Chapter twenty : Nyla

After almost ten days of being holed up at home, I was finally back at school. Stepping out of the house felt strange, almost foreign. I didn’t want to go. I wasn’t sure why—I just didn’t. But I had no choice. There was a test today, one I couldn’t afford to miss, and my teacher had already called my mom about my absence. She’d reminded her about the test, too.

It was a Tuesday morning, and for the first time in a while, I was wearing my uniform again. I tied my hair up, adjusted my collar, and left the house. It felt… wrong. Uncomfortable, even. But I had to push through it.

"Alright, everyone, today we’re working in teams," Mr. Patel said as he handed out sheets of A4 paper to each student. "I want every team to find an expression for the equation on the board."

The room filled with murmurs as everyone got to work. I didn’t join in. My hands rested on my face, my gaze stuck on the blackboard, but my mind was elsewhere.

It had been days since I last saw Mr. Seth. I’d heard that his father was leaving, but I wasn’t sure when. I hadn’t seen him today, either. Was he sick? What was going on?

“Nyla?” Lily’s voice broke through my thoughts. I glanced up at her. “Are you not going to write?”

I sighed, a wave of discomfort washing over me. “Just… a weird feeling.”

She tilted her head, concern flashing in her eyes. “Have you seen Mr. Seth today?”

I shook my head. “No, I haven’t.…”

I fell silent, my head bent downward.

Lily shrugged, trying to ease my tension. “He’ll be fine, girl. Maybe he’s just sick or something.”

I gave her a small smile, trying to reassure myself. She turned back to her work, but my thoughts stayed with Mr. Seth.

During the break, I wandered to Jessica’s class, just a few doors down from mine. I stood in the doorway, waving at her. She was talking to a group of friends, laughing. When she saw me, she excused herself and came over.

“Oh my God, Nyla, it’s been so long! How are you? Are you okay? Mr. Seth asked about you.”

I froze at the mention of his name. He asked about me?

I blinked, trying to keep my emotions in check. "He asked about me?" I repeated, almost to myself.

“Yeah, he did. He’s been worried about you,” Jessica continued, a smile on her face. “He asked if you’re alright.”

The words made my heart race, but I couldn’t let it show. I shook my head, trying to shake off the overwhelming rush of emotions. “Have you seen him today?” I asked, hoping for any kind of answer that would calm my mind.

Jessica nodded. “Yeah, we had tutoring this morning. He shifted the time, so we meet earlier now. You probably didn’t know, huh?”

“No, I didn’t,” I muttered, glancing away. My stomach twisted with a strange feeling I couldn’t shake. “If you see him today, let me know, okay? I just… I want to see him.”

Jessica raised an eyebrow but didn’t press me. "Alright, sure. I’ll let you know if I see him."

I turned back toward my class, but my mind was racing. He wasn’t the type to skip class. He was always here, always professional. So why hadn’t I seen him?

The day seemed to drag on, each minute feeling heavier than the last. By lunchtime, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I had even peeked into the staff room again, just in case. His desk was still empty. No sign of him anywhere.

What was going on with Mr. Seth?

I couldn’t stop thinking. I hated myself for it. I hated the way his face kept surfacing in my mind—those dark eyes, the gentle glint behind his rimless spectacles, his jet-black hair, that suit he always wore. It haunted me.

Stop it, Nyla.

He doesn’t care about you. So why should you?

But I couldn’t.I couldn’t stop.

Suddenly, I stood up, my half-eaten lunch abandoned on the table. Without a word, I ran. I didn’t care about the stares, the whispers. I just ran—out of the classroom, down the corridor, through the main gate. My feet hit the pavement harder and faster once I left the school grounds behind.

I didn’t stop until I reached Mr. Seth’s house.

Bent over, hands on my knees, I panted like a stray dog. My chest burned and sweat clung to my skin. That’s when I noticed—the door was open.

A chill crept through me.

I pushed it wider and stepped inside. “Mr. Seth?” I called, my voice shaky. “Mr. Seth?”

No response.

The air was thick. Metallic. My stomach churned at the scent. The house was too still—eerily quiet.

"Mr. Seth?.... Mr. Seth...?", I called out

No response.

I peeked into the kitchen. Spotless. The hallway, empty. His bedroom—no one.

Then I opened the guest room door.

“Seth?” I whispered.

And froze.

He was lying on the floor. Motionless. A puddle of blood beside his head. My heart stopped. “Seth… Oh God… that’s a lot of blood…”

I dropped to my knees and shook him. No movement.

With trembling hands, I pressed my ear to his chest. A heartbeat—faint, but there.

“He’s alive,” I whispered, breathless. “He’s alive…yes, yes, yes he's alive”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I forced myself up, grabbed my phone with shaking fingers, and called the ambulance. “Please… please hurry,” I told them.

Then I knelt beside him again.

“Stay with me,” I begged, pressing my palm gently to the wound, trying to slow the bleeding. My hands were soaked in his warm blood. My fingers brushed across his brow, tracing down the bridge of his nose.

“Don’t you dare leave me,” I cried. “You made me crazy. I’m crazy in love with you…”

Then—his fingers twitched.

“You’re awake?” I gasped, hope flaring inside me. “The ambulance is on its way, okay? Stay with me, Seth…”

He stirred slightly. “Nyla …” he breathed, voice barely there. “It was me… I did this… I don’t deserve to live. I’m a disappointment…”

“No,” I whispered, choking back a sob. “Don’t say that. Please, don’t.”

He smiled weakly. “Thanks… for the watch… I always wanted it…”

My heart dropped. My eyes widened. “What do you mean? Seth, what are you talking about?”

"Stop acting Nyla... I know everything"

He blinked slowly. “Jessica… she told me. I know everything…”

“No, no, let’s not talk about that now,” I begged. “Just hold on. Please.”

“Thank you, Nyla…” he whispered.

And then he slipped into unconsciousness.