Chapter 22 Mother Teresa
+8 Pearls
Nigel’s desk was in the second row, right in the middle, making him easy to spot. During class, he always sat up straight, a posture that seemed like it had been ingrained in him since childhood.
In the week Lilith had known him, she had noticed that he barely smiled. While he wasn’t ever particularly cheerful, she remembered him as someone who had smiled more often in the past, as if it was part of how he was raised or just his polite way of interacting with others. Regardless, he seemed more approachable back then.
Life had a way of taking unexpected turns, but some things never changed. As Lilith looked up at the “Male Lead” label floating above Nigel’s head, a sense of cold detachment washed over her, and she lost herself in thought.
Monday mornings always began with the flag–raising ceremony. However, Liana was struggling with a severe stomachache, likely from something she ate for breakfast. Lilith quickly poured her some water and told her to rest her head on the desk, promising to explain the situation to the teacher afterward.
Liana nodded weakly in response.
By the time most of the class had emptied out, Lilith made
her way out of the room and down the stairs. The hallway was nearly empty, so she picked up her pace. But when she neared the next set of stairs, she saw Nigel a few steps ahead, walking leisurely.
Lilith kept her distance, following him without getting too close. It felt like something familiar, almost as if it were a habit from another life. She had spent so many moments watching his back, and it always seemed to be the only view she had of him. But today, something felt different. She immediately noticed that his walk seemed off–he was limping, as though he had hurt his leg. He moved slowly but steadily, taking his time.
If Lilith had been bolder, maybe she would have approached him to ask, like she would with any new student, “What happened to your leg? Do you need help?”
But she knew better. In the past, and now, she would never make that move.
From what little she knew of Nigel, he wouldn’t appreciate such direct and unguarded concern. It would likely be met with a polite but distant “I’m fine. Thank you.”
The school’s announcement blared over the loudspeakers, urging everyone to head to the sports field for the flag–raising ceremony. Lilith didn’t think much of it and quickly passed Nigel, increasing her pace toward the field.
Nigel stood still for a moment before lifting his head. Through the loud announcement, he spotted the girl’s figure disappearing into the distance, running without glancing back.
When the class returned after the ceremony, Liana looked much better, her complexion improved. The crowd filed back into the classroom, and Lilith instinctively lifted her gaze.
Nige! was still at the back of the crowd. There was no need to search for him–his distinct look and presence made him easy to spot among anyone.
He wasn’t walking fast, but his steps were sure and steady, and there was no trace of injury. Lilith began to wonder if she had misjudged his limp earlier.
But it didn’t matter. Nigel was just a new student in the class, and there was no real reason for their paths to cross. More importantly, Nigel didn’t interact much with anyone. He was quiet and sometimes absent for days in a row.
When the National Day holiday arrived, Nigel had missed four consecutive days of school.
The school was decorated with flags and patriotic slogans, with large banners made of potted plants placed at the entrance.
By the time the final class of the afternoon rolled around, most students had already checked out mentally. Ten minutes before the bell rang, Philbert rushed in to hand out assignments, reminding everyone to take it easy during the seven–day holiday, stay safe, and keep up with their studies.
The cold air from the air conditioner blew steadily through the room, mixing with the dust particles in the air, creating a thick, almost suffocating atmosphere that wrapped around everything.
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Chapter 22 Mother Teresa
+8 Pearls
Philbert continued speaking, but many students were already packing their things, the soft rustle of bags filling the room as they got ready to leave.
Lilith’s eyes drifted to Liana, who had already packed up her stuff. Liana always did this–she’d start packing at least thirty minutes before class ended, then spend the rest of the time reading novels or texting on her phone.
Liana was going to her grandmother’s house for the week during the National Day holiday. Since her grandmother lived in a different district, she wouldn’t be heading home with Lilith after school.
Lilith didn’t have much to do at home either, and the evening was still young. She sat quietly at the table, finishing up half of a practice test, the silence around her only broken by the sound of her pencil on paper.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened. The red clouds spread across the horizon in a stunning display, like someone had painted the sky with countless shades of vibrant color, creating a mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic effect.
A stray cat wandered into the school hallway, likely having slipped inside unnoticed. Lilith crouched down and gently petted its soft fur. The kitten didn’t seem to mind her at all, instead curling up comfortably against her, almost as if it welcomed her touch.
She went to the nearby supermarket to buy some cat food, then fed it to the hungry animal. After finishing, the kitten flopped onto its back, exposing its furry belly, and licked Lilith’s hand. The roughness of its tongue made her palm tingle.
As she kneeled there, she heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind. Even this late, someone else was still at the school -maybe the janitor or someone who had been playing basketball.
Lilith turned, startled, her eyes landing on the figure before her. It was Sydney.
Sydney was drenched, her lower legs caked in mud, with patches of moss clinging to her. The air carried an unpleasant smell, and Lilith noticed the bruises on her knees, with blood dripping down. Her wrists and forearms were scratched and scraped.
When Sydney caught Lilith staring, she met her gaze with an icy calm, a sneer on her lips. “Are you done staring?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Flustered by her lack of manners, Lilith quickly dropped her gaze, but after a moment, she looked up again. “You’re hurt … Let me take you to the hospital. I’m worried you might have internal injuries.”
Sydney let out a sharp exhale, her chest rising and falling, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she simply limped past Lilith, her movements slow and stiff, as if her knees were causing her pain.
Recalling the last time Sydney had mentioned something similar, Lilith quickly followed her, offering support. “Don’t worry about the hospital bill. I can cover it.”
Sydney turned her head to glance at her, her voice mocking yet oddly sincere, making her words sound all the more strange. “Well, thank you, Mother Teresa.”
The unexpected compliment made Lilith chuckle. But before she could reply, Sydney added, “You think I’d refuse? Anyone with a bit of pride would turn it down, but I’m not like that. Why say no to something free?”
“Smart move,” Lilith responded absently, pulling an extra shirt out of her bag and draping it over Sydney. She had grabbed it earlier in case it got chilly, so she was glad she had thought ahead.
“Be careful,” Lilith said, her tone gentle. “You don’t want to catch a cold. That’d be another unnecessary expense.”
Sydney said nothing in reply, her expression unreadable.
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