The morning sun streamed through the windows, but Jade didn’t notice. She woke up feeling an overwhelming wave of nausea. Her stomach churned violently, and her head felt light, as though she were spinning even while lying still. Groaning softly, she pushed herself up in bed, clutching her stomach.
“What is wrong with me?” she muttered, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she stood, her knees wobbling. She steadied herself against the bedpost, breathing deeply in an attempt to calm the queasiness.
The nausea didn’t subside, and a sickly taste rose in her throat. Panicking, Jade rushed to the bathroom, her bare feet padding against the cold hardwood floor. She barely made it to the toilet before she began to vomit, her body convulsing as she emptied her stomach.
Gasping for air, she slumped back against the cool tile wall, her heart pounding in her chest. A sense of dizziness overtook her, and she rested her head against the wall, hoping the feeling would pass. But the room seemed to tilt, and dark spots danced across her vision.
“I just need a minute,” she whispered weakly to herself, but her body didn’t cooperate. Her arms felt like lead, and her legs gave out entirely.
The last thing she remembered was the cold floor meeting her cheek before everything went black.
***
When Jade opened her eyes, her vision was blurry, and the sound of faint voices filled her ears. It took her a moment to register that she was lying on her bed again, but this time, she wasn’t alone.
“Jade, can you hear me?” It was Milan’s voice, calm but filled with an edge of worry.
“She’s waking up,” Thiago said, leaning closer to her. His usual playful tone was gone, replaced by concern.
Jade blinked, trying to focus on their faces. “What… what happened?” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
“You passed out in the bathroom,” Enzo said, his dark eyes scanning her face for any signs of discomfort. “We found you on the floor.”
Jade frowned, struggling to piece things together. “I felt nauseous… and dizzy. I thought it would go away.”
“You should’ve called for us,” Thiago said, his voice both gentle and scolding. “What were you thinking, trying to handle this on your own?”
“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Jade admitted, her hand coming up to her forehead. She was still clammy, her body weak and drained.
Milan, ever composed, knelt beside the bed and rested a hand on her shoulder. “We’ve already called the doctor. He’ll be here soon to check on you.”
“A doctor?” Jade tried to sit up, but Milan’s firm hand kept her down.
“Stay still,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. “You’re not moving until we know you’re okay.”
Enzo handed her a glass of water, his expression softening slightly. “Drink this. Slowly.”
Jade sipped the water, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. She glanced around at the three men, their concern evident in the way they hovered near her. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s not about scaring us,” Thiago said, crossing his arms. “It’s about taking care of yourself, Jade. You can’t just ignore symptoms like this.”
Jade nodded, guilt washing over her. “I didn’t think it was serious. I just thought it was a bad morning.”
“Well, now we’re taking it seriously,” Milan said, his tone firm. “And so are you.”