Boomerang

Other co-worker mocked Saria for her bedside manner often. Her stern face and directness can hurt people unintentionally.

And she once made her worst mistake.

‘Leaf vomiting?’ She repeated her coworker’s words. ‘Plants growing and feeding on internal organs? that’s impossible’
‘Why not? Even the mineral growing disease exists.’

Those eyes behind the glasses seem amusing. ‘The strange thing is the trigger, can you believe it? The disease that shown when the host beloved but not return that feelings’

‘What is that nonsense”
‘Isn’t that amazing? The symptom not only depends on the level of feelings, but also suppurate other kinds of affection from romantic feelings. There are so many mysteries left undiscovered.’ She continue ‘And this is our patient today’
‘Our?’
‘Our’

And that’s how it started.

‘Saria, you can’t talk to a patient like that.’

The doctor scratches her shin awkwardly, feeling sorry but don’t sure what to do.

‘Sorry’
‘Do you know what is your fault this time?’
‘...no’

The smaller figure took her glasses off, one hand message between her eyebrows. ‘I always thought the naive you is adorable, but never expected to be this worse.’

‘Adorable?’
‘Don’t change the topic.’

The taller figure sat still, but looked much smaller.

‘In theory, the behaviour of a patient with Anteros sickness doesn’t trigger the symptom. The relapse isn’t from daily routine, but the feelings of the other party.’

‘Then, just love them back?’

The co-worker did not even hide her sigh. Then turn to pinch the naive doctor

'As-if-it-would-be-that-easy'

Saria whining in protest. The Libari enjoyed pinching her for a while then let her go.

'We can't force people to stop loving, and can't force them to return the feelings too. Try to imagine what would you do if I suddenly said I love you?'

She blinked, got a glimpse of something.

'I love you too'

'Saria, I said it's not that e---'

'I love you, Olivia' the naive doctor repeat ' I can't answer that with anything else'

Olivia stunned, face redden, sigh and pinch her again.

'Oh you...what should we do if I'm not already love you.'

---

Saria wakes up. It took a minute to realise she was napping in the medical station, not her room. While she was processing, the coughing above her head chased the confusion away.

"Olivia"
"Stop---" coughing again "---calling me--- with that"

Saria looked at her lover's pale face.

No, ex lover.

Arrow tip shape leaves spread over her laps, as well as this patient's feeling that broke long time ago. The memory of their first patient flashback.

"It's exactly not easy"

This might be her first smile Saria has seen all these years. "I've told you,"

"Olivia" She continued before getting interrupted about the name. "Is there really nothing left?"

Only silent is the answer. Amber eyes behind the glasses wandering through the window.

"I wonder…"

---

The study they did several years ago didn’t go for nothing. Even though they can’t prevent the infection, they discovered a cure.

But the side effect is so high.

Just like that critic, “Can't force people to stop loving, and can't force them to return the feelings.” Since they can’t create love from nothing, the result of that research is the medicine. A pill that quells affection by killing all emotion.

Because love hurts,

and when they don't, it hurts too.

Saria stops in front of her room. Hand crunch on her chest. Never understand how her love can harm others and hurt herself, until now.

If I just…

Her eyes shut tight, but she can see the way out brighter than the white light behind her eyelids.
At the end of the research, the formula has been shared with a warning about the side effect. The equipment are all kept at the Rhine lab and has been burned down long ago. Only one sample was left, the one that Saria was keeping for further research, and it was good enough for one last cure.

The wyvern opened her eyes to the light tug from behind.

“Don’t you dare think what I'm thinking.”

Yellowish iris wide open when she heard that hash, arrogant, unforgettable voice.

“Ifrit?”

“Don’t take that medicine.”

The little hands hold her, once, guardian tightly.

“Saria, you can’t leave us again.”
“I…”

Leave again, you say?

She hasn't thought about it that way. If leaving Rhine lab counts as the first time, this time is all for Olivia.

On the other hand, if she can’t feel love again. Isn’t that equal to leaving all of them again?

And this time not just physical leaving.

Saria rubs the child’s shivering hands.

“If not me, then it’ll be Olivia.” her thumb gently rubs in cycle. “I won’t die anyway, but Olivia...if things get worse…”

Those arms hold her tighter.

“Saria don’t get it.”
“?”
“Silence…” mumbling almost unheard, then it get louder “Silence keep looking for you.”
“Looking for me?”
“She is still acting like those times when you invite her for lunch.” the little demon pushed her forehead on the wide, study back. “Even when you are not there, she is still waiting until someone calls her. She can eat on her own now but she spacing out often."
“Isn’t she sleepy?”

There was a headbutt on her back

“I'm gonna smack you.”
“You just did.”

Light laughter softens the atmosphere. Ifrit released her grip and let Saria turn around.

“Don’t you understand?”
“I do, but I don’t think it possible. If not--”
“Don’t you ever think there are others?”

Saria frozen. Her chest feels numb.

It’s not like Silence is not charming. But it seems like Saria always believes that her sleepiness prevents herself from being too close with others that might fall for her.

But it's not a thing someone can foresee.

“Other…” her voice shaken “who…”

The child remains still.

“Ifrit, who?”

There were legends about dragons. They grudge their treasure. They cherish their family, and match only once in their life. They are so greedy that they never stop collecting treasure, yet highly value everything. In the end, their greediness only brings them to their end.

But Saria only treasures a few.

“...it was me.”

Is this handful of things too much?