"Hanahaki....It's Hanahaki"

"Eden, did you say something?"

Mr Kelly gazed at her expectantly, the entire class humming as usual while their eyes drew to the back. Eden was startled, staring uncomfortably at the eyes peering at her until she broke the stupor and shook her head.

She tightened her grip around the dainty red petals in her hand.

"Alright then, although I'm expecting you to hand in a full draft by midnight today." Mr Kelly turned his attention back to the students at the front of class and the rest of the eyes left with him, returning to looking at other things that caught their fancy.

She untightened her hand and glanced at the blood spotted petals, before tightening it again.

Although she had her suspicions she had chosen to ignore it, wishing it away as if it were a bad dream and nothing more. But as the petals grew in quantity and colour, so did the pain in her body. And after almost coughing up a storm in front of one of her friends, she

had gathered the wits to search it up and learn once and for all what she had seemingly developed.

She had read the definition for the umpteenth time that hour. Yet the girl's mind was still clouded with the image of rose petals falling from her bed stained lips, of which she had hidden with a mask she had in her pocket.

Now, for all means she refused to believe it, the cold walk to her next class rendering her mind with various excuses, explanations, anything that could explain whatever was happening to her.

But nothing matched up with what she was feeling.

Pain. The pain in her heart and the pain in her lungs. The feeling of wanting to throw up every second and feeling of flowers blooming in her chest. She felt as if she should be panicking and screaming with the situation she was in. But with what she had read, and now knew about Hanahaki, all she could do was to remain as emotionless as possible.

Anything to not let anybody know.

As she neared her classroom, she blinked her eyes a few times and stared blankly at the door. There was nobody else there early, so she trained her eye at a misaligned brick near the doorway. She stuffed the crimson petals she was holding into her pocket as she spotted her friends heading up to the lab.

Despite the circumstances, Eden was beginning to quite like biology. Although she was never any good at it, she liked learning about it. Not to mention that their assignment was a group project in which she and Lei were doing it together.

London walked into class later than the others, walking into the second row of seats and choosing an isolated one towards the left of the class. Eden smiled at him, which he replicated although with less enthusiasm. As the teacher briefed them of the lesson, Eden realised that he had nobody to group.

She turned to Lei, and whispered over the teacher.

"Oi, you wanna include that kid in our group? He's new and I don't think he has a group"

"Who...?"

Eden motioned to the side where he was with her head and Lei followed on. She glanced to where he was, before turning back to Eden.

"What's his name?"

"London. I met him at lunch."

"I mean, sure. That's a pretty interesting name."

"I know right, apparently it's because he was meant to be British or something. He's a nice person though, I'm sure you'll be friends."

As the teacher stopped giving instructions, the class let loose. As per usual, Lei ran over to secure them a lab table while Eden caught the attention of the tall boy, who looked on aimlessly. She nodded over to the table Lei had secured, and he nodded back, picking up his stuff and heading over.

The lesson passed in a blur, London settling in well with the girls. He and Lei had many things in common, both of them ganging up on Eden with their thoughts while Eden was left to fight on her lonesome. It was a welcome distraction, although she felt a little betrayed from both her best friend and new friend.

All three of them left the lesson together, splitting up for the next.

As Eden walked to her next class, she felt alone again. The ambience around her was an uncomfortable form of loneliness, and she couldn't shake it. Although she had people around her the dim cloud just couldn't seem to stop following her. Eden knew it had a reason to be there. Without it, he would just feel melancholy all day.

Of course, melancholy until she would catch sight of that one special person.

She stared out of the window in maths, looking out at the trees that had finished shedding all their leaves. As the class dragged on and the teacher introduced new concepts, Eden found herself talking to Hanna who although kind, was dense as to what had happened. It wasn't that nobody had told her, she just didn't seem to pick up on the events entirely.

"Hanna, it's just a-"

"What did you say? Repeat it, repeat it!"

"I said that Lucas walked past me today-"

"He totally likes you back. Ask him out, it'll do you good."

Eden, open mouthed, looked quizzically at the other girl.

"Girl, do you even know what happened between us two....I- I don't think I can even look him in the face. Besides, all he did was walk!"

Besides, he likes someone else.

Eden didn't say that part aloud. Instead, she frowned and looked down.

"Wait- what happened between you guys?"

Hanna looked at Eden with big, comical eyes. She truly didn't understand what had happened, and Eden didn't feel like explaining everything to her again.

She sighed.

"Never-mind, it's nothing. What were we talking about?"

"Your boyfriend."

"I- what the hell- He's not my boyfriend"

"He is. He literally shines when he walks past you."

"That's just the sun on his hair-"

"That's beside the point, Eden."

"Anyways, It's not like he likes me at all. Not like you and Josewon-"

'He's not my boyfriend"

"Oh right. He's your husband."

A visibly annoyed friend was starting to develop, but Eden decided to poke fun at her anyways.

"I remember what you tell me! Hanna, you even miss chemistry because of him, CHEMISTRY!"

Now said friend was embarrassed. She turned away, red as she tried to deny all the allegations.

"Shut up!"

Eden laughed at her hopelessness, until she caught sight of something.

Or someone.

As much as her mind told her to stop her heart was drawn to him and she felt bittersweet happiness flow through her. She glanced at him, and although she felt the same fear it was almost a thrill.

She knew he would never, ever look at her the same, wouldn't look at her at all but it was enough for her that he was there.

He was using the printer.

To her surprise, Lei went up to him and she watched as they had a conversation. Lucas smiled at her and as if she didn't know already, she felt the flowers crawl up her throat. She tore her eyes from them and turned around, working on the maths work that had been assigned and swallowing down the petals that threatened to spill.

Lei spotted her and walked over after the conversation had ended.

"Ew I had to talk to him out of all people. We're in the same group for English."

Eden nodded along and listened to her, even though she thought it was as obvious as night and day.

"Hey Lei..."

"Yea?"

Her friend stopped doodling on Eden's maths book and looked at Eden expectantly.

"You know how we had that conversation in the locker room-"

"Eden! No! Do I gotta tell you again-"

"Listen." Eden shushed her friend. 

Its true