Layla lay helpless on the asphalt. Faintly, someone was calling her name. Her vision was blurry. She blinked slowly, but her eyelids closed again.
Her body trembled, her breath short and ragged. Sweat poured down her body. Her face was pale and filled with deep fear. Her hands gripped the blanket tightly. Without realizing it, tears slowly trickled from the corner of her eyes.
Darkness. Layla couldn't see anything. She seemed to be trapped in a void with no light. Fear engulfed her, choking every breath. Amid the panic, a faint voice called her name again.
"La…"
"Layla…"
She tried to open her eyes. Slowly, a figure began to appear. Maya was now by her side, her face filled with worry. In her hand was a warm handkerchief to compress Layla's forehead.
"La, how are you feeling? Any better?" Maya asked anxiously.
Layla tried to sit up from the bed, but a sharp pain struck her head.
"Ugh…" She winced, her face growing paler as the pain spread through her body.
"Geez, I told you not to get up too fast," Maya said as she helped Layla lie back down.
"I'm fine," Layla whispered softly.
Maya sighed. Her eyes were still filled with concern.
"You should've told Mom if you weren't feeling well," she said gently.
"I felt fine earlier…" Layla tried to remember.
"I don't even know why I suddenly fainted," she muttered quietly.
"Maybe your body was just too weak. If it happens again, we're going to the doctor, okay?" Maya said with a soft smile.
Layla looked at her mom, then nodded slightly, returning the smile.
"No classes tomorrow," Maya said as she got up and carried the small bowl of water that had started to cool.
"I'll change the water. What do you want to eat?"
"Just some meatball soup."
"But no chili sauce, okay?" Maya reminded her.
Layla pouted. "Fine…"
Her eyes wandered to the window. The sky was a warm orange hue, birds flying back to their nests. She slowly closed her eyes, falling asleep in silence.
But the truth was, Layla couldn't remember anything about what happened that afternoon. It was as if something had erased part of her memory. Every time she tried to recall it, a sharp pain would throb in her head.
Layla sat silently, her eyes focused on the lecturer in front of the class. Across from her, Meyla sat glancing over with concern.
Twenty minutes later, the class ended. Meyla packed up her things and walked over to Layla.
"Are you really okay?" she asked, trying to hide her worry.
"Yeah, I feel better," Layla replied while tidying her desk.
"If you're not feeling well, you shouldn't push yourself. What if you faint again?"
Layla glanced at her and gave a faint smile. "I'm really fine."
Meyla sighed. She knew Layla was stubborn.
"Hey, did you get to meet the head of the SRC yesterday?"
"SRC?" Layla looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"You said you were going to sign up yesterday."
"No. I didn't meet anyone."
"What? Really? But yesterday you said you were going to the SRC room after class," Meyla said, trying to confirm.
"Where exactly did I faint yesterday?"
"Right in front of the SRC room," Meyla answered quietly.
"I thought it was at the campus gate?" Layla said in surprise. The last thing she remembered was being at the gate.
"No way. You fainted in front of the SRC room."
"That's not what I remember…"
"Maybe you hit your head or something?" Meyla guessed.
"I don't know…" Layla rubbed her temples.
"I think you need to go to the hospital."
"For what?" Layla asked, confused.
"Just in case… you know, something's wrong with your brain," Meyla mumbled, unsure.
"Don't scare me like that!" Layla snapped in panic, making Meyla burst into laughter.
"La, come on, let's go home," Meyla said, glancing at the now-empty classroom. "We've stayed too long."