TST
Leo gained consciousness and found himself in the hospital bed. There was a needle piercing into his skin, transfusing liquid from the bottle hanging on the top of the bed. Sitting aside the bed was Isla.
“Leo..?” Isla mumbled
Leo tried getting off the bed, “Did you find the answer?”
“Caring about the assignment now?”
“No, you”
“You’re wobbly”
“What happened?”
“When did you last sleep?”
“Does that matter now?”
“Doctor said you have─”
“Insomnia..?”
“Knew it?”
Leo nodded
“How long..?”
“Was twelve”
“Why does it happen?”
Leo shrugged
“Can’t be candid with me?”
“It won’t change anything”
“I can help”
Leo smiled, “You can’t!”
“Why?”
“There is no cure”
“Doctor said you can─”
“Time for his medications!” said a nurse carrying a tray with syringes and some bottles, “can you excuse us please?”
“Hey! Get well soon”
Leo smiled, “Always”
Leo's eyes escorted Isla until she disappeared out of his sight.
**********
It was Friday and music students congregated in their class to submit their answers. Isla, Baraka, and Daniel sat on the last row. Isla could read misery and qualms in many students’ faces.
After a few minutes, Music professor Lucy Joseph entered the class together with the school warden. After greetings, everybody sat.
“You all fine..?”
Everyone nodded
“Okay! Let’s start with group one” she thumbed on her files, “group one… your answers please”
Group one members at the first row bowed their heads.
“Group one, your answers please”
They remained hushed
“Last time, Group one?”
She took her pen and wrote something on the file. She moved to group two but the results were the same. Her face was getting red. She moved to group three and four but the results were the same.
“Guys you can’t be serious!” she snapped
The class was dreadfully unruffled that they could hear the sound of the wind blowing.
She scowled, “What did you do in the whole week? Do you think we are just playing around?” she sighed, “hope the last group won’t let me down”
Isla could feel her stomach growling. She looked at Baraka and Daniel who were all vacillating on a hot sunny day.
“Group number five… save my face please” Lucy said
Isla stared at her fellow members.
“Group five please… tell me you found something” she snapped
The class was even quieter
“Third and last time, group five… did you get the answer?”
The class was incredibly soundless. Professor took her pen.
“YES! WE GOT THE ANSWER” this voice stopped the professor whose pen was already on the sheet of paper.