Right Here Waiting For You

“Hang on…” Ning Tiantian was about to tell her that she’d found her necklace, but Cookie had already pulled down the collar of her turtleneck sweater. She was surprised to see the necklace on Tiantian’s neck.

“Tiantian, didn’t you lose your necklace?”

“I didn’t actually lose it. I carelessly misplaced it when I was taking a shower…” Ning Tiantian answered in embarrassment.

The corners of Cookie’s mouth twitched a little, as she looked down at the necklace in her hand. She then asked somewhat awkwardly, “What shall we do with this? I’ve already thrown the receipt away, so there’s no way I’d be able to get a refund.”

“How about you help put it on my wrist?” Ning Tiantian said as she stroked her chin. She then extended her fair and delicate wrist to Cookie.

“All right.”

Cookie wound the necklace around Tiantian’s wrist thrice; the sapphire blue star sparkled and glimmered with every movement Tiantian made.

“Was it very expensive, Cookie?”

Ning Tiantian could tell from the gift packaging that this necklace must have cost a pretty penny.

“Not really…” She had bought it with lucky money received at Chinese New Year from her elders, painstakingly saved over the past few years.

“Cookie, thanks for being such a good friend. I’ll take care of your supply of cookies from now on! You can count on me!” Ning Tiantian promised, hand on chest.

That’s right. “Cookie” was not merely a namesake. Cookie did indeed love cookies.

Cookie bowed her head. “I should be thanking you, instead. You’re the first person willing to befriend me.”

“What did you say?” Cookie’s voice was barely audible, plus Ning Tiantian was focused on reading a picture book, so she hadn’t managed to make out what Cookie had just said.

“Nothing. Let’s stop talking. The teacher’s coming!” Cookie diverted the topic as she kept away the picture book.

During the afternoon, Tiantian sneezed so many times that her face was flushed from all the sneezing. She was also feeling dizzy. Rubbing her nose, she wondered whether she had really caught a cold, as predicted by Inky.

“Tiantian, are you having a fever?” Cookie placed her hand on Tiantian’s forehead, then compared it to hers. “You’re burning up! You must have kicked away your blanket during the afternoon nap!”

“Teacher! Tiantian seems to be having a fever!”

Miss Mi came over in a hurry and took Tiantian’s temperature with a thermometer.

“I’m fine, Teacher. I just feel a little drowsy.”

After taking a look at the thermometer, Miss Mi said with furrowed brows, “Your temperature is 39 degrees Celsius, and you still say you’re fine?!”

“I’ll inform your parents,” said Miss Mi, as she took out her cell phone, preparing to notify Tiantian’s parents.

Tiantian got up immediately. She tugged at her teacher’s sleeve and shook her head. “Miss, I think it’s better that you call Ink… I mean, my godma. My parents are currently overseas.”

Inky must still be in classes right now. It’s better that she not disturb him.

“All right then.” Miss Mi had realized only the day before that Mama Li was not Tiantian’s mom, but her godmother. She explained the situation to Mama Li over the phone.

“What? Tiantian has a fever?” Mama Li, who was also currently overseas, said anxiously. “But I can’t come back right now. Could you pass the phone to Tiantian so that I may speak to her?”

“Tiantian, Godma will get the chauffeur to take you to the hospital, okay? I already informed Inky, and he’ll be here soon,” said Mama Li.

Tiantian instantly shook her head. “Godma, no… don’t!”