carried me in his arms. Trust me, nothing else."

Kim looked at the three of them staring at each other. It was complete silence in her room until Grace, Stephanie, and Rachel's squeak shattered it. "What?" Kim asked them.

"You like him, don't you?" Grace asks.

"No. Why would you say that?" Kim shot instantly. She felt her heart banging and her forehead producing sweat more than ever. Kim wipes it off with the sleeve of her top.

"So you don't like him?" Rachel cuts in.

"No, I do." Kim replies without thinking. "I-I mean not like that." She added after realizing her own words.

"So, like what?" Stephanie asks Kim.

"I mean not like a lover, as um, a friend." She clenched her bedsheet.

"Who mentioned a lover?" Grace leaned towards Kim.

Kim stared at them. No one mentioned a 'lover'. How'd that thought come in her head? She shook herself. "I told you, its nothing." Kim lets out with a fake laugh which even she thought was unnecessary.

Kim watched them staring at each other, once again.

"What now?" Kim asked.

"It was just our assumption until your awkwardness made it official." Rachel said.

"What assumption?"

"Nothing." Grace taunts her.

"Guys, what assumption?" Kim asks again.

"You and Jack, of course." Stephanie said and Kim rolled her eyes, trying to look that she's annoyed. "For the last time, I and Jack are just friends. Get it? Just friends." She stretched the 'just friends' part.

"Mmm-hmm." They replied.

Someone knocked at the door. It was a nurse. Maybe the meeting time was over. Kim's heart dropped. But on the other hand, the awkward meter would go down, if her friends left. "Come in." She sighed.

"Time's up." The nurse said.

Kim gives the glistened eyes to Stephanie, Rachel, and Grace. "We'll see you later." They say as they pick up their backpacks and Kim nods at them. She then took the calcium tablets and water from her side desk.

Stephanie leaned from the door to look at her. "You drinking water from glass? Hold tight." She mocked Kim with Jack's tone.

"Go already." Kim threw the empty tissue box at her.

*At Night*

"2 steps front." The doctor commanded.

"Now go 2 steps back. And we're done for today." She said and got up from her chair, writing on the clipboard she had in her hands. "How do you feel Kim?" She asks her.

"Bored." Kim sighed at her question.

"Not you, your foot." Ms. Crawford, who was standing beside the doctor said.

"I don't know. Better?" Kim replied.

"Good. That's what I wanted to hear. See you in the morning." The doctor said and walked out, shutting the door behind her.

Kim looked at her mother. She was soaked in her reports. "Mom, am I troubling you?" Kim asked her.

Her words caught Ms. Crawford's attention. She stared at the paper in her hands and moved her gaze to Kim. She walked towards her bed, making a place for her to sit down beside her daughter. She softly placed her hand on Kim's head, leaning closer to her.

"What makes you say that?" She asks.

"No, it's just, you have to leave work for me every day. So, I thought I am causing trouble." Kim replied.

"Don't say that. You haven't troubled me since you were in kindergarten." Her mom told her as she caressed her head.

"You don't have to come every day, though." Kim said pulling away.

"Fine. I won't."

Ms. Crawford waved at her before shutting the door. It was another silent and dark night that Kim hated. She got up from her bed, sliding secretly past the hallway so that no one could spot her. Kim went to the terrace which was on the same floor. She slightly opened the door first to check if someone was already there. No one.

She smiled and entered while keeping her hands in her pocket. It was not cold but a habit which she had since childhood. Kim walked towards the railing, leaning on it. She looked up at the starless sky, inhaling fresh air for the first time in 5 days.

Kim untied her hair which was earlier in a ponytail. She brushes it with her fingers, trying to detangle every part. She sighed after she was done, returning her hands to her pocket. Kim closed her eyes and inhaled deeper until a notification beep from her phone interrupted her.

"Thank you." Kim said in an irritated manner as she took out her phone.

It was a text. From Jack.