Rhea was troubled about several things these days.
After the incident with Valerie, several things changed in her life.
It was going well. Until that day…her friends were close to her. Her teachers were fond of her. And most of all, her friends—Austin, Adolf, and Parkinson respected each other quite well.
However, after that incident when Austin took Valerie's side—which was the correct thing to do—Parkinson has been behaving strangely lately.
He always seemed to be antagonizing someone…or to be more accurate, his scorn seemed to be directed at Austin.
She was aware that he deeply cared about her; however, blaming someone who took the right call and cleared the misunderstanding ... yeah, Parkinson was wrong there.
And then there was Austin.
Although she couldn't say anything in regard to his changed behavior towards her, it felt strange.
She…didn't know how to express it.
When he decided to stop eating with them or when it was he refused to give her something she wanted.
By no means was she a demanding girl who wanted to attain whatever she desired. However, that day when he pulled away that chocolate box…Rhea was slightly hurt.
And then…his sudden intimacy with Valerie. In the classroom and before the battle…when he pulled Valerie closer and whispered things…it made her feel that either he was pretending to be this close to her, or he might be actually—no, that can't be possible
'No one can fall for someone in just a day after ignoring them for a year…' Rhea assumed that Austin was playing with Valarie's heart for his selfish interest.
But why? And what could force the Prince to take such a cheap route?
She didn't know…and didn't want to focus on it.
She first needed to take care of Parkinson.
Entering the infirmary she was met by the worried look of the nurse.
Rhea frowned, "What happened?"
The nurse was startled to see her all of a sudden, however, her eyes soon said 'Perfect timing!',
"Tell me, Rhea, have you seen Parkinson?"
Rhea frowned, "He is not here?"
The nurse's face looked pale, as she shook her head, "No…his bed is empty."
Rhea heaved a sigh and rested her hands on her shoulders to calm down the lady, "Relax, Hilary. Parkinson always carries several potions and he doesn't like to sleep anywhere other than his bed…he must have gone back to his room."
The nurse looked evidently calmer as she asked, "Can you do me a favor and check on him?"
Rhea nodded before she glanced at the bed where Austin rested…however, he wasn't there anymore.
'Valerie must have taken him away…'
Wordlessly she took written permission from the nurse before heading toward the dormitory
Showing permission from the nurse to the warden, she heard him saying, "Cover your head and don't take too long."
Rhea nodded as she used her shawl to cover her head and walked inside the building.
She has come here twice before, but the first time to meet a guy.
Although she assured the nurse, Rhea was herself quite anxious about Parkinson.
Hurriedly ascending to the first floor she beelined towards Parkinson's room.
She was afraid of being seen by someone and being called things that no girl desired to be regarded as.
*Knock*
She waited for a minute, before,
*Knock* *Knock*
This time she didn't have to wait as the door slowly parted from the inside, and a grim face popped out.
Parkinson was expecting Morkel to be there, however, seeing Rhea, he was startled.
"Y-You…"
"Yes, it's me. Now, let me in?" She didn't want to stand here and get spotted so she suggested.
Parkinson nodded hurriedly but then he stopped and told her nervously, "You can't come in. Tell me right here."
Rhea frowned, "What is it with you? Is there someone inside you don't want me to see?"
Parkinson looked mildly irritated as he asked, "Can't you just finish what you came for and leave? Your presence is only going to cause rumors if people see you."
Now Rhea was annoyed as well, as she said, "I was worried for you, so I came to check up on you, and you are giving me that attitude?"
Parkinson's lips curled in a mocking smile as he said, "After cheering for Austin when he was beating me into a pulp, you came here to see if I am doing good? When did you become such a two-faced person, Rhea?"
Rhea's brows knitted in a frown as she scowled, "I was cheering for you as well, Parkinson. It's just that you were so obstinate in thinking that I am against you that you never heard me."
Parkinson snickered, "You won't believe it when I say this, but Rhea, my eyes and ears always remain devoted to you. So you think I wouldn't have noticed if you were really happy when I was on the dominating side?"
Rhea was so angry at that that she wanted to laugh, "First you chose to fight against someone who clearly was weaker than you, then you showed such brutality which is not befitting for someone to showcase during a spar, and you believe I should be proud of you because of that?"
"No one is asking for your validation, Rhea. So shut the crap and scram." He spoke with a blooming smile.
Rhea clenched her fist, her teeth grinding. Her eyes turned wet, which startled Parkinson, given he had seldom seen her cry. However, before he could have approached her, she raised her hand to stop him and muttered, "Your recent behavior is making me wonder whether I ever knew you."
Saying so, she turned on her heels and walked away while wiping her eyes.
Parkinson's hand remained raised for a long time, watching her back until it disappeared from the corner of the gallery.
Soon he clenched his hand into a fist, as through his gritted teeth, he muttered,
'It's all because of that damn dog!'
Slamming the door behind him, Parkinson returned to his room.
Unbeknownst to him, that night, a person from the infirmary disappeared.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading. A single cheer it all took.