*SNEEZE*
Lilith flashed her bright purple eyes open. She looked around her to find she was in her room and alone. 'Where was Andreas?' she asked herself, her eyes rolling around the room. She sat up a bit, supporting her head with her pillow as she rubbed her head, trying to remember what happened, but her head really hurt, so she just stopped stressing it.
She was about to lie back down to get more rest, but her plan was cut short by a knock on the door.
"Who is there?" she called weakly.
"It's me, Rain," the person behind the door answered. "I have come to check up on you, Lilith, as I said I would, and I have something for you too," she said sweetly.
On hearing her voice and being sure it was Rain, Lilith stood from her bed and opened the door for her.
"Hi," Rain said with a smile as beautiful as the rainbow.
"Hi Rain. Come on in," Lilith made way for her to get inside.
"How are you, Lilith?" she asked as she made her way to sit on the bed.
"I am fine, Rain."
"Are you sure?" Rain furrowed her brow. "You might be fine now, but what happened earlier when I came? You skipped lunch, then you skipped evening meditation class. Are you sure you are fine?"
"I did what?" Lilith seemed surprised.
"You skipped lunch and class," Rain said like it was no big deal.
"But I did not hear the alarm! I must have overslept. Oh no, I am in big trouble," she buried her face in her palm.
"Don't worry, Lilith," Rain stood up and put her arm on her shoulder. "I covered for you in class and I brought something to eat at least because the last time I saw you pass the dining hall, you looked famished. Here, have some." She handed her a burger.
"Where did you get this? I can't remember seeing any stalls around here."
"Well, I took it from lunch. I had wanted to give it to you earlier, but you didn't want to open up then."
"Wait, what did you just say?" Lilith asked with a mouth full of the bite she took out of the burger.
"Ehm... I came here earlier before the class and I kept knocking, but you did not open up. I guess maybe you were sleeping then or maybe you were not around?" she said.
"What? No!" Lilith was no longer calm. "I am not that unconscious when I sleep so as to not hear the alarm ring, nor hear you knock. Something happened and I am sure of it."
Rain looked into Lilith's eyes and found out she was flustered and utterly confused. It was clear that she was missing something, but she was not sure what. And the last thing she wished now was causing her much worry as she was already doubting herself. She was sure something was wrong somewhere, but maybe this was not the right time to find out what—maybe later, when she is calm. But now, she had to make her relax again.
"Oh my goodness!" She slapped her face as she looked at Lilith with a frown on her face.
"What is it now, Rain? What else did I miss?"
"Not you, Lilith," she sighed. "My clumsy self just does not seem to get anything right."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Today was our first day of meditation class, so the institute alarm did not ring!" She sighed again.
"What? The alarm did not ring! I knew it," Lilith became confident again. "If the alarm had gone, I would have woken up. Oh, what a shame. But why did the alarm not ring?"
"Well, the grand sensei wished that we attend the evening class anytime we felt was right. He just wanted to give us liberty for today as it was our first day," she smiled.
"I see..." Lilith munched on the last piece of the burger. "For a second there I thought something bad really happened, but now I know that I just overslept. But I still should have heard you knock. I wonder why I did not answer."
"Well, Lilith," Rain thought of something worth believing to say, "I mistook your door for Florate's door. It was his door I had knocked on, not yours."
"Oh, ok. I did know Florate stayed in this dorm. Why did you go to his room anyway?" Lilith's curiosity arose.
"Ehm..." now Rain did not know how to cover that she had a crush on Florate. Besides, who wouldn't?
He was tall and handsome, and his green hair and eyes reminded her of nature and vegetation, which was her mother's greatest muse before she died fourteen years ago after she was born. She only got to know a few things about her from her father who raised her.
"I am really sorry I didn't come to check up on you when I didn't see you in class. I should have come to wake you as my sister, not some other guy," she hurried to cover up, hoping Lilith wouldn't ask any more questions concerning Florate because she was already too flushed to talk of him.
"It's ok, Rain," Lilith smiled at her. She knew very well why she decided to cut their discussion of Florate short. She basically had a crush on him, and she saw it but didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable, so she just waved the topic away too. "I am happy you at least came to see me now. I really appreciate it." She drew in and gave her a warm hug.
Rain stiffened for some seconds but relaxed her nerves and hugged her back. "Thank you." Lilith inhaled her sweet scent and smiled.
"You are welcome, Lilith."
"I will be leaving now. It's almost dinner time, and I hope I see you in the dining hall."
"Sure thing, Rain. Reserve a seat for me beside you in case I don't make it on time," she pleaded.
"Of course! Sure deal. Bye, Lilith." She gave her one last smile before finally leaving.
"And I still maintain that I like her."
"Good lord, Andreas! Don't startle me like that again!" Lilith felt her heart jump into her stomach immediately his voice echoed in the room. She turned to find him standing by her bed with a smile on his face.
"What are you smiling at?" Lilith asked, looking at him like he was acting weird.
"How are you feeling?" He answered her question with another question. But Lilith certainly did not wish to accept defeat.
"Oh! I know. You are smiling because you like her. Well, take your eyes off there, she already has eyes for another.
You know what, Andreas," she now seemed very annoyed, "how about you take your eyes off my fellow aspirants and focus on taking your leave now!" She pointed him to the door which she just stood before.
He did not answer at all, as he just acted like he was not speaking at all. He made his way to where she stood and left no gap between them as he neared her to the extent that their feet touched and her head already hit his hard chest.
Lilith felt her head blackout; she was not thinking about anything anymore as her heart beat hard against her rib cage like it was going to break free.
She even felt more unsteady when she felt his hot breath on her face as his nose came closer to hers.
'What was he about to do, kiss me? Oh my goodness, he wanted to kiss me!' Lilith's head was filled with thoughts she herself could not comprehend as she involuntarily closed her eyes.
Andreas looked at her with lust and affection; he wanted to have all of her right now, but he knew it was wrong—not just because she was still too young for that, but also because he never had in mind to feel any form of affection for her.
His only aim of being with Lilith was to use her to get his bidding done, but for the past few days, he was sure his emotions were crossing the line.
He took a deep breath and calmed himself down before drawing away from her. "You are still too young, Lilith. We still have time."
Lilith opened her eyes slowly after what he said, to find out that he was already a few paces away from her. 'Oh no! He thought she was still too young for all this. No! She was old enough for whatever he wanted to do. She was no longer the five-year-old girl he became friends with. She was now mature, and she was going to prove that to him.
Without second thoughts, she drew close to him, went on her tiptoes, and pulled his head down by his collar before locking her lips with his in a kiss…