Part 4:2


    "Hey, stop crying. I''ll get the first aid kit," Antonio said, kissing my cheek. softly.


    He grumbled as he retrieved it. "You''re not a child. Why are you always getting hurt? How will you survive without me?"


    I stared at him, numb.


    If he didn''t love me, why this charade of concern?


    I was exhausted by the pretense.


    That night, I tossed and turned, drenched in sweat.


    At daybreak, Antonio pulled me from bed.


    I shoved him off, but he leaned in to kiss me.


    I almost pped him instinctively, stopping myself just in time.


    He barely grazed my lips. "Awake?" he asked.


    I turned away, wiping my mouth in disgust. "It''s the weekend. Let me sleep."


    Antonio looked at me as if I were unreasonable. "You had a feverst night. We''re going to the hospital."


    Despite feeling fine, I couldn''t dissuade him.


    In the hospital hallway, we encountered Alicia, limping on a twisted ankle.


    Antonio''s tenderness toward me vanished, reced by immediate concern for her.


    As if I didn''t exist, he rushed to her side. "How did you get hurt?"


    Alicia smiled but her eyes met mine.


    "Just twisted my ankle. Small world. Are you here to see a doctor too?" she said


    Antonio hesitated, then looked away from "My sis has a cold.


    her to see


    a doctor." Con


    swnont


    He always introduced me as his sister, iming he was looking after met while Freddy was abroad. Only a few closest friends knew our romance.


    Alicia


    hall. "Your


    guys go ahead. I''m


    the clinic on the other side


    ed, gesturing down the s to  sweet


    She hopped forward, and without a word, Antonio scooped her into his


    arms.


    "I''ll take you. Grace, wait here a minute."


    A wave of weakness washed over me at the sight of them together.


    I leaned against the wall, speechless.


    Antonio didn''t wait for a reply, simply carrying Alicia away.


    His actions betrayed his true feelings.


    He seemed oblivious to the depth of his love for her


    I forced a smile and went to my own appointment.


    The weakness had a cause-my temperature was 41.3 degrees Celsius.


    Neglecting the burn.bined with my emotional turmoil, had led to an infection.


    I needed an IV.


    I instinctively reached for my phone to call Antonio, then stopped.


    "What a bad habit," I thought, pushing


    the phone back into my


    meds alone. Content belo t and heading off to get


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