While I Burned, He Kept Her Warm

Synopsis

The night my fever spiked to 102°F, I was stranded all alone in my dorm room, unable to stand. Dizzy and trembling, I sent a desperate text to my boyfriend, Lucas Hayes: [Could you bring me some fever medicine? I'm burning up and can't get down the stairs.] Thirty agonizing minutes later, his ice-cold reply popped up: [Lily, I'm not your errand boy.] Yet moments later, my feed refreshed with a new post from my best friend, Wendy. In the photo, Lucas was standing right outside the girls' dormitory, holding painkillers, hot soup, and a fresh cup of sweet brown sugar water. Wendy's caption read: [Just mentioned a mild stomach ache, and he skipped his research meeting to rush over. Couldn't chase him away if I tried.] Attached were screenshots of his messages to her: Lucas: [I got the medicine and porridge for you.] Lucas: [I know you love sweet things, so I added extra sugar.] The comments section exploded: [Is this really our cold, untouchable academic legend?"] Wendy replied: [Cold? He's practically a clingy puppy.] Pressing a hand to my burning forehead, the fog in my mind suddenly cleared. I had spent weeks agonizing over graduation—whether to study abroad or stay behind to build a future with him. Turns out, the decision wasn't difficult at all.