Snakes in my hair? It’s more likely than you think. - Chapter 6：Kylie Rhys

When she wakes up, she immediately feels intense throbbing pain. Juno stumbles out of her bed and goes to the bathroom, grateful for the fact that she was able to make it in time. For she ends up emptying everything in her stomach, not that there was much to begin with. What’s even more concerning is that she also throws up blood.

It’s a horrific sight.

Everything hurts so bad.

She doesn’t understand why this is happening to her.

Juno is granted some relief soon but she feels extremely weak.

//See. I’m fine. There’s no reason to bother anyone. I’m sure that it’s normal to cough up blood sometimes…//

She stares at her reflection, trying to see if anything is off, but that stares back at her is a haggard appearance. Truly, she’s looked better. Her hair tie seems to have gotten loose at some point and as she gathers her hair to tie it again she remembers her dream. The pulling, the pain, she decides it’s best to leave it down, no matter how messy.

As Juno leaves the bathroom, she notices that her roommate isn’t in the room. She doesn’t think much of it, instead she checks the time.

It’s 5:28 am.

//Seriously? I woke up just one hour earlier than usual. Well, it doesn’t matter because there’s no way I’m going back to sleep. I think I should take a walk or something to clear my mind.//

Juno without further thought, leaves her room.

There’s only one place she can go to clear her head and it’s technically “prohibited” but it has the best view of all Aspar Hill Boarding School. Juno stumbled upon it in her first year here by accident and now it’s become a place of comfort for her. The school is practically isolated from the rest of the city, surrounded by The Southern Rale Woods but there’s a magical barrier to keep everyone “safe.” This barrier is supposed to keep dangerous things out but it also keeps you in. No one can pass through it without permission, basically keeping most of the students trapped. Juno hates it but at the very least, up here on the balcony, she almost feels free.

It’s still dark out, the air is cool and the moons are shining brighter than ever, for this one moment she is finally at ease. Juno is grateful to have this one secret place all to herself.

“What are you doing up here?”

“Eeek!”

She turns around to find no one other than Kylie Rhys.

So much for not being caught.

She looks annoyed at first but after realizing that it’s Juno her face morphs into confusion. “Juno? Why are you here? This place is prohibited.”

“…”

She can’t think of an excuse!

Kylie walks up to her and she panics slightly.

“This is-isn’t, I mean I’m I-I just uh! Wh-what are you doing here!?”

She raises her eyebrows, “I always patrol the halls in the morning but today I was told to come to C building instead.”

“Oh…”

“Anyways, Juno this place is restricted meaning we can’t be up here, I don’t remember why… Oh wait! It might be because the balcony railing is loose.”

//Is that really why? I was just now leaning on it…//

“I see.”

“Come on, I’ll walk you out. Don’t worry, I won’t write you up this time.”

Juno starts following her out when she suddenly turns around again, almost causing her to walk into her!

“Forgive me for saying this but,” she gets close, too close to Juno, and looks her up and down, “you look terrible.”

Ouch.

“I’m sorry but you do! Are you okay? Juno, you’re extremely pale and you’re shaking.”

//I am?//

“I’m fine… I was just nauseous, that’s um, that’s why I came up here. To get some fresh air.”

She looks doubtful, “Maybe I should take you to the nurse or-”

“No really! I’m okay!”

“Hm, you sure?”

“Yes! I’ll just uh go lie down and I’m sure that I’ll feel better.”

“Well, at least let me walk you to your room.”

She gives her a nervous laugh and says, “No no. It’s fine I really don’t wanna bother you more than I already have.”

Kylie sighs, “Listen, you don’t have to go through this alone, you know? I consider you a friend, so if you need my help, please ask me.”

“R-really?”

“I know we haven’t really spoken much but, I’ve seen how you are in class. I know you’re a good person. I know you’re hard working. I know that you give it your all.”

She’s stunned. Absolutely stunned. It takes a moment for her to find a response, “That… I’m. I just. I didn’t, I never thought that anyone would notice that. I-I am not like you, Kylie. I’m not as smart and I don’t have my sh-stuff together. Um. I can’t see how I’ve given you a good impression based on that.”

Her smile is kind but her eyes are intense, “I’m a good judge of character, I know how people like you think. You feel as if you’re not good enough but trust me Juno, you are more than that. Much more powerful than that.”

She’s speechless, what can you say to that?

“That’s why I consider you a friend. And if something ever happens to you, I hope you know you can count on me to help you.”

“Ye-yeah. I um. You can count on me too. I’m not always the best when it comes to helping but I’ll do anything for a friend.”

She gives her a big smile and says, “I’m glad we had this chance to grow closer.”

“Me too,” Juno says quietly as she follows her out of the balcony.